It was the day of the tea party, a couple of hours before it would start. Tatiana was being dressed and packed by the Tailor and other makeup artists in her room. They started at six in the morning but ended at eleven at noon.
The preparation for the tea party lasted for a long time and she was being dressed as if it was a large event. She had not even eaten breakfast yet and she was starving.
"Chin up, your highness," the tailor said, "this may just be a tea party, but it is an event that many powerful women will attend. This will be a battle of dresses and appearances."
"I don't think I want to take part in thatâ" the princess paused and looked at the tailor through the mirror.
"Manuel," the tailor said, "my name is Manuel, your highness."
Even his name is manly, Tatiana thought.
"Did-Did I already know you before I lost my memories?" she asked. She was worried if this was the tailor of the former Tatiana. Knowing her temper, it must have been difficult dealing with her. Maybe Manuel was thinking of taking revenge on her in some way.
"No," Manuel answered shortly, "you had another personal tailor, but he quit because you destroyed everything he owned when you didn't like the dress he tailored for you."
"Oh, my," Tatiana gasped, "is-is he okay?"
"Not really. I lived in the same neighborhood as him before I entered the Palace and he became a drunkard." Manuel said as if it was nothing, "who wouldn't be, you destroyed his tools and things that cost a fortune. Not to mention that he was very sentimental about those things."
"Oh no." How could she do that? Even if her temper was that bad, she shouldn't do that to people. She destroyed someone's life and shattered their dreams.
"But that was months ago. The king got him his own salon and is now working happily."
"Thank goodness!"
"Maybe I was lucky enough to be hired just after you lost your memories," Manuel said, the side of his eyes gazing at the princess,
" You're not as scary as the rumors say."
Tatiana laughed nervously. ' That's because I'm not the real Tatiana' she wanted to say but remained silent about it.
"A tea for the princess," someone announced from outside. Manuel looked over his shoulder in confusion.
"We never asked for tea, though." He said, "and the princess shouldn't drink or eat before the party."
Tatiana also faced William, who was pushing the trolley.
"What's this William?" she asked. William did not answer her but instead, pulled away from the cloth draping at the side of the trolley.
"Elliot!" Tatiana gasped when Elliot got out of the bottom of the trolley. He ran towards Tatiana and draped his arms around her.
"Tatiana!" he sobbed, "I'm sorry!"
"What? Why would you be sorry?" Tatiana asked him and pulled away from the hug. Elliot wiped his face.
"Mother would not let me go to the library or let alone meet you," he said, "I told her so many times but she just gets angry. I'm sorry, Tiana."
The princess' eyes started to heat up. She blinked back the tears and calmed herself down.
"It's fine Elliot, it's not your fault." She said. "Don't cry 'cause you're making me cry."
Elliot giggled, "you are pretty today, Tiana. You look like a queen."
"Your mother is the queen."
"but she does not act like one."
"Pfft."
They all turned in Manuel's direction who looked like he was keeping in a laugh.
"What? I'm sorry!"
Tatiana shook her head and smiled at Elliot. She noticed how Elliot got thinner again after he gained a little weight while they were meeting each other. She also noticed that the bags under his eyes appeared again and darker now.
"Are you sick again?" she asked him gently. Elliot smiled sadly and lowered his head.
"I just can't sleep these days," he said and rubbed circles on his chest, "and this hurts sometimes.
She felt a sharp pain in her chest when she looked at Elliot. She does not like seeing him like that. It's clearly hurting him and it feels like the queen is not even trying to make him feel better.
"It's time to return now, prince." William said, "your aid will soon return to your room."
The room went silent. They didn't want to part. Even Manuel was wiping the tears at the corner of his eyes using his bright-colored scarf. Tatiana sighed and cupped Elliot's face.
"I promise that we will see each other soon, Elli." She gently patted Elliot's head and nodded at William. "You should eat more and get some good night's sleep because when I do this we will go on a date outside the palace."
"Outside the palace?!" Elliot's eyes lightened up, "but I have never stepped outside the palace!"
Tatiana nodded. She knows because it was written in the novel. Elliot did not go outside of the palace, not until he entered the academy of scholars where he met Agatha. She feels bad for stealing his first-time date outside the palace walls, but she really wanted to do that for her brother. She can't wait another four years for this.
"I promise," she said, "I'll take you there."
"But you never stepped out of the palace before either," Manuel said. Tatiana looked at him with shock on her face.
"I never did?" she asked. Manuel shook his head and when Tatiana looked at her brother and William, they also both shook their heads.
Really?
"Well, I guess it's the first time for the both of us then" Tatiana smiled sheepishly.
"I doubt that father and mother would let us. Mother said that the world outside is full of bad people."
"They will," she replied and nodded at Elliot, "they will have to."
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END