The Princess Academy called L’Académie pour les Dauphines

[Dear reader, this story is based on Erin Halfelven story squib “Princess School” which to prevent gross errors, the foreign “language bits” are written in English or translated into French using Google Translate. My apologies and feel free to point out any language mistakes and I will get them corrected ASAP.]

Rafael sat in the wooden chair, barely daring to breath. Just past his 12th birthday, Raf was on that precipice between childhood and maturity. With his knees pressed together, his hands clenched tight, an almost imperceptible tremor of his body and the stark contrast of his wide eyes standing out in bas-relief against his pallor, Raf was more terrified than excited to be participating in the prestigious scholarship program.

One of only 100 children selected each year from more than 2 billion eligible, Rafael was to be given the opportunity to escape from the depths of poverty. Rafeal’s parents and sister were ecstatic.

Raf, on the other hand, looked like he was about to pass out from shock. While the thick deep red Oriental Rug would have clearly prevented him from being injured, Raf was trying his utmost to not collapse in a faint before the Headmistress.

Madame, as she was called, was the Headmistress of L’Académie pour les Dauphines or rather, because Raf didn’t speak French, The Princess Academy.

Raf knew that he was going to lose his scholarship. After all, each scholarship specified paired the recipient and the prestigious private school that they must attend. Since Rafael was to attend The Princess Academy, he knew that there had been a mistake because he was a boy and his scholarship would now be revoked.

”Raffaelle,” Madame said, “I trust that you had time to freshen up after traveling. We must now go over the details of your scholarship and attendance requirements of L’Académie pour les Dauphines.”

The Headmistress began explaining the school philosophy, the optional advanced collegiate studies and the career path available post graduation. Ralf’s head began to spin and her words faded as his blood pounded in his ears. He frantically tried to figure out how to politely tell Madame that there was a huge mistake and he was a boy. He knew that he wouldn’t have to explain why boys couldn’t be princesses and that would be the end of his scholarship.

Madame was looking at him expectantly and he hurriedly rushed into a jumbled “explapalogy,” as his sister liked to say...

“Sorry Madame, I am boy so sorry… I mean, boy, I am so sorry…Uh, So sorry, I am a boy…”

Rafael felt his face flushing bright red as he realized what he said in his hurry to explain and apologize. He opened his mouth to say that he wasn’t trying to be duplicitous but he was tongue tied and sat there like a fish trying to breathe out of water. His brain was screaming that he would be locked up for fraud or maybe even identity theft or worse… Would they even arrest his parents and sister?

The Madame spoke again, drawing his attention back to the conversation, “When you are at L’Académie pour les Dauphines, you will be physically a princess. When you return home at the school holidays, you will return as a boy. If you tell your parents that you are a Princess during the school term, they will believe that you are insane and send you to the ’Asile Pour Enfants’. ”

Raf started and then shuddered. Not at the thought of being committed to the Children’s Home for the Mentally Deranged ...but rather because he knew his parents well enough. His parents wouldn’t care what sacrifices he had to make to get to college; after all, with no college degree, there was no possibility of a safe life as an adult. Knowing how much his parents loved him, Raf knew that they might even see the Children’s Home for the Mentally Deranged as a sanctuary. A sanctuary that would allowed him live in relative safety, peace and intellectual freedom in exchange for loss of his physical freedom.

Thanks to the collapse of the world political structure in 2020, there were no protections for humanity nor the common man any more. Not only was the United States overthrown as one of the respected first world countries but the baby was thrown out with the bath water. [ Sorry, dear reader for using that archaic phrase but it was most apt.]

Worker protections from health insurance to OSHA went up in flames as the good old United States of America went through its Second Civil War. At the same time, the Communist Regime had economically gained control of many Asian and European nations.

His mind wandered to the struggles and sacrifices that his parents made to survive and raise a family. Exhausted and aging before their chronological years and living with the health effects of workplace chemical exposure, his mom and dad, saw this Scholarship as his chance to live a better life.

“We expect a very high standard of commitment to our programming, I mean program, here at L’Académie pour les Dauphines. Please read your handbook, paying particular attention to the lengthy list of infractions that will cause expulsion from the program. You will attend mandatory therapy, like all of our male-born princesses. You also have access to 1 term medical leave of absence, to be spent as a Princess in the ’Asile Pour Enfants’ recovering from mental fatigue, physical illness or trauma. Along with the expulsion, you may voluntarily withdraw from the Academy.”

The head mistress of L’Académie paused and gave him a very serious look.

...the seconds ticked by for 2,3,4 breaths...

“Good, you are staying present now.” She let a small, solemn smile grace her face.

Continuing, she explained, “Not all children who receive Scholarships can be successful at L’Académie pour les Dauphines. We try to give each Scholarship child the best chance to become a Princess. For those who are not able to follow this path, if you return to your family, you will return to your boyhood and your memories of your time here will be sealed. If you end up choosing to live at the ’Asile Pour Enfants‘ you will be given the chance to live as you choose, either a Princess or a boy, and your memories will not be sealed. Finally, should you choose to successfully complete your studies here at L’Académie, you will live the rest of your life as a Princess.”

The Madame paused and said, “Raffaelle, please go rest and thoroughly read your handbook. There will be a test tomorrow. You must pass the test to remain in the program.”

Raf sat for a moment, stunned.

A test? Already?
What had he gotten himself into?

“Thank you, madame,” he said.

Slowly, carefully, he rose, smoothed his pinafore, pivoted and left her office.

Behind her desk, the Madame sat for half a dozen minutes with an inscrutable expression upon her face after her newest scholarship student left the office.

Outside the office, Raf leaned up against the wall and drew a shuddering breath. He slid down to a sitting position and hugged his knees, hiding his tears, quietly crying...