by Jen Calonita
“Sasha is very into grooming,” Raina says. “I know, I know, every princess should be! I am too, but Sasha is just so good at it.” She sighs. “I guess that is what happens when your big sister is Princess Rose!” She laughs prettily. Everything about Raina is pretty.
At the name Rose, Sasha looks over again, her eyes narrowed and blazing. “Let’s get this part over with. Yes, she’s my sister, and yes, she’s doing much better. She’ll be back to public duty any day now. But more importantly, unlike my sister, I would never be swayed by a villain.”
Wow, talk about intense. Although I guess I’d be pretty sensitive too, if my older sister had helped the evil witch Alva try to take over Fairy Tale Reform School. The room is so quiet that I can hear Brynn through the wall. “I’ve never met your sister,” I say carefully, “but even if I had, I’m smart enough to know you are two different people.”
Sasha surveys me closely. Her mouth curves upward slightly. “Good. I’m glad you get it.” She goes back to writing.
“She’s not usually so huffy,” Raina whispers, pulling me away. “She’s just got her tiara all bent out of shape because everyone here keeps talking about how she’s Rose’s sister and Rose went all villain for a spell. But Sasha is nothing like her. We’ve known each other for years. She’s very focused on her scroll. We’ve been in our room three hours now, and she’s spent two of them working and the other hour combing her hair. She says the scroll is her life’s work and the whole reason she’s here.”
“My scroll is going to be way bigger than HEAS has ever been,” Sasha declares as she plucks brow hairs. I didn’t realize she was still listening.
Raina chuckles. “Oh, Sasha.” She turns toward me and takes my arm. “Let’s get you settled in, shall we? Your trunks already arrived, and they’re massive!”
“Massive?” Sasha looks up. “Is it true you came by pumpkin coach? How did you get one? I’ve never heard of you or your parents, and there is nothing on you in my royal log, but you must be someone important.” She walks across the room and stands so close that I can smell her rose-scented perfume. “So who are you really?”
“Devin Nile,” I say evenly. “And I honestly have no clue how I got that pumpkin coach. I didn’t even want to go to Royal Academy.”
Raina gasps while Sasha raises her right eyebrow.
“Keep talking,” Sasha says.
“I just mean, I already know what I want to do with my life,” I tell them. “So why go to RA? I’m going to be a creature caretaker. I’ve been doing it for a while already. There’s such a need in Enchantasia! We don’t even have a magical care expert in the village back home.”
“But you’re a princess,” Raina reminds me, sounding worried I’ve forgotten. “You have duties that are your birthright. You won’t have time to do creature care once you’re crowned.”
“Raina, you don’t really believe that, do you?” Sasha rolls her eyes. “Where does it say a princess can only do princess duties? I love a good pair of glass slippers as much as the next royal, but making this scroll a success is big for me too. I’d never choose one over the other. I want to have both.”
I think I like this girl after all.
Raina frowns. “But Olivina says we all have a purpose, and we have to set an example for the kingdoms,” Raina tells us. “We can’t be seen acting common.”
“My scroll is anything but common,” Sasha says coolly and looks at me. “And being good with animals is not common either.” The two of us smile at each other.
“I guess you’re right,” Raina says, scratching her chin. “I mean, my sister, Snow, has always been a friend to the animals, and they were a huge help when she was… You know…” Raina closes her eyes tight, and I think of Snow’s curse.
Suddenly, our door opens and our LIWs are marching in, their arms stacked with pillows and satin blankets. “What will it be, my ladies?” asks an LIW. “Do you want one pillow, or are you planning to go all ‘Princess and the Pea’ and opt for a dozen?”
“Tickle me pink, it’s a tough decision!” Raina says. “What do you think, roomies?” She lifts her skirt so it doesn’t drag and runs to the LIWs.
And just like that, the mood lightens from talk of royal duties to something we can all get behind: comfortable bedding.
Chapter 7
Has Anyone Seen My Glass Slipper?
