-Victoria-
"Your Highness." A chorus of voices said as I emerged from my room early in the morning.
I froze in the door frame as I tried to wrap my head around what I was seeing. Not even 24 hours since the announcement of my status and I've got suck ups standing outside my door.
I recognize all of them too. The very same people who trailed after Ustrea every day. A brief wave of sadness came over me as I realized that when Ustrea returned to school, she'd be friendless. Maybe I could lessen the blow by letting her hang out with me and my friends.
"Your highness?" One of the girls called, pulling my attention to her.
"Sorry," I said, "Was there something you ladies needed?"
"We came to get you for breakfast, of course." The ringleader said, "Love your hair by the way."
All the girls followed her lead and began complementing me. I just stared at them like they all had three heads. These girls, who tormented me for so long, just pulled a massive 180 because I was now a princess?
"I'm sorry but we're not having breakfast together," I told them, cutting off the complements, "I'll be eating with my friends. You guys don't even like."
"Of course we do!" The leader laughed.
"No you don't," I responded, "You bullied me relentlessly for months."
"Water under the bridge." She waved her hand.
"Not to me," I told her, "Besides you're all Ustrea's friends and she definitely doesn't like me right now."
"Oh, we're not her friends." The leader said casually, while the other girls nodded in agreement.
"But you guys hung out all the time," I pointed out, "You followed her everywhere."
"She was to be Queen." She told me, "And we are the next generation of courtiers so we must curry favor. Now she's nothing but a spare."
"So now you'll follow me everywhere trying to gain my favor." I sighed.
"Exactly!" She smiled happily, "You are so smart. You'll be a great Queen."
"Maybe," I said, eyeing her up and down.
"Shall we get breakfast, Your Highness?" She gestured for me to lead.
"I will be getting breakfast with my friends, like I said," I informed her, "And none of you are invited."
"I don't understand." The leader said, frowning.
"None of you will ever have my favor given how easily your loyalties change," I told them, "If you can abandon Ustrea, a girl you've known since you were children, so quickly, what hope do I have of keeping you on my side through hard times?"
I left them all standing outside my door with shocked expressions. Hopefully they'd learn or feel some remorse and go back to hanging with Ustrea when she returned.
Emerging into the upper levels of the castle, I was greeted by more curtsies and bows along with repeated Your Highnesses. Even the teachers were doing it. I rushed through the halls trying to draw as little attention as possible. I might need to have Nothall hide me like she used to just to get where I need to go.
I burst into the dining hall and all eyes turned to me. I felt like a deer in headlights as they all stared at me. I saw Anna and Ani sitting at our usual table. I made my way over to them, the eyes of the room still following me. Ani nudged Anna as I got close and they both stood.
"Your Highness." They greeted dropping into a bow and a curtsy.
"Not you guys too." I whined, momentarily forgetting all the people watching.
"Is something wrong, Your Highness?" Anna asked, barely looking up.
"We are just greeting you in a manner that befits your station, Your Highness." Ani said.
The world felt small in that moment. I couldn't believe the massive change that came with this new title. Would the only friends I have be power hungry nobles who just want my favor?
Before I could shatter into a million pieces under the weight of the eyes on me, Azax appeared in the doorway to the dining hall. He must've seen the panic in my eyes cause the next thing I knew his magic swelled and energy coated the room. As quickly as it happened it was gone and everyone was looking anywhere but at me. The only two who didn't change were Ani and Anna.
"Alright you two, enough," Azax said, as he Itrix, Nothall and Wall approached, "She's had enough trauma for one day."
I turned sharply to look at them as they straightened up, laughing loudly. I crossed my arms, pouting.
"Not funny." I said, taking a seat at the table.
"It was very funny!" Anna said, wiping tears from her eyes, "You should've seen the look on your face."
"Did you really expect is to treat you any different?" Ani asked.
"I don't know," I admitted, "I hoped you wouldn't but after finding Ustrea's old gang outside my room this morning I didn't know what to expect."
"Why didn't you wait for me?" Azax asked, throwing his arm over my shoulder, "I would've whisked you away with any need to talk to them."
"When they knocked I thought it was you." I told him.
"What did they want?" Nothall asked.
"They wanted to go to breakfast," I told them, "And then they started saying nice things about me and how they were never Ustrea's friends."
"Ah, so they were trying to play the game of favor." Azax said.
"Yes!" I exclaimed, "And it was so annoying, like, can their reasons be any shallower?"
"That's how court is," Itrix told me, "And it never goes away."
"I made my stance on people like that very clear early in life so they tend not to bother me." Azax said.
"But your fresh meat," Wall punched my arm lightly, "Everyone wants a piece."
"The only thing you can do is make your stance on them approaching you as clear as possible." Azax instructed me.
"And find those people you can actually trust." Itrix added.
"Well, I know I can trust the people at this table." I said with a smile.
They all returned the smile, nodding in agreement. My smile faded, though, at the sight of those girls entering the room. They paused for a moment looking at me before moving on to find a table deeper in the hall. I watched them go.
"What is it?" Azax asked, picking up on my souring mood.
"I just can't help feeling bad for Ustrea." I admitted.
"Why?" Anna asked, nearly choking on her food.
