Odette's Diary
Princess Odette writes about her life in the kingdom of Chamberg and the adventures of the royal family
August 2025:
Dear Diary,
Festival Days came back again! This year we had such a great harvest that we decided to have an eating contest. Specifically, we had a watermelon eating contest. Even though our main prize was a medal, but we had a surprisingly big turn out for it. Honestly, I think people just wanted a chance to have at our choicest watermelon fruits, which I don’t blame them! I wanted to join but Uberta advised me that it wasn’t very lady like to do so, only for Uberta to enter! Oh, wait excuse me, it was Mrs. Ubby, humble peasant and fruit coinceur. I don’t think she was fooling anyone though, but honestly good for her for trying anyway. As much as she tried, the winner was Speed! How? I’m not even sure, we look away for a moment and it was all gone! I guess he really is the speediest one around when it comes to water, be it lake water or melon!
July 2025:
Dear Diary,
It’s been really hot this summer, and we’re practically melting. Even being waterside at the Swan Lake hasn’t helped much. JeanBob has been complaining that it feels more like a hot tub than a lake, but Speed claims he is just being dramatic. This, however, gave Lord Rogers the idea of combining a windmill and a water mill to make a large, water-powered, fan. It rotates much faster than a regular windmill and makes a nice breeze. Honestly, it’s been helping a lot. It spreads the cool air from the lake to the rest of the kingdom. I sure wish it could come in a more personal size too
June 2025:
Dear Diary,
I learned a little something new about fishing! For Father’s Day, Alise wanted to go fishing with Derek, since it is something a lot of fathers like to do. Derek agreed, of course, but he had no idea how to fish. Hunting and archery is one thing, but a fishing rod is something else entirely. The week leading up to Father’s Day, Derek tried to teach himself how to fish so he could enjoy his trip with Alise. When the weekend came, they had everything ready, went out in the boat, had lunch… and then fell asleep. They both got a sunburn and returned with no fish. They had fun being out on the lake together and laughed about their nap on the boat. Rogers assured me that sometimes fishing is like that, all that really matters is the time you spend together.
May 2025:
Dear Diary,
After starting a new tradition last month we jumped right into celebrating an older tradition with May Day. It’s a festival about togetherness and the changing of the season. We got to make flower crowns and dance ribbons around a pole called a May Pole! We sure do like to have parties around this kingdom, and Uberta says I fit right in.
April 2025:
Dear Diary,
The Spring Feast was such a wonderful success! Everyone from the kingdom pitched in. Not only to welcome the woodland animals back from their winter sleep, but also cleaning up from the winter storms. Once all the fresh berries, fruits, and veggies were gather for the feast the forest looked beautiful and clean to begin the new season. Honestly, I think we should do this every year, not only to honor the animals, but to help keep our kingdom clean. Spring cleaning does everyone a little good!
March 2025:
Dear Diary,
The signs of spring are finally appearing. All of the animals that went to sleep for the winter are showing their faces again. Our good friends, the Scullions, are part of the group that disappears during winter, and it will be nice to have them back! I was thinking of having a nice feast for them to welcome them back. This winter was especially hard and long, so I bet they’d appreciate waking up to something nice!
February 2025:
Dear Diary,
Derek did the sweetest thing! I told him about my idea to learn a new weapon skill so he set up an archery area me to practice! He wants to be my archery teacher. He tried teaching me during our first year of marriage, but he was so busy I didn't make it far in training. He promised this time to be more attentive, and my final exam would be a fun little practice dual with the “band animals”. The band even volunteered to do so when they heard I was going to be the one behind the bow! How sweet! I’ll have a lot to learn, but with Derek by my side, I’m sure I’ll get it in no time!
January 2025:
Dear Diary,
It’s so nice to be back home after all this time! As much as I want to relax, it’s back to my duties. It actually feels refreshing to get back to the daily routine. As they say, no matter where you go, there’s no place like home! Last year's trip was all for a New Years resolution. I will definitely make a resolution this year but one that requires less travel. I’ve been thinking about possibly learning a new skill, perhaps how to wield a weapon. After all, self defense is rather important! Now I just need to decide which one…
December 2024:
Derek and I are finally back home, and we brought the entirety of Rosegart with us! What better than to get to know their hero, than to see where he grew up, and meet those close to him? With the weather being cold, it was the perfect time to break out the festivities. Bromley had dropped his tough guy act and is back to his soft, goofy self as well. His laugh sounds genuine as well as his smile, and it warms my heart more than anything. When the festivities are done and over with, Bromley is going to go back to Rosegart, and stay possibly more permanently with Ingrid. I wish them the best, and they all know they can come back and visit any time!
May 2024:
Dear Diary,
We had such a great time meeting up with Bromley. We finally learned about the hero of Rosegard and are proud of Bromley for his brave deeds. The town of Rosegart was overwhelmed by brigands a few years ago and 12 townspeople were taken hostage. Ingrid, who is the owner of a local bakery called Cupcake cottage, was one of the captives. Bromley became obsessed with freeing her and took charge of forming a militia and planning a surprise attack. He inspired so many people to help that they were able to overwhelm the gang members without any of the hostages being hurt. Ingrid was so pleased with Bromley, she designed Bromley’s Berry Cupcake. The cupcake instantly became a hit with the townspeople and tourists. This was the best cupcake I’ve ever had!
April 2024:
Dear Diary,
It’s taken us quite a while to get to Rosegart. It’s such a beautiful place. It’s a warm climate and the flowers are in full bloom. Actually, we came at the perfect time as they will be having the Festival of Roses later this month. There are some rumors that the Hero of Rosegart will be at the festival. It could all be a lot of gossip, but I really hope it is Bromley. We considered investigating and trying to find him before the festival but have now decided it will be a lot more fun to surprise him…if it is in fact Bromley. We will know soon enough and meanwhile plan to relax together in this wonderful vacation spot.
March 2024:
Dear Diary:
The quest for Bromley has been interesting so far. We headed south of Trumbeau to ask villagers if they had seen him or knew of his whereabouts. When we brought up the name Bromley, multiple people responded by referring to the Hero of Rosegart. That was a surprise. We still have not been able to get the whole story on why he is called the Hero of Rosegart but it must be a good one. So now we will journey to Rosegart. Bromley was always helpful and giving but I fear he made a major sacrifice to be known as a hero. I can’t wait to find out.
February 2024:
Dear Diary:
One of Derek’s goals this year is to get back in contact with our childhood friend, Bromley. We haven’t heard from him for a very long time and don’t know where he is now. We did some digging and found some letters that Bromley sent to Derek a few years ago. He was travelling around and even sent souvenirs from some of the places he had visited. At the time, we were so busy with the adoption of Alise we had forgotten all about the letters. While Bromley could be anywhere at this point, we at least have some direction based on his previous travels. I think it’s going to be a fun adventure for Derek and I to travel around and ask after him.
