The Princess Who Liked To Be Popular – Chapter One

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Once upon a time there was a princess who loved to be loved. She always made sure she made popular decisions so that her people would love her.

And they did.

If the people didn’t like her hair style, she would change it. If the people said a certain colour didn’t suit her, she wouldn’t wear it.

Her parents, King Jerome and Queen Evangeline, were going on a cruise around the world for a year, and were leaving her in charge of the kingdom while they were gone.

The young princess was very excited about the prospect of doing things her own way and she knew she would be able to make her people happier, and they would love her more.

But, before he left, the king looked at his daughter, his face stern and serious, and said to her,

“Primrose,” for that was her name, “Primrose, remember you cannot always please everyone. Make decisions because they are right, not just because they are popular.”

The princess smiled and nodded while he was talking but as she walked away from the king she raised her eyes to the heavens and thought to herself,

“Oh Father, you are old, you don’t understand the world of today. I will make decisions that will make people happy. How can that ever be wrong?”

Unbeknown to the princess, her mother saw her expression and guessed what she was thinking. So, Queen Evangeline, on the eve of her departure with her husband, visited her life-long friend and confidante – Lady Beatrice.

Lady Beatrice was very old, very wise, and mostly kept to herself.

She lived in her cottage by the lake at the edge of the woods and the queen, not wanting anyone to know where she was going, visited her incognito. When she returned home later that night, her mind had been put at ease and she was able to set sail happily with her husband the next day.

On Princess Primrose’s first night in charge of the kingdom she went to bed very happy. There were so many changes she wanted to make; so many ways she thought she could improve the happiness of her people; and therefore so many potential opportunities to increase their love for her.

As she closed her eyes a mist rose from the lake and engulfed the castle, causing everyone in it to slip into a sleep so deep that nothing could disturb them.

Then Lady Beatrice arrived. She walked past the guards who didn’t wake up. She walked past the dogs who didn’t wake up. She walked through the corridors, past all the bedrooms, and no one woke up. And so, with the ease and confidence of someone who knows they won’t get caught, she entered the princess’s chamber.