"Y-yes, I'm fine. Thank you...um...?" stuttered Stephanie.

"My name is Charles, highness." he answered smoothly as if he's just talking with any other girl. Then again, Stephanie doesn't act like she's royalty.

Stephanie smiled, "Thank you for saving my life, Sir Charles."

"Please, just Charles would be fine, highness." he smiled "I am not one who favors formalities."

Lady Denise rolled her eyes at that. 'Speaking to a princess like that!'

Daniel cleared his throat. Everyone's attention turned towards him.

"Well then. Thank you, Charles for rescueing my daughter, the princess. You shall be rewarded!"

Charles bowed down, "Not to reject your kindess, majesty, but I just did what was needed to be done."

"Modest boy." Daniel said admirely.

"Well then, if my services are not required, I should really be on my way." Charles turned on his heel leaving before anyone objected. Even though he was the one who asked if anyone needed him.

Gia and Mickey walked up to Stephanie.

"Are you okay, Princess Stephanie?" asked Mickey with concern in her voice. She wanted to call her 'Steph' to sound more like a friend but seeing as the king is here she knows she can't.

"Don't worry, I'm fine." the princess hugged her friend.

"Here's your bible by the way. Since you're not in a tree anymore." laughed Gia.

"Haha, very funny!" Michelle cut in, "Why would you do that! You could have hurt yourself you know! And then what! Mother and Father are going to be extra strict about everything I do cause they'd only have one more daughter to marry off and they can finally settle!"

Stephanie laughed and put an arm around her sister's shoulders like a hug.

"Hehe, don't worry! I may fall but you know it's not that easy to kill me! Besides! You only wish I'd stay alive for your sake."

"It's for mother and father too. Mother especially cause you know she loves us equally and that balance would be broken if anything happened."

"Again, you're saying those things for your own sake because if I really did get hurt, mother would worry so much about me that she'll forget your engagement plans and mine!"

"Wait! Forget the engagement plans? Isn't that a good thing?" Princess Michelle put a finger to her chin. Something she has done when thinking for so many years. Twenty-one now and still hasn't broken that habit.

"Yes, why?"

"If you get hurt mother and father would worry themselves over you!" chirped Michelle.

"And that's a good thing...why?"

"When they get woried over you they'll will forget all about weddings and princes and I'll be free!"

"That's good for you but how's this good for me?"

"I'm not sure but I only know one thing!"

"What?" asked Stephanie, eager to know.

"We have to hurt you!" said Michelle as if it were the happiest thing in the world.

"WHAT!"

"I want a break from all this about learning etiquette, how to dress and have a couple days of being normal."

"You know, you could just hurt yourself and be excused from the lessons."

"But then I wouldn't be able to go outside." countered Michelle.

"Fake it." Steph said simply.

"That won't work either. For father maybe but mother's pretty sharp."

"The lessons will only continue until they find a prince for you to wed and you shall be queen."

"Easy for you to say." mumbled Michelle, "You're practically finished with your lessons and waiting for another prince while I have Denise over there bugging me about being a princess all day."

"She just wants you to stay out of trouble is all. You're quite lucky to have a lady like that serving you. Mine, especially Gia, are often up to trouble."

"Must be fun," Michelle said sounding jealous.

"It it. Up until some contess or governess goes to father and tell him. He is so strict-"

"You know I'm still here and am very much enjoying this conversation!" Daniel cutted in.

"Oops." the princesses said in unison.

The king walked over and hugged his daughter, "I'm glad you're alright."

"Thank you, father."

"I apologize for intruding, your majesties, but it is getting rather dark and we better go inside." suggested Lady Mickey.

"Alright! Let's go in. Lady Denise, Please when we get back to the palace remove the mud from Princess Michelle's gown or I might do it myself. Lady Gia and Lady Mickey, help Princess Stephanie find a suitable dress for next week. I finally found another prince for you!" announced King Daniel.

"Oh great!" whispered Stephanie to Gia, "But at least the princes usually let me keep the gifts even if they don't like me."

Gia and Mickey both laughed. Steph always shared any jewels or other items with them whenever she gets some.

Daniel walked infront of everyone else. Stephanie and her ladies behind and Michelle and Denise in the back.

They safely got inside as rain started falling.

"I hate it here at Vienna palace," Michelle complained to Stephanie, "It's always raining in this part of the Tanner Kingdom. Can't father do something?"

"He is king, not god." replied Stephanie.

"He may not be god, but the least he can do is build a cover."

"The money is for your wedding and for mine, if I ever have one. So no covers!"

The youngest princess sighed.

Daniel bid his daughters good-night and headed down one corridor while the two sisters went down the opposite one.

"I think I'll write for a few minutes first." said Michelle.

"Suit yourself." yawned Stephanie, as Mickey closed the door.

"She must be used to meeting princes. She doesn't look nervous at all." Michelle said to Denise.

"I suppose." her lady replied softly and closed their door.

"Could you light a candle and help me find my diary?" asked Michelle. Never orders. Except to other servants.

"Of course."

Finding a candle stick and lighting it, she set it down on the desk Michelle was at. Looking around the large room for the little book which the princess began writing in a last summer. The room was not all litted by th tiny candle.

"Take your time, Denise, I know it's a big room and that's the last candle I have left."

"Maybe you would like to change first and then write."

"Good idea! Satin and mud do not mix."

Denise helped her remove the red gown with now brown specks on it and put on a warm sleeping gown instead.

Michelle yawned.

"Maybe I'll just write tomorrow..."

And she drifted off to sleep.

I'm sorry for not updated! Server had an error! So yea. Hope ya enjoyed this chapter!