After the camera stopped reordering, Katherine took her daughter's hand and waved to the crowd as they walked through the doors. She politely smiled and greeted young royals and nobles as she passed them. 

Thea silently followed her to her small office. 'I wonder what on earth she could be wanting to talk about. The only time she grabs my hand like that is because she's going to chew me out.' She thought to herself, fakely smiling at those she passed.

Katherine closed the door behind her and her mood changed. Her polite smile vanished and was replaced with a frown, and her eyes narrowed. "What was that?" She snapped, letting go of her hand and crossing her arms.

Thea rolled her eyes and plopped down on a chair in the corner, putting her feet up on the ottoman. "What was what? Whatever do you mean, Mom? I have no clue what you are meaning." She asked, feigning innocence with a smile. 

"Cut the innocent façade! You could have looked a little more thrilled about drawing the names! All eyes are on you and if they get the gist of your true feelings they will eat you alive and then have fun defending yourself to the media." Katherine exclaimed, making various hand gestures.

Thea swallowed harshly, having to keep up her cavalier façade. She held her head up high and turned her expression passive as she locked eyes with her mother. "You worry too much." She passively said, glancing at her nails.

Katherine held in a scoff at her daughter's passive tone. "Worry? I am Regent! It's my job to worry, especially with your whole future riding on the lines here." She clenched her fists at her wide, emerald green and black nails digging into her palms.

Thea sighed, crossing her arms over her chest and tapping her fingers on her arm. "They'll pass it off as being tired. I did give an interview last night for the ten o'clock news talking about how excited I was for this school year." 

Katherine rapidly tapped her foot on the floor. "You can hope they do or better yet, won't take notice since that's the last thing you need to happen!" She walked around to her desk and sat down. "You've got to become the master at masking your feelings as I have. It takes practice."

Thea listened to the words of her mother. "I have. I thought I did pretty good at masking my tiredness in front of the whole world." She indifferently said, twisting a lock of hair around her finger.

Katherine looked up at her daughter, the concealer was starting to wear off showing dark circles under Thea's eyes. "Pretty good isn't good enough." She reminded her and placed her hands on her desk. "You have to strive for perfection. The smallest falter will be your downfall."  

Thea gritted her teeth when her mother said strive for perfection as if she hadn't been doing it her whole life. "Yes, Mom, I'll keep that in mind." She passively-aggressively agreed, having her head a slow nod.

"Since your father and I divorced, I've spent my life dedicated to maintaining your image so everyone sees a girl who is ready to become queen." Katherine reminded Thea, folding her arms on her desk.

Thea rested her cheek in her hand as her mother spoke. Inwardly she was mocking her but on the outside, she was nodding and listening. "I know," She finally said, after leaving her mother in a few moments of silence.

Katherine raised her eyebrows and frowned. "I don't think you do. The royal court is like a pack of starving wolves, ready to attack the slightest inkling of weakness." She firmly reminded her daughter, painting a pretty realistic picture. "They will try and tear you down, judge you for everything, especially since you'll be taking the throne at such a young age."

"My brother had to endure that when our parents died. I saw firsthand how cruel the court can be. It isn't like what's painted in movies, it's far worse and everyone plays mind games with the words they speak. Their tongues are like a honey-coated spoon with a knife on the other side."

Thea looked down at her lap, twisting her periwinkle heart ring around her finger. "I'm sorry for being ungrateful." She had nothing to be sorry for but here she was apologizing, something she felt she had to do.

"As you should," She said indefinitely. "Don't let it happen again," Katherine jabbed her finger at Thea, narrowing her eyes. "And next time try to be subtle, especially when it comes to our dislike of scholarship winners."

Thea nodded, running her fingers along with the table beside her. "I'll keep that in mind." She inwardly rolled her eyes and then thought. 'Mother has always been strict, but this year is going to be even tougher now that I will be Crowned Princess at the end of the school year.'  

"I'd expect nothing less for the future crown princess." Katherine spoke with the utmost pride in her voice. "You know how delicate all situations must be for us not to have fiascoes that could harm your image. Like you tripping at the holiday gala."

