Putting on her new white dress, she felt calm. She sat down, and her wet nurse, Margaret, coiled half of the girl's thick chestnut colored hair on the crown of her head, allowing the rest to spill over the sleeves in a curly princess style.

"Celeste," the nanny began, "are you positive this is the dress you want to wear to the Gala tonight?"

"I am certain, Margaret. There is no reason to stand out, and with this plain white dress I couldn't possibly attract much attention." Celeste replied.

There's no chance the other women will find me a threat of any kind. I'll be perfectly safe.

Margaret twisted and curled Celeste's hair, smiling and humming. "But my lady, don't you want to attract a nice young man? Perhaps one whose family is well off?"

"Margaret, I know what I am doing. I want to stay out of the range of the society women and close in on a nice young man." Celeste knew if she made promises about finding love, Margaret would help gladly. "After all, it's not like I'm going to catch the eye of some prince or anything. What a hilarious thought!"

"If that is your desire, my lady. Your mother would have loved to see you in her wedding dress, you know. Alas, she is no longer with us. I can only hope that you find your love by your 20th birthday."

"What's so special about my 20th birthday?" Celeste inquired timidly.

"Why, if you don't choose a suitor, your father will! Didn't the others inform you?"

"They most certainly did not!" The girl shouted, bringing her hand down hard on the side table. "What is this treachary? send me to my father immediately!"

"M-my lady, please be still. I will instruct a servant to fetch your father just as soon as your hair is finished."

Celeste fumed with frustration for the duration of her sitting, but "You may enter." She called out. 

A large man walked in and stopping in the center of the room, slowly outstretched his hand towards Celeste.

"My darling," he whispered, grabbing Celeste and gently pulling her to him. "My shining star. My little Celeste, I hope you can forgive me. I-"

"Father, I am very upset!" She complained into his lapel, not pulling away.

"I know, my sweetheart, I know. But you are just so uninterested in men that I had to give you a little push. How strange is it already that you have just turned 19 not two weeks ago, and yet have no suitors!"

"It is not strange at all! I can find someone I like all on my own, Father! I don't need someone choosing a suitor for me." She detangled herself from her father's grip and sat down on her bed with a huff. "I will find love on my own, I don't need help!"

"Darling, I have no choice. My company will be dissolved in a few years, and there is no way to support you with the funds that will be left over. You must marry before your next birthday, or I will be forced to choose a man for you." His arms crossed over his chest meant that this statement was final. "Please dear, just be sociable. What would your mother say?"

"Mama would want me to find love and nurture it. She would want me to marry a man who loves me, needs me, and wants to blossom our love forever!" She retorted.

"That does sound like your mother..."

Celeste couldn't stand the thought of marrying someone she didn't love. The only thing she disliked more than a loveless marriage was a broken family.

"Father, I accept your decision, but I will find love before my birthday. And when I do, you will have to accept him, no matter what. Do you understand?"

"Then it is agreed, my darling! You hereby have absolute freedom to do as you wish until November of next year. You have just under 12 months, sweetheart." They shook hands tightly and he left the room, so as to allow Celeste to continue preparing for the Gala.

RATE THIS CHAPTER!

Author guidance for This story

Setting: The Kingdom of Rhelissa. In a time when there were only stage coaches, and large manors surrounded by large fields and forests to get lost in.

Celeste is a 19 year old girl with very long, curly, chestnut hair. Think Aisaka Taiga from "Toradora!", but normal height.

Kain is an average height male, about 30-something(but very young looking), with long straight yellow-blond hair.


Recommended Music from Youtube:
Chapter One: /watch?v=J-Ow5TAA_AI
Chapter Two: /watch?v=wOnXL6sCzaY
Chapter Three:
Part One - /watch?v=vG1sYkvtGYw
Part Two - /watch?v=FlA82aYRT1M
Part Three - /watch?v=KVVaclXOob4

updated Feb 19 by RoxyTocin