Dragon's life in college

Ch39

Nigel said. “The water dragons can have their queen later. For now, we want our friend.”

“It’s good to be friends with you,” Oceania said as she embraced them. “And, for real, this doesn’t affect our friendship?”

“We see no reason why it should,” Ryu told her. “Your Highness,” he added jokingly.

Oceania drew herself up regally. “I suggest that you keep your word on that, or this future queen will chain you to her so you can’t escape.”

They paused for a moment, before bursting out laughing.

If felt good to laugh, Nigel decided. It also felt good to know that their friendship wasn’t going to change because of this. As he and Ryu said good night to the others and headed to bed, he had a strange feeling that being friends with a princess wouldn’t be that bad. He just needed to steer clear of her aunt and all would be fine.

After the royal visit, nothing of importance occurred. Of course, to the students there were always important due dates or tests or occasional special activities. But for the most part, college life settled itself back into the grind of classes, homework, and maybe a little relaxation.

The most obvious difference on campus was related to Oceania and how the other students treated her. While she had never been one to be picked on or belittled in any sense of the matter, even without knowledge of her title she carried herself like a royal, now every dragon went out of his way to be polite and courteous to her. Some definitely went too heavy with it, blatantly trying to curry some favor with the future queen.

While officially, only the acknowledgement of Oceania’s status as niece to the queen and therefore a princess had been announced, anyone with two braincells could put together the facts. It didn’t help that Queen Mer hadn’t attempted to be discreet when she proclaimed Oceania as her favorite niece and future something. Also, the few other dragons lucky, or unlucky, enough to be invited to the banquet due to family connections reported back on Queen Mer’s treatment of her niece. The general consensus of the entire campus was that if Oceania was not Queen Mer’s chosen heir, then she was at least highly preferred.

Thus, the entire campus was wisely doing their best to remain on her good side. The ocean dragons were especially keen on currying her favor, although that could have been due to their misstep in misidentifying her as a distant relation. Oceania was quick to put any worries of royal retribution at ease, and in fact went out of her way to dissuade any special or preferential treatment. As she stated many times, she merely wished to be treated as a normal dragon. And for the most part, after a few weeks, everyone ceased to make such a large fuss over her. Sure, other dragons still stepped out of her way, inclined their heads respectfully, or did other small acts; but for the most part no one made a fuss. Except for those few that did, only to be immediately rebuffed and scolded for their behavior by their peers, strongly discouraged by Oceania’s friends, and outright rejected by Oceania herself.

“This is the one disadvantage of being close royalty,” Oceania complained as they all enjoyed a relaxing evening in their spot. “As soon as everyone learns, everyone’s extra nice.”

“Royalty is supposed to be treated different,” Nigel reminded her. He had written to his mother of the visit, figuring she would find out on her own anyway, and he would rather tell her directly then have her find out. Unsurprisingly, his mother had taken the news in stride, only reminding him to be a little more cautious of his manners around the princess.

“Acting royalty are supposed to be treated differently,” Oceania corrected. “Like my aunt, my mother, and the other members directly involved in running the government. Those of us who are not actively involved yet should not be treated any differently than other dragons.”

“Unfortunately, dragons have a tendency to make a fuss over anyone with a title, whether genuine or perceive,” Ryu said. “And for my part, it is rather rewarding to snarl at some simpering treasure-seeker and see them scuttle away like frightened crabs.”

“Yes, you do seem to enjoy terrifying other dragons.” Oceania gave him a disapproving side eye.

Ryu shrugged. “Someone needs to be the intimidating friend. And while you are quite intimidating yourself, I think those cloud-dreamers would rather be rebuffed by me than by you.”

Nigel and Turtle nodded in agreement. The last time a slippery dragon had tried to wiggle his way into Oceania’s good graces, he had been sent running out of there like he was being chased by a Shadow Dragon. The next time they had seen him, he had practically melted into the floor.

“Phifft,” Oceania stuck her tongue out at him.

“Most becoming behavior for a future queen,” Ryu commented.

“Practically elegant,” Nigel added, fanning the flames a bit.

“The newest fashion rage,” Turtle continued, pulling a quite comical imitation of Oceania’s face.

This in turn sent all four of them rolling around in fits of laughter.

“Honestly, though,” Oceania said after regaining her breath, “that is how being a royal feels like. The most random thing I do, everyone seems to think is automatically beautiful or regal and immediately copies it. Aunt Mer’s oldest daughter once accidentally got her tail stuck in a clam, and suddenly everyone at court was walking around with live clams stuck to various parts of their bodies. It was ridiculous.”

“The only good part about it was that we had entertainment for boring banquets,” Turtle said.

“So, if that’s the case, then why isn’t Turtle’s habit of wearing his art projects considered high fashion?” Nigel asked.

"Mostly because he’s been that way from the moment he hatched. Also, the fixation tends to be on the female members of the royal family.”

“Rude,” Turtle snorted. “I happen to have excellent fashion sense.” He spread his wings out in a show that would have been magnificent if he didn’t currently have stone dust, ink, paint, and leaves stuck all over him.

“Right,” Oceania said with a raised eyebrow. “Anyway, that’s why most dragons don’t follow his ‘fashion sense.’ They do follow your older brother’s style though.”