After a dinner of roast duck and pheasant, I got a surprisingly good night’s sleep on my official RA bedding (one pillow each for me and Sasha, “Princess and the Pea” treatment for Raina). The next morning, while Sasha works on her blog and Raina brushes her hair (“Ninety-seven, ninety-eight, ninety-nine… Today’s goal is two hundred strokes!”), I decide to finally unpack my trunk. Guess it’s time I accept I’m actually here.
When I unlock the trunk and open it, I recoil in surprise. Glitter headbands with bows? Three crinoline undergarments? A pink dress? No, no, no!
“Brynn!” I call out, wondering if she can hear me through the walls. “SOS!”
Our door opens within seconds, and Brynn rushes in. She looks from my alarmed expression to the trunk, closes the lid, and points to the label in confusion. It says DEVINARIA NILE on it in silver cursive.
“What’s wrong, miss? Are you missing something?” she asks.
“No. I mean, yes… I mean, this can’t be my trunk,” I insist.
“But it is.”
“It’s really not.” I show her the contents. “I’ve never even seen these dresses before!” I hold up a purple crushed velvet gown that must weigh ten pounds. “And my lady-in-waiting swore she packed my riding boots and my pants, but they’re not here.”
Raina looks up. “You own pants?”
“Jodhpurs,” I say, feeling funny when I realize how put out my roommates look. “They’re great for climbing.”
“Climbing?” Raina looks even more alarmed. “Why would you want to climb something?”
“Plenty of reasons!” Sasha pipes up. “What if you need to sneak through a window, or climb into a carriage to eavesdrop on a conversation, or pop through a tunnel to get to a secret meeting spot?” Sasha ticks off her list as I nod in agreement. “But then again, I’d probably hire one of my writers to do that.” She touches the satin on a green gown in my trunk. “I wouldn’t want to ruin one of these glorious dresses.” She holds it up for size. “If you’re not claiming these gowns, I will.”
“Ooh, I’ll take some too!” Raina says.
The three of us rummage through the trunk. Forget the jodhpurs. More importantly, my animal kit is missing! And Lily’s food! I mean, in a castle like this, I’m sure crickets are available, but I need my animal kit. What if I come across an animal in need? Father said he slipped some of my stuff in my trunk, but it looks like Mother got to it again before I left. I need to fix this. I put my fingers to my lips and whistle my patented distress birdcall.
“What are you doing?” Raina asks in alarm.
I ignore her and run to the window. No one comes at first. Then I spot a carrier pigeon hobbling along the windowsill, dragging one leg behind him. Hans Christian Andersen, he’s hurt!
“Are you okay?” I ask, but the pigeon just blinks at me. Maybe he’s in too much pain to speak, the poor thing. I look at the leg in question and notice some yarn wound tightly around it. It’s cutting off the pigeon’s circulation! Pigeons are always gathering string of any kind—straw, vines, yarn—to build nests, and sometimes they get caught in it. “Quick! Someone hand me their scissors.” Raina runs over with a pair. “Don’t worry, I can fix this,” I tell the pigeon. Gently, I snip away at the yarn till I can get my finger underneath the tightest part of the string. The pigeon begins to move its claw as I remove the binds. When the string is off, he even takes a few steps. “There! It may still hurt for a bit, but you’re free.”
The pigeon coos. Thank you! You don’t look like the other girl, b
ut when I heard your call, I came anyway. This message was for her. He drops a scrap of paper in my outstretched hands.
I open it up. T— She knows. Be careful. —B
“What’s that?” Sasha asks.
“I’m not sure.” I put the note in my pocket to examine later. Another pigeon lands on our windowsill.
“What’s with all the birds stopping by?” Raina asks as she tries on the purple shawl that goes with the dress I was holding earlier.
This is a pigeon I know. “Astrid, hi! Can you help this guy get to Anastasia to have his leg looked at? Then, can you please fly to my room, grab my animal-care kit from my bedchamber, and bring it back here? If I’m not in my room when you return, you can leave it on the sill, but it’s important I get it right away.”
Anything for you! Astrid tweets back. My sister still talks about how you fixed her wing last month. Then she flies off with my new little friend right behind her.
I turn around, smiling, then freeze when I see Raina’s expression.
“That bird. It understood you. You can talk to animals? That’s an upper, upper-level princess skill! In fact, I don’t think any RA graduates have ever been able to do it, other than my sister, Snow, and well, Olivina.”
“No wonder you got a pumpkin carriage!” Brynn says, clapping her hands excitedly.
“Where did you learn to do that?” Sasha asks, grabbing her quill.
“Wait!” I panic. “You can’t write about this.”
“Why not?” Sasha asks. “Do you realize how rare your skill is? You should tell everyone! You’ll definitely land in the Royal Academy Roster for that.”
“I don’t want to be in any Roster or even rule,” I say, exasperated. “Didn’t you say there is some sort of roommate confidentiality agreement? For keeping each other’s big secrets?” I say with a pointed look at Sasha. She rolls her eyes and puts down her quill.
Brynn nods. “Yes, it’s in the manual.”
“‘Your roommates are your most trusted confidants, other than Olivina, with whom you can entrust your every wish, dream, and fear,’” Raina recites, her hand on her heart.
“And you can trust me, miss,” Brynn adds. “I’m your lady-in-waiting.”
“Thank you. This needs to stay between us,” I tell the three of them. “People get funny when they know what I can do.” I think of the kids at school.
“Really? I think it’s incredible!” says Sasha. “Have you always been able to do this?”
I shrug. “Since I was little, I think. Not all animals, though. I’m not well versed in squirrel, and toucans have a dialect that I haven’t mastered, but I can generally understand most creatures, which really helps with creature care. It’s why I want to do it so badly. I feel like I’m meant to do this more than anything else in life.”
“But Olivina won’t allow you to be anything other than a ruler!” Raina blurts out, and Brynn looks at her scuffed shoes.
“Didn’t you just say Olivina can talk to animals too?” I try. “Maybe she’ll understand.”
“Maybe,” Sasha says, but she doesn’t sound convinced. “I’m not sure she’s known for being understanding.”
Before I can ask what she means by that, the door to our room opens again, and Raina and Sasha’s ladies-in-waiting come rushing in with fabrics, jewelry, and bags overflowing with shoes.
“It’s the five-hour mark till First Knight Out!” Raina says, forgetting about our conversation. “Fairy be! We should have started getting ready ages ago.”
I look back at my trunk and frown. “Brynn? Can you pick me out something to wear to this thing tonight?”
Everyone in the room stops what they’re doing and looks at me.
“You mean you haven’t decided what you’re wearing yet?” Raina blubbers. “This dress is important! It’s the first time you’re being seen by the whole school! It must be one of a kind! Didn’t you pick your tailoring up from the Royal Underground on your way to the room?”
“She doesn’t know what that is,” Brynn says quietly. “She didn’t read the manual, and she has no tailoring appointments.” My roommates gasp.
“Guilty as charged,” I admit. “Fashion just doesn’t really mesh with my creature care interests. But it’s no big deal. You just said you liked the dresses my mother sent. I’ll wear one of those.”
Sasha’s lady-in-waiting drops the silver bag in her hands. Pearls spill out of it.
“You can’t wear one so ordinary!” Raina cries.
“Ordinary?” I question. “I thought you guys said these dresses were nice. It’s just a dress, after all. I’m not trying to negotiate a peace treaty.” I laugh to myself. The others don’t join me.
“For Grimm’s sake, Devin,” Sasha groans. “You can be into creature care and still care about looking decent. There is nothing wrong with knowing the difference between taffeta and chiffon dresses. In fact, I’m going to make sure I teach you, but for now…” She looks at the others. “Ladies, we have a royal emergency on our hands. She can’t wear dresses this ordinary.”
