I groaned as I looked at the rack of clothing I still had to try on. I'd been in Mr. Norworth's shop for over two hours, and my back was starting to hurt from always having to stand up straight. Mr. Norworth was supposedly the best tailor in Gulbrania. I didn't know if that was true, but I did know that he was painstakingly thorough. Every inch of my body had been meticulously measured to ensure the right alterations. My mother had watched all this with mild amusement when she wasn't answering important phone calls from department heads.
"Are all these clothes really necessary?" I mumbled to her while Mr. Norworth was in the back of the shop getting a more accurate measuring device.
"Frederick, you're the prince of this country," she replied with a sigh. "As such, you're required to participate in various activities and events, and these require a more extensive wardrobe than a box full of T-shirts and jeans."
I nodded reluctantly. It was a fair explanation, but I still didn't like it. I had never worn so many different kinds of clothes in my life. There had been multiple suits and tuxedos, sport coats, slacks, dress shirts, and ties, then there had been casual outfits, semi-casual outfits, and outfits made out of materials from specific countries that I would have to wear if I ever met with the leaders of those countries. I had even been fitted for several new sets of pajamas. I seriously doubted that anyone cared what I was wearing in the middle of the night. If nothing else, this experience was forcing me to get used to my reflection since I had been forced to stare at it for so long in the multiple mirrors in front of me.
"Here we are!" Mr. Norworth announced, waving his device as he walked up to me and ran it across the length of my shoulders. He looked at the small display and nodded. "Yes, yes, I was right. But I wanted to be sure!" He took a few more measurements and stuck some pins into the cloth. "Splendid! Take this riding suit off and let's get on to the next one!"
I complied, rubbing my temples before taking the next suit off the rack. The short man's never-ending enthusiasm was starting to grate on my nerves. I quickly pulled on a dark blue suit made of thick, rough fabric, with a high neck and oblong buttons that ran diagonally down my torso. My mother rose from her seat.
"Be careful with that one, Frederick," she warned. "That's the royal suit you'll be wearing for your presentation gala."
I gave her a weak smile. The gala was only a week away, and the thought of it still made me a little nauseous.
"Ah, yes," Mr. Norworth interjected as he inspected the material. "I see that the Gulbranak is woven in."
I looked down and noticed several shiny green strands running throughout the suit. Mr. Norworth walked around me, pulling at the suit and taking measurements.
"Once again, take in at the waist, let out in the shoulders," he murmured.
At that moment I heard a chorus of squeals from outside the shop, and the next second, a dozen teenage girls had rushed through the door.
"It's him! It's really him!" One exclaimed.
"Frederick! Can I get your autograph!" Another called out.
"Prince Vonnegan! Will you please dance with me at the gala? My name's Cheryl."
"No! Dance with me! I'll make it worth your while."
They all crowded around me, asking for requests and photos and staring at me, but thankfully, they didn't touch me. The whole situation was becoming a bit nightmarish, and I didn't know what to do. Just then, I heard my mother give a loud whistle, and two bodyguards I hadn't known where there appeared from the back of the shop.
"I'm sorry ladies," my mother said authoritatively, "but the prince needs his privacy."
The bodyguards stood between me and the throng of girls, and getting the message, they grudgingly left the shop, but not before a few of them took a hasty picture of me and ran off.
My mother exhaled and sat down again, while the two bodyguards resumed their positions at the back of the shop.
"What was that all about?" I asked, still a bit overwhelmed from the episode.
"You're the prince! You're famous!" Mr. Norworth said, waggling his eyebrows excitedly.
"And quite frankly, son, you're too attractive for your own good," my mother added with a hint of teasing in her tone.
I shook my head in bewilderment. My life was a lot different than it used to be.
*****
I walked into the training room expecting to see Alm, but when I saw Tabitha Dahl in the far corner, I almost walked right back out again.
"Oh good, you're here," Tabitha called out, motioning me over.
