Christine reluctantly wore the dress her mother had the local dressmaker sow for her. The dress was gold and sparkly, millions of star shaped sparkles clouding the skirt. Lacey ribbon and navy blue trim lined the bodice. The sleeves were sheer white, as was the overskirt. She agreed to wear it on one condition, her hair could be down and her nails could be black. She walked into the crowd of the ball as her mother introduced her to guests as Christine Waltz. Christine plastered a smile on her face and curtseyed to all on que. She broke from her mother to talk to some people her age in a corner who she later learned were James and Thomas’ cousins. She had actually started enjoying herself when she saw Thomas standing near the door, holding a glass by himself. Debating whether she should talk to him or not, she excused herself and slowly started to walk over to him.
“Well you look simply ravishing, my dear,” she heard Lord Waltz’s voice behind her and quickly turned to face him, “Doesn’t she son?”
James was at his side. He pointed with his glass.
“The dress is nice,” his voice was monotone.
Christine smirked and James offered his arm. She took it, rolling her eyes as James’ father pushed them up stairs. They silently walked to the overhead balcony used for when plays were hosted at the Octania household. Christine let go of James’ arm and walked to the stone railing.
“I found myself taking to some of your relatives,” she was watching Thomas, “I didn't know you liked dancing”
James stood at the other edge of the balcony.
“Everyone likes…..dancing,” he said.
Christine turned towards him, “It’s alright to like things, you know. You don't have to be so…..stiff all of the time”
“Would you rather me be as rambunctious and immature as you are?” James muttered, immediately defensive.
“Being imperfect is not being immature,” Christine snapped back, “at least I’m not trying to show others what I’m not”
“And what is that Miss Octania?” James turned to her.
“Oh there you go again,” she threw her arms into the air, “for goodness sakes James just use my first name!”
When he didn't respond, she answered his question.
“Well I’m not as elegant as they all want me to be,” she said quietly.
“I’ll tell you what you are,” James set his glass on the balcony’s stony ledge.
“Since you are the expert,” Christine crossed her arms, “I will do the same to you”
“You’re outspoken,” James started.
“You’re cocky,” Christine returned.
“Ignorant,” he raised his voice.
“Snobby,” Christine raised hers.
“Childish!” he said
“Disrespectful!” she retorted
“Short-tempered!”
“Ill Mannered!”
“Oh you….you….why can’t you be more like your brother!” Christine shouted and started towards the curtain covering the stairs to her room.
“Why can’t you be less like him!” James retaliated.
Christine threw the curtain back and ran into her mother.
“Oh!” she said, “Christine, where are you going in such a hurry?”
“Mother I am sorry but this stops now! I cannot go through with this-”
“You can and you will,” Lady Octania interrupted.
“Oh you would not believe James’ behavior! He is only a thick headed brute who cannot be bothered with me or with you or with anyone else! I simply will not marry him! I-”
“If you reject him, there will be no one here to yell at anymore! The people will rise up and kill us all! Now stop this aimless complaining!” Lady Octania ordered
Christine was quickly quieted by her mother’s words.
“I do not enjoy seeing you unhappy,” she said more calmly, “but if you do not do this, we’re through!........ Do you understand me?”
You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
Christine looked into her mother’s eyes and said, “I do not love him. In fact, I even dare say I despise him. I hope you enjoy your ‘kingdom’ at my expense”
She quickly turned around and bumped into James as he came up the stairs, both muttering, “Spoiled pampered brat”
Christine looked up in surprise as she heard their words.
“Well, if that’s how you really feel,” James tipped his head.
“Likewise,” she whispered and stomped the rest of the way down the stairs.
She looked back only for a moment….he was right about one thing….what a child she was
********************************************************************************
“Gather around everyone! Lady Octania wishes to speak to you all,” Lord Waltz shouted from the front of the room. The occupants clapped quietly and giddily moved towards Lady Octania.
“Thank you all for coming and making my daughter and future son-in-law’s special night even better! (Christine scoffed) I look to our future and see James and Christine as bold and capable leaders who will create a better society for us all to live in harmony in”
Christine was also going to give a speech but was now in no way to give it. Flustered and anxious, she paced back and forth behind a curtain by the podium her mother was standing on. Out in the crowd, Thomas had walked over to James who was up the stairs in the balcony.
“She is going to speak next,” Thomas said.
Startled by Thomas’ sudden presence, James said, “Who….Christine?”
“Yes….she is quite the poet you know…..good with words”
“Mhm,” James muttered.
Thomas sighed.
“What is your problem James? Let go of this….this….façade. Your reputation precedes you and she will know that soon enough,” he said.
