Chapter Two

"Sofia your father would like to take you to the Village this afternoon." Miranda declared.
"Can I go Mom, please?" Sofia asked.
"I'll have to think about it first." Miranda said. "Go play in your room for a while, Sofia."
"Sure, Mom" Sofia nodded.
"Roland, do you think I'm doing the right thing by letting Sofia go with Alex?" Miranda asked, unsure.
"Miranda, listen to me." Roland looked her in the eye. "I love Sofia. And Sofia will always have this castle as her home. No matter what happens, Sofia will always be welcome here"
"Thank you, Rollie." Miranda smiled. "You always know just what to say."

Miranda walked up to Sofia's room.

"Sofia, I've decided that you can go to your father's village today." She informed her daughter.

"Great!" Sofia cheerd, running over and hugging her mother. "Thanks, mom!"

"You're welcome, honey." Miranda whispered.
Later, Alex and Sofia were getting ready to leave.
"Ready, sweetheart?" Alex asked.
"You bet, daddy." Sofia smiled.
"Then let's go." Alex took his daughter's hand.
Taking one of the flying carriages, they arrived at the village in no time.
"This is my home, Sofia." Alex showed his modest cottage to her. "It's also a grocery store. I supply fruits and vegetables to the entire cillage."
"Neat." Sofia smiled.
A number of villagers were gathered around the cottage.
"There you are, Alex!" One said. "We've been wondering what happened to you."
"I was attending to some family business." Alex declared.
"Who's the girl?" Asked another patron. "Is that...?"
"This is my daughter, Sofia." Alex smiled.
"Sofia?" The patron gasped. "As in princess Sofia?"
Sofia curtsied nervously.
"The very same." Alex smiled.
"Unbelievable." The patron gasped. "We didn't even know you had a daughter, much less that she was a princess."
"What can I say?" Alex shrugged. "Luck of the draw."
"Anyway, we're glad you're back." Said a female patron. "We need our fruit and veg!"
"Just a moment, please." Alex held up his hands. "It looks like I'm going to be a little busy, Sofia. Will you be okay by yourself?"
"I'll be fine." Sofia smiled.
As Alex opened shop, Sofia was approached by some local children, who stared at her intently.
"Um, hi." Sofia said nervously.
"Is it true?" Asked a girl. "Are you really princess Sofia?"
"Yep." Sofia nodded.
"That is so cool!" The girl cheered. "Wanna play with us?"
"Sure." Sofia smiled.
Sofia started playing with her new friends. She had so much fun, she almost didn't realise when the time eventually came to leave. Alex had been so busy at the store that they were a tad behind schedule. By the time they got back to the castle, the rest of the family had already started dinner.

"Sofia please go wash up." Baileywick asked as they ran into him.
"Sure Baileywick." Sofia nodded as she went up the stairs
"Alex you and Sofia are twenty minutes Late." Baileywick rounded on Alex.
"Sorry, I was busy at my store today and Sofia was playing with the Kids in my Village." Alex said.
"In her princess gown?" Baileywick gasped.
"Yes." Alex nodded. "Why, what's wrong with that?"
"Alex, the royal family's dinner has already started." Baileywick told him. "And Sofia will be even more late by having to change into a clean dress."
"Oh no, I made Sofia late?" Alex groaned.
"I'll have one of the maids get her another dress." Baileywick declared. "You should go get ready too."
"Thanks, Baileywick." Alex smiled, before dashing off to get ready.
"Okay Bailieywick, I'm ready." Sofia smiled as Baileywick entered her bedroom.
"Sofia, Your dress needs to be changed." Baileywick told her.
"Why?" Sofia asked.
"A princess always needs to look her best, remember?" Baileywick told her.
"But Baileywick?" Sofia asked.
"No Buts, Sofia." Baileywick shook his head. "Now Violet will help you. I want to see you downstairs in less then five minutes."
"Okay, Baileywick." Sofia nodded as Violet came into Sofia's room and Bailieywick left.

After waiting barely five minutes, Alex saw Sofia coming down the stairs in a new dress.

"How do I look?" Sofia asked.

"Pretty as a picture, sweetheart." Alex smiled.

"Thanks, daddy." Sofia blushed.

Sofia and Alex entered the dining room and took their places at the table.

