This is part 4. What can I say? Its common sense to read things in order. But you are reading my stuff, so common sense is not a given.
For those that are here by mistake, or curious part 1 is here, and it links to 2 etcetera and may even bring you back here, if I’m lucky.
Why ‘I’m lucky’? Because, I love you guys.
Enough sucking up, the story continues.
…
Georgie had forgotten to fear Nich, he was so charming, so appealing, so harmless, he was just… likable. He had no idea where he was or what he was doing, but somehow this seemed to suit him. The illusion that the ladybug, Lisa, was actually talking to him was catching. It, or she, flew frantically around Nich’s face whenever he seemed to hear her, it was very compelling. Georgie wasn’t sure anymore who was crazy.
The palace had been visible on the skyline for the last hour, but it would still be an hour before the wagon reached the town surrounding the keep. More time to chat with the fascinating Nich.
…
“Why aren’t the Northern Dukes coming?” asked Princess Tabitha as Princess Natasha dried her freshly washed hair.
“You know men!”
“Not really,” Princess Tabitha grabbed her chair as she felt herself trying to float away from the conversation.
“Well, they’ve decided to go to war against each other first, then they’ve agreed the winner will come and be my champion.”
“They are all fighting each other?” Princess Tabitha was very surprised, the Northern Union had been strong for generations.
“Well Rupert and Claus are mad at each other, Stephan, Ike and Randolf all seem to think I’ll marry the winner, Ethan and Xander are talking thruple, and Rosalinde is trying to depose Winston.”
“But they were so close.”
“She’s trying to depose him, not kill him.” Princess Natasha seemed exasperated, “I don’t know why she’s doing it, we couldn’t marry. A clandestine relationship with my husband’s sister would have been the best of both worlds.”
“I didn’t hear that,” suddenly all noise stopped for Tabitha.
Princess Natasha was clearly still talking, and based on the gestures it was probably far too graphic for the ears of a delicate princess. But this scared Princess Tabitha. No sooner had that thought sprung in her head when the sound returned. Princess Natasha was still comparing the Northern Dukes in flattering but inappropriate ways.
“It’ll be the Southern Union all over again,” warned Tabitha.
“Tosh,” retorted Natasha. “The North doesn’t have a grumpy old Puritan like Maxwell.”
“You’re right, without a Maxwell to keep them together it will be a disaster.”
“Tosh! He’s just mad because he thinks I seduced his son.”
“You did.”
“Yes, but that’s not my fault.”
Tabitha looked quizzical so Natasha continued.
“I was trying to seduce his grandson.”
“You did.”
“But I was trying to seduce only the grandson.”
“Why is your aim so random?”
Natasha started to explain, but Princess Tabitha quickly realised she was not ready to know that much about … well love… well whatever. So, she excused herself and went to the balcony to try and catch a glimpse of Georgie. She prayed the animals would bring some much-needed peace to the palace
.…
Georgie was ushered quickly into the throne room. Nich walked so obliviously next to her that no one questioned his presence.
“The Royal Cuddly Baby Animal Trainer Georgie and friend,” announced a well-polished herald.
“That’s Imperial” said Alexandria the Insane rising from the floor.
“Yes, Your Exalted High Fruit Cakery,” he said.
“Again!” said the empress.
“The Imperial Cuddly Baby Animal Trainer_”
“Not trainer, I like Mummy better,” interjected Empress Alexandria.
“Start again?” he asked.
“I was going to say no but its been too long now,” explained Alexandria.
“The Imperial Cuddly Baby Animal Mummy and friend.”
“Nich,” said Nich.
The herald looked at the Empress who made the go around signal.
“The Imperial Cuddly Baby Animal Mummy and Nich.”
The Empress, Alexandria the Insane, applauded, “Why don’t you go to the kitchen and get some cake.” As the herald walked carefully backward she added, “Tell them I sent you.”
“Hello Georgie, I don’t know what you’ve heard but I am being very good and very restrained and if I sit really quietly can I hold the white bunny,” by the end of the sentence the empress was shouting and running in a circle.
“If you sit down quietly but with your permission, uh…”
“Exalted High Fruit Cakery but you can still call me Alex,” said the Empress.
“With your permission, Alex, in my humble opinion if you practiced with the brown rabbit first.”
“Okay!” Alexandria flopped to the ground and held out her hands for the bunny.
“Ah, he’s not here yet,” said Georgie.
“Practicing!” claimed the Empress.
“Okay,” said Georgie.
“Lisa wants to know where that bloody Catherine is,” said Nich.
“Please forgive him Your… Alex. He believes the ladybug speaks to him,” began Georgie.
“Wow, really!” the empress jumped up to look at the ladybug. “Did you say Lisa? That’s my Mum’s name.”
“Lisa says to say, ‘Are you being my good little honey nut roasted coffee bean, remember to be quiet for the bun-buns and where is your bloody sister?”
“Tell her , yes Mum, yes Mum and in the dungeon, sorry Mum,” said Empress Alexandria the Insane.
“Lisa says ‘Good, lets go to the dungeon,” said Nich.
“Yes Mum,” the Empress turned to one of the servants bringing in the baby animals. “Tell my sisters that we’ve gone to prison with Mum, and tell the animals we’ll be back soon. Oh and tell the animals that we are going to VISIT the jail and we haven’t been naughty or anything.”
“We could tell them you’ve been exceedingly good if it pleases Your Exalted High Fruit Cakery,” offered the young page.
“Cool!” The Empress beamed, “See you soon, Babies.”
…
A page knocked at Princess Natasha’s door and was ushered in by maids.
“Our Exalted High Fruit Cakery, Empress Alexandria the Insane ordered the message ‘we’ve gone to prison with Mum’ be issued unto thee,” the page intoned with great solemnity.
“Just when you think she can’t get crazier,” said Princess Natasha.
Princess Tabitha felt tingling all over and her need to fly intensified. “But who could she have meant by we?”
“The people in her head probably, she’d better not have taken baby animals, that’s cruel.”
The page shyly put his hand up.
“Spill the tea,” said Princess Natasha.
“Please tell us what you know,” said Princess Tabitha to the confused boy.
“Our Exalted High Fruit Cakery, Empress Alexandria the Insane, the Imperial Cuddly Baby Animal Mummy previously known as Georgie, Nich, a stranger and a ladybug who I believe is named Lisa.”
“Yeah, that’d set her off,” said Natasha the Tease.
“Mum’s name would be very triggering,” said Tabitha the Quiet.
The princesses departed quickly to help their sisters in the castle dungeon.
“When I emerge Queen after all this,” said Natasha to no one in particular. ”It’s padded cells for the whole royal family, I swear.”
“Does that include yourself?” Princess Tabitha’s comment was inaudible.
…
Part 4 coming. I’m giving up on the weekly schedule, it just leads to me procrastinating especially when my rotten children steal my SupSup Marketeer Evie 2 weeks in a row. I will post the final installments when I finish … you know, making them look all pretty.
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