Anna and Lauren woke up early the following evening, both dressing quickly in their uniforms before taking hurried steps in the direction of your residence. The ravenette knocked upon one of the doors. There was no answer, so she cracked it open just enough to poke her head in. Her eyes scanned the room, stopping on your still sleeping form. A smile crept on her face as she stepped into the room, Lauren following behind her.

        "My lady," Anna said softly, taking a seat on the edge of the bed. "It's time to wake up. Lauren and I have much work to do before tonight's festivities."

        "Five more minutes... The sun isn't even awake yet..."

        "Well, yes, that's the point of night time. The sun isn't meant to be up."

        Lauren giggled behind her hand. "(Y/n) is hilarious when she's tired! Can't we try to wake her in a little bit? I want to hear her say more funny things!"

        "I'm afraid not. We have to prepare her for this evening, and if we ever want a chance at finishing on time, we must start now."

        "Aww... Come on! Let her sleep a little longer! A few more minutes isn't going to set us back too terribly."

        Anna sighed in defeat. "Fine. We can allow her five more minutes, just as she asked, but that is all I will allow."

        Lauren fist pumped the air silently in excitement, giving a little jump to accompany it. Anna sighed at her friend's childish antics and made her way into the bathroom to draw up a hot bath. Lauren remained in the main room to do a little tidying up. She hummed and swayed her hips to her own tune until the sounding of you shifting in bed caught her attention. Brown eyes scanned your sleeping form as small, harmless movements turned into near violent thrashing. The more sporadic your movements became, the greater her concern grew, causing her to dash into the bathroom to alert Anna.

        The young blonde had seen enough of your agony and took to your side upon re-entering the bedroom. A hand was placed upon your forehead as she closed her eyes, trying to make a mental connection with you but to no avail. The physical connection did manage to calm you enough to lessen your movements to twitches every so often, but the blonde didn't miss the change in state. She carefully moved your head into her lap and whispered kind words and affirmations, a hand stroking your messy bedhead in an attempt to smooth it out. Whimpers and quiet sounds of protest slipped past your lips before words, garbled by your sleeping state, followed suit. The more your rambled, the more you woke and the clearer the words became

        "No... D-Don't fight... Don't... leave... me... No... NO!"

        You woke with a jolt, clinging to the nearest object to your person, which happened to be Lauren. A cold sweat formed on your upper brow, breathing labored from the sudden onset of panic. Lauren sat with you, continuing to brush her slender fingers through your locks of (h/c) and holding you close to her chest. Your head rested just above her heart, hearing the faint beating of the muscle. Anna came into the room at the sound of the commotion and stood off to the side, impressed by how incredibly motherly Lauren was without having much experience dealing with children. It was as if someone had flipped a switch on her, taking her from whimsical thoughts and careless actions to a soothing, motherly figure one would trust with watching their newborn infant.

        As the minutes ticked by, your own heart returned to a normal rhythm. You detached yourself from Lauren's petite form and slid out of the bed, then walked to the bathroom without a word to splash cold water from the sink on to your face. A soft, freshly laundered (f/c) hand towel was handed to you by Anna to pat your face dry. Your attention turned to the steamed up mirror above the sink. Using the towel to wipe away some of the condensation, you gazed at your reflection, noting the slight puffiness under your eyes and the irritation and redness of your sclera.

        "Miss, I took the liberty of drawing a bubble bath for you. I'm sure you'd enjoy a nice long soak," Anna said with a soft tone.

        You hummed in response and began disrobing. Lauren finally joined the two of you in the bathroom and kept her back to you to give you privacy, Anna following suit. You dipped the under side of your wrist to the surface of the water, testing the temperature before stepping in and lowering yourself into the steaming bubble bath with a blissful sigh. The maids took your content noises as their cue to get down to work.

        Lauren sat behind you on a small wooden stool while Anna sat on a similar one to the side of the tub. The blonde nudged your shoulders gently, urging you to sit forward a bit and tilt your head back. She poured warm water from a pitcher over your hair to wet it once your head was back, then squeezed some of a (f/s) shampoo in a luxurious looking bottle into the palm of her hand. She rubbed them together to form a small lather before working the contents into your hair to clean it. Fingers massaged your scalp skillfully before more water was poured over your head to rinse the suds away. She then worked in a deep conditioner into your hair before pinning it up to sit while she began to massage your shoulders once leaning back against the backing of the tub.

