The Forbidden Princess [Paused]

Chapter 1: First Day of Exile School

June 25, 1844

I woke up and threw the thin sheet off of me, placing my feet onto the cold, wooden floor. Oh why did I have to get myself into this mess?

I yawned and stood up, walking around the small peasant house. I didn't deserve this. Yes, I back talked my father, but I still didn't deserve being banished from the palace for six months.

"I just want to be a normal girl!" I had yelled at my father just yesterday afternoon.

I was angry because he was going to make me handle my mother's duties once again so I could get ready to become a queen in three years when I would turn twenty. I was tired of doing hard work and not being able to just relax. I realize what I said sounded snobby, like what a rich kid would say, but that's what I am. I am a rich child. I just wanted to be able to be free for at least an hour, not six whole months. And this banishment was far from freedom.

"Young lady!" Father had said to me. "Princesses do not act in a manor as how you are acting."

"I'm sorry, Father. I didn't mean-"

"If you want a normal life, Charlotte, then so be it," he had said.

Next thing I knew, I was being shoved out of the palace with our head maid, Nina, with a humongous suitcase of commoner items and no crown on my head. Father had thrown me out of my own home. I was forbidden to return to the palace for six months. I would have to live with commoner's and not let them know my true identity, for the result was a deadly punishment.

"Good morning, Princess Charlotte! Here," Nina said to me now. "This will look beautiful with your hair."

She handed me a blue dress that she must have sewn just last night, since I know Father wouldn't have let me pack such a nice dress if I was to be banished.

I put it on immediately, wanting to get out of the brown, patched up night gown I had slept in. Nina was right, the blue went perfect with my hair, which was the lightest shade of blonde it could be without being white.

"So am I suppose to stay in this house for six months?"

"Oh no, Miss. Your father said to have you attend school, as a commoner would," Nina explained to me.

I sighed and slung the peasant sack over my shoulder and told Nina I would just head there now.

She nodded but spoke up anyways. "Just remember, Miss-"

"Yes, yes. I know. If anyone asks, I moved here from the village over with my mother, who is you. My father died when I was an infant and I have no siblings. My name is Charlotte Le-Ann Jackson instead of Charlotte Grace Reed, the Princess of Harling, heir to the thrown. I am 17 years old."

Nina came over to me and hugged me good bye, then quickly let go before saying,"Oh you will do fine, Miss. You're mother would be proud of you, you know. Even if you did back talk your father to wind up here."

I forced a smile on my face and grabbed at the necklace that I never took off: my mother's locket. Inside contained a photo of me and her from when I was little. I took a deep breath, then opened the door and headed my way to commoner school.

~~~

The sunlight was bright; I wasn't used to standing directly in it in the morning hours; I wasn't allowed to since that was when I had music lessons. A group of commoner teens and smaller children were heading towards the same direction so I decided to follow.

Okay, I thought to myself. Don't talk to anyone and you won't have to explain anything.

All of the sudden, I heard stomping coming from behind and turned around, unexpectedly being knocked down onto the dusty ground.