Chapter 1

Mistakes

Dear Diary,

Today was one of those days where nothing goes right. It all began this morning. I woke up and I found myself on the floor beside my bed. I suddenly knew that today would not be a good day. As I stood up I felt a sharp pain in my hip. I ignored it and sat down on my bed. Lying down, I fell back asleep.

After a while, though, I heard a voice waking me up. It was Carlotta, one of the maids. She helped me up and again the sharp pain returned. I disregarded it. Carlotta selected a dress for me to wear. It was a white dress with a white cloak.

When she helped me dress, I was sent to the Dining Room/Banquet Hall to have breakfast. I greeted Father and Mother and we chatted pleasantly. When one of the servants brought my platter of food, I accidentally knocked over my glass of water.

Of course, that wasn't the end of the bad things that was happening to me. I breathed in sharply. Standing up, I helped clean up the mess only resulting into knocking over my whole breakfast platter.

I apologized and was given a new platter. Thankfully, I didn't cause any more trouble.

Afterwards, my lessons began.

My Lessons:

Embroidery (Two Hours)

Etiquette (Two Hours)

Reading/Writing (Two Hours)

Ballroom Dancing (One Hour)

I headed for Embroidery. Madame Lanelle greeted me and when I greeted her back, I tried to curtsy causing me to fall ungracefully onto the floor. She sighed and I regained my composure, frowning. I apologized once more and we began sewing.

Madame Lanelle took out our embroidery and we sewed in silence. I sat quietly and was silently wondering where the Ladies-In-Waiting were. (Without the Ladies-In-Waiting, Embroidery seems unbearable. When they're there, everything livens up…and they know all the gossip…) After thirty minutes, I felt my back begin to ache. I slouched without noticing and received a scolding from my governess.

This is what she said to me:

"Princess Arianna! How many times must I tell you not to slouch? It is very un-ladylike and you are a princess!"

I know I'm a princess but it seems that being a princess doesn't have a lot of advantages. There are a lot of things you can't do and you get scolded for everything.

I frowned and straightened my back. Madame Lanelle continued to scold me but I wasn't listening. I was daydreaming and by accident I pricked my finger with the needle.

I received another scolding, which I completely ignored, and we continued our Embroidery. When an hour had passed, the Ladies-In-Waiting finally arrived. Suddenly, the atmosphere had changed and lively chatter was heard.

I smiled and continued sewing. Occasionally, I pricked my finger but I disregarded it. When two hours passed, I put away my sewing and eagerly went to my next lesson, Etiquette.

When I arrived, Lady Eva and I greeted each other. (Somehow I managed not to fall when I had curtsied to her.) She asked me where I would like to learn my lessons and I told her I wanted to walk to the ocean.

Of course, I should have known I had made a mistake. When we arrived, I stood near the water. This was the slip-up. As the water touched the hem of my dress, the tides became stronger and before I knew it the water had rose higher and drenched my skirts. I turned around and walked away from the water but I had tripped. Suddenly I found myself soaked in salt water. I tried to stand up only to be drenched in water once more.

"Lady Eva!" I cried, helplessly.

She, however, was laughing and couldn't bring herself to help me.

"Lady Eva!" I repeated, successfully standing up.

Then, a strong breeze aroused and the water still came up and continued to sodden my skirts. Shivering, I made my way to my governess. She had stopped laughing and had come walking towards me.

"Princess Arianna! You're going to catch a cold!" Lady Eva said.

I have never heard a more ridiculous thing in my entire life!

Anyways, she wrapped to her shawl around me and we walked away from the ocean. On our way to the castle, we ran into a group of boys. They were about my age. Lady Eva was too busy scolding me to notice but I was studying each of the boys carefully.

One boy, however, caught my eye. He was tall and handsome. He had dark brown hair and brown eyes. I later found out his name was Nicholas Bentworth.

"Princess Arianna! Please be more careful," she went on.

My gaze went from the boys to my governess.

"Lady Eva! If you would've helped me then we wouldn't be in this mess!" I argued.

"But as a princess, you should be more careful!" she contradicted.

I groaned.

"That's what everyone says! 'Because I'm a princess I can't do this…or as a princess I should be more careful…'" I quoted, angrily. "Lady Eva! I can't do anything without getting scolded."

Then by accident, I tripped once more. A hand caught my arm.

"Are you okay?" asked a voice.

I turned and noticed it was the boy who had caught my eye. I blushed. I'm sure Lady Eva knew something for she gave me such a sly smirk.

"I'm fine," I answered.

He smiled.

"I'm Nicholas Bentworth," he introduced, bowing.

"Princess Arianna," I murmured, shivering slightly. (It's kind of awkward for me to introduce myself as 'Princess Arianna.')

"Princess Arianna…we should really get home," put in Lady Eva with a concerned look. "You might catch a cold."

Again, what a ridiculous thing to say. I bid Nicholas Bentworth good-bye and Lady Eva and I made our way home in silence. Trembling violently, we finally reached our destination. (I'm pretty sure it was ten minutes but I was very cold.)

As we entered, the warmth entered my body and I stopped trembling.

Father and Mother came in worried and asked what had happened. I told them exactly what happened and as usual they scolded me and then they kissed me and embraced me telling me how much they love me. I sometimes think they overdo it but it's still comforting.

Lady Eva sent me off to bed and I got dressed into my nightgown. Lying down in my bed, I am now resorting into writing in you.

To top this day off, I have caught the cold. (Just like Lady Eva had suspected…) Somehow, I knew this day was not going to be good. There were a few good things that happened today, though. (For example: Meeting Nicholas Bentworth and not having to do my lessons for today and if I'm lucky I might not be able to do my lessons tomorrow.)

Anyways, the maids say I must rest so I should stop writing.

Yours,

Princess Arianna