Thea cringed at how harsh the media had been towards her. "I won't let something like that happen again, I promise." She placed her hand on her heart, slightly smiling.

Katherine nodded leaning back in her chair. "You may leave now." She pointed towards the door. "I have a few things to handle before the scholarship winners get here." She explained with disdain in her voice and she typed away at her computer's keyboard.

Thea got off the couch and walked over to the door. Placing her hand on the knob, she turned it and exited the room, closing the door behind her. "Ugh!" She huffed, her fists clenched at her sides as she marched down the hall.

She ignored the greeting from her classmates and simply waved them off. She was in no mood to play nice with her classmates since they were only doing it out of courtesy, not that they cared. "Yeah, yeah," She walked up into the common room and towards her hallway. 

Her mother made her blood boil fiery hot like lava in a volcano. "I can't believe that woman!" She exclaimed as she swung open the door to her room, her roommate and best friend sitting in the room waiting for her. "

Amialiona "Mia" Bitesenna spoke up right after her in a dull tone with a blank face. "Trouble with your mom again?" Her emerald eyes were dull as she searched her friend's face. She moved her black bangs from her face and quickly added. "Does it have to do with scholarship winners?" She motioned towards the TV.

Thea grabbed the remote and turned off the TV and set it on the coffee table. "Yes! But it doesn't have anything to do with the scholarship winners." She exclaimed, flopping face-first onto her bed. "I don't understand where she gets off thinking every time she tells me to do something I won't hesitate to say yes right then and there!" 

Mia turned around and sat on her knees, resting her head on the back of the couch. "But you do. You do everything she tells you to. She says jump you say how high" She pointed out setting her empty bag of potato chips on the table. 

Thea groaned, sending a glare over to her friend, who put her hands up in defense. "You're not helping, Mia!" She exclaimed, grabbing her pillow and rolling onto her back, hugging it.

Mia knew she wasn't the best when it came to feelings and she was overly blunt. "Sorry, I didn't think when I spoke." She flatly apologized, meaning it, even if her voice didn't sound like it.

Thea simply sighed and looked up at Mia with soft eyes. "For once I'd like her to ask me genuinely if I want to do something. She's never been "Thea, would you like to do this?" And then give me a chance to honestly reply but instead, she's always like "You're going to do this whether you like it or not." it's just annoying." 

Mia got up off the couch and walked over to Thea's bed. She sat down on the side and pulled her knees up onto the bed. "You can always hope that she will one day. At least once you become the crown princess she can't boss you around." 

"I doubt even a crown princess will be unable to escape the grip her mother has on her. I'll be her puppet until I get married." Thea sighed softly, feeling frustrated she always said yes and never even attempted to say no.

Mia twisted the ring around her finger and pursed her lips as she listened to her friend speak. "I think calling yourself a puppet is a little harsh," She quipped. "You don't want to disappoint her. Do you?" She asked nonchalantly, knowing how much Thea strove to make her mom proud.

Thea nodded with a sigh. "You're right. I don't want to - no, I can't disappoint her. She's dedicated her whole life to raising me to take over the kingdom and after all, she knows what's best." She turned to Mia, having a question of her own. "Have you ever disappointed your parents?"  

Mia didn't hesitate in her reply as she shook her head. "No, they set the bar low. All I have to do is be polite, helpful and follow you around. I don't think I could ever disappoint them no matter what I do. I've tried, they just laugh it off and patronize me." She replied, tilting her head and blinking behind her bangs.

"Lucky you," Thea mumbled as her mind wandered over how excited her father had been, bragging to everyone about how she could rule the kingdom. "Not even my father can play the good guy."

Mia reached over and patted her head, not knowing what else to do other than treat her like Thea treated her dog and cat. "You'll be fine. You always are." That may not have been the most comforting words, but it was all she could wrack her brain for.

Thea cracked a little smile. "Thank you," She leaned over and hugged her friend, and pulled away. 'Even if Mia sometimes says the wrong things, she ends up knowing just what to say even if it didn't sound like it.' She thought to herself.

