The Princess Knight

Chapter 1

My whole predicament started on a sunny day. Andrea and I sit at tea with a few of the court ladies. Well I sit, the other girls stand at the balcony fawning over the lords who are playing polo on the green field below.

"Oh doesn't he look dashing!" one of the girls say there's a hum of agreements and giggles. I hold back an eye roll.

"Alexa, why don't you come join us." Andrea my sister asks.

No one admits this but is obvious Andrea has always been the more popular one. I am a princess. In my kingdom Anda, there is a duty we have to fulfill. A standard. We are to be perfect in areas like needlepoint, dance, manners, and etiquette. Our duty as a princess is to our country, to uphold a good image and keep a good reputation. The cycle has gone on like that for centuries & and it's never been broken.

"No thank you, I'd rather not waste my time," I say simply. I don't miss the strange looks I get from the girls, and neither does Andrea.

"Oh please it would be better than reading that ratty old book," she says taking the novel I'd been reading setting it on the table before dragging me out of my seat.

I concur and allow her to lead me to the balcony railing. Although I and Andrea are twins, you can see the stark contrast in our appearances. She sports dark brown hair and the same green eyes as me, but she soft girlish features while I have fiery red hair and sharper features.

I lean on the balcony and pretend to stare at the boys on the field, I hum my agreements in an attempt to be apart of the group but in reality, I'm staring off at the other side of the field to the training arena for the knights and soldiers. I stare at the 2 men who are sparring with swords I sigh as I wish I could do that. As a child, I was loud and rowdy. While all the girls were playing with dolls and playing pretend, I used to stay with my brother Charles and watch him practice technique with his sparring instructor and try to copy him. But as I grew older father thrust me into the court life and I was forced to be "proper" (whatever that meant).

I'm so busy watching the 2 men sparring I almost don't notice when my father walks into the tea room.

"Alexa, Andrea" he rumbles in his deep voice. Father is a tall man and has looks fitting for a king. Although I look just like my mother (or so people say) Andrea is a perfect mix of both our parents and Charles is fathers copy."I have news for the two of you"

He takes us aside. "As you know the 2 of you are approaching your 17th birthday"

We both nod.

" And I think it's time for you to looking for suitors"

At that, I frown. Id had this conversation before and every time I found an excuse to why I wasn't ready yet. Unlike Andrea, I can't stomach the thought of marriage. Meanwhile, Andrea is squealing

"Since your birthday ball is coming to your search will officially begin then. You will have many young men vying for your hand so be prepared."

Andrea hurries away to go tell her friends, I still stand frowning.

'Alexa you don't seem as happy as your sister." My Father says

"That's because I'm just beginning of my life. I don't want to look for suitors I still have a lot of things I wish to do"

"Alexa you must let go of your childish fantasies of becoming a knight, you are a princess. Royals have guards and soldiers for a reason"

'They're not fantasies they are my dreams' and with that, I leave with tears in my eyes.

I never really had a choice & and no one ever asks what I want. I always feel alone, and judged... The only time I ever felt happy was when I was dreaming about being the real me without being judged by the whole kingdom.