The Royal Contract

"Dani!" Jacky shouted as soon as she opened her chambers. 

Jacky ran towards her and hugged her tightly, as excitement could be seen all over her face. Jacky's room was just a couple of doors away from her. 

"Jacky, what is it?" She asked as she began to sit on the edge of her beautiful four foster peach bed with its drapes and flowery quilt decorations.

Everything in this place screamed luxury as she looked around the outrageous paintings hanging on the walls and the antique vases on top of the side tables and dressers. She wondered what Alex would want more when he was about to inherit all of this.

"Have you seen this place?" Jacky started rotating her eyes to emphasize the things surrounding her. "I just could not believe that I am staying in a palace." 

Jacky had never batted an eye on luxuries and wealth before. To her, those were just material things that she did not need to survive and be happy. As long as she could put food on the table and had a roof over her head, she was good. 

Today was different. It was not the wealth that Jacky saw in this place. It was the history that each wall represented and the characters that walk on that hallways. The conversations that took place in those hundred rooms were fascinating to her. 

"Yes, you are. So, better enjoy while it last." She could not stop smiling with her friend's enthusiasm.

She also felt something different when she stepped on this place. It was a feeling of comfort and belonging, unlike the other times she had vacationed in the different parts of the world. She had stayed in many luxurious hotels there was, but being here was creating a different experience for her. She could not explain it.

"We need to get some pictures." Jacky sat beside her and started taking selfie pictures of them.

A knock on the door stopped them from giggling like school girls as they took photos of each other in every corner of the room. Jacky felt like this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. After all, this was just a temporary setup, and in six months, this would be over. 

"What is it?" Jacky asked when Dani answered the door.

"I don't know." She answered as she allowed the palace staff to bring inside a large package that he was carrying.

"This was sent by Your highness, Prince Alex." The man stated as he placed the box on the center table on the other side of her room before excusing himself from the room.

"What could it be?" Jacky asked curiously as they both stared at the brown parcel when they were alone once again.

"Well, open it." Jacky pulled her closer to the table, then sat on the couch, waiting for her to unveil the content of the package.

"Wait." She uttered, slightly hesitant to look at whatever was inside the box. She already had an idea of what it could be, based on the packaging, but she wondered why he would send her such a gift.

"Come on. Don't kill me with the suspense." Jacky looked at her as if she was taking so long. If she could do it for her, she would, to end both their misery. 

Jacky just wanted to support her friend and make sure that whatever her friend needed, she would be there to provide.

"Ok. Fine." She reluctantly untied the red ribbon and removed the lid to reveal what was inside.

As she suspected, it was a ball gown, a beautiful black evening dress. When she pulled it out, she could not stop staring at the stunning material in her hands.

"Wow, that is so beautiful." Even Jacky could not take her eyes away from the dress. "Is there a note?" 

Jacky might proclaim that she did not believe in love, but she did like romantic gestures. She waited until Dani rummaged inside the box. Under the paper protecting the contents were matching stiletto shoes with a lacy strap that would look quite sexy in her legs.

"Oh, now I am so jealous," Jacky announced when she saw the shoes. 

"Oh, here it is." Dani placed the shoes back on the box and stared at the note.

"What did it say?" Jacky could not keep her excitement from showing in her voice.

"He wanted me to wear it tonight." She looked again at the dress and the matching shoes.

She already picked something else to wear for tonight, but admittedly, she liked Alex's gift more. However, she wondered how she knew her size. Simply by looking at it, she could see that it would fit her perfectly.

"That is so romantic." Jacky expressed dreamily, finding herself wanting someone like Alex, who would shower her with some romantic displays of affection.

Marcus was sweet and a gentleman, but there was nothing romantic about him. She thought as she tried to think of a time where Marcus even showed her anything resembling romance.

"I better get back to my room. We still have a long night ahead of us. We need our beauty rest." Jacky instructed before she left her to be alone in her room.

She walked around the room, exploring each corner of it until she found herself on the double doors that lead to the balcony. She went outside and checked out the view. As expected, it was magnificent. The palace ground looked like it came from a magazine.

She remembered what happened earlier when she met Alex's parents. She felt comfortable around them, which was a bit odd since they were Alex's parents. 

She always thought that she would be nervous and uncomfortable around them, but the opposite happened. She enjoyed talking to them as they waited for her parents to arrive.

She sat down on the chair and gazed at the clear sky, wondering if she could manage to pull this through. "Oh! I hope I know what I am doing here." She whispered to herself, staring at some birds flying away until they were gone behind the trees. 

She began to doubt all the decisions she had made lately. She felt liked she made a rushed decision in agreeing with it. She was not sure if she could handle the consequence of her actions. She suddenly wished she could be a bird so that she could soar high above the clouds and fly away to freedom.