Classandra woke up to greet the sun before it greeted her. She sat on her bed while hugging her knees close to her chest, staring out the window, waiting for the sun to rise. And there it was. A hint of red which was soon turning to orange then gold. Greeting the sun a good morning, Classandra went to fulfill her morning duties. This was the only time of the day she wished she had helpers. Someone to draw a bath for her, someone to lay out her clothes, you know, that kind of stuff. But no matter how much she wanted it, she didn't comply with it. All you have to do is do it once and you'll do it over and over again, she believes.

Today, the preparation speed has become ten fold due to the fact that the coronation is just a day away. Kings, queens, princes, princesses, dukes, high ladies and noble men from far away kingdoms have started to arrive. They were each given a guest room in the castle to stay. That means Classandra can bump into one at any minute if she walks out of her room. She didn't like that idea though she didn't know what to do.

Classandra heard a knock on the door.

"Come in!"

It was a helper. She had put her head down, avoiding any kind of eye contact. Clare got used to it by now.

"What is it?" Clare asked when the helper stayed silent.

"Princess, the queen has requested you to collect Duke Benjamin from the ports today," she said in a whisper.

She probably thought that princess Classandra would pounce on her or something, but Clare only immersed herself in deep thought.

"The queen wants me to welcome Duke Benjamin?" She asked, wanting to confirm the sentence.

"Yes princess. She also wants you to guide him to the palace," the helper added politely.

Clare nodded. "When is he arriving?"

The helper was shocked that the princess was actually considering the proposal.

"Mid morning princess."

"OK. Inform the queen I'll do it. But also inform her that he is not my problem once he arrives at the palace." Clare stressed every part, making sure the helper got it right.

"Of course princess," the helper said and ran away.

"Wait!" Clare yelled at the helper.

The helper hurried in.

"It's Benjamin who was friends with father, right?" In the royal world, one can never be sure of the names and the faces. You can pick out ten men and they may all insist that their name was Benjamin.

"Yes princess."

"The old man. Advisor to the king." Clare wanted to be very sure.

"Yes princess."

"OK, you may leave." The helper ran out again.

Duke Benjamin was a very close friend to the late king. He stood beside Clare's father during the tough times, the great war. The war that was a new beginning for Utopia. Benjamin was an old man. He must probably be in his 80s now. He was a personal advisor, very close to the entire family. The only person who knows...

Clare can clearly comprehend why her mother asked her to collect the Duke. Clare took care of all the arrangements for his travel, his stay and everything else that was necessary.

The ship arrived with majestic sails as Clare stood at the port with the royal guards. Duke Benjamin got down with the support of a young lady and a gentleman on either side of him. He looked older than Clare expected. He had a hump and could barely walk, his eyes were shrinked into its sockets and his skin was covered with wrinkles.

Clare went forward and offered her hand.

"Welcome to Utopia, your highness. Thank you for attending the coronation," she said with a kind voice.

The Duke looked at her and at the two who were on either side of him as if to comprehend the happenings around him.

"I'm princess Classandra of Utopia," Clare introduced herself.

"Princess of Utopia?" His voice was hoarse. "Your majesty." He started to take a bow.

"Oh no no no no," Clare rushed the words out and held him by his shoulders to stop from doing whatever he was about to do.

"Grandfather, I have already informed you. We are here to attend the coronation of prince Alexander, not the princess," the gentleman said.

"Alexandra?" The Duke asked in half daze.

"No Grandfather. Alexander, the prince. There's no one named Alexandra," the young lady tended to him.

If only they knew.

"I'm sorry about him. He is not well, as you can see. Old age is not kind to him," the gentleman told Classandra.

"Yes. I can see." Classandra's voice lacked the usual courage and determination. The words whimpered out of her.

"Please, this way. It's better if we get to the palace quickly, considering your highness' conditions," Clare said and started to lead the way.

They climbed aboard the chariot and started their journey towards the castle.

"I'm Benjamin junior, heir to the throne of Gloracia. You can call me Ben. And this is my fiance, Sofia," the gentleman introduced themselves. Clare nodded in understanding. She wasn't someone who entertained small talk.

"I'm a friend of your brother. We used to meet a lot when young. I've never seen you before though. I'm sorry that I didn't recognize you."

