So this is a story I'm working on! Sharing this is kinda just a random decision, but I really hope y'all like it! :3 Summary: According to tradition, the princess of this kingdom will get married when she turns 18. To select who she's going to marry, a competition is held where all the eligible boys from ages 18 to 20 can compete, and the winner marries the princess. But the current princess, Princess Giovetta, doesn't want to marry a guy. Her best friend (and secret gf), June Patte, plans to sneak into the competition, disguised as her (pretend) older cousin James. And then the plot ensues. I hope that summary makes sense- but yee, enjoy! "This better work. Oh god, I hope this works." I watched the princess pace back and forth in her room while I lounged on her bed. I was just as nervous about our plan as she was, but was it necessary to pace so much? "Don't worry Vetta, everything will be fine. I know what I have to do, and I memorised my fake identity. I've also been training for years, you know that! Now all I have to do is-" "Actually win." Vetta finished my thought, something that happened quite often. "Yeah. Win." We had been working on this plan for almost a year at this point, but now that it was time to put it into action, I was starting to be a little unsure of our chance of success. After a stretch of silence, Vetta's pacing led her to sit next to me. Suddenly she grasped my hands and looked at me, a frantic look in her eyes. "Please, this HAS to work. I don't know what I'll do if we fail. June, promise me you'll make this work. I can't stand the thought of being married to some guy I've never even seen! I-" Vetta faltered, but I knew exactly what she meant. These next few days were going to be the most important days of our lives, and if I failed, everything would fall apart. Ten years ago, back when Vetta and I were eight, Vetta's mother, Queen Elanora, decided it would be good for the young princess to have a playmate her age. After about a month of searching, they came across me and decided I fit the criteria. That was perhaps the most important decision anyone has mode regarding us. After all, ten years of being each other's only friend can lead to something more. When we were fourteen, we confessed to each other how much we loved the other one. That was the happiest and scariest day of my life. Now that we were eighteen though, Vetta, as the princess, was expected to find a husband. The tradition in our kingdom is to hold an event where all eligible boys between the ages of eighteen and twenty can compete. Whoever wins gets to be the prince. You might have spotted the problem with this system, but in case you haven't, let me explain. The contest is only for BOYS in that age range. I'm a girl. Therefore, I wouldn't be able to enter the contest. So I have to disguise myself as a boy to compete. "Let's go over the plan one more time, okay June?" I could tell how nervous Vetta was, since she normally trusts our plans to go smoothly no matter what. "Sure. Quiz me." I gave a small smile, hoping I seemed calm. "Okay then. Name and background?" "I'm James Patte, cousin of June Patte, Princess Giovetta's assistant. I am nineteen years of age, and my family moved to this kingdom when I was six years old. I'm from a middle-upper-class family and have been apprenticed to a bookmaker for three years." I recited with ease. "Good. Now, what are you going to do tonight to prepare for the next few days?" Vetta was twiddling her thumbs to keep herself from pacing. I glanced at the late afternoon sunlight streaming through the window, realising how soon our plan would be put in action. "I'll tell my family that I'm going to stay with you in the palace for the next few nights because you need the support. I'll cut my hair short and take my pack into the spot we prepared for me by the lake. My pack consists of a sword, some of my brother's old clothes, a day's worth of food and water, and a list of the items I need to collect. In the morning, I'll go to the palace courtyard to register for the contest." I was getting gradually more nervous about our chance of success. "And June, after that you just-" "Need to wing it. I got it, Vetta. I've been training for this for four years. And even if some of the boys have been training longer, none of them have as much reason as me to win. None of them understand how important this is to us. That's my backup weapon." I set my head on Vetta's shoulder and she slipped her hand into mine. Vetta sighed. "I'm sorry for being so annoying. I know you know what you need to do this, but I'm just so nervous. I don't know how I could ever live without you."
(cont. from instructions) "I feel the same way. But we can do this. If we think anything otherwise, we'll fail. I'm nervous as well, but all of this will be worth it in the end, when we're married." I could tell Vetta smiled at those last words. "And we won't have to hide anymore. We'll finally be able to just be-" We jumped apart at the sound of Vetta's bedroom door creaking open. A quick glance passed between us. What if someone was eavesdropping? "Givetta, dear? June?" Queen Eleanora entered, a wide smile spear across her face. "What are you doing hidden up here?" "Mom, I thought I told you knock!" Vetta looked at me and rolled her eyes, the hint of a smile briefly flickering across her face. "Oh yes, sorry honey. I keep forgetting how grown up you are! Now what were you two girls talking about?" It always shocked me whenever Vetta talked to her mom like that. After all, she was the queen. Then again, Vetta's the princess. "We were just talking about tomorrow, your majesty." I replied with a dip of my head. "Oh June dear, How many times have I told you not to talk to me so formally? I've seen you almost every day for ten years!" Queen Eleanora gave an airy laugh, accompanied by a wave of her hand. No matter how many times Queen Eleanora told me to call her Eleanora, I knew I never would. At least not until I was her daughter-in-law. Then maybe I would finally listen to that request of hers. Vetta shifted uncomfortably. "What do you need, Mom? June and I were a little busy." "I just came up to announce tea, just in case either of you cared to join us." Queen Eelanora held her hands up in surrender. "I'll leave you girls now." And with that she winked, turned around, and closed the door. Vetta and I paused for a moment, making sure we heard footsteps echoing down the hall. There was no way either of us would risk being overheard again. Once I was sure we were left alone once more, I scooted so I was next to Vetta once more. She put her arm around me. "That was the closest we've ever been to being found out. We must have let our guard down for it be that close." "We'll be more careful for the next few days." I vowed. "So, how about that tea?" Vetta smiled, which was contagious. "Sounds good to me. Let's go down." ~ End of Part One ~
