THE ROYAL TEST

CHAPTER THREE

"Prince Allen Of North Rock Kingdom has arrived Prince Lee." We hear Frederick's announcement.

"Show him in please Frederick," said Lee.

"You know Lee you could have just sent a message like any normal fellow would have done, Princess," said Prince Allen to the pair of us.

"Where would have the fun be in that besides, I had to make an impression so that Princess Leona remembers me," Lee said smiling at me.

"That you most definitely did do," I reply smiling back at him.

The lack of sleep and the adrenaline of the day hit me all of a sudden, as I yawn. Prince Lee and Prince Allen excuse their self leaving me alone. I lay back eating some cheese and grapes. Once I have my fill I drift off to sleep. I wake to the wait of the trays leaving the bedroll and my legs being straightened out.

"Do not mind this old man Princess. I do not want you sleeping in your dinner not catching a cold," said Frederick as he covered me with a cozy fur blanket.

"Here my dear if I do remember correctly you have a hard time sleeping without, Silkys, I believe that is what you call them??" he asked handing the silky material to me.

"How do you know??" I ask as Frederick tucks me in.

"One day perhaps when you are more awake, I could tell you. For now, get some more rest, Lola," he says with a smile before leaving me to sleep.

I fall asleep wondering how Frederick must know these things about me.

I wake up the next morning in the back of a covered wagon as it sways side to side. I opened my eyes to see Prince Lee as well as Prince Allen asleep at the other end of the long wagon, and Ally curled up beside me. I decided since everyone else is still sleeping that I could be as well.

The next time I wake up and look around I notice that Prince Lee is gone. I wrapped myself in a fur blanket and poke my head out of the front of the wagon where the driver is. I see it is Prince Lee so I climb out to sit next to him.

"Well, good morning My Lady," he says with a smile.

"Is it morning??" I asked him.

"A couple of hours and the sun will begin to rise," he says back.

"May I ask you something, Prince Lee??", I asked.

" You do not need permission to ask me anything Princess.", he said.

"I am a tad confused how Prince Allen, and you know each other," I say more as a statement than a question.

"The two of us had been sent to retrieve your handmaiden, and you. I am sorry that I can not tell you more, but I am sure that you will have all of your inquiries answered by this night as we are only a day's ride away," he tells me.

"Oh, thank you. Would there happen to be any horse without a rider?? I have been dying to ride." I tell him in reply as I take in the sights and sounds around us.

"Your wish is my command, My Lady", he says signaling over a guard pulling a horse with no rider.

He hands me the rains and hops on the riderless horse as the guard hops on taking the rains with a nod to me. Prince Lee rides around to my side with the guard's horse and before he has the chance to instruct me, I stand grabbing the rain and leap onto the horse's back.

" I am impressed, it is not every day you find a Princess that can do that," he says with a smile? before his horse and he takes off at a run.

I lead the horse to follow at a fast run. Soon we are so far ahead of our convoy that we can see them no more. Halting as we come up to a creek to let the horses rest and drink before we decided to ride on. The prince informs me that we have arrived early as our destination is just over the hill ahead of us. The sight I see as I make it to the top is one of curiosity, as I see royal carriages of all kinds with different Royal Crest from kingdoms all over.

"Welcome to Royal Kingdoms Academy, Princess Leona." Prince Lee says as he come to stop next to me.

"Royal Kingdom Academy is a top-secret school for the future Kings and Queens to have an opportunity to learn first hand what it truly means to rule a kingdom. You will be tested on every action you make. You will learn what it is like throughout an entire kingdom, not just as royalty but as commoners, slaves, and every other aspect of a kingdom. This is the place to open your eyes to the real problems you will face and that your people will face.", Lee tells me as we head to the gates of the castle.

" Aww, Prince Lee you have come back early. I presume that this love jewel is Princess Leona??" says a rather plump man at standing about 5'4.

"Yes, Lord John, this is indeed the Princess," said Lee.

"Where is the rest of your party??", he asks trying to look? around us.

" We decided to ride ahead of the rest.", Lee answers as he leads me through the gates.

Prince Lee led the way to the stable, where he helped me down, from my horse. He was explaining how what he had told me at the top of the hill was his orientation speech. He said that orientation was mandatory for all first year's, but that since I have already heard it, he would tell the elders ?? and have her excused, given that my handmaiden has yet to arrive. I thanked him as he showed me to my room then feeling exhausted fell back on the cloud-like bed and fell asleep.

"Lola... Lola, wake up!! I have gossip I tell you as I help you with your bath." Allyson woke me excitedly.

She led me to the bathroom ? where she already had my bath drawn.

"No. . . " I say, in shock as she tells me what happened after they got in the gate.

" yes I saw it with my own two eyes he was quite upset and punched Prince Lee!!" she replied her eyes matching mine-wide as saucers.

