Chapter II: The King

Princess Beatrice’s POV

I arrived at King Alaric's palace. The guards welcomed me, and the king's butler accompanied me to the king. Once I arrived. I bowed to the king. I can't see his face. When I look up, I was taken aback because he is a kid, maybe five years younger than me,  and I'm 18 years old.

"Welcome to Utopia Princess Beatrice. There's a reason why I want you to be my queen. I grew bored, and I want you to entertain me. I heard that you have a nice voice too,"

"What did you say? Am I a toy to you? You brat. You are so arrogant. Let me squeeze your cheeks,"

I was about to squeeze his cheeks when he called his butler.

"That's enough, Princess Beatrice. Guards, take her to her room right now" Butler Livie said

I was in my room. After a while, I felt hungry. I'm planning to sneak in and prank Alaric. When I arrived in his study room, I saw him arranging the papers. It's time to prank him.

"Man I'm tired,"

"BOO!"

“Ahhh! It's you, Beatrice, what are you doing here?"

"Nothing, just pranking you and it works,"

"Haha, funny,"

Suddenly a growl was heard.

“What was that?”

"Umm, it's my stomach, I'm starving,"

"There's food at the table, eat it,"

Suddenly, butler Livie stormed inside the king’s room.

“Your highness, Princess Beatrice is-“

"She's here,"

"Oh, I thought she escaped,"

The next day.

When I woke up, I was greeted by two maids.

“Good morning Princess Beatrice, we are your maids to take care of you every day. Our name is Julia and Janella,"

"Nice to meet you,"

"Oh, were going to get you ready for breakfast. King Alaric is waiting for you,"

Meanwhile, in the dining room.

“That’s a lot of food, your highness, to think there’s only two of you having breakfast," the head chef said

"Beatrice has a big appetite. She is late,"

Suddenly the princess appeared wearing a gown.

“I hate wearing gowns,”

"Wow, she is beautiful," said the king in his thoughts

"Stop whining already Beatrice,"

"I will not, you- wow what a beautiful garden you have. Not to mention, there are lots of flowers,"

"You like it? It's just flowers you know,"

"You know it's not just flowers. They are beautiful and precious. I bet you are not interested in them. You are the king of the world, and I'm expecting you to appreciate the little things, but I was wrong,"

The king was shocked.

"Whatever, let's just go eat our breakfast,"

King Alaric’s POV

I was overthinking about what Beatrice said to me that morning. It's already late at night, and I'm still working. I felt tired and needed to relax, so I went to the top of the castle. I saw Beatrice. Why is she still up? I approached her, but I stopped when I heard her saying something.

"Alaric is 13, and I'm 18 years old, so it makes us five years apart. I've always wanted a younger brother, but he has a mind of a man,"

"But I don't want you to be my sister. I don't see you that way,"

“Alaric”

"There are lots of stars today,"

"Yeah, I bet you will say that it's just a star,"

"You know me well. It's cold out here, let's go down,"

“Ok”

"By the way, you want to roam around the castle?"

"I want to, let's go,"

Beatrice held my hand and ran downstairs.

“It's late now. We will go tomorrow,"

“Tomorrow? Ok”

The next day, I toured her around the castle and had fun together. Suddenly, Beatrice pushed me. I was shocked because she was hit by something sharp. I was speechless. I don't know what to do. She was rushed in the infirmary of the palace, and I went to my office to think. My butler Livie entered.

“Is Beatrice Ok?”

"Yes, your highness, the physician said that her wound is not that fatal. I wonder who did that"

"I wonder too,"

Princess Beatrice’s POV

When I woke up, I’m feeling ok. I went to go to Alaric, but the maids won’t allow me to go.

"Please, I’m fine now,"

"No your highness, the physician said to rest,"

“But”

Suddenly, Butler Livie entered.

“Princess Beatrice, I was ordered by King Alaric to return to Terabithia immediately, I will accompany you,"

“What? But why?”

"It's the king's order princess,"

Butler Livie and I rode a carriage. I was so pissed as to why Alaric wants to return to Terabithia.

"I'm sorry about King Alaric's actions, princess. He is just worried about you after seeing you get hurt. You know it's his way of protecting you. He doesn't want you to be like his mother. His mother was assassinated, and he was eight years old back then, it was hard for him. After his mother died, he was forced to become king, and that time his personality changes,"

"Is that so? That's why he is like that. It must be hard for him. But it's not the way to protect me,"

When we were talking, the carriage suddenly stopped, and I heard people shouting. When we got out, people are panicking. I went near them, and I saw the palace was on fire. They immediately called the fire department. I must do something because people are still panicking. I had an idea. I went up the tower and sang a song to help the people calm down. When I finished the song, I am glad because people are calm again.

Narrator’s POV

The fire was located in King Alaric's study room, but King Alaric was alert, so he escaped in a secret exit and went outside. King Alaric was standing there and wait for the firefighters to come when he heard a girl singing. King Alaric was mesmerized by the voice. He knew that it was Princess Beatrice because her singing makes all of the people calm. The people in the palace who are panicking became calm. Her voice is beautiful. He was captivated by it.

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Will he order the princess to go back to the palace?

Find out in the next chapter.