Royally Falling

~ 23 ~

"Too many joy rides in daddy's Jaguar
Too many white lies and white lines
Super rich kids with nothing but loose ends
Super rich kids with nothing but fake friends"
Super Rich Kids - Frank Ocean

oOoOo

On my nineteenth birthday, I am woken up by Duke slobbering all over my face.

"How did you get in here?" I ask him, even though he can't reply.

"Happy birthday!" Maeve shouts from the doorway.

"Oh, that's how," I mutter.

"Mom said you need to get up. We have a big, big, big day ahead," she mocks.

Maeve literally drags me out of bed and brings me to the kitchen for breakfast.

I eat rapidly and then get ushered into my bathroom to get ready.

"What's the rush? Chill the fuck out."

"What's the rush? It's already eleven o'clock. We need to do presents before people get here at four."

My birthday party is a formal ball, held in the ballroom at the palace.

Fun, right?

It'll be a night of dancing with members of parliament and entertaining their bitchy kids. Somehow, they tend to be more stuck up than my royal friends.

At every event, I'm amazed by how ignorant some of these girls can be.

The cake is the only thing I'm looking forward to about this party.

"Okay... Your point is?"

"You need to get ready. You don't want to look like a troll at your party."

This bitch-

"Get the fuck out."

"But I'm here to help!" She gets my makeup out of my drawer and washes her hands.

She gets a makeup brush and pokes my face.

"Get. Out."

I push her out the door and lock it.

oOoOo

After curling my hair and doing my makeup, I find my family and Xander waiting in the living room.

"Joyeux anniversaire," my mom says, getting up to hug me. (Translation: Happy Birthday)

"On ne peut pas croire que tu as déjà dix-neuf ans," my dad adds. (Translation: We can't believe you're already nineteen.)

"Je ne peux pas non plus." (Translation: I can't either)

Xander rises to give me a kiss on the cheek.

My mother sighs wistfully from the couch.

I go to open my presents.

I get a bracelet from Xander. It matches the pendant he gave me for Christmas.

Maeve gets me a blanket with her face all over it. As a real present, I get new black Lululemon leggings.

My parents give me a large jewelry collection that has been passed down through our family for generations. I'm instructed to wear the tiara and earrings tonight.

"Thank you, guys."

I clasp one of the bracelets around my wrist.

"You're welcome," my mom responds as she cleans up the bags and ripped wrapping paper.