The group of ladies-in-waiting and roommates gather together. There is a lot of whispering, then mumbling. Fabric goes flying, and Raina yells, “She’ll win ‘Most Likely to Be Taken in an Ogre Attack’ if you have her wear that!”
I know better than to open my mouth. Finally, they turn to me. Why do they all look like someone just said the castle’s been cursed?
Raina pats my hand. “Now, we don’t want you to worry. Everything is going to be fine!”
“There’s no way we’ll get you an appointment with Marta now,” Sasha adds. “But we have enough original gowns to go around this evening so we’ll share.”
“Then tomorrow, first thing, Brynn will make you an appointment in the Royal Underground so this never, ever happens again,” Raina adds. “Okay?”
Does this require an answer? “Okay.”
Brynn waves me over to a chair where she has set up an assortment of beauty equipment I’ve never used before. Sasha is throwing dresses her way, and Raina struggles under the weight of a large wooden jewelry box.
“Great!” Raina says. “Let’s make you princess perfect for your First Knight Out.”
“If not princess perfect, then at least princess passable,” Sasha says dryly.
But I never get a chance to respond because eep! Brynn is already plucking my eyebrows, and it hurts!
Fairy be, what have I gotten myself into?
Royal Academy Rules
PAGE 17
BY FAIRY GODMOTHER OLIVINA, FOUNDER AND HEADMISTRESS OF ROYAL ACADEMY
An All-Important Guide to RA Superlatives
On Sunday evenings, before the start of each new school week, the Royal Academy Roster scroll will arrive under your dorm room doors. The anticipation is always palpable! The results are sometimes unpredictable! Superlatives are won by popular student vote. While there is a standard list, students are also allowed to create new titles to write in, making this a popular activity! The Roster has become a fun tradition at Royal Academy that helps princes and princesses put their best sword or glass slipper forward.
These superlatives are not fluff! Nor are they meant to discourage you! Public perception is a crucial tool for any ruler. Loving subjects are loyal subjects! The Royal Academy staff will be watching the weekly results closely. While these superlatives are not grades, per se, they are a guide to tell us how well you’re doing—or not doing—among your peers. We encourage you to read the superlatives and let them inspire you to improve your status each week. Prove to us whether you are better suited to lead an army or clean the palace dishes.
So what will you win your first week here?
Most Likely to Forget It’s Midnight, or Princess Most Likely to Snag a Prince by the End of Year One? The results, dear students, are up to you!
Love, Olivina
Chapter 8
Did Someone Say They Were Having a Ball?
“Stop pushing!”
“I’m not pushing!”
“My family is eighth in line for Elderberry’s throne. Yours is fourteenth. Obviously, I should be ahead of you.”
“Hey, watch my tiara!” a girl says as her crown is nearly knocked off.
“Ooh, I love your tiara. Where did you get it?” asks the other girl.
The long line of princesses waiting to enter the First Knight Out stops arguing long enough to burst into giddy laughter—the light, airy, princess kind my mother has tried to teach me for years. I’m too itchy to try it. This plum-colored dress Sasha and Raina insisted I wear is impossible to move in and so hot. There must be ten layers of lace, satin, and beading. It looks like a wedding cake. “Ten minutes, and you’ll forget you even have it on!” Raina swore.
I haven’t come close to forgetting. I look around for a distraction and notice the paintings on the walls. We’re in the Hallway of Honors, where the portraits of princes and princesses who came before hang for all to see. From Cinderella to Hua Mulan to Prince Sebastian, a.k.a. the Beast, the royals have one thing in common—they’re all painted at their coronation ceremonies with Olivina standing next to them.
“I don’t know how she manages to be there for every royal,” Raina says admiringly when she catches me staring. “We are so lucky to have her at RA. Everyone thought she’d retire by now, but the fairy godmother never seems to age!”
“Good genes,” agrees Sasha. “We need to find out what she uses for face cream.” She snaps her fingers, and a quill flies out of a fold in her dress, along with a scroll of parchment. She writes the question down. “Actually, beauty secrets of fairy godmothers would make a good post.”