Bound To You

Chapter 11: Royals Do Not...

From the moment I was born I have lived my life in the spotlight. Many people I have met are envious of that fact, of the fame and apparent glamour that my birth right gave me. But... it is far from what they dream it as to be.

It is not all glitz and glam or dressing up in a pretty designer dress and wearing magnificent sparkling jewelry. It's about being a public servant to the people of your country and with that, there are rules that are not meant to be broken. Rules of how I should be greeted by another, who is allowed to touch me, how I am supposed to act in every occasion you can think of.

My grandmother instilled this quote in me at a tender young age as my rebellious side craved to appear... 'to be believed you have to be seen. You have to give the people a monarchy they desire and envy to be like and thus act like one.'

I have stopped counting the amount of times I have been lectured on what "Royals do not..." do, mainly its because I don't want to do things the way I was taught. To show no empathy or compassion, to not embrace and hug someone or try to relate to them by pulling myself down from this pedestal that I should be cemented in.

I have been told to act 'more royal' but what does that even mean? Does anyone really know? What really makes me different from anyone else I pass by on the street?

Nothing.

I can hear my grandmothers scolding tone invade my mind when I am on an engagement, telling me how I should be acting or the fact that I held someone's hand was wrong. And yet, I can never learn to stop that. I cannot put on a fake smile or not feel genuine emotions that these people elicit in me.

Those three little words.

Royals do not...

They define my life. Or at least that is what they want me to believe.

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Emilia lifted her chin up in the air as her stylist and make up artist, Ella, applied a natural layer of make up to her face. Mia Deacon was rambling off in the corner about the day's full itinerary of Harry's tour accompanied by the princess, stressing over every single detail with little side notes of protocol reminders, no doubt her grandmother incorporated in through Mia.

Ella rolled her eyes with her lips spreading into a cheeky smile picking up on the fact that Emilia was starting to get annoyed with her private press secretary. "Just be you, Emilia." Her stylist encouraged in a sincere tone that was matched within her eyes.

The princess closed her eyes with a slow nod and tuned out all the voices from around her to focus on calming her nerves. Emilia felt the pressure from every angle and today would only be another day that every moment would be cautiously watched and scrutinized not only by her grandmother, but also the Illyrian media.

"There how do you like this Em? I could add a bit more but felt a natural look would be perfect for today and then this evening for the state banquet we could amp it up!" Ella delightfully smiled at the finished product and grabbed a mirror to hold up in front of Emilia.

"Looks perfect like always Ella. Thank you very much." Emilia's lips tugged into a smile and stood up from her stool motioning for her stylist to follow her into the closet. "Now, I forgot which outfit we talked about last week for the first engagement."

Mia's heels clicked behind them and entered her walk in closet ready to put her opinion in. "Let's make sure it's elegant and regal. The style of a true princess." Emilia's press secretary was adamant that she would be the one to ultimately decide if her dress was suitable for the occasion, but the princess was not going to succumb to the pressures placed on her when someone else would decide every single little detail.