Princess Iris
CHAPTER 18

I can hear the hoofs of the horses. The guests have been arriving all evening. I can hear the trumpets singing. I smile to myself when the thought of seeing my friends comes to my mind. Just then a feeling takes over. "Why do I feel like I am forgetting something," I say to myself.

"Ouch."

"I am so sorry Your Highness," Bridgette apologizes.

"Do we have to do this?" I ask.

They all turn to Elizabeth who is working on the dress. She looks around the girls and looks at me.

She clears her throat.

"Yes, Your Highness, you have lost a lot of weight since the last time you tried the gown on. I have to insert all these layers so that the dress can sit properly on your hips and your waist can look elegant," Elizabeth says. I sigh.

"You need to hurry up; mother hates it when I am late," I say.

"You won't be late Your Highness, Right Beth?" Caroline asks trying to be sure.

"Of course, my princess won't be late and I am almost done," Elizabeth says.

"Are you sure because it looks like..."

"Could you all stop talking so that I can concentrate on my sewing?" Elizabeth says interrupting Juliette.

They all look at her surprised. I smile at their surprised faces.

"Juliette please send for the guards on duty. We are almost done," I say.

"Yes, Your Highness," Juliette curtsies and leaves the room.

"I am done, Your Highness."

I quickly walk to the mirror and I look beautiful. I can't help when I start turning around and clapping.

"Oh thank you so much ladies, I look divine," I say.

They are all smiling and giggling

Just then it clicks.

"Bridgette, the perfume," I say.

Bridgette dashes into my wardrobe open the cabinet and bring out the perfume Nana gave me.

Bridgette walks forward and sprays the perfume on my gown.

"Your Highness."

I turn to Paulina holding out Ri's birthday gift to me.

"Thank you, Paulina," I say and take it from her.

Just then a knock comes on my door.

"This is it, ladies," I say.

They all curtsey and I curtsey back to them.

"Bridgette," I say.

We both exit the room Bridgette leads the way while I follow her behind with the guards in front and behind us.

I can hear Ri's voice as we approach the processing entrance.

"And that is how you tell the difference between a fake diamond and a real diamond," Ri says.

I smile recalling one of Ri's favorite teachings.

"Iris!" Ri screams when she sees me.

She rushes to me and pulls me into a big hug as I laugh.

"You know it's only been 16 hours since we last saw," I say.

"Hush now," Ri says releasing me. "It felt like 8 weeks."

I gasp.

"Now you are just exaggerating," I say.

"You know what I mean," Ri says.

I laugh at her.

"Oh my God Iris," Ri says admiring my gown.

I turn around for her in circles so she could see.

"How do I look?" I ask.

"You look gorgeous. The gown is... you worked on the gown?" Ri asks.

"You noticed?" I ask.

"Of course, I noticed," Ri says.

"Elizabeth did wonderful work on my gown," I say.

"Indeed, she did."

"It's more I can say about yours Ri. Your gown is lovely," I say.

"Oh, thank you, Penelope worked on it," Ri says stirring around.

Just then Veronica appears with Ri's perfume and while she is distracted my eyes go to her hair and I can't stop looking at it. Paulina did wonderful work on my hair. It's just as pretty as Ri's but for some reason, that gave me no comfort. I guess there is something different when your mother does your hair for you.

"I know you saw us". Ri says.

I look at Ri

We stare at each other. Before I could say anything, she rushes in.

"I am so sorry Iris, I did tell mother to come help you with your hair but she seemed," Ri pauses looking away. I watch trying to figure out what to say as she finally sighs and looks at me.

"You are beautiful Iris. You are smart and maybe a little more intelligent than me; you also have a large heart too. Even if for some reason father and mother do not say it as often as they should, especially on days like this, you should know you are beautiful," Ri says.

I look at her, tears gathering in my eyes.

"Father spoke with you too?" I ask.

She looks at me shocked realizing what she said and tries to say something but I raise my hand silencing her.

