• • • Even Elite's POV • • • "Maryline!" I scream her name as I happily walk down the stairs leading to the Kitchen this early morning. Something I never did in the past; because my dad was such a d*ck and he won't have permitted me to go out of my room, also because I had no reason to be this happy in the past but now everything seems to be different. I gallop on Maryline who is busily getting my forenoon stuffs ready for my every morning routine and I hug her tight. "Eve!" she screams as she suddenly quivers at my unexpected hug wondering at the top of her voice with some hint of pleasure dispatching her face "Why all the sudden joy, my young queen?" she pauses staring at me. I got up very early this morning, without having her barging into my room, so it's normal she gets alarmed. I simply smile at her query worried gaze waiting on her to guess the reason of my joy. "I know you can guess it, Maryline! Just try!" I tell myself deep down with my slender gaze fixed on her and she immediately infers it all. "Oh! The mating festival, I guess!" she happily exclaims after a few minutes of reflection and with my constant gaze fixed on her. "Yes!" I happily nod at her as I pick an apple in a tray found on the shell and I eagerly bite it. Then I walkout of the kitchen to the big compound, dancing the hell out of me. Finally, I will meet people of my age "What sort of things do they talk about; plants and animals? How strong are they?. Dad used to tell me that I'm weaker than children of my age!" lots of questions popping my mind right now and this gets me restless. I wish I had friends to partake in this joy with me. I will never forgive my dad for hiding me from the world. He made me lost crucial years of my life crying and hidden from the world... Sometimes I'm glad he's dead. Now, I'm free to live my age, my time and discover myself. I keep wandering around the house dancing in joy. Maryline too is super happy for me I can sense the joy from every part of her thou the battles hard to contain it. Yet, one thing keeps bothering me, Adam!. I'm scared he might barge in at any time and stop me from going to the mating festival. I know I keep declaring that I don't care about what he says or what he want but sincerely let's face facts, what can I actually do if he decides to ban me from the festival like my dad always did?. What will I do! I'm just a little girl with no support. . . Later in the day, We are in my room Maryline and I, readying me for the festival which is going to begin in a few minutes. The festival is taking place in one far wing of our fortress. The lady sewing my wedding gown is the the lady who fastened the gown I'm going to put on tonight. It's a long white golden like gown covering all my body with puffy hands each hand having two bulky fat circles of fur at every end. Maryline approved of my decent choice. She ended up reminding me on how decent and well covered a woman has to appear in public something I don't care much about. All I want is to be comfortable. "Men love all these curves but once it's too exposed or to easy for them to get, then they turn to despise it!" her words "Okay, Maryline can I start dressing" I wearily exclaim. Like life in our wolf realm is like that of the early 19th century. "Of course!" she seriously nods at my query. "I hope Adams is okay with all this?" Maryline fears Adams might change his mind at the last minute. "Maryline, not this again! You know I hate when you act as if my life relies on his hands." I severely roll my stare in dismay. "It's fine! I'm sorry. I don't want anyone to jeopardise this day for you. I'm simply worried because it's been two days now and he hasn't shown up who knows what he might be planning. I'm not at peace knowing that he can barge in here at any time and stop every." she gets apprehensive. Adams hasn't shown up since the last training we had. Actually, I was already getting comfortable with our training sessions then he suddenly ghosted. Like we can't trust these men. Anyway, I'm not surprised at all and no lady should ever relay on any man no matter how innocent or sincere he might look like because they're selfish. "Maryline, stop worrying. He has no control over my life, not him not any other man. I'm sick and tired of following rules coming from any man. I've been doing this for 17 good years of my life and now it has to stop!" I boldly retort while she assists me in putting on the gown. Maryline admires my boldness yet, everything sounds so pathetic to her because in contrary to me she knows what's awaiting me. And all she sees is a little girl battling to catch her last breath before drowning in an ocean with no boundaries filled with hungry crocodiles. Her thoughts frighten her as she unconsciously path off my gown and I end up wearing it myself. "Ta, da!" my voice snatches her off her thoughts. I turn to her with my gorgeous gown and with a heavy smile on my face "I know how much you have always wanted to partake in this!" She kisses my forehead "you're stunning, my queen! all their eyes will be bragged on you" she adores and marvelled on how fast I've grown. ~ ~ Knocks on the door ~ ~ This knocks on the door interrupts her speech and gets her seriously worriedly. She