“I am only being myself,” James replied, “I haven't the slightest idea what you’re going on about”
“Yes, you do,” Thomas hit the top of the railing with his hand, “I have tried to help you two get along, as much as it had pained me to do so, because I love you both very much. I cannot help you if you won’t help yourself. Let her see the real you and she will do the same. Just stop arguing over silly things as children do!”
James only stared at him. He didn't know what to say because he knew Thomas was correct.
Thomas tried to find Christine when he left James. As soon as he caught sight of her, a group of young women scurried around her.
“Oh miss Christine,” one of them said, “We’ve heard of your betrothal!”
“Oh really?” Christine smiled
“Oh how I wish to be in your shoes,” another girl said.
“Why is that?” Christine forced her smile even more.
“Everyone knows that James Waltz is the most charming man in England!” a different girl said.
Christine let her smile fade.
The group of girls looked as though they could all be sisters, each wearing frilly pastel dresses and ringlet curls, blushing faces and giddy smiles.
“Is that so….what else do you know about him?” Chrstine squinted her eyes and put on a close-lipped smile, “there must be more”
“We want to know what you know about him Christine,” a girl replied with a mischievous smile, “you must tell”
“Oh do tell!” the rest of the girls exclaimed in unison.
“Well, in all honesty,” Christine lowered her voice, “nothing at all”
The girls blinked.
“Almost as though he has little to no personality besides being haughty and-”
“Dreamy,” the girls gushed.
Christine closed her eyes, trying not to roll them.
“Oy! Girl!” she heard a harsh whisper from around her.
She whipped her head around to see an elderly woman holding a fan at the side of her face.
“Are you…..talking to me?” Christine walked towards her.
“Yes! You’re James’ girl, right? Christine?” the woman said.
Christine nodded.
“I must tell you the truth about something,” the woman whispered, “before anyone can tell you the lie. Come, sit!”
Christine looked at the woman’s dress. It was all black with red ribbons decorating it in a million random places. Her hair was a silvery white and her neck was adorned with red rubies.
“My apologies,” Christine said, “but remind me of your name?”
“I’m Agatha Waltz,” she tilted her head, “Thomas and James’ grandmother”
Christine nodded and sat down in a chair next to Agatha.
“I understand your dilemma. I also favor Thomas…but not during Mabel. Oh while she was in the Waltz household, she was delightful! Bringing light and excitement that the Waltzes just do not radiate. We’ve always been a very imperturbable family. I am the least conventional member and even I have my limits. Mabel changed James, got him to……loosen up a bit, if you will. She helped us all too. As you may have guessed though, things took a turn for the worse. Mabel’s family had to leave. She was fourteen, so of course she went with them. This crushed James beyond belief. I’d even dare say he loved her. He was never able to find that free spirited nature on his own. Since she left, he has let no one but Thomas into his gates of solitude and…..disparity”
Christine was nonplussed.
“Thomas used to tell me the funniest stories about James,” she said, “I never believed them. I have never seen a silly version of James, so I brushed those stories off as a joke. Mabel was very nice to me….I thought she’d do him good but never knew they had any kind of relationship”
Christine shook her head, she had been rambling.
She turned towards Agatha, “Well thank you for the….enlightenment, Lady Waltz, it was a pleasure to meet you”
“Oh the pleasure is mine, love,” Agatha fanned herself and spoke a little quieter, “If you take anything from this conversation, remember this: people only change for two reasons. Either they learn a lot or they get hurt too much”
“Well,” Christien muttered, “no one is perfect”
Agatha closed her eyes and nodded, “That speech coming along?”
Christine’s eyes widened, she’d completely forgotten and her mother was almost finished.
“Thank you so much for your time!” she curtseyed slightly and hurried away just as Thomas was making his way over.
“Oh hello Thomas,” Agatha said.
He nodded, slightly confused.
James was beside himself, still on the balcony, wanting to apologize to Thomas. A sudden voice stopped him as he turned back to the front of the room.
“Thank you all for your attention,” Christine stuttered.
Her demeanor surprised James, he wasn't expecting timidness.
“I have enjoyed speaking with each of you, as I believe communication is key. That is what I value in my relationships. I want to build relationships rooted in trust with all of you. Rooted in loyalty. Yet, most of all, a relationship rooted in communication. I may not be the oldest counselor but I am going to council nonetheless, to the best of my ability. I will try to live up to the peacekeepers before me”
Christine looked at James for the first time since she’d started talking. She realized he had already been looking at her.
“I might even be so bold as to say…..James agrees with me,” she went on, trying to hold back a smile.
James smirked and nodded in approval as the crowd clapped for her….and she let herself smile.