"She spent all her time with those girls," I told them, "She must've thought they were all her friends. But they were just using her."
"I'm sure she knew." Ani tired to comfort me, "After all they were forward about it with you."
"I wouldn't be so sure about that." Itrix interrupted, "I remember reading an old spy report from when Ustrea was a child. Those girls were hand selected by the Queen to be with Ustrea. They practically lived at the palace."
"They enjoyed all the comforts of being royalty and were even paid." Azax added.
"That's terrible." I shook my head in disbelief.
"What do we care?" Anna asked, "She's a spoiled brat and has bullied us for months."
"Based on what I've seen and heard," I explained, "Seems like she really wasn't taught any different."
"It's possible that King Udel blames both Ustrea and her mother for the lose of his first love, your mother," Nothall said, "And was an absentee father leaving Ustrea to be raised by her mother."
"I've never met the Queen of Varezia but I've heard her daughter is exactly like her." Azax told us.
"I just hope I can mend some bridges," I confided, "Ustrea would be a lot of help in learning how to navigate being a princess."
"You gonna try to talk to her before the ball?" Azax asked.
"Yeah." I replied.
"Wait, there's a ball?" Anna asked perking up.
"Yup," I sighed, "My formal introduction to the court and people of Varezia as the new and rightful heir to the throne."
"She has a meeting with the royal tailor this evening." Azax told them.
"Oh, can I come help you with the dress?" Anna bounced up and down.
"I would also like to come." Nothall added pulling out the doe eyes.
"Yeah, you guys can come." I laughed lightly.
We moved on with our day, Ustrea remaining a burning thought in the back of my mind. Class after class eyes followed me and I did my best to ignore them. By the time dinner came around, I was exhausted. I just wanted to curl up and sleep but I still had to meet with the seamstress.
Anna and Nothall came with me to Professor Zekora's classroom which was rearranged into a makeshift dressing room. Swathes of fabric, in every shade of red, covered tables and a stand was placed in the center with mirrors surrounding it.
"Your Highness." The three seamstresses curtsied to me.
"Hi." I awkwardly waved at them all, to the amusement of my friends.
I let myself be pulled onto the podium while Anna and Nothall went to look at the fabric. The seamstresses took my measurements and began talking amongst themselves. Finally, they seemed to come to an agreement.
"Your Highness," One of them began, "We believe we've come up with something you'll like. If we may?"
"Yeah sure." I replied.
Magic surrounded my body like a blanket. I felt my clothes get impossibly tight and suddenly I was wearing, what felt like, 30 pounds of excess fabric. I could barely put my arms down.
The dress was large and gaudy. Layer upon layer of heavy velvet like red fabric embroidered with gold details. Long sleeves trimmed with gold lace and a scratchy neck line practically chocking me. My eyes met those of my friends, both stood behind me staring with shock and horror.
"Isn't it wonderful?" One of the seamstresses applauded.
"Some of our best work." Another said.
"What do you think, Your Highness?" The last asked.
"It's a bit tight." I told them, not wanting to be rude.
"It is the height of fashion." The third one assured me.
"It's not really my style." I tried again, still not wanting to be rude.
"Everyone will be jealous seeing you in this." The first told me with a wave of her hand.
"We'll start work on it right away." The final one told me.
I could finally breathe again as the dress disappeared off my body. All three curtsied to me and headed for the door.
"Wait." I said, but it fell on deaf ears. They were gone.
All of us just stared at the door to the room. Even Professor Zekora looked shocked at what just happened.
"I'm going to have to wear that awful dress." I said in disbelief.
"Not necessarily." Anna said, an idea forming behind her eyes.
She walked over to Professor Zekora and whispered something into her ear. A bright smile came over Zekora's face. She gave a nod and disappeared.
"Where'd she go?" I asked.
"To get us a new seamstress." Anna explained, "One who'll actually listen to the client."
Not five minutes had passed when Zekora reappeared with a middle age woman on her arm. Anna smiled brightly and ran over to give her a hug.
"Victoria. Nothall." Anna said, as the two separated, "This is my mother, Arune. She's gonna make you a proper dress."
"It's wonderful to meet you, Your Highness." She curtsied to me as well.
"Nice to meet you too." I replied sheepishly, still not comfortable being greeted like that.
"Mom, I told you, Victoria doesn't like to be addressed like that." Anna said.
"She may not like it but it is the proper way to address royalty," She reminded her daughter, "Unless the princess gives permission otherwise."
"You can just call me Victoria." I told her.
"Very well then, Victoria," She gave me a soft smile, "Let's get you dressed in something you'll actually like."
She had me feel all the fabric in the room. Showed me the different sleeve lengths and how'd they'd. Made a fake corset and tightened it until I felt it was good enough. Showed me samples of patterns that would be sewn into the dress as accents, this time in silver to match my tiara.
After an hour and a half of talking and trying things, we had decided on what we thought would look best. Her magic wasn't to the point that she could just make it appear but I had confidence it would look great.
She promised to bring the dress to the palace the morning of the ball. After hugs goodbye and a large thank you, Zekora took her home. I didn't know if I was ready to face the royal court but I knew one thing. I was definitely going to look the part.