Chapter 2 - Corsets and Ginger Cookies
Birmingham's Palace. Ginevra had seen it hundreds of times before, always admiring the huge building on the top of a small hill, near the middle of the city. Each time she looked at the Palace, it was like she was seeing it for the first time. The huge proportions of the building, the well-kept gardens surrounding it, the elegant balconies made of white marble, the Royal Guard walking around the building, keeping its inhabitants safe from harm…
When she was seven or eight years old, Ginevra went to the Palace's Christmas Party, along with many of her friends from the neighbourhood. Usually the King and the Queen invited poor children to this party and they would give them food and presents, just to show to the population how good they were. At the time, Ginny fell in love with the idea of a huge Palace where the King, Queen and Prince lived happily ever after…
For the next few years, the young Ginevra dreamed about finding a handsome Prince whom would fall in love with her and take her to his palace, both riding a beautiful white horse. Soon, she began to understand the unfair laws that excluded women from the society and all the dreams she had about becoming a princess, vanished. No longer had she dreamt about becoming a voiceless puppet. Unfortunately, fate worked things against her will, and here she was, entering the Palace she always admired, preparing to get married to the Prince she once dreamt about, and no longer wanted.
The Guard standing on the gate looked inside the carriage, confirming who were the occupants and allowed them to pass. Slowly, the carriage drove through the large garden, allowing the sweet scent of the rose bushes to invade the confined space and a peaceful smile appeared on Ginny's lips.
"You should smile more often, Ginevra. You have a beautiful smile." Queen Narcissa said, studying the girl in front of her.
"I'll smile when I find a reason to…" Ginny replied coldly, but immediately regretted her harsh words towards the Queen. "I'm so sorry, that was very rude of me."
The Queen just chuckled and patted Ginny's arm.
"Don't worry, I chose you because of your personality. Don't change your ways just because you are surrounded by snob people; be yourself…" Queen Narcissa said in a gentle voice, as a Guard helped her leave the carriage, and waited for Ginny to leave it as well before she continued her speech. "Welcome to your new home. My son is out of town for the next few days, but you'll have the chance to meet him soon."
"Milady, shouldn't he be the one choosing his future wife?" Ginny asked in a small voice, as the Queen guided her through the long hallways made of stone.
"My dear Ginevra, a Queen has many responsibilities, and although some of them are extremely unpleasant and unfair, we must do what is expected of us. Soon you'll learn more about the good and bad sides of Royalty, my dear…" Queen Narcissa said with a sad face and bitter tone of voice. "Many things happen behind these walls, and not all of them pleasant."
Ginny just nodded her head in understanding and kept on following the Queen to a more decorated part of the Palace, with its stone walls covered in beautiful tapestries, statues, suits of armour, so many things to look at… but the Queen just kept on walking, only stopping a few minutes later in front of a set of wooden doors.
"These will be your chambers. Parvati will be your personal maid, she'll help you bathe, dress, and be here for anything you need, so I want you to obey to her commands because she was trained to serve the future Princess… You." Queen Narcissa warned, walking inside the huge room, not paying attention to Ginny's gasp of surprise.
The bedroom was enormous with a beautifully ornate high ceiling, there were two ceiling high windows that led to a balcony and there was a door leading to a white marble bathroom. In the middle of the room, against one wall was a four-poster Queen-sized bed, each post made of finely carved wood, and there was a wardrobe, as well as a vanity table and a small desk. All in all, it was a very exquisite bedroom, especially for someone not used to such luxuries.
"Oh my, are you sure I'll be staying here?" Ginny gasped, observing all the room's details, not quite believing what her eyes saw.
"Of course you'll be staying here, where else?" Queen Narcissa smiled, sitting at the vanity table to fix her hair. "But only until you get married. By then you'll have a real suite…"
"If this isn't a real suite, then I can't even imagine what is!" Ginny mumbled, sitting on the bed to test its softness.
"Well, it's nearly lunch time so Parvati will bathe you and get you dressed. Listen to her instructions and follow her to the Dining Room." Queen Narcissa ordered, preparing to leave the room. "After lunch you'll learn some important rules."
As soon as the Queen and Lady Sarah left the room, a young woman wearing a long black dress and a white scarf on her head entered the room, a gentle smile on her lips.
"Good morning, Milady, my name is Parvati and I'll be your personal maid." She said bowing before Ginny.
"Hello, nice to meet you. First of all, my name is Ginevra, not Milady, and secondly, don't bow before me, for I am no one." Ginny said, holding the girl's hands in hers, a gracious smile on her lips.
