Chapter 21: What is a Princess'
duty?
They went outside. "I see you
did catch on, Leia, at least these hidden tests are keeping you in role. Leia,
listen, I know this is a lot of pressure but I have just been talking with
Alderaanian refugee's YOU are the rallying point, okay, now that Bail is dead,
you are the person people will be checking to see if the Alderaanians are
slipping."
"All right, Aunt Rogue, we were
talking about protocol and duty of a princess, could you lay that out for me
again." She knew that was the perfect question to reassure her aunt, that
she accepted her role.
"Well, as a Princess of Alderaan
you must marry where it will give Alderaan prestige. See, your life is for the
people, if you fall in love with someone, and marriage is desired, the PEOPLE
must okay it. Then when you DO get married, your job is to teach them about the
ways. You are always in the spotlight, conduct yourself in a manner in which
Alderaan shall never be ashamed."
Leia internally grimaced, so her relationship with
Han...unless he figured out some way to make it so Alderaan succeeded, she
would have to have a consensus vote on whether she could get married to
Han...if he asked. She knew he would, something told her a proposal was on
hand. Nah, that's silly, she told herself, we are only going on our first date
in three days. First official date, another part of her mind said, you have
already been on many unofficial dates.
"Are we ready to start the tests again." Rogue asked.
"We are," Leia said.
The tests took her mind off of Han,
and the relationship.
Two days later- in Leia's suite in the Alderaanian embassy- "So, how many tests do you have left." Luke asked Leia.
"Too many." She said, rolling her eyes, "see, normally they would go light on me, as I have all ready proved moral fortitude and showed leadership skills, but I need to represent Alderaan, so I must be good in all fields, just in case we get a new world, and need someone to lead it, I will be versed in Economics, business, trade, diplomacy, and the tradition of 30 different star systems." Leia said, "How is Han holding up."