"And now presenting the Princess Emberleigh Loralai Kristaline Aldi." He said as he waved his hand towards the doors. They doors swung open and I walked towards the edge of the balcony. Everyone, not including my family, bowed to me. I walked towards the stairs and slowly descended them. My father met me at the bottom and took my hand. He led me towards the center of the ballroom and turned me so I was facing him.
He smiled at me and I smiled back. We started to waltz as the music started up, everyone around us watching politely and in awe. We twirled around the room and my father started to speak quietly.
"I'm so proud of you Ember," I smiled up at him and leaned my head on his chest.
"Thank you, Father." We continued to dance until the music stopped and my father and I bowed to each other.
Someone tapped on my shoulder and I whirled around. Behind me was my brother, Greyson (we call him Grey). He smiled, bowed and held out his hand. I laughed at his formalness, curtsied and lightly took his hand.
We walked onto the dance floor and started to dance around.
"What's up, Em. Talk to Father about your idea yet?" He asked me.
"Ha! No way. You know he wouldn't say yes, I don't know why I'm even trying to ask. He wouldn't let me go, I'm the heir to he throne for god's sake!" I replied. It was true, in this instance, I am the heir to the throne even though I'm the youngest member of our family. That was the way our kingdom was. The youngest always took the throne because they always had the best view on everything. They always connected with the people more, and they knew more about what the country needed. It had more benefits than if the oldest took the throne. And since I was now 14, I was eligible to take the throne.
"I don't know Em. You are his favorite kid, even if he won't admit it. He might let you go. Trust me. Just go and ask him. You might be surprised by his answer." He smiled and rubbed my head, almost messing up my hair. I glared at him and patted my hair down.
The song ended and we stepped away from each other and bowed. He winked at me and mouthed 'go talk to him'. He walked away before I could refuse, probably to go flirt with a girl that he had seen earlier.
I sighed, exasperated at his antics, and looked around for my father. I found him near the center of the dance floor dancing with my mother. I ran, well, quickly walked, up to him in the middle of the floor and said, "Father may I talk to you for a minute, please." He nodded and smiled at my mother. She smiled back and kissed him on the cheek then went to go mingle.
"What do you need Ember?" He asked me.
"Father I have a question for you. Since you know that I have just turned 14 and I don't have to ascend to the throne any time soon hopefully. I was wondering if you would let me go on an...excursion for a year or so." I asked, hesitantly.
"Well...where would you want to go." I took a deep breath. Here we go.
"America"
"No, absolutely not. You are the heir to the throne and America has too high of a crime rate."
"But...Father, wouldn't it be good for me? To know what to do and what not to do. Shouldn't I learn about what people want and what they need? Isn't my whole purpose in life to make sure that our country and the people in it are happy? I need to have experience in the field if i'm going to rule this nation."
"You make some good points Emberleigh and that is good, but America is simply too dangerous and too far away for the crown princess. You can go to England or Scotland if you want to observe some common people. America is out of the question. Do you understand me?" I sighed, defeated.
"Yes, Father. I understand."
"Good. I love you, Emberleigh. Never forget that. Everything I do is in yours, and the countries best interest." He smiled down at me and hugged me and I hugged him back.
Turning away, I went to go tell Grey my discovery.
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I found him in the corner flirting with a fake blonde girl with clothes too skimpy for her own good. I rolled my eyes as her leaned in to whisper something in her ear that made her laugh. A fake laugh that made me know that she was only talking to Grey for his power and status. I walked over and yanked on his sleeve. The girl noticed me and sobered up quickly. Quickly, she bowed and said, "You highness" in a squeaky voice then rushed away.
"Aww what'd you do that for Em? She was hot."
"I need to talk to you." He noticed my expression and pulled me away into the hallway.
"What happened? Did you ask him?" I nodded. "Did he say yes?" I shook my head no.
"Aw Em, I'm sorry. I know how much you wanted to go." My sisters, Audriana and Karina(or Audri and Kara), came out into the hallway.
"Hey guys, what's going on?" Audri said when she saw us.
"She asked him. He said no." Grey answered for me.
"Oh honey, I'm so sorry." Kara replied. Both of them ran over and hugged me. "I know that you wanted to go to America really badly. I'm sorry." I shrugged.
"It's okay. I did really want to go though. Oh well. I'll figure something out." I told them. "We'd better get back inside before someone notices we're missing though."
"She's right. You should all be inside." We froze as my father spoke. We turned and sheepishly smiled. His strict look turned into a knowing smile as he led us all back into the ballroom.
Everyone was sitting at the many tables placed around the room. As we walked over to our table and got ready to sit, everyone stood in respect to our family, then sat back down when we did.
The servants slowly started to bring out the food, starting with our family then moving outwards. At a table next to me were my best friends from school. My father allowed me to go to an actual school because he knew that nobody would dare try and hurt me while I was there. Even so, I had to have at least 3 bodyguards at all times. I didn't mind all that much. I have known them all since birth and love them like my brothers so it didn't matter.
Amber and Kimberly whispered my name across the tables and waved. I smiled and waved back. We couldn't talk across tables because that was considered rude, but we could silently talk. They were spending the night afterward tonight, so it didn't matter much anyways. We all winked at each other and turned back to the conversations at our table.
I had just missed the end of a question. Directed at me. That was not good.
"I'm sorry, can you repeat that?" I said politely to one of the parliament members of Albania. He turned to the person next to him and said, "This is why she is not fit to rule. She chose waving to her little subjects over talking with the elite of this table."
I was appalled.
"I'm sorry, but I treat my 'subjects' like my best friends. Anything the need me for or anytime they need to talk to me, I am there. The entire reason this country is still here is because of the people. Without them, we would have nothing to rule over, and the country would fall apart. Maybe you should learn to respect your people a little bit more, sir."
The other people at the table snickered. The person next to him, a Duke I believe, said to him, "Maybe you could learn a thing or two from her. It might do you some good. As for you, Princess." I tensed, waiting for his 'learn to respect your elders' statement, "Good job."
That was unexpected. I must've looked shocked because everyone, except for the parliament guy, laughed. I smiled and chuckled along with them.
"But seriously though, what was the question?" I asked once the laughter stopped.
"Oh there was no question. He just wanted to see how you would react. And I must say you responded very well. I'm impressed." King Charles said.
"Thank you your highness." I smiled and ducked my head. Conversing with him was not an unusual thing. He has know me since I was in the nursery. England is one of our main trade partner and he and my father were childhood friends. His mother, Queen Elizabeth, was now too old to rule, as she was 103. She was still kicking though. She is like my own grandmother, and King Charles, my uncle.
The rest of dinner past uneventfully, and soon the ball had ended. It was quite fun. I got to cut my own slice of cake, starting it out. But that was really all that had happened.
Eventually, the palace had been cleared of people and my birthday celebration was over.
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(A/N)Hey guys! What is up. I feel like I haven't talked to you guys in forever! I know its my fault, but you know my excuse...I didn't have time. They blocked Wattpad on our school laptops, so I couldn't write during what little free time I had. BUT I figured out the proxy, so hopefully I can update more. Also today was the PSAT so I had like 3 hours in one class where I was doing literally nothing so that is why this chapter is so long. WOOOOO!!!!
In other news, I broke my nose.. So thats fun. It split into 4 pieces and I had to get surgery to fix it. Now Im suck with a piece of plastic glued to my nose for another week, then another 2 weeks of being out of cheer.
But anyways, remember to comment and vote! love you all and goodbye.
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