January 2024:
Dear Diary,
A new year is here! It is time to set some goals and decide what I will improve during this year. I spent a lot of last year fulfilling my goal, which was finding out more about my mother. With that out of the way, I think I should maybe focus on priorities, like Derek. When I asked Derek about his resolutions, one of them is to find where Bromley had moved so we could visit. It’s true, it’s been so long since we have seen him! We grew up together, but we have now grown apart in our day-to-day life. It’d be nice to see him but… I wonder where he went? Sounds like a mystery to me!
December 2023:
Dear Diary,
Ornament Day is here! I believe it’s time for me to put my mother’s book down to focus on my present family for a while. With everything I’ve learned however, I wanted to make an ornament inspired by her. I commissioned our kingdom’s ornament maker to make an ornament of Alise, my mother and I, as if we were posing for a family portrait. I hoped it symbolized that she never really left us. Her spirit will always be with us for every Christmas and felt amongst the flowers of Swan Lake.
November 2023:
Dear Diary,
It’s my birthday, and this year I celebrated it with my mother; well, I celebrated with her in spirit. Ever since I found out that she was the one who planted the Swan Lake garden, I’ve been doing my best to make it healthy again. Alise has begun helping me as well. Its been a wonderful opportunity for us to talk and connect. We share memories of our mothers- Alise's birth mother died in childbirth like mine but we still have memories of growing up around the stories told by our fathers and close family. With every passing day I find even more reasons why she is my daughter, we really are alike. After the garden chores, I decided to look into the village records to find anything I could for Alise about her mother. I didn’t find much, but I did find a portrait of her. I had already commissioned Chamberlain to make me a gown for my birthday just like the one my mother wore in her royal portrait. I asked Chamberlain to make Alise a dress just like the one in her mother's portrait as well. We had a garden party, and not only did I honor my mother in her dress, but Alise honored hers as well with her new dress. It was nice to have a moment together to honor the mothers we were never able to meet, and the sacrifices they made for us to be here today.
October 2023:
Dear Diary,
I have been reading my mother's diary in my down time and I have learned quite a few interesting things. Swan Lake used to be much more important of a place than I thought it was. While my mother traveled every summer, she, my father and Rothbart met up at Swan Lake to play as children. Apparently mother and father didn’t even know they had been betrothed to each other until they were adults, so they had been playing and falling in love with each other for years beforehand! It was so romantic! Though from reading it, I think Rothbart had a large crush on my mother as well. I have to wonder if that was why he focused so intently on me for his plot to take over the kingdom? Because I reminded him of my mother? I can only speculate at this point, but it’s so interesting to see how my life coincided with hers. She was even the one who brought flower seeds to keep the garden going and expanding, which is where I spent most of my time as a swan. So I suppose in a way, she was with me during my entrapment. I should make a note to go visit again, tend to the flowers to make sure her memory is still growing.
September 2023:
Dear Diary,
So I’ve learned quite a bit from my break from castle life by reading my mother’s diary. Not only about her, but about my father. It would seem that she and I were a lot more similar than I thought, as she and my father were betrothed when they were young! Main difference is they became fast friends and had feelings for each other a lot sooner than Derek and I did. However, they did run into trouble, as Rothbart also had feelings for my mother too. Swan Lake’s kingdom has been abandoned for so long all three of them even played there and explored. It was my mother who kept the garden going even! It’s so strange how it all connected, though now I realize perhaps why Rothbart wanted to marry me was not only for the kingdom, but because I reminded him of my mother.
August 2023:
Dear Diary,
It’s almost strange to not be in wedding planning mode anymore, but as is the life of a royal, the moment one event ends, planning for another begins. Bridget and Chamberlain are happily off on their honeymoon, so we will need to be stepping up to do more of the behind the scenes work while we anxiously await their safe return. I believe this is a good chance for Alise to learn how event planning works. It will give her something fun to do as the summer winds down, and she even gets her own Chamberlain outfit! She seems quite excited. In the meanwhile, I can finally look into my mother’s diary that I found at Swan Lake. I don’t think anyone will mind if I take a week or so for myself.
July 2023:
Dear Diary,
The day is here at last, and I can hardly believe it! Swan Lake’s castle looks just as it would have in its prime. Bridget and Chamberlain's wedding ceremony was in the garden and it was lovely. Even if she was too proud to admit it, I noticed Queen Uberta crying during Chamberlain's vows. From what she’s told me, he’s been employed at the castle even before she became Queen, so he’s been part of her life even before she knew she had any royal blood in her. Bridget’s vows were of few words, but even I felt myself tear up at them. They both have been through a lot, and I’m so happy to have been here for this special moment. I had my mother’s diary with me as well, so it felt like she was there with me. Love is what makes life truly meaningful.
June 2023:
Dear Diary,
June is here at last, the season of weddings! The Kingdom of Swan Lake has had construction work done in the castle on the lake where Rothbart used to live as well as the gardens. It looks wonderful enough to live in! It will be a beautiful place to hold Bridget and Chamberlain's wedding. The transformation of the grounds perfectly mirrors the transformation of Bridget herself. Of course, it’s important to think of Chamberlain as well, but I know he will love to see her so happy at such a meaningful place for her. Bridget once confided in me that she never thought she would find love, especially at her age, but love can be found at any time. It’s never too late to live your best life, and I want to give her the best day. It’s so exciting!
May 2023:
Dear Diary,
As much as I have wanted to read my mother's diary, I have been too busy to find the time. June is closing in and, as the most popular season for weddings, Bridget and Chamberlain's wedding is fast approaching. I’ve decided that reading the diary will be my reward for a job well done planning the ceremony. Chamberlain has been very helpful with planning ideas. He has spent many years as the head event planner for everything Queen Uberta wanted to do. Because of his experience, he knows that he wants his wedding to be as stress free and simple as possible. No pageantry, no 12 layer cake, no large crowds. After all, Bridget doesn’t really know about royal etiquette, outside of the basics that I’ve taught her. She doesn't want something fancy, just a celebration of two people later in life finding and being in love. Honestly, I think that’s very sweet. Simple and elegant is going to be the theme, and I’m excited to get to it!
April 2023:
Dear Diary,
My quest to find out more about my mother has been more successful the more I invest myself in Bridget and Chamberlain's wedding. Since we were considering Swan Lake Castle as the venue for the wedding, I went there to personally look things over. I had always wondered whose castle it had been before it fell to ruin for Rothbart to take over. With a little love and care, it could become a beautiful place to live again. As I was taking a detailed tour, I found a hidden room behind an old tapestry. It was small, but there were some things stashed inside. There was a small dresser with a diary in one of the drawers. I was surprised to find it was signed by my mother?? Could this have been hers? Was she here at some point as well? I’m still in a little bit of shock about it. I haven’t had the courage to read it yet. I wish my father was here. I have so many questions. I suppose I just need to be brave to look into why she was here at this terrible place. … Well, it wasn’t always terrible, maybe when she was here it was still nice. I suppose, the mystery continues…
March 2023:
Dear Diary,
Spring is in the air at long last! I was hoping to try my hand at organizing a garden party as practice for planning Bridget’s wedding, but it’s been so wet and rainy! Even today, the Spring Equinox, it started snowing! The flowers won’t be able to bloom through the snow. Without the blooms, there will be no garden parties. At times like these, you just need to say “Yes and…” when things don’t go the way you plan. That’s what my father always taught me. I wonder if he learned it from my mother… hm. If it’s bad weather outside, perhaps I could plan a party inside, but what of the garden aspect? We would need flowers, wouldn’t we? But then it dawned on me, who says the flowers need to be actual flowers? What of ones made from paper or carved from fruits? I still could make this the best garden party yet! I just need a little help from all my friends!
