SCORPION

Majesty

Once upon a time, in the royal palace...

Ugh. What am I saying? This is a royal palace. Fuck.

I was in my room, my huge room. Too huge, actually. The huge king sized bed was in the front, behind a huge window, the huge closet that occupied a whole wall, my huge television, sound equipment and the computer on my desk (which mother baptised as my studying desk). I was reading Like Animals to Flames, a surprisingly really dirty book that my sister lent to me (kinky bitch), which I hid religiously from everyone: even the maids. And of course, from mother. If she found out I was really a book with so many graphic descriptions of sex, she'd flip the fuck out.

College breaks really didn't mean a lot to me because 1) I had to stay in this shit hole against my will, 2) I always had something to do around here, like clean my room. Mother specifically asked the maids not to clean my room since I need to have responsibility of my own things. I thought this was exclusive to me, since I'm the black sheep of the family, but apparently Luana has to do it too. She better do it, I wouldn't do it if she didn't do it. Gender equality, bitches.

"Miss Hamilton?" Charlotte, one of the maids, said while knocking on my door and opening without my consent. Bitch.

"Joana, Charlie. No need to call me "Miss Hamilton", I feel like I'm 80 years old when you say that." I rolled my eyes as I got up from the bed and slowly hid the book underneath my sheets. "Mother called me, didn't she?" I asked and she nodded.

I've always hated going to mother's room. It was pure torture, I had to hear all those rants about taking care of a whole nation and how, someday, I will rule said nation and yacky yacky yacky. But, to be honest, she was betting on the wrong horse because I would easily give the throne to Luana and she could rule this place as she wanted with her boyfriend. I'm not going to move a damn chair in the Royal room.

"Joana?" mother said as I knocked on the door.

"Jo." I sighed. I don't care if she's the Queen of some make-believe utopia: she's my mom. I don't need all that protocol shit in my own house.

"Don't you think you should wear something... prettier? After all, a princess..."

"Should always dress nicely, I know." I finished her sentence. "Look Mother, I'm comfortable in these clothes." I got up from my seat, showing her my brand new Versace shirt and ripped jeans. "But yeah, what to you want from me?"

"Wish, my dear. It's prettier." I forced a smile, like a fake apology. "There'll be a dinner tonight with the Count of Oxford and the Duke of Oxford- the Count's father as you well know- and we need to go."

"Mother, you know how I really don't like to get mixed with the Royal family. Besides, it's Lu's boyfriend and probably father-in-law, why do I have to go? Have you taken a good look at me? I'm not really the stereotypical definition of princess."

"You'll be the Queen someday, beautiful Joana." Another forced smile. "You must go, you must learn fancier ways to communicate with the people and the media."

I sighed.

"And you think Ashton and his father are the best teachers? Seriously, mother?" She raised an eyebrow at me, bored at my conversation. I sighed again. "Fine, I'll go."

"Wear something fancy." she said as she got up. "Your dad didn't really care about any of this, but you have to learn this. It's important." she smiled at me. "That is all."

I smiled and stormed out of the room right after she did, I was in the edge of starting to growl at the walls: that's how fucking saturated I was. For how longer do I have to show this nonexistent side of me?! The perfect side. This isn't me, this is Lu. I'm acting like an 19 year old Lu, and Lu is only 17! I wish I could find a friend other than those fancy pussies who are too scared to walk down the halls alone at 4am so they could take me somewhere away from this.

******

Lunch time, at last. What a torture. I had to wear a different set of clothes and I'd possibly starve to death before I knew all fifteen dishes by heart. Who the fuck needs these many dishes?!

The lunch table was ridiculously huge. Too huge.

"Aren't you going to use the knife to cut the chicken, Joana?" Ian, mother's bestfriend, said to me and I discreetly showed him my middle finger.

Stupid cunt.

"Joana, we need to buy you some brand new clothes for tonight." Theresa, mother's cock sucker, told me, just to push my buttons.

"I have plenty of clothes, I don't need new ones." Well, new clothes are always accepted. But only if I and I alone buy them. Well, not really. Lu usually comes with me because her fashion sense is way too good and sometimes I choose sets that the Devil himself wouldn't think of.

"Of course you need, you're the Queen's heir." she said, adjusting herself to the wooden chair. "Sit straight, your spine is all curved. Luana, cross your legs. You're a lady, not a homeless man."

I took a deep breath and adjusted myself on the chair, looking at Lu. She looked back, visibly mad. Get used to this, sister: it won't get any better.

******

The night finally fell, dinner night. I didn't let that bitch Kate choose my clothes, I had already picked the perfect outfit: black non-ripped jeans, Doc Martens, a button up see through shirt and a black laced bra. Lu helped me pick up the outfit, she was going like this too: well, not really. She was going to wear a really short black skirt, her Doc Martens, a tank-top and a dark red blazer that matches her Martens. I looked at the mirror and everything was so on point, even my hair: that's a first. Lu was beside me, and we both looked at the mirror.

"Fuck, we look hot." I said, moving my hair to the opposite side.

"We do. I am so going out tonight." she said, posing.

"Good for you, Lu. Just don't make too much noise with Ashton."

"Shut up Jo, jealous bitch. Me and Ashton aren't that noisy."

"Yeah, what's noisy is the bed constantly banging against the wall." I said, giggling a bit. She punched my arm, laughing. "Enough of self-appreciation, we have to go." She nodded.

We left my room and went to the main hall, everyone waiting for us.

"Joana, Luana: are you ready?" Ian said. He never really went along with my face but guess what, I didn't get along with his. "Joana, you can't go like that." he said, signalling Lu to go to the limo.

"Why not?" I crossed my arms. "Actually, I don't owe you explanations of any kind. So..." I tapped on his shoulder with my hand and, walking past him, I stepped outside the door. "C'mon, the limo awaits me."

"You're such a rebel heart. That attitude will make your life so much harder in the future."

"Good. And if my man is as hard as my life, then it's all good."

*******

We arrived at the dinner room, every eye laid on us. Lu was getting approval looks, both from her boyfriend and from his dad. Ashton smiled at me, saying hi, but his dad looked at me with such a disappointed look on his face that I had to giggle. But, honestly, I got there with one purpose: to eat and get away as fast as I could.