Royal Frills

Uncertain Darkness

Miss Eva left the school, as did half the boys. There was a strange atmosphere in the school as the media reported every day how we were being brainwashed and how cruel the institute was. This was all too much for Niki. He tried to smile and keep things to himself. Niki knew that things were tough for me. Not only did the media portray me as a victim of the institute, but the media was full of stories about my parent's divorce. Niki tends to close up and pretend to smile when he is sad. This being said he did open up a little bit. He told me he did not like all the changes. He did not like the media scrutiny of the institute. Why could people not see that we were happy? I felt sorry for Niki. The media may never have been interested if a prince was not at the school. The fact that I am here means that the media and politicians are interested.

There was a lot of coverage about the divorce in the media. It seems that Dad got tired of the fact that Mom always put royal duties and reputation above family. According to the media, Mom wanted me to come to the institute, and she used me as a pawn to promote the idea of petticoat discipline. This had become too much for Dad. He wanted a divorce. Dad spoke with me on the telephone and told me that the divorce was not my fault. Both Dad and Mom still loved Julia and me; they just had different ways of showing it. Dad also told me that staying at the institute while the media-frenzied about the divorce was probably a good idea. It would be a good place to hide from it all. When things were in place, he wanted to discuss what my future would be . Dad did not really explain why they were getting a divorce, and I could see that it was hard for him. I was happy that he did not tell me to come home. In a way, I wanted to hide my head under the covers and wish everything went back to the way it was.

Miss Eva was gone, and that was like a big hole in my life. I know that she was beginning to question the institute's methods , and she was showing more compassion and support to the boys. The institute needed Miss Eva. She was becoming a person who could stand up to Madame Criben. Now that she is gone, it feels like our protector and the person who cared for us are gone.

Niki was becoming more and more serious about things. He still tried to smile and be optimistic. It was hard for him to hide the fact that he did not like what was going on . He told me one day that he was staying here at the institute. He did not believe in all the crap that was being said about petticoat treatment and the institute. I suppose Niki had no choice but to want to stay here. We are Niki's family. He feels loved and accepted here at the institute. If he were not here, he would be with his grandmothers, whom he loves, but with no friends or parents who are ashamed of him. The bottom line is that Niki was happy to be here at the institute and did not want to be anywhere else .

This was not a happy time in my life. I was afraid of what would happen at the institute. I also had to deal with the fact that my parents were getting divorced. My dad was speaking with me every day on the phone. He told me that if I needed to come home, I could. Dad was afraid that I felt alone with the divorce happening. He also said that I should not feel guilty. The problem is that I do feel guilty. I know that Dad and Granny did not like that I was at the institute, and Dad did not approve of my sissy ways. I think that my parents are fighting about me. I told my dad that I would like to stay at the institute. Niki needs me, and the term is nearly over.

Mom did not speak to me on the phone. She wrote me a letter telling me about the divorce. She blamed Granny for the divorce. She wrote how hard it was to live with a mother-in-law who is also a queen. She blamed Granny for interfering in everything and Dad for being a mommy boy who listens to everything that his mother says. Mom was also disappointed that the divorce meant that she would lose her royal title. She would just be a duchess. I noticed that Mom did not ask in her letter how I was or how I was coping with the divorce. Her whole letter was about herself and how bitter she is towards Dad and Granny.