Just wanted to be a queen

Bella's Pov- Present day (16 years old)

"Did you not like the dress my lady?" My maid asked as she came into my fathers office with the shredded white ball gown that my father had prepared for me. Or I should say the gown that my father prepared for me that once was beautiful and whole but now looked like a cat had used it as it's scratching post.

"Does my father know where I am?" I asked, completely ignoring her question. Her cheeks seemed to flush instantly telling me that he did and that he probably told her to check in his office when she told him she couldn't find me.

I cursed a few times as I stood up and made my way around his black executive desk. "If I recall my father isn't the one paying you to work here, you should remember that before I turn 18 and decide to fire you." I mumbled as I walked towards the door causing her to pale.

"I didn't realize that you thought so lowly of me." My fathers deep voice had me paling. "No." I whispered as I spun around. I instantly stiffened as I stared at my father through the screen of the maids phone. His narrowed eyes had me panicking.

I looked up at the maid with a scowl before I was snatching the phone out of her hand. "Daddy." I sang in a cringy voice that I knew was anything but convincing.

"Why aren't you dressed?" He asked causing me to sigh in relief. I put on my brightest smile and brought the phone leveled to my face. I could easily talk myself out of this, or at least I hoped I could.

"There was a small ripe in the dress and the maid refused to get a new one. So I ripped it up and decided I wouldn't go." I lied dramatically. If I were to be honest the dress looked hideous. I did not want to look like a princess that was looking for a prince. Every outfit that my father picked for me cried damsel in distress.

I was the one and only heiress of the most powerful empire in the world and my father expected me to act proper and like a princess. I was suppose to be calling the shots like my mother had taught me not, running around at parties trying to impress any and everyone.

"Than you should've called me. I would've got you another one." My father stated with what sounded like softness but with him it was hard to tell if it was forced or real. My mother had told me that he only wanted power and he would do anything to get it. Even if it meant giving my hand in marriage to a man or I could say boy that I didn't want to marry.

"Actually I was thinking that I could st." I started but was interrupted by him before I could finish my sentence. "I'll have another dress brought to you. Make sure your hair and make up are done before it gets there. I'll be there to pick you up at 7." He stated. I had no time to argue before he was hanging up the phone.

I cursed a few times as I turned my attention back towards the maid. "You should start looking for a new job because once I marry, you are the first one to go." I snapped as I turned and walked away.

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My mom once warned me that I had to be smart and keep a low profile. She forced me to act like the proper princess and to never let anyone know about the plan that she created. For years I acted as she wished and did everything my father asked of me all for her to leave after I made a simple slip of the tongue. She had promised me that she would stick it out until the end just for her to run away when we had so much to lose.

"You look beautiful." The stylist said as she turned me towards the mirror. I looked at my brunette hair that made my blue eyes stand out and sighed. The simple wavy style made me look like the perfect daughter or I could say a perfect future wife for my perfect future husband.

"You could've done less. Maybe made me look like I didn't have enough money for a proper stylist." I mumbled causing her eyes to go wide and her to gasp over dramatically”. I ignored her and turned towards the light blue dress. The dress that looked even more ridiculously than the first one.

I knew my father was punishing me because I hated ruffles and the whole bottom of the dress was made of ruffles. I could only thank god that he didn't buy a dress that had ruffled sleeves. If not for the corset that at least made it look half decent I may have run the other way.

"I'll let you get dressed than." She stated as she walked out of my room before I could protest or reply with a smart remark. I groaned as I slowly stood up and walked over towards the dress.

I touched the fabric with two fingers and allowed myself to get lost in the softness of it. No matter what my mom said about my father, I could say that he always bought me the best of whatever I wanted. If I wanted a purse it had to be the most expensive and the only one of its kind. If I wanted new shoes it had to be the most comfortable ones to exist. None of my heels hurt my feet for that exact reason. Even if it wasn't his money he was spending, I can still say that I was treated like a princess. A princess that just wanted to be a queen.