February 2023:
Dear Diary,
My search for more information about my mother has been pause for the moment, mostly because I was chosen to be Bridget and Chamberlain’s wedding planner! I feel greatly honored, not only am I her maid of honor but the one to plan her special day! I’m glad she trusts me with such a grand task. I’ve asked them both about locations first, but they weren’t too sure. Should it be close and be in Chamberg? Should it be at the castle at Swan Lake? Or would it be none and we sail away to a far away land for a destination wedding? After some talking, at the very least they wouldn’t want to sail away for it, but Chamberlain felt like if it was in Uberta’s kingdom, he would feel like he would still be at work. Leave it to Uberta to make the groom work for her on his big day. So it was decided we would have it be at Swan Lake! The castle is in disrepair and the garden is overgrown with no one having tended to it for so long, but I think this would be a great opportunity to start fixing it up! I have a lot of mixed feelings about being back at my prison, but I feel as though this would also be my opportunity to come to terms with it. Bridget was just as much of a prisoner of Rothbart as I was, and I think this could help us both heal as we continue in a new chapter in our life!
January 2023:
Dear Diary,
Another new year truly makes me grateful for the friends and family I’ve been able to have in my life, especially since there have been a lot of hardships that nearly took them away from me. There is one family member, however, that I don't know as well as I would like to. My mother. She passed away when I was born, and my father was always so hesitant to talk about her. He would rather talk about my future than the past. I loved his support and caring but I do feel that I missed getting to hear stories of a wonderful woman. So for my New Year's Resolution, I want to find out more about my mother. What was she like? How were her days in the kingdom? How did she come to marry my father? Was it a love match or an arranged marriage? I need to know all of it. The problem is… I don’t even know where to even start looking. I just wish there was some clue, a sign, anything that could place me on the right path. Well, it is a good thing the year is just beginning.
December 2022:
Dear Diary,
Ornament Day is coming fast, and with all the joy and cheer from families around, it reminds me of the first Ornament Day we spent with Alise. Because of the Rothbart incident the previous year, Rogers and Uberta insisted on much higher security for the ceremony. Alise was nervous and the guards posted at every door didn't help. To celebrate her adoption, we asked her to design an ornament that we could hang on our personal tree, and while she seemed excited about it she realized she wasn’t sure what to make. It was then she decided to face her fears and asked the guards to help her with design ideas. They happily obliged, talking about Christmases spent with their own families. She began to open up a bit more to them as well. She went around to the rest of the castle to ask all the guards about their favorite Christmases, getting to know them as people rather than scary tall figures lurking in the doorways. Alise learned that while guards are meant to protect, they’re people too. In the end, she made two ornaments: one for us, and a toy soldier ornament to show the guards and thank them for all their hard work. We still have it on our tree every year.
November 2022:
Dear Diary,
I am so excited! I can’t believe I was able to be there for it! I should slow down for a moment and explain what ‘it’ is. We had our Appreciation Feast for all of the servants of the castle today. All of the workers from all positions had the day off and us royals made food for them to eat so they knew how much we appreciated all their hard work! And it was here that IT happened! Chamberlain proposed to Bridget asking for her hand in marriage! They have been together for so many years, many of us had thought they were together already but now they're making it official! Bridget was very nervous but Chamberlain proclaimed that he knew it would be wonderful because they loved each other and have stuck together through the thick and thin of the wild antics of the kingdom! I cried, I really did, I’m so proud of her. Bridget even asked me later if I could be her Maid of Honor, and I’m very honored to do so! They’re thinking about having the wedding sometime next year and I can’t wait to be here for every step of the way!
October 2022:
Dear Diary,
It’s time for the Harvest Festival once again, and it’s the return of the Swanderful Magician! There was another magician performing as well called ‘The Black Swan Magician”. She looked almost exactly like me! The audience understandably thought she WAS me from when I performed at the talent show! I attended her show, and she was so nervous she was struggling to do her tricks. She was all over the place, I was so worried for her! I ran back to the castle and put on my own Magician outfit. By the time I got back she was still struggling. I made it onto the stage and whispered a few words of encouragement. We were able to make a great show together and turned the whole festival around! After the curtain dropped, we went back to talk and when she took off her disguise… it was Bridget?! Well, it’s not the first time she pretended to be me but… how? I asked her, and all she did was wink. Looks like there’s still a lot to learn about my lady in waiting.
September 2022:
Dear Diary,
Can you believe Autumn is here? We’re still having a heat wave so it feels like it’s mid-July! A lot of the farmers have been concerned that the crop will start wilting if this heat wave goes on much longer. We knew it was for the sake of the kingdom’s food supplies, so Derek and I rolled up our sleeves and went to the main farming lands of Chamberg. From our time there, we figured out three things that would help plants from suffering what they call ‘heat stress’: lots of soil, moisture, and shade. I organized a group of farmers to get some barrels we could use to make a syphon to bring more water to the crops, while Derek installed some poles along the farmland. With the help of everyone, Derek strung some cloth between the poles to get some shade relief for the poor plants. It took us about two weeks to finish everything, and then, what do you know, the moment everything is nice and soaked and shaded… it gets cloudy and starts raining for three days straight! I guess it really is becoming fall after all, namely for the unpredictable nature of the weather!
August 2022:
Dear Diary,
The Midsummer Festival finally arrived! I have so been looking forward to it. The Festival usually includes an obstacle course, games, food, and, of course, the talent show. This year, Uberta convinced me to enter the talent show in disguise to see if I could win the hearts of the judges without having any bias towards me. I pondered a lot on a talent to showcase. I thought my singing voice would give me away instantly so I needed to think of something else. Derek suggested a talent that I never realized I had. Playing cards! When I was young, I was an absolute wizard with a deck of cards. In Derek's opinion, this made playing card games with me unbearable. I began to practice card tricks. I asked a street performer in the village for some advice on sleight of hand. After practicing in secret for a while, I felt confident enough to enter the contest as the Swanderful Magician! Everyone seemed to have fun while I was on stage, performing in my disguise. The only person in the crowd who knew it was me was Derek. He did a great job pretending and even denied it was me when Uberta was suspicious. Even though I won third place and it was such a wonderful time! I’ll keep practicing for next year!
