It was nearly midnight, and Princess Jenna Heap was awake in her bedroom, excited to meet with Beetle, her current boyfriend, the next day. She hadn't seen him for nearly three weeks for he had been very busy as Chief Hermetic Scribe and Jenna, was occupied with all the duties of being Crown Princess. Jenna had began dating Beetle when she was almost fifteen. The day that O. Beetle Beetle had confessed his love to her had been one of the happiest of her life. Much to Beetle's surprise, Jenna had been very fond of him as well; ever since she and Beetle had accompanied Septimus on his Queste, Jenna had a newfound crush on him as well. The two had been going out for nearly two years.
Jenna had chosen her attire, a red satin knee-length dress at Bott's Magykal Cloaks and Dresses (Non-Magykal), recently re-opened by Miranda Bott. Jenna had spent a little more than an hour there, accompanied by Rose, her best friend and Septimus's girlfriend.
As Jenna was reminiscing about the events of her day, she yawned. She glanced at the grandfather clock at the corner of her bedroom, and to her astonishment it was 11:52. I really should be getting to sleep, thought Jenna.
She sank into her plush mattress and dozed off, dreaming of Beetle, her friends, and her family.
The next morning Jenna awoke pleasantly, and went about her morning routine. Once she had put on her dress, she admired how it looked on her in her mirror for a few minutes, before reminding herself she had only 45 minutes until she was to meet Beetle.
She left her bedroom and greeted Sir Hereward, the ghost who guarded her bedroom. "Why hello Sir Hereward!"
"Hello Princess Esmeralda." Sir Hereward greeted her back. Jenna had quit reminding him that she was Princess Jenna not Esmeralda. "Want to hear a joke?"
"Yes please!" Jenna said enthusiastically.
"What's the difference between a lion and an apple?"
"I don't know Sir Hereward, what is the difference between a lion and an apple?" Jenna asked.
"I won't send you to do my shopping then! Hur hur hur." Jenna smiled at Sir Hereward and pretended to chuckled, though it was hard to when she was told the same joke every day.
Jenna preceded down the steps and entered the kitchen, where Sarah Heap was making eggs. Though the Palace chefs insisted they cook, Sarah Heap who had a tendency to be stubborn insisted she would cook as well as garden and clean.
"Hello Mum!" Jenna greeted her mother.
"Hello Jenna! What event are you attending wearing that lovely dress of yours?" Mrs. Heap questioned her daughter.
"Oh, i'm going to meet with Beetle today, Mum. I haven't been with him for so long."
"Well have fun, sweets!" Sarah Heap presented her daughter with a plate of eggs. "But not before you eat."
Jenna rolled her eyes. Even though she was seventeen, her adoptive mother didn't cease to treat her like a newborn. After Jenna finished breakfast (rather quickly) she bid farewell to her mother and left the Palace and headed toward Wizard Way, where the Manuscriptorium was located.
Walking through Wizard Way was always something to look forward to for Jenna. The road was always bustling, filled with places to go and sights to see. As Jenna walked on the road, many people just said a casual 'hello' for it was very common to see the Princess walking about the Castle like all the commoners.
Jenna then reached the Manuscriptorium and stepped in, breathing in the dank smell of papers and ink and the tranquility of silence, besides the scribbling of the scribes' pens.
But the peace did not last for long, as it was interrupted by the ghost of Jillie Djinn, the former Chief Hermetic Scribe who had been on of the casualties of the Darke Domaine. Ever since she had completed her Resting Time, she had been roaming about Wizard Way, and more particularly, the Manuscriptorium.
"Why hello Jenna. Why have you come to the Manuscriptorium today?" The ghost asked in a tart tone.
"To see Beetle." Jenna said with a smug look on her face. Jillie Djinn grimaced. She did not approve of Chief Hermetic Scribes having a romantic partner.
"Youngsters these days…" Jillie Djinn said disapprovingly floated away from Jenna and disappeared along Wizard Way. Jenna smiled. That Jillie Djinn sure can be a nuisance, she thought.
She walked farther into the Manuscriptorium, greeting scribes as they worked. Jenna began walking up the marble staircase that led to the Chief Hermetic Chambers, where she was sure to see Beetle. But as she began walking down the hallway leading to her room, she saw something not very pleasing.
Beetle was walking down the hallway, but not by himself. He was accompanied by a girl, someone that Jenna had never seen before. They were deep in conversation.
"Hey Beetle!" Jenna greeted him, and sure enough he looked up.
"Hey Jen!" He saw Jenna looking awkwardly at the girl. "Oh, this is Merina, my friend." He gestured to the blonde girl standing next to him.
"Hello, my name is Jenna. I'm Beetle's girlfriend." Jenna said tartly.
"Hi. I'm Merina." The girl said sweetly.
"Well, Beetle and me should get going." Jenna said, linking her arm into Beetle's. "Nice meeting you, Merina."
"Nice meeting you as well Jenna." Merina said, glaring a bit at the Princess.
Jenna left with Beetle down the stairs, and as soon they were out of earshot of the scribes, she whispered, "Who was that girl Merina? You've never mentioned her, ever."
"Oh, she's a friend. She moved to the Castle recently." Beetle said, knowing Jenna already had sour feelings toward her.
"Okay, okay." Jenna sighed.
"I still love you, Jen." Beetle kissed her on the cheek. "Nobody else but you could win my heart."
"I love you too, Beets." Jenna smiled. "So, where do you want to go? Wizard Sandwiches…" Jenna didn't even get to finish her sentence.
"Wizard Sandwiches, definitely!" Beetle exclaimed.
Jenna grinned. "You haven't changed Beetle." The two walked down Wizard Way as a perfect couple. Something that Jenna hoped Merina wouldn't ruin.