Chapter 19:

Fauna:

  I sat by the railings of my balcony watching the fireworks, it was almost time for the Christmas ball, cars and carriages had already begun arriving

‘princess fauna, I hope you are ready’ that was my mom, she entered my room already dressed in a blue dress

(dress idea)

‘almost, and why do you always pester me first’

‘because you are always late. You are today’s story so be early, the guests are starting to arrive and we have to present you’

‘you know I wasn’t the only one who fought’

‘you defeated the enemy, that’s the difference, now less talking, Elizabeth you are supposed to help her highness dress up’

‘I apologize your majesty’ Elizabeth said going into my closet

‘what would you like to wear your highness’

‘something yellow’

‘absolutely not, this is a Christmas party not a summer vacation’

‘I like yellow’ mother went into my closet and came out with a dress I hadn’t seen before ‘where did that come from’

‘your father got it for you but you went missing before he could present it to you, why don’t you make him smile by wearing it’

‘it has too many skirts’

‘it’s a ball gown it is supposed to be like that, now hurry up and dress up, you have 10minutes’ mother said and walked away

‘the dress is beautiful’

‘whatever, I’m straightening my hair’

‘yes your highness’ Elizabeth replied

(dress idea)

I put on my dress and my tiara and stared at the mirror, I looked beautiful. I missed this so much

‘you have to go now fauna, goodluck’ I smiled

‘thanks lizzy’ taking a deep breath, I walked out of my room towards the ball room, the guards opened the door after announcing my presence and I walked into a room of people bowing to me, I faced my parents and did a curtsy, my father smiled on seeing me

‘don’t you look beautiful, I heard you wanted to put on yellow’ Eleanora said, I laughed

‘I just felt like annoying mother’

‘you did indeed, she nagged all the way here’

‘you are late, again, can you not be punctual for once for an occasion darling, it doesn’t tell well of you’ I curtsied to mother

‘you gave me ten minutes and I took nine minutes leaving me with one, so I am early, for the first time’

‘an accomplishment to you I see’

‘of course it is mother, enjoy the party’ mother sighed and walked away to the direction of other women

‘may I have this dance princess’ I turned around to see my brother Andrew, I smiled and curtsied

‘of course your highness’ I replied and he led me to the dance floor ‘so am I returning for my second year?’

‘that depends on you fauna, do you want to, if you do I can put a word to father for you, I am not crown prince for nothing’

‘of course you’re not, I’ve been thinking about it, if people there would welcome me back’

‘of course they will, why wouldn’t they’ Andrew replied and twirled me around

‘I don’t know. Someone like stella for example’

‘if she were your true friend, she’d understand why you did that and besides, if you want another room you can always say so because you would be going as a princess okay’ I smiled at him again

‘thanks Andrew’ he bowed to me as the song ended

‘Gather around everyone, today I am a very happy king and father, the battle came to a successful end and we lost no one, my children came back to me safe and healthy, to those who fought, I am grateful, I thank you and the entire empire thanks you. And also to princess Fauna, she went to the academy disguised in order to defend her kingdom, that is a true princess, so please raise up your glasses as we give a toast to Princess Fauna Hildegard Leigh- Anne Archibald for a job well done, to Fauna’

‘to fauna’ everyone chorused and clinked their glasses together. I felt so honored, tears blocked my vision but I held them back

‘thank you father, thank you so much everyone. I made a mistake, I lied my way into the academy, I was selfish, I disobeyed and caused pain to my family and the kingdom and for that I am sorry and I wish you all would forgive me. I wouldn’t have been able to do anything without my sister princess Bethany and my friends, Bethany taught me to be brave and also to princesses Stella-Maris and Mereleona, thank you for everything, to ladies Claudia, Elizabeth and Stephanie who made my stay worthwhile thank you and now father, mother I wish with your permissions to return for my second semester as princess fauna’

‘I will think about it’ mother replied

‘the academy needs her your majesty and I would be pleased if I could have my roommate back, please’ that was Stella dressed up in her light blue dress what was with today and blue

(dress idea)

‘indeed, we need her, the flames won’t be complete without her’ that was Prince Zachary, that was the first time I was seeing him. He looked really handsome in his tux

‘since they all want her back, we have no choice but to accept her proposal, don’t you think so your majesty’ father said turning to mother, she smiled

‘of course, if that is what she wants, your wish is granted’

‘thank you, thank you so much’ my mother smiled at me

‘goodluck’ she said again and walked away with father. I noticed Stella going out towards the garden, I followed

‘hey roomie’ she turned around and stared at me ‘you look beautiful’

‘you also’ I sighed and walked into the grass

‘Stella I am so sorry, I had to…’

‘it’s okay fauna, I understand. I’m sorrier than you are, you are my friend, my roomie and I treated you badly even after you saved our lives’