        Anna fished your hand closest to her out of the water and patted it dry with a new towel. The raven haired woman pulled a bottle of unscented hand lotion from a small basket and worked it into the skin of your hands and up your wrists. A nail file was produced from the pocket of her apron, which she then proceeded to use to file away any sharp, jagged, or rough edges on your nails finger by finger. She then applied an oil to your cuticles and rubbed it in with her thumbs before moving to your other side to give the opposite hand the same treatment.

        "Would you like to talk about what plagued your dreams and caused you such unrest?" Anna asked in a voice barely above a whisper.

        "Hmm?" All you could manage was the throaty noise as you enjoyed being pampered for a change.

        "You were tossing and turning and mumbling about your parents having some kind of quarrel. Would you like to talk about it?" she asked once more.

        You hesitated. "Not particularly..."

        "You're distressed. Talking may make you feel better, just as it did before your nap, did it not?"

        You looked to her, over your shoulder at Lauren, then back to Anna as she applied a glossy coat of clear nail polish to your fingernails to give them a shine. A sigh left your lip as your gaze settled to the bubbles of you bath.

        "My parents never fought. It was rare at best for them to have intense verbal disagreements, but these parents... My dream ones... They weren't them. They were shrouded in shadows, faces darkened to hide their identities, as if my consciousness couldn't put a face to a voice. They spoke of me fondly, but my mother seemed distraught, angry even, about having to send me away. To where, they never mentioned. They said I'd be well taken care of and safe. I'd have a chance of a normal life wherever I was headed."

        You looked to your companions before continuing.

        "Then a cradle appeared. Inside was a crying baby, whom I figured represented me. My mother begged my father to let me stay, but his mind was made. Two cloaked figures emerged from the corners of the room and took the cradle with a nod of their heads. Mother screamed and yelled at my father, telling him this was a mistake, that I would be safe with them still. His replies were of equal match and tone, insisting that it was necessary. I think what woke me up was the fear of them getting into a physical altercation."

        "You said you don't believe them to be your true parents judging by the way they fought?" Anna asked.

        "Right. Their speech pattern was different, regal like if you ask me. My parents are a merchant and a seamstress. They never spoke like that, only mockingly when they'd play princess with me as a kid."

        The maid duo was silent for a long while as they let themselves digest the information you posed. You thought you had upset them somehow with the recounting of your dream. Anna's face showed no signs of sadness or discontent, only stoicism. Tilting your head as best as you could to look at Lauren, her expression conveyed calmness and ease as she continued to knee her fingers into the skin of your shoulders.

        "That was quite a dream," Anna finally said.

        "Yeah. Who would have guessed something like that could cause a person so much stress?" Lauren added.

        Her question was rhetorical, returning the room back to comfortable silence. Once the clear coat on your nails was dry, Anna handed you a washcloth with some soap to wash yourself with. Both women turned around to give you privacy once more as you bathed yourself and rinsed off. You stood in the tub, then stepped out and pulled the plug to allow the water to drain. Lauren kept her eyes closed as she handed you a towel, only opening them when you gave the okay that the towel was secured around your torso. They escorted you to the vanity in the corner of the room and seated you in the cushioned chair to begin their work.

        Lotion was rubbed into the skin of your arms and lower legs, drying your hair and fashioning it elegantly, adding a hair clip jeweled with diamonds to the back of it. Minimal makeup was applied, leaving you with a very natural look. You stared at yourself in the minor, tearing your gaze away when you heard the soft squeals of metal wheels being rolled in. Two massive racks of dresses and shoes were wheeled in, followed by a smaller rack containing various styles of jewelry. You gawked at the beauty and craftsmanship of the fabric master pieces. Each dress had a different style and color palette, even if it meant a single shade was slightly different. There was easily thirty dresses at least, each with a corresponding pair of shoes and set of jewelry to match.

        "I see you're appreciative of His Highness' brother's work," Lauren giggled.

        "Who?"

        "Prince Luciano's brother. He made all of these garments by hand. He's truly talented when it comes to the art of fashion."

        "The blond guy," you said in a moment of realization and remembrance. "Flavio was it?"

        "That would be correct, my lady."

        You shot Anna a look for calling you "my lady". It wasn't meant to be threatening but as more of a playful look.

        "My apologies, (y/n)... It slipped out..."

        "It's alright. I know it's a force of habit, and those are hard to break when you're so accustomed to them."

