Day in and day out, there is nothing but lessons and diplomatic duties. My days have no life breathed into them. Ironic since I am obviously still alive, but really, I see no meaning in doing the same things every day. I want an adventure. I need something to shake me awake and make me feel alive. Something that makes the skin on my arms and back tingle with excitement. I want to go on the greatest adventure! To go somewhere on my own and make my own choices and not be told what to do and when to be there. Now don’t get me wrong being a prince has its perks… I guess, and I am not complaining per se, but there is something missing from this life despite the fact that I could pretty much buy whatever I wanted; except for a one way ticket out of here.
“Prince Nicholas?” My teacher questions me, “Are you paying attention?”
“Uh, yes, sir.” I reply sitting up straighter in my chair as I have slightly slipped farther into my chair so that my chin could rest in my hand more comfortably.
“See that you are paying attention, Prince Nicholas.” He says in a long drawn out sigh. “To continue, class, when were St. Thomas school for boys and St. Hildegard school for girls schools, opened? Maybe Prince Nicholas can answer as he is paying the most attention.” Boy, do I think this teacher really has it out for me…
“Our school, St. Thomas was the first to open when it was decided that the children of the Royal families should learn together rather than separately so that we can learn to work together for the future of our kingdoms. Back in the 16th Century, only boys continued with higher education. And After Laura Bassi, a woman, in the year 1732, earned her degree and became the first woman to teach in an official capacity, the princesses were in an uproar that they did not have the same right to education as their female subjects, as they had royal duties and communication with other royal families and nobles just as the princes and lords. With that this school of St. Thomas and the royal families founded the sister school of St. Hildegard by the following year. As the princesses were eager to start their education together in community, small but regal living accommodations were made for them and we split our school with them for the next 5 years as their school was being built just up the street.” My teacher just glared at me over the top of his glasses.
“Hmmm, that is correct, Prince Nicholas.” RING. The bell signaling the end of class, and the beginning of Christmas break! We all stand and grab our things as our teacher shouts above the uproar of students chattering about their Christmas break plans. “Don’t forget to continue to read over your Christmas break! We will be plowing right on ahead when you come back, no easing back into it gentlemen.”
“Hey, Nic, are you ready to go home?” My friend Prince Philip asks me while walking over to me.
“Oh, hey, Philip. Yeah, I guess I am ready to go home. It is our last Christmas break though. After this we practically intern at home. I’m not sure I’m looking forward to that so I plan on relaxing and enjoying this Christmas break to the fullest.” I laugh and Philip joins me.
“I dunno, man, I’m rather excited about working with my father. This way I will be really prepared for when my time comes to be king.”
“I mean, I get that and all but I want to go out and live my life, make my own choices, before I have to settle into my kingdom for the rest of my life. I want an adventure, you know?”
“Dude, we don’t live in the medieval ages any more man, we don’t have any need to go slaying dragons and saving princess’ in distress. We get to stay safe and sound in our castle’s and lead our kingdoms from a safe distance.”
“You really want to lead a safe life rather than a great life?”
“I’d rather be alive then dead.” Philip chuckles and claps me on the back with his free hand. “Come on, man, no sense arguing over whose life ideals are better, let’s get ready to go home for our last Christmas break. After this one, we become men, heck, practically kings!” He says with a wide smile on his face.
After a while I finished packing and got in the limo to head home. It would be a few hours before I got home. I had plenty of time to do all the reading I need to do on the ride home, but that doesn’t mean I won’t do my own reading at home either. I waved to my friends as I drove past them as they were getting into their own limo’s to head back to their own homes. I was honestly getting excited to get home and enjoy my break, reading about adventurers and hero’s living the life that I have always wanted to live…
Finally I was pulling up at home. Once the limo came to a stop I got out of the vehicle.
“I’ll bring your luggage up to your room for you, your highness, your father is waiting for you in his office.” The butler, Mr. Adams, states as he walks down the staircase leading to the front doors of the palace.
“Thank you my good sir, I would be most obliged to you.” I tell him. He may call me your highness and I may call him sir or Mr. Adams, but he truly is a friend. We clasp hands at the bottom of the stairs.
