A/N: This chapter is longer, like I promised! I hope you all like it!
Disclaimer: *sigh* I don't own Cinderella, okay? Geez, and my plan to pose as the Grimm Brothers was so good!
Chapter Four
I looked at the children before me and smiled before I dismissed them. Around nine months have passed since that nerve-wracking interview with the King and Queen. They told me after I was accepted for the job that there wasn't much to discuss; I seemed a very capable young tutor and I came with many references.
"You see dear, many of our court could not stop talking about how well their children learned in your care, and I admit that my children are in sore need of someone capable," the Queen said to me, holding my hands and abandoning the blank look for a smiling face.
"Yes, yes! Besides, we must not let other children outsmart my own! Oh no! You must promise to teach them well young lady!" I nodded at the King, speechless of the grand honor given to me as well as the exuberance the King possessed. I really hoped I would get used to it.
After they welcomed me to my new job, they told me what was expected of me and what I would get from it, which far outweighed the expectations.
"Right then, you will be living here in the palace of course. You will have the rooms that usually go to the tutor. You will have an office, a classroom, a bedroom, your own bathroom, and a sitting area. Oh and you will have a small part of your rooms dedicated to books and other materials you may need. You will have access to the larger library. If you need anything, ask a servant or come to me immediately. You may choose to dine with us or the servants, or both if you prefer. We are accustomed to sharing meals with our children's tutors but eating with the servants may be refreshing. You will get a set of new attire fit for a person of you status. All of this will, of course, be provided for by us along with you pay, which, I understand, you want for it to be sent to your family. Yes? Very well then. You will also receive a small allowance that will depend on the performance of my children, as well as a free day once a week.
"You have two hours with the children in the morning and four more after lunch. You may teach what you will as long as they have a good understanding of politics, language, and a history of our kingdom.
"You will be teaching Princess Sayble who is ten, Prince Adanoty who is twelve, and the twins, Prince Edric and Princess Elianne, who are fifteen. Crown Prince Eldon is in the Summer Palace taking care of the borders and learning to become King. His father will be with him shortly and come back in a few months, but Eldon won't come home until the following year.
"Oh finally the children are here. Come along children. This is your new tutor Lady Darielle." I rose from my seat on the sofa across from Queen Lelane, who had been explaining my new position to me. I curtsied to their young majesties and stood straight once more.
We both observed each other in silence. They were very attractive for all their young years. Princess Sayble had thick, long black hair and blue eyes like her mother. She was petite and fair-skinned. Prince Adanoty was stocky, like his father, with brown eyes and hair which contrasted beautifully with his fair skin. Prince Edric was also stocky and fair-skinned, but he had blue eyes and blond hair. His twin, Princess Elianne, was his complete opposite. She was tall like her mother, but was dark-skinned. She had long blond curls and bright green eyes. Despite their differences in height, hair, and eye color, they were clearly siblings. All of them had a similar face structure, with high cheekbones, straight nose, and wide mouth. They had thick eyelashes, even the boys, and finely arched eyebrows. They were straight-backed and had an air of royalty about them. And they all looked at me with the same apprehensive and semi-reproachful face.
"Good morning, Your Majesties," I said, and curtsied once more. My observation of them took a few seconds, but the icy looks they gave me seemed to take forever.
One of them, Princess Elianne, said, "Good morning Lady Darielle." The rest of them nodded and waited for their mother to say something.
"Now that we are acquainted with each other, I expect that Lady Darielle would like to rest for the day and send a letter to her family. Children, please lead her to her rooms." To me she said, "Your rooms are in the same hallway as the children's." I nodded and followed the children out the door after I curtsied to the Queen again.
The first time they led me to my rooms, it was in cold silence. I supposed they were not entirely pleased to have a new tutor, but I wouldn't let their forbidding faces put me down. I sent a happy letter to my family and explored my rooms for the rest of the day. Fortunately, the royal children eventually thawed and by the end of the week we were good friends. Well, not in the classroom, for I was still a teacher, but they liked to show me around and tell me who to befriend and who to avoid. They hated one person in particular, which amused me to no end.
"Oh look! That horrid monster sitting at the center of that group is Lady Piglet," said Elianne, who liked to talk the most.
I raised an eyebrow. "Lady Piglet? You're joking!"
"No, she's not," defended Adanoty, "She really is a pig!"
"Her real name is Lady Pillete, but that's because her parents forgot the g," stated Edric in a matter-of–fact way.
"Well, I have to say that's a bit rude. I wonder what nickname you use for me," I said half-joking.
"Oh don't worry. The worst we ever call you is 'tutor hag', but that's only when you give us extra homework," answered Sayble. "But I never give you extra homework!" I exclaimed.
"And now you know not to!" she replied cheekily.
I was going to protest when Adanoty interrupted, "Okay, going back to the subject, Piglet is a horrible person Elle."
"We don't call people names, but she's an exception," added Edric.
"I don't understand. Why do you dislike her?" I asked
"Because she's mean! I mean sure she looks nice with her blond hair and blue eyes, but you don't know her like we do. She's been after Eldon ever since he turned fourteen and only because he's going to inherit the throne someday. She goes around bossing the servants as if she owned them and tries to get rid of Ladies that hold Eldon's interest. And she called us snot-nosed kids. She deserves her name!" exclaimed Elianne. The others nodded enthusiastically and I half-expected one of them to say,"So there!" and stick out their tongue.
"Oh no, here she comes! Quick, turn around and walk fast. Pretend you didn't hear her. Walk faster Elle! Oh shoot," Elianne muttered the last part as Lady Pillete caught up with us.
I have to admit that I was waiting for a pig snort. Instead she said, "Your Majesties," in a nice voice and curtsied low. I curtsied politely while I watched her through my lashes. She was taller than me, and slender. Her blond hair was piled on her head fashionably, and she wore a modest silk gown. She didn't carry many jewels, only a simple diamond chain on her neck and a single ruby ring on her right hand. She didn't seem like an evil person to me.
She looked at me and said, "I don't believe we have met. I am Lady Pillete. And you are…?"
"I am Lady Darielle, tutor of the royal children," I answered, nodding to the children. She may have dressed modestly but the children were right, she was mean. She had raised her nose at this last comment and sniffed with what I thought was disdain.
"Oh how nice. I am sure it is not too hard of a job." She said, lowering her nose.
"Not at all. Forgive me, but you have reminded me that the children and I must get back to the classroom." I nodded at her and left ahead of the children, who sighed in relief behind me.
As we walked, the children continued to speak nasty things about Lady Pillete.
"You know," I said, "You are really sounding like her. I suggest that you show her how real people act by not being mean to her. She'll start to feel guilty and not as superior." Their protests stopped by the time I finished.
I came back from memory lane when I heard shrieks coming from the royal children. As they were leaving the classroom, they passed the windows, which were the source of their excited shrieks. I went to them and peered out to see what had them so happy when Sayble yelled, "He's back! Eldon's back!"
The crown prince has returned.
A/N: Hope you liked it! Reviews are appreciated!