This isn't beta'd so any mistakes and typos are my own. Here's chapter 2. Enjoy :) Merry Christmas to everyone celebrating today or tomorrow!
Please review :)
Chapter 2
Regina made her way down the hall with Miss Eugene towards the study room where Princess Mary Margaret was waiting for her.
"Princess, you remember Miss Mason?" Miss Eugene asked as they walked in.
"How could I forget?" the Princess mumbled.
"Right, well study hard. You know how your mother wants you doing well." Miss Eugene said turning towards Regina, "She's all yours."
Regina pulled out the seat next to Mary Margaret's and yelped as she saw a mouse on the chair. Mary Margaret laughed picking up the mouse, "I thought you said you weren't afraid of mice."
"I'm not, I just got surprised," Regina muttered as she sat down on the now vacated seat as Miss Eugene left the room.
The princess worked on some math problems before giving Regina her paper to look over. Regina stared down at the complex equations attempting to figure out if they were right or not. Truth was she wasn't the greatest at math, she was a writer after all. She would much rather do that than numbers. She hummed slightly as she looked over the paper attempted to make it look like she knew what she was doing.
"Well?" the princess said, "How'd I do?"
"Uhm, it looks good to me," Regina said looking over at the Princess.
"I got a 93 on the state exam," the Princess added.
"Wow, well since you're so good at math how about some English? We can do some writing, that was always my favorite," Regina said pulling out the English book from the stack.
"You're a writer?" the Princess asked.
"Yeah well no," Regina said catching herself, "I studied it in New York."
"New York? I thought you were from Virginia."
Regina looked at the princess, crap okay, "I am," she said, "I went to school in New York." She turned back towards the textbook biting her lip.
The princess was watching her, "You're wondering what happened to me, aren't you?"
"What? No, no, of course not," Regina quickly said as she turned her gaze back to the princess who had started to stare out the window.
"It's called spina bifida, there's no cure for it." The princess rolled her wheelchair over to the window, "Poor little rich girl, right?" she asked.
Regina frowned slightly watching the princess, she was strong. Stronger than most her age. Regina admired her for that. She might just be pretending to be a tutor but that didn't mean she didn't have to give her some words of wisdom. She got up and walked around the desk to where the princess was looking out the window. "Brave little girl, is what I was thinking," she said as she bent down to eye level with the princess, "You're stronger than most people I know." She heard some noises coming from outside and got up to look out the window.
Outside in the courtyard she saw the Prince, Robin, shooting arrows at a target, she smiled softly and then turned towards the Princess, "How about we get some fresh air?"
The two of them made their way out to the courtyard where Prince Robin was still shooting arrows.
"What are you doing, Robin?" Princess Mary asked as they got within earshot.
He turned around at the sound of his sister, "I'm practicing with my new bow," he looked over at Regina who was staring at him with her jaw open slightly. "Are you alright?"
"I uhm, yes," she started, "You just look different without the beard. I guess you probably got rid of it because your mother didn't like it. Not that a full grown adult has to do everything his mother says but…" she rambled on cringing slightly at how flustered she was in his presence. He smirked slightly watching her, she wasn't like most of the girls he'd met. She was unique. There was something about her that was special. "So, archery?" she added changing the subject.
"Yeah, my father taught me when I was little," he lined up his bow and shot an arrow hitting one of the outer rings.
"Can I try?" Princess Mary asked.
"Oh no, this bow is too heavy for you…" he started to say.
"I think Princess Mary Margaret can handle that bow just fine, unless you're afraid of being shown up" Regina sassed, much more in control of her words than she was a moment ago. Robin raised a brow impressed at how she defended his baby sister and amused at her teasing. He could get used to her.
"Fine, alright then," he said handing Mary Margaret the bow, "Be careful. Mother would lob off my head if she saw this."
"Better your head than something else," Mary Margaret replied.
"Princess Mary," Regina exclaimed shocked at the little girl's crudeness.
"Like his ear," Mary clarified, yeah okay that's not what she meant at all and everyone knew it. She grabbed an arrow and lined up her shot hitting the bulls eye on the first try. "Yes!" she exclaimed.
"Oh wow, amazing!" Regina blurted, "High five," she said holding up her hand. The princess looked slightly confused but high fived her tutor nonetheless.
