''To imagine me...a normal guy being invited to the kings royal ball...''
its almost not to believe i told to myself as i laid down on my bed and looked at the letter again and read it out to myself
''Dear John, I, King Alexander the third invites you hereby to our royal ball the upcoming friday, we would be delighted to have you come''
Signed King Alexander the third
''i still cannot believe it...''
''it must be like...they give it out randomly but i feel lucky'' i smiled to myself and put the letter carefully on night table next time and closed my eyes
it was Wednesday so only two more days i thought as i drifted into sleep
i woke up early the next morning to the sound of my alarm
i slowly got out of bed and stretched and pulled up the curtains, a gentle ray of sunshine shone into my bedroom and the white snow almost glittered in the early morning sun
i yawned and stretched once again and went on do to my buisness in the bathroom before getting dressed
i quickly coked up some food, just easy some easy breakfast, bacon and eggs, why not ? And walked over to the TV and sat down on my chair and started eating
Since it was quite early nothing good was really on so i ended up just browsing the channels til i finished up my food
today i had a chance to relax, i already had my suit for tomorrow and everything, just need a quick shave before bed tonight and all should be good i thought to myself as i started to clean
But i still had to do something to pass the time
Being the guy that i was that meant just spending the day on the pc since i had free from work this week
i turned on my pc and started to browse around for several hours
And so this by went by relatively quickly, i went to bed right after making myself some food and i just couldn't wait for tomorrow!
The next day
I woke up around mid afternoon after getting a good nights sleep and the first thing i did was to take a long warm shower afterwards i went over to shave, making sure i got everything
i went into my bedroom and got the suit out of my dresser and carefully started to put it
i tried earlier this week but it still fit to my relief
''okay'' i said to myself in an overly cheery tone as i put on some cologne and checked the time
''17.00...so it starts in two hours'' i said to myself as the doorbell rang
''....'' i thought about saying something as i walked over to the door but kept quiet about it
i opened the door and before stood a man in a suit that looked way more expensive than mine
''Ah, you must be John right?'' he asked in an overly posh tone
''Yeah...im John, is something wrong ?''
He gave me a kind smile and told me ''Nothing is wrong John, my name is Damien, i am the kings chauffeur and i am here to pick you up''
''What ? pick me up ?''
''Yes King Alexander asked me to pick you up, i know i am a bit early but i usually am'' he smiled at me
''O-okay...so...im going now ?'' i asked kinda hesitantly
''As soon as you are done John we will depart to the castle yes, but please do not hurry like i said, it is still early but you do look ready so far ? and good choice on the cologne''
''Thanks'' i smiled at him
''let me just get a few things quickly and then i am ready''
''Of course, and if i could be so rude to ask''
i looked at him
''Yes ? what is it ?''
''Could i bother you for a glass of water?'' he said feeling a bit ashamed over asking
''oh, yeah, sure of course'' i said and got Damien a glass of water
''Here you go''
''Thank you'' he said and drank everything in one big gulp and handed the glass back
i took the glass and put it back in the kitchen and put on my watch and my cellphone
''okay...i think this is everything, i'm done''
''Wonderfull, dont forget to lock your house now John''
i laughed and showed him the keys, i locked the door behind me and made sure it was closed as i followed Damien to his car
''Ah, there she is, a real beauty'' he said and walked over to a glossy black limousine who looked like it was newly cleaned
''A limo ?''