Ben was trying so hard to start a conversation.

"That's alright. It was not your fault," Clare said, giving her utmost concentration to her surroundings.

"The prince and I met at school," he said.

Clare nodded.

"Didn't you attend the school?" He asked again.

"I was homeschooled," she said nonchalantly.

She didn't want to speak further on the topic. It was getting a little too personal.

"Oh! Utopia!" The Duke said in a dreamy voice, while looking at his surroundings. "It looks so beautiful! Your reign is wonderful my queen. "

"The queen is at the palace. You can praise her there, your highness," Clare said, sounding more bitter than she expected.

"You're not the—"

"No grandpa! She's not the queen." Ben was raising his voice at his grandfather. He was probably getting tired of him. Clare felt sorry, not for the heir, but for the Duke who had to face his grandson's wrath.

"That's alright. You don't have to raise your voice at him. I'm not offended." This was Clare's best attempt to stand up for the Duke.

This time, it was Ben's turn to nod his head. The rest of the journey went in awkward silence.

Once they reached the castle, everyone got down and headed inside. The queen was readily standing to welcome the Duke of Gloracia. Once Clare spotted her mother, she gave the responsibility to her and started walking in without acknowledging her leave to the guests. It might seem rude and could add to her bad reputation, but she did not care. The ride was awkward enough as it is. She didn't want to give way to more awkwardness. She doesn't know why she accepted to welcome them in the first place. They should've been the first person to be avoided by her. What was she thinking? But she knows what she was thinking. He was her father's old companion. How can she avoid him? But the grandson and his fiance? She certainly can.

"Your friend is here," Clare told Alex as she passed him on the way.

"Friend?" Alex seemed surprised.

"Benjamin junior. Down the hall, to the right," Clare recited as she kept walking towards her room.

"Oh... Thanks." Alex was confused. Not by the fact that she called Ben his friend, but the fact that she felt obliged to inform him about it. He wondered what was wrong. The sound of her door being forcefully shut echoed through the corridor.

'Yep, there's definitely something wrong,' he thought.

Alex continued down his path he was heading earlier, which was pretty much what Clare said. Alex was definitely close with Ben but he wouldn't call him a friend. He is a nice guy though, always helpful and thoughtful.

Alex knew that Clare had never met him before. He heard the news that Clare was going to welcome the Duke of Gloracia. That's probably where she met him, he thought.

But still he wasn't sure why she accepted to do it. She wasn't the social type. Her brother knew that very well. And the fact that she is in a bad mood right now is proof enough.

"Prince Alexander! A pleasure to meet you!" Ben seemed really excited to see him, completely different from Clare's mood. Alex was so confused.

Does that mean nothing actually happened? He thought.

"Lord Ben. A pleasure to meet you too," Alex greeted him with a formal handshake. "I hope you had a comfortable journey."

"Oh yes! The journey went well," the lord said, nodding his head. Alex could notice the uncomfortness settling on Ben's face. "Your sister is....interesting," lord Ben said.

Alex didn't reply anything to that. He knows Clare has ordered him not to speak on her behalf but that doesn't mean he has to accept all the words thrown towards her.

Ben quickly spoke in an attempt to change the topic. "This is my fiance, Sofia."

"Nice to meet you, lady Sofia," Alex greeted formally.

"The room is all set, Lord Benjamin. Hope you have a wonderful time at Utopia," the queen said walking out of the room. "Prince Alexander! I didn't know you were here! Is everything alright?"

The queen's face was plastered with a smile but something told Alex that she was nervous.

"Yes mother. Everything is fine. I was just talking with Ben," Alex assured her.

"Yeah! Just two buddies catching up!" Ben said and quickly added, "my queen."

"I see," the queen smiled. "Enjoy your stay," she said and pointed towards the room. Ben simply nodded and he and his fiance walked in. It felt like she voluntarily ended the conversation. Alex had seen her do this before but couldn't comprehend why she did it now. She didn't even wait to have a conversation with him, she just left. Sometimes he could clearly draw the similarities between his mother and his sister.

That's what makes it even harder to get them on the same page.

Alex decided to meet with his sister to get some answers. He knows it is a long shot but he had to try.