Princess Iris

"Presenting the crowned Princesses of Filamonda, Their Royal Highnesses Princess Adrianna and Princess Iris of Filamonda," the announcer says.

The trumpets sound again and I start feeling anxious. Ri joins my hand with hers. I turn and look at her but she has her eyes forward. I hold her back as the curtains are drawn up. Ri and I process into the ballroom, and down the stairs. I see Lady Juliana and Lady Zadie they are both smiling at me as they finally curtsey. I smile at them and everyone.

Ri and I come to halt at the end of the stairs. Father and mother walk toward us. I frown at father; this is the first time I am seeing him in weeks. He looks elegant and charming as always. Father steps forward, I watch as he walks to Ri with a smile on his face. Ri smiles back at him and he takes her right hand and kisses it and finally, Ri curtsies at him. Father walks to me and without looking at him I curtsey and take my hands behind me. I look up at him and his rich green eyes stare down at me.

We both stare at each other. He looks angry and for the first time in forever, I don't care. He finally bows to me and takes his leave. Mother steps forward and pecks Ri on her cheeks and they both curtsey. Mother walks toward me and instead of her pecking me, I peck her on both cheeks and take a step back. She looks at me surprised. I look at her and I notice her eyes look very emotional. she regains herself and walks back to father.

"Let the celebration proceed," Father says.

"PRINCESS IRIS, PRINCESS IRIS!"

I look to my right and find Juliana and the girls running toward me. Ri grabs my hand as we hurry to meet them.

"Princess Iris..."

Before Juliana could curtsey, I take her into my arms and she hugs me back. Everyone surrounds me. When she releases me, Princess Octavia quickly hugs me.

"Oh Iris, it's such a relief to see you," Princess Octavia says.

"I missed you too Octavia," I say.

She releases me and starts cleaning her eyes.

"Don't you ever do that again. I thought I was never going to see you again," Princess Esmeralda says.

I turn to Esmeralda.

"Esmeralda, I am so sorry," I say.

"You better be because I am practiced the ear full you were going to receive from me when I lay my eyes on you," Princess Esmeralda says.

I smile at her.

"Princess Iris."

I turn to Lady Zadie who looks like she's holding a lot inside.

"Your Highness," Lady Zadie says and curtsies.

"Oh, Zadie."

She walks to me.

"You had us worried. Princess Esmeralda kept us informed about your health since your mother wasn't allowing any visitors to see you," Lady Zadie says. "I know, and I am so sorry for making you worried. But I am ok now," I say.

"Of course, and I am so glad," Lady Zadie says.

"Princess Iris," A voice shouts.

I turn and find Princess Catherine standing a bit far from the crowd surrounding me with her head low. I smile and walk over to her. She curtsies at me.

"I, I wanted to say thank you, you know for saving my life that day. If you hadn't stirred the horse away from me, I wouldn't be here. So I wanted to say thank you to you and am sorry you got hurt. I thought you were going to die. I was scared," Princess Catherine says.

I laugh as I take her hand.

"God, you are a shy one Catherine and I am glad you are alright. Besides, haven't you heard? It's going to take more than falling off a horse to bring down this princess," I say pointing to myself with a smile.

I watch as Princess Catherine starts laughing and the tension in her body releases. I smile and take her to join the girls waiting for us. I spend time catching up with the ladies. After almost a month of being confined in my room, this is the happiest I have been.

Not too long the boys start to come one after the other to see me.

"Thank you so much, Prince Gregory," I say looking around the ballroom.

"Prince Gregory?"

"Yes, Princess Iris."

"Have you seen Prince Jeffery or Prince Leonard? I was hoping I could talk to them," I say.

"I did see them. They stepped out during your processing. Frederick and Williams joined them," Prince Gregory says.

"What of Prince Nathaniel? I don't see around too," I ask.

"Prince Nathaniel has returned to Italy. He is to be crowned King next month. He went back to prepare," Prince Gregory says. "That is a piece of wonderful news. I wouldn't want to miss that for anything," I say.

"No one wants to either," Prince Gregory says.

Just then Ri rushes to me almost out of breath.

"Iris, they just brought it," Ri says.

"Slow down Ri, what are you talking about?" I ask.

"It's Nana's harp," Ri says.

I turn in time and watch as the guards carefully place it on the podium. "Prince Gregory..."

