The Royal Treatment Read Free Page A

although the prince is indeed friends with Elsa, he is still happily dating Duchess Olivia. Karl and Olivia were spotted at Crown Prince Jasper’s christening last week, and the couple continues to be of great interest in royal circles.
    Regardless of what her relationship with the prince may be, it seems Princess Elsa’s famously eccentric grandmother, Princess Helga of the former Royal House of Holdenzastein, had a change of heart regarding Elsa’s role in the royal community. Princess Elsa’s fall calendar will include exclusive regal events, though her schedule has yet to be announced.
    I knew there was some truth to the rumor about Elsa and Karl, because I had been there, in Metzahg, as Elsa’s sub. I’d solidified their romance by kissing Karl after reading about Elsa’s devotion to him in her journal. This was the kiss that had almost cost me my job, but reading the article proved that my instincts had been right—they did like each other.
    But as noble as my matchmaking seemed, I had a secret. A tiny piece of me wondered…maybe even hoped…that Karl’s feelings had deepened during my time with him. That he liked me too, although, obviously, he had no clue I existed.
    The whole thing made my brain, not to mention my heart, hurt. I handed the magazine to the checkout lady. Mom grabbed another copy from the rack and thumbed through it. “That’s the prince that’s all over your bedroom wall now, right? His brother is much cuter. And who is the girl?”
    “Princess Elsa of the House of Holdenzastein,” I said automatically.
    “Wow. You’re very…knowledgeable.”
    “I read it in the article. And besides, Prince Karl is cute, just not in an obvious way.”
    She turned the page to the side. “Well, maybe he has a nice personality. He’s a little on the short side—”
    “He’s five feet seven. Perfectly average!” I almost shrieked, ripping the magazine from her hand.
    “Okay, sure.” Mom held up her hands. “I didn’t know you’d become such a crazy fan.”
    While she paid for the ice cream and magazine, I glanced at the picture of Karl one more time. “I’m not crazy. I’m buying a magazine.”
    “If you say so.”
    “Seriously. Let’s go home. If I don’t get over my nerves, I’ll be lucky to make Tree Number One.”

Chapter
3
    H aving abandoned any hope of learning an instrument in this century, I went with Plan B and spent the rest of the weekend listening to an extensive classical music playlist and scrolling through my manual to see if I could find anything more about Karl and Elsa’s encounter. All I managed to find about Elsa were the notes I’d submitted last June to the sub chat room, a place where you can usually find dirt on royals that even the magazines don’t know. The Karl stuff was a repeat of the usual tabloid chatter: his relationship with Duchess Olivia, his work with the africa is hungry foundation, the scandals of his ridiculously good-looking and pompous older brother, Barrett. I knew that information already. The question I kept asking myself was: What is going on between Karl and Elsa? And the quieter, mixed-up question behind it: What does it have to do with me?
    The royal drama also kept me from stressing about the audition. Okay, not true. I was beyond stressed. Now that I’d had so much practice “acting” as a princess, I secretly hoped I’d get a role. Nothing big—maybe a small speaking part. Before Façade, I’d never dared to believe my acting dream could be a reality. Anytime I’d tried out before, it was almost to prove to myself that I couldn’t make it.
    Now I knew anything was possible. Possible, but not guaranteed.
    I tried to explain my audition angst to Kylee when she met me at my locker after school on Monday, but every time I opened my mouth, it sounded like a gurgle.
    “You ready?” she asked.
    I gurgled yes.
    “Drink some of my water. You need to stop that weird moaning sound every time you talk.”
    I took a swig of her