Short Stories

Enemies to Lovers

The princess's ball was one of her finest. She looked forward to this time of year every year. She hated winter, hated being cold, hated the fur shawls and cloaks she had to wear over her beautiful dresses that didn't even keep her warm, hated the way the flowers stopped growing. But the food this time of year was the best. And the winter ball was her masterpiece. The ballroom glittered with evergreen branches and blown glass ornaments. They had even found some flowers that survived the frost to decorate the ballroom. The guests were the stars of the room, glittering in time with the music as they danced across the freshly polished floor. The princess herself wore a blue and silver gown her mother and sister had helped her pick. She was partial herself to the red but the other two women were afraid it'd be too harsh a contrast to the rest of the ambiance. As much as the princess liked the red more, she did agree. Besides, she kept her usual bright red lipstick and her brown hair was twisted up in a bun. She didn't like to stand out anyway, best to observe and see all the guests enjoying her party. She loved a good masquerade so she wore a swirly silver mask fashioned after the swan princess tale. Many other people had animal like masks as well or more simple ones with pretty designs. She made her way along the edge of the dance floor, admiring the gowns of the ladies and suits of the men and masks of all. She smiled as a woman in a champagne colored gown took the hand of another woman in a deep blue one and the two took the floor. Stopping at the refreshment table, she helped herself to a lemon tart and a glass of warm cider.

"I was hoping to spot you in the crowd princess," said a voice behind her. She turned to see a woman in a red ball gown. It wasn't as striking as her mother and sister said a red would be in the room. It fit in perfectly. The woman wore a silver mask as well but hers was much more simple and covered the right side of her face and both brown eyes. She had the most beautiful black curls that would surely fall into her eyes had they not been covered. Something was so familiar about the woman but, of course, everyone here was familiar.

"Now how did you know it was me?" The princess whispered conspiratorially.

"The mask is very cleaver, but I'm afraid your lipstick is hard to miss. And I'd recognize those eyes anywhere." The princess had never thought her hazel eyes remarkable but the way she had said it, they might as well have been gems stuck inside her head.  The woman bowed her head and offered the princess her hand. "Do me the honor, your royal highness?"

The princess smiled and took her hand. "I don't usually take the floor."

"Well, allow me to show you the ropes." The woman led the princess to the middle of the dance floor as the music began a new song.

The princess could dance of course, she loved dancing, but she wasn't the best and was happy to let the other woman lead. She listened to the music as it echoed through the room. Occasionally she had someone sing but tonight was an instrumental night.

She focused back in and noticed the oddest expression on the woman's face. As soon as she had, however, it was gone again. "Am I correct in assuming you plan these things?" She asked after a moment.

"I do," the princess smiled. "Everything from theme, to decor, to the food. My mother and I didn't together but she's gotten too busy lately."

"I see. Partial to lemon tarts then?" The woman raised a hand from the princess's waist to wipe some sugar from her lip. The princess started to laugh but felt her heart stutter as the woman stuck her thumb in her mouth to clean off the sugar before returning it to her waist again.

The princess laughed nervously and nodded. "Yes they're one of my favorites. The apple is too."

"Really? I find they're too sweet for me. I can only handle so much, makes my teeth hurt." The way the woman said it, staring at the princess, made her feel like she meant something else.