Two weeks until Levi becomes king.37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb7TCcUujbM
I roll over, trying to block the sunlight from my face with my pillow. A clatter of porcelain announced Rose’s arrival, she placed the tray of pastries on top of my dresser.37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2wu1L99qGu
“Come on, Prince Archer,” Rose’s voice, though laced with amusement, holds a firm edge. She isn’t fooled by my theatrics anymore. “I’ve already granted you three ‘five more minutes’ indulgences. That’s fifteen minutes of grace, more than any sane person deserves.” She taps her foot impatiently, the rhythmic sound a counterpoint to the gentle hum of the city outside. Her gaze drifted towards the window. Below us lay Kire. Kire, the kingdom’s an architectural marvel – and my personal torment. A breathtaking spectacle of layered circles, each level a self-contained community, all connected by an intricate, dizzying network of staircases. It was originally designed centuries ago, a stroke of genius meant to channel the winter floodwaters down to the farms that sprawled across the lowest level. In theory, it was brilliant. In practice, it was a logistical nightmare. though I’m sure it was a great use of a large hill and a spectacle of its time, now it looked like a giant sand castle from far enough away.37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkiAp2iZBu4
My pillow is ripped from my hands, I mumble my protests as Rose starts talking again “Come on, Archer, you were meant to be up ages ago.”37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRiYsaid6wU
“Whyyyyy?” I mumble sleepily as I try to bury my face into my sheets. Dash stirs at my feet, the dog looking up at Rose, almost as groggy as me37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHFUfOZqzeS
“Because your mother says you need to be, and I’m not going back to her without you dressed and ready, now get up.”37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX4S9bCrf7g
Rose throws the pillow she stole at my head before walking out of my room, leaving me to get dressed in my own time, her tone making it clear that it’s not her problem if I decide to go back to sleep. I drag myself out of bed and pull myself away from my pillows, a very difficult task on a Wednesday morning.37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ04W86T2BH
Dash yawns from the foot of my bed, stretching with me as we prepare for the day. I run my hand through his long, golden fur.37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmwgBXnBp1t
“Ready, Bud?”37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXKuCgLTUHC
After a few minutes I walk out of my room, Dash bounding after me from the room. I’m wearing casual clothes, those expected of the lower classes. The only difference is that the linen I’m wearing is green instead of one of the lower classes colours, like yellow or red.37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8okhg7Bz6W
“Archie!” the queen runs over and hugs me, before frowning at my outfit, “oh dear, is that linen? Oh, you better change, Archie, wouldn’t want people thinking we can’t afford wool, do we?” the queen shot a concerned look at me, I’m taller than her by now, not yet towering over her but still enough to be noticeable.37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeIOrpJ8Pz7
I grit my teeth,I am not in the mood to deal with judgment this early in the morning, surely the queen has other duties she can attend too. “It’s quite alright mother, the linen is only for mere comfort in the heat.”37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCEtAifP7dA
“You don’t plan on going out in that, do you?” Queen Amelia wrinkled her nose, a gesture that conveyed her disapproval. Truthfully, I had intended to slip into town for a while, I most definitely am not allowed to leave the grounds today. Or tomorrow. or the day after that.37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDYNCAdB5mn
I take an inward sigh, “No, mother, I didn’t plan too.” I flash her a smile, the smile that gets me out of trouble every time, the smile that’s charmed me out of getting into trouble every time.37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5A68VpDarg
“And leave that damned dog outside! it's going to make a mess of the palace.”37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsefXWXVRYO
I crouch next to Dash and put my hands over his ears. “Don’t listen to her, boy, you're the best puppy out there.”37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvuCAOcAbBG
“I don’t have time for this, just don’t be late for your lessons with Ms Kellings.” I groan while her frown softens slightly. My lessons being a constant reminder of my tedious daily tutoring sessions was a fresh wave of despair. History, philosophy, etiquette – the endless parade of subjects designed to mold me into the perfect prince. The perfect prince who can never be king.
Mornings with Ms Kellings couldn’t be more boring. I sit in the library, trying to discreetly look out the window without my tutor seeing. She’d report right back to mother about how much of a rude and petulant child I was.37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY9cDyJlzY8
Her grey hair is pulled back in a tight bun, I don't think the woman’s had so much as a flyaway in her long, long life.37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHnTE4OsCiZ
“Archer, I don't believe whatever you’re doing is related to the history of the royal advisory.” Ms Kellings huffs and sits back into her plush armchair, while of course I’m stuck on the uncomfortable wooden one that I’m sure she had put into the library just for my discomfort during our lessons. Before I can open my mouth to respond she scrunches her nose at me, how dare I even have such a corrupt thought of responding.37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK6P04u2TED
“I’ll have to report back to your mother about how much of a pain you are to work with, again, why I stay in this job is beyond me! it's all chat back from you isn’t it? Oh you’re lucky that they don’t punish children like they used too. Oh, those were the days.”37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEwMCqDklqI
The days of child abuse? Yes, you talk about it every lesson.37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmQRHwlTXIh
Before I can reply a flicker of movement catches my eye from the window. I shuffle my chair a little to get a better view while still trying to be discrete, well aware I’m failing horribly at it. Ms Kellings is glaring at me over her oversized glasses. 37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB3fZz4MBB0
I grin as I see a familiar colour of ribbon around a brown package under a kitchen hand’s arm as the others move to grab more packages from the trailer.37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy1JvqCfjKh
I move to stand, “My apologies, Ms Kellings, but I believe I know of a book on the shelves that will help with this subject.”37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkm9PGU4AjZ
“Then go get it! Do I have to teach you to walk as well?” Ms Kellings practically screeches, never in my life have i ever met someone quite as entitled as Ms Kellings, at least i've never met someone who would yell at a prince.37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkb55oPYq5J
“No.” I move to get up.37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡorp4rS2T6c
“Excuse me! That is not how you talk to adults!” As she yells I’m left pondering over if she can even qualify as an adult anymore. I wonder what kind of discounts come with being so old.37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAHNhc6LD43
“No, Ms Kellings” before she can say anymore I slip into the shelves of books, walking as fast as I can without causing the floorboards to creak before making my way out of sight before slipping out of the library’s exit.37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3SbkDfGNuR
As soon as I get out of the library I sprint down the hallway, dodging guards and various other castle workers as. I run to the front room and burst through the grand front entrance.37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkXLDyzxuPE
“Hey, Ella!”
and then Add to home screen.