This story takes place before Princess Diaries 1. Queen Clarisse is a widow and reigns as Queen Regent.
~The elevator~
Chapter 1 – Introduction
Imagine you are on a train. You like none of the travellers in your compartment. There is an adult female with Mickey Mouse socks and a man who smells after tobacco. There are also two schoolgirls who are giggling all the time, probably at your expense, and an old man who thinks aloud when solving his puzzle.
Then the train comes to a stop and the train's guard announces that there is a technical problem. It takes nearly an hour to solve it and all the while the train just stands there in the middle of nowhere.
You must have been there once or twice. Am I right in thinking that when you left the train your feelings towards your fellow travellers had changed? True, you might not invite them for your birthday party or exchange phone numbers, but well, you know what I mean. The woman wearing the Mouse socks had a nice sarcastic sense of humour and Mr Tobacco didn't start throwing things for not being able to smoke for such a long time. The old man had an impressive vocabulary - not in a sailor's way mind you - and the schoolgirls shared their candy.
Of course there is a chance that you would have made it to the front page: 'Passenger kills five travellers.' But that would be a very small chance.
Now we are getting to the story: introducing a Viscount, a Queen and an elevator.
The Viscount is fully aware of his own importance. Among the men he associates with, he is the natural leader. He can be charming to women, but he feels that they shouldn't bother being anything else but servants, lovers or breed mares.
The Queen is intelligent, beautiful, and every inch the lady.
The elevator, well... What can I say about an elevator? This one doesn't work.
And two Genovians are about to find out.