"Your turn, Roni," Mary Margaret said handing her the bow.
"Oh no," Regina shook her head, "I can't, I don't know how to shoot an arrow."
"It's not that hard," Robin said walking up behind her, "Here, hold it like this," he gave her the arrow and helped her get into position, "bring your arm back, just like that. Keep your target in eye and shoot."
She could feel his breath on her neck as he guided her into position, she held her breath as her heart started to race. Regina, calm down she told herself as she tried to keep focus on the target and not on the very handsome prince who was showing her how to use a damn bow and arrow. She felt him move away and looked back towards him, which of course, moved her body enough to aim towards a window of the palace and not the target as she let the arrow go. The arrow went crashing through the window into a painting where Miss Eugene had been standing. She gasped as she stared at the arrow.
Down at the courtyard, Regina's eyes went wide as she realized what she had just done. "Oh shit."
"Okay we need to get out of here, right now," Robin said laughing slightly at what had just happened, he grabbed the handles, of Mary Margaret's wheelchair and ushered Regina quickly out. The three of them scurrying off as Miss Eugene stared down at them.
.::.
"How do I even do this? It's gibberish. I can't do math," Regina groaned as she looked at her computer.
"You could, hire a tutor," August said over the webcam trying not to laugh at his horrible joke. Regina rolled her eyes.
"Just stay calm," Mal added, "be one with the numbers."
Regina was about to respond when there was a knock on her door, "gotta go." She closed the skype box. "Come in," she said to whoever was on the otherside of the door.
The door opened to reveal Princess Mary Margaret in a pretty pink dress being rolled in by Miss Eugene.
"What are you doing?" the princess asked Regina.
Regina smiled as she stood up at the princess' entrance, "Just going over your lesson plan for tomorrow, lots of numbers and equations…"
"We're sorry to have barged in, but Princess Mary insisted," Miss Eugene said.
The princess looked up at Regina, "I'd like you to be my guest."
"Guest for what?" Regina asked.
"The royal family is having a cocktail reception for the esteem members of nobility," Miss Eugene explained, "And you, apparently." She added.
Regina narrowed her eyes a bit, clearly the broad wasn't her biggest fan but the Princess was, she bent down to eye level with the princess and smiled, "I'd be honored to be your guest, Princess."
The princess smiled, "Perfect, I'll see you soon." Miss Eugene turned the Princess' wheelchair and rolled her out of Regina's room. Regina watched the go before going over to the wardrobe now housing her clothes to find something that would be suitable for the cocktail reception. Settling on one of the dresses she had packed and a pair of tights, she pulled on her favorite converses and started to get ready for the party.
.::.
The party was in full swing, plenty of nobility and government officials were mingling amongst each other. There were plenty of drinks being served by waiters on gold trays. Waitresses were walking around with hors d'oevers on trays for the guests.
Regina stood back towards one of the walls taking in the scene she had a glass of champagne in her hand but that was all that she was planning to drink that night. No she needed to stay in control to observe. One of the waitresses walked over to her with a tray.
"Jellied meat, madame?"
Regina looked down at the jiggly supposed meat and internally cringed, "no, no thank you, I'm good," she smiled a little as the waitress nodded and walked off to another guest.
Regina looked around and noticed the Queen talking to someone, the prime minister she overheard. She pulled up the camera on her phone and snuck a picture of the two of them as someone else walked over to greet the Queen. She took another picture listening discreetly to see who it was.
"Your majesty, you look radiant," the man said.
"Thank you, John," the Queen responded as she gave him her hand for him to kiss. John? Who was John, Regina thought making a mental note to research this.
"Where is that cousin of mine?" John said, "Still galavanting off on some off the grid country?"
Cousin? He was a relative? As if on cue, Prince Robin walked in fixing his cufflink and walked over to his mother kissing her cheek, "Sorry I'm late, mother. I couldn't find my cufflinks."
"Robin," John said, "I heard you were in Yorkshire, must have just missed you. I was spending time with the president at the Ritz."
"I was in a tent on the beach and not up some old prick's arse," Robin responded staring down John.
Regina bit her lip trying not to laugh, the prince certainly had a sense of humor. She was about to take another picture when the Princess rolled over behind her.