"It's fine Princess Iris, I will join the others," Princess Gregory says and leaves. "Ladies if you will excuse us, Iris and I need to attend to something," Ri says.

"Of course, Adrianna, we will be right here waiting," Princess Octavia replies. Ri and I hurry to the podium.

"It's like I can already hear Nana playing the harp," I say to myself.

"Wow," Ri says.

"Wow indeed," I say.

"I know the last time we saw the harp was on Nana's 75th birthday..."

"Which was 6 years ago," I say.

"Yes, but look at it. It still looks like the way she left it," Ri says.

"I miss her," I say.

"I miss her too," Ri says.

A heavy thunder is heard and it scares Ri and I as we both scream holding on to each other. We look around and at ourselves as we start laughing. It starts raining just then. "Wow, that came out of nowhere," I say.

"Yeah, mother is definitely going to be on her toes," Ri says.

Someone clears their throats behind us. Ri and I turn and find Princess Isabelle standing behind us.

"Isabelle," Ri says.

"Hello," Isabelle says looking at me.

"Don't you think it's too early for a score, Isabelle?" I ask.

"Who says I am here for a score?" Princess Isabelle says.

"Aren't you always here for a score?" Ri asks.

"Well yes I am but not this time," Isabelle says.

Ri and I look at each other and back to Princess Isabelle.

"Just hear me out, ok? I know I am not the easiest person to get along with, but come on have you met my father? He is the definition of "CAN'T GET ALONG WITH❞ not that, that is an excuse." "What are you trying to say, Isabelle?" I ask.

"Well, what I am trying to say is I am glad you are alright and I am sorry for everything," Princess Isabelle says.

"Wow, that must have been hard for you to say," Ri says.

Princess Isabelle puts her hand on her waist.

"You have no idea."

Princess Isabelle looks at me. I watch her for a while and I can how sincere she is. I smile at her.

"Thank you, Isabelle," I say.

She smiles at me.

"Oh my God, you do smile," Ri teases.

Princess Isabelle groans at her and I laugh. Soon enough they both start laughing. Just then a thought comes to mind. I look around the ballroom.

"I guess I should say thank you to you too," Princess Isabelle says.

"For what?" I ask.

"For the letters, you wrote to Leonard. It was very thoughtful," Princess Isabelle says.

"You wrote letters to Prince Leonard?" Ri asks.

"He also wrote back to her," Princess Isabelle says.

"What!?" Ri says.

"You are not helping Isabelle," I say.

"You kept this from me. How long was this happening?" Ri asks.

"I believe..."

"Don't you dare say it, Isabelle," I say.

"After the ball, you and I are going to have a very conversation," Ri says as I groan.

Just then it hits me.

"Isabelle, have you seen Prince Jeffery around?" I ask.

"No, I haven't. But I did see his royal coach when we arrived at the castle," Princess Isabelle says.

"What of Prince Leonard, your brother, have you seen him around too?" Ri asks.

"Well, we did ride in the same coach Adrianna. But I haven't seen him since we entered the castle. He just vanished," Princess Isabelle says.

I and Ri look at each other.

"I am sure they will turn up. You know men always have to do who knows what," Princess Isabelle says.

"You are probably right," I say.

"Alright Isabelle, come with me. The girls will be dying to know what made you change," Ri says to Princess Isabelle.

"I don't need to tell them anything," Princess Isabelle says.

"Yes you do," Ri says dragging Princess Isabelle along with her.

"I will stay back; you know to look at the harp," I say.

Ri looks at me briefly and takes Princess Isabelle away with her.

I turn back to the harp and couldn't help but smile. Just then a servant walks up to me with a tray of drinks.

"Happy birthday Your Highness," he says.

"Why thank you gentleman," I say and take the drink off the tray. He bows and leaves.

I turn back to the harp. I remember how Nana played that harp every day and every night. I would sleep off on the porch listening to her play. I can also remember her teaching me how to play the harp. I don't do so well with other instruments, but with the harp, my hands just flow easily. Miss Adeline wanted me solo on The Music Art Exhibition Day, because of how good I am at playing Nana's harp, she even spoke to father to let me play the harp on the exhibition day but father turned down her request. Father even turned me down when I begged him to let me play the harp. Because of time, Miss Adeline had to choose Ri to solo with her piano.