This is the story of Princesse Matilda Victoria Eleanor de Galles. The Eldest daughter of Princess Catherine and William of Wales. The futur queen of England.
It was the first Monday in October, and the crisp morning air of Wiltshire carried the excitement of a new chapter in Princess Matilda's life. As she stood in front of Marlborough College's grand entrance, with its ancient stone walls and ivy-covered arches, she could hardly believe she was finally here. She, the eldest of the Wales children, had taken her first step into the world of high school. Her mother, Kate, had once walked these very corridors, but for Matilda, it felt like uncharted territory.
"Are you ready, Matilda?" her mother asked gently, adjusting the collar of her daughter's blazer. The Princess nodded, a little nervous but eager to embark on this journey. Prince William, standing beside them, gave her a reassuring smile.
"You've got this, Matilda. You're going to do great," he said, his voice full of pride.
Inside the school, Matilda quickly discovered that Marlborough was a world of its own. Her classes were rigorous, but she found herself drawn to every subject. History was a particular favorite, as she loved learning about the past, understanding how it shaped the present. The languages were a challenge she welcomed, and while English and French were second nature, she was thrilled to start her journey with more exotic languages, like Korean and Japanese. These were languages she had dreamt of learning, inspired by her love for Korean pop culture, manga, and films.
But it wasn't just the academics that caught Matilda's attention; it was the people. She was determined to make new friends, though the idea of entering a new social circle was daunting. It wasn't long before she met three students who seemed to share her interests.
"Hey, you're the new girl, right? Matilda, right?" The voice belonged to a girl named Zara, with curly dark hair and a bright smile. Zara was from London and, like Matilda, she had a keen interest in music—especially K-pop.
"I'm Zara. I'm obsessed with K-pop. I was just listening to BLACKPINK before coming here. Do you know them?" she asked excitedly, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm.
Matilda's heart skipped a beat. It was the perfect conversation starter.
"Yes! BLACKPINK are amazing," Matilda said, her voice a mix of excitement and disbelief. "I'd love to see them live one day."
Zara grinned. "Same! I'm dying to go to their concert, but they're not as popular here yet. But we'll make it happen. Just wait and see."
It wasn't long before they were joined by another girl, Mei, who was from a small town near Birmingham. She was quiet but had a deep knowledge of manga and Japanese animation.
"I've been reading manga since I was little," Mei told Matilda one day after class. "I can't wait to learn more Japanese. My dream is to live in Japan one day."
Matilda was fascinated. "I've always wanted to learn Japanese! I'm actually starting this year. Maybe you could teach me some words!"
Mei smiled, clearly excited by the idea of sharing her passion.
"You're going to love it! It's a beautiful language," Mei said, her eyes lighting up.
Their small group was completed by a boy named James, a sports enthusiast from Oxford, who turned out to be just as enthusiastic about their shared interests. Though his focus was on football and rugby, he had a surprising depth of knowledge about music. One afternoon, as they were sitting in the school's large common room, he turned to Matilda.
"You know, Matilda," James said, leaning back in his chair, "I've always thought K-pop was just a passing trend, but there's something special about it, huh?"
Matilda's eyes widened. "You actually like it? I thought you'd be more into football than anything else!"
James laughed. "I am, but there's no denying the talent behind the music. Have you heard BigBang? They were some of the pioneers."
Matilda grinned, thrilled to find someone who understood. "BigBang are legends! I'd love to see them live too!"
Soon, they were all talking about their favorite bands, sharing songs and videos. Matilda's heart swelled with happiness. It was the first time she felt truly at home in a new place. Despite the fact that K-pop was still a relatively niche genre in the UK, she found a group of friends who not only shared her love for it but also respected her other interests, like literature, history, and science.
That evening, Matilda sat in her room at Marlborough College, writing in her journal as she thought about the day. She'd spent the afternoon with her new friends, and as the evening wore on, she couldn't wait to tell her family about everything.
Downstairs, her siblings—George, Charlotte, and Louis—were gathered in the sitting room, laughing and playing games. Matilda smiled at the sight of them, but she couldn't help feeling a bit homesick. It wasn't the school that bothered her; it was just the distance from her family. Yet, she knew that this was the path she had to take to grow.
"Hey, everyone!" she called, walking into the room. "You won't believe the day I had!"
George looked up from his game and raised an eyebrow. "Oh? What happened?" he asked, clearly intrigued.
Matilda beamed. "I made three new friends today! Zara, Mei, and James—they're amazing. And guess what? We're all huge fans of K-pop!"
Charlotte, who was sitting on the floor with her legs crossed, immediately perked up. "K-pop? That's like that Korean music, right? Is it good?"
Matilda nodded enthusiastically. "It's incredible! Zara's obsessed with BLACKPINK, and Mei loves manga. James surprised me by knowing all about BigBang. We're going to go to a concert together one day!"
Louis, sitting quietly on the sofa, looked up from his book. "That sounds fun, Matilda. I bet you're having a great time."
Matilda chuckled. "I am, but I miss you guys. It's so different here. The classes are hard, but I like them. And I get to learn Japanese and Korean! Can you believe it?"
Kate, who had been sitting nearby, looked up with a warm smile. "We're so proud of you, Matilda," she said softly. "You're doing so well. And it sounds like you've made some wonderful friends."
Prince William, sitting beside her, nodded. "It's amazing how quickly you've adjusted. We're proud of you, Matilda."
Matilda felt a warmth spread through her chest. It wasn't easy being away from home, but hearing her parents' support made it all worth it. "Thanks, Mom. Thanks, Dad. I think this is going to be a great year."
As she sat down with her family, talking about the new school year, her friends, and the exciting things ahead, Matilda knew that this was only the beginning of her journey. It wasn't just about the academics; it was about discovering who she was, what she loved, and the people she would meet along the way.
Later that night, as she prepared for bed, Matilda found herself thinking about the future. There were so many possibilities waiting for her, from studying literature and history to learning new languages and experiencing new cultures. But no matter where her journey took her, one thing was certain—she was ready for it. She was excited, curious, and eager to embrace every opportunity that came her way.
And in that moment, as she turned off the light and closed her eyes, she felt a sense of peace knowing that her dreams were just beginning to unfold.
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