Michael

Incessant and annoying alarms ring all around the town, telling me it is time to go to the large castle up the hill for the coronation ceremony.

The entire village, as well as all of the neighboring villages in the country, are gathering in front of the royal castle to watch the long awaited coronation of the princess.

For me to say that I am not the least bit excited for today is an extreme understatement in this particular situation.

Yesterday, I was excited. Yes. But today? Today my back hurts from sleeping on the ground. Today my body shakes from the cold. Today, I am lonely.

Yesterday opened my eyes to the harsh reality I am living in. Why would a beauty of woman, who is seemingly perfect for me, appear out of nowhere and suddenly fall in love with me? She wouldn't. It was yet another cruel example of how our lives are meaningless.

With that being said, why does everyone care about the coronation anyways? Why do we devote our lives to the royals when they have done nothing for us in return?

My entire outlook on life has changed.

Why on earth would I, or anyone else in the nation for that matter, want to go spend a whole day of our short lives we could spend trying to make our situations better, just to watch an extremely overprivileged teenage girl become even more privileged? She is just getting rewarded even more power over us. Whoopie! It just seems like a waste of all of our times if I am being completely honest.

I exit the shack and walk with the crowd on the way to the castle. Everyone in the entire country is supposed to show up today. I can not believe we are obligated to come to this thing. Ridiculous! I mean, why? We do this every time a new king or queen is coronated. I have never been to one before, luckily for me, but how are they supposed to tell if one person does not show up? One person out of the whole country?

I stand on the grassy, flat stretch of land in front of the castle. I am pretty far back from the actual building. I can still see the faces of the royal officials standing on the steps where the princess is going to be in just a few moments.

I wonder, if I were to leave now, will I even be noticed? What is one person missing going to worry them? Probably not much at all. How will they even know I have left? There is no way they can keep track of all of us. How will they punish me if they do not even know I have left?

The princess comes out on to the top of the steps and looks out in to the crowd longingly.

By God, is that- Rae? It can't be! She just moved to the village. She- she lied to me? This makes no sense. I spent the whole day with her yesterday.

There has to be some sort of mistake.

The royal family never comes out of the castle. Especially now that the King has died and the princess was to be come queen. Why did she not tell me she was a princess? Why would she be in the village on the eve of the biggest day of her life? None of this makes sense to me. What is going on?

I squint my eyes, trying to see if I am just imagining things.

What? It really is her! This is crazy.

"PRINCESS RAEANNE VICTORIA ELIZABETH BRONSON BEFORE YOU!" The entire crowd around me bows, as do I. I stand back up and continue looking at her. It can not be. I do not understand.

"TODAY WE ARE HERE TO HONOR OUR MONARCH AND CROWN OUR PRINCESS QUEEN OF THIS LAND." The man, seeming to be some sort of official, speaks as loud as he can, booming over the crowd.

I push my way to the front, which, believe it or not, is not as easy as it may seem.

Everyone wants their chance at being recognized by the queen or princess. They all want their babies kissed or their sons married off.

I guess I am lucky in this situation. I lived all of their dreams for a day. I was recognized by the princess...

The crown is brought out as I fight to get in front of the crowd.

I shove my way through my friends and neighbors, desperately trying to get Rae's attention.

The crown is put on her head as she bows.

"BOW DOWN TO YOUR QUEEN! BEFORE YOU STANDS QUEEN RAEANNE VICTORIA ELIZABETH BRONSON! BOW!" I bow, not wanting to be taken prisoner for not respecting my new queen.

She stares blankly in to the crowd. Something is wrong with her. I can see it on her face.

I continue pushing to the front. I need to see if she is okay. I have to understand what is going on.

Violent shouting erupts in the crowd. I turn to see a group of people, people I have known for my entire life, raising their weapons and charging at the royals. Bows, guns, swords. Anything they could find to protest and possibly hurt the queen.

"RAE!" I shout, wanting her to not be harmed.

Her face turns alarmed, as it should. These people are going to do anything they can to make sure she does not rule this country. I wonder why?

Rae is whisked away from harms way, before I can even see her up close or talk to her.

Maybe it is all for the best. I do not want her to get hurt.

I will have to figure out another way to see her and figure out what is going on.

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