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Queen Paige, King Phillip, and Princess Lydia walk into the dining room, and I rise from my chair and curtsy and wait for them to be seated. When Claire realizes what to do, she shoots up and curtsies, followed by Charlotte and the rest of the girls.
Queen Paige laughs, her laugh sounding like wind chimes being clinked together in the breeze. "Relax girls! This is your first meal with my family and I in the palace, there's honestly no need to stand and do all of those things." She reaches the raised platform where a small table for four sits alone and takes her seat. Princess Lydia sits on her right, while her husband sits on her left, and Prince Liam sits on King Phillip's left.
I think he winks at me, but then he does it again and I realize he's winking at me. He smiles and gives me a small wave. I give him a small wave back.
Why did I give him a small wave back? My goal is to not fall in love with Prince Liam, but stay as long as I can and then go back home to my family.
Servers bring out food, and I immediately go for the eggs. Its like, for the past 17 years, I haven't actually eaten eggs. These are way better then Mom's eggs. Charlotte slips me a pancake, and I look at her gratefully.
I cut a piece of the pancake and pop into my mouth. The butter has melted into the pancake, giving it a nice buttery soft taste. I close my eyes and underneath my eyelids dance pancakes in dresses.
The girl who yelled at Claire, and then me, yesterday, is savoring her food and eating it slowly. Charlotte catches me eye and leans in and says, "I know right. Its just so good!" I nod and take another bite of my pancake.
"You know what I want." I finish chewing and swallow. "Jeans. A pair of jeans, and maybe a skirt."
"Oh, that would be nice. Whoever said that Three's only wear formal clothes was wrong. We wear crappy t-shirts and crappy shorts. My parents weren't ones for money. They didn't spend it on clothes or cars. They bought us a new house and then they remodeled it." Charlotte's eyes unfocus and she stares off, into the distance.
"Same. Mom would use the money to find publishers and publish her books. They want to buy a new house for my grandparent's, who are Three's, but still act like Six's. There's a new apartment complex going up near my family's house, and there's a really nice apartment that their looking at for them." I tell Charlotte.
"Aww, Iris, that's so sweet!" She cooes. "You think?" I ask. "Yes, it is." She assures me.
"I never thought of it that way." I whisper to her, which makes her giggle, as if we've known each other for years and I have a juicy promise to tell.
