30 Day Blog Challenge Day 4: A Day in the Life

Just because I'm done with my formal schooling doesn't mean that I don't have other important things to do around the castle. Let me take you through a day in the life of the Crown Princess of Stardell.

• At 06:00, I gracefully wake up to the beautiful sounds of birdsong. It's all very regal. My handmaiden helps me pick out my gown for the day and then we have breakfast together. On any given day, the castle chefs surprise us with a variety of pancakes, waffles, buns, biscuits, croissants, and fresh fruits picked right from our orchards and gardens. We generally spend at least a half an hour engaged in leisurely conversation before it's time to get dressed and greet the rest of the family. 
• At 06:30, I leave my chambers fully dressed and ready for the day. MorMor, mommy and I have coffee in the alcove next to the throne room and discuss matters of state. 
• At 07:30, it's time to greet the foreign dignitaries that have ridden in from nearby kingdoms. Most days we get one or two visitors in the morning and two or three in the afternoon who have come from further afield. 
• Once 08:30 rolls around, it's time for some princess training. Luckily, I'm almost done so I only have to spend two hours with the castle tutors. I may or may not be failing poise class. 
• At 10:30, it's fika time with mum and MorMor. 
• At 11:00, my handmaiden helps me get changed into something decidedly less princess-y and we ride out to the ocean. I only have until 13:30 until I have to be back at the castle clean and poised for the next round of ambassadors, but until then it's time to play hard. We generally take a packed picnic prepared by the castle staff so we can make the most out of our time away from the hustle and bustle of royal life.
• At 14:30, once all the visitors have been settled down into their chambers and properly attended to by servants and entertainers, I like to practice my piano playing. 
• At 15:30, I generally change into peasant clothes to do a spot of gardening. Most of the Royal Court thinks it's un-princess-like of me, but MorMor does it too and the castle gardeners appreciate the help in any case. 
• At 16:45, it's time for my royal bath. I fill my private bathtub with scented oils and bubble bath gel and bathe by candle-light in the finest of luxury. 
• Dinner-time rolls around at 18:00. It would take me hours to describe the variety of delicious delicacies that the castle chefs prepare for us each night. 
• I spend most of the time between dinner and bedtime reading in the castle library. 
• And then my day is over, and it's time for bed. Ah, how glorious it is to be the princess of Stardell. 

30 Day Blog Challenge Day 1: Five Ways to Win My Heart

A princess's heart is notoriously hard to steal. Here are five tips to give any foreign princesses looking to secure their future as co-ruler of Stardell a fighting chance:

1. Potential suitors should be fluent in a variety of languages and/or be well-travelled. Traveling the world is considered a rite of passage for the Royal Court and nobility of Stardell, and it simply wouldn't do for the Crown Princess to be seen courting someone unseasoned in the ways of the world. 
2. Those who are unkind to unicorns need not apply. The magical kingdom and the kingdom of Stardell share a close and amicable bond, and I would not want to do anything to put that bond in jeopardy. 
3. Please be a patron of the arts and/or sciences. A good education is a beautiful quality in any princess. 
4. Good riders will be looked upon extremely favourably. One of my favourite hobbies is riding, and it would be terribly inconvenient if we couldn't ride off into the sunset together. 
5. As Crown Princess of Stardell, I expect to be lavishly courted. Points will be given for creativity, originally, and sentiment. 

April A-Z Challenge: Unicorns in Stardell

Many unicorns live in the forests of Stardell. If you are quiet and pure and free of ill intent, it is all but guaranteed that one will reveal itself to you and ask to play. Most citizens don't know much about the magical creatures that live all around them and in their homes, which is why the Royal Court has decided for the first time in almost 500 years to release this special informational post about unicorns.

• It has long been believed that all magical creatures in the kingdom hold congress with one another, and the unicorns are believed to be the magical equivalent of the Royal Court. Queen Analenna once spoke to a unicorn that disclosed that there is, in fact, a unicorn Queen and unicorn Princes and Princesses. 
• Great care should be taken to avoid angering unicorns. It is widely believed that enraged unicorns can temporarily gain control of the vengeful spirits they typically help keep out of Stardell, and make life miserable for all until amends can be made with said unicorn. 
• Thankfully, most unicorns are extremely friendly and playful. Some will even grant wishes to those who they come across in the forest, particularly on or around Midsommar, when their magic is most powerful.
• Touching a unicorn's horn is proven to bring good luck to a person and his or her family and household. Most unicorns prefer not to have their horns touched until they are ready to part with you, as this is how unicorns say goodbye amongst themselves. This is why there are many accounts of unicorns being scared away by humans trying to touch their horns - they thought you were trying to bid them farewell!
• It is currently unknown whether or not all unicorns can speak human languages. The last report of a unicorn speaking to a human in the Royal Records of Stardell is from 1886, but there have been reports from Germany and Spain that cite speaking unicorns as late as the 1950's. 
• Unicorns are thought to live about two hundred years. No one knows what the magical community does with its fallen members. 

And... That's all I can tell you. There is, of course, more information in the records, but it is classified for the protection of our magical friends and allies. Thank you for your understanding, citizens of Stardell. 

Things to Do in Stardell Kingdom

If you're ever in my hometown, you are royally invited to stop by the castle for a spot of fika or a splash of tea. From there, I will order one of my handsomest squires to show you about the kingdom. Here's a sampling of what you can expect if you're visiting Stardell.

• Stardell is quite famous for its extraordinarily friendly forest creatures. We haven't had a gremlin infestation since 1457, and the fairies and gnomes are very easily persuaded to come out of their dwellings with a bit of honey or sugar. Even our unicorns have been known to show themselves to foreigners. 
• Please, feel free to take a tour of the palace grounds. Our gardeners work very hard to keep them pristine all year long and they are the pride and joy of my MorMor, whose magical green thumb has earned her the title of gardener extraordinaire in addition to former Queen. 
• Your squire escort would be happy to take you on a tour of the Royal Library. Stardell is famed for many hundreds of kilometres for its literary and artistic collections. 
• If you are planning on visiting the village sprawling out from the base of the castle grounds, you simply must visit the museum that my MorMor so graciously funded during the latter part of her rule as a parting gift to our loyal subjects. To this day, Her Majesty the Queen is the head of the museum board, a position that will undoubtedly be passed on to me when it is my turn to reign. 
• I am particularly fond of a villager named Aