With the end of the ceremony, Enid was swiftly taken by the maids and into a separate room. Her plain pink dress was switched with a purple dress that looked as if glitter was the main component. The hair that Mira had so lovingly released was pulled into twin tails adorned with large bows on either side. Three gemstones were dangling at different heights in her hair, gleaming bright purple to match the dress.
After the finishing touches were made, Enid was dragged to her parents who were waiting outside the entrance to the ballroom.
"Are you ready Enid? You're our kingdom's princess now." King Valen chuckled, patting her head lovingly as her mother sneakily adjusted her shoulders to straighten her out.
"Oh Valen, don't pressure her like that." Queen Ira scoffed before smiling at Enid. "Make sure you have fun, just don't over do it. It is your sister's night after all."
Enid silently nodded as the doors opened, and they were announced into the hall.
"King Valen de Sol, Queen Ira de Sol, and Princess Enid de Sol have entered the hall! Please present yourselves accordingly!" The announcer bellowed into the halls. It was a sight that Enid had seen many times before. Nobles and their servants bowing to them for the simple reason that they are royalty. To her, it was a bore and slightly uncomfortable.
The trio quickly made their way to their spots, the thrones having been moved to the side in place of two thrones at the front of the room.
It wasn't long before the Emperor and the Empress of Almintri entered the room. "Now announcing the Emperor Hunid and Empress Florence of the Almintri Empire! Please present yourselves accordingly!"
Enid watched as everyone bowed or curtseyed to them. Even her own parents. So, she followed suit, leaving her mother with a small approving smile on her face. In the kingdom, children not following etiquette wasn't out of the norm but it was expected to be corrected if need be.
Regardless, Enid's eyes followed the Emperor and Empress, her new in-laws she supposed. The Emperor looked very similar to Polit; silver hair, though much shorter than his sons. His face almost looked like an aged version of her new brother in-law. The stark difference is, his eyes were green. The type of green you would seen in a freshly cut emerald on the ring of a noble.
His wife, however, she had a solemn look on her face masked behind a polite smile. Tired blue eyes that mirrored puddles that had been stepped through on a day where the rain had just ended and the sky peeked out. Her hair, long, pin straight, almost falling to the floor had it not been put into a simple braid. It was almost as if the wind could blow her over.
"Ah, I believe this is the first time we've seen the second princess!" The Emperor laughed walking up with his wife, holding her hand tightly as she took small steps forward. Queen Ira pushed King Valen and Enid forward to greet them, almost urging they meet them before making them walk further than necessary.
"Indeed! Enid," her mother said pushing her own bright pink hair behind her ear. "These are Crown Prince Polit's parents. Can you show greet them?" She asked as Enid nodded.
Enid turned and gave a deep curtsey to the two, bowing her head, only to feel a rough hand ruffle her hair. She looked up to see the two smiling. "We're family now, no need to be so formal. At least not on a night like tonight!" Emperor Hunid laughed before turning to his wife. "Would you like to sit?" He asked as she shook her head.
"I'm fine dear. I'd like to mingle, if that's alright." She smiled turning to Enid. "If I may trouble you, can you get me some water? I'm afraid I don't know the ballroom as well as you do, Princess Enid." Enid looked at her with concern before nodding and running off.
'If I hurry, I can make it before my sister comes out! I'm gonna demand a dance from her, that'll teach her husband to steal her from me. Hehehe.' Enid plotted in her head to steal her sisters attention from her husband for the night.
After a minute of searching, Enid found water glasses and decided to grab enough for the adults. "I guess those classes will pay off." She muttered grabbing four glasses of water before weaving in and out of people and reaching the adults. The first thing she noticed were the solemn faces until they noticed her, instantly brightening up.
"Oh look! She went above and beyond and got us all water! Thank you, Princess Enid!" Hunid laughed grabbing two glasses while her mother grabbed the other two. "My, you have raised two lovely daughters. I'm sure she will make a fine queen one day, just as Mira will make an excellent Empress." He raised his glass towards the king and queen before taking a drink.
"Thank you-."
"Announcing the entrance of our newly wed couple, Crown Prince and Princess of the Almintri Empire!" The announcer bellowed as the two made their grand entrance.
Enid's eyes widened to see them.
Mira, the big sister she had once rolled in the mud with, was wearing a beautiful golden dress, flowing almost as if she was Solara herself. Her hair was adorned with flowers and a small golden tiara. The fabric of the dress wrapped around her as if it were her skin itself.
Meanwhile, in stark contrast, Polit wore a midnight blue, almost black, suit that made his eyes and hair stand out all the more. His long white hair was pulled back into a neat ponytail while he wore a small crown to match Mira's tiara.
It was almost as if they were the gods themselves.
Everyone bowed and curtseyed as they made their way to the center of the floor. Enid broke away from her parents and pushed to the front of the crowd. A large circle had been made for them to perform their first dance. She watched intently, looking for any fault that she could find with Polit. Any reason to steal her sister away.
But when the music started, they glided on the floor.
Mira's smile seemed genuine, a laugh Enid only saw when she was actually happy. Not the forced polite ones that were given to typical guests. 'Maybe there was more than just an arrangement...' She thought to herself as the music slowed down and they ended their dance.
Mira and Polit took each other's hands and bowed to the crowd. Everyone cheered for the couple as they soaked in the attention. Though, Mira's gaze turned towards Enid as she waved her over.
Enid took the opportunity and ran up, but holding back the urge to hug her sister tightly. It would be a shame if the purple glitter on her dress ruined the beautiful gold of her sister's dress, at least in Enid's head, that's what she thought.
"Enid! Polit told me you made him pinky promise you at the ceremony?" She asked raising a playful eyebrow. Enid's face turned red and she looked away. "You're not in trouble... and thank you for holding him to that promise. You're such a good sister." Mira turned towards Polit. "I think I need to have a dance with her before my father. Would you be a dear and tell him that?" She asked, placing a hand on his arm. Polit's face turned bright red as he nodded.
"Y-yes dear!" He squeaked out before bounding off to the parents. Mira's attention turned back towards Enid as the music began again.
"I'll let you off with an easy dance this time. Let's talk." She laughed as they began to dance. "So... how are you feeling?" She asked as Enid frowned.
"...Scared? I mean... I was looking for a reason to steal you from Polit! But..." She looked away as Mira tilted her head.
"What?"
"You... you looked perfect with him... happy even... you aren't going to forget me, right?" Enid asked as Mira frowned.
"How could I forget the kid that I rolled around in mud with? Or the one that I had to fix her hair because she got to the scissors I left behind on a table. Or the one who's horse ran off with her on it and I had to hunt her down in the woods, dangling by the stirrup? Or-."
"I get it!" Enid interrupted, her face even more red than the curtains hanging around them. "Ok... I get it..." She murmured.
"Enid, listen, you remember our talk earlier?" She asked as Enid sniffled.
"That we have to keep growing?" She replied hesitantly. "But... what if I grow into someone you don't like?" She asked as Mira shook her head.
"There's a short list of things that could make me not like you, and it's like... two things. Whoever you grow into, I will love. I will love that you, just like I love the you, you are now, and the you, you were as a baby. You are my sister, and that will never change, no matter the distance." The music began to slow and their dance came to an end. "One more thing before I dance with dad, if you ever in the future, need help with a boy, let me know. I'll be happy to help you."
With a kiss on the forehead, Mira let go of Enid and practically glided to their father. Enid was left on the dance floor, wondering what lied ahead. This was only interrupted with a tap on her shoulder, and a single question.
"Would you dance with me?"