Chapter 2 SWITCH

• I had a wonderful time last night, well, almost a wonderful time. After the party, Father grounded Ri and me. Ri tried to take full responsibility for our actions but I wouldn’t let her. I love Ri, I know she is always ready to do anything for me so I wanted to take the blame regardless of the punishment. But Ri was relentless in letting me have the final say. Torn between believing his favorite daughter and punishing me, father took the only way out. He grounded us for three days.
• “Still thinking of what you will tell Prince Jeffery when you see him at school today?” Ri asks as she drops the book she’s reading.
• I take my eyes from the forest and look at Ri who is smiling at me,
• “Oh please don’t remind me of my yet another epic fail last night.”
• Ri starts laughing
• “Honestly Iris, you have to learn to stop spilling your drinks on Prince Jeffery.”
• “I didn’t do it on purpose. He just makes me… well… so nervous and you know how I am when I am nervous.”
• Ri is still laughing
• “Glad I could entertain you,” I say.
• I turn to the forest once more and try to forget what happened last night.
• FLASHBACK
• “So when are they going to make a move?” I ask.
• “I overheard my father telling Sir Jacob three nights from today,” Lady Juliana says.
• Lady Juliana is the daughter of Duke Edmund, the special adviser to the king, my father, and also the Duke of Carveton. She and I formed a friendship of protection. To protect those who can’t protect themselves. She has been the one informing of any hunt going to occur in the forest.
• “Hmmm,” I say.
• “What should we do?” Lady Juliana says.
• “I am going to be a bit cornered am afraid. I know father is going to ground I and Ri after the party. I won’t be able to be much of an assistant if I am going to be locked up in here,” I say.
• She nods at me as the realization of the thought of me not going to be there during the hunt in three days hits me. I groan.
• “I don’t know why I agreed to this plan,” I say and gesture to my nightwear.
• I hear Juliana giggling at my frustration.
• “I hate that Zadie couldn’t make it. I still can’t believe she caught the flu.”
• “We have three days to come up with a plan. For now, let’s enjoy the ball,” Lady Juliana says as she links my hand with hers.
• She turns me towards the ball and guides me to a small crowd of princesses and young duchesses talking.
• “Where are we going, Juliana?”
• “To join the other princesses and ladies over there,” Lady Juliana says.
• “What! Why? Do we have to; I mean we have a lot to talk about,” I say.
• “I know Your Highness but it’s your ball remember and you haven’t talked to anyone yet.”
• We reach the small crowd.
• “Fine,” I say.
• I watch Princess Esmeralda excuse herself from the crowd and walk toward me and Lady Juliana.
• “I know you are not about to join us looking like that Iris, not without explaining what in God’s name you are wearing like that,” Princess Esmeralda says groaning at me.
• Lady Juliana releases me and curtsies at Princess Esmeralda.
• “Excuse me, Your Highness,” Lady Juliana says and goes ahead to join the other ladies.
• “This was Ri’s idea, not mine,” I say gesturing to my robe.
• “What? Really? What was she thinking?” Princess Esmeralda asks.
• “I would expect something like this from you, but her? There has to be an explanation,” Princess Esmeralda says.
• “My gown wasn’t ready,” I say.
• “What? How?” Princess Emeralda asks.
• “Long story Esmeralda,” I say.
• “Iris you need to get your head out of the clouds sometimes. You need to be always ready and…”
• Knowing Princess Esmeralda, this conversation can go on for hours. As if one mother in the castle in the castle wasn’t enough, I also have to deal with another mother outside the castle and I am not in the mood for that.
• “C’mon Esmeralda not now. Can we just enjoy the evening without you dampening my spirit? Besides we are still going to get a lecture from mother and father when the ball is over,” I say.
• I watch as Esmeralda rolls her eyes as she gives up.
• “Fine but this discussion is not over. If we don’t have it now, we will have it tomorrow at school,” Princess Esmeralda says.
• I groan as we walk to the ladies' discussion.
• “I can see you changed your tiara, Your Highness,” Lady Juliana says smiling at Princess Esmeralda.
• I smile knowing what Lady Julianna is trying to do. I watch as Princess Esmeralda struggles with her impulses. I can’t help but giggle at her. One way to get Princess Esmeralda off your back is to compliment her. Then she forgets what it is she was angry about.
• “Oh you know me too well,” Princess Esmeralda says giving in.
• The discussion flows effortlessly. I listen to them talk about fashion and who they have a crush on.
• “By God’s name, I thought she said she was not going to attend the ball,” Princess Esmeralda says.
• “What? Who are you talking about?” I ask.
• “I am sorry Iris,” Princess Esmeralda says.
