Chapter Text
alexandra privet marches forward through the halls of princess charm school with a straight back and burning determination.
she supposes she’d have to work on that – the marching, that is. a lady royal does not march. they strut, glide, and maybe even sweep or sashay. but considering the circumstances, alexandra decided that her current pace and form would do: she had stipulated that a strong first impression, one of strength and perseverance, would be most suitable in front of her future classmates.
my name is alexandra privet, prospective lady royal. i am most delighted to make your acquaintance.
alexandra already knows where her room for the next two years is– every time the school had been open to the public she'd been first in line, drinking in the tour guide's words with an eagerness she almost let show. sure, the tour had been the same everytime, but the best part came after: the meandering and discovering. and alexandra was sure that she'd still had much to see of the grounds. this incessant visiting came only after she got a cream-colored letter with a crown engraved in a pink seal, of course. this same letter had invited her to be a student at princess charm school. alexandra didn’t assume or expect– not just because it was a contemptuous practice, but because she didn’t want to be disappointed if she wasn't accepted after all.
but she was.
that thought causes alexandra to smile as she stands across from a lavender door and gateway to her future accommodation.
she knocks, three times, before gently prying the door open– just in case.
her luggage had already been delivered, so alexandra entered the room to see a girl, presumed roommate, shuffling through a large cardboard box.
alexandra could only see that she had rich golden hair that almost deepened to bronze in the sunlight and wearing the charm school uniform. more was a mystery.
“good afternoon,” alexandra rehearses. “my name is–”
and the words die in her throat.
no, they’re speared down from the clouds, boldly murdered by the stunning blue eyes that come with a turn of her roommate’s head. there’s already a smile on her pretty face, teeth blinding white as she stands up from her crouching position. a face she’d seen numerous times on posters and portraits, in her own home, and others– friends, colleagues, local libraries, preschools, and in theatres.
and yet none of them compare to the warmth in princess isabella’s eyes.
“i– your highness,” alexandra curtsies, quickly casting her eyes onto the floor.
“hello to you too,” princess isabella grins, curtseying herself. the greeting is flawless– a smooth dip and spread of her plaid pink skirt. “i’m isabella of gardania, princess. i’m so incredibly excited to be your roommate!”
“i’m honoured by this position, your highness,” alexandra says, face still turned downward.
magenta pumps appear in alexandra’s vision.
“according to official princess charm school protocol, all codes of social conduct between students of different ranks are abrogated!” the princess chirps, holding out a hand. her nails have classic french tips and a glittery top coat. “so i do hope this is the last time i am greeted so formally?”
alexandra misses her wink.
“yes, your high–” alexandra answers robotically, features twisting into a cringe. she does, however, manage to return the gaze from azurite eyes.
“isabella,” the princess teases, golden lashes kissing golden skin.
“isabella,“ alexandra whispers back hastily, hoping that no one is walking by the open door, and shifts her weight around in her heels. “excuse my poor introduction. i am alexandra privet, lady royal.”
“your father is an advisor to mine, right?” the princess asks, tilting her head to the side so blonde hair falls across her shoulder.
“yes.” (alexandra cringes again as she swallows back the ‘your highness’).
"i was so impressed with how he'd restored all the children's homes in one executive sweep last summer– i'd visited one, you see, and the care that went into the facilities was beautiful to see," isabella says with a bouquet of passion that makes alexandra's throat tighten.
“that means a lot coming from you, thank you,” she replies, a little too stiffly for her own liking. but her father had worked hard on that project– spent many late nights in his study, her mother coming out of her retirement to share his workload. alexandra herself had overseen and supervised a large majority of the construction. yet the king's court reaction had been a subdued pat on the back. not that it mattered, the quality of life of those who reasided there did but– no one of princess isabella's status had bothered to acknowledge it. so hearing that from her, despite the grating informality of her words, truly meant a lot.
house privet may be small-scale, a little estate right outside of the city, but they were an old family. and it was an honor to be invited to princess charm school, and an even greater honor to be roommates with the princess of this nation.
especially if that princess is princess isabella.
“well, i hope we'll be good friends!” isabella gleams, all sunshine and flowery perfume, holding out a hand. alex swallows and takes it, wondering if that would even be possible.