by Jen Calonita
“None,” Olivina agrees, nodding.
Raina’s lip is quivering. “We’re so sorry! We’ve failed you as princesses!”
I look at Sasha, who is dabbing at her eyes with a handkerchief. She gives me a meaningful look, and I know that’s my cue to play along. I pull mine out and do the same. The next thing I know Olivina opens her arms and envelops us in a hug.
“There, there! One strike won’t kill you. It will make you stronger! You won’t mess up again, will you?” she coos.
“No!” Raina sobs. “I want to be on the superlative list! I promise never to think I can save myself again. A good princess waits for a prince.”
I bite my tongue. Instead, Sasha and I just nod. The contrition act seems to be working.
“I know this is my second strike, but I’ve really learned my lesson,” Sasha says earnestly. “I won’t let my foolish whims affect my decisions again.”
“That’s the spirit, Sasha! You’re a smart girl. I know you mean that.” Sasha nods. “My teachings have been effective for the past fifteen years. They’re a proven system! I hate to think what would happen to you all if you didn’t follow my methods in the fairy tale world. And I had such high hopes for you three. It’s why I made you roommates!” We all start to talk over one another again. “Now, now! I can’t hear myself think!” She scratches her chin. “I think it’s time we examine what’s steered you three off course.” She looks at me pointedly. “It is my understanding that it was you, Devin, who led the princesses to climb out the tower window.”
“I wasn’t the one who suggested it,” I insist nervously, and my roommates agree with me. The words third strike ring in my head. Am I about to be banished? I feel my breath start to come fast, and I hold my chest. “But I did help people out of the tower when I thought we were about to become toast.”
“Still, your actions, once again, have affected our whole school’s outlook,” Olivina says. “When our most famous princesses’ siblings can’t follow school rules, how do you think that looks to everyone else?”
Before I can reply, the doors to her quarters open, and Hazel and Princess Ella come in arguing. I can’t help trying to hear their conversation.
“I never ever wore pants, but I must admit they do look comfortable,” Ella is saying.
“Pants are not comfortable! They’re lazy and unfashionable! They’re everything a princess is not,” Hazel counters.
“But think of how wonderful they would be when out for a horseback ride or taking a Pegasus for a private moonlight flight.” Ella blushes. “Sometimes I sneak out alone to do just that, and the wind makes wearing a skirt so…chilly.”
Olivina is short. “Ladies, we were in the middle of a private discussion.”
“Olivina, Princess Ella walked in after the incident.” Hazel looks at me. “And we overheard princesses requesting appointments with Marta to have pants sewn into their skirts!” She glowers at me, and I find myself wishing my skirt wasn’t in shreds back in the gym. I try to hide my purple pants with my arms.
“I don’t see the harm,” Ella says. “I see all the girls in the village wearing them.”
“They’re commoners,” Hazel snips.
“I was a commoner before I became a princess,” Ella tells her, and Hazel grows silent. “Pants would have made my chores so much more manageable.”
Olivina is stone-faced. “I think that is enough discussion for one day. Sasha and Raina, you are dismissed. Hazel, I’d like you to contact Marta. No one is to have pants sewn into their gowns from this day forward.” Hazel nods. “Now, I’d like to have a word with Devin.”
“But—” Sasha interrupts.
“You will see your roommate later,” Olivina says. “That is all.” She waves her wand, and my roommates disappear. She turns to me, and her face darkens. “I had such high hopes for you and me. I had a vision of us working in tandem to change Enchantasia! I had heard you were a strong leader. Clearly, I was wrong. You are not the princess I thought you were.”
“Am I getting a third strike? Am I banished?” I ask anxiously, hating how weak I sound.
“You’re not banishing this student for failing a single test, are you?” Ella is horrified.
“She should.” Hazel glares at me. “This isn’t the first time she’s stepped out of line.”
Olivina strokes the fur on her collar, staring right at me. I try not to crumble under her glaze. Please don’t. Please give me another shot.
