The New Dancing Lady

The New Dancing Lady


Belle Marie was a beautiful girl yet an ambitious one. At the age of eighteen, she met a woman who told her that she was to repeat a history of a kingdom. Even her being ambitious, she was admired by village men who flocked to her house to ask for her hand. The aspiring men were mainly from Evergreen Hills who brought all kinds of gifts to please her. Her dream however, was to be the queen of the kingdom.

Unfortunately, her mother caught an illness only a rare plant could heal. This plant, which the village healer named as the “lilyrose” can only be found in the distant kingdom of Peridot. She immediately gathered her suitors to choose the luckiest one who will accompany her for the search. The strong suitors showed their strengths by knocking each other down. After a length of time, Ian Troy, a handsome lad from the nearby Stonegrind village stood as the winner.

Belle Marie was accompanied by Ian Troy. The way to Peridot was mountainous and trees-covered. After many days of travel and hardships, they saw a green castle top which indicates they have reached their destination. With much effort and determination, they searched for the lilyrose. Unknown to them, they are being watched by the castle men from above the palace. After what seemed a hopeless search deeper in the woods, they found the flower. It has delicate petals in the shade of the pinkish white. Both decided to rest feeling very tired of the travel and search.

At nightfall, Belle Marie awoke to see that they were no longer in the woods but in a prison dungeon. She hurriedly woke Ian Troy. Ian Troy, realizing where they are, figured out how to escape. Not before long, they were able to climb up safely and ran as fast as they can. However, the palace gate was guarded by a throng of palace guards. Without much fuss, they were taken inside the palace. When the king saw the intruders, he was bitter. He immediately ordered for their death. While they were tied up, the prince happened to pass by. He was intrigued by the commotion and whoever caused it. When he saw Belle Marie, he instantly fell in love with her. He pleaded the king for their release.

The prince then ordered a feast for the new arrivals. They were asked why they are there for. Belle Marie explained about the illness of her mother, and the prince pitied her. He then revealed he fell in love with her in the instant they met, and gave her a Peridot ring as a sign of his affection. Hearing this, she eagerly accepted the gift. The prince don’t want to let her go, so if ever she decide to go home, he will be pleased to go along. Ian Troy wasn’t pleased with the idea. It is unfair in his part, accompanying Belle Marie throughout the journey and now the prince is making his scene. Belle Marie, on the other hand, forgot about her mother when the prince offered to marry her. She wanted Ian Troy to bring home the lilyrose for her. Ian Troy, who loved her so much, agreed. He set out without a word, making her even happier. After a week, she was crowned princess of Peridot.

With the wealth she dreamed of, she enjoyed her life in the palace for weeks. She was sweet to her servants, thus gaining their trusts. However, one servant became jealous of her luck. She was long in love with the prince and long wished for the throne. One night, she invited the princess to a secret room. She explained it was the Treasure room which is the keeping place for all the Peridot treasures of the kingdom. And indeed, it was! Belle Marie’s eyes widened at the sight of the green jewels and elegant dresses. One very elegant dress caught her eye. It stood out among the others as it is colored red with small, life-like red flowers sewed to it. It was a red blossoms dress.

The treacherous Gaia, when asked by the princess if she can take the dress, assured that anything in the room is fitter no other than the princess herself. The princess, Belle Marie, took it and excitedly tried it. In a minute, she found herself dancing like a ballerina. She swayed, bowed, held a foot up, and then swayed again. Gaia laughed at the scene. Belle Marie asked why she can’t control herself. Gaia, still laughing, explained that the dress was cursed and have been used to test the honesty of previous princesses. And because of greed, she had repeated a history by dancing the magic ballet.

The next morning, the prince woke up to see the princess was not around. She was nowhere to be found. When the prince lost hope, although he was afraid to, he tried for the treasure room, suspecting the curse might have happened again.

And so, it had. He saw Belle Marie dancing as if she was just forced to. He pitied her once more. Now the past came to his mind again…He had married many times, and all those times lost his wives due to the tradition of testing the honesty of the princesses. He didn’t want to test Belle Marie anymore, for this time; he was deeply in love with all her being. But, to the turn of Fate, she found out somehow. So there she remains, dancing with tears. She was slowly turning to stone…

Poor Belle Marie, now a lady in a red blossom dress inside a room of treasure now unfelt.