“You look sort of familiar,” Rose says, looking at him curiously.
“My father is a farmer in the kingdom, Your Highness, but we have never had the pleasure of visiting Royal Manor. I hear it is quite lovely. Have you been back recently? I know you’ve had many meetings up there this week.”
Stinker.
“No, I’ve been quite busy, but I must get back soon,” Rose says, quickly changing the subject. “Ladies? Please gather round before you escort your families here. I have presents!” Princess Rose opens the box and takes out a stack of electric-pink sashes. The words Royal Ladies-in-Waiting are written in glittery, silver calligraphy that actually glows. “They’re rose scented. A wondrous touch if I do say so myself. And they’re enchanted,” says Princess Rose. More applause all around. We all get in line to take one. “Make sure the bottom of the sash hangs to your left, just like we princesses wear them when visiting the kingdom.”
Jax clears his throat. “I apologize, Your Highness, but don’t you mean to the right? That’s how I’ve seen it when you’ve graced us with your presence in the village.”
She frowns. “Silly me! You’re right, Mr. Jax. How perceptive of you.” She peers at him again. “Are you sure we haven’t met before?”
“No, sadly, and I’m afraid my father is working today and cannot visit so I will be with my friends Ollie’s and Maxine’s families.”
“Aren’t they ogres?” Olivia shivers. “I thought the ogres work with Alva now.”
“Not all ogres,” Jax corrects her, and I can’t help thinking about the fact that their families are meeting and no one invited me. They must know what I said about Maxine. My stomach churns and I try to push away that funny feeling I’m having.
“Well, I bid you farewell. Ladies.” Jax bows to the room again and slips out.
Raza sighs. “I do hope we’ll see him again.”
“Perhaps we will have to invite Mr. Jax and some other gentleman to a future tea,” says Princess Rose. “As for today’s, I have some disappointing news. I am disheartened to say that Princess Ella and the rest of the royal court declined my invitation to join us.” The girls collectively gasp, and Princess Rose wipes away a single tear. Her face becomes defiant.
“Rapunzel says they find it too risky to visit FTRS during these trying times, but I disagree. Now is when we must show a united front. There is power in numbers, as I keep telling you. Sometimes I wonder if Alva could be right in wanting to change how Enchantasia is run.” Surprisingly, some of the girls around me nod, and I try to remember their faces. I could follow them later to see where they go and if they talk to anyone suspicious. “But I fear I’m crazy to think such things.”
The bells chime, signaling the end of this period. “That is all. Please bring your families back so I may greet them. And remember your curtsies!”
I step into the hallway, hoping to see Jax and explain my behavior, but the hallways are too crowded for me to find anyone. Fairies are hitching rides on the backs of trolls, and goblins are walking hand in hand with gnomes. Everyone is smiling like Madame Cleo taught us in the Charming the World: Learning How to Put Your Best Magical Self Forward seminar we had yesterday. My new sash is glowing so brightly that students keep turning around to stare.
“Help! I’ve been blinded by a sash! Help!” Ollie walks toward me, and I smile with relief. At least he’s still talking to me. He’s dressed like a pirate complete with a skull and crossbones belt. He covers his eyes. “I can’t have a conversation with you when I can’t even see you.”
I jab at the sash to turn it off, but it’s no use. “Just look straight ahead and I’ll talk.” Ronald Gertrude waves to me as he rushes by. I don’t wave back. “You’re not mad at me?”
“I don’t want to be mad at you,” Ollie says easily as we head to the FTRS foyer where we can hear the band playing. I see the FTRS cheer squad performing with magical pom-poms and some of the Magic Carpet Racing Club zooming around the foyer and sprinkling confetti, which the elves try desperately to clean up just as fast. Our teachers are greeting families as they enter through the large wooden doors. “What happened with Maxine doesn’t sound like the Gilly I know.”
There’s that weird feeling in my stomach again. “I…”
Ollie cuts me off. “Oh look! There are my parents!”
His parents are tinier than I expected. Ollie brings them over and I notice his mom smells like biscuits. She has on a simple dress that reminds me of something Mother would wear. I remember Ollie telling me his parents are bakers who provide meals to docking ships at the Enchantasia seaport.
“Mother, this is Gilly Cobbler,” Ollie says, making introductions.
She smiles warmly and clasps my hand. “Ollie has told us what a help you were during the attacks here. I’m glad he had you to help him rescue the royals.”