Elizabeth's Beauty

Elizabeth

“Elizabeth, hey!”

I looked at the one who called me and it was my best friend Nikita. Behind her was the busy village where people are doing their tasks and jobs. Her brown skirt was flailing as the wind blows and her enthusiasm was getting to her as she approached me.

“What is up, Nikita?” I asked and put down the basin after I took water from the public well. “Be careful. You might fall.”

“Oh!” she exclaimed and giggled.

“Are you okay? Why do you look so excited?” I asked while grinning.

“It’s about the prince!”

“The prince?” My face was disoriented and regarded her now completely. “Which prince?”

“It’s the third prince! Prince Vio!” she said and pulled my arm. “Come on! Before he leaves your house!”

“W-Wait! My basin!” I exclaimed, but it was too late now.

As we ran towards our small house in the village, I briefly scanned my eyes at the palace of the Kingdom of Monjour where the royal family lives. It was full of gold and silver. I would even bet that the whole palace was made of real gems. The royal family is the most respected and powerful among the others around the world.

That is why the kingdom the royal family is protecting is always grandiose and expensive when there are parties or fiestas. My mother used to be the handmaid of the queen, Queen Jonah. I have never been inside the palace, but what I know is that my mother and the queen were close friends.

“Wait up!” Nikita said and stopped me from entering our house. She even surveyed her eyes upside down to my appearance. “Bloody God of Beauty, what happened to you?”

“What?” I mumbled innocently.

With her face in distaste, I was forced to look at myself, too. My whole white dress was wet and there were ounces of mud scattered in every part of it. I held my hair in a ponytail, realizing that all of my strands of hair were unruly and unfixed.

“Sorry. I was doing house chores the whole day,” I tried to reason out.

Nikita shook her head in dismay and crossed her arms. “Your beauty is useless when you don’t take care of it. The prince is looking for you. Do you know how princesses from other kingdoms spent an entire three to five hours just to dress up well and do their makeup by the handmaids with intensive care? That is because they are going to introduce themselves as the princes in our kingdom!”

I caressed my nape. “Well, it is not my first intention to dress up for the prince. I didn’t even know that he is here-"

"Heps! We have to go inside now. The prince might be impatient, so I’ll help you a little bit.”

Nikita exaggeratedly fixed my dress and even tried to scratch the ounces of mud which she only failed in omitting. She told me to lose my hair so I removed my ponytail. Using her handkerchief, she wiped all of my sweats and dirt on my face.

“You have to be thankful that you are still beautiful no matter what,” she said and smiled. “Now, let’s go inside. Stand straight, Elizabeth!”

I chuckled because she looked so stressed out. “Okay, okay! Relax, Nikita. I know what I am doing,” I said.

Nikita nodded, breathed in and out, and turned the doorknob for us to go inside our modern house made of wood. I immediately saw Prince Vio, one of the sons of Queen Jonah. He was wearing a richly embellished cloak, a tunic underneath, and a trouser. All in all, he was in his expensive finery that every princess would be attracted to. Not me, though.

“Your Highness,” I said and bowed in a princess form.

“My lady,” he said and instantly stood up.

I looked at him who was displaying amusement across his face as if he was starstruck. This was not the first time we saw each other. Last week, I was with my mother buying fruits and vegetables in the public market. The prince was with his horsemen and he was leading the group in strolling around the village. Accidentally, my basket fell on the ground and he helped me.

Since that incident, he has been visiting me at my house. It turned out that he asked for my personal information that I hoped he did not because I did not want to be exposed to something ‘royal’.

“I am astonished to see you this morning,” he said, his eyes never left me, and even stepped forward. “May I ask something so big for you?”

I forced a smile and nodded slowly. “Sure, Your Highness. It would be my honor.”

That was a lie. He should be thankful that he is a prince because if he speaks something licentiously and out of the borderline, I would kick his balls and even ass.

“May I invite you for a dinner night in the palace? I would like to get to know you,” he said.

I heard Nikita clear her throat meaningfully behind me. I furrowed my eyebrows and refused to appear shocked. My eyes drifted to my mother who was sitting on our wooden sofa and drinking her tea. She was smiling even though her eyes were wistful and sad.

“Ummm, the palace?” I mumbled. “I am sorry, Prince Vio, but I have never been there.”

“That is why I ask you to be with me, so I can stroll you around the palace. I have also asked permission from your mother,” he said.

It felt like I am going to groan. I looked at my mother again, and she was now tilting her head to answer the prince. I showed a papery smile again to Prince Vio.

“I am sorry, Your Highness, but I am afraid that I have to refuse your proposal.”

He furrowed his eyebrows, but his charming smile was still plastered on his lips. “But why? I would love to spend a night with a beautiful lady like you. Don’t you find me charming enough, my lady?” he asked.

“I do not mean to offend you, Your Highness,” I said, “but I have no interest in dating. So please, if you would be so kind to leave, I have things to do.”