My mother wakes me up early today. 'It's the King's birthday and we need you to represent us' she says. 'He is an old man now and needs a strong queen by his side. There's a chance he'll choose you if you put up your best behavior and smile. Everything will be fine.' I nod as I get out of my bed. It's so soft and comfortable I wish I could have slept late. But I obey my mother and sit in front of the small table near my bed. There are many porcelain boxes on it, different shapes and sizes. I pick my favorite hair brush from one box and start brushing my hair.
I've never liked the dark, pale red color of my hair. It reminds me too much of the day four years ago. Even the thought of it makes me shudder. I try to brush through it as fast as I can but the tangled curls just keep appearing, one after another. I want to pull it out, even bald is better than this. I brush more and more furiously, like in a dream. I come to my senses as my mother grabs my arm. 'What are you doing? Stop that, Elena!' I stop brushing and look at her. Her eyes look dark. I don't know what I'm doing anymore. She takes the hair brush from my hand and starts brushing my hair firmly yet gently. I envy her. She is beautiful and wise. Unlike me.
I awaken from these thoughts as my little brother, Arthur, swings my door open and speeds on my bed. 'Sister, the carriage's here! We get to ride a carriage!' he shouts excitedly. Mother ceases brushing my hair and rushes my brother back out of my room. Somehow I'm glad he appeared, even for a while. I focus my attention to the dress I'm supposed to wear today.It's made of flowery blue silk with the most beautiful lace I've ever seen. The puffiness of its sleeves and hem look comfortable but I wonder if I can make my waist thin enough for it.
After my mother's done brushing my hair she begins braiding the hair on the sides of my head and rolls the braids into a bun. She then turns the rest of my hair into tight curls with hot rolls of metal and wood. When the curls were ready she adorned the coiffure with a white bow. 'Look, honey, how beautiful you are. I'm sure you'll make us proud.' I hope so too. I have to stand up and hold my breath as my mother tightens the corset. She complains about how difficult it is to tighten the laces by herself. I listen to her, quietly but nodding my head a little to show I'm listening to her, because she likes the quiet. I once heard that she even hates birdsong.
When she can't tighten the corset anymore, she ties the laces into a knot and catches her breath. I can't breathe well but I can bear it so I hide my discomfort. Mother takes the dress off the hanger and helps me to put it on. It barely fits but I'm glad it does. As I look in the mirror on the table notice how enormous my chest looks. I'm about to complain about it when Arthur comes to the door again. 'Papa wants you to be ready in five minutes. Hurry, sister, or they'll leave you here!' he shouts again and runs away before mother gets to say anything. She grunts quietly as she puts a couple of silk flowers in my hair. She asks me to tell father we're ready as she scurries in her personal dressing room. I tiptoe to my father and apologize for taking so long. He glances at me with his ever so serious expression. I think I see a tear in the corner of his eye, though.
When mother arrives she's carrying a small box in her hands. As she sees the way I look at it, curiously and yearning to know what's in it, she says 'it's a secret.' After we step into the carriage I can't help but wonder what the box contains. A jewel? A letter? All the possibilities flood my mind as I look out the window at the passing scenery. Ordinary people with ordinary jobs. People with freedom. Suddenly I realize where I'm going and do my best to keep calm.
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