Royal Performer - Chapter 5

Princess Alexandria Alessi’s life has turned upside down in the blink of an eye. Only a few days ago, she was enjoying a clandestine summer shopping with her best friend at the local mall. Coming home, she was alarmed to discover her mom was there, and her secret of being transgender was suddenly no longer secret! Within a few short hours, her life became like a movie as she discovered that her long-lost father was the Crown Prince of Osané, a small, secluded island nation. Alexandria was immediately thrust into the spotlight in a whirlwind weekend that led to a Monday press conference to announce her royal lineage. Royal Performer is the second Tiffany Shar's 'Suddenly Royal' series.

Available Now! on Amazon Kindle Store

Chapter 5: Dinner Party

I SPENT THE morning working on the English and French tests. Our lunch was brought to my own small dining room, and we resumed with Spanish, which was short for me as I wasn’t as fluent. She moved on to an Italian test. She seemed surprised when I submitted the test ninety minutes later and hadn’t just thrown in the towel in thirty minutes like I did with Spanish.

While she was changing the test to the next one, she asked, “You speak Italian?” in Italian.

I smiled, “Yes, as fluently as I do French.”

She looked thoughtful, “Does your Grandmother know you speak Italian?”

“She never asked?”

She shook her head, “But not Spanish?”

“I never had time to really learn it. I know some just from growing up with friends who speak it, but it doesn’t click as easily as the other two for some reason.”

“Any other languages?”

“Not yet,” I told her.

“Well then, let’s hit math next…”

I groaned at that, earned a rebuke, and started working on a test that seemed to automatically adapt to my level of math knowledge. Algebra was, of course, quite simple for me. The questions moved into Geometry, which I had finished, some more advanced Algebra, and finally, what I assumed was basic Calculus, which I knew I failed miserably because the test ended after three more questions. By this time, it was late in the afternoon.

“How many more tests do I have to take?” I asked as I stretched, and she typed on her own computer.

“Biology, Chemistry, Physics, American History, World History, Art History, Philosophy, and Music Theory since I know you’re a musician.”

My jaw dropped, “Am I going to be doing this for two more days then?”

She shook her head, “Other than the World History test, these other tests are shorter. I’m sure you’ll be done tomorrow or the next day. Plus, we’ll complete two more tonight after dinner.”

I groaned, “I was hoping to be able to call my mom?”

“I’ll make sure we have time for that,” she assured me, “But unless you want to take an extra day for it, it’ll be best just to concentrate on completing these as soon as possible.”

“Sure…” I said, avoiding being sarcastic. I’d made over a dozen comments throughout the day that had gotten me sternly reprimanded by her. Things my mom wouldn’t have even thought to care about seemed to get me into enormous trouble with her. Fortunately, nothing was happening more than her giving me stern warnings, but it was annoying!

“I know it’s not fun, but we really do have to figure out where you are. So far, you’re doing better than I could have hoped.”

“Really?” I asked, slightly encouraged.

“Your language skills alone are almost on par with where I would have expected you to be in my school.”

“Almost…?”

“Allie, you went to an American public school. Their attention to anything but the absolute basics in language, literature, history, and the arts is well known throughout our far more stringent educational circles. It’s a credit to your intelligence, and I assume your mom, that you are not far behind.”

“But I’m behind…?” I asked, both offended and embarrassed.

“My job is to figure out where and catch you up; I told you that this morning. All you have to do is work hard and trust me.”

She walked over to me and gave me a sideways hug. Then, there was a knock on the study’s door.

“Come in?” I said.

Giselle walked in, “Pardon me, Your Highness, Madame,” she curtsied, “but I’m supposed to make sure Princess Alexandria is dressed and ready for dinner tonight?”

“But of course,” Madame Lavigne answered as she smiled down at me. “I’ll see you at dinner.”

I looked at where and how Giselle was standing. ‘She looks as nervous as I am…’ I thought to myself. Her uniform and apron looked as pressed and immaculate as yesterday. I could only imagine that Anna, the harsh taskmaster, would never let it be any other way.

“Your Highness?” She directed me to the door. I sighed but found myself walking down to my bedroom again, wondering what awaited me there.

I half expected an angry Anna in the room, but fortunately for my nerves, she was nowhere to be found just then. “When was the last time you shaved your armpits?” She asked me.

“Pardon…?” I was a little surprised by the intimacy of the question.

“Armpits? The gown you are wearing tonight will not work with hairy armpits?”

“Oh… I don’t really have hair there?” I told her.

“There is some shaving gel in the shower. Even if you only have peach fuzz, you need to shave them. Do your legs as well; I see a few hairs on them. You should have already been doing this several years ago, Your Highness.” She said all of that while pulling a shower cap over my hair.

I blushed, “Okay…?”

I followed her directions and shaved my legs and armpits, and then, just for good measure, my arms as well. There was very little hair on my body that wasn’t completely blonde, but it was all being carried down the drain a little while later. I got out of my second shower of the day and discovered a new pair of panties and a strapless bra waiting on the counter. I pulled the panties on and found these contained a hidden gaff within them. I readjusted everything and fought by fastening the bra for longer than anyone should!

“You okay in there, Your Highness?”

