british royalty · princess charlotte · buckingham palace · family drama · jealous stepmother · young protagonist · royal inheritance · sibling bond · palace intrigue · dramatic
Sunlight flashes off the gilt gates of Buckingham Palace as the roar of the crowd rises like a tide. Trooping the Colour unfolds below, the balcony a theater of crimson and gold. Soldiers march in flawless rows, brass horns blaring proud and loud. I smooth my dress, the hidden weight of a queen’s final gift pressing against my heart. Louis breaks into a silly dance, pulling faces, while George stares ahead, solemn. King Charles and Queen Camilla stand nearby, her gaze honed to a razor’s edge. Then it lands on me, and the world shrinks to that cold, knowing look. "Enjoying the show, Charlotte?"