The Crown Tutor

part 1

In the sprawling digital age of social media updates and trending hashtags, the royal family of Paldonia found itself at the cusp of tradition and modern chaos. Each sibling had carved out their own niche in a world filled with royal duties, public appearances, and, of course, the occasional scandal that ended up splashed across the tabloids.

Pond, the oldest, was the quintessential Crown Prince, embodying the serious side of monarchy. With a rigorously curated Instagram account filled with carefully staged diplomacy moments, he was the poster boy for royal responsibility. But behind the polished facade, he often muttered, “Is it too much to ask to just chill at home in sweatpants?” while scrolling through memes of cats dressed as royalty. A sigh would escape his lips as he reluctantly prepared for yet another dull charity gala. “Can’t we just livestream it and call it a day?” he quipped to his siblings, who chuckled knowingly.

Boom, the second eldest, was a celebrity chef renowned for his flamboyant cooking style and even more flamboyant personality. His recent divorce from fellow chef Clara—a split that was turning heads with its Pinterest-inspired, culinary-themed memes—was tabloid gold. “I guess I’m the only dish she couldn’t handle!” he joked, using a spatula to dramatically flip a pancake during brunch. “And here I thought love was the secret ingredient!” His siblings cracked up, knowing that for Boom, humor was as vital as salt in his dishes. But beneath the witty repartee was an unyielding pressure to reclaim his culinary crown while juggling a newfound single life under the glaring eyes of gossip columnists.

Tu, the third eldest, was the epitome of modern royalty, engaged to Win, the charming son of the Minister. Always the trendsetter, she was merging royal protocol with viral content creation. “You know what would be epic? A vlog series leading up to the wedding—something like ‘Tiara Tuesdays!’” she suggested, her eyes sparkling with excitement as she pulled up TikTok trends on her phone. Win’s smile faded slightly, as he preferred the idea of a low-key ceremony over a full-on media circus. “Can we just stick to the ‘normal’ stuff and not make our wedding an influencer event?” he replied, eliciting playful eye-rolls and laughter from Tu, who replied, “Normal is overrated, darling!”

And then there was William, the youngest—a notorious free spirit living life in the fast lane and known for his escapades across social media. With a knack for breaking royal protocol, his latest adventure involved sneaking out of the palace for an impromptu music festival, his Snapchat live stories full of wild antics. “Follow me for exclusive behind-the-scenes royal fun!” he’d caption in playful defiance before the inevitable parental call of “William, get your royal behind back here!” would come in like clockwork, echoing through the palace halls. It was a dynamic mix of sibling camaraderie paired with the frustrations of a family trying to maintain a semblance of tradition in a rapidly changing world.

Meanwhile, the sizzling headlines surrounding Boom’s divorce were all over social media. “Chef Boom’s Kitchen-Divorce Collision: Who’s Cooking Now?” read one post, featuring a dramatic image of him holding a burnt soufflé. “Maybe she flamed out because the soufflé was too high maintenance,” Tu teased as she swiped through the latest memes on her phone, giggling. “It’s not all bad—at least you’ve got the real cooking show now!”

On the other side of the city, in a vibrant neighborhood where street art and trendy cafes thrived, Est was hustling at The Velvet Lounge, one of the hottest clubs in town. Known for its luxurious ambiance and elite clientele, the club buzzed with energy every night. Est, with his charismatic smile and dapper attire, commanded attention as he navigated through the upscale audience.

“Hey, can anyone here pour a cocktail like me?” he joked, shaking a cocktail shaker with flair, drawing laughter and attention. Balancing the intricacies of a busy waitstaff schedule while managing his relationship with his boyfriend, Kyle—a passionate event planner—was a daily juggling act. “Just a little more until we can afford our dream apartment, babe!” he would say, but he was struggling to make ends meet, especially with the growing rent crisis gnawing at their budget like a relentless pest.

“Do you think I can survive on those tips forever?” Est joked one night after a particularly busy shift, pouring a drink for a charming patron who could’ve been plucked straight out of a spy movie. “They should just rename me ‘Mr. Tips’ at this point!”

But tension brewing at home was just below the surface. Despite his humor, Est often felt the weight of the world on his shoulders, especially when a slip on the club's lobby floor left him with an angry sprain. Still, he powered through his shifts, determined to prove that he could juggle stress, love, and work all at once.

Then came the night that shattered his world: Est returned home after a grueling double shift, only to find Kyle with a woman—living out a scene that looked like it belonged in a poorly-scripted romantic drama. “Really, Kyle?” Est gasped, heart racing and disbelief flooding through him. “Was my hard work and late-night shifts not enough?” Two freeze-frame expressions hung in the air—one frozen in shock, the other in guilty panic.

“What I can explain…” Kyle started to say, but Est interrupted, fire in his eyes. “Explain? What could possibly be left to explain?” He stormed out