''Well of course, you are going to the king Alexanders Ball, entrance is everything John''
''Of...Of course, i have just never been in one before''
''I see'' he said and let out a hearty chuckle
''oh, let me John'' he said and opened the door as i sat down in the back
The black leather seats, the minibar in the back and the black windows...it was just like in the movies, it felt...unreal
''okay then'' he said and rolled down the window
''we will be there in ten minutes but please, dont be afraid to take a drink on the way, it helps to calm down a bit'' he said and started to drive
i gave him a nod and made sure he saw me as i poured myself a glass of champagne and took a small sip
''oh...this is good!'' i said in surprise
i had consumed my fair share of champagne but this was just something else
Damien just smiled and kept his eyes on the road as i saw people staring at me in the streets, or rather, staring at the limo
i leaned back and took another sip as we finally reached the castle
in the middle of the city, the royal castle...it was built over a thousand year ago but it still looked brand new
just the awe and majestic building made me knees feel weak as we drove into the courtyard and Damien stopped the car
i finished my drink and took a deep sigh as Damien opened up the car door
''And here we are, i hope the ride was pleasant enough John''
i stepped out of the car and smiled
''it was...unreal to say the least Damien, Thank you''
''oh, please it is my job John, dont mention it'' he smiled at me
''Oh ? Here already?'' i heard a voice say and i looked around and saw him
King Alexander standing by the entrance wearing a suit with medals
He had a short black hair and and some beard but he looked...out of this world
''Oh, King Alexander'' he said and bowed for the king
''i brought our guest of honor as you asked''
''So you did but please Damien, drop the formalities''
''Y-Yes sir'' he said and relaxed up a bit
The king smiled and looked at me
''John it is a pleasure to have you here with us tonight'' he said and walked over to me
my mouth felt dry and my knees felt weak as i looked at him walking over to me
once he was close i tried reaching out my hand but instead he smiled and gave me a very...fatherly hug almost
''It is a pleasure John!'' he chuckled
''T-Thank you King Alexander'' i managed to say
''please, just call me Alexander, that king stuff tends to get a bit bothersome sometimes'' he smiled
''O-okay'' i said trying to calm myself down
''Say John ? You want the tour before the events start ? the public rarely gets to see everything in the castle and i rarely get to give tours''
''You-you want me a tour of your home your majesty ?''
''oh drop it, just call me Alexander and yes of course! i love walking around reminiscing and its nice to have someone along yes ?''
''I...i suppose so Alexander'' i said a bit hesitant to not call the king by his title
''Good Good, it helps me get ready for these events as well, if i have to be honest, i hate these kinda things but my wife likes it you know'' he chuckled once again and walked inside
i followed closely after and looked around the grand hall
old paintings covered the walls, a grand chandelier hanged from the ceiling and two sets of stairs on the right and left side of the room lead up to the upper floors
''As you can see, this is the main entrance hall, what do you think ?''
''its...sorry for saying but its Awesome...''
''It is Awesome as you say'' he chuckled again
''Well then, shall we start the tour ?''
''okay then'' i said excitedly
''oh, just one thing wait here one moment'' he said and walked into another room and returned shortly after with two glasses of wine
''Here, doing the tour sober would not be as fun'' he chuckled once again
''He really likes to chuckle'' i thought to myself as we started the tour
''shall we do the upper floors first and move down ?''
''Sure''
''Okay, upstairs we have the bedrooms, the bathrooms and guest chambers as well as a few...unorthodox rooms so to say, but let me show you instead of telling you''
I nodded as we took the trip upstairs and king Alexander showed me the rooms, there were as he said, several bed rooms but the rooms that really caught me by surprise we're all the ''relaxation'' rooms as king Alexander called them
Rooms filled with paintings, TV's cabinets full of drinks and tables
Guess even the king likes to eat in front of the TV
He smiled at me '' i think that covers it now'' he said but his face looked a bit...stern
''We got one more room but we never enter there..''
my eyes widened as i looked at him
''Well...As you know John, i have fathered four wonderful sons but i have yet to have a daughter and i feel my time is running out, the last room was meant for the daughter i never had''
I just nodded quickly and took a sip, this conversation just got...awkward
But once again king Alexander smiled ''But enough about that! Bah!'' he chuckled as we headed downstairs
the main floor was as expected, a large kitchen, dining halls, a living room and a few extra bedrooms and bathrooms for some reason
''Okay John...we got a bit more time than i thought we would so...want to see the basement ?''
''The...The basement?'' i gulped
it was well known the royal basement was just an old dungeon used for the worst of criminals
Oubliettes where people were thrown down to die, the previous kings usually would take trips down there and laugh at the prisoners
''it is macabre but...it has history, what do you say ?''
I nodded quickly
the public never got a chance to see the dungeons so as scary and hideous as it might be...this was a once in a lifetime opportunity
He smiled and walked over to a door in the far edge of the castle and opened it
it was large and almost metallic like...it looked very out of place
behind the door there were a spiral staircase made out of stone and as we descended the smell hit me
it smelt...i couldn't describe it, it was like i was smelling the dead...