"Hey Sofia, I just thought of something." James said suddenly. "What about the Tri-Kingdom Picnic coming up soon?" James asked.
"Oh, I didn't think of that." Sofia realised.
"King Roland, when is the Tri-Kingdom Picnic?" Alex inquired.
"This Saturday afternoon." Roland told him.
"tell you what, Sofia." Alex smiled. "What say you stay the night Friday, and I'll pick you up after the Picnic is over?"
"That sounds great, dad." Sofia smiled. "I Love you"
"I love you too." Alex smiled back. "But on Friday I'll have to get back to the store after Art class."
"That's okay, dad." Sofia declared. "It'll give me a chance to be with my friends and teachers one last time."
"Sofia, I've told you this over and over again." Alex sighed. "Now this will be the last time I say it: You will still seeing your friends and Family again, I promise."
"You're right, dad." Sofia giggled. "I'm being silly."
"Now go with your brother and sister and get ready for bed." Alex said. "I'll be up to tuck you in."
"Okay, night." Sofia nodded.
After Baiieywick left with the kids, Roland turned to Alex.
"Alex, where is this Village of yours, may I ask?" He inquired.
"It's in Vivian's kingdom." Miranda said.
"Vivian?" Alex asked. "Is that one of Sofia's friends from Royal Prep?"
"Perhaps Vivian can keep Sofia up to date with schoolwork from Royal Prep." Roland suggested.
"Roland, Sofia would be going to a normal school." Alex told him. "They have very different classes there."
"Of course." Roland mused.
A short while later, Alex came to Sofia's room to tuck her in.
"Dad, what if I don't like normal school?" Sofia asked.
"Just give it a try for a while, please?" Alex asked.
"Okay, dad." Sofia yawned.
"Great." Alex smiled. "Good night, sweetheart."
Alex left the room.
"Normal school?" Sofia said to herself. "But I like royal prep a lot.
Clover hopped onto Sofia's bed.
"Hey princess, what's up?" He asked.
"I may not be going to Royal Prep for a while." Sofia told him.
"Why not?" Clover inquired.
"I'm going to stay with my real dad, and he wants me in a normal school." Sofia declared.
"Whatever you decide, we'll support you." Clover smiled.
"But the last time I was in normal school was in the first grade." Sofia frowned. "That was before mom married my new dad."
"Just give this normal school a try, okay Sofia?" Clover urged her. "You'll do fine, I know it."
"You're probably right." Sofia admitted. "But Friday may be my last day at Royal Prep."
"Then make the most of it." Clover suggested. "Make it a day to remember."
"Okay, I will." Sofia smiled. "Thanks, Clover."

The next Morning, Sofia dressed for school and want down the stairs for Breakfast.
"Sofia I have to tell you a little bit about your new school." Alex told her.
"What is it, dad?" Sofia asked.
"The name of your new school is Lily Oaks Elementary." Alex declared. "And you may want to wear your village dress."
"But dad, can't I just wear my princess dress?" Sofia asked.
"I'm sorry Sofia, but you must wear your village dress to Lily Oaks, staring next tuesday morning." Alex shook his head.
"But dad, I 'm used to being a Princess now." Sofia protested.
"Sorry Sofia, but you can't be a princess at that school." Alex said firmly.
"Okay Dad, I'll give it a try." Sofia sighed. "You are still coming to art class today, right?"
"Yes I am, Sofia." Alex smiled. "But remember, I'll be leaving as soon as art class is over, because I still have to enrol you and sing the papers for your new school, okay."
"Sure, dad." Sofia nodded. "I'll see this afternoon in art class, okay?"
"Okay, sweetheart." Alex smiled.

Once Sofia arrived at Royal Prep, she waited anxiously for the start of art class, and the arrival of Alex. At the same time, she followed Clover's advice, and made the most of what could be her last day at Royal Prep for a good while, having fun with her friends. As the afternoon rolled around Alex was allowed into the class room will all the other parents, to her delight.
"That's your real father, Sofia?" Vivian whispered.
"Yeah." Sofia smiled. "That's my dad."
"Alright class." Flora declared. "You will now paint portraits of your parents. Feel free to be as creative as you like."
Alex struck a pose for Sofia.
"How's this?" He asked.
"Perfect, dad." Sofia smiled. Dipping her brush into some paint, she began her work.
Before long, her masterpiece was complete.
"Okay, done." She declared. "Come take a look, dad."
"Alex walked over and took a peek at the painting.
"Hey, not bad." He smiled. "You've got a real talent there, sweetheart."
"Thanks, daddy." Sofia grinned.
"Thank you, parents, for your time." Fauna declared. "But I'm afraid class is now over. Everyone please depart in an orderly fashion."
"I've got to get back to the store now." Alex sighed. "See you tomorrow."
"Here, take this with you." Sofia handed Alex the painting.
"Wow, really?" Alex gasped. "You worked so hard on it..."
"I want you to have it, dad." Sofia smiled. "It'll keep you company until tomorrow."
"Thanks, sweetheart." Alex smiled, kissing his daughter on the forehead. "See you soon."
"Bye, daddy." Sofia smiled.