A Banquet to Remember

The much talked about princess had thrown off the veil as soon as she was out of their line of sight. Her handmaidens had met up with her and followed her to the kitchens. 

“How did it go, My Lady?” Cecily asked. They were far away from prying eyes now. Emery linked her arm with Ursa’s, giggling. 

“Was he handsome?” she teased. Ursa smiled coyly. 

“I can’t say~ you know how heavy those veils can be.” Indeed they did. Those veils were customary for noblewomen when meeting strangers. Although Cecily and Emery were Ursa’s handmaidens, they also came from noble families. To be the handmaiden of the princess was a great honor, it meant that the princess thought highly of an individual and got along well with them. 

“Not even a peak?” Emery persisted.

“Lay off, Emery,” Cecily sighed. Always the pragmatic one. “His Highness didn’t let you into the negotiation room?” Ursa shook her head.

“We’re off to oversee the banquet. Not an unimportant task, but not the one I wanted,” Ursa explained dejectedly. 

“Cheer up, Ursa, he’ll see your worth someday. Once he’s dead the Romanov land is basically yours,” Emery rationalized. 

“Emery! You can’t say such things here. Wishing death upon your king is punished by death!” Cecily warned. Emery ducked her head, suddenly fearful. 

“It’s fine, no one’s here, thankfully. But I fear the succession line will be much more complex than it looks now.” The three girls arrived at the kitchens and were promptly greeted by the cooks and other servants. The kitchens smelled of delicious foods and desserts that made Ursa’s stomach growl. But alas, duty calls. 

The head chef reported. “My Lady, we were instructed to make a mix of Vasil and Romanov dishes. We are on schedule for the banquet this evening.” Ursa bestowed her gratitude whole heartedly, and the head chef couldn’t help but feel coy. The princess spent most of her time in the library and her study, but when she visited the kitchens and other places that had a majority population of common people it was always a pleasure. Their princess was so kind and graceful, all the servants feared what her fate was to be under the Vasil rule. “Us chefs also wanted a way to remember the late Queen, and so we planned to bake Her Highness’ recipe of the Cherdyn cake. We hope this is agreeable to Your Ladyship?” Ursa’s heartwarmed at the chef’s thoughtfulness. A genuine grateful smile graced the princess’ lips, and the servants also felt fulfilled. 

“Of course that is agreeable. I thank you all wholeheartedly for thinking of my mother so fondly.” The chefs and other servants bowed and then saw the three ladies out. 

The rest of the afternoon was spent stopping at several other checkpoints to look at the progress for the banquet, but soon her handmaidens were forcing Ursa back into her room to prepare herself. 

“His Highness said for you to look nice, right? You’ll need time for that,” Cecily argued. 

“Is my natural beauty not enough, Cecily?” Ursa replied cheekily as the two started stripping Ursa. 

“You know I didn’t mean it like that.” After soaking in the bathwater littered with rose petals, Ursa was brought to the vanity, where Emery, like always, started playing with her hair while Cecily went to pick something out. “I wish there was more notice for this. We would be able to commission something new,” Cecily sighed. 

“It’s not that big of a deal, we’re just welcoming our new rulers. The Vasils will be in and out, it’s of no consequence,” Ursa said indifferently. Finally Cecily had chosen a navy blue gown with a gold accent. Emery gleefully chose a number of accessories to match the dress, shoving them up against Ursa’s face to see which would fit best. Finally the headdress and veil were placed, and Ursa’s arms looped with Cecily and Emery’s. 

The banquet was already very lively as soon as Ursa arrived. Her handmaidens helped her to her seat before they left to sit at a nearby table. Ursa could sense her father was already there, as well as Lord Volkov, and she greeted them respectfully. 

“My daughter, you look lovely tonight,” her father complimented. 

“Thank you, Father,” Ursa replied. 

“It’s quite good that you look this well. No matter what, be on your best behavior.” Ursa nodded just as it was announced that King Vasil and Lord Orlov had arrived. Ursa fought the urge to lift her veil just snag a peak. She was sure that Emery was snickering at her seat since she got a view and Ursa didn’t. 

