The Commoner ⚜ Ch. 9

"O happy dagger! This is thy sheath; there rust, and let me die." Claire cried out as she tucked the foam dagger under her arm, making a dramatic death as she fell over the actor doing Romeo.

A few people sniffed before bursting into applause.

"Very well done," Professor Singh said, wiping a tear before anyone could notice. "You two ought to have been recorded. You'll be more than ready for the performance."

Claire and the other student smiled, helping each other up and bowing.

"Wonderful, yes. Now places for the next act. Chop chop. Except you, Miss Hudson, I believe you have another practice to get to."

"Thank you sir. Bye Mercy!" Claire said as she slipped out the door. She hurried to the locker room, discarding her Juliet dress for a tutu.

For once her hands shook a little as she put on her dance shoes. Master Ashton had assigned the Prima for the Kings' Alliance Royal Ballet to be the lead in Pharaoh's daughter. That is, until today. Now was the final audition to see if anyone could actually out dance the professional.

It was a long shot, but she wanted to try. She'd made sure her slippers and costume had been properly locked up, testing going up on pointe every time, just in case. She felt strong, and now she just had to be sure of herself... Probably.

Hurrying to the main stage, she smiled again at the beautiful backdrops for Pharaoh's Daughter.

Master Ashton saw her come in. "Ah there you are, Miss Hudson. We are just about to begin. Break a leg."

"Alright, those looking to audition for Aspicia one last time - against our own lovely Prima Midori - please come to the stage," Madame Selina announced.

Everyone whispered amongst themselves, but no one stepped forward.

Except Claire.

"I'd like to try again," she said with as much confidence as she could muster.

"Of course Miss Hudson. Music," Selina ordered with a clap of her hands.

She took her position on stage and just breathed for a moment. As the music began, she tried to let everything else go. This was a dance she could do, and she knew she had the skill to do it well. She let the music overtake her, imagining the story unfolding.

Her mind jumped to what Danielle had said about Egypt, how they'd talked of travel and music and castles. And how flattered she'd felt that a princess would give her the time of day and tried to cheer her up.

As the dance came to an end, everyone applauded. She bowed as gracefully as possible and looked down at the professors to see what they'd say.

They deliberated for a few minutes, when someone came up behind her. Claire couldn't help but jump a little.

"Sorry," Midori whispered, chuckling. "Let the girl have the part. Any first year who can do the dance so well deserves it."

She looked back in surprise. The Prima winked and walked away, and Claire was left to another round of applause.

"Very well then! Miss Claire Hudson will play Princess Aspicia," Master Ashton decided.

She grinned, bowing again before going to find Amiko. Who she ran into first was a surprise though.

"Congratulations," Edmond said.

"Oh, thank you," she replied, shocked. Going around him, she saw someone coming up the stairs to the stage, leaving her in even more surprise.

"Congratulations," Danielle smiled, holding a small bouquet of flowers. "That was pretty amazing."

She automatically took the flowers, looking at her with a confused smile. "Why... Why are you here? Don't you have practice with the knights?"

The princess looked a bit bashful. "I um, remembered you'd said today was a big day, and I wanted to... I wanted to see you. I hope that's alright."

She nodded and threw an arm around her. "Thank you."