Princess Iris

ROYAL ACADEMY

"Alright everyone please find a seat and settle down." Duchess Charlotte says. "Prince Gregory please help Lord Harry organize the Siders," Duchess Charlotte continues. "Princess Iris, do you need help moving those chairs?" Duchess Charlotte asks.

"No Duchess Charlotte, I can handle it," I say as arrange the chairs.

"I am so sorry Your Highness," Lady Zadie says

I turn to Lady Zadie who has refused to stop apologizing to me since we got to school and has also refused to look me in the eye.

"For the last time Zadie, I am not angry at you and will you please look at me," I say.

She slowly raises her head and looks at me.

"You aren't angry at me?" Lady Zadie asks

"No, I am not. Ri shouldn't have done that to you. I hate that you were put in that situation because of me," I say.

"I promise Princess Iris, I won't let them break me next time," Lady Zadie says.

I smile at her humble innocence.

"Thank you," I say.

"You are supposed to be helping Isabelle."

I turn and find Princess Catherine and Princess Octavia carrying the last chairs and setting them beside mine.

"And ruin my nails? Oh no, I will do no sure thing. Besides we are royalty, why should we have to work like servants? It makes no sense," Princess Isabelle says admiring her nails.

"We are made to work so that one day we can learn to serve our people. Even you should know something as little as that," I say.

"I have duchesses and dukes to worry about such nonsense. My duty as queen is to mind the castle, nothing more and nothing less," Princess Isabelle says.

"I will not be made to seat in a castle to take care of it while the man gets the rule the whole kingdom. I was made for something far more than that," I say.

"Oh please Iris, just like everyone else, when you come of age, a prince, or a king will ask for your hand and you will accept. And just every princess's destiny like you and Adrianna, the right to rule, will go to your husband and not you," Princess Isabelle says looking at her nails.

"Neither I nor Adrianna will relinquish our birth right to rule to any prince or king," I say.

I watch as Princess Isabelle looks from her nails to me. She watches me for a while.

"Alright Iris lets see if you have it in you when the time comes," Princess Isabella says.

"I will not be bullied or intimated out of my throne or my birth right because culture demands it," I say.

It was at that moment I realized everyone was listening to me and Princess Isabelle's conversation. They were all staring at us.

"Your Highnesses, Graces please take your seats. The Great Kings have arrived," Duchess Ophelia announces.

Everyone rushes to take their seat. The teachers take their seats at the left and right sides of the podium. Ri sits by my right; she has Octavia on the other side. Lady Zadie and Lady Juliana are by my left. I turn to look for Prince Jeffery and then I spot him in front of the podium taking to Duke Charlie, Lord Aiden, and Prince Leonard.

Just then Princess Isabelle walks to him and says something. He smiles warmly at her and I feel my heart constrict. She stands on her toe and pecks him. I gasp.

"Let it go, Iris," Ri says.

"That two-headed slime creature," I snap.

"She did that on purpose," Princess Octavia says. "When I get my hands on her, I swear I am..."

"Iris, no cursing. That is not lady-like," Ri says.

I groan loudly.

"Much better," Ri says.

I turn to Ri and turn back my attention back to Princess Isabelle, Prince Jeffery bows at her and leaves to take his seat.

Princess Isabelle turns to me, and smiles mischievously.

"I hate her," I say.

"The feeling is mutual," Ri says.

Prince Leonard says something to her and she starts laughing. She says something back to him and he smiles warming at her. That very moment of the brother and sister smiling at each other looked so beautiful and pure. For some reason I don't know, I can't seem to stop looking at Prince Leonard.

I take my hand to heart and it feels so warm.

"What is the warmth that I feel inside my heart?" I ask myself.

"It's going to be a long day," Lady Juliana says bringing me back to reality.

I search for Prince Leonard and Princess Isabelle and they are not standing in front of the podium.

"My father is looking up to it," I say replying to Lady Juliana.

"I heard King Archer invited all his Dukes to the speech."

"Of course, he did. Prince Jeffery and Frederick are giving their speech today. And I cannot wait to hear it," I say.

"Prince Jeffery or Prince Frederick?" Lady Juliana asks teasingly.

I smile to myself.

Just then trumpets are blown. We all stand and curtsey and the gentlemen bow as the Kings and Dukes enter the school auditorium. When they all take their seats, we all take ours.

We all watch as Duchess Ophelia walks to the big podium with a paper in her hand. She curtsies at the Kings and Dukes and turns to us.

"I want to welcome Your Majesties and Graces for honoring us with their presence. The students are happy you took the time out of your busy schedule to be here for them as they prepare for their futures. For the past few weeks, we have journeyed with the ruler class as they unveil to us what they intend to do when they ascend their thrones. We have our final hearing today. Prince Leonard of Octavalia, Prince Frederick and Prince Jeffery of Divimon, and Lord Aiden of Vakapor will be giving their speech today. If Your Highnesses will permit me to call on our finalists for today, we will like to begin the hearing," Duchess Ophelia says.

Father nods at her and she curtsies at him. Duchess Ophelia turns to Duchess Charlotte in a corner and nods at her. Duchess Charlotte walks to the pulpit with a stack of papers in her hand. She looks at us with a smile on her face. "Prince Frederick, the stage is yours," Duchess Charlotte announces.

Prince Frederick takes the stage and his speech begins.

"And I promise that I shall not rest until the scoundrel pirates are extinguished from our lands, and our kingdoms," Prince Frederick concludes.

The podium erupts clapping for Prince Frederick.

"Alright students, you all heard Prince Frederick's speech, does anyone have anything to say? Remember if you don't agree with anything he said so far you can speak out," Duchess Charlotte says.

The silence stretches, and she smiles at us.

"Thank you so much Prince Frederick for that wonderful speech. You may take your seat."

We all clap as he takes his seat.

"Lord Aiden, the stage is all yours," Duchess Charlotte announces.

Lord Aiden takes the stage.

"So about Lord Aiden, Lady Zadie," Ri says.

"Yes Your Highness," Lady Zadie says.

"Who knew there was a candle burning for the soon-to-be Duke," Ri teases.

I turn to Zadie and the color on her face turned red.

"I wonder how Lord Aiden will react when he finds out our young duchess has a candle burning for him," Octavia says teasingly.

"Stop that you both and leave Zadie alone," I say.

They both giggle and I turn to Lady Zadie.

"Oh don't you mind them Zadie, they are just jealousy that they have no one yet," I say.

she looks at me and smiles. I turn my attention back to Lord Aiden giving his speech.

After Lord Aiden's speech, Princess Esmeralda questions him about his tax plans. The interrogation went on for a while. She finally stopped when she was satisfied with all his responses.

"I have read so many books on how the monarchy was thrown off balance because King during that era over taxed his people and it made the people revolt. It took the intervention of the church to relate the people's frustration to the King.

My father has worked hard to ensure that our people and treated fair, taxes are regulated accordingly and the people are happy. As the second born and Princess of Cerphila, my primary duty is to make sure my father's hard work doesn't go to waste and my people live a free and happy life," Princess Esmeralda says.

"Of course Your Highness, I will work hard His Majesty, and just like my father, I will make sure our people are free in their land," Lord Aiden says.

"I look forward to working closely with you," Princess Esmeralda says.