“Yes, Giselle,” I said as I finally latched the hooks. In the mirror, I could see the bra was pretty significantly padded. Still, with my non-existent bustline, it didn’t make me feel any more mature. Without any other warning, she barged in, “Good, then let’s get you dressed and ready! The Queen has some special guests coming to meet you tonight.”

I sighed, “Somehow, I think that’s going to be an every night thing now?”

Giselle had the good grace to ignore my comment and instead led me to where she had a gown hanging that she quickly pulled over my head. The shape of it was pretty simplistic, starting with a band collar and shifting down through a set of cut-in shoulders that flowed to just under my arms.

‘Thus, why she was so paranoid about armpit hair,’ I thought.

The bodice angled in the sides on either side, leading to the front and down to a sweeping floor-length skirt. The dress had a gorgeous ivory fabric, somehow decorated with metallic silver threading, making it look almost like a river of stone patterns. I ran my hands down the unique surface and decided I was happy with this one.

“Have a seat so I may do your hair, Your Highness.” She told me, pointing to the vanity.

With a sigh, I let her get to work. Her hands moved as swiftly as anyone’s I’d ever seen about my hair. Soon, my hair was made of thinner braids that held up a tall bun in which she stuck a pretty set of jeweled hairpins. Sadly, the comb Grandma had given me was in the house when it caught fire, as it would have looked good with my hair!

She made me turn this way and that a moment later as she applied my makeup, distinctly bringing out my eyes with a silver and blue set of eyeshadows that boldly popped from my face. She used a more muted red for my lips before helping me with jewelry, just as Anna appeared.

“You look beautiful, Your Highness,” she told me. “Nicely done, Giselle.”

“Thanks,” I heard myself say, slightly softer than Giselle.

“Let’s get your shoes on, Princess, and then downstairs. The guests and your Grandmother are already waiting for you.”

“I didn’t realize I was late…” I apologized.

“You’re not. Your Grandmother wanted a few minutes to speak with our guests before you arrived tonight. Now, if you don’t get these shoes on quickly, we will be late.”

I hurriedly slipped my feet into the clunky, heeled silver sandals that Giselle held for me. She attached the straps on both shoes, and I steadied myself carefully as I began following Anna from my room. She led me down the hallways to the castle proper, and soon, we were descending onto the ground floor, where I knew we must be meeting with someone special. As we came to the dining hall where I had first shared breakfast with Grandma the day before, a voice announced, “Her Royal Highness, Princess Alexandria Leonidas Alessi.”

I blushed as I entered and found the room was thankfully not packed. There were still about a dozen guests present in the room. They had all risen except for Grandma, as I was announced. I gave a polite curtsy that I hoped wasn’t too bad of form and made my way to the empty chair beside Grandma.

“You look beautiful,” she told me quietly as one of the servers placed my napkin in my lap.

“Thank you, so do you,” I told her. I noted again that she wore her crown. ‘I wonder how heavy that thing is…?’ Her dress was similar in texture and color to mine but grander and clearly designed for an older woman.

Once I had sat down, she politely gathered everyone’s attention. “It is my pleasure to welcome you all this evening to dinner to meet my granddaughter. I believe in the importance of the arts in our society, and I believe we all can work to benefit each other’s endeavors.”

A chorus of raised glasses followed, and dinner began to be served. “Princess Alexandria,” Grandma said to me, “This is Maestro Bevins, the conductor of the Osané National Symphony.”

I looked respectfully at the lanky man, who was about fifty or so. He wore narrow-framed glasses and looked at me with a wide smile. “A pleasure to meet you, Your Highness,” he told me.

“You as well,” I told him with a smile. “Grandma has said some very nice things about your symphony. I look forward to seeing a concert at some point.”

“I’ll ensure you have the best box seat when you do.” He smiled.

To my right, a stockier gentleman said, “Good evening, Your Highness. I’m Gerard Dubois, the principal clarinetist for the symphony.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you!” I told him, getting more excited about the guests apparently being musicians. “I play clarinet too… certainly not as well as you do, I’m sure, though!”

He laughed, “You’re young yet,” he told me.

Dinner continued on as I learned the Concert Master for the orchestra, as well as a few other arts figures from the island nation, had been invited to this dinner. And, of course, the dinner itself was exquisite! The seven-course meal explored soups, fish, rabbit, pastries, and a light salad. I did my best to only enjoy a few bites from each plate, so I didn’t overfill my body. Still, when a chocolate ganache tart came out, covered in strawberries, I lost my willpower to follow that plan.

Grandma gave me a look a few minutes later, which made me worried I had broken some rule. “So chocolate, that’s your weakness?” She smiled at me.

Maestro Bevins heard her and laughed heartily, “My wife and daughters are the same!”

I blushed, “It was delicious.”

“Thank you, Your Highness,” I nearly jumped out of my seat as the voice of Chef Dufort suddenly beside me.

“The meal was amazing,” I told him with a smile.

“Beautiful words to a chef from a beautiful princess,” he told me with a smile. “It was to all of your liking?” He asked the table.

Nods and groans of gluttonous consequences sounded down the table. “Very good; please let any of the staff know if you desire anything else this evening!”

He disappeared, and I noted Grandma placing her napkin on the table. “Well, I do believe it looks like everyone has finished. How about we adjourn to the Music Room?”