The First Thing I Hate about Being a Princess

Being a princess is not what you read in books. In real life, being a princess is not fun. It's not all about the dresses and the shoes. It's about responsibility. My name is Penelope, Princess Penelope Lockridge of Floria. I love reading fairytales. For some people, reading a fairytale is like imagining yourself as a beautiful princess. As for me, I read fairytales imagining my life could be that easy and fun and everything could be beautiful. But in real life being a princess means doing whatever they tell you to do, doing things you find boring and being forced to be friends with the other princesses or princes which I don't like because, they always talk about some boring things they read in a book or learn from their training. I'm not really like this, hating my life, but I just wanted to be free, to do something fun just for once in life. I wanted to be a normal girl and do things that a normal girl does. But I can't...

I was woken up today by a maid named Olivia Green. Olivia has been my maid for two years now. I think we're just the same age, but sadly we're not friends. I always wanted to be friends with Olivia but I don't know. I think she's shy and respects me because I'm the princess and all you hear from her is either "yes your highness" or "no your highness". How can I be friends with her if she can only see me as a princess and not a person?

"Wake up your highness, it's a beautiful morning" Olivia said smiling at me, showing her round, gray eyes.

"Thank you Olivia" I said to her, wishing that she could speak and started telling me about her life and she and I could be friends forever. But she just nodded.

After I ate my breakfast, Olivia and the other girls prepared the bath for me. As I entered the room, I felt relaxed. It's the only place I can be alone, the place I can think. The bathroom smelled great; it smelled like flowers. I love it. I stayed in the bath as long as I could. After that, the maids started to put a yellow gown on me, then put on the shoes, tied up my hair and the put on some jewelries on me.

As I walk down the hallway I see my father, King Frederick. He was tall, blonde and very majestic. My father and I never treated each other as father and daughter, just king and princess. We never talked except for important things that royals should discuss. Besides the king, is Queen Adela, my mother with her beautiful brown hair that is loose down to her waist. I remember when I was little that she used to tell me stories before I went to bed, but on my tenth birthday, everything started to change, for no stories were told that night. She only told me that I needed to start acting like a real princess. From that night my mother became like my father. Just 'The King and the Queen'.

Both of them looked at me without smiling.

"We have been waiting for you" Father said.

"Today I want you to study all about Floria's history." Mother said.

What? Floria's history is the worst! It was hard to understand and it would take all day just reading it, and it would take years for me to understand! But "Yes your majesty" was all I could respond.

You see, part of being a princess is studying everything about your country, your people and your history. I hate studying! So even if I don't like it I have to do it because it is a princess' responsibility to learn about everything. But why? I hate spending hours reading about Floria's history. Why do I have to read it if I'm just gonna forget it hours after reading it? I'm not smart but it seems like I have to be. 'It's for our people' that's what they always told me when I have to do another boring thing. 

I went into the castle's library; it was probably the biggest library you could ever see. Three storeys high, with a wide space full of shelves, almost complete with all the books of the world. I love our library, it's so big, you could find any book you wishes to see, actually being in the library makes me think I'm smart, unfortunately opening a book, on the other hand makes me feel sleepy.

When I entered the library, I already saw the books I have to read they are on a very long table at right side of the room. I think I stopped breathing for a long period of time, when I saw those books. What? Do I really have to read all of those books? The books are so big and so many. There was like thirty encyclopedias. My brain can't possibly remember everything from those books! But I have do it. So I sit and started opening the first book. I also ask the maids to leave me alone, so I can focus on my study, but the truth is, I ask them to leave so nobody can see me if I fell asleep.

Reading half of the first book caused my head to hurt. It hurts so bad that I think it's getting bigger as the information goes into my head, and that any moment it's gonna explode, like a balloon being blown, bigger and bigger then Boom! So I did what I have to do. I Slept!

The moment I woke up, I realized how dark it is outside. Oh my Gosh! I slept all day? I immediately walked outside the room, seeing all my maids outside, standing by the wall. I went to the Throne Hall, and saw my parent, sitting on their throne.

"Have you finished your study?" Father asked.

"I am afraid not, your majesty. It seems like a day is not enough to read such books."

"Perhaps you should read every day to finish it."

"Of course, your majesty"

I walked to my room as fast as I can, I wanted to rest. I really hate studying, it makes me feel tired. So, I got ready to bed, and lay down, thinking how boring this day went. Oh no! I spent the day sleeping? How am I going to sleep now?