The large group split up into two smaller groups. Gabriella led her friends into the dining hall. They tables were already arranged for that evening's banquet. There were place cads with all their names on them indicating where they were to sit.
"Where's your seat?" Sharpay asked.
"I always sit on my grandfather's right side." Gabriella answered,
They walked down a hallway that was decorated with several portraits. Suits of armor stood guard over the hallway. Everyone stopped to look at the different portraits. Gabriella went to a set of heavy double doors and peeked inside.
"Who are all of these people?" Chad asked.
"My ancestors." Gabriella replied. "My family dates back over nine hundred years."
"Are you up there?" Ryan asked.
"My portrait is me as a five year old. My permanent portrait will be placed up there in two weeks."
"Why two weeks?" Jason asked.
"My proclamation is in two weeks."
"What's that?"
"It's where I am officially proclaimed heir to the throne and given the title Her Royal Highness." Gabriella explained. "The next room is the throne room."
Gabriella then opened the door. Everyone walked into the room. Gabriella stared at her grandfather's throne. Troy noticed her expression and walked over to her and took her hand.
"Are you alright?" he asked.
"Yeah, every time I come in here, it always hits me that I'm going to be sitting there one day." Gabriella answered.
"Where to next?" Taylor asked.
"I better show you to your suites." Gabriella said. "Follow me."
Gabriella led everyone up the grand staircase. Along the walls were photographs of Gabriella growing up with her family. Sharpay looked at one of the photographs and gasped. The others went over to see what she was looking at.
"Gabby, is this you with Prince William and Prince Harry?" Sharpay asked.
"Probably, our families have been friends since before we were born. Princess Diana was my mother's maid of honor at my parents' wedding and was my godmother." Gabriella answered. "Harry and Will are like my brothers."
"Will they be visiting while we're here?" Kelsi asked.
"The entire royal family will be here for my proclamation." Gabriella answered. "Alright, the east wing is the guys' suites and the west wing is the girls'."
Gabriella led them down the east wing. She opened the first door Chad saw his suitcase was in there and realized this was his suite was his. He looked around the room excitedly. The others laughed.
"You and your parents have your own sitting and bathrooms. As do all of your suites." Gabriella explained.
After she finished showing the others their rooms, everyone headed up another flight of stairs. Two guards were standing by a door. They stood at attention once they saw Gabriella.
"Where are we?" Zeke asked.
"This is my wing." Gabriella said opening the door.
Everyone walked inside. They were in Gabriella's parlor. Gabriella closed her door. She then threw open the curtains. The room was painted in a light blue paint. The furniture was from the Victorian era. On the coffee table were two wrapped items. Gabriella walked over to them.
"One is from the Emperor and Empress of Japan and the other one is from the Premier of France." she read.
"Are you going to open them?" Jason asked.
"Do you want me to?"
"Yeah."
"Alright."
Gabriella picked up the gift from the Premiere. She unwrapped it. Inside was a set of tickets for Paris Fashion Week.
"There are four tickets." Gabriella said. "Do you girls want to go?"
"Really?" the three other girls exclaimed. "Thank you!"
"There's a note." Troy said as he sat down and pulled Gabriella into his lap.
"What does it say?" Kelsi asked.
"La Petite, happy birthday and welcome home." Gabriella read.
Taylor handed her the other package. Gabriella placed it on her lap and began to unwrap it. Several pictures that were drawn by a child were resting near the top of the box.
"Aw, Yuki." Gabriella gushed as she looked at the pictures.
"Who's Yuki?" Jason asked as Gabriella passed the pictures around.
"She's the Emperor of Japan's oldest daughter. I baby-sit her a lot."
Gabriella then pulled out a silk kimono. The patter was pink roes and had a pink silk tie around the middle. Gabriella picked up the letter.
"Beautiful Kana, happy birthday and many congratulations on your soon to be proclamation. All four of us will be making a trip out to Genovia just for this special occasion. Before we depart, Yuki would like for you to baby-sit her fro one night." Gabriella read smiling.
Just then there was a knock on the door. Gabriella rushed over to answer. Gina was standing on the other side.
"Your grandfather will be a few more minutes." she stated.
"Thank you." Gabriella replied.
"So, Gabby, what room's this?"
"This is my parlor." Gabriella explained. "This room is where I great personal guests. After a few minutes we then go into my private sitting room."
Gabriella then opened a set of doors and led her friends into her sitting room. The room was a warm yellow with more Victorian furniture. A silver tea seat sat on the coffee table ready to be used when needed.
"Who have been your guests?" Sharpay asked still looking around the room.
"I've had Athena Onassis and Beatrice and Eleanor Windsor." Gabriella explained. "And this is my bedroom."
She opened two French door and led them into her room. The walls were light purple and covered in photographs including her with the others from East High. Gabriella threw open the curtains and opened the French balcony doors. She led everyone onto the balcony.
"Right over there is our gardens. And our stables are over there…" Gabriella started
"Princess, your grandfather is ready to see you now." Gina told everyone.
"Alright."
Gina led everyone down to the west wing. Two more guards stood at another door. They stood at attention when Gabriella and the others entered the room. Two elder men were talking with each other. One of them stood up excitedly.
