2 Chapter 1 : Competition

"Princess Elizabeth, I hope you don't mind me asking." I heard Vernon say. He walked beside me and Valentine as we followed Heather to our suite. "How do you feel about being first in line for the throne? Is there a lot of pressure?"

I looked at him for a second and met his eyes before responding.

"Not at all. I may be young but I, like my brother, am ready to take throne. And please address me by my given name. We will be studying together after all." I said, making him smile in response. I glanced at my brother who his eyes all over Heather's back. I narrowed my eyes at him.

"Studying together?" Heather stopped and turned around with her eyebrows slightly furrowed. "Vernon and I are in higher education.. You are new so, how can the school board determine wether to place you in with us?"

"I beg your pardon? Our parents, King Arthur and Queen Alexandra, have spoken to Headmaster Woodlock and have showed him our high marks on every exam we have taken so far and our permanent records, so I suppose there should not be any problems." I said. I saw her lips part as she let out a small 'oh' and turned around. I rolled my eyes at her but quickly put the gentle smile on my face again before Vernon noticed.

"Are we almost at our suite? it is nearly quarter after two." Said Valentine.

"What happens at two twenty-five?" Vernon said, next to me.

"We are supposed to have Polo Practice, but you forget Valentine, Mother said that we get a week's break from practice and then we start." I told.

"We play Polo as well. Our horses are as stable and as well trained as the horses you have at the Palace. You have the freedom to claim a horse and practice with us." Heather said in front of us, looking back at us.

"Yes, I'm sure we can, but those horses are not ours. We prefer to ride our own horses since we have built trust in them. But thank you, for letting us know." I replied. We went up many stairs and up towards the fifth floor, getting a clear view of the gardens and more at the back of the castle. We walked past a few double doors before reaching a pair with the tiny number 594 on the door handle.

Heather took out a key from her blazer pocket and unlocked the door to reveal a room similar to mine back at the palace. The only difference was that there was another bed at the other side of the room.

"Your room was decorated and designed to the taste of Her Highness The Queen. We hope it makes you feel at home." Said Vernon.

"Ah, yes, we already do. Well, thank you, Vernon and Heather, for showing us the way to our quarters." I looked up at Valentine as he spoke. "We do not have any questions or concerns at the moment, so you are both free to go." Valentine looked at Heather, who had a slight blush on her cheeks as she handed him the key.

We said goodbye and closed the door, before my famous smile slipped from my face. I took off my heels and tiara before dropping the shoes on the floor next to my bed and placing the tiara on the nightstand. I sat down on the bed and saw Valentine still leaning on the door, eyes closed and head thrown backwards. He played with the key between his fingers and I scoffed.

"Don't tell me you're into her.." I said, receiving no respond from him. "Man up and tell me, Val. I already saw you looking at her behi-"

"Don't make me laugh. Me being into our competition? I should be saying that to you. You were acting all 'Goddess of Love' in front that guy." He said, making his way to his bed. "Why would you tell him we were ready for the crown? I know damn well we're not Father's first choice."

"I don't care if we're not his first choice. And it's true, we are ready. Plus, if we're top students here, he'll definitely pass the crown to one of us. And that 'one' will be me."

"We can't just order them to give up their place on the chart, Eli."

"I know that, Val. We just have to waltz our way to it, it's as easy as saying 'Off with their heads!'"

"Glad to know you're still the same Elizabeth after being so close to Vernon."

"Shut up, Valentine." I took a pillow and threw it towards him. Vernon was good looking, I'll give him that, but I wasn't going to let that stop me from getting what I wanted.