“King Vasil, Lord Orlov, thank you for gracing us with your presence at our humble banquet in your honor.”

“It is our pleasure,” King Vasil replied. All of a sudden, King Romanov grabbed Ursa’s arm, guiding her somewhere. Just as soon as she started moving she was stopped and released.

“Please, lift the veil,” King Romanov said. Ursa moved to glance at her father. The lifting of the veil was a Romanov tradition for engagements and weddings-

Oh.

It all made sense now. Her father surrendering, his cheerful and intimate manners, his warnings. He was always going to sell her off like this. Like a cow at an auction. A pair of hands slowly gripped the edges of her veil and lifted it carefully. Ursa didn’t know what to expect, but it wasn’t this. He was tall, with dark, curly hair that came down to his neck. He was tan, with a strong jawline and cerulean blue eyes that seemed to draw her in. 

Ursa didn’t say anything, and neither did he. He only extended his hand, waiting for her to place hers on his. None of this was ever what Ursa predicted. This was all moving too fast for her. She unconsciously moved her hand, and he took that as a sign to guide her to a new seat; next to him. 

Around them, all of the ministers, officials and nobles were harshly whispering. Ursa tuned them out, only glancing at King Vasil from time to time. The room slowly came to a lull as King Romanov stood with a chute of champagne in his hand raised. 

“For a long time, our two peoples were divided by culture and war. But today, we stand together, represented by the union between my daughter, Princess Ursa, and the King of the Vasils, Lord Ivan Vasil.” As if on cue, all of the ministers and officials stood up, cheering and congratulating the new happy couple. 

After it all died down, the banquet started to hit full swing. Lively music swelled in the room as many built up courage to ask a partner to dance. Ursa spied Emery dancing with a young lady, swinging around and laughing uncontrollably. Ursa felt absolutely stifled compared to the freedom Emery exhibited. She had yet to even say a word to the man next to her. 

Ivan felt her stares and her bored look. Ivan knew he didn’t make a mistake when he asked for this woman’s hand in marriage. She was certainly a sight to behold. Dark hair and dark eyes with full lips and a cute nose- Ivan could slowly feel himself pulled closer to her. She had looked a bit surprised that he was to lift the veil- perhaps her father hadn’t told her. Ivan wanted to clear the air, but didn’t know what to say. She held so much poise and elegance, he didn’t want to seem like a fool. 

Then his gaze followed hers: she was observing the dancing. “My Lady, would you honor me with a dance?” Her shocked expression was cute too. She probably wasn’t expecting that. 

“It would be my pleasure,” she replied. Once again his hand was in hers as he led her to the dance floor. A few couples stopped to make room for the new addition, but most were swept up in their own worlds. 

“I’ll admit, I don’t quite know this dance. Do you think you could teach me?” Ivan asked in earnest. Ursa’s lips quirked up in a smirk. Honestly she would have been more shocked if he knew this dance;  it was a traditional Romanov dance. 

“I suppose. Give me your hands,” she instructed. Ivan did as he was told and Ursa interlaced their fingers, connecting them. “Now feel the tempo, and now we join the line.” Ivan gave her a perplexed look, but Ursa only laughed and started moving them along. Slowly they started skipping to the music, joining the line. 

“For how long do we do this?” Ivan asked, looking ahead of them. At the end of the line, a couple bridged their arms while the others ducked under them, and then danced another circle. They were slowly approaching the bridge. Some bystanders started clapping merrily to the music, cheering from the sidelines. 

“Duck!” Ursa said, and the two swooped under the bridged couple, before making their way around the circle. “And now we become the bridge.” Still linked together, Ursa and Ivan raised their arms, allowing the next couple in. Emery and her lady friend ducked under, but not before Emery winked at her friend. Ursa almost shot her tongue out at her, but remembered whose company she was in. Soon another couple relieved the two of bridge duty, and they continued around the circle. 

There was a sight Ursa thought she’d never see: the Vasil king’s smile. His infectious laughter almost made Ursa forget about the events that had passed, and she started to enjoy herself a little. 

Perhaps, just for the night.