“Olivina?” Ella looks concerned. “We have the anniversary ball coming up. How would this look to our people? If word got out that we banished a student for such a small offense. Especially after what happened last year with T—”
“The anniversary ball!” Olivina cuts her off, her face brightening. “That’s a splendid way for Ms. Nile to make up for her transgressions. Devin, if you join the student planning committee for the anniversary ball, I will keep you at two strikes.”
Plan an anniversary ball? Not exactly my area of expertise, but as Sasha says, fake it till you make it. “I would be honored to join.”
“Ooh, what a splendid idea!” Ella says. “The students always have such creative suggestions. The Great Pumpkin Coach Carving Contest they ran last All Saints’ Eve was a huge hit with the kingdom.” Ella looks at me hopefully. “We would love to have you on the committee. I’m the princess chairperson. Do you have any ideas you’d like to share right now? I know RA has been drumming up excitement for the event in the daily scroll briefings and through Hazel’s announcements, so I’m sure you’ve hardly been able to think of much else.”
Er…what has Hazel been saying in the announcements? I’m always late getting ready during them, so I rarely pay attention. Theme? No. Something about the ceremony? Maybe. An award Olivina is getting? I think so, but I don’t know what it’s for. But instead of coming up with a good idea, all I can think about is what will happen if I don’t.
“Any suggestions?” Olivina asks me. “Surely you can think of a way to make your school shine. Clarissa has such engaging ideas. She really wants royals to be seen in a positive light.”
Clarissa. Great. Think, Devin! You need to wow the fairy godmother! A way to make the school shine. If only Brynn were here, she’d probably have a million ideas. Brynn would make a much better royal than I would. She’d love to come to the ball. Wait. That’s it! I look at Ella. If anyone will like this idea, it will be her. “What about inviting commoners? Professor Pierce says that ruling is about working in service to our subjects. Why not invite some of them to join our celebration as a symbol of what being royal is all about? We could run a contest, and the winners could be guests at the ball.”
Hazel cuts in. “I don’t think that’s a very good—”
“I love it!” Ella says at the same time.
Olivina pauses, looking pensive. Suddenly, a smile begins to spread across her face. “I like it too! Let’s run Devin’s contest and let everyone know our brilliant new student came up with the idea to open our gates to the world. If you’re successful in your planning and I see you making a genuine effort, you will avoid a strike three. Do we have a deal?”
I think about my parents, my roommates, Brynn, and Logan—everything I’d lose if I were banished. I look Olivina straight in the eye and say, “Deal.”
Royal Academy
Royal Proclamation
Hear ye, hear ye! Let it be known that Royal Academy is running its first-ever contest to win an invitation to the upcoming Royal Academy Anniversary Ball, traditionally open only to royals. This year, thirty tickets will be available to commoners.
Interested parties should add their name and address to this proclamation. Winners will be chosen at random and notified one week before the event to give them ample time to find appropriate dress and transportation.
Good luck!
—the students of Royal Academy*
*This m
essage has been approved by Headmistress Olivina.
Chapter 18
Party Planner
“If we can just hang that holly an inch or two higher, we will be all set. A little to the left. A little farther and…beautiful!”
I’m standing in the center of the Royal Academy grand ballroom putting the finishing touches on a banner I made entirely out of holly and winter flowers. I’ve enlisted a few hummingbirds to help me hang it. If you get close, you can see it’s actually ivy curved into letters that spell out WELCOME! Several chipmunks are busy scurrying along some of the ceiling beams, working with a flock of birds to weave a faux ceiling out of ivy. Normally, I’d be nervous someone would notice all my nonhuman helpers, which would lead to a lot of questions. But everyone is pretty wrapped up in their stuff right now, and no one’s paying me much attention up here. Besides, animal friends are approved princess helpers. (I know this because I’ve finally started consulting the manual.)