"Gabby!" he exclaimed standing up.
"Grandpa!" Gabriella said happily.
The king picked her and hugged her tightly. He then greeted the others and welcomed them to Genovia. The second man stood up then.
"Richard, you remember my granddaughter, Princess Gabriella." Gerard Montez introduced. "Gabriella, this is Richard Morgan, Prime Minister of Australia."
"Welcome to Genovia, Prime Minister." Gabriella greeted warmly.
"Thank you, Princess." the Prime Minister stated bowing. "I understand that your birthday is this weekend."
"Yes, Sir."
"I've brought you a gift."
He walked into the conjoining room. While he was gone, Gabriella looked up at her grandfather and smiled happy to be back in her home country. The Prime Minister brought out something bundled up in a blanket. He placed it in Gabriella's arms. Gabriella pulled the blanket back and gasped.
"A koala?" she asked.
"This one is the daughter of the koala you held at the zoo for three hours."
"You took her from her mother?" Gabriella asked sadly.
"Unfortunately, her mum was killed by an illegal poacher."
"What's her name?"
"Aussie."
"Thank you, Prime Minister."
"Happy Birthday, Princess."
"Gabby, you and the girls better go and start getting ready for the banquet." King Montez said.
"Alright." Gabriella agreed.
"Don't worry; I'll take care of the rest of your friends."
Gabriella, Kelsi, Sharpay, and Taylor left the room. Gabriella had been told to take them to her grandmother's sitting room. When they got here, all of their mothers were waiting for them. Also, there were racks full of elegant gowns.
"Gabby, Pierre is waiting for you." the queen stated kindly. "Gina, will come escort you when it's time."
Gabriella nodded and left to head back to her chambers. Kelsi, Sharpay, and Taylor sat down next to their mothers. The queen sat down in her own chair.
"For this evening, you all will be wearing gowns and gloves." the queen explained. "As a gift from me, the dresses you choose are yours to keep."
The girls got up and thanked her as they began to look through the dresses. Their mothers helped them picked the right dress for each of them. Taylor, Sharpay, and Kelsi hugged Clarisse excitedly.
Three and a half hours later, the guys were waiting. Kelsi came down the stairs first. Flowers were woven into her hair that was hanging down below her shoulders. Her dress was a night blue and was sleeveless. Around her neck was a dark blue sapphire. She walked over to Jason.
"You look beautiful." Jason told her.
"Thank you, I think I've found my prom dress."
Sharpay came down the stairs. He was a wearing a pink gown with spaghetti straps. Her hair was up in a bun with a matching pink flower. A pink diamond was around her neck. She smiled as she approached the others. Zeke kissed her cheek gently.
"Taylor's on her way down." Sharpay told Chad.
Taylor then appeared. She was wearing a sleeveless red dress with a mermaid train. Her hair was down and straight. An emerald necklace hung around her neck.
"Damn." Chad exclaimed.
Taylor giggled as he wrapped his arms around her. They then watched as three guards headed upstairs. One of them was holding a velvet pillow with a diamond tiara.
"Hey guys." Ms. Montez greeted.
"Hi, Ms. Montez." they all replied.
"You all look very elegant."
"You look very beautiful." Troy told his girlfriend's mother."
"Thank you."
"Milady, Gabriella is asking for you." Gina told Ms. Montez. "I'll stay here."
"Thank you."
"If you would all follow me." Gina told the others.
Everyone stood up and followed her into the ballroom. Their parents were already in there. They greeted their children and commented on how beautiful or handsome they looked. Just then a guard banged his staff onto the floor.
"Presenting, Duchess Maria Elizabeth Miller-Montez." he announced as Ms. Montez entered the ballroom.
She smiled as she walked over to stand next to the thrones. For the next few minutes, glasses of champagne were passed out to all of the guests. The same guard repeated his earlier action. Everyone fell silent.
"They're Royal Highnesses King Gerard Alfonso and Queen Clarisse Isabelle Montez." the guard announced.
The two double doors opened that everyone had entered from. The king and queen stood there. The king was in his army uniform that was decorated with medal. The queen was wearing a black dress with long sleeves and a high collar. A ruby choker was around the collar. They walked to their thrones. They both hugged the mother of their granddaughter. A waiter handed them their champagne flutes.
"Tonight begins the first of many celebrations, almost all involving our granddaughter. This weekend she will celebrate her sixteenth birthday and two weeks from now, she'll have her proclamation." Gerard stated. "And we're lucky and honored to have some of her friends from America, including her boyfriend and his parents. So let's celebrate their visit and show them how beautiful Genovia is. Let us also celebrate the return of our beloved princess. To Princess Gabriella."
"To Princess Gabriella." The other guests toasted as they raised their glasses and the guard banged his staff on the floor once more.
"Presenting Gabriella Chantel Elizabeth Montez, Princess of Genovia." he announced.
Trumpets sounded as everyone turned to the staircase. The doors opened and Gabriella entered. She was wearing a light gold strapless gown. Around her neck was a diamond necklace. On top of her head was her tiara. Gabriella smiled at all of her guests. Troy watched in awe as she made her way down the stairs. Gabriella walked over to join her grandparents.