July 2022:
Dear Diary,
Derek had a wonderful idea to build a treehouse for Alise and Lucas in his free time, remembering how much fun he had in his treehouse when he was young. Bromley decided to help as well! It seemed to be coming together really well until… Bromley was so distracted by us bringing out some lemonade that he left the ladder while Derek was still on it working. He lost balance, fell, and took what was made of the treehouse with him. Remembering how I was able to disassemble it with a single kick as a child, I shouldn’t be surprised that something Bromley had a hand in making wasn’t the most safe. We were mostly unharmed, but poor Derek broke his arm and his leg. Uberta was furious, but Derek said it was his own fault for not being careful enough. Even though it meant getting a lot of lecturing from his mother, he would rather take it then have Bromley deal with an accident that he already felt awful for. Of course, Bromley didn’t get off scot free, he volunteered himself to help Derek out with anything he needed for the coming month and a half he’d need for healing because "that's what you do for a friend."
June 2022:
Dear Diary,
Summer is coming and we’ve had a bit of a… fashion disaster at the castle, well, according to Alise it was. Her hair has been getting rather long as of late, which is beautiful, but she felt with summer coming up something shorter might be nice. Since she’s getting to be in the more independent phase of her life, she insisted that she cut it herself. She did a wonderful job… until she got to the bangs. With one more snip, her bangs were no longer than a fingernail. When she saw the result, the first thing she said was ‘oh no, now I look like dad!’. While there was a good laugh about that, it was clear she was quite upset. Not just for the looks, but in trying to do something herself, she made a mistake. Well, leave it to Derek to step in and save the day. He asked one of Queen Uberta's favorite hairdressers to not only give Alise a new hair style, but Derek decided to get a matching haircut with her! Now when she says ‘now I look like dad’, it’s sure to be a compliment!
May 2022:
Dear Diary,
Spring is in the air and summer is almost here! The pinks are shifting to green, and while I tended to dread summer growing up, now I love it! While I would love for Alise to join us with all of the festivals and farming tours we get to attend, she has been getting sick. At first it seemed to be the flu, but just as symptoms cleared up, she was struck down with another cold! She had the worst cough, and it broke my heart to hear it. We tried to give her bedrest or insist on bringing in the doctor, but every time Alise said no and she would be fine. Personally, I think she just has a fear of doctors. It had to take her missing a large party by the riverside to finally get Alise to agree to see the doctor. The cause of her horrible coughs and sniffles? Seasonal allergies! We were confused since she never had them before, but we were told that sometimes that just happens. The body changes constantly, and while one time you might be just fine with pollen, you might not be the next. Either way, now she has proper medicine for the more heavy pollen days and she’s better than ever! I’m so glad she took a chance to face her fears so she wouldn’t miss out on the sunshine with us.
April 2022:
Dear Diary,
Goodness what a strange time it’s been. I think the weather might be going a little crazy. I’ve heard the term April Showers bring May Flowers, but I never thought that would also include snow! For the past week it has been a constant shift of rain, hail, snow, 5 minutes of sunshine, and then it will happen all over again. We worry for the crops that were just sewn not too long ago. What on earth could be making this sudden breath of winter right when spring appears? Bromley jokes that it’s Rothbart’s birthday present to himself since his birthday is in this month, and honestly I hope it’s only a joke. If I know anything about that man, if he was able to spite our kingdom from beyond, he would.
March 2022:
Dear Diary,
Luckily my sickness has been letting up, much to Uberta’s dismay. As it turns out, I am rather sensitive to certain spices! Ever since these peppers were imported from Southern kingdoms, I’ve been adding them to many of the meals I've cooked. They are spicy but sure do taste wonderful and bring out such exotic flavors in so many recipes. I’ve personally asked Rogers to see if there’s something he can invent that will allow me to continue enjoying these peppers without feeling sick. Rogers says that he’s more of a physicist than a chemist, but he's going to give it a shot! I look forward to his solution. However, Derek is going to appreciate not eating so much spicy food in the meantime. He certainly does not enjoy it as much as I do!
February 2022:
Dear Diary,
So far so good on keeping to our new year’s resolutions! The hardest thing about them is that you expect to finish so much once you commit to it, but I have to remember I also have a whole year to complete it! I’m glad I have some time because honestly I’ve felt a little sick lately. Every morning I've woken up to some stomach trouble, but then I go about my day craving foods I normally wouldn’t. I got a lot of weird looks when I put chili powder on my chocolate ice cream, but it was just so good! The strangest thing of all is that Uberta seems happy I’m sick like this! Does she know something I don’t? Whatever it is, I hope it passes…
January 2022:
Dear Diary,
Another year over, another year begun! It was a lovely New Years Gala. When the midnight bell rang we shared our resolutions, as we do every year. We have this tradition so that we can all encourage each other to meet our goals. Uberta’s resolution was to write a screenplay, Rogers’s was to make at least 6 new inventions by at least June, and Derek’s was to try to make a better work-life balance so he can spend more time with me outside of his princely duties. My resolution is… a bit complicated. The gator’s in the garden’s moat have been harassing my friends, even myself every once in a while. They were originally Rothbart’s pets. Once he was gone for good, I felt bad that they had been abandoned. So I invited them to our kingdom for security along with Bridget. However, over the years, the gators seem to have done more harm than good. Whenever I talk to them about it, they just give me these sweet sad eyes and I just can’t say no!! I plan to think of a way to solve this problem this year! Gosh, am I too nice? How am I going to be a proper queen if I can’t say no to wrong doers?
December 2021:
Dear Diary,
The Season of Love is here once again! Last year we spent the holidays with Lucas. This year we made sure to return the favor by inviting his family to the castle to celebrate with us! It was a good thing we did too. As we started up the party, a big snowstorm hit. By the time everyone was ready to go home, we couldn’t even get the doors open! We asked the Scullions to check on the townspeople. They were so kind to run around in the snow and make sure everyone had all they needed. Meanwhile, our holiday party ended up lasting for a sleepover! It was delightful, just like being a kid again. At least, that’s how Alise and I saw it.
November 2021:
Dear Diary,
For the past week I have been visiting the kingdom of Bromeo, talking about new trade agreements between our kingdoms. I have been so busy, I forgot it was my birthday! But what a surprise! When I came home to the castle, there was a party going on! Everyone worked together to make a party, not only to celebrate my birthday, but because they were happy to see me again! I just felt so loved in that moment. I’m so happy and blessed to have my friends and family with me who love me so much.
October 2021:
Dear Diary,
The Harvest Festival is here again! We were wondering about what we wanted to do for costumes this year. I decided to work on the Harvest Festival project and I was sure that something would come to me! When I stood on the unfinished stage to see where the banners could be hung, the stage broke under me and I fell right to the ground, hurting my leg. Luckily it’s not broken, it’s just sprained, but it still hurts to walk on it. By the time the Harvest Festival arrived it hadn't healed all the way. I was worried that I would have to miss it this year, but Alise came up with a wonderful idea! She had me sit on a wheelchair and wrapped my legs in iridescent green fabric. With some shells being placed here and there, just like that I was a mermaid! Alise offered to push me around the festival, and I was so grateful to her ingenious idea.
