*8:00 A.M., Versailles Palace*

I was still seated in my seat, listening to Ames talking about his wig shop and the new shipment of powder he had received as a gift from King Louis. I was listening intently, but my mind was wandering around aimlessly, thinking about when the ceremony will begin officially. Even though technically, it had already started.

The clock rang, immediately followed by the door opening with a soft creak, causing me to look up in curiosity to who it would be.

A valet opened the door, strode over to the gate, swung it open, and walked over promptly to the King's bedside. He whispered into his ear with a gentle whisper: "Your Majesty, it's time to awaken."

I watched, silent, as King Louis XIV opened his eyes (he had pretended to be asleep), and sat up. I looked at his appearance: black curly hair that fell down his shoulders, pale skin, and piercing black eyes. He had no blush on his cheeks first thing in the morning; that was applied by the makeup artist later, after the Rising of the King.

"Milord," the valet said, "there's a girl here intruding upon his Majesty's privacy. Shall I call your guards to escort her out?"

I grew annoyed that the valet dared to ask the King that question.

King Louis looked at me with something that resembled amusement twinkling in his eyes, and turned to the valet. "Do you know who you're talking about valet?"

"No Milord," the valet said, confusion popping up on his features, "I don't know who she is."

"She's the youngest daughter of the Adalicia family," I snickered quietly as horror bloomed on the valet's face, "her name is Celeste. And furthermore, she's standing in for Lord Anthony while he's away on a business trip, which means she's here for the "Rising of the King" ceremony, which shall begin in about 10 minutes."

"Ahh..." the valet stuttered, then rushed to the other side until he stood in front of my chair, and bowed, "Milady, words cannot express how sorry I am for ridiculing you. I shall work hard for the Adalicia family as well as the King to right my wrong."

I looked at King Louis, who gave a quick nod to me. "Let it be so," I said grandly, "and now may I inquire your name?"

He looked up quickly, giving me a blue-eyed gaze paired with smooth brown hair, with slightly tanned skin. "My name, Milady, means 'bowman'; my name is Archer."

"Valet," said the King, "now that you have made your introduction, you may leave."

"As you wish; Milord." And with that, Archer sped from the room.

King Louis chuckled quietly along with me, and we both waited for the doctors and Louis's childhood nursemaid.

When they came and did the traditional daily rituals, they walked to the other side from where they stood at Louis's bedside.

"Hello darling," the maid said to me, "you must be Celeste, the daughter of Lord Anthony. Am I correct?"

"Yes." I said, smiling at the maid. She had the look of a nurturing grandmother, yet her face was smooth, and her eyes were still bright and full of energy.

"How nice to meet you; I'm Laramie, which means 'tears of love'. I'm Louis's nursemaid. Louis has told me a lot about the daughter of Lord Anthony who was going to take his place for the ceremony while he was on a business trip."

My heart skipped a few beats. King Louis has been talking about me??

Laramie looked up at the clock and smiled a smile that seemed to defy her age even more. "What luck. It's nearly 8:15. Celeste, my darling, the last part of the ceremony is about to begin."

I sat in my chair, eyes fixed on the door, waiting for it to open; so that the final installment of the "Rising of the King" could commence.