        "Thank you." She bowed her head to amplify her gratuity. "I must warn you though. We will have to call you that when in the presence of others, especially those of higher standing. It is deemed insubordination to not address higher ranking individuals as 'my lady' or 'my lord' or anything to some degree of title when their status is well above your own."

        "Thanks for the heads up. However, I'm not going to address the Prince of Dickery as such unless it is in a mocking manner, for I despise him with my very being."

        "I figured you would say as much."

        "Is that a bad thing?"

        "No, but I would recommend not addressing him as such in front of others unless you want them to call for you to have a lashing."

        "Is that really still a punishment?"

        "Or a caning!" Lauren added.

        "Okay, if he tries to do either of those to me, I will literally drop kick him where he stands."

        "I doubt he would dish out such punishments to you, (y/n)."

        "Why do you say that?"

        "He will tell you when he's ready."

        "When will that be?"

        "Okay! Time to try on dresses!" the blonde interrupted.

         You quirked your brow at the change of topic, then groaned at the thought of trying them all on. The girls handed you a nude colored strapless bra and underwear to wear before trying on the garments. You managed to get through about half of them when your eyes landed on the most gorgeous dress you had ever seen, and that was saying something given you had lived more of a tomboy style most of your life. The dress was a (f/c) Victorian style ball gown with off the shoulder sleeves that puffed out with small ruffles at the bottom and top. The bodice and sleeves had designs made of gold thread etched into the silk. The rest of the dress was a solid (f/c) with the train of the dress being longer than the front and having two loose ruffles from the sides that bustled in the back. The only issue you had with the dress was that it required a corset instead of a bra and that you would have to wear petticoats to keep the shape of the dress' skirt.

        Lauren and Anna immediately recognized your interest in the dress, the first one you had truly liked all night without having tried it on first. They helped you into the dress, having you wear a pair of combinations before putting on the corset to keep with the period style of the dress. They did not tight lace the corset, however, leaving you able to breathe fully while still giving you a nice silhouette. A camisole was placed over the corset to protect it before the Crinoline was placed on you, then the gown itself. It was weighty with all the fabric, but it wasn't intolerable. You were given the option of white ballet flats or heels, of which you picked the flats in fear of the heels taking their toll on your feet later into the evening. The jewelry presented to you to match the dress was more than a bit too much with all the rings and the bracelets. You settled on only wearing the necklace, which contained a three and a half carat tear drop shaped diamond accompanied by a few smaller diamonds to each side.

        The maids looked to you with approval as you gave them a twirl, careful not to trip over your own two feet. Lauren let out a delighted squeal while Anna smiled brightly as she clasped her hands together in front of her chest. Checking on the time, Anna gasped and quickly began tidying up the room, Lauren following suit once she realized the time herself. The discarded dresses were placed back on their hangers while shoes and jewelry were set in their rightful places on their own cart. The girls ushered you from the room and towards Luciano's. You struggled to keep up with their quick pace as your dress weighed you down a bit. Anna's fist met the door's wood as she rapped on the barrier. She had you stand behind her and Lauren as you waited for the Prince to open the door. Your eyes rolled. It wasn't as if you were trying to impress him, so why try to hide you? That's right. You spilled the beans about your conflicting feelings for the prince to them, and now they were attempting to play matchmaker.

        The doors were opened by two butlers from the inside, both of which you hadn't met before, to reveal Luciano in the midst of adjusting his cravat in a full body mirror, one that had been wheeled into the room during the time you had been absent. His back faced you and the girls, whom he hadn't noticed quite yet. He tugged his dark purple waistcoat down and readjusted the cufflinks on his shirt's sleeves. He smoothed out the black trousers and made sure the dress shoes had no scuffs before turning around. The prince raised an eyebrow at the maids, who parted with the goofiest of smiles on their faces to reveal you in all your glory. Your eyes remained focused on the floor all while Luciano smiled, taking in your appearance. He strode over, a hand coming under your chin to tilt your head up so your eyes could meet. His other hand settled on your waist and pulled you closer to his body.

        "You look stunning, (y/n)," he complemented, gazing into your eyes so lovingly.

        "Thanks..." you mumbled. "You don't look horrible either I guess..."

        A chuckle left his lips at your wording. It was adorable to him in every way, not that he would say that. That would cause a disagreement for sure, and he didn't need that this evening, as he was sure there would already be many disagreements once he explained this evening's affairs to you. Shoving the thought aside, he leaned in to place a kiss upon your lips, but your hand over his mouth stopped him. A frown worked its way on to his face as he moved your hand to try again, only to end up with the same result.

