A Princess Named Harry

Chapter 2

After sitting down for a while and listening to her mother and the king explain the situation, Harry began to understand it.

"Congratulations on your marriage," she said to them softly.

Caroline looked at her and nervously asked, "You aren't mad?" She had expected Harry to be at least a little upset since she had kept such a big secret from her, but Harry just smiled and asked, "Why would I be mad?"

Caroline looked away. "Well, obviously because I-"

"It's a new change we'll all have to get used to," interrupted the king. He gave Harry a polite smile. "But I hope you can look to me as a father figure. Don't misunderstand, I'm not trying to replace your father, nor will I force you to like me, but I do hope that you can come to me in your own time." He realized he had been rambling and sighed. "Do you understand?"

"Yes, Your Majesty," Harry answered. Her response was quick and formal.

"Also," he added. "You don't have to call me so formally; you can call me Edmund."

Harry became flustered at the possibility of becoming friendly with the king. "N-no!" she stuttered. "I could never!"

He seemed disappointed by her quick rejection. "Now, now," snickered Caroline. "Give her some time."

"That goes for you, too!" he snapped. "You never call me by my name either!"

Caroline laughed and replied, "Now, Your Majesty, don't be so glum. I'll call you by your name one day."

"One day," he repeated sadly.

Caroline continued to laugh, and the king soon joined in. Harry watched them silently from across the table. She was relieved to see that he loved her mother so much.

He suddenly gasped and turned to Harry. "Harry, as you probably already know. I have a daughter your age. If you have any questions at all, please feel free to ask her, I hope the two of you can get along well; that goes for my son too, of course. He is a little older, though."

Harry nodded and replied, "Yes, Your Majesty."

She sat eagerly waiting for what he'd say next. Caroline sneakily nudged him from under the table. He flinched and looked between the two. "Ahem," he coughed. "Harry, you're free to roam the palace as you like."

Seeing this as her cue, she stood up and pushed the chair in. This time doing a slight bow, she said, "Then, I will be taking my leave now. Please excuse me, Your Majesty." Harry glanced up at her mother.

"Mother," she called nervously.

"It's fine. Go on now and explore," Caroline answered.

"Okay."

She was excited and a bit anxious to be able to walk around the palace as she pleased. It would have been something she could only imagine in her dreams, but now it was real, and her home on top of that.

"Will I really be living here now?" she whispered. She had made it all the way to the front of the palace. She slowly walked up to the door. "No one will tell me that I can't go in, will they?" Harry knocked on the door, and seconds later, it was opened.

There were lots of maids and butlers inside. Harry felt as though she needed a reason as to why she was entering the palace. Harry flinched as a maid looked down at her. She looked like an older version of Harry.

"Um," she started.

"Ah, Princess!" exclaimed the maid.

"Um, I-"

Harry felt embarrassed as she spoke. "I would like to visit my new room, please." Because the maid seemed shocked, Harry felt she hadn't been as polite as she should have been, so she quickly added, "If you aren't too busy, of course."

The maid smiled at her. "Of course not! I'll take you there right away."

Harry was surprised by the woman's kindness. "Thank you very much," she replied.

Harry's room was on the second floor and was the thirteenth door down on the right.

"This is it," said the maid as she opened the door for her.

The room was large and spacious. It had a large bed with a fancy drape, a large closet by the door, a little cushion on the window nook, a large red sofa, a little table in front of it, a makeup vanity, and a body mirror beside it.

Harry felt overwhelmed by the room. "Um, is there another room available? One that's maybe smaller?"

The maid seemed confused and answered, "This room is the smallest room we have suitable for a princess." She started to laugh. "His Majesty predicted your reaction to the room."

Of course, it was all overwhelming to Harry; her old room was very small and the closet she had now could fit her whole room into it, and possibly more.

"Well, you better prepare yourself," said the maid.

"What for?" Harry asked.

The maid answered, "His Majesty has prepared for a lovely ball tonight, and you and the new queen will be his guests of honor!"