The Royal Programme

Chapter 18

Hiya lovelies, pictured above is Clouds Castle, the home of fairies. Please note that this chapter - written in 3rd person - tells us about one of Nina's experiences as a child. This is not a flashback or dream.
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Fifteen years ago...

Queen Lilian cradled her younger daughter in her arms. It was princess Nina and prince Nikolai's birthday today and even though they were turning four their mother treated them as if they were still babies. She refused to believe that her babies were growing up so quickly.

Next to her, her husband lifted up a gift and presented it in front of the young toddler. To his surprise Natalia jumped out of her mother's arms and hurriedly sat next to her father on the bed.

Nikolai  had already gotten his gifts before Nina and he was busy playing with his friends in the drawing room. Therefore the attention was all on Nina for the moment.

"Daddy, can I open it please?" Beamed a young Nina, eager to open her present.

Both the queen and king chuckled knowingly at Nina's excited reaction.

"Of course you can. Go ahead sweetheart." The king replied encouragingly.

Nina wasted no time to tear open the immaculately wrapped gift. After putting all her effort into ripping off the excess wrapping paper, she was finally able to see her gift.

It was a box.

The queen helped Nina open the box. In the meantime Nina was going crazy, jumping up and down, unable to hide her excitement. Once the box had been opened both the mother and daughter peered inside the box to look at its contents. It was filled to the brim with different kinds of toys: teddy bears, dolls, plastic cars and a toy castle, with a little mermaid and fairy figurine.

Nina rushed to her father and signalled for him to lower his heads she could kiss his cheek. "Thank you daddy, I love you."

The king ruffled her hair, earning him a scowl from the child, which was soon replaced with a smile of happiness.

Nina grabbed the mini figurines and showed them to her mother. "What are they?" She asked, her face scrunched up in confusion as she examined the tiny mermaid/fairy replicas.

The queens face turned pale as she motioned for her husband, to tell him about the mistake he had made. However, the king knew what his wife was about to say so he picked Nina up and left her outside the room.

That day the king had indeed made a mistake. A huge one, you see Nina wasn't an ordinary child. She was clever and also very curious. Her father hadn't shut the door properly so she stood outside, patiently eavesdropping onto their conversions.

"Blake what was the reason?" The queen asked, trying her best not to raise her voice.

"Mi amor, please understand that the kids will find out one day. Instead of them finding out by themselves when they're old, it's better to slowly start easing them into truth for now." The king argued back.

Queen Lilian let out an exasperated sigh before running her fingertips through her silky, golden hair. "She's just a child Blake. Remember what happened to Natalia, it's dangerous. It's better if their sheltered for now."

Halfway through their argument Nina walked in. She decided she'd heard enough to get her thinking and she was curious so she demanded to get the answers.

Both the king and queen were in shock. They were too heated in the argument that they ceased to notice their younger daughter walk in at that moment.