Separate Crowns of One Heart

Twėnty-Twø

I double-check my bag to make sure nothing is missing. When I'm satisfied, I leave the suite to meet Mila, Yuunis, and the Prince in the foyer. "Are you sure this is a good idea?" Demi follows behind me.

"Demi, why do you always worry so much?" I ask her, hitching the bag higher on my shoulder. "It isn't like I'm going alone."

"I know, but..." She sighs worriedly. "You will be gone the entire weekend."

I stop walking and turn to look at her. "Are you worried that there won't be much for you to do?" She looks down at her hands. This Fem is insane. "Demi, this means you get to take a vacation. You can do whatever it is you like-- as long as it's not cleaning." She begins to argue but I do not let her speak. "I am your Princess. I demand you take a break."

Her eyebrows draw together and she frowns at me. "That is cruel."

"I will see you when I return." I kiss her cheek and continue on my way.

The other three are already in the foyer. Mila walks around in a zombie-like style, staring down at her legs. "How do you Males do this?" She continues teetering around until she notices me. "Cyrah!"

I drop my bag onto the tiled floor to hug her. "Hello."

"How are you walking so comfortably in these?" She lifts one leg and bends it at the knee. Like all the other Fems in the Kingdom, Mila has always worn dresses so she's having a hard time getting accustomed to the pants she wears. "Are you already used to them from training?"

"You should join me when we get back," I joke, already knowing her answer.

"No, thank you." She turns to Yuunis. "Are we all ready to go? I am more excited about this than I thought I would be."

"Your Highness," I call to the Prince. He's much too busy listing an extraneous amount of tasks to poor James. I go over, grab hold of his hand, and pull him away from his servant. "Come on."

"Wait! Just let me finish speaking with him," he tugs back at me, fighting my hold. He turns back to James. "Make sure to take detailed notes and leave--"

I pull on the Prince's hand again, successfully getting him away from James. "We need to leave right now." I bend to retrieve my bag from the floor but the Prince beats me to it, adding it to the one he's already got on his shoulder. "Could you walk faster?"

"I just need to make sure that I do not leave things unattended," he complains. "We will be gone all weekend and I cannot just abandon my work."

"You won't be abandoning anything," I tell him. "James will handle it. Right, James?"

"Yes, Your Highness," James responds dutifully.

"See?" I smile up at the Prince. "Bye, James!" Yuunis opens the door just as we approach and I walk the Prince out.

"I am already tired of your presence," he sighs. I drag him along, ignoring his complaints.

The guards follow behind Mila and Yuunis, bringing up the rear. The four of us exit the Palace gates and the guards stay behind. When we told Queen Magdalena that we would not be accompanied by guards, she nearly lost it. The King had to calm her and reassure her that we would be just fine on our own (though he did make a snide remark about me not "being like other Fems" and being "Male-like").

We climb into the carriage that's meant to take us to the campsite. Mila and I sit side by side, facing the Males. "How far is this place?" Yuunis asks as we begin on our way.

"Ask the Princess," the Prince grumbles, looking out the window.

I roll my eyes and turn to Yuunis. "The campsite is two villages over so... not too long." The Prince groans and slumps in his seats, his long legs invading my personal space. "Or we could just turn around if you are going to be a bitch about it the whole time."