The corner of Mia's lip raised ever so slightly before it fell. "You're welcome. It's what friends are for, that's what I saw on TV." She said her voice may have been flat but she was pretty pleased with herself over what she told Thea.

Thea cracked a smile and stiffened a giggle at her friend's words. "Oh, has Dree arrived yet? She said she'd text me when she got here." She asked, wondering if her princess friend had come.

Mia shook her head, not recalling Dree popping up in her contacts. "No," She then recalled something that she had forgotten to tell her. "But your father called shortly before you appeared on TV." She told her, pushing a lock of hair behind her ear.

Thea perked up and sat straight up, looking at Mia with surprise. "Daddy called?" She asked, scurrying off the bed and reaching for her phone on her desk across the room. She turned it on and unlocked the phone, going to her recent calls. "He did! Why didn't you answer it?

Mia shrugged her shoulders, turning her body towards Thea. "By the time it registered and I got over to it, I had just enough time to read the contract that was calling before the screen went off." She replied flatly. "And I don't remember your password then I forgot about him calling."

Thea groaned at how forgetful her friend was. "I told you my password a million times, 1994! The year I was born and the year you were born and the year Dree was born. The year practically everyone this semester was born in!" She exclaimed, frustrated a little as she called back the number.

Mia nodded slowly, realizing that it was relatively simple to remember. "Oh, I forgot again." She mumbled, trying to say it over and over so she wouldn't forget it. "I'll try and remember it from now on."

Thea rolled her eyes as she sat down at her desk and placed her phone in front of her as it rang. She tapped her foot on the floor as she waited for her dad to pick up the phone. "Daddy?" She asked, after the masculine voice on the other end greeted her with a hello.

Marshal grinned from his seat in his hotel room, having muted the news which was still going on about the academy. "Princess, I called and then realized you were on TV. You were great up there! I am so proud of her." He praised his daughter, picking up his glass and taking a sip from it.

Thea's face lit up at his praise, feeling very flattered he thought that of you. "Thank you, Daddy! It means a lot to you to think I was great!" She exclaimed, grinning like a mad man then she quickly changed her attitude. "Mom wasn't very happy with me though." She pouted, trailing her fingers across her desk. 

Marshall frowned, unhappy to hear that. "I'm sorry to hear that. I thought you did well. What did she say?" He asked, wondering why Katherine wasn't happy with Thea.

Thea glanced over at Mia who was opening another bag of chips. "She said I wasn't thrilled about it saying the scholarship winners' names." She slowly explained, bracing herself for how her father would react.

Marshall quirked an eyebrow at her words. He racked his brain to recall if he had seen what she had said. "Were you?" He simply asked, wondering if she was truly feeling that way. 

Thea's eyes grew wide. "No, Daddy! I was simply tired from the interview from last night." It wasn't technically a lie but it wasn't the whole truth and there was no way she was going to admit otherwise.

"All right," Marshall confirmed, taking another sip of his water then setting it back down beside him. "I didn't notice a single thing wrong, so I doubt anyone else would." He started to think that maybe wasn't the best thing to say.

Thea wasn't relieved in the slightest since her father was bad at reading people. "Thank you," She folded her arms on the table and rested her chin on her arms. "When are you coming to visit? I know you said you'd come for my graduation, but that's next year!" She whined, not wanting to wait that long.

Marshall grinned, but composed himself, keeping his plan secret. "I'll visit when I can, I promise. You know how Joy is, she can be quite bossy. A happy wife is a happy life and I've got to keep her happy." 

Thea frowned, digging her nails into the table. "Yes, I know," She tried to sound normal and not let on how annoyed she was. 'Ugh, I loathe that woman. Why did Daddy have to divorce Mom and marry that wretched woman.' She thought to herself, knowing Joy had always rubbed her the wrong way.

Marshall didn't notice the slight change in her tone and continued. "We must find some time for Joy to meet you. Maybe a weekend when you're free? She'd love to get to meet her stepdaughter and I'd mean a lot to me too!" He smiled, setting his voice beside him.