‘please, we saved each other, it wasn’t a one-man work, it was team work, so you deserve the praise as well’

‘it was, but you were braver than I was. I’m really happy you turned out to be a princess because someone like you really deserves that title’ I laughed

‘thank you’

‘roomies?’ I hugged her

‘roomies, always’

‘you know, I’ve been meaning to tell you, prince Zac likes you, I noticed it but I wasn’t sure’

‘don’t start stella’

‘what, I mean it’ she said as we walked back to the party

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Prince Zachary:

I looked round trying to find her, it was like she disappeared after getting permission from her parents, at least I would be seeing her next semester

‘looking for something your highness’ I turned to see princess Bethany, I bowed

‘ah… my sister to be exact’

‘or you mean my sister, are you prince Zachary of England’ a girl said, she looked like prince Caleb, same eyes

‘depends on who’s asking’

‘Zachary allow me introduce my sister, princess Dianne’ she curtsied

‘I’m Dianne, you look according to description, fauna talked about you, so you are the all so beautiful, it’s a pleasure to meet you your highness’

‘likewise your highness’

‘I like him already’

‘you like everyone Dianne’ Bethany replied, so this was the very famous Dianne the guys talked about, she was pretty, fauna was prettier though

‘can you show me where I could find her?’

‘she could be anywhere by now, to her the party is over, or no, there she is, Bethany, fauna just broke a record, she stayed for exactly an hour at a party’

‘we must get her a gift’

‘and I know the perfect gift, ah… prince Zachary, sorry we got carried away you see, my sister hates parties and she is still here so we are glad, there she is, beside princess Stella-Maris’

‘thank you your highnesses’ I said with a bow and walked away

‘is it my eyes or is that guy a twin’ I heard Dianne say, I smiled and faced her

‘no, your eyes are working perfectly, I am a twin, I have a twin sister’ I said again before I left. Dianne looked like a very social person. I walked towards a table where luke stood with a girl

‘hey, found her yet?’

‘yeah, who is this’

‘princess Chiara of Rome, pleasure to meet you your highness’

‘charmed’ I replied with a bow and walked past going towards fauna, I tapped her, she turned around with a smile, like she expected me

‘Prince Zachary, a beautiful evening isn’t it’

‘it isn’t as beautiful as you are tonight your highness’ I replied kissing the back of her palm, her cheeks were red when I raised up my head, I smiled

‘thank you’ I looked around to see people dancing so I asked her

‘may I have this dance?’ she smiled

‘sure, haven’t really danced since’ she replied taking my outstretched palm as I led her to the floor and began swaying slowly

‘so, I’m so glad I get to see you next semester’

‘me too. I thought it was over for me’ I stared at her as she talked, I was wondering how to tell her about my feelings for her. Lucas had told me to be cool and just let it out so now my question is how do you do that.  I looked towards where luke was, he caught my eyes and gave me a thumbs up, I could see it, I was going to make a fool out of myself and luke knew, I glared at him, he nodded at me silently telling me to tell her, I mouthed a no, he massaged his temples and dropped his head before glaring at me, I rolled my eyes

‘is something wrong?’ she said, I froze, had she seen luke and I’s facial conversation

‘uh…fauna, can I talk to you?’

‘is there a problem?’ her face showed fear and I hated it

‘no, there isn’t, we should step outside’ I replied leading her out towards the garden she came in with stella. The cold December breeze touched my face, I sighed, this should go well

‘so what is it, you’re making me anxious Zac’ I laughed

‘I told you it’s nothing serious, except you want it to be’ she smirked, that was hot

‘okay, it’s nothing serious then’ I sighed and took her palm

‘Princess Fauna, you are a very beautiful girl, smart and brave and I admire you’

‘where are you going with this’

‘I know I sound really stupid right now, but since I met you fauna, I’ve been drawn to you, I thought I could hide it but I could not, I like you fauna, and I want you to be mine’ I looked at her waiting for her to laugh but she didn’t, she was quiet, she was fucking QUIET! someone just kill me, she smiled

‘i…I really don’t know what to say Zac’

‘say anything, because I am about to faint because of your silence’

‘yes’ I raised a brow, what was she doing

‘yes?’

‘I accept your proposal, I like you too prince Zachary’ I didn’t know when I did it or how or why I did it but I was too joyous to think straight, I brought her close and pressed my lips on hers, she wasn’t a good kisser so I was guessing I took her first kiss, I left her to see her face already red, she blushed too much.

‘well well well prince Zachary finally found himself a girl, this is news’ I rolled my eyes knowing who it was

‘get lost luke’

‘not this time, the queen wants you and I’m telling you, it’s not good’ I faced him, he nodded, I looked back at fauna

‘I’ll see you later, my mother tends to annoy me sometimes’ she smiled, I pecked her lips again before leaving