walks to the door with her heart in her stomach while I comfortably seat by the mirror to enjoy my beautiful self. As soon as Maryline opens the door I turn to check on who it is and I notice that it's one of the fortresses maids. I turn back to the mirror as soon as I glimpse at the maid. So I don't notice that the maid is accompanied by two other ladies. The maid goes while the two ladies remain behind conversing with Maryline for quite some time arguing about something. This calls for my attention so I turn my query gaze which unexpectedly joins Maryline sad glance walking to me. "What's wrong!" my happy mood immediately shifts into a sad one as I instantly raise from where I'm perched and I walk towards her as well. We meet halfway pausing in each other's arms. She takes a deep breath before she starts explaining since she knows it will absolutely break my heart so she keeps scouring for the right words. "Those ladies are sent by Adams!" she gently whispers. I frown at the mention of his name yet I keep quiet and I listen to her "They are here to take care of you!" she adds. "Seriously! You worried me. Anyway, we're done already and we don't need them. Just tell them we're done!" I smile as I instruct Maryline to take them out but she flinches. "They can't leave even if they wanted to. It's not a big deal, thou!" she fakes a smile of which I know so well "Its not all, right?" my shoulders slumps, effortlessly. "Sure!" she nods with a sad gaze "he wants you to put on that gown!" as she adds. "Eve! he's generous enough to let you attend!" she tries to calm me but she instead makes things worse, with her so much admiration to his Highness's generosity toward the miserable girl. "I won't! Even if it means not going to the festival!" I walk back to the mirror fuming in wrath. "Just do as he wishes, today is meant to be a joyful day for you. Don't forget how you have always dreamt of this day and you finally have a chance to make it, so don't let it go just because of a miserable gown" Maryline walks to me "I understand your frustration but please just do it!" she insists. "All these matters, from the colour of the gown, shoes till its formulation. Everything about this is important for me. Remember I have been drawing this gown since I was 13years for my first mating festival. You witness when dad baned me from the festival and he tore the paper on which I happily draw this gown for the first time and that destroyed me. You best know how all these matters to me!" droplets of tears escapes my eyes. Maryline's hands are tied here. "Eve, I'm sorry about all that!" she attempts a speech "You know what its fine! I think it's high time I accept the fact that I have no control over my life and I will never have any control over it!. I'm fade up, I'm tired of fighting and suffering!" I whimper. "May his will be done!" I pathetically lift up my hands in defeat with tears effortlessly rushing down my chin while those ladies run in and take off the gown I already have on. Then they unwrap their bags and they remove a long red-wine bolling gown with tiny slumping strips as armholes, then it has some gold-yellow sketches at the top of the gown. "Wow!" Maryline Marvells when she sees the gown while I stay unaffected. Indeed the gown is stunning. I gently fly my hand over the gown as I unconsciously caress every portion of it . Unfortunately, the gown is red and I hate red with all my heart and all of its forms. "Hate red!" I whisper as I get back into my senses and I take my hand off the gown. "You will finally but on this colour! And to hell Edward!" Maryline gaily explains. Her statement slight makes my chuckles. It's weird to heed her speak in such a mannerless manner and I also approve her statement. "Yes! To hell Edward! To hell Edward!" I unexpectedly scream out loud, I'm actually dancing at the sound of my voice. The ladies dread, as they feel insulted. For them a lady isn't allowed to use such sword words especially in public. Meanwhile, Maryline joins me in the screaming and dancing. "My Princess, may you lift up your hands?" one of the ladies mumbled. "Sorry, you meant my queen?" Maryline rectifies. "No!" she retorts but the other lady with her immediately cuts her off "Yes! she meant, my queen!" she smiles. "But she's not a queen, yet!" the lady murmurs in a very low tune but we all heed her. "Excuse me, but did you just say something?" Maryline moves closer "Sorry but no, she said nothing!" the other woman still cover-ups her. "Fine!" Maryline nod. "Can I know your names!" I ask while lifting my arms. "Of course my queen, I'm Bianca and she's Veronica!" "Nice names!" I smile. Then I notice they aren't from this clan since I glimpse on the C mark on their arms which proves it. They immediately hold the gown and they put it on me. I slightly stumble since the gown is kind of heavy and I wasn't expecting it to be. "Don't worry you will be fine!" Bianca say as she notices me battling to get some stability. "Now you look like a real royal lady in a real gown! Not that trash you had on earlier!" Veronica carelessly murmur as she adds some powder on my face. "The driver is out waiting for you" they help, I carry the gown to the carousel which was out and ready for me.