"I'm sorry, Milady, but I have orders to obey and I have to serve you, not befriend you…" Parvati replied gently. "But thank you for the consideration. Let's bathe you, shall we?"
As soon as the bathtub was filled with warm water, Parvati removed Ginny's clothes and made her enter the tub. Ginny tried her best not to blush as she had never been naked in front of anyone besides her mother, and to have someone scrub your body with a sponge, that was just weird.
"Milady, there are a few things you should know for the next few hours." Parvati warned, bathing Ginny's legs and feet, tickling her unintentionally. "You must walk slowly with your back straight and your face held high. You must not smile openly nor scowl; you will seat in front of the Queen at lunch, follow her actions with the cutlery and such; keep your hands on your lap between plates and DO NOT thank the servant. There will be four plates: the entries, soup, meat and dessert. When the Queen leaves the table, you'll follow her to the tearoom and by then you'll be able to speak freely as the king always retires after lunch. DO NOT speak during lunch unless someone asks you something."
"Merlin, so many restrictions!" Ginny complained, washing her long hair.
"Don't worry, you'll get used to it." Parvati smiled encouragingly. "You may come out of the water now…"
After her body was dried, Parvati made Ginny wear new pearly white undergarments and a corset.
"I don't need this thing…" Ginny complained, holding tightly to one of the bedposts, while the maid tied the corset as tight as she could.
"I know you are thin and don't need it, but it's standard fashion and you have to wear it… The ladies in high-society judge the others over how thin their waists are." Parvati explained, tying the last knot and taking a step back to watch her work. "Perfect!"
"How can it be perfect? My stomach is glued to my back!" Ginny complained, her hands trying to bring some comfort to her chest, as it was completely squashed by the tight corset.
Parvati ignored her comments and helped her put on a magnificent midnight blue dress that hugged her upper body like a second skin and then flared in a beautiful arch until its hem caressed the floor. After the dress was perfectly straightened, the maid plaited Ginny's hair in two and twisted both plaits together at the nape of her head. She was ready.
"Oh my, is that me?" Ginny gasped, staring at the tall mirror in front of her. She could hardly recognize herself with all of those high-class items, but she felt nice… beautiful even, despite the damn corset.
"You are beautiful, Milady… Prince Draco is a lucky man." Parvati smiled sweetly, leading Ginny out of the bedroom and down the hallways, towards the Dining Room. "The door is that one, at the end of the hallway. Knock twice and walk in, everything will be fine."
"I hope so." Ginny sighed and slowly walked towards the double doors. As she came closer and closer, the
sound of a male voice yelling came to her ears.
"How could you? Among dozens of well-related and educated girls, you had to choose a starved piece of filth! Are you crazy?" the male voice yelled furiously.
`Must be the King…' Ginny thought, disliking him already.
"She's perfect for Draco…" came the voice of Queen Narcissa.
"This is a convenience marriage, not an emotional one!" he kept on yelling. "I want you to return her to her filthy house, if she even has one, and you'll choose a proper wife for Draco."
"No!" Queen Narcissa replied furiously, but this seemed to be a bad idea. As soon as she said that small word, angry footsteps were heard and the Queen shrieked in fear.
Afraid that the King might hurt his wife, Ginny entered the Dining Room, hands joined on her front, an angelical look on her face and her spine as straight as a board. She had been correct in her assumptions… The King was holding the Queen by the arms, on hand raised and ready to hit her.
"Good afternoon." Ginny said in a calm voice, although she felt nervous and sick after seeing such a low act from the King of Birmingham.
The King dropped his hand and immediately turned around to face the newcomer. He had long blond hair tied with a black ribbon at the nape of his head, his face was beautiful despite the angry lines around his eyes and mouth, the eyes were of a steely grey and he wore black velvet robes that contrasted with is white skin. His whole being exhaled strength and danger.
"Who are you?" he asked, watching her with fury in his face and curiosity in his eyes.
"I'm the starved piece of filth…" Ginny replied with a soft smile and watched the Queen shake her head and mouth `No', but Ginny ignored her.
"I see you were listening…" he sneered, eyeing her from head to toes with a disgusted face.
"Actually, I was born with the ability to listen and you have a loud voice I mean, only a deaf person won't be able to hear that!" She replied sarcastically.
"Don't mock your King, young girl…" he menaced furiously. "That backbone of yours will only bring you trouble in the future."
"I'm sorry, sir, I didn't mean to mock you… I was just trying to make small conversation." Ginny replied, angelically.
"Of course you were…" he scowled, clearly not believing her facade.
