Playing Princess

Playing Princess 1.7

Andrew waited in Izzy’s – I mean my bedroom while I slipped into the chosen evening gown and let Allegra fix me up with a touch of makeup. I muttered under my breath all the while, loathing the strict customs and traditions of being a ‘Princess’. I never knew that it was this hard to be royalty, especially with the paparazzi lurking around every corner.

“I apologise for earlier, Astrid.” Allegra gave me a guilty look through the mirror of the vanity that reflected the endless racks of clothes behind us. “I should have let you down much easier.” She handed me a small box of brown contacts. I eyed them warily then proceeded to pop them in after a couple drops I let fall into my eyes. They burned at first but after a few seconds, I felt my eyes adjust. It wasn’t like the first time I’d worn contacts: on many occasions I’d used them for Halloween costumes.

“No it’s my fault,” I sighed, getting to my feet and wriggled my toes in the black flats I wore. “I agreed to this so I should be playing by the rules. I just – I just wish Isabel hadn’t gone off the radar.”

“Then you wouldn’t have met your brother, your twin or your dad tonight,” the young maid pointed out with a wry smile. “Would have taken much longer too.”

“Yeah,” I agreed. “Not to mention this closet – it’s literally a store!”

 “Well Isabel has worn only a quarter of these outfits and there is much more to come with the changing designs and seasons all year round,” Allegra announced and grinned at my expression. “She’s very materialistic. Not selfish or anything.”

“And yet she still has enough room to fit twenty people in here!” I said loudly, my voice seeming to echo in the vast closet. “Wow. This is absolutely incredible. A dream come true – temporarily of course.” The temporary part to my role as princess didn’t put me off at the moment as I relished the designer outfits patterning every tall rack from top to bottom. “How many clothes does she need?”

“Well Izzy’s one of those girls who don’t like wearing outfits twice,” Allegra explained. “And she sends some clothes back when she doesn’t want to wear them at all.”

“Uh huh.” I raked my gaze through the accessories resting on a shelf running around the three walls of the room, all holding necklaces, hats and even some pairs of shoes. Not much that I’d wear but they did look very trendy in a way. “This makes me feel so spoilt.”

“Well you’re only acting as Iz so think about how she would feel!” she pointed out with a grin and pulled open the doors to reveal the luxurious cream-coloured room beyond. The eerie foreign room made me feel out of place almost instantly despite how welcoming and warm it appeared. To be honest, I missed my room and most importantly: my guitar. I had to make a note to get that sent over soon. “Prince Andrew.” Allegra ducked into a neat curtsey, one foot behind the other.

I frowned. “Do I have to learn to do that too?”

“Allegra did you teach her etiquette yet?” Andrew chastised scornfully. “Astrid, chin up and shoulders back!”

“I did, my Prince,” Allegra replied politely and kept her gaze on the floor. “She’s still adjusting.”

“Don’t blame her,” I defended, waddling forward and feeling absurd in the posture I was in. Anybody who walked around like this back at home sent a message to others that they were superior. I hated it.

“Sorry, I’m just stressed.” He didn’t sound sorry at all.

“That’s no reason to take it out on Allegra.”

“I –”

“The King would hate to be kept waiting,” Allegra interjected before I really got riled up. “Astrid, you’re just going down to eat, talk with your father then come back up and I’ll have your entire schedule laid out for tomorrow and the days to come. Andrew will go out searching for Iz again.”