BY TERESABATEMAN

IllustratedbyGlenAngus

ond t

Lilly did not want to be vied for. Nor did she want to be fawned
over, flattered, or fondly told not to bother her pretty little head about
things every time she brought up an interesting topic of conversation.
It was a relief to escape to her bedroom with an armful of birthday
presents, shaking off the princes who’d offered to carry her parcels as if
they were so many persistent puppies hanging on to the hem of her pet-
ticoat. She momentarily thought of escaping through the window, then
sighed. Skipping out on her own birthday party was clearly a breach of
protocol. Speaking of which, she had to decide which of those annoying
creatures would escort her into the ball that evening.
Lilly plopped down on the bed and eyed her parcels. One was from
Aunt Matilda.

n Princess Lilly’s sixteenth

birthday the palace was awash with aunts, uncles,
cousins, and, unfortunately, a passel of princes.
They were there to vie for her hand, and each wished
to be the lucky prince who got to lead her into the ball that evening.h

A BREACH OF

PROTOCAL MEANS

NOT FOLLOWING

ESTABLISHED RULES

AND PROCEDURES.

19