''Be careful here John, the stones tend to get a bit slippery''
i nodded and kept close to the king as he took me trough the dungeons
Several locked doors where you could only see in from a small hole in the door itself
cold black stone...nothing else
we walked around for what must have been almost an hour down there while the king kept telling ghastly stories about the past
Things i would never imagine, cruelty beyond human compassion for the sake of gain and wealth
''Ah...i think the guests are coming...'' he said and turned and looked at me with a sorrowful gaze
''Do you want to see the final room?'' he asked
''.....'' i said nothing, this just turned...creepy
''its fine, you dont need to say anything'' he said and walked a bit more and got out a pair of old rusted keys and opened a locked door with no hole on it
As the door went up it was like a thousand souls screamed out in thanks for being freed from their eternal cell
the walls were ice cold and the floor was...red, instead of the usually black stones covering the dungeon
i looked around the room and touched the walls as all my fears came to pass
i turned around and saw the king standing by the door ready to close it
''W-wait...dont'' i stammered but it was to late, he closed the door and locked
''W-Wait! what is this ?! Hello ?!'' i yelled
''it...it will all make sense soon John'' he said in a cold, almost dead voice
''Wait here for a bit...it will be okay'' he said and i could hear his footsteps fading away as i crunched against the wall
''What....what is going on...is this...real?'' i said looking at my hands
i closed my eyes and just wished i could wake up from this nightmare but i know, this wasn't a dream
''this cant be real!'' i yelled out
''Oh....but it is''
i looked around
''What ?! Who said that ?!''
i looked around but saw no one but i heard the door opening
i looked over and saw...Damien ?''
''Sorry for this commotion John''
''See, when the king asks for something, i answer''
''What ? what is going on ?''
''let us just say this John, there is always a price and when She is not available...it falls to me''
''falls to you ? she...? what is this ?''
He smiled at me as i saw it
The horns sticking out from his head and those pure white teeth shining in the dark
''What....are you?''
''I'm the man who made a dying man's wish come true''
''But i am just a servant of bigger powers out there, dont ask, i do what i do''
''You're...the devil ?'' i said feeling totally like and idiot for even asking
''The devil ?'' he laughed
''No no, i am not the devil, although i am...blessed with certain...shall we say devilish abilites ?''
''........'' i said nothing and just looked at him
''You see John, King Alexander although a proud and noble man, he never got what he wanted''
''the other kings wished for riches, wealth, power...control''
''But king Alexander ? No, he believed in humans, he saw them as equals but at the same time he hated them''
''What ?'' i said standing up and looking at Damien
''well, hate is a strong word but the king already told you, he was never blessed with a daughter, he fathered three sons, well technically four but...sometimes that is the price''
''i feel sick....what does this have to do with me ?''
''A simple trade, The king will die tonight, nothing can save that, he is already dead in certain terms''
''But for his life he wanted a trade, he contacted all he could, finding out as much as possible and managed to dabble into powers beyond his understanding''
''He summoned...the devil ?''
''I told you, i am not the devil, but he did manage to get into contact with....someone, someone who sent me to their bidding''
''So...you're the devils slave...?''
''Well, slave and slave but yes, i do unwillingly serve someone else...''
''But this is not about me is it ? you're the one in this position''
''What ? Why me ?''
''Easy, you had just enough that people wouldnt care if you vanished''
''people know but you never made a huge impression on anyone, you dont speak to your parents or family and you're an only child''
''You're the perfect victim''
''Victim...?''
''Well, a life for a life in some ways, the king died for you''
''What ?....that makes no sense!''
''right now, no but let me talk''
''You see, he made a trade with me, he would abandon his own healthy life, albeit the man was rounding his mid sixties's he would have lived well into the hundreds''
''so to give up his remaining years he wanted to give someone a new life''
''So i picked you out for that purpose''
''....what?''
''The king will die tonight, tomorrow, he will be forgotten, it will be as he has been dead for years but the one thing he did before dying was fathering one daughter''
''And for that to happen, you will be its vessel''
''....What ?'' i said feeling almost every bad emotion ever
''You will understand'' he said and slowly walked over to me and grabbed my hand
''Tomorrow you will wake up in a bed not familiar to you, you will still be yourself but your purpose will be new''
''What you chose to do is up to you but let us say this''
''My...mistress....sees this as a blessing, why ? i dont know, she has a sick sense of humor, might be her age''
''mistress ? what ?''
''Again you ask questions to something i dont have to answers willing to give''
''John is gone, and tomorrow you will wake up in bed....Princess Aria'' he said as his eyes flashed bright red
''.....But it could be worse, you're alive and you will get almost everything handed to you on a silver plate, not a bad trade right ?''
