A Magical Evening (Chapter 18)
A few days later, Lucinda and her mother moved into the castle. In addition to the castle's workshop, Lucinda and her mother each had a comfortable bedroom. As Lucinda got acquainted with her bedroom in the castle, Lucinda's mother, Marla, walked in.
"Well, what do you think, Lucinda?" Marla asked.
"This is nice" Lucinda smiled.
"There's more" Marla smiled back as she opened a closet door in Lucinda's bedroom. Lucinda looked inside the closet to discover twelve beautiful gowns.
"These are for me?" Lucinda asked in awe.
"Yes" Marla smiled. "These are a perk for being the daughter of the royal sorceress. And, you'll be getting another perk as well".
"Another perk?" Lucinda asked.
"I've been informed by King Roland that because you are the daughter of the royal sorceress, that automatically entitles you to attend school at ... Royal Prep" Marla announced.
"I'm going to Royal Prep?" Lucinda asked with a mix of awe and shock.
"Oh, yes, my little witchlet" Marla smiled. "And, Royal Prep has an excellent magical curriculum. You'll receive the finest magical training available".
The next morning, after eating breakfast, Lucinda put on a blue gown and made her way to where a flying carriage was waiting. Already in the carriage were Sofia, Amber, and James.
"Good morning, Lucinda" Sofia smiled. "Climb aboard". Lucinda climbed aboard the carriage, and sat down.
"Your going to love Royal Prep" Amber smiled at Lucinda.
The carriage then took flight. In a little while, the carriage arrived at Royal Prep. As Lucinda, Sofia, Amber, and James got off of the carriage, Miss Flora, Miss Fauna, and Miss Merryweather flew up. "Welcome to Royal Prep, Miss Lucinda" Flora smiled.
Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather gave Lucinda the books and supplies she would need, then showed her around the school. Lucinda was very impressed with Royal Prep. As the day continued, Lucinda attended classes, and got to know the students at Royal Prep who welcomed her into their ranks.
Lucinda's education at Royal Prep was a mix of classes designed to prepare her to interact with royalty, and classes revolving around magical training. Because arrangements had been recently made to have Sofia's major changed to magical training, Lucinda and Sofia were in the same magical classes which pleased the two very much.
During the course of that year, the relationship between Lucinda and Sofia blossomed, with the two finding the occasional private moment to be with each other. These private moments consisted of hand holding, and the occasional kiss. Over time, these private moments would evolve into something more.
Moving forward in time, Sofia and Lucinda were now thirteen. For the past few years, the two held the occasional slumber party in Sofia's bedroom. To everybody else in the castle, the two were close friends, so nothing was thought about them having the occasional slumber party. It was the perfect cover for Sofia and Lucinda to have some private time together ... or so they thought.
One Saturday morning, Sofia and Lucinda were summoned to King Roland's office. As the two thirteen-year-old girls entered the office, they saw King Roland, Queen Miranda, and Marla standing there.
"Come in, girls, and close the door behind you" Roland directed Sofia and Lucinda.
Sofia closed the door, and her and Lucinda walked over to where Roland, Miranda, and Marla were standing.
"What is this about?" Sofia inquired.
"It's okay, sweetheart" Miranda reassured Sofia. "All we ask is that you tell us the truth".
Sofia and Lucinda looked at each other, puzzled.
"I want you to know that we had no intention to invade yours or Lucinda's privacy" Roland said to Sofia. "However, the two of you were recently observed being, shall we say, intimate when you thought that nobody was around".
"What we would like to know is ... are you and Lucinda ... romantically involved?" Miranda asked Sofia.
"If it wouldn't be too much to ask, could Lucinda and I have a moment to talk?" Sofia requested, nervous.
"Of course" Roland agreed.
As Sofia and Lucinda whispered to each other, Roland, Miranda, and Marla watched from a distance. After Sofia and Lucinda had finished whispering to each other, the two turned toward Roland.
"On behalf of myself and Lucinda, our answer is ... yes, we are romantically involved" Sofia answered as she and Lucinda stood there, nervous.
"Well then, there's only one thing I can say" Roland started. "Why are the two of you standing there looking like your about to be hanged?".
Sofia and Lucinda were taken aback by Roland's less than angry attitude over what had just been reveled.
"It's alright" Miranda assured Sofia and Lucinda.
"We're surprised, naturally, that the two of you have such a relationship" Roland said. "However, there are far worse things out there, and the two of you have obviously gone to great lengths to try to keep your relationship secret. Therefore, we can arrange times that the two of you can be together and have complete privacy at the same time".
"Your taking this better than I thought, Dad" Sofia observed.
"Well, it is what it is" Roland said. "We love the two of you very much, and the fact that your having a romantic relationship doesn't change that. And it's not like this is the first time this has happened in royalty".
"It's happened before?" Sofia asked.
"There have been times where a prince or princess has been involved with somebody of the same sex" Roland answered. "In cases like that, the privacy of the prince or princess is preserved. The general rule of thumb is that as long as such a relationship is kept private, royalty is satisfied to turn a blind eye".
Miranda walked over to Sofia and Lucinda. "On behalf of myself, your father, and Marla, we would like to say that we love and support the two of you. What has been reveled doesn't change that. All we want is your happiness".
"We love the two of you very much" Marla smiled at Sofia and Lucinda. "Nothing will change that".
"Thank you" Sofia and Lucinda said to Miranda and Marla, relieved.
"If I may, could I ask who saw Lucinda and I being ... intimate?" Sofia inquired.
"He wishes to remain anonymous at this time, for reasons I understand" Roland answered. "He will eventually come to the two of you and reveal himself. Know that he admires the two of you very much, and was only looking out for your security. Know that he will keep your secret, and that he wants nothing for his silence".
To be continued in Chapter 19.