Page 5 of Royal Extra After

Her parents always said she would make a great journalist because she was always genuinely curious about people. She was always asking dozens of questions whenever she met someone new. While the interest was genuine, she also figured the more she learned about people, the more material it would give her for her storytelling. She was aware that she had grown up in a royal bubble, in a world her parents had carefully curated. It wasn’t until she started traveling internationally that she was able to experience the other cultures, customs, and traditions she had watched and read about. The more she saw, the more she wanted to learn. She tried to take as many trips as her parents would allow.

Her daydreaming was interrupted when the next person in line to meet her stepped up. It was an adorable little girl that looked to be about six years old.

The princess smiled and leaned down. “Well, hello, what a beautiful ballgown you are wearing.”

The little girl beamed back at her in awe. “My mom made it for me just so I could meet you. You’re a real princess, right?”

Princess Isabella laughed. “I am, and I love your tiara. All those diamonds and emeralds are so sparkly.”

“They aren’t real,” the little girl whispered.

“I won’t tell anyone,” the princess whispered back. “What is your name?”

“Kara,” the little girl said.

“Do you like reading books, Kara?” the princess asked.

The little girl’s smile lit up her face. “I love books and movies. I’m going to write both!”

Princess Isabella was charmed. “Me, too,” the princess said. “But that’s our secret, okay?”

The little girl nodded enthusiastically as her mom took her hand. “Come on, Kara, the princess has other people she needs to meet. Thank you, Princess Isabella, for taking the time to speak with my daughter and everyone here and supporting this program. We are all very grateful.”

“Thank you for being here tonight. It was a pleasure meeting Kara, a future movie maker.”

Kara was still smiling ear to ear as they walked off.

“So, it looks like I’m going to have some competition making movies,” Ned said as he was revealed as the next person in line.

When their eyes met, the spark between them sizzled stronger than ever. “You,” was all the princess could manage.

Ned held up her glove. “I came to return this.”

Benson was by her side immediately, taking the glove. “Is there a problem?”

Ned arched his eyebrow as he locked eyes with the princess. “I hope not. I come in peace, and unlike you today, I’m not trespassing. I bought a ticket.”

“Why?” the princess blurted out before she could stop herself.

“Do you have children that are part of this literacy program?” Benson asked.

Ned chuckled. “No. I don’t have any kids. I’m not married. I’m here to speak to the princess.” He smiled his most charming smile at the princess, “Now that I know you really are Princess Isabella of Starconia.”

“It’s Starsconia. Plural,” the princess said with a sigh. “Why does everyone get that wrong. So, now that you’ve found out I’m a real princess you want to talk to me when before you couldn’t give me the time of day? Well, as you can see, I’m quite busy. So, if you don’t mind…” The princess looked over Ned’s shoulder, focusing on the next guest in line.

“Sorry, that came out wrong,” Ned said. “I wanted to talk to you about helping with my movie.”

The princess froze. When she slowly turned to face Ned, she looked intrigued. “Tell me more,” she said.

Benson gave the princess a warning look. “Princess, no…”

The princess flashed Benson a confident smile. “Don’t worry, Benson. Everything is going to be fine.”

The next morning, as the sun came up over Central Park, Benson had to practically run to keep up with the princess, who was eagerly walking toward the movie trailers.

“You said everything was going to be fine, Princess, but this isn’t fine at all,” Benson huffed and puffed. “I only agreed to this because you promised to tell the king and queen. But on this morning’s call, you said nothing.”

“I’ll tell my parents, Benson, don’t worry,” the princess replied. “When the time is right.”

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