“Alright, off with your highness!” He says patting my shoulder and gently pushing me up the stairs.
“Thanks!” I call to him over my shoulder as I race up the slush covered stairs.
It only takes a few minutes for me to make it to my father’s office after I change out of my snow apparel. “Father? I’m home.” I say as I peek into his office.
“Come in, come in my boy! How was your semester?” my father, King Robert asks as I walk in the room.
“Not bad, I passed all my classes so far. But I still have one more semester to go.”
“Good, good.” He gives me a hug. “I have some news for you my boy! We are going to have a welcome home/ Christmas ball, tomorrow evening. The invitations have already been sent…”
“Well that’s great! Christmas time is always a fun party…”
“And I haven’t even told you the best part. All the eligible young princesses and noble women are able to come!”
“Eligible what…?”
“Eligible young ladies. I am getting older and you will soon be done with school, you need to start thinking of your future, son. And your future is finding a wife to settle down with. You will pick one of the eligible young women from the party to be your wife! Of course you won’t have to marry until after school is over in the spring.”
“But father! I am not ready to settle down with a wife, let alone even to begin thinking about it!”
“Nonsense! Every young man thinks about getting himself a proper wife, a proper queen, in your case!” He smiles and nudges me before he turns back to sit in his chair behind his desk.
“Father, I…”
“I don’t want to hear anymore about it! You will find a wife tomorrow night, I want grandkids; and that is final. ” He states and then dismisses me. I’m in disbelief. I can not believe that he would force me to pick a wife, especially now. I haven’t finished school yet, not to mention, I haven’t even interned under my father yet. And he wants me to have a wife? Is he planning on trying to force me to spend time with someone other than himself? Going to tell me that I have a wife to please? I go to the library to try and get some reading done. But I can’t focus and I end up staring out the window for hours with an open book in my hands.
~
It’s the next evening and I am finishing up tying my tie when there is a knock on my door.
“Are you ready son? It’s your big night.” My father comes into my room unannounced, which is rare.
“I promise to show up to this event, father, but I do not promise to find my future bride tonight. And I realize you are king but you can not force me to fall in love, and you certainly cannot force me to condemn a lovely young woman into a loveless marriage.”
“Do not be ridiculous, you will find someone tonight; or I will find someone for you. Now hurry up; you do not have much time before our guests arrive.” And dismisses my feelings on the subject of marriage and prances out of my room. As he walks out my friend quickly sidesteps my father and then looks at me curiously as he walks in the room.
“So the only reason you are having a party tonight is so that you can find a wife? I thought you wanted to have an adventure?”
“Phillip,” I clasp hands with him before I continue, “I do want adventure… This was all my father’s idea. I arrived home yesterday for him to tell me that we were going to have a christmas party and I must choose a bride.”
“Dude, I would kill for a party like this where I could have my pick for a bride!”
“I’d give you this party if I could. I don’t want it.”
“You just need to lighten up a bit. Why don’t we head down to the party and get you a drink?”
“Well, alright, maybe I could use a drink…” We walk down to the ballroom. The room was already filling with guests from all around the closest kingdoms as we enter. Phillip and I walk over to the drinks table and get ourselves a couple of wine glasses. We generally prefer something a little stiffer like bourbon but at these classy balls only wines are generally served. We each down a couple of glasses each and then fumble our way over to the cheese and other hors d’ oeuvres table. I only get a few pieces of food in my mouth before my father calls me over to meet the young ladies that have come to meet me and potentially be my bride… I in-wordly groan and roll my eyes so Phillip can see. He chuckles and calls out his best wishes for me. I gather myself the best I can and find my way over to my father.
“The ladies will line up and be formally introduced to you here.” My father states dismissively and walks off. Mr. Adams is standing there to introduce the young ladies to me.
“Are you alright, your highness?”
“I’ll make it through.” the first lady walks up then.
“Princess Wilma of the Kingdom of Lander.” she curtsies and I bow and she moves on.
“Princess Lilly of the Kingdom of Borrow.” she curtsies as I bow and she continues on.
“Lady Jillian of the Kingdom of Marial.” and we follow through like with the others. We continue to curtsy and bow as each princess or lady walks up.
