Chapter 4

"I just think," Elliot said carefully, "that we should be mindful of how difficult this must be for her. She's losing her position as the only child."

Buck scoffed. "Losing? Please. She's still the Crown Princess. We're just the step-losers who'll be living in her palace."

"Our mother is marrying the King," Elliot reminded him. "Show some respect."

"I am," Buck insisted, finally conquering his tie. "I'm just saying, this is weird for all of us. One minute we're normal Academy students, the next we're about to be royal-adjacent. And our new stepsister is the girl who's going to rule the kingdom someday."

In the royal dining room, King Alexander was personally inspecting the table settings, a rare action that made the servants exchange surprised glances. The King was known for his attention to diplomatic details, but family dinners had never warranted such scrutiny before.

"Your Majesty," the head steward ventured, "would you prefer the Moonstone china or the Silver Leaf pattern for tonight's meal?"

Alexander considered for a moment. "The Silver Leaf. Less formal, but still befitting the occasion." He paused, then added, "And serve the Thunder Peak wine with the main course. It would be a thoughtful gesture."

The steward nodded, impressed by the King's diplomatic instincts even in a family setting. "Of course, Your Majesty. And shall we announce the guests upon arrival?"

"No," Alexander said firmly. "This is not a state dinner. They should be escorted directly here without ceremony."

As the staff hurried to make the final arrangements, Alexander stood there, gazing out the window, as Elizabeth entered. “Ah, Father, where would you like me to sit, my normal place at your right hand as your Heir or at the far end of the table?”

Alexander smiled warmly at his daughter, appreciating her understanding of protocol even in this informal setting. "Your rightful place remains at my right hand, Little Star. The Luna will sit at my left, with the twins beside her."

Elizabeth nodded, relieved that the traditional seating arrangement would remain intact. It would provide a subtle reminder of her position without needing to assert it verbally.

"You look lovely," her father added, his eyes softening as he noted the silver crescent clips in her hair. A shadow of remembrance crossed his face; they had been Kailynn's favourite. "Your mother would be proud."

Before Elizabeth could respond, the door opened, and Luna Phoebe entered with her sons trailing behind her. The Thunder Peak Luna cut an impressive figure in a slate-grey dress that highlighted her athletic frame without diminishing her femininity. She moved with the confident grace of a woman accustomed to command, her chin high but her expression warm as she approached the King.

"Your Majesty," she said, offering a respectful bow of her head.

"Phoebe, please," Alexander replied, stepping forward to take her hand. "Tonight, we are simply a family getting to know one another."

The twins hung back, their discomfort evident in their stiff postures. Buck's eyes darted around the dining room, taking in the understated opulence with poorly disguised awe, while Elliot's gaze had fixed immediately on Elizabeth.

She looked different here. In school, Elizabeth Pearson blended into the background, her uniform always neat but unremarkable, her posture deliberately diminished. But here, in her own territory, she stood with the unmistakable bearing of royalty. The transformation was subtle but profound.

Elizabeth met his gaze evenly, her expression revealing nothing of her thoughts. Elliot was the first to look away.

"Princess Elizabeth," Luna Phoebe said, turning to address her future stepdaughter, "it's a pleasure to meet you properly. Your father speaks of you with such pride."

"Luna Phoebe," Elizabeth replied, her voice carrying the perfect balance of warmth and formality that she had practised for years. "Welcome to our home. I hope you'll find it comfortable."

Buck stepped forward then, his natural charm kicking in despite his nervousness. "Princess," he said with a bow that was just a touch too theatrical. "I guess we should apologise for not recognising you at school."

Alexander's eyebrow raised slightly, but Elizabeth's lips curved into a small smile. "No apology necessary. My anonymity at the Academy is by design."

"Still," Elliot said quietly, "we should have been more observant."

“Why? I like it that way.” Elizabeth said, tilting her head, “How else does a future ruler learn from her people if they feel that they need to walk on eggshells? For future reference, it stays that way.”

Buck's eyes widened at Elizabeth's directness. He hadn't expected such a forthright response from the quiet girl he barely noticed at school. A flicker of admiration crossed his face before he covered it with his usual cocky grin.

"Your secret's safe with me, Princess," he said with a wink that made his mother shoot him a warning glance.

Alexander cleared his throat. "Shall we sit? The chef has prepared something special for tonight."

As they moved toward the table, Elliot observed the subtle power dynamics already forming. His mother walked close to the King but maintained a respectful distance, close enough to signal their relationship, far enough to acknowledge they weren't yet formally joined. Buck, predictably, was already trying to establish himself with humour and charm. And Elizabeth... Elizabeth moved with the quiet confidence of someone who had nothing to prove.

The servants appeared as if from nowhere, pulling out chairs with synchronised precision. When they were all seated,  Alexander at the head, Elizabeth to his right, Phoebe to his left, and the twins beside their mother, the first course arrived.

"Thunder Peak wine," Phoebe noted with surprise as a servant poured the ruby liquid into her glass. "From our eastern vineyards, if I'm not mistaken."

Alexander nodded. "I thought it might make you feel more at home."

The gesture wasn't lost on either of the twins. Their mother's territory was being acknowledged and honoured, even here in the heart of royal power. Elliot glanced at Elizabeth, wondering if she'd had any part in the decision, but her expression revealed nothing as she delicately sipped her water.

"So," Buck said, breaking the momentary silence, "do we call you 'Your Highness' at the dinner table, or is that just for school hours?" His attempt at humour fell flat as both his mother and brother tensed.

Elizabeth, however, merely raised an eyebrow. "Elizabeth will do fine, unless we're in formal court. Though I suspect you'll continue calling me 'weird quiet girl' behind my back regardless."

Buck choked slightly on his water. "I never—"