''princess ? i dont want...i'm not a girl ?''
''oh ? that's the problem here ? that's the easy fix John, erasing memories and changing reality ? thats the hard part but dont worry about that you''
''After all, it wont matter to you in the end''
He laughed a cold dark laughter and i could feel my whole body getting tired
My eyes started to close i couldn't force myself to be awake anymore
The last thing i heard before passing out was....someone talking
A womans voice
''She is beautiful Dear''
''She is...our little princess...''
I felt...warmth and i saw a face in the darkness
A woman with blonde hair smiling
i looked at her and tried reaching out for her as i hit something
i woke up and looked around
i was...in a room ? i was lying in a large bed with silk blankets covering me
''is this..a dream ?'' i said, still not sure if this was real or not
i looked around the room again, there was a window that was covered by curtains, several old...furniture covered the room as well as new modern things, like a TV, pc and...a huge wardrobe
''.....it...'' i sat up in the bed as i felt it
i looked down and saw...breasts
''....N-no...'' i gently moved my fingers in front of my face
long slender arms with not hair, nails that looked like they were recently trimmed
i took a deep breath and gently touched them
''....it...it's real....?''
I sat in the bed for several minutes just trying to get my mind in order and wake up and just find out what was going on before i jumped out of the bed and ran to a mirror in the room
i closed my eyes just before reaching it and slowly opened them as my jaw hit the floor
looking right back at me...was a girl....she had long blonde hair, gentle glowing skin...no things between her legs
''its...me?'' i said as the girl in the mirror followed my movements
''it is me...''
''its me?!'' i almost screamed as i ran back to the bed and hid under the blankets
''This is not real, this cant be real! but my voice...my body...it feels real...''
i sat up in the bed again and brushed the hair away from my eyes with my hands
''it is real...'' i said lowly to myself as i heard a knock on the door
''Princess Aria ? Are you awake'' i heard a woman say
i didn't know what to say so i just kept quiet but that didn't help much as a woman wearing a maid uniform walked inside
''Still lying in bed ? Come on now princess, you have to get up, you are already late''
She smiled and walked over to me
''Did you have a nice sleep princess ?''
i still said nothing as i looked at the woman standing next to me
''Princess ? Are you okay ?''
''Y-Yes i am fine'' i stammered
She leaned over and put her hand on my forehead
''you dont got a fever...and you look fine, so get up, i have to help you into your clothes''
''help me into my clothes?'' i said to her
''Of course, today is a big day after all''
''Why ?''
''Have you forgotten ? you're turning eighteen today princess''
''Eighteen...?''
''im turning eighteen ? i was eighteen....8 years ago'' i thought to myself as i looked at the woman
but something...was weird
she didn't move her eyes were fixated on me but she just stood there as i heard a familiar voice
''Ahhh, it seems like it worked, you know freezing time is hard''
i looked around the room and spotted Damien standing on the other side of the bed
''You ?! what the hell!?''
''Really now, that is no way to talk young lady''
''Young lady...what is going on ?''
''i told you...'' he sighed
''look let me make it all clear for you right now''
''You're a princess now, get used to it, its your new life and as for lives ? you shouldn't complain, many girls wish they could be a princess, Hell even some guys do''
''And yes its permanent, get used to it and dont try to say something stupid, no one else knows the former you, it would be pointless and you would be seen as insane''
''So get used to it is my best advice, and dont be stupid, you have a maid, you got a nice home, you're a princess''
''you're still alive, but oh no! you're not a man anymore, your poor poor human''
i looked at Damien...and i had to agree with him on some points...
''Okay...but...i dont want this''
''To bad, its your life now, get used to it''
''....Fine! fine! i dont care anymore''
''That's a start''
''But i dont know anything!''
''Oh that ? it will come, lets say your...princess etiquette so to say will come as days pass''
''What do you mean ?''
''Well imagine...playing a game you haven't played in a while, you know some parts but have forgotten some as well''
''Yeah...?''
