Chapter 4: Independence

"Alright then. I would make the necessary steps to sign you up for this. I would truly miss you daughter.." Her mother hugged her and so did her father...

And that's when the journey to normal life started although... her journey is not off to a great start...

As they both headed out after negotiating with the king and queen. Lawrence is walking about teary-eyed and shocked.

"WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT PRINCESS AND BRINGING ME ALONG WITH YOU TO LIVE THIS NORMAL LIFE?! Are you crazy!" Lawrence finally popped the emotions he was hiding.

From the beginning, he didn't want Celestina to leave the castle because he believes that leaving is nothing but foolish since they already have everything they need in the castle. The food is on their table, the knowledge comes to them and they have no worries whatsoever but living in a normal household changes everything.

"Is sharing a house in another country this unpleasant to you?" Celestina asked her showing deep concern for Lawrence. Considering that she did not ask his say in the situation and Celestina just suddenly threw his name to join her in this mission of self-searching.

"No..." Lawrence calmed himself down and took a deep breath. "It's just that the terms you set for this are not exactly the best. You told your parents that you only needed the financial support meaning we would not have any servants in the house we are going to live in."

"I don't really think normal people have servants in their home.. well from what I remember correctly.. they don't" Celestina answered her in a clueless manner...

Lawrence gulped in frustration. "Without any servants or any type of guardian in the house since your condition was that we are the only ones living on that house. It means no one would perform the chores for us and we would have to take care of ourselves..." He explained what he meant

Considering that Lawrence was the only one who knows how to cook between the two.. while Celestina was sheltered her whole life in the castle and has never even lifted any cleaning or cooking tool.. so Lawrence is deeply worried that the won't be able to live in the house.. like at all.

"Oh... I guess that tiny bit of detail kind of slipped my mind..." Celestina chuckled slightly.

"TINY DETAIL?" Lawrence muttered to himself as this statement burst a blood vessel until sighing to calm down. "Well, I guess there is no point in arguing about this since it already happened. In the meantime, I would get some cooking recipes from the chefs so that we could eat something once we take our flight which will happen tomorrow."

Celestina was full of joy.. being excited to finally being able to be independent... it's like in one of her books where when the person turns eighteen they would be forced out of the house and would be looking for a job but in her case, she would go to a regular high school and be a transfer student. Something that she always wanted...

"Aren't you excited! We'll be able to live together under one roof!" Celestina jumped out and down gracefully shaking Lawrence's dead mannered hands.

"A girl and a boy living under roof... doesn't that pertain to being a couple..." Lawrence whispered to himself not too fond of the idea of living under one roof.. living the life of luxury that he and Celestina experienced.

"Hmmm! I wonder if I would get along with the students in the school. I would find that rather delightful." Celestina giggled already imagining what would happen in school. Her fantasies being that similar to the novels she reads.

"Also! What if I meet! The love of my life like in those novels! Since high school love is common! I'll find one as well!"

"From what I remember correctly. High school relationships don't exactly last. I heard they can just last more than a week considering that in our age we are not ready to take on responsibilities and being in a relationship is a big responsibility where both parties will have to invest in each other financially and emotionally."

"Pardon? I couldn't hear you back there." Celestina called to Lawrence... NOT LISTENING to his little speech about high school love. Making Lawrence just sluggishly close his eyes.

"Wait a minute princess...Didn't you say that your goal into being an exchange student is that you would grow knowledgable about commoner culture so that you can better help the people when you become ruler." Lawrence crosses his arms. "Something tells me you just made that excuse so that your mother and father would allow you.."

"Hmmm." Celestina looks above, thinking a little bit before answering in a bubbly tone. "Well, I did make it an excuse..since I wanted to feel what it feels like to have friends you know? To feel like you're having the time of your life in high school and experiencing those things like love in my novels... Although." She would brush up her hair and put her hand on her chest.

"Don't think that I'm only going for fun and games. I'm still responsible for my people and I'm still following my grandfather's footsteps. If being a commoner is what made him a good ruler then I should do the same. I hope this doesn't change your perception of what I am as a person. Although I goof off and play. I am still committed to being one of the best rulers for my kingdom just like my grandfather."

All the doubts that were floating around Lawrence's head disappeared like a cloud. Although he isn't certainly sure about what's going to happen in their sudden change of scenery... and that he truly despises the decision of moving to a house which was tiny compared to the giant castle.

He truly did trust Celestina with all his trust and with her words.. it was enough to convince him that they both could learn something from this experience.

"Alright then. I won't be against it. Although make sure that you are a woman of your word princess.. if this is your goal I will full on give you my support. You have my word." Lawrence offers her, his hand symbolizing his full trust on Celestina.

Celestina smiled softly, brushing off her hair and touching Lawrence's hand. "You have my word."

Lawrence then let's go of Celestina's hand and cleared his throat. "You have your etiquette lessons that are about to start right now. Don't you go and miss it..." Lawrence reminds her...

Celestina's head grew heavier as her legs grew more fatigue... "I.. I guess the fact that I didn't sleep is getting to me already..." She said to Lawrence who assist her in standing up from her sudden fall.

"You should really get some sleep... I can inform the other tutor that you will not be able to see them for their lessons so that you can rest princess." Lawrence says to her covering for her.

"Thank you, Lawrence." She smiled softly as she dashed towards the room where the tutor is waiting for her.

She arrived in the room and that's when the classes began. It was the usual lessons.. and they both converse between each other improving Celestina's etiquette because Celestina is known to be quite different from the other princesses.. and it's because of her brash and straight forward personality which is rare for the shy and kind princess that is the norms in their kingdom.

"I heard from the king and queen that you would be going to move out of the castle to start classes in a regular high school? Is this true?" The tutor curiously asked her.

"Yes. It's a way of learning and a way to improve myself, madam." She answered in a regal manner.

The tutor looked at her and paused for a minute. Before letting out a slight giggle. "You really do surprise me, princess Celestina."

"Oh?" Celestina's eyebrow rises with the sudden comment of the tutor.

"I've been teaching princess such as yourself when I was young and out of all the princesses I've thought. You are by far one of the most unique I've seen so far." The tutor says to her.

Those words feel her up with confusion and a bit of flattered... she considered being called unique a compliment although she's not certain if that's a good thing in the tutor's eyes.

"I will miss you, madam. We wouldn't be able to see each other for quite a long time when I transfer to my new school." She says to the tutor. "But all I have to say, you are one of the most honorable tutors I've had."

"Yes... I am very well aware of that.." The tutor stood up and handed her a pendant. It was a blue sapphire that shined like the moon. "Although we won't see each other.. let this pendant remind you of me."

"I will... I promise. I will never forget you!"