September 2021:
Dear Diary,
After the fashion show last month, I realized how important working together as a family team really was. So, I thought perhaps we could try something new together to recapture the magic. We planned a family game night! We made some snacks for us to enjoy and came together for some fun card games and charades. However, I completely forgot how competitive Uberta and Rogers can be! It got a bit out of hand. Before I knew it, they were using furniture as weapons for impromptu sword fighting. Jean Bob was even Rogers’s sword at one point! Derek who pointed out that despite all their yelling and fighting, there were smiles and laughter too. This was just how they played together, a little roughly but it was still all in fun. It gave me an idea our next game night; perhaps we can play some more active games. I know Alise may have some fun rowdy pirate games she likes!
August 2021:
Dear Diary,
The fashion show is here at last! Last month I spent decorating. I felt the stage just wasn't turning out right. Derek noticed me on my own and asked what was wrong. Derek said he had an idea and to meet him at the venue. When I arrived everyone was there! Speed, Jean-Bob, Puffin, Rogers, Uberta, Alise, Bridget and even Chamberlain! Derek explained that the ‘Swan Princess’ may have been me, but it was because of everyone that it was able to happen in the first place. They had finished their work so fast because they worked together, and they were sorry for not noticing I was struggling on my own. We worked all night on the venue together, giving ideas to add flair to the stage, and, at last, it looked perfect. The fashion show was an outright success, and while we were celebrating the tale of the “Swan Princess”, it really did go to show that we truly wouldn’t have gotten anywhere without the help of our friends.
July 2021:
Dear Diary,
The fashion show is coming up next month and yet there are still so many things to do! I haven’t had many ideas of what fashion to present, so I have been focusing on the venue itself. Everyone is focused on creating new clothes and designs. I’ve come to learn it’s surprisingly difficult to decide on the props and backdrops for the runway. I can’t just seem to choose. We have so many eyes on us and I want to show everyone what our kingdom can do. I’m the Swan Princess after all, surely I can craft the perfect stage for my story! Hmm… I seem to be missing something, but what?
June 2021:
Dear Diary,
Could you believe it? In one of the kingdoms to the south, the royal family has been invited to put on a fashion show! Apparently, the story of our kingdom has been told far and wide; thanks especially to the popularity of Queen Uberta’s book “Queen U to the Rescue”. So much so that we have suddenly become responsible for the newest trends. ‘Swan towel folding’ is something we’re being credited for... I didn’t know you could fold a towel like a swan but I would love to learn more!
Anyway, we were invited to participate in a show for the newest fashions! Obviously we have accepted and have until the end of summer to design, create and model clothing for the fashion show! With Derek and my love story being so ‘Swan' oriented, everyone is racking their brains for swan inspired clothing. I do feel as though there is more to the story we can share other than just Swans… hmm. I wonder if Rodgers or Chamberlain have any design ideas? This will be a fun summer project that I am so excited for!
May 2021:
Dear Diary,
Mother’s Day this year was a little different. Earlier this month, Mrs. Lucia Trudgealong, Speed’s mother, traveled all the way from the Southern Coast to visit her son! She has been on this trip for more than half a year; being a turtle didn’t help with the speed in getting here. Alise had a great idea to throw a Mother's Day party for Mrs. Trudgealong along with the other important mother figures in the castle. During the celebration we had a play reenactment of the story of Derek and I coming together and Rothbart's curse. It was very fun to see Alise and Lukas play the part of me and Derek, even though Jean-Bob kept trying to play the Derek role so he could show off his ‘princely nature on the big stage’. Rogers played Rothbart and Speed was more than happy to play himself. It was a fun time all around, and Mrs. Trudgealong couldn’t have been happier for her little Lorenzo!
April 2021:
Dear Diary,
Alise is back from her diplomacy trip today. She was so tired she went to bed the moment she set her bags down. Duke Norman, who had been accompanying her during her stay in the village, said the trip may have been a little overwhelming for her, but she did a wonderful job! She was more than capable of finding solutions to villager's problems and bringing everyone together. Alise has such a big heart, and I admire her so much for that. Now its time for her to learn it’s important to take care of yourself too, especially when other people depend on you. After all, if you get run down, how can you help others?
March 2021:
Dear Diary,
I’ve never been more proud of Alise than I am writing this entry. With her getting older, Derek and I have been talking about letting her have more responsibility around the kingdom, and finally putting all of Uberta’s “Princess” classes into good use. Derek and I have given her the role as the village’s liaison. She thought it would be answering letters of problems they had, but we sent her to live in the village so she could properly talk to them and be the official connection between them and the palace. Of course, she had our Duke there to supervise. She seems excited, and keeps assuring us that it will be alright since she grew up in the outskirts as a child. She is leaving in the morning, and I am proud of her for serving with head held high and a positive attitude. Hopefully this will be a wonderful week.
February 2021:
Dear Diary,
This has been an exciting weekend. This was Alise and Lucas's first Valentine’s Day as a couple. I couldn’t help but pay attention around the castle to see what the lovebirds were up to. They were planning to go horseback riding, but when a storm came in, they had to stay in the castle for the night. Alise had the idea to make dinner together and play some games. However, while I knew this was a date, quite a few of our friends didn’t. Uberta came by to make her ‘famous apple crisp’ as they were cutting apples. Then, in-comes Rogers, wanting to show them a new experiment with corn!
Later on, when they started to play some games, Speed, Jean-Bob, and Puffin joined in playing cards and a game of charades. It turned into a fun family date instead! It’s always good to find a balance in making time for your partner... Something I wish Derek had learned much earlier on. But he knows now!
January 2021:
Dear Diary,
With a new year, one of my resolutions is to do a big project with everyone in the castle to bring us closer together. It took a long while to think of what we could do, but then I realized, why not do a cookbook? I know Ferdinand and Frederik are the royal cooks and have every recipe under the sun, and having one for our family and the kingdom sounded like lots of fun!
December 2020:
Dear Diary,
We had such a lovely time at Christmas this year! Lucas and Alise have been such great friends that we invited his family to join us for the holiday at the castle. Lucas was excited and asked us to participate in the winter holiday traditions of his family too. Of course, we agreed!
He showed us how they celebrate Hanukkah, also called the Festival of Lights. As a family, they came together and lit a candle each night on their menorah. They said a prayer from a Holy Book they have called The Torah. It was really a beautiful moment.
Afterward, the festivities began! His mother prepared latkas, a delicious fried potato pancake. There were sweets, sugary fried dough with jelly inside called sufganiyot. The children played a game to win pennies, chocolate coins, and other little goodies. This was played with a dreidel, or a top decorated with Hebrew letters. The kids would spin the top and the symbol it landed on would tell them what to do next (if they won or if they lost a turn or if they need to add more goodies to the "pot".) This game was so much fun to watch! I had never seen such wonderful traditions and it was so special to be told the story of Hanukkah by Lucas’s family.
Time seemed to pass by so quickly! In the blink of an eye, it was well past the kid’s bedtime and we all had to head home. Alise asked if she could come over for the rest of the days since it is an 8 day holiday, and of course, we agreed. I certainly wouldn’t mind this being a new yearly tradition of Hanukkah with Lucas’ family!
November 2020:
Dear Diary,
Our castle feels a lot more empty than usual. Normally around this time we would be planning autumn harvest festivals and diplomatic visits with other kingdoms, but not this year.
