The Princess Diaries

Chapter 2

"Get off the grass!" Someone yells at us over the speaker in different languages and we hurriedly get off the grass, we head inside and hear, "And we need new pillows for the Prime Minister's wife. She's allergic to goose feathers." A pretty blonde lady says into a screwdriver looking thing as she comes up to us, "Hello, Mia, Athena. I'm Charlotte, from the Genovian Attache Core." She reaches to shake Mia's hand, "Hi. It's nice to meet you. Um, where are we?" Mia asks as I shake Charlotte's hand, "The Genovian Consulate." She replies and I say, "You put pears in your flowers."

"Genovian pears. We're famous for them. No if you'll sit down, she'll be with you in a moment." Charlotte says gesturing to the couch behind us and I go to sit down when I hear, "No, I don't need a moment, I'm here. Amelia, Athena. I'm so glad you could come." A woman says coming down the stairs, "Hi, you've got a great place." Mia says and Clarisse nods, Thank you. Now, which one of you is Amelia?" She asks and Mia raises her hand, Clarisse looks at me, "And that makes you Athena, correct." I nod with a little smile.

"Well, let me look at you both." Clarisse says and I stand there awkwardly as Mia takes off her glasses, "Amelia, you look so... young. Athena, you look... young as well." Clarisse says and I look at her a bit offended, "Thank you." Mia says and I continue, "You look so... clean." I tell her in the same manor she used, "Uh, Charlotte, would you go and check on tea in the garden?" Clarisse asks, Charlotte nods.

"Please, sit." Clarisse says and we sit on the couch awkwardly, "So, um, our mom said you wanted to talk to us about something, shoot." Mia says and Clarisse gasps, "Before I 'shoot', I have something I want to give both of you." She says reaching towards the table for two expensive looking metal boxes, "Oh! Thank you." I exclaim and open up mine to see a beautiful locket.

"Wow." I say picking it up, "It's the Genovan crest. It was mine when I was young." Clarisse says and Mia drops her box, "Uh, and that was my great grandmother's." Clarisse says sadly, "I'll keep this safe. I will take good care of it." Mia says while stuffing it into her backpack loudly making me wince, she holds her hand out for mine but I pull it into my chest, shaking my head. "The tea is served, Ma'am." Charlotte says coming into the room.

We are lead into a beautiful garden and are seated at a table with beautiful tea cups set out, I pour myself some tea and stir in sugar gently before putting the spoon gently on my plate. Mia is the exact opposite, she bangs her spoon on the sides of the cup and bangs it on the rim to get the tea off, I wince at the loud noises coming from the beautiful china.

"Amelia, Athena, have you ever heard of Edward Kristoff Philippe Gerad Rinaldi?" Clarisse asks, "No." Mia says,  "He was the crown Prince of Genovia." Clarisse finishes and Mia hums, "What about him?" I ask her, "Edward Kristoff Philippe Gerad Rinaldi... was your father." Clarisse says and Mia snorts, "Yeah, sure. Our father was Prince of Genovia. Uh-huh. Your joking." Mia says taking a sip of tea.

"Why would I joke about something like that?" Clarisse asks, "No, 'cause if he's really a prince then we're-" Clarisse cuts me off, "Exactly. You both are not just Athena and Amelia. You are Athena Marie Thermopolis Renaldi and Amelia Mignonette Thermopolis Renaldi, Princesses of Genovia." I look at her shocked and Mia says, "Me? A princess? Shut up!" All I can do is look at Clarisse shocked.

"I beg your pardon? 'Shut up'?" Clarisse asks and a waiter comes up, " your majesty, in America, it doesn't always mean 'Be quiet.' Here it comes mean, 'wow', 'gee whiz', 'golly wolly'--" The waiter tells her and she cuts him off, "Oh, I-I understand. Thank you. Nevertheless, you are The Princess. And I am Queen Clarisse Renaldi." "Why on Earth would you pick me to be your princess?" Mia asks her and she says, "Oh, you are a princess, but your sister is first in line for the Throne of Genovia, since your father died. That's our law. I'm royal by marriage. You are royal by blood. You can rule." I look at her shocked.

"Rule? Me? Oh, no! Oh, no, no, no, no, no. I can not do that, I can't lead anybody, definitely not a country. The only reason I'm at school is because I haven't found a way to make money off of shyness." I tell her, "Athena, I had other expectations also. In my wildest dreams, I never expected this to happen. But you are the legal heir--the first heir--to the Genovian Throne and we will accept the challenge of helping you become the princess that you are. Oh, I can give you books. You will study languages, history, art, political science. I can teach you to walk, talk, sit, stand, eat, dress like a princess. And, given time, I think you'll find the palace in Genovia a very pleasant place to live." She tells me and my eyes widen.

"Live in Genovia? Just stop for a second! I am not a princess. I am still waiting for my confidence to get here! I can not move to or rule another country! And I don't want to be a princess!" I exclaim and Mia and I get up and run away, Clarisse calling for us, we run into the house out the front door and across the yard, running out of the gate.

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"After the divorce, we all discussed it. Your father and your grandmother both agreed to keep their distance so you both would have a chance at normal childhoods. Free of emotional complications. We were going to tell you both when Athena was eighteen but when your father died, things changed, Athena. We wanted to protect you both." Mom says and I throw down my brush, "You know what, I don't feel protected. I have been lied to for my entire life about who I am, I'm a princess for God's sake! Just in case I'm not a freak, let's add the tiara!" I snap.

Mom sighs, "Well, drink your soup." Mom say and I snap, "I'm not hungry." "Fine. Goodnight, sweetie, honey." Mom says closing the door and I sigh, "Dixie... you're lucky you don't know your parents."