King Malfoy took his seat at the head of the table, while the Queen sat by his right and Ginny by his left, in front of the Queen. No words were exchanged throughout the meal, only the sound of the cutlery breaking the uncomfortable silence. Ginny kept on watching the Queen and tried to copy each of her movements, each action, each pose. Finally, the King finished his dessert and got up, throwing the white linen napkin on top of the table, before he left the room, his robes billowing behind him with the harshness of his footsteps.
The Queen left the table quietly, and motioned at Ginny to follow her in silence, towards the Tearoom. The room was small with a bookshelf next to the window and a fireplace in front of which were placed some chairs surrounding a round tea table. This room was much simpler than the rest of the palace, that it was almost surreal. This was a too simple room in a place so full of exquisite decoration.
"This is so cosy…" Ginny said, taking a seat in front of the Queen, as she served them both the tea.
"You shouldn't have done that." Queen Narcissa said, stirring her tea thoughtfully.
"Done what? Add sugar to my tea?" Ginny asked, faking innocence.
"You know perfectly well what I'm talking about, Ginevra. You shouldn't have interfered and talked to him with that mocking tone of voice." Queen Narcissa said, still not facing the young girl.
"He was going to hit you, My Queen. I may not be the smartest person or the richest one, but I have values and beliefs as well. I cannot stay quiet when I know that an innocent is being beaten or abused in any other way." Ginny said seriously, holding the elder woman's hand in hers. "He may be your husband, but that doesn't give him the right to hit you."
The lady just kept sipping her tea in silence, her eyes full of painful secrets.
"Where's your maid of company?" Ginny asked, noticing the absence of the other woman.
"Her mother is sick, she's away for a few weeks…" the Queen replied in a whisper.
"Oh, very well, I'm going to the bedroom take these clothes off and then I'll leave… I'm sure you'll find someone much better than me to marry your son. I've caused enough problems already." Ginny said standing up from her seat and getting ready to leave the small room.
"No, please. You are the one I've chosen, and I believe I've chosen well. You haven't caused any problems, Ginevra, because they have always existed… ever since the beginning." The Queen whispered sadly. "You'll be my daughter-in-law very soon, but until then there's a lot of work to be done. Mrs. Potter will be here soon to give you your first lesson."
Ginny assumed she was referring to high-class etiquette, so she drank her tea in silence, wondering what secrets the Queen was hiding from the world, because her eyes showed all the pain in her soul.
A few minutes later, someone knocked on the door and a young woman with brown hair came in, her face serious, although her eyes showed warmth.
"Ah, Hermione Potter, how good to see you!" Queen Narcissa smiled at the young woman and they exchanged hugs. "You're looking wonderful, I believe Mr. Potter is the reason why?"
"Indeed, he is…" Mrs. Potter agreed with a shy smile and a small blush on her cheeks. Trying to divert the attention from her, Mrs. Potter looked at Ginevra and studied her attentively. "This is the young woman you wrote to me about? She is pretty, has a very nice figure, her hands are a little rough, but we can soften them with some potions…"
"I'm right here, you know? You don't have to talk about me as if I'm only part of the furniture!" Ginny replied coldly.
"And she has a temper too… Good choice my Queen! Draco will hate her for sure." Mrs. Potter smirked.
"I hope so, my dear, because he'll find love through hate, I'm sure of that…" Queen Narcissa chuckled. "Let's start the lesson, shall we?"
For the next few hours, Ginny was taught proper table manners, poise, how to walk, how to bow properly, where to place her hands during various situations… by the end of those two hours she was tired with so many new things on her mind.
"Now, let's talk about dancing." Mrs. Potter said, still sounding energetic. The small young woman seemed to be very intelligent and very eager to teach, but Ginny couldn't take anymore.
"I'm sorry, but I'm too tired. Can we please continue this on another occasion?" Ginny complained, her hands trying to move her corset away from her chest, so that she could breathe properly.
"Yes, of course. I'll be back tomorrow after lunch." Mrs. Potter agreed with a small smile. "You know what, I like you and maybe we'll even end up being good friends You are doing a good job so far, and I will make you the most amazing Princess this country has ever known!"
"Thank you, Mrs. Potter. I'll see you tomorrow." Ginny smiled somewhat painfully. The corset was killing her.
"It's uncomfortable, isn't it?" the Queen asked with a knowing smile, as soon as Mrs. Potter left the room.
"It sure is. Please, tell me I can remove it." Ginny pleaded with sad eyes.
"But, there's dinner to attend and…"
"Please, let me eat in my room. I need some time to get used to all of these new things and I'm tired…" she reasoned.
"Very well, later I'll send someone with your dinner. Rest well, because tomorrow we'll have a big day ahead of us." the Queen agreed with a gentle smile.
