Chapter 2: Chapter 2
The start of the week comes quickly. I'm sitting in the library learning how to walk properly. The teacher, an old woman, has a droll voice. I'm doing my best to focus but it's nearly impossible. Finally, she wants me to practice. I stand up and with my back straight and shoulders back I begin to walk. Instantly she is yelling at me.
"No, no, no, not like that! You must hold your head high and walk like you are a delicate flower! Now go again.". I begin to walk again trying to remember everything. We keep going back and forth for nearly an hour before she deems we are done for the day. Up next I head to the dinning room to learn about how to eat a proper meal. Back on the farm I only ever had a fork, spoon and occasionally a knife. I walk in and I'm instantly overwhelmed. There are five glasses that all look nearly the same, two teacups, and what looks like a million pieces of silverware for just one person.
The day goes on much the same. Overwhelming lessons that I feel like I'm failing at until it's finally time for me to get ready for bed. I'm slowly getting more used to having help with changing for bed. As I lay on my bed, I can't help but think that this is all insane. How am I princess. More importantly, why did my mother never tell me. I drift off to sleep soon after.
"Your Highness, it's time to wake. Emily will be here with your breakfast in a moment." Clair says gently. I groan before opening my eyes. I sit up and stretch before climbing out of bed and head to the bath. Clair helps me bathe and then dress in a lightweight dark green dress. I sit at the dressing table and Emily comes in with breakfast. She then comes over to me and begins to brush out my hair. She pulls a few pieces from the front and pins them back to keep them out of my face. I eat quickly before heading to my first lesson.
My first lesson for today is etiquette. How to behave towards who. How to address people. How they should address me. I was born of the crown and I'm supposed to accept no less than royal treatment. From there I head out to practice archery. Something I'm rather good at thanks to my father. Although according to the Queen, it's not lady like. They did allow me to choose a few things. I want to enjoy things a little around here, so I added something that would feel a bit like home. Then we moved on to riding. Unlike at home, I am not allowed to wear trousers to ride. So, I must ride side-saddle. It's much harder than it sounded at first. After that awful lesson I go in for politics. The teacher makes this more fun for me. Whenever I don't understand something, he makes a different scenario, like a story, that I will understand. I'm grasping politics well considering how new it is to me.
Finally, it's time for lunch, but of course, it's also a lesson. I eat for the first time in the dinning room. I walk into a grand space with large open windows letting in natural light. There is an exceptionally long, dark oak table placed in the center. I sit at the only seat that is fully set. Shortly after my teacher comes in to go over what to use when. We go over it quite a few times before my food is served for lunch.
The next few weeks pass much the same. Each day is lesson upon lesson. I meet with the Queen once each week in her favorite parlor to discuss how my lessons are going. Every time I tell her much the same. The lessons are going well, I am learning a lot. After the first month of lessons, the Queen comes to some lessons to watch. She would rarely say anything at all. Just observe to make sure everything is going as needed. I am an heir to the throne after all.
Summer is slowly coming to an end, as have some of my lessons. My days are down to 3-5 per day. The lessons now are longer than before. More thorough than the previous ones I took. I study things like strategy, politics, culture, and daily royal life. I also continue to learn etiquette and other smaller things. During this time, I also begin to learn other languages. Though I am told I may not speak them unless I am certain of my words.
I walk in the Gardens behind the castle that lead to the cliff edge. It feels like so long ago that I came here. I can now wear a full ball gown and am working up wearing a tiara. I will need to wear one shortly after my mother is crowned queen. I will be named the crown princess. The next to rule after my mother. I can't believe that I grew up believing I would be a simple farmers wife. It's all strange to me now, that I grew up running around in the mud with other kids. Washing off in a stream when I was to dirty. I stop and look at the bluebells and think of the place I grew up. After a few moments I finish walking towards the cliff. The sun is just beginning to set, and the sky is lit up in pink and purple. I watch as the sun sinks below the horizon. I finally turn to head in for supper before heading to bed.
It is two weeks before the King abdicates the throne. That means two weeks before my mother's coronation. The hustle and bustle of the castle is like nothing I've seen in my life. There are so many decisions my mother must decide on. Linen colors, seating, dinnerware, her gown, what royal robes to wear, my gown. Everything must be perfect. She has a lot to do in order to re-gain the publics approval. They loved her before she ran away with my father to live a simple life of love.
"Your Highness, Her Majesty the Queen would like to see you." Peter informs me. I nod and head to the parlor.
"Your Majesty." I say as I curtsy.
"Arabella, thank you for coming." She says with a smile. I take a seat on the chair and wait for her to continue.
"I believe it is time to start introducing you to possible suitors. You are doing great in your studies of course. However, you don't have the strong royal upbringing as most. I think it would be best you marry a Prince to help take on the challenges of ruling one day." She finished thoughtfully.
"Your Majesty, I am not sure I am ready for that step yet. I know I will need to look in a year or so, but at this time I would like to enjoy some time to myself. I have studied extremely hard over the past months and will continue to do so. I will however head your advice. I know the sake and safety of the Kingdom will be at stake when I marry." I say hoping she will agree to this.
"As you wish dear, but don't wait to long. All the good ones will be taken by then." She says with smile. After that she retires for the evening. I stay sitting by the fire thinking of her advice. I am only 15 and most women don't start looking for suitors until 17. Royal life still confuses me beyond all belief.
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