Thea frowned deeply, picking at her nail polish. 'Truth be told, I don't want to meet her. I can't tell Daddy that so I should just agree.' She thought to herself and inhaled deeply. She smiled and tried to sound as happy as one could at the suggestion of spending time with one's stepmother. "I'd love that! I would love to spend time with Joy and a weekend would be fine!" She rolled her eyes as she spoke.

Marshall glanced at his watch, he didn't want to cut their time short, but he had a few things to attend to. "It was nice speaking with you for a little bit, Princess. I'll talk to you later. Love you."

Thea inwardly sighed, sad that he was cutting their time short. "Love you too, Daddy. Talk to you later." She tapped the screen of the phone and ended the call. She rubbed the back of her neck and leaned back in her chair. 'Daddy and Mom are going to be the death of me,' She thought to herself as she groaned, running her hands through her hair.

Mia folded up the bag of chips and set it on her nightstand, standing up and walking toward their bathroom. "I thought you did a good job at masking your emotions and putting on a happy façade." She flatly tried to encourage Thea. 

Thea picked up her phone and stood up, walking over to her bed she tossed it on the comforter. "Thanks," She sighed, sitting down on her bed. She crossed her legs and leaned back on her hands. "Daddy thought too, which made me feel happy." 

Mia raised an eyebrow, although you couldn't tell by her overgrown bangs. "But your dad is kinda clueless when it comes to noticing things." She mentioned, disappearing into the bathroom long enough to wash her hands.

Thea groaned and rolled her eyes, running her hands through her hair. "I think I may lose my mind, Mia! And having to deal with the unworthy scholarship winners waltzing in here thinking they can do a better job at aiding the kingdom than well since we've been preparing our whole lives for?" She exclaimed, punching her pillow.

Mia walked out of the bathroom and sat down across from Thea. "They will realize that it isn't all it's cracked up to be and end up leaving like they always do. Don't worry. I'm not worried." 

That hardly made Thea feel better, but it did remind her of something. "You're right. We just need to remind them of their place and if they can't handle the pressure they should leave." She smirked, crossing her arms over her chest. 

Mia tilted her head to the side and searched Thea's face. "You're going to teach them a lesson? Or give them tough love? Or take out your frustrations on them? Or put them in their places? Or make life hard for them just as it's hard for us? Or show them -" She rambled on, being cut off by Thea.

Thea placed her hand on her arm and grinned. "Why not all the above? If they can't handle what we throw at them, then they're not worthy of adding our kingdoms. I wonder how the winners are reacting right now?"

Mia thought about it for a moment. She didn't take notice of it being a rhetorical question. "Probably super excited. Squealing. They are squealing. Oh, maybe their parents are crying? People cry when excited too. They're called happy tears, although I've never had happy tears before. I've never shed a tear of sadness either." She replied, crossing her arms.

Thea threw Mia an unimpressed look but quickly shook it off with a shake of her head and sighed. "Either way, they'll get the taste of royal life that they crave. Little do they know it's not all glitz and glamor like in the movies. Where did anyone get the idea of romanticizing royal life?" 

Mia didn't hesitate to answer the rhetorical question Thea had asked. "Rose-tinted glasses! That's what my mom says that commoners and famous people have when it comes to us. They want the dazzle and sparkle of royal life without all the politics." She explained, giving jazz hands at the latter of her words.

Thea stood up and walked over to the balcony in her room. She slid open the glass door and walking over to the railing, she placed her hands on it. "That may be so, but I have a feeling this year is going to surprise us, and might even surprise the scholarship winners." She said, turning back to Mia with a smirk on her lips.

She was right, it was going to be a year full of surprises, none of which anyone would fathom.

〰❦〰❦〰❦〰❦〰❦〰❦〰

A/N:
This was part of the precious chapter, which will be happening a lot. I figured it was best to not rush things or focus simply on one character. This is - I've lost count on how many times I've revamped this story. Out of them all, this one has been revamped more than all my books combined.

Chapter Talk:
We got to also meet Thea, our other MC! Who, originally I never met for her to be a person you'd sympathize or understand, she was just a spoiled little brat. But I wanted to do something different and make it about not only Sidney but also Thea.

Thanks for reading!