That was all it took for Ginny to practically run back to her room. The only things that kept her from actually running were the corset, the long dress and the high-heeled shoes. As soon as she entered her room, she immediately ordered Parvati to help her remove the dress and corset, and as soon as she wore her nightgown and released her hair from the braids, Ginny sighed with relief. There was nothing like the freedom of movement.
As soon as Ginny lay on her bed, she fell asleep and not even Parvati was able to make her wake up to have dinner. After all those hours of rest, Ginny woke up in the middle of the dark, her stomach growling with hunger. Not knowing where the candles were or how to light them up, she opened the window curtains so that the moonlight bathed the room, and this way she found a thin robe and a pair of slippers at the end of the bed. Putting them on, Ginny left her room in search of the kitchen, with her fiery hair flying around her body in large curls.
Being the clever girl she was, Ginny went to the Dinning Room and from there searched the kitchen. It had to be near… Opening doors as she went down a small corridor, she finally opened the door that led to a gigantic kitchen with cauldrons all over the place, trays full of fruit on top of the table and various cabinets surrounding the three fireplaces existent in the room. Apparently, the Palace held big parties, and the cookers had to make a lot of food. Opening some cabinets, Ginny found a box with ginger cookies, a jar of milk and a recently made cake.
Taking a plate of cookies and a glass of milk to one of the kitchen tables, Ginny was prepared to eat, but was interrupted by someone walking in. The room was a little dark, the only light coming from the small fire burning in the fireplace, and Ginny couldn't see who the person was, but she could tell one thing… it was a man wearing a Guard's suit.
"Woman, get me something to eat." The deep, male voice ordered coldly.
"I beg your pardon?" she sneered, dipping a ginger cookie on her glass of milk and then ate it, causing the milk to run down her arm. "Hum, yummy…"
"I gave you an order… NOW!" he yelled furiously, stepping into the light, allowing Ginny to finally look at him.
She was surprised, to say the least… In front of her was a blond young man, wearing a Guard's suit, although it looked much more ornate and expensive than the other Guards' suits. His hair was cut short, showing off his perfect facial structure, and his steely grey eyes, now shining orange with the firelight.
"I would do no such thing!" Ginny replied coldly, as soon as her brain returned to activity. "Besides, I'm not your maid."
"The thing is, you are…" he sneered, sitting in front of her. "Are you new around here, or something?"
"You could say that… HEY!" she yelled with indignation when the man stole her glass of milk and drank it in two gulps. "That milk is mine!"
"Well…not anymore." He chuckled, trying to steal one of her cookies, but Ginny slapped his hands and held the plate against her chest.
"Find your own food, you git…" she growled, although she knew she was acting childishly.
"My Prince!" a female voice whispered in shock.
Both Ginny and the young man looked at the kitchen's door where an old woman stared at both of them with fear in her eyes.
"The Guard has told me that you had just arrived and were hungry. I came to serve you." The old woman explained, still staring at the couple in front of her. "You shouldn't be here alone with her…"
"Why not? She's just a maid, isn't she?" he replied, managing to steal a cookie from Ginny's plate, as soon as she placed it on the middle of the table and got up from her seat.
So, this man was the Prince? This was her future husband?
"Don't worry, I'm already leaving…" Ginny replied, walking closer to the door. "Good evening."
"Good evening, Milady." came the answer of the old woman, and Ginny could feel steely grey eyes burning holes on her back with both shock and curiosity.
As she practically ran back to her bedroom, Ginny couldn't stop replaying the handsome sight that was Prince Draco Malfoy, but she also recognized how spoiled he acted and the superior way that he addressed to people.
Maybe Queen Narcissa was right, Prince Draco needed someone to make him realise that you must work hard to achieve your targets. And maybe… just maybe, that girl was her, Ginevra Weasley.
************
WOW! 43 reviews in a first chapter, that's absolutely wonderful…
First of all, I need to apologise to all of you. I know I usually post very often, but with this story, it won't be likely to happen.
Many of you asked if I had the story already written on computer and if I would post very often… No, the story wasn't written on computer, I'm re-writing it to fit the wizarding world, as I go along, and I won't post very often because these chapters are long and need a special attention to them. I want to make a good work.
Besides, I now have a BETA-reader, Violet Jersey, and she has been helping me with the story. She helped me correct this chapter, and she did a great work… Without her, it would have been a little childish and clichéd. THANK YOU VIOLET JERSEY
So, the process of writing + the process of BETA-ing, will take some time. But don't worry; I always finish what I start.
Thank you for reading and reviewing.
Love, Carina
-->