I

I slammed my door closed, and I felt hot tears slide down my cheeks. I ripped the beautiful mask of my face, shakily wrapping the silky ties around it. Through my steamy anger, I gently placed the mask in one of my many drawers of face-hiders.

I didn't understand why he made me wear them. I knew it was tradition a hundred years ago, but I mean, come freaking on! This is the twenty first century. I know we're kind of a very old-fashioned country, still followed a monarch, still tended to wear dresses and gowns everywhere, still called it "courting" instead of plain old dating, but seriously, I was the only one in the entire South City that wore masks anymore. Sure they were beautiful, but, it's not like I was ugly. I wasn't pretty, but I wasn't monstrous either.

Sighing, I flopped onto my bed, kicking of my ridiculous "palace appropriate" heels. I wiped the few remaining tears away. There really was no use in crying. All it did was give me a headache, and it didn't solve anything. Tears were an overall waste of energy. Going to my closet, I changed into a more "modern" outfit. I slid on a plain, simple blue and white dress. I stepped into my only pair of shoes that didn't have four inch heels or five pounds of glitz and Swarovski crystals. They were plain white flats. No designs, no embellishments, just crisp, clean white.

I thought of leaving my mask behind, but my father's fist really didn't feel all that great, so, sighing yet again, I tied a silver and sky blue mask over my eyes. I opened my door and the only sound was the quiet pat-pat of my shoes down the stairs. My father placed me in the east wing of the palace, closest to the servants quarters and the Secondary Gardens. I was also closest to the stables, which was the best part of my location.

Jumping down the last three steps, I walked over to the gardens. This was the best place to slip off of the palace grounds. The guards and servants were my only friends. All the towns people were afraid to even talk to the king's "grotesque" adopted daughter. I shook my head. I may not be pretty or even cute, but I, Adara, am most definitely n-o-t not

grotesque. I mean, jeez people, get to know a girl before you call her nasty-looking. I shook my head as I quickly walked down the garden steps, heading toward the older parts of the castle, where the fence meant to keep me in ended, my dress swished around my knees, and the white embroidered fitted top shifted. I loved this dress so much. It was the most casual thing I owned. It was short-sleeved and perfect for the almost-always sunny weather. I smiled as I thought of what my life might have been like if I had never been adopted. The king had taken me in before I was even two.

I sighed again, dreaming about a life I didn't have was useless. I picked up my pace, anxious to see the the town. Suddenly, I tripped over something. Great, I thought to myself, Father is definitely going to notice a huge dirt smudge on my dress. I groaned.

"What are you groaning about?" I hear someone ask.

Oh this was just spectacular. Take not of my sarcasm.

I stood up, dusting of the skirt of my dress. There really wasn't all that much dirt on it, it was more mud than anything. I turned to the person I tripped over. It was a guy. Oh even more great.

I took in his disheveled hair and mud covered gardener uniform. Ah, so this was the new worker. I balled my hands, and placing them on my hips, circled around him. Well, considering the amount of weeds sticking out of his trash bag, I'd say this kid takes his job seriously.

"Enjoying the view?" he asked.

I made an "echhh" noise and rolled my eyes. "So, you're the new guy, huh. Ya know, most people would be screaming and running away from 'The Most Grotesque King's Ward Out There'." I laughed. "I'm Adara by the way. The adopted princess forced to wear beautiful Venetian masks to make up for her lack of looks." I snorted.

"Well," he bowed "Pleased to meet you Princess." he said in a sarcastic voice.

"Princess, puh-to-the-leez." I said, flapping my hand.

"Well, I am gardener Ian, as in eye-in, at your service." he replied, tipping his invisible hat.

I laughed. "Sorry for tripping over you, I tend to trip over everything."

He laughed. "Well, where were you headed in such a hurry?" he asked.

"You see the end of that fence over there?"

He nodded. "Yah what about it?"

"The day that fence went up was the day I was forced to wear masks. The king told me it was to prevent me from leaving the palace grounds, or terrorizing the city. That right there, is where the fence ends, where I can escape and see the town. Usually the people working here leave this place alone, they believe it to be too far gone to fix. I personally think otherwise, and proof is right there in that little green section where the yellow roses are growing. Anyway, that is where I was heading."

"I only have one question." he said.

"Ask away."

"Why in the world would the king adopt you if he thinks your so dang ugly? Oh, and when did you start wearing masks?" he asked.

"That'a two questions, by the way. But, I have no freakin' clue, and five years old. Been wearing these things for twelve years."

"One more question."

I sighed, impatient. "What?"

"What'd you do to make him hate you so fuh-reaking much?"

"That, dear friend, is a complete and utter mystery." I replied.

II

After continuing the conversation for a few more minutes, I turned and left for the town. My black, once straightened hair, started to curl again. It's not that I had frizzy curls, or that I didn't like them, I did, but Father didn't. So every day, the first thing I would do is straighten it in long, swooping strokes. I had long hair, and when straight, I could almost sit on it. I liked it, but it got a little annoying, well, a lot annoying. Still, my hair was the only thing my dad like, so long it was.

I pinned my hair back to keep it from getting in my eyes, and walked the worn path that led to town. I needed a serious shopping trip. Once I got to town, things were a little different than the last time I'd been out. First of all, I spotted a few teenage girls wearing jeans. That was a huge no-no in my father's book. Second, there was a surprising amount of people in the street.

I asked around, and found that there was a carnival in town, and supposedly there was an amazing young tiger tamer. I decided that after my all-important shopping trip, I'd check him out.

I walked to the fairgrounds and, sure enough, there was a carnival in full swing. I was excited, I'd never been to a carnival, and the lights, crazy masks, and music intrigued me. I walked past the stalls, and one in particular caught my eye. It was full of beautiful gowns, sparkling and long, or bejeweled and short. One stood out to me. It was a dazzling sapphire blue with silver gems in all different sizes, making it look like the dress was a sparkling grey-scale. I wanted it.

I went up to the stall, and asked the man how much it was. It was all the money I had brought with me, which was more than I dare say. I bought it. When I changed out of my sullied white dress, and slid on my gorgeous new one, it felt magical. It matched my mask perfectly, and made my hazel eyes stand out. I felt beautiful. I spun around, and marveled as the skirt flared out, and glittered. The hem hit me mid calf, and had a sufficient amount of crinoline. I smiled once again. I stepped out of the changing tent, and wandered about the carnival. There were strange foods for sale, dancing, music, everything ever imagined. There were games, shows, animals. Finally, I found the tiger-tame.

He skillfully led the tiger through obstacle courses, and tricks, that beautiful aminal obeying every command.

Impressum

Tag der Veröffentlichung: 15.11.2011

Alle Rechte vorbehalten

Widmung:
For all those who feel unnoticed and afraid. Always know that there is someone who loves you and needs you.