All around the ballroom, princesses and princes are working on different activities. Some are directing ladies-in-waiting on how to make swans out of their napkins; some are making sure the china and the sterling-silver table settings gleam. Others are doing displays on the banquet serving tables or wrapping the night’s parting gift (a small, glass Princess Ella–inspired pumpkin coach that’s been etched by the town blacksmith).
I start climbing down the ladder I’m standing on, then pause, remembering Princess Rule 73: It’s always good to make a prince feel needed. “Can someone help me down?” I ask the princes.
I put on a grateful smile when a blond-haired boy offers me his hand and leads me down the steps. “Thank you,” I murmur. (Rule 27: A princess speaks softly and delicately in order to maintain a composed and regal appearance at all times.) “I’ll be sure to save you a dance at the ball.” He bows and walks away.
“Devin?” Clarissa walks up behind me with a clipboard. “Do you have the welcome sign completed?”
I try not to tense up. Our committee chair (grr…) would notice my stiff shoulders in this spaghetti-strap dress. There are no pants under this gown either. I put all those dresses in the back of my closet. Marta has been told not to fill orders for anyone who asks for pants, and I’ve been asked not to wear them. I miss them, but it’s not all bad. You can hide a lot of things under a hoop skirt.
“I just finished, Clarissa,” I reply politely, and the hummingbirds fly to my shoulder.
“Good.” She crosses it off her list and looks at the birds. “I see you had help.”
“A princess can always rely on animal friends for assistance,” I say on autopilot. (Rule 31.)
“And what about the chair covers?” Clarissa asks. “Did you change the sash fabric from Little Bo Pink to Briar Rose?”
I smile tightly. “Yes. I just have to pick them up from the tailor.”
Clarissa’s smile matches my own. “Go now, or send your birds. I’d like the sashes done today. We only have a week till the ball, and I have a fitting that I need to get to. Have you heard? Heathcliff asked me to go with him.”
“How lovely,” I say pleasantly, even though the news surprises me. Heathcliff and Clarissa? I thought he couldn’t stay far enough away from her. What do I know? Everyone is acting a bit strange. Raina has thrown herself into after-school clubs. Logan has been going to allergy testing to find a cure for his dragon aversion, and Heath, well, he’s started courting princesses rather than running from them. I guess that includes Clarissa. I heard the boys got a talking-to after the tower rescue debacle too. Something about failing in their duty to protect the princesses even though they all still insist the tower entrance was magically bolted shut so that they couldn’t get in. Maybe I’m not the only one who’s trying to play by the rules.
“I’m happy for you,” I add. (Rule 42: A princess should always be gracious.) “You got exactly what you wanted.”
“Didn’t we all?” Clarissa says. “Now, those sashes. Let’s not procrastinate. Princesses never do.”
“Yes, Clarissa.” I send the birds on their way and walk out of the ballroom and down the long hall that leads to the Royal Underground. I walk slowly, hoping by the time I return, Clarissa will be gone, but I don’t complain out loud. (Rule 35.)
Milo follows me to each mirror I walk past, watching my every move as he has the past few weeks since Olivina and I had our little chat. I wish I could run away from him, but that’s not going to happen in these new heels I’m wearing. (Rule 12: Footwear fit for a princess always involves a heel!)
Peck! I look up. That white pigeon is back. I’ve seen him a lot the last two weeks, but I don’t dare go to the window to see what he wants. Olivina wouldn’t want me getting distracted when there is a ball to plan. I keep walking. Peck! The bird flies to the next window I pass. Then a third. I turn to look at it finally, getting worried someone will notice me being followed by an animal and… Whoosh! I’m pulled through a door I didn’t know existed.
“It’s me!” Sasha whispers, holding up a candle. “I needed to talk to you somewhere we wouldn’t be overheard.”
“Milo will know I disappeared.” I feel the rising panic and begin to feel my way along the wall to look for a way out.