All at once the music swells and I happen to look up at the entrance into the ballroom at the top of the stairs and this beautiful young woman glides her way through the archway into the ballroom. She looks like an angel from heaven. Before I realize, my feet have started moving me towards the bottom of the stairs as she gracefully steps down the stairs holding her skirts up so as not to trip. Her hair was up in a high bun with tendrils falling and framing her face; her ball gown was a lovely shade of blue in between robin’s egg and baby blue. She is nothing short of a vision. We meet at the base of the stairs. She pauses and realizes who I am and quickly curtsies. I bow and extend my hand out to her and she hesitates so I quickly ask,
“May I have this dance?” I completely don’t care for another introduction at this point, I can always learn her name later, right now I just want to dance with the most gorgeous woman I have ever seen in my life. She questions me in return,
“But who am I to dance with you, my prince?”
“I have been entranced by you, no title is necessary, for tonight forget that even I have the title prince, as that is not who I am. Let us get to know each other for who we are and not what we are for titles are naught but a name given in admiration of the masses.” She then places her hand in mine accepting my offer of a dance and I guide her onto the dance floor. We end up waltzing the night away. And after many dances, I take her out to the garden’s for a bit of fresh air and so that we might talk and get to know one another. As soon as we step outside, she takes a deep breath. I chuckle.
“Don’t laugh! You might be used to how stuffy it gets at these kinds of parties but I am not!” She half scolds me.
“No, please, forgive me, m’lady, I do not mean to offend. No matter how many of these I may attend, I too, am not used to all of the formality and stuffiness a ball brings into the palace. I laugh because I have yet to meet someone who feels the same as I about these balls.” I apologize and try to explain myself.
“Well, I suppose I have to forgive you, your highness…” I cut her off,
“Please, no titles, tonight I am just, I am just Nick.” I say softly.
“Nick.” She repeats in an almost whisper. “Well, Nick,” She makes extra sure to call me Nick now. “Since you also seem uncomfortable at these parties, what do you do to pass the time?”
“To be honest, I take care of my duties that I must complete at these things and then I quickly and quietly make my escape out here to the gardens or to the library to find a good book.”
“What book would you be reading now, if I weren’t here with you?” She asks me.
“I’ve been reading The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah.”
“What made you pick up that book?”
“Well, I guess I like historical fiction and I’m drawn to strong female characters…” I state, thinking about my taste in books.
“And what about your friends? Do they not attend these with you?”
“My friends are more into this kind of life than I am. I am sure Phillip is in there right now trying to poach one of the women my father made sure were here to meet me tonight.”
“You were meant to meet other women tonight?”
“It’s not like that exactly, my father is trying to marry me off already before I have even had a chance to really live life. That and I already have met most of the women here tonight as they attend St. Hildegard.”
“I know the place. Very prestigious.” She describes the school as if she has intimate knowledge. Well, at least the same kind of “intimate knowledge” that I have. “The girls walk around the halls learning how to be their best regal selves and boss around the help.” …or maybe she has more knowledge than I do on the place, which would make sense if she attends the school.
“And do you know how to properly boss around the help?” I ask her.
“ I have intimate knowledge on how it is done by other girls, but I don’t agree with their…treatment of those lesser than them.”
“If you could, would you leave it all behind?”
“Yes.” She says without skipping a beat. DING. The clock begins its first strike of midnight. “Oh!” She looks flustered as she looks at the grandfather clock.
“What is it?”
“I’m sorry, I have to go!” She says perplexed and rushes off. She briefly turns around, “It was really great meeting you, Nick!” and with that she turns abruptly back and rushes off. All of a sudden as she runs away from me, I realize I don’t have her name.
“Wait! Will I ever see you again? What is your name?” I race after her, but dang even with heels on she is pretty fast. Before I know it I see her disappear into the darkness outside of the palace after chasing her through the party trying to catch up. I see something glint off the light spilling out from the palace behind me and glance down at the stairs, cleaned of all the slush from yesterday, and I see a glass slipper. I rush down the stairs and pick it up with my right hand and cradle it with both as I straighten noticing how fragile the slipper is.
“I may not know your name or where you are from… but I will find you again!”