• Just then I hear a laugh, I can recognize that laughter anywhere in the world, Princess Isabelle of Octavalia. Princess Isabelle and I have never liked each other growing up. She always goes out of her way to make me look bad. She and I have always been logger heads about everything and that is why she and I can’t stand each other.
• I turn in time and watch her walk from across the ballroom with her devious eyes trained on me as she joins us.
• “Hello everyone,” Princess Isabelle greets.
• The ladies curtsey at her as well but as usual, she never responds. Isabelle isn’t a down-to-earth person. She never acknowledges those beneath her. She is always quick to judge anyone. That is why she is my least person and I am also why we can never be friends.
• “Hello Isabelle, I thought you said you weren’t coming to Filamonda for the ball,” Princess Esmeralda says.
• “Yes I did, didn’t I? Father said he had some business to discuss with King Matthew so we had to come,” Princess Isabelle says checking her nails.
• I walk to her.
• “King Theodore has been in attendance since an hour ago and you just arrived which means you are late, Isabelle,” I say.
• “The way I see it, I am on time as long as the last dance hasn’t started and besides fabulous takes time,” Princess Isabelle says.
• “Looking at it the other way, isn’t it disrespectful, Your Highness?” Juliana asks.
• I watch Princess Isabelle's noses flair up with anger. She moves from me and walks to Juliana who bows her head as Princess Isabelle approaches her.
• “Know your place, wretch. There is a big difference between a lady who isn’t sure if she will become a duchess or a princess. I suggest you watch it with me who is sure of her hierarchy,” Princess Isabelle says.
• “Stop it Isabelle, remember you are a guest here, I won’t have you pull that status game while you are here,” I say.
• “You and I both hold the same status, Iris; I won’t tolerate you telling me what I can and cannot do,” Princess Isabelle says turning to me.
• “My kingdom, my rules. Deal with it,” I say.
• “Who is going to choose such an empty vessel as a Queen,” Princess Isabelle.
• I charge at Princess Isabelle but Princess Esmeralda stops me with her hand.
• “That is enough Isabelle, we don’t want a repeat of what happened last time,” Princess Esmeralda says.
• “This time it had nothing to do with me, put her on a leash,” Princess Isabelle says pointing at Lady Juliana and looking at me.
• I walk to Princess Isabelle
• “Yes we do have the same status but you are in my kingdom, I suggest you thread very carefully, or else I will declare a challenge right here, right now,” I say.
• She chuckles and smiles at me deviously. I know that smile any day; it’s a ploy to challenge and disrespect in front of the duchesses.
• “Iris there is no need to declare a challenge. Don’t let her bait you. You have enough problems as it is,” Princess Esmeralda says.
• “You don’t need to baby sit her Esmeralda,” Princess Isabelle says pulling her gloves off. “Do I have to remind you what happened to you the last time you…?”
• “You don’t need to remind us what happened last time Isabelle.”
• Everyone turns to the voice and watches Princess Octavia joins us with Ri at her side. They have been best friends for as long as I can remember. Princess Octavia is Princess Esmeralda’s younger sister by a year.
• “Here comes the cavalry,” Princess Isabelle says mockingly.
• “Isabelle, thank you so much for honoring our invitation, however judging from what I witnessed and heard, you are not here to have a good time with us. It’s either you are with us or against us. But I will take Iris’s advice if I were you.” Ri walks up to Princess Isabelle “Thread very carefully.”
• They stare at each other looking for who will break the staring challenge and finally Princess Isabelle chuckles and turns to me.
• “She won’t always be around.”
• “And I will be ever ready to catch the Minotaur by its horns,” I say.
• I watch her scorn her face and finally, she turns and leaves. We all watch as she disappears into the crowd.
• “I have to give it to her, she knows how to take the fun out of a party,” Princess Octavia says.
• “Yes, she does. Thank God that is over, I thought I would have to mediate between you two again,” Princess Esmeralda says.
• “Sorry, Esmeralda. I just can’t seem to control my emotions whenever I am around Isabelle,” I say.
• A servant comes around with a tray of drinks. Ri takes a drink from the tray, smiles, and gives me one.
• “I don’t know whom I dislike more, her or her brother,” Ri says.
• “Actually, it’s a tie,” I say and take a sip of my drink.
• I look ahead and I spot Prince Leonard, Princess Isabelle’s older brother.
• “Prince Leonard is just as devious, selfish, and manipulative as his sister. The only difference is that… well…” I gesture to Prince Leonard behind the ladies with the drink in my hand. They all turn and look at him.
• “It’s a shame he’s cute,” Lady Lucinda says. Her father, Duke Hammond was just appointed Lord Sailor by King Archer of Divimon. He is in charge of shipping logistics. Her father is the Duke of Marlington, a state in Divimon.
• “No that is not something to be ashamed of. What is shameful is my sister being at logger heads with two siblings,” Ri says.