The horrible Great Sickness has returned to loom over the land, and it’s best for everyone to keep inside. Of course, we’re making sure food gets to everyone, but it’s a little disappointing to not be able to enjoy the season with friends.
JeanBob in particular was lamenting (quite loudly) about how he couldn’t schmooze with the maidens from afar. Alise chimed in that she was disappointed about not having the autumn celebrations.
Even though we can’t have a party or the usual festivities and traveling, we all still get to be together in our own way. We are thankful we have our health, that we have each other, and that we have more than enough food for the coming winter.
We are learning to love the simple things like family dinners, Roger’s jokes, trying new recipes, and reading and sharing stories. Life is not all sunshine, rainbows and parties, but at least we can appreciate togetherness!
October 2020:
Dear Diary,
We had quite a treat this month! Along with tulips, Lucas' family reserved a part of their field for growing corn. The stalks were so tall, you could hardly go in the field without getting lost! This gave JeanBob an idea. He wanted to cut a path through the large field of corn to make a maze. Jasper, or Number 9, came up with yet another idea to help out. He spread a rumor that the maze was haunted, but there was a ghostly treasure at the end. Would anyone be brave enough to go in?
To pretend the maze was haunted, Jasper stalked around the corn to make noise. He yowled and scratched, and did whatever he could to scare the people inside. He didn’t count on people bravely making it to the end of the maze, so he didn’t get a prize ready!
Luckily, Alise and Lucas were quick to make cookies to give out to the winners. To keep it ‘ghostly’, they made sure Scully was the one to hand out the treat. It was a rousing success! Lucas and his family will most definitely be making a Haunted Maze again next year!
September 2020:
Dear Diary,
A large thunderstorm has been here for the past week. As much as we’ve looked forward to the rain, the thunder and lightning has been troublesome. We’ve had a few fires start due to the lightning, but luckily with the rain it was easy to contain them.
Rogers has been strangely enthusiastic about the storms. Day in and day out he has been dragging different metal inventions outside to collect and use the electricity for things like his Christmas ‘light bulb’. His favorite new invention is something he calls the ‘Rogers Spiral’ to harness the lightning's power. Uberta thinks the name is funny, but I think she is just teasing him. Rogers did invent a lightning rod to keep the lightning away from the kingdom so we can be prepared for the next storm. For all of Rogers eccentric ideas, he really is a genius!
August 2020:
Dear Diary,
This whole month has been a scorcher! The summer is the hottest in recent memory. Uberta thought it would be a great idea to take a vacation to escape from the heat. Uberta and Rogers left for a tropical kingdom vacation. Derek and I stayed to run the kingdom in her absence. I was pleased to have time for Derek and I to practice ruling on our own.
After asking around for suggestions to lessen the effects of the hot weather, Lucas had a brilliant idea. Windmills! He proposed we build windmills near the sea so we can have circulating ocean air. I think Lucas has a promising career as our next advisor, once Rogers retires. Of course, we still need to finish building the windmills. I am excited to see them completed. I am hoping they will be a great success! Until then, swimming in the lake sounds lovely to pass the time.
July 2020:
Dear Diary,
The illness that plagued our kingdom has finally found a cure thanks to the diligence of our doctors and the patience of our villagers. To celebrate we held a festival, along with our neighboring kingdoms, Trumbeau and Borromeo. We celebrated life and honored those we had lost to the illness.
We didn’t want to risk any spread of infection so we held a social distanced festival. All of our royal friends worked together to make care packages for each villager! Everyone wanted to add special items from their kingdoms to the packages. Trumbeau and Borromeo added specialty treats and decorations. Rogers provided some new inventions he was able to mass produce just in time. I believe he called them ‘party poppers’. They shoot out confetti when you pull the string! It’s so much fun!
Uberta always says ‘It’s not a party without some yummy snacks!’, so she packed bread, turkey breast and cheese for every single case. I added my own touch by folding the food into swan shaped packages. Alise and Lucas handmade candles. They used tulip petals from his family’s farm to give them some extra color. Our friends, the Scullions, volunteered to weave all of the baskets. They are quite skilled in reed weaving. Puffin, Speed, and Jean Bob had the task of assembling the care packages.
Derek was the one that left the castle and hand-delivered the boxes to every household. He started early in the morning and didn’t get back until nightfall. When he returned it was a joyous time! We could see all the candlelights glowing in the windows of the village. We could hear laughter and music echoing in the streets. It was magical! Even though the circumstances were less than pleasant, I hope we can try to do this festival again next year!
June 2020:
Dear Diary,
This Father’s Day, Derek went to visit Rogers. They spent time catching up. They have always talked man to man, rather than king to servant. Rogers came to the court as a tutor, initially. Rogers soon grew attached to Derek, as a father figure. I never realized it until now, but Rogers is like Derek’s stepfather in a way. It's very fitting considering he and Uberta love each other so much. Lord Rogers has always looked out for Derek. Then he took to Alise like his own grandchild the moment she came to the castle. I have considered officially naming Lord Rogers as Alise’s godfather. I can’t imagine anyone better!
May 2020:
Dear Diary,
It has been a strange and surreal time. The whole kingdom has needed to make a lot of changes to cope with the sickness in the kingdom. They are keeping everyone in the palace busy, but also a bit off balance. I keep wondering if we will need to adjust permanently to this new minimal contact lifestyle. I’ve been spending a lot more time with Queen Uberta. Uberta and Rogers are, wisely, not spending much time together to keep the bickering to a minimum.
Being Uberta's companion during this time is giving me some priceless insights into the decisions and actions of a Queen. When Derek is properly crowned King, I will be grateful for all the skills that I am learning from her now. Uberta is so knowledgeable about everything going on in the kingdom. Even now, when the doors on the streets are locked tight. She took me into her ‘secret chamber’ this week. This is where her direct mail from the townsfolk is delivered. She showed me all of the letters she receives asking for help and advice. To think, all the times I thought she was responding to party invites, she has been diligently answering letters to solve the kingdom's problems and keep the town running smoothly. She let me look through some of them. I nearly went cross-eyed from all the reading. She makes it look so easy!
While she is still the same ever-eccentric Uberta, I have a new-found appreciation and respect for her. She doesn’t talk about most of her charity work, even though it would make her the center of attention. She seems to gain satisfaction from doing something right, without applause. With her sound judgment and hard work, she earns every moment of peace she can find.
April 2020:
Dear Diary,
In some good news, my arm has healed and the village crime-rate has been dropping! In some not-so-good news, it’s probably a result of everyone having to stay indoors, due to an illness that has been spreading around. While I’m relieved that the crimes have calmed down, it worries me to look out the window and see empty streets. Derek and I are doing our best to help those in the Miller’s Village. Because they are further away from town it has been more difficult for them to get supplies.
Puffin, the Scullions, and Speed have started an air and sea delivery service, so that everyone is taken care of. I’m proud of Alise! The delivery service was her idea. Every day she is becoming more adept at royal responsibilities. JeanBob has been trying to help Rogers find a cure for this sickness. JeanBob is convinced that when the cure is successful, he can take all of the credit and get a kiss from a maiden. I guess it’s good to know, at least in these stressful times, that some things haven’t changed.