I blew out a long breath and forced myself to walk toward her. It wasn't that I disliked Tabitha, I actually found her to be one of the more honest and level headed Gulbranians that I had encountered, but I just wasn't in the mood for more etiquette lessons. As I got closer, I saw that she had set up a little table, and that a girl was sitting at it.
"Frederick, this is my niece, Kirsten," Tabitha announced as the girl stood. "I've brought her here so you could practice your courting etiquette with a real person, and also so she'll stop bothering me about you."
Now I really wished that I could run out of the room. Pretending to date some girl while Tabitha breathed down my neck about every little thing I was supposed to do sounded miserable. The girl was pretty, very pretty, in fact, with long blonde hair and crystal blue eyes, but there was something in those eyes that was a bit frightening, as if she would attack me if she got the chance.
"Hello, Prince Vonnegan," she said in an overly sweet voice, "it's an absolute pleasure to meet you."
I glanced over at Tabitha, who gave me an encouraging nod. I swallowed and extended my hand. "It's lovely to meet you as well, Kirsten."
She eagerly grasped my hand, then smiled and visibly shuddered before she let go.
"Wonderful," Tabitha said. "Now, let's discuss some of the rules of early courtship." She crossed to the other side of the table and picked up a large stack of what appeared to be flashcards. "First," she began, holding up one of the cards, "Look your date in the eye. Don't let your eyes wander, especially to other parts of your date's body," she said with a stern look in my direction. "This shows that you respect your date, and that you are present."
"Next," she continued, holding up another card, "always be polite, not only to your date, but to other people you might encounter during your time together. This ensures that each of you will feel comfortable." She held up the next card. "Respect your date's personal space. You might hold hands if you feel the action is appropriate, but do not, under any condition, allow your hands to take liberties elsewhere."
I turned bright red at this admonition, but I noticed Kirsten's eyes light up.
"Lastly, ask your date pertinent questions. If you spend the entire time talking about yourself, you'll appear vain and there will be little room for connection." Tabitha gathered up the flash cards and gestured to the two chairs at the table. "Alright, you two, take a seat."
Kirsten and I sat down across from each other, and I did my best not to cringe under her intense gaze.
"Remember the rules I just explained, and good luck," Tabitha concluded, turning to leave.
"Wait, what?" I exclaimed, jumping out of my chair.
"The best way for you to learn, Mr. Vonnegan, is to practice. It would be no good to have me standing there, that wouldn't be natural." I inclined my head. She had a point there. "Kirsten will report on how you do. Good luck, Mr. Vonnegan." She smiled and walked out of the room.
I slowly turned back to Kirsten, who was now looking more eager than ever. I really didn't want to go through with it, but I took a deep breath and sat back down. I had had my face shoved in countless toilets and been locked in some of the worst places imaginable. Surely I could make conversation with this girl for a few minutes.
I looked her in the eye and smiled. "So, Kirsten, how is your day going?"
"It's been a dream come true," she said breathlessly.
I shifted in my seat. "Okay, um, have you lived in Gulbrania your whole life?"
"Yes. Except for a year when I went to study in Greenland."
"Cool, what did you study?"
"Narwals."
I waited for her to elaborate, but she didn't, so I looked around for something else to talk about. "I, uh, like your sweater."
"Thank you," she replied, preening. "I made it."
"Wow," I said, actually impressed, "how long did that take?"
She shrugged. "A couple days. I've been knitting and sewing for years, so it was pretty easy." Then she gave me a sly smile. "I can take it off, if you want. You know, so you can get a better look," she added with a deliberate wink.
I leaned away from her as far as I could without falling out of my chair. "No, no thank you, that won't be necessary."
"Well," Kirsten said, scooting her chair closer to me, "Let me know if you change your mind."
It seemed to me that Kirsten was the one who needed etiquette lessons, but I doubted it would go over very well if I mentioned that to Ms. Dahl. She continued to ogle me with that somewhat frightening look in her eyes, and all I could think about was how much I missed Kayla.