Today is the day. Today, I will present myself in front of the queen and everyone will know who I am. I'm terrified it will go wrong, I'm scared I will trip or say something wrong, I'm afraid I will not bow deep enough or run off when the nerves start to wreck me. I am nervous, more than ever before.

Rose wakes me up and when I enter the dining room, I can feel the change of atmosphere instantly. No one is running but they are all in a hurry, there are no questions anymore, there are just demands. I eat breakfast swiftly and then I dress up, the brand-new dress is being held up by one of the servants and although it is not entirely my style, because my chest looks ten times bigger than it actually is, it looks flawless.

At least five people help me get into it and make sure nothing gets damaged. I sit down and someone takes two hours of their time to do my hair while I observe myself. I know it is me, the person looking at me through the mirror, but it does not feel like me anymore. It feels like I'm trapped inside of this new body and this new life, not knowing if I will ever escape.

When my hair is finished, someone else comes to do my make-up which I have always wanted to wear. We never had the money, but I found it pretty one many other girls and I asked it for my birthday many times. It feels odd, someone touching my face, but in the end, it looks wonderful.

Daphne comes into my room and when I'm finished getting ready, she sends all the servants out of the room. She sits down next to me on the bed,

"are you nervous?" she asks kindly,

"yes. a lot."

"I know how you feel, like your entire future depends on it... but I am sure you will both do perfectly fine. And this is not all about finding a husband, it is about finding love, when a man falls in love with you, he will not care about the queen, all he cares about... is you" she gently lays her hand on my shoulder,

"thank you, Daphne, for everything"

"I am always here to help, I understand what you are going through" she leaves me alone and I sigh deeply, Daphne is right, it will all be fine...

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I step out of the carriage and Benedict takes my hand to escort me down carefully. Once Eloise is ready as well, we walk inside and wait behind the doors, together with all the other young women and their mothers,

"I feel like a chicken, dumped in a way too small loft" Eloise says annoyed,

"do not worry, we will be slaughtered soon" I keep a straight face, but when I look to my side and see the shared fear and mischief in her eyes, I cannot help but smile down at the ground. We hear a name being called and two girls, accompanied by their mother, walk into the hall. We cannot see or hear what happens inside but one of the girls returns to the room crying. Eloise and I give each other a look,

"the queen is not in a delighted mood I see"

"and guess who are up next.."

Violet is standing behind us and I give Eloise one last smile before I hear a man clearly say our names,

"Miss Eloise Bridgerton... Miss Olivia Bridgerton... presented by their mother and aunt, Lady Bridgerton.." the doors open and a bright light shines upon me, the hall is crowded and the look on the queen's face is piercing. I wonder whether I will make it out alive.

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A whisper moves through the crowd when Olivia's name is spoken, all people in the room have read the new paper of Lady Whistledown, so this was the moment they were waiting for, to find out who the mysterious new Bridgerton girl is.

The rest of the family is standing in the crowd, supporting their sister and cousin from the side-line, praying it ends just like the time before. The doors open and a few visitors gasp silently; her blindingly white dress, her deep blue eyes, the diamonds in her tiara, her long and curled hair draped on her shoulders and her sweet smile. She may not believe it herself, but Olivia Bridgerton is only describable with one word; stunning.

She steps forward, right in sync with Eloise, who is considerably not less pretty, yet does not grab the attention from the audience. Nor the queen.

Followed by Lady Bridgerton, the young girls come to a stop and bow deeply. They stay down, until the queen makes a tiny move, looks more closely and then stands up, walking over the gorgeous, but breakable, females bowing for her.

------

I hear the whispers and I notice the movements, but all I see is the ground, cleaned nicely. My heart is beating fast and I try not to shake when next to me, the queen appears. Eloise stands up tall next to me, but I do not hear the queen say a word, she simply gives Eloise an approved nod.

A few seconds later I can see the queen's shoes coming in my sight and her fingertips touch my chin. I come up from my bow slowly and look her right in the eyes, as terrifying as that may be. She inspects me once more and that is when I hear her voice for the first time,

"exquisite, my dear" the words make my breathing fasten and my heart skips a beat, I am not sure whether I understood her correctly. I give the queen an appreciating nod in reply, and she returns to her seat. I want to look at Eloise, to see if she is just as surprised as I am, but people are watching.... Now more than ever...