"Are you enjoying the party?" Princess Mary asked as Regina turned towards her.
"I am," Regina nodded, "thank you for inviting me."
The princess narrowed her eyes, "You seem quite fascinated with my brother," she noted.
Regina swallowed, "I was just...looking for something to eat." she said thinking on her feet, "I'm not a fan of jellied meat."
"Me neither," the Princess agreed about the jellied meat. "Come on, follow me." She started to walk off. Regina frowned slightly and followed her out to the other room. The princess had led her over to a table with christmas cookies and fruit near a fireplace and Christmas tree. She sat down and motioned for Regina to take the other seat before handing her a cookie. Regina smiled and took it taking a bite. "Better?"
"Much better," Regina replied wiping her lip. "So why are you so nice to me all of a sudden?"
The princess looked at Regina, "Because you're different from everyone else."
"Because I break shit and can't curtsey to save my life?" Regina joked.
"No," Princess Mary rolled her eyes, "you treat me like a normal kid."
"You are a normal kid," Regina insisted.
"Yeah, yeah," Princess Mary responded, "A normal kid with a castle and crown."
"Hey, nobody's perfect," Regina replied nudging the Princess' shoulder and giving her a wink.
John walked over to the two of them at that moment, "Princess Mary," he said gleefully.
"Cousin John," Princess Mary said less than enthusiastically.
He looked over at Regina and whispered rather loudly at the princess, "Did the queen invite one of the maids to the party?"
Mary Margaret rolled her eyes, "She's my tutor and I invited her." Regina put down her cookie and stood up, waving slightly. "Roni, this is my cousin John. John, this is Roni." The princess introduced.
"Hi John." Regina said.
John gave her a look, "You shall address me as Lord of Oxbridge."
"I find that nobility that insist on going by their titles are the same as those who drive porsches," Prince Robin sassed as he walked over to the group, winking at Regina.
"What's wrong with my porsche?" John asked.
Robin shrugged slightly, "Nothing wrong with it, just what it's compensating for. That's the issue."
Regina smirked watching the two of them, the prince was quite likable unlike what the papers and tabloids had made him out to be. A woman walked over garnering the attention of both Robin and John when Mary turned to Regina.
"John hates Robin because he's one ahead of him in the line for the throne," she explained.
"Wait," Regina frowned, "If Robin abdicates the throne, it goes to John? Not you?"
"Male blood line. Totally sexist and out of date. Absolutely ridiculous." Mary Margaret said with an eyeroll.
"I'll say," Regina agreed looking over at Robin as he entertained one of the guests.
.::.
After the party, Regina made her way back to her room and pulled open her laptop to skype with her friends back home and tell them all about the party and everything she had learned.
"Jealous Cousin Fights For the Throne," Mal said, "you could totally work with that angle."
"I could but I need more information," Regina said, "You know what I really need is one on one time with the Prince."
Mal smirked slightly, "What's he like?"
"Nothing like what I was expecting," Regina answered, "He's cocky, sure, but there's something else, a vulnerability of some sort. I don't know. I can't really describe it."
"Oh my god, you are so smitten with him!" August piped in.
"She's blushing," Mal added, "Oh you like him."
"I do not," Regina insisted. Changing topics, "You guys seriously, I'm supposed to find dirt here for this story but I don't think there is any. Help."
"Sweet cheeks," Mal said, "They're royals. There's dirt. You just need to find it."
August nodded, "Wherever there's crown jewels, there's dirt. Just gotta sniff it out. You got this."
"Yeah okay," Regina replied, "I'll figure something out."
"Get that one on one with the Prince, I'm sure he's got stories." August suggested.
"Get him drunk," Mal added.
"Malinda!" Regina gasped.
Mal shrugged, "Just a suggestion. I mean, you could always seduce him."
"I'm hanging up now," Regina shook her head. She loved her friends but she wasn't sure how helpful they really were sometimes.
"Bye, darling," August laughed as Regina shut off her computer.
She changed out of her dress into pajamas and got ready for bed. She needed to find a way to get some alone time with the Prince, she just wasn't sure how. She yawned as she shut off her bedside lamp, she'll figure it out in the morning.