" well I did not hear it from him directly, nor was I intending to listen. I mean, I can not help the fact that I heard him whisper to one of the soldiers that he was going to give Prince Lee what he deserves for coming and stealing you Princess, away from him." said causing me to go still.

"He did not steel me away from him when I am not his to be stolen," I reply.

"I am only telling what he said Lola." said rinsing out my hair.

"Well, it seems that I am going to have to help Prince Allen to understand that I am not his nor any other persons to be stolen," I tell her as I get out of the tub and dry off.

We head into my room where she helps me to dress for dinner and then I wait for her to get read. We head to the dining hall and find our places to sit.

"I never knew there were so many royal children that they would have a school for us to attend," I say to Allyson as I look around.

"Oh, yes Lola. There are Royal children here from all over the world ?. Some have traveled much longer to get here than you and I had to travel." she informed me.

"Then these are all the royal children in the entire world??" I ask.

"All that is of age to attend. It is quite a privilege to attend, but an honor to the Academy if your parents had attended and become part of the alumni as well. They only accept one male and female to be accepted into the alumni in a season." she said excitedly.

I let everything she has just told me run through my thoughts, I could not help but wonder if either of my parents might be part of the alumni.

I was pulled from my thoughts as servants began to place our food down in front of us.

After dinner, everyone was instructed to prepare for a ball to introduce the alumni members whose children season begins this season. When I returned to my room I was surprised to find a beautiful gown waiting for me that I had never seen before. The gown was beautiful with the top half pink and the bottom half black, it had no sleeve or strap. once it was on it fit me perfectly. Forming to my curves perfectly.

"Lola, You look amazing," said Ally as she walked into the room.

"Thank you, Ally," I said in reply.

Once I was ready I left heading into the ballroom promising Allyson I would tell her everything once I returned.

Everyone was in line waiting to be announced so they could enter the ballroom. A man came up to me as I was next to go in, so he asked me my name then announced my arrival to the room. Once I walked through the big mahogany doors, I gracefully walked down the grand staircase and made my way to the main floor.

"You look stunning Princess Leona." I heard Prince Allen say.

"You as well Prince Allen," I said, as I tried to catch my breath.

He cleaned up quite nicely I thought to myself. I was brought out of my thoughts as the man standing on stage began to speak.

"This is truly an honor to announce this season's parent alumni. This is the first time in the academy history that both, King and Queen of a new student, are Alumni," he said causing low whispers to spread throughout the room.

I almost dropped my glass of punch when I saw my mother and father walk onto the stage and sit on the thrones.

"Princess they are calling you to the stage," I heard prince Allen calling to me as he took my glass and began walking me to the stage.

I was stunned, to say the least as my father stood up offering his hand to me to help me up. I looked at the smile on his face as he took in my shocked expression. I even found myself smiling right back at him as he led me to the smaller throne just beside my mother. I felt my father's hand replaced with my mother's, as she squeezed my hand in reassurance.

"I have so many things that I want to ask, I truly am at a loss as to what to ask you first Mother," I said with a laugh.

I was confused as to why all of a sudden everyone gasped and froze. My mother just laughed as she stood up to address everyone now looking at me in horror.

"Good evening to everyone, I know that there are certain rules you go by, but in our kingdom, it is perfectly acceptable for our daughter to speak to us as any other child speaks to their parents, whenever she likes. Here you will find what works best for you as a ruler and how you will rule your kingdom one day," she said then sat back down.

"Sweety, We owe you an apology. We had to leave on such short notice that we did not have time to say goodbye, nor to let you know what was going on. Did you have a safe journey??" my mother asked me.

"It is okay Mother, and Yes I had a safe travel, and why was everyone looking at me as if I had grown a second head a moment ago ??" I as her.

Laughing she replies, "In other kingdom's even the children of the King and Queen must address them as so as well a be granted permission to speak as well. They thought you made quite a bold move." she finishes.

"I was not raised that way by your grandparents and so I did not see the need to raise you in that way. Would you have preferred I had my dear??" my father asked with a playful grin.

"No... No, I am quite okay with the way you have raised my father. Your parenting skills are Leona approved." I say back standing to hug and kissed him.

"As long as I am Leona approved, I can live with honor," he said.

"But could you die, a happy man Father??," I ask him as he has asked me many times.

"As long as You are Happy Leona... I will die a happy man.", he answered as he always does.

We take a moment to look ? into each other, eyes ?. He was showing me that he knows that in his very soul. A commotion in the back of the ballroom stole our attention as we both look that way. My eyes go wide as I see the two princes in the back of the room, challenging each other outside to fight. That is not what makes my eyes so big it is the two men challenging each other. Prince Lee and Pince Allen.

" Father, please if I tell you why later will you please stop them??," I ask.

"All you have to do is ask," he replies before standing and continues, "Boys, Please join my family for a private visit this way," he gestures behind us.

Everyone gasps as both princes walk to us. I do as I always do and wait for my mother to stand, and I follow suit.