AMERICAN ROYALTY

prologue

prologue

BLAIR

The United States was built on the foundation of democracy. If so, what would be the prime example of this political structure? Politicians are corrupted and riots asking for change at every street without ever being heard. Ever wondered how each 'carefully assembled' bills or laws were made? Let me tell you a little secret, these so-called people in governed were never really in charge, not in the last hundred-year or so.

American royalty isn't a politically correct term, but for all intent and purposes they existed. There are eight very prominent, richer-than-God families with more power than a president could ever amass. They all live within the country yet not that commonly known, who held a heavy hand in every decision that affect every single individual in this great country. These families hide behind powerful names; they're puppet masters, playing those in power within the public eye to dance to their tunes. One might wonder why they wouldn't rule themselves; let me tell you how ignoramus that notion would be. Under the eyes of the world, each person couldn't hold an unlimited amount of power. There has to be limitations, for the ultimate power would only burn down the world as they knew it. They'd show proof of how such power could only bring mass destruction. A glaringly obvious example such as Adolf Hitler would come to mind.

But that's where they got it all wrong.

Remember the world wars? If it wasn't for their influence, who could say how much longer the wars would last until every nation was bombarded beyond recognition, countless lives gone in the blink of an eye, poverty ruling across the globe which would ensure worldwide hunger. Before this event, these families were ruling over their wealth and states all on their own, influencing laws still but not to the extend of power they hold today. But from the brilliant mind of Joseph Chamberlain who proposed the idea of a joint force, one who'd unite all the power across fifty states, connection over the influential powers of Europe, Africa and Asia, and to bring about together their wealth; it was truly the ultimate power.

The cold war wasn't something the American people would soon forget. But the story ran deeper and more sinister than one would find in our so-called history books. There was extortion, blackmail, power play, negotiations upon negotiations that were swept under the rugs, told over hushed whispers for those in the know. These things, should one dig deeper into the archives and the well-kept vault inside the Pentagon, would show up as clear as the blue sky. These 'alternate' history is taught to the children of American royalty and the dozens or so families part of the royalty's entourage. Look it up on the internet, even the dark web and you'd only see chatters in private chatrooms before one way or another it'd be covered up by a scandal.

Confused yet?

I reckon one might be since if this ever got out, it would shake the very core of the general belief system which is why we're not out in the public eye, prancing around the tabloids with scandals following our every moves, our lavish parties never documented by any media, no speculations about the jet-setting lifestyle we lead. These children of American royalty are kept under a safe bubble within the über-private academies which sole purpose were to teach us about our histories, our influence and most importantly, it's a non-stop dating ground to ensure one day everyone of us married within our social hierarchy and not taint our precious lineage with those who could only speculate about what it's like to live our lives.

The academy of my parents' choosing is the Saint Albert's Academy located in the middle of nowhere, Idaho. There's five more of the likes across the country, each one hidden in a mass of private lands so no amount of suspicions from nearby towns would ever be raised. A dozen more across Europe, intermixed with more traditional European royal families where some of us would be sent either as punishment or a learning curve. The biggest one, Saint Agnes is the one my brothers attend years ago before they ventured out in the real world, taking part in their duties and taking more on the power and responsibility that no single individual should be able to amass in the eye of the public.

Everyone had anticipated my arrival there; for where else would they have sent precious Blair LeBlanc than the ever-so prestigious Saint Agnes? So imagine my surprise – and everyone else's for that matter – when I was sent to a different one. Maybe the decision was influenced by the scandal Benedict LeBlanc – my eldest brother – partake in just before he graduated. It wasn't much of a stretch to think the LeBlanc name would be blacklisted after such incident. But being blacklisted didn't exist in our world, at least not when LeBlanc are a part of those eight royal families. Whatever my parents' reasoning might be, I wouldn't have a place in questioning their decision, let alone overrule it.

So there's where I found myself, fresh out of the plane from my one-year adventure in an academy in England, already dressed according to Saint Albert's Friday dress code of a sleeveless navy vest dress, with four navy buttons sewn shut in the middle, a white high-collared top with capped sleeves, knee-high sheer black socks and sensible three-inch Mary Jane pumps. The Saint Albert's emblem of cross swords, a roaring lion standing with a scroll under one of its paws proudly in gold, navy and red displayed on the left side of my breast. With a vintage Kelly backpack in a matching navy color thrown on one of my shoulder, I stepped outside the limo.

This school year's going to be interesting.