[center][h1] The Ball[/h1][/center]

The day carried on with the aristocrats going about whatever they had planned for the day. Eventually the time came where they needed to head to their respective quarters to get ready for the ball that was to be held. It was the last opportunity for the Princes and Princesses to get to know one another before selections would need to be made the following afternoon. All eyes would be on them in the coming hours with all the guests at this ball pondering who would be paired with who. 


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[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/Z1nsXYQ.png[/img][/center]
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Eventually Annalise had to leave the bubble she had created in the library to head to her room and get ready for the ball. A bath had been drawn for her and she spent as long as she possibly could soaking in the water before allowing her handmaids to wash her. She could faintly hear an argument about the dress she was going to wear between the handmaids who were to dress her. Something about the dress she was to wear no doubt. The Princess did her best to ignore the conversation and take in the scents that had been selected for her. Some combination of Lavender and vanilla, with a hint of something she couldn’t quite place. Perhaps something native to the Prince’s more Northern lands She wasn’t quite sure. 

The moment Annalise exited the bath she was swarmed by various attendants. She had given up years ago attempting to convince them she was not so frail that she couldn’t dress herself. The image of her had been long since established and there was nothing she could do about it now. She had other things to focus on anyway. 

Before she knew it Annalise was standing in front of a mirror staring at herself in a color she had never worn herself at least not these shades. The girl she saw in the mirror was not the one she was used to looking at. Gone were the light blues and soft pinks she saw in her everyday clothing. Replaced by more cerulean blue and silver of the royal family crest. Annalise had worn similar colors before but her stylist chose to lighten the colors to match her skin tone, and maintain the frail appearance of the first born daughter. Now she wore the true colors of her family and her country. The women around her looked more than pleased with their work. The dress was primarily cerulean blue but had more than its fair share of silver branch and leaf like accents, similar to the stag’s horns on the crest, though obviously with some creative differences. Her hair, for once, was left almost completely untouched. Save for two braided pieces in the front that had been pulled back and pinned with a similar branch and leaf-like accessory though she hadn’t seen much of it when it was put into place. 

After spending a few moments of admiring herself in the mirror she finally headed to the ballroom. She was sure some of the guests would have already arrived. She could hear the sounds of music echoing through the hallways. Her father would not be making any big speeches tonight. It was time to celebrate what was to come so the festivities would have already started in order to entertain the early arrivals. There were always those who wished to be the first to see the royal family or speak with the King. 

Annalise slipped into the ballroom from one of the servant’s entrances so as to avoid being announced. She hated the attention it got her even if there were only a few guests present at this time. She quietly placed herself next to where her father was standing speaking to some of the court members, smiling at them politely as they noticed her. The conversation quickly shifted from whatever they were speaking to her father about to how stunning she looked in her attire and how either of the Princes would be lucky to have such a beauty for a wife. As if there were not many other reasons she would make a good wife other than her looks. She was, of course, used to these comments. Most of the court members refused to acknowledge that she was, in fact, the crown Princess. The one who held the most claim to the throne, the one who’s heir would take the throne when the time came. The one who would likely hold the throne until such time as Annalise had no intention of allowing whichever man she married to take her country from her. 

She said nothing, simply smiling at the comment and looking around the room at all those who had arrived. It wasn’t many, but the room would quickly fill. It seemed the first to arrive had been the members of the court, the Lords who would bear witness to the selection the following day. Likely wanting to get a feel for who each Prince would choose before the actual day. She had no doubt the Lords of the court had some form of wager on the matter. 

Soon enough Annalise’s attention was taken by other guests of the ball and she was no longer watching the door for the others to arrive. Distracted by socialization and maintaining the friendly, delicate image for the onlookers.

[hider= Closish dress ref for anyone curious]
[center][img]https://e0c225f2b3a2d834c1d2-144ea745a7dc0dc30112b63ad32ea349.ssl.cf2.rackcdn.com/product-hugerect-3253290-216871-1636003282-16de128ab6c97423dc5a5d7f53f9a0ae.png[/img]
Cerulean Blue instead of black. Silver instead of Gold[/center][/hider]