Gustav jumped up. "Yes! I knew it! I knew it!"
Astrid and Plegma were staring at the screen, transfixed by everything. Astrid's mind was in a whirlwind - how had she gotten into...into...that school? She hadn't even applied!
Suddenly, watching Gustav dancing around, she came to a horrible realization. She grabbed his shoulders. "You applied for me!?"
"Only five or six times," Gustav shrugged, "A day. For an entire year!" He then broke free of her grip and began a very annoying song that went like, "Who's gonna be a lady royal, Ast's gonna be a lady royal! Who lives in the palace, Ast lives in the palace!"
"Mom!" shouted Astrid furiously. Phlegma wore a mixed look of confusion, helplessness, and...was that amusement? She got even more mad, and was about to give Gustav a piece of her mind, or better, strangle him, when a loud whinny from outside interrupted her and her little brother ran to the window.
"Ast! You get to ride in a carriage!"
She peered out the window and saw that, yes, there was a magnificent horse outside, with an even more magnificent carriage attached to him. "Gustav," she groaned, "What have you done?"
He didn't bother to answer, and when someone knocked on the door, he rushed to open it, only to see a rather large man peering over him. "Astrid Hofferson?"
Gustav gaped, and pointed inside to his sister. The man stepped in. "Hello, Miss Hofferson. I'm here to take you to Princess Charm School."
Astrid shook her head. "No, no, there's been a mistake, Mr. - she read his nametag - Stabbington. I'm not going to Princess Charm School."
"Yes, you are!" Gustav protested.
Astrid struggled to hold her patience as she pulled her brother aside. "Gustav, look at me. I've got ketchup splatter all over my shirt and straws in my pockets. I don't belong with a bunch of princesses."
"You look beautiful," he reassured her sweetly.
"Thank you, but the girls over there aren't going to think that."
"Astrid." This time it was Phlegma who spoke, softly, but stern nonetheless.
She glanced at her mother. "Mom, tell him -"
"Astrid," she said again, "Look, it was wrong for Gustav to go behind your back, but..."
What? Was her mom implying that she should actually go? Astrid gaped.
"An opportunity to be a lady royal? That - that would -"
This time it was the girl who interrupted. "Would change our lives forever." She took a good look at Gustav, who was smiling at her, and she realized he hadn't just entered her for her benefit, it was for all of their benefit. She looked at her mom, who gave her a nod and a gentle smile.
"But what about...what about the rent? Someone needs to pay, and -"
"The school will take care of that," the man interrupted smoothly, "Any expenses. You don't need to worry about that."
That eased her worries, but she still felt hesitant. A lady royal? Was she even cut for royalty of any kind? What if - what if…
She took another good look at her family, who were staring back with wide and hopeful eyes, and felt her heart clench painfully. She had to do this - if not for her, then for them.
"Alright. I'll go."
"Yes!" Gustav pumped a fist in the air and ra to hug his sister. Astrid laughed as the hug nearly knocked her backwards.
"Let's go, then." Stabbington inclined his head towards the door. "The carriage is waiting."
"Now?" Astrid asked bewilderedly.
"Now," the man confirmed, "Unless you want to forfeit your scholarship."
"Just, uh, let me pack, it won't take long, I swear -"
"It's all at the school. We have to leave now."
This was all happening way too fast for her liking. She hugged her brother and mother longingly, not wanting to let go. The man behind her went, "Tick tock, tick tock."
"I love you," she whispered to her mother, "I won't let you down."
"You never have," her mother responded, tearing up, "Go, Astrid." She ushered her out the door.
Safely in the carriage, Astrid kept waving until the two were no longer in the carriage. Then, she took a glance at what was in front of her. Just a cup of tea, a teapot for refills, a mirror, and a tube of lipstick. Well, Astrid thought, she might as well begin her training now. She picked up the lipstick and the mirror and carefully began applying it. So far, so good…
And then the carriage hit a bump on the road and her hand spiralled out of control. When she looked at herself in the mirror, there was a bright red mark all across her cheek. Great.
And it got even better. As she took a napkin from the small table, her hand decided it had not done enough damage and knocked over the cup of tea all over her shoes. Astrid hissed in pain. It wasn't that hot, but it was enough for her to realize that the next few months weren't going to be easy. "Huh. School hasn't even started and I've already flunked Carriage Riding 101."
The carriage went on, and after a while, Astrid could see the beautiful stone building that was the castle. "Wow."
And right next to that, but no less magnificent, was the school itself, towering like a fortress, the Berkian crest waving from the fluttering flags. Stabbington stopped the carriage in front of the school and Astrid got out. "So, uh, where do I -"
She never got to ask, because he simply rode off before she could. "Gee, isn't he a nice one?"
Just her, then. She took a deep breath, thought of her family back home, and opened the door.