March 2020:
Dear Diary,
This month my arm is in a sling. Why? Because a food cart ran me over. I know, bizarre right? The strange vandalism around the kingdom has been getting worse. Now we are actually seeing broken windows and stolen goods. I finally snuck out one night, alone, to investigate. In retrospect, I should have asked Derek to come with me. He was helping in his own way, by keeping Speed and Jean Bob occupied at the castle.
I patrolled around the market place all night until I heard a crash. It was a rock that had been tossed at the bakery window. While examining the rock, I heard a clicking noise. I think the window was just a distraction because just then, the produce cart from Ludwig’s fruit stand came rolling down from atop the hill. I was caught by surprise and I did not have any time to move out of the way. When the cart hit me and I fell, my arm broke the fall and twisted in the landing. Luckily, the doctor says it is only a sprain. Before heading back to the castle, I remember seeing a bird fly away in the moonlight. It almost looked like Puffin with something on his head. Things are getting worse. What can I do? We can’t just ignore criminal activity in the kingdom. Derek is insisting I keep a guard with me anytime I leave my rooms to keep me safe. He is so sweet to worry about me and go out of his way to make sure I am safe.
February 2020:
Dear Diary,
There has been trouble in the kingdom lately. It started with a mild vandalism complaint from the village. This elevated into strange acts of breaking and entering where nothing was stolen but items were rearranged. Puffin and the Scullions are on the case but they seem to run into a lot of dead ends. I have a possible thought.
Last night I saw JeanBob with the emerald he got for Christmas on a little crown. I thought nothing of it considering he was wearing his prince outfit. However, he was hopping around strangely, almost like in circles. Speed came by to ask if he was okay and JeanBob handed the crown over to him. Speed put the little crown atop his head and shuffled away quickly. I asked JeanBob what was happening but he couldn't answer me. He was so distracted, almost like he was sleep walking. I haven't seen Speed since, but there was another report this morning about the market’s windows being smashed.
After hearing this, I decided to find Speed. He was asleep in his pond the entire night. He doesn’t even remember talking to JeanBob at all the night before! It couldn’t possibly have been Speed, could it? It was strange. I’m going to keep writing notes on these events in my diary until this mystery comes to a resolution. Hopefully I can be of some help to the investigation that Puffin and the Scullions are struggling with.
January 2020:
Dear Diary,
I really appreciate all of Derek's ambition. He gets a jolt of motivation to make and stick to his New Year's resolution every year. He's so full of energy and goal oriented. He has had the last couple weeks packed with wonderful activities; meetings with dignitaries to establish new treaties and traditions, dinner parties, visits to all of the many industry outposts around the kingdom, parties, family game time, and service to the poor.
He constantly challenges himself to learn new skills. This year he wants to become proficient at playing the Saxophone. It's a beautiful instrument and I have no doubt he will be a great player someday. For now, I nod and a smile at the chaotic noise.
My favorite goals he sets are the ones that involve spending time with our family! It's important to him that we stay healthy so this year we will spend more time outside in nature, especially hiking. It has been so romantic to spend this time with him. I really hope it becomes a tradition we carry on for many years.
His enthusiasm and his smile are contagious and everyone wants to be near him. He truly has an illuminating and refreshing personality. I am lucky to have such a great love and partner in life!
December 2019:
Dear Diary,
I’m a little worried about JeanBob. We decided to have a Secret Santa event in the castle this year. Things went pretty well. Rogers gave me something he calls a ‘sewing machine’. It was very kind and I am still learning how to use it. I was afraid since we had an odd number of people, one of us would be left out, but everyone received a present. The extra mystery gift went to JeanBob. It was a small gift with a note that read ‘To Future Royalty’. No one claimed to be the giver, but JeanBob was happy to have it nonetheless. When he opened the gift, it was quite a large emerald.
It had a strange teal hue. I feel like I’ve seen it before, but I can’t quite put my finger on it. Either way, Jean Bob was delighted with it! He kept rambling about what sort of jewelry he could make with it, or what a fine crown jewel it would be for his princely crown. He said, “Finally someone recognizes ze true nobility zat I am!” He’s been a little obsessed with it, and I’m getting worried. It might just be the Christmas spirit, but I’m going to keep an eye on him just in case. Perhaps we’ll find the mystery gift giver. Hopefully!
November 2019:
Dear Diary,
It was a week filled with excitement! Uberta’s older sister, Gertrude, traveled from her vacation home in the south, to visit. She had heard the news of Uberta's granddaughter and wanted to spend some time with her. I thought Rogers and Uberta were competitive, but sibling rivalry took the cake this time! Gertrude wanted to throw a ball for Alise with a feast in her honor, but Uberta said she had it handled. Exotic animals, gourmet foods and outlandish performers were showing up at an alarming rate. Both women trying to show who had the best taste and and trying to one-up each other. It was more of a competition than an event to welcome Alise.
They gave Alise too many choices, including an excessive number of fancy dresses. Eventually she was so overwhelmed she came to me crying. I had to talk to Uberta and Gertrude! I explained to them that Alise was not wanting to attend the ball because of all the stress laid on her by the two of them. Feeling bad, they decided to back let Alise decide what she wanted to do. In the end, we had a nice garden party. Uberta even had her chance to show off! Gertrude decided to let her baby sister be in charge so Gertrude could spend some time with Alise. As long as Alise keeps an eye on them, I wouldn’t mind having Gertrude back for another visit!
October 2019:
Dear Diary,
Today was one of the best birthdays I’ve ever had! When the day started people were acting strange. Usually, for my birthday, I am served breakfast in bed, given lots of hugs and sweet little presents. The Kingdom is full of life and light! But today everyone seemed distant. When I said hello to people in the castle and out in the streets, they only mumbled a hello and made a hasty exit. Everyone I asked to spend time with me today already had other plans. It was so lonely that I almost didn’t go down to dinner. Bridget came to me worrying that evening. She had gotten a knife stuck in the table and needed help getting it out. I guess she tried to set the table again. We went to the dining hall, and suddenly there was a lot of noise! People yelling and confetti flying. There were horns and poppers and everywhere I turned someone was excitedly shouting “surprise”.
Wow, they went to so much work! There were hundreds of people waiting throughout the castle, in the ballroom and gardens. Just waiting to say happy birthday. Children throughout the kingdom got together and made an entire jewelry set (crown, necklace, earrings, and corsage) for me out of flowers. There was a tall cake so beautifully decorated in my favorite colors. Everyone wanted to say hello and give me a hug. We had a wonderful dinner, played games, danced and had fireworks! I have never felt more loved by my family, friends, and my people than I did tonight.
September 2019:
Dear Diary,
Goodness, what a whirlwind this last month has been. Alise joined our family three months ago and now she has some choices to make about what her education should look like after summer ends.