• I almost choke on my drink.
• “Now that you mentioned it, Adrianna, Princes Leonard was the one who told King Matthew where to Princess Iris when the hunting kits went missing,” Princess Octavia says.
• “And he was the one who told everyone that Princess Iris was hiding in the boy’s locker,” Duchess Lucinda says.
• “He was the one who also told King Donatello that it was Princess Iris who took the swords at the Cerphila Art Room,” Lady Juliana says.
• “I was scared to death that period. I thought there was going to be a war between Cerphila and Filamonda,” Princess Esmeralda says.
• “Can you all stop talking as if I am not here? I get it I did a lot of stupid stuff growing up and Prince Leonard was always there to be a thorn in my sight,” I say pouring the whole drink in my mouth.
• A servant passing by fills the glass up for me. Just then the music changes and the trumpets are sound.
• “The music has changed Iris, you know what that means,” Ri says.
• I watch as the guests dancing all stops and everyone starts gathering together.
• “It’s time for our performance,” Ri says.
• “Will you be performing too?”
• I turn to Lady Juliana who is standing to my right. I smile at her.
• “Yes, I even get to play my Nana’s harp.”
• “Wow, we finally get to hear you play the Filamonda Crystal Harp,” Juliana says with enthusiasm.
• I giggle and I nod at her. She smiles and curtsies. As I watch her leave, I feel Ri grip my hand. I turn to Ri who is looking behind me and smiling.
• “Why are you smiling like that Ri?” I say to myself frowning.
• “Ri, why are you smiling…?”
• “Hello ladies,” a voice says behind me, interrupting me.
• I feel myself stiffen; I feel my intestines tying together as the butterflies in my stomach starts dancing. I feel my palms getting wet. That is what that voice does to me anytime I hear it. I look at Ri for confirmation and she does that thing with her mouth letting me know I am right. I slowly turn to the voice and I look into the eyes of Prince Jeffery of Divimon.
• His older brother, Prince Frederick is by his side. Prince Jeffery has his eyes are on me, staring into my pupils.
• “This is so not the day not to wear a glove,” I say to myself as I feel my palms getting wet, holding the glass of juice tight.
• Behind him, I notice a figure, a tilt my head to see it was and I find Prince Leonard staring at me and immediately I frown at him.
• “What is he doing here with Prince Jeffery,” I say to myself.
• “Princess Iris,” Prince Jeffery says and bows.
• I smile as struggle with my nervousness as I curtsey.
• “You look very lovely today Your Highness,” Prince Jeffery says.
• “Why thank you,” I say.
• He turns to Ri, “I enjoyed your solo act today, Princess Adrianna. It was very exquisite”
• “And delightful to watch,” Prince Frederick says.
• “Why thank you, gentlemen. I can’t take all the credit. My sister and the others helped make the show a success.” Ri says smiling.
• “Ah, yes. That you are right Princess Adrianna,” Prince Frederick says.
• I look back at Prince Jeffery and I noticed he has been staring at me. He finally smiles at me; my grip on the glass tightens.
• “Your father told my father that you both will be performing for us today, so I came over to wish you good luck as you play,” Prince Jeffery says.
• “Thank…”
• My words are cut off as I feel a push behind me and my drink pours on Prince Jeffery’s clothes.
• REALITY
• “The push,” I whisper.
• “Did you say something?” Ri asks looking at me from behind her book.
• “Now that I think about it, I didn’t spill my drink on Prince Jeffery.”
• Ri closes the book she is reading, raises her eyebrow, and tints her head at me. Something she does in replace of ‘Are you sure’
• “Well yes I did spill the drink on him but it wasn’t my intention.”
• Ri lets a sigh and gets back to her book.
• “You never mean to spill your drinks on him, Iris.”
• “Yes, but what I meant was that someone pushed me.”
• “What?” Ri says and looks at me from behind her book.
• “Yes Ri, I was pushed from behind,” I say
• “Well did you see who it was?”
• “No, I was too busy trying to clean my mess before…”
• “Before you knocked out the servant serving drinks and spilled the tray of drinks on Prince Jeffery again which prompted Mother to cancel our performance for the evening,” Ri says interrupting me.
• I groan loudly. The coach comes to a halt, letting us know we have reached Royal Academy. I leaned towards the window and peep outside.
• “I wish I didn’t have to go school today. How will I be able to face anyone after what happened last night? Worst, how will I be able to face Prince Jeffery,” I say to myself.
• “C’mon.”
• I turn to Ri’s outstretched hand and look up at her.
• “You can’t stay in the coach forever Iris. Let’s go everything is going to be fine,” Ri says
• “Fine,” I say taking her hand.
• “Coachman,” Ri calls.