        "Why won't you let me kiss you?"

         "It's simple. I don't love you. You don't love me. This is an horrendous display and exercise of power on your part. It's a ploy for attention to be placed on you."

        "Oh, but I do love you."

        "No, you don't."

        "Yes, I do. Who are you to say who I do or do not love?"

        "And who are you to have me kidnapped and force me to marry you?"

        He was silent for a moment before he sighed. "Touché..."

        "Wait. You're not going to fight me on that?"

        "No, I'm not going to fight you on that. Why? Because I can't deny what's true."

        "So you're admitting that you're in the wrong?"

        "Sì."

        "Does that mean I can go home now?"

        "No."

        "Oh come on! Why not?!"

        "There are things that you don't understand."

        "Then just fucking tell me what they are! Explain them to me! Make me understand!"

        "Okay, bella-"

        "Don't you fucking 'bella' me! No!"

        "(Y/n), listen to me."

         He cupped your cheeks and forced you to look at him. Hot, angry tears welled up in your eyes as you tried not to cry. You were so incredibly frustrated by the entire ordeal, and him saying that you didn't understand, then not explaining it only pissed you off more. Luciano sighed and rested his forehead against yours.

        "I can't tell you... I want to... I want to tell you everything, but you wouldn't believe me. You'd think me crazy."

        "I already think you're crazy so as it is..."

        "I know... Please, just be patient."

        "I've been more than patient..."

        "Per favore... Give me this one night. Then we can discuss things further. I promise."

        "How do I know you'll keep your promise?"

        He bit the inside of his bottom lip before reaching into his pocket. In his hand was a small folded up cream colored cloth. He opened it carefully, inside sitting a gold banded ring with a circular ruby nestled within the prongs. The ring looked old in fashion, but it was still a marvel to look at.

        "This ring once belonged to someone very close and special to me. If I do not keep my promise, you have my permission to destroy the ring. Do you trust me now?"

        "Whose ring was this?" you questioned softly, looking at the ring as he slipped it onto your right ring finger.

        "A past lover..."

        "Did she mean a lot to you?"

        "She meant the world to me... She was my heart and soul..."

        "What happened to her...?"

        "I don't want to talk about it right now..."

        The two butlers and maids moved to stand to the side as Luciano and you exchanged hushed words. Lauren leaned towards Anna and whispered that she thought the two of you were acting adorable, which earned her a thump to the back of the head. She rubbed where she was hit as she returned to watching the two of you. Luciano lifted his gaze from you and directed it to the four onlookers, casting them a glare. The four scampered out of the room and let the doors slam closed behind them. His eyes shifted back to you, hands holding your hips once more to pull you flush against his body in a gentle manner. He settled his mouth beside your ear and began to speak.

        "Listen and listen well because I don't wish to repeat myself. I am hosting an important ball this evening to announce our engagement."

        "We are not engaged..."

        "You didn't let me finish... Yes, I know we're not engage as of the moment, but during the ball, I am going to propose to you. You are to say yes and act excited. Cry of happiness or some shit to make it look real. You will also need to act as if you're in love with me during the event. There are no if, ands, or buts about this. You will do as I say. Do I make myself clear?"

        "Like hell I'll just go along with it..."

        Luciano sighed and rested his head against yours. "Allow me to propose a deal then. If you play along with my plans, I'll leave you to your own devices for three days. You may leave the castle, but Matthieu must accompany you if that is what you wish to do."

        "Seven days and my own room during this time."

        "Five days and not a day more. Do we have a deal?"

         You hesitated but grabbed his hand for a shake, closing the agreement in silence. Luciano smiled and hugged you. He actually hugged you, which caught you off guard. You returned the awkward hug and patted his back, waiting for him to let go so you could step away.

        "I don't say this as often as I should, but grazie. You don't realize how much this means to me and helps me.

        "Yeah yeah... You're welcome and all that jazz... But how does this help you?"

        "That will be a chat for another time, amore mio. Right now, however, we have a royal engagement to announce."

~Author's Note~

DreamsForDays here! I wanted to have this chapter done on Sunday to post with the other one, but that didn't happen with Wattpad acting up. But here it is now! We have a slight divergence from the original story towards the end and the dream Reader-chan has is slightly different from what the original dream was. Next chapter is the ball itself! Thanks for reading! Feedback in the comments is always appreciated! Until next time!