Alise told us she used to be homeschooled. She knows how to read and do basic math. Uberta wants to send her out to ‘Princess School’, a type of all-girls boarding school she went to back when she was a ‘PuffPuff Girl’. Many of the Princesses of the kingdoms attend there to learn etiquette, history, music, the arts, and diplomacy. It sounds like a nice choice for Alise, and a way for her to make some new friends. But Alise doesn’t want to leave home. Honestly, it would be hard for us to see her leave as well. It feels much too soon. Maybe when she’s a teenager and we’ve been with her for a long while it will be a better option.
Lord Rogers thought of a wonderful idea for the meantime. He will volunteer to take some courses in the Princess School’s academia himself so he can be Alise’s personal tutor. If there’s one thing he loves, it’s enlightening the minds of children. While he’d be away to do that, Uberta volunteered to teach some of the more “Royal Princess” type things. She was so excited about the idea, she said she would formulate some sort of “Princess Bootcamp”. That will be fun to see!
August 2019:
Dear Diary,
Derek and I left the kingdom on our yearly vacation this month.We went to Isle Paradise, where it is like spring every day of the year! Not too cold, not too hot. Everything is freshly blooming and the air is filled with romance. Just the place for quality time with my handsome Prince! It had been so hot and humid around the kingdom so we thought having a cool down would be just the thing we needed. It was a lovely vacation.
We had a special boat come to take us to the island. It had been a very long time since I was able to sail. I was so appreciative when we landed on solid ground, and the island was beautiful! Lush flowers surrounded the dock, and when we got to the main roads, all the trees were in bloom! It was stunning! We rented a cottage on the beach where we were able to rest and make plans for day trips.
Most of those plans didn’t stick because we caught a small week of the rainy season. The farmers market was closed and many events were canceled. Derek blamed himself because he wanted to go this month instead of the previous month when there were clear skies the entire time. You can’t predict the weather though, so why not make the most of it?
We took off our shoes and went walking on the shoreline, not even caring if the sea hit us since we were already wet. Barely anyone was out and about because of the rain, so we had all of the gardens to ourselves. We were able to see everything at our pace and were as loud as we wanted to be with our conversations. Then we curled up in the cabin, hung our clothes to dry, and spent the night in front of the fireplace reading to each other and talking.
Even if it wasn’t the vacation we had imagined, it was the vacation we needed and we had a wonderful time. It takes more than a little rain to ruin our parade!
July 2019:
Dear Diary,
It feels nice to write again! Last week I had the stomach flu. I’m sure that’s what it was now, but when it started no one knew what was wrong. Everything I ate made me sick, and even water didn’t help! On top of it all, it was during King Francis of Yortin’s diplomacy feast. I kept my composure during the event but it was torture to see all of my favorite foods pass me by without being able to eat any.
Every day, Rogers would take measurements and ask a million questions: my pain number rating, temperature, fluid intake, etc. Then offer some new theories on my condition, and compile some possible remedies for his hypothesis. Some worked better than others, but even the best ideas didn’t help for too long.
When I was sick, in the very early hours before the sun was up, Derek would stay awake with me to keep me company until I could fall asleep again. He would either read a book he thought I would like or fiddle on a guitar he has been practicing. He helped prepare meals for me and stayed behind a little longer before and after his meetings to talk to me. I almost wish I got sick more often; well not really, but it was nice having so much time with Derek.
I’m feeling better now, thankfully. The flu went away on its own. Rogers still asks about my pain rating and if I am eating the right foods, but Derek is always there to remind him that we are just fine.
June 2019:
Dear Diary,
Father’s Day is coming up soon and I can’t help but think of my own father. Each year, Father’s Day was around the time that he and I had to travel to Derek's kingdom for the summer. I remember getting into a lot of fights with my dad when I was a teenager. There were some years that I didn’t properly celebrate Father’s Day because we were fighting or traveling. I made it up later when we both settled down, of course, but it wasn’t the same. Everyone reveres my father as a great and wise king, and he was! But I really just knew him as my dad who I loved
Back then I blamed him for continuing to push me to be friends with the rude boy that Derek used to be. I’m so glad Derek grew out of that. But I digress... I wish my father was alive to go to my wedding, or at least know I am safe and feel proud of me. What I wish the most is that I could tell him I’m sorry for everything I said back then. All I can really do now is make sure Alise has fun with Derek during this Father’s Day. I’ll make sure to tell her some good stories of when her grandfather was still around so his memory will live on. I’m sure Derek has so
May 2019:
Dear Diary,
Today was a beautiful Mother’s Day! Since I wasn’t able to celebrate the holiday with my own mother growing up, my first Mother’s Day celebration was with Queen Uberta after my wedding to Prince Derek. Alise also lost her mother when she was young and spent the day fishing with her Papa instead.This was the first time Alise and I could spend Mothers Day together.
Queen Uberta, who loves all celebrations, has a Royal List of exactly what makes the perfect Mothers Day. She gave the list to Alise so she could "spoil me" for Mothers Day “as all good children should”. Alise worked hard to complete the list all by herself. I awoke with multiple vases of tulips and a buffet table of food next to my bedside. There was a note with Alise’s handwriting, wishing me happy Mother's Day, but she was nowhere to be found. I couldn’t possibly eat so much delicious food on my own. Happily Speed, Jean-Bob and Puffin volunteered to help.
Next I was swept up by the maids and whisked off to a ‘spa day’ of a warm milk bath and mud facials. Everything was perfect except that I missed Alise and wished she was there with me.
I went looking for Alise who I found in the kitchen with three bowls of cake batter balanced on one arm. She was trying her hardest to stir them all while staring at Queen Uberta’s long list that reached the floor. Alise was exhausted trying to finish everything on the list. While I was touched, I was more worried about her well-being.When I asked if I could help she told me how much she had wanted to thank me for everything I’ve done for her.
After a little discussion and some warm hugs, Alise and I decided that time spent together was more important than any list. We packed a picnic lunch and visited the lake where she used to live and we were able to go fishing like she had with her Papa. At home, Alise and I worked together to make dinner for everyone with all the fish we caught. I love my daughter so much, and I’m so happy I get to be her mother.
April 2019:
Dear Diary,
A strange thing happened today! With spring in full swing, JeanBob was back to his plot to get a kiss from a young maiden to turn into a prince. His plan this time? To find a four-leaf clover to use for luck. Although I’m fairly sure nothing would change his status as a frog, I wasn’t going to turn down a fun clover hunt! Alise’s friend, Lucas, helped us to find a vast field of clovers. JeanBob was so determined, we were out until well after sunset digging through each stem. Poor JeanBob had lost all hope, having turned over several miles of clovers with still no four leaf clover to be found. We settled in the field for a rest when we looked up and saw a shooting star fly across the sky! JeanBob made a wish on the star begging to find a four-leaf clover.
Puffin, always the cheerful friend, encouraged JeanBob to search just a little while longer. Not even a minute later, Jean-Bob found a lucky clover!! He was so happy that his wish came true, only to realize that he could have just used his wish on the star to make himself a prince! I told him he would always be a prince to me. I hope that his new, lucky charm helps him in his adventures. Knowing JeanBob, probably not!