“He’ll just think he lost you. He won’t think you were sucked into a wall,” Sasha insists. “These tunnels are soundproof. I found directions on how to get into them under a floorboard in our room. Aren’t they neat? Apparently, they were put in when the castle was built so people could go places unnoticed.”
“Why would a new castle need that?” I ask.
Sasha’s illuminated face lights up. “Exactly! Why? I need to know.”
“I don’t. I can’t get in trouble again. You know that! I’ll be banished.”
“We aren’t doing anything wrong,” Sasha tells me. “And we weren’t that day in the tower either. Devin, you and I both know that dragon was real.”
I feel a burning feeling in my chest. “We can’t go there,” I tell her. “Even if we were able to figure out what’s really going on, what could a couple of kids do about it? She’s the most famous fairy godmother in the kingdom. We can’t mess with her. Besides, she can see everything that’s going on in the castle. She’d catch us and throw us out before we even made a move.”
Sasha looks at me strangely. “Who are you, and what have you done with my roommate?”
I bristle at that and shoot back, “I’m doing what I have to. She threatened my parents, Sasha. What else can I do but fall in line or eventually find a way to convince her I should just go home quietly? You basically told me to do the same thing!”
Sasha looks away. “I was trying to protect you. I was trying to protect all of us until I had something concrete on her, but I can’t do this alone.
I step back. “I can’t help you.”
“Devin, you know she could have killed us with that test! And why on earth is she threatening your parents? My instincts tell me something is up with Olivina. I should have known from the second she threatened the Enchantasia Insider.” She looks pensive. “Before that even… I’ve always thought there was something weird about all the power she has with the royal court. And at our first ball when she turned into a harpy? How did she get the other harpies into the school? My gut tells me something more is going on here. Do you know where she is right now?” I shake my head. “In the barn again. Every day this week she’s been in and out of there for an hour, and it’s not on her official schedule. What is she doing?”
I can’t imagine Olivina going somewhere full of hay and horse poop. “I don’t know.”
“I think she’s meeting with someone. But it’s not a teacher, and it’s not Hazel. She’s usually standing watch at the entrance. She’s hiding something. Someone needs to find out what’s really going on.”
She looks at me expectantly. Everything inside me says she’s right. Sasha has two strikes just like I d
o, but she’s willing to risk it all to get to the bottom of things. I’m not. This isn’t the life I want to lead—ball gowns, waiting in towers for princes, or following princess rules—but I don’t see a way out of it right now. Olivina is too powerful. I can’t be involved in this, not when my family could be hurt if we’re wrong.
“I’m sorry, I just can’t risk it.” I feel my way along the wall and hear a click. The door begins to open.
“Wait!” Sasha cries. “She’s been harder on you than anyone. I really thought you’d want to help me figure out what’s going on here. What if people’s lives are at stake?”
“People’s lives are at stake. Mine. My family’s. I can’t get involved. I’m sorry.” I look at her sadly. “I’m trying to be a good princess now. It’s the only way to keep everyone safe.”
Sasha’s mouth hangs open as I disappear through the crack in the wall. Then I pick up my dress, push back my shoulders, and focus my mind on the task I was asked to do: go get sashes.
Pegasus Postal Service
Flying Letters Since the Troll War!
FROM: Anastasia Hampton, lady-in-waiting at 7 Cobblestone Creek, Enchantasia
TO: Devin Nile, Royal Academy
Devin, hi!
Thank you so much for the book, Fairy Tales through the Ages: What We Can Learn from Them. I’ve read it cover to cover twice!
I have exciting news! I won a ticket to the Royal Academy Anniversary Ball! I put my name down on the royal proclamation that was up in the village, and my name was chosen out of thousands! Can you believe it? I’m looking forward to seeing Royal Academy and meeting your friends. Is that okay? Are we allowed to speak to each other? No matter, I’ll just be happy to be at RA!
Your original lady-in-waiting,
Anastasia
Chapter 19
Before the Stroke of Midnight
“Presenting Princess Devinaria Nile of Cobblestone Creek,” the crier bellows.