''it will slowly come to you as time goes, how to act, talk, behave, and so on''
''Okay...'' i said feeling...defeated
I looked over at the maid frozen in time and sighed as it finally sunk in...this is my new life
And as for lives...it could have been far worse...and my old life wasn't that much to talk about
''you finally get it dont you'' he said giving me an honest smile
''...Yes'' i said in a calmer tone
''i knew you would, this is probably the last time we talk so let me give you one final piece of advice''
''This is your new life, you're a princess, your father, the king, is dead so dont mention him''
''You're a girl ? so what, 50 percent of all humans are and you're 18, you're in your prime time of life''
''You ar-...'' i interrupted and looked at him
''I know Damien....i know...i'll...i'll make it work okay ? dont worry about me''
''Pleasure to hear Princess'' he smiled at me
''Princess...''
''i guess i could get used to that'' i said and smiled kindly
''You'll do fine, now then, i have to leave and Take care now, Aria''
i wanted to say something back but as soon as he finished, he was gone and time started to flow again
''So lets get dressed shall we princess ?''
''Yes..sorry''
i slowly got out of the bed with only my panties on but the maid didn't seem to mind to much as i walked over to the mirror
''Okay then, do you prefer the white gown or the black one ?''
i looked over at the gowns
''....The white one'' i said feeling a bit hesitant but something else was rising inside me, a feeling of excitement
''Great, i do the same'' she smiled and brought it out as well as some lingerie
''please change'' she said and handed me the lingerie and turned around
i removed my panties and looked down
Nothing down there as i knew...and slid the white panties up my legs
Then there was the bra...
i tried to take on and failed a few times before finally getting it on
''it feels a bit tight but...''
''oh, dont worry princess, it will get better during the day, its brand new you know''
I nodded slowly as i stepped into the dress and slid up as the maid pulled up the zipper on my back
''You look beautiful Princess Aria'' she smiled at me as i looked at myself in the mirror
Beautiful was an understatement, i looked like a goddess...
''okay and now onto your hair can you sit down ?'' she said pointing at a chair in front of a vanity table
i nodded slowly and walked over as she began to brush and straightening my hair then curling it
''And lastly this little thing'' she said and put a some kinda silver hair piece on my hair
''All done'' she smiled
''Y-yeah....it looks amazing'' i blushed looking at myself
''oh and i almost forgot, my deepest apologies Princess Aria'' she said and walked over to the wardrobe and got out a pair of white high heels with gold laces rims
''please put them on'' she smiled and put the shoes on the floor next to me
i gulped a bit, high heels ? could i even walk in those without looking like i had never done it before ?
i slowly put on the shoes and stood up
it did feel a bit strange but...i just had to get used to it
i slowly walked around to get a feel of it
''Glamorous princess Aria'' the maid smiled at me
i look over at her try to curtsy
''oh'' she blushes and does the same back
''Okay...okay, so...what happens today ?''
''i think your mother is waiting for you downstairs my princess, i shall let her know you are coming'' she smiles and walks away
i look around, finally alone
''...All in all...this is not too bad...i mean...i feel pretty good, i look healthy...'' i just shrug and walk over to the door and open it
i am in the hallway i remember it from my tour the other day with the king
i walk over to the stairs leading down to the main floor but as i reach the last step i look over and see a woman clad in a very elegant gown looking at me
''you look amazing sweetie!'' she smiles at me
just by looking at her i know its the queen or rather, my mom
''Thanks mom'' i walk over and hug her
she smiles kindly back to me
''to think my daughter has turned 18...i remember the day you were born dear, your father would have been so proud'' she said as a single tear rolls down her cheek
i nod slowly and smile at her
''thanks mom...i...im sure dad would''
she nods and holds my hand as she leads to me to the living room where a photographer is standing
''what is this mom ?'' i ask
''since you're turning 18 dear i figured it would be nice to take some pictures to remember the day''
The photographer turns around and smiles at us
''Hello Princess Aria, my name is Derek, i'm here to take your pictures''
i nod at him
''if you wouldn't mind, can you sit down on the white chair over there ?''
i slowly walk over to the chair and sit down, i rest my hand on the chair and the other hand on my dress as the Derek starts taking the pictures of me
i look over at my mom as she just stands there and smiles at me
''18...im a princess...and im 18'' i think to myself as i keep posing
''i...i dont know what life holds for me but...i got this chance to make the best of it, and i will do my best to make sure it's a good and long life'' i just keep thinking
I sigh as i smile to my mom as i keep sitting on the chair being taken pictures of
''I'm a princess....Princess Aria...'' i close my eyes as i embrace the future of my life fully and as i do, i feel a slight..tingling sensation inside me, i feel...complete.
