CHAPTER 96
Alyssa glanced at the mirror for the hundredth time, tucking her hairs beside her ears and feeling elated that she looked just as she desired.
“This is beautiful!” She said to Tiffany, who nodded her head in approval.
She was clad in a red long gown, with glitters around the neck and a small opening in the bust area.
On her face was a light makeup that popped her face and made her face radiate.
“I told you to trust me with your looks for today”, Tiffany said, with a glint of pride flashing in her eyes.
It was the pre wedding dinner night. In the place, it was a tradition that took place some days before the royal wedding.
It’s usually hosted by the groom’s parents, and that was the case this time. The queen had taken it upon herself to treat her son and the incoming queen to dinner.Copyright Nôv/el/Dra/ma.Org.
A few guests around the kingdom and out of the kingdom were sent the invitation card, and it was clear that it would be a big dinner celebration.
“I’m a little bit nervous”, Alyssa confessed and took in a deep breath.
She could feel her heart beating in anxiety, and she wondered how she would feel to be graced with the presence of guests from far and near.
She was a princess, but never got to receive attention in that regard. At such, it seemed new and different.
“You would be fine. It’s only the pre wedding dinner. Think about your big day instead”, Tiffany suggested and patted Alyssa on her shoulders.
Alyssa forced a smile to her face, taking in deep breaths to feel better.
After a moment, Tiffany led her out of the room and towards the dinner hall where the dinner was taking place.
Everywhere turned quiet the moment she walked into the room, she could see hears turning and smiles on peoples faces. All of these made her anxious, but she remained glad that Tiffany was standing right beside her.
She walked directly towards Liam, who was now standing to receive her. He took hold of her hands and placed a kiss on it, after which cheers and applause rented the air.
They had their seat, and almost immediately, the event started. Soft music played in the background, some couples were on the dance floor, others were busy with their meals while the rest got engrossed with conversations that seemed unending.
“Would you like to have anything else before we have our dance?” Liam asked Alyssa, who was clearly uncomfortable where she sat.
It was hard to get used to the fact that she was the center of attention. That was something she never knew what it felt like.
“A drink would be fine”, Alyssa whispered back and smiled at him, feeling glad that he was beside her to relieve how tensed she felt.
Liam nodded and gestured at one of the servants present. Almost immediately, a tray of drink was passed across to them.
Alyssa made to start sipping from her drink, but someone standing directly opposite where she sat caught her attention.
At first, she thought that it was only a hallucination, but she blinked her eyes again and the person remained there.
It was Ella…
“What are you staring at? Is everything okay?” Liam asked Alyssa, who was clearly distracted by something she was looking at.
Alyssa was scared to her bones that her eyes remained fixated to that spot, even if the image she had seen was nowhere in sight again.
“My love!” Liam said again, tapping Alyssa lightly and watching how she jerked up in shock.
“Yea”, Alyssa replied and turned to Liam, who had a questioning look on his face.
“You were staring at something”, he observed, while Alyssa narrowed her gaze back to where she had seen Ella standing earlier.
Ella wasn’t there, no one was there either…
“I just drifted away in thoughts”, Alyssa lied as she wiped off the beads of sweats that had formed on her forehead.
Many things could go wrong if Ella had access into the palace. Thinking of the many things that could happen scared her to the bones that for a minute, she couldn’t make an utterance.
“We should have a dance. It would make you feel better”, Liam suggested, while Alyssa nodded her head in approval.
She was hallucinating now, and the best way to get sound would be having a dance.
She got to her feet immediately and walked into the dance floor, with Liam holding her firmly as though someone would take her away from him.
The hall turned quiet as they gave them some moment to themselves. Many guests couldn’t help gushing out in excitement, while others wished them a happy home.
Indeed, Alyssa felt better the moment she started to dance with Liam. He was so cool and gentle that she felt safe in his arms.
“You look stunning!” Liam whispered into her ears while she chuckled and bit her lower lips.
“You look handsome too”, Alyssa replied, smiling widely and swirling around in accordance to the dance rhythm.
The dance ended almost immediately and as they walked back to the chairs, there was a loud round of applause in the hall.
Everyone went on with congratulating them on their new-found happiness, just as the party continued.
***
Tiffany was heading over towards a segment of the guest table when she bumped into someone. The person quickly darted her eyes away the moment she realized that Tiffany was the one standing before.
Tiffany was surprised at how the person behaved, and this prompted her to go after the strange person until she confirmed who she was.
“Wait!” Tiffany said, but Ella walked as fast as her legs could carry her.
She bumped into another person, and this time, stumbled until she landed on the ground with a thud.
Her face came to view, making Tiffany to gasp in shock and horror.
“Ella?” She yelped in shock, wondering how she was able to get into the palace premises.
“Weren’t you warned never to come into the palace premises?” Tiffany asked, her voice loud like a foghorn.
Ella quickly jerked up to her feet, fearing that she would be discovered by Liam, Alyssa, or the queen.
“Please…don’t raise your voice”, Ella begged Tiffany, who was ready to scream until she brings the pre wedding dinner to an end.
On a second thought, Tiffany decided to keep quiet, not because Ella had asked her to, but because she wouldn’t want to ruin the lovely moment the atmosphere was engulfed in.
“I ask again… what are you doing here? You better say it aloud before I alert the queen and Liam”, Tiffany said and again, Ella’s heart missed a beat.
“I promise to leave. I was only dying of curiosity and for another time, I wanted to set my eyes on my sister. I actually wanted to plead for her forgiveness”, Ella lied and started sniffing pretentiously.
She knew that she would never stoop too low to ask Alyssa for forgiveness, but she only said that to make Tiffany think of her in another manner.
“I would leave once I ask for forgiveness and apologize. I promise”, Ella pushed further, feeling pleased that Tiffany was beginning to believe her.
Tiffany walked out after warning her to leave the palace premises. Ella finally leaves the premises, while Tiffany battled with her inner self. She thought of telling her best friend about Ella, but kicked against it when she saw how happy Alyssa was at the moment.