"I know you want me to feel special in every way Ri and honestly, I do feel special, thanks to you. But if all you are going to do all day is cover up for mother and father then I am going to feel worse than I did before," I say. "Alright, I won't cover up for them but I just want you to be fine."

"Trust me I am," I say.

I turn to Bridgette; she walks forward with the box in her hand and gives it to me.

"Happy birthday Ri", I say, holding the box out to her.

She looks at the box and back at me and finally at the box.

"You didn't," she says.

"Yes, I did."

"But I didn't get you anything, you didn't tell me..."

"Ri if you don't take this box from me, I will have Bridgette auction it," I say.

She grabs the box from me and starts opening it. When she sees the gift, she remains quiet for a while. She stares at the content for a while.

"You like love it?" I ask.

Ri brings out the tiara from the box. She looks at every detail of the tiara for a while and finally, she looks at me as a tear falls off her eyes. I quickly take out a handkerchief from my gown pocket and clean the tear. "What are you doing Ri? You will ruin your makeup," I say.

"It's very beautiful," Ri says.

"It has to be. I used all my savings to have it made," I say.

"You did what?! You used all..."

"RI!!" I groan.

She sighs and removes the tiara from her hair.

"What are you doing?" I ask.

"Trying to wear the birthday gift my sister got me."

She turns to Veronica who takes the tiara mother picked up for Ri from her.

"Iris, can you put the tiara on for me?" Ri asks

"Are you sure? I mean mother chose that one for you," I say.

She smiles at me.

"I am very sure."

I take the tiara from her and wait as she turns her back to me. I slowly and carefully place the tiara on her hair.

"I think that will do."

She turns to me.

"How do I look?"

"Like a butterfly," I say.

We both start laughing.

She uses her handkerchief to clean her eyes

"You didn't tell me we were getting gifts for ourselves I would have thought of something and made it for you," Ri says.

"Well, you are always doing something for me. You look out for me; you stand up for me and you protect me. I have always wanted to get you something but I couldn't think of anything until the last heist I did on the guards. So, I consulted Constantine and had him make it. He's very resourceful," I praise. "Indeed, he is," Ri agrees. "I don't need to look in a mirror to know I look beautiful with the tiara. I love the tiara, Iris. Thank you so much," Ri hugs me.

"You are welcome Ri. You were worth every penny," I say.

She releases me.

"I can't wait for everyone to see it especially..."

Just then the pain from earlier returns and I let out a groan of pain. Ri quickly grabs me.

"Iris, Iris, are you okay?"

I hold unto her for a while.

I gasp for air as the pain intensifies.

"Your highness," Bridgette cries.

"Iris! Bridgette help me hold her from behind," Ri orders.

Bridgette quickly does as she was told.

"Guards get that couch."

"Iris look at me, Iris," Ri instructs.

I try to focus on Ri but the pain won't let me.

I hear Bridgette saying something to Ri.

"What do you mean she looked like this earlier? When was this?" Ri shouts.

"Right after she came back to the room from seeing you, she looked pale and tired," Bridgette says.

"Why didn't you say something?" Ri asks.

"She told me she was fine, Your Highness," Bridgette says.

"There is no thin line between a lie and a truth. You have been my sister's Head maid since she was little, and here you are trying to tell me you can't tell when she is telling you the truth or a lie," Ri says angrily. "I am so sorry Your Highness," Bridgette says.

"I don't want to hear a word from you. Veronica go fetch mother," Ri barks.

"Don't," I order.

Everyone turns and looks at me. I feel the pain subsiding.

"I am fine," I say.

"Iris that didn't look fine," Ri argues.

"I said I am fine, ADRIANNA," I say.

Ri looks at me shocked. It's been a long time since I called her by her full name.

"No, you are not Iris. You..."

"Ri please I am fine. I am sorry I scared you," I say.

Just then we hear the trumpets sounding, Ri helps me up as we quickly make our way to the curtains. I turn to Bridgette who is watching me, I smile and nod at her. She curtsies at me.