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CHAPTER 5

Walking through the halls of the school wasn’t as easy as I thought it would be especially with the whispers and the stares from the other princesses. The young dukes and duchesses curtsey as we pass along. The princesses wear a tiara to help differentiate them from the duchesses, while the princes wear their kingdom crest embedded in their clothes.

Ri walks elegantly by herself with her nose in the air. Unbothered by the stares and whispers.

“How is she able to do that?” I ask myself

I walk fast to meet up with Ri.

“Walking close to me isn’t going to make the stares go away,” Ri says.

“I wasn’t trying to use you to shield myself,” I snap.

Ri chuckles.

“If you say so,” Ri says.

“Princess Iris.”

Ri and I both come to a halt and turn behind us and find Lady Juliana and Lady Zadie rushing to meet up with us.

“Your Highnesses,” they say together and curtsey.

“Lady Juliana, Lady Zadie,” I greet.

“How are feeling today, Lady Zadie? Your mother us you caught the flu,” Ri says.

“Oh, I am better today. I am so sorry I missed the ball yesterday,” Lady Zadie says.

“It’s fine. Trust me you didn’t miss much,” I say.

“Says the girl who spilled her drink on Prince Jeffery,” Ri says.

I groan at her and she chuckles at me.

“Princess Iris, Zadie here has more information on the hunt,” Lady Juliana says.

“Oh yes I do have more information,” Lady Zadie says.

Lady Zadie’s mother is one of mother’s close friends and her father is Duke Raphael of Burnmark. He is in charge of the Knights of the Kingdom of Cerphila.

“Wait, what information,” Ri asks.

“We have information that the guards…”

“Nothing,” I yell cutting Lady Zadie.

They all turn looking at me. Ri frowns at me.

“What are you planning Iris?”

“Nothing, I am planning nothing,” I say.

“You have that guilt look on your face when you are lying. You are planning something Iris. What is it?” Ri asks.

“Nothing Ri. Right girls?”

“Spill it out Iris,” Ri says.

“Spill what out. It’s just like I told you, I am not planning anything,” I say.

“Yes, we are not planning anything Your Highness,” Lady Juliana says with a wild smile.

“Totally nothing,” Lady Zadie reciprocates.

Ri looks between both girls and looks at me. I smile at her, trying to cover up my lie.

“Iris you better not be up to something…”

“Adrianna…”

We all turn to Princess Octavia who is standing at the class entrance from the other end and waving at us. Ri sighs and looks at me.

“You know what, since you won’t tell me what you are up to, I won’t push it. But please promise me you won’t go overboard and you will be careful this time,” Ri says.

I smile at Ri. She always worries about me and that is why I love her.

“I promise,” I say.

I watch her as she walks away to meet Princess Octavia.

“What did I say about not mentioning anything about our plans in front of my sister,” I say turning to Lady Juliana and Lady Zadie.

“I am sorry Your Highness. We forgot,” Lady Zadie says.

“I thought you tell your sister everything?” Lady Juliana asks.

I turn to Lady Juliana.

“Yes, I do.”

“Then why didn’t you tell her what we were up to? She won’t stop you. Well thinking about it,” Lady Zadie says with her hand on her chin, “Nobody can stop you. I have watched your father try and fail.”

I start walking toward the class and they join me.

“I know, but Ri has gotten into enough trouble because of me. I need her to stay out of this one,” I say.

“Alright if you say so,” Lady Juliana says.

“Zadie, you did make sure you weren’t followed when you sneaked into the head mistress’s study room?”

“Yes Highness, I made sure I wasn’t followed this time,” Lady Zadie says.

“Alright, during recess, we will talk about the coming event more,” I say as we approach our class.

They both nod at me

When we enter the class, I am shocked to find some Rulers in our classrooms.

“What are rulers doing in menders class,” I say to myself.

Our ages are used to determine what class we fall into and each age range are taught together. Since we all start school from the age of 5, ages 5-8 are called TOLFERS, ages 8-10 are called SIDERS, ages 11-13 are called MIXERS, and ages 14-16 are called MENDERS, and 17-19 are called the RULERS.

I walk to my desk which is beside Ri’s’. Princess Octavia sits in front of her, Lady Juliana sits in front of me, Lady Zadie sits behind Ri and Princess Esmeralda sits beside me. While the other princesses and ladies seat around us. I turn my back and watch the seniors talking and laughing among themselves. I look around the class room to be sure I am in the right class.

“Emm, what’s going on? What are the rulers doing in our class? Is this our class?” I ask Ri.

“Yes, it is and I have no idea what they are doing here,” Ri says.

“I heard it’s because of the coronations coming up, Rulers will be having their classes with us from henceforth,” Princess Esmeralda says.

“Coronation?” I ask.

“What!? Are you sure?” Ri asks her.

“Coronation is not supposed to happen until in 2 years,” Lady Zadie says

“Esmeralda might as well be right because I heard Prince Leonard saying something about it during the ball last night,” Princess Octavia says.

“Margery, do you have any information about this? Did Duchess Charlotte mention anything?” Lady Zadie asks.

“None that I am aware of Zadie and mother didn’t say anything about this. I am as shocked as you all,” Lady Margery says.

“What of you Lucinda, Did Duchess Ophelia say anything,” Princess Victoria asks.

“Mother didn’t say either Your Highnesses,” Lady Lucinda says.

“Wait that means…”

“Yes Iris, Prince Jeffery will be having classes with us, that is if what Esmeralda said is true,” Ri says trying to distract me.

“What if I am right?” Princess Esmeralda says.

They both start arguing which doesn’t help because my palms start sweating. I am already getting anxious.

“Wait! By this time next year, Ri and I will be in the same position of who gets to rule Filamonda. Wow, how time flies. Does father have in mind who he wants to give the throne to?” I say to myself

“Your thinking face is on. What are you thinking about?” Ri asks.

“What? Wait, how many faces do I have?” I ask.

“A lot,” Ri says.

“Am I that easy to read?” I ask.

“Yes, you are,” Ri says.

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