A Tale of Two Princesses

Chapter 2

It is the next morning. My mother is on the phone at the breakfast table. Our dining table is 20 feet long and two feet wide but we don't often get visitors. Usually guests dine in the great hall and there is an event going on. Mother hangs up.
"Queen Rebecca wants to throw a ball. A ball for Mackenzie's suitors. She is of age now, 21, and she has graduated." My mother pauses, "You know..we're going to need to do this for you next year Nicole."
   "How many royals are there of our age mother?"
   "Well dear I believe there are six. Six princes between the ages of 22 and 26. Then of course there's you, Mackenzie, the Vicknoia twins, and Rachel. But don't worry dear, six princes leaves you with a lot of options, more than I had with your father." She nods toward Dad.
   "26? Why he is still single at 26?"
   "Well dear there just weren't any princesses born for a while." She sips her tea.
   "You say six is a lot of options but what if I don't want to marry any of them?"
   "You mean be a spinster? Well dear that is another option but you'll never know the joy of children, you'll never feel their heartbeat in your womb or see them smile up at you from their playroom. You won't have heirs or legacy." She drinks more tea and then continues, "Or did you mean marry a commoner? In which case you would have thousands of options but of course would have to renounce your title and go live where he resides. But you could do that, I only want what makes you happy my love."
   We eat breakfast in silence for a while.
   "What do you think Mackenzie's parents will do if she doesn't marry a prince? And you said she graduated but we are held to a higher standard, royals are required to get two masters degrees as opposed to the sixteen years of basic education and two years of college that commoners must have."
   "Well a lot of newly married queens go through masters school pregnant. I did. I think it makes the children smarter, babies can hear in the womb so it's very good for them to hear all of that education. As for not picking a prince, her parents I fear would be livid. They would certainly disown her."
   "Mother what if we chose a duke or a lord instead of a commoner or life as a spinster?"
   "Well dear a duke or a lord isn't any better than a commoner. I mean their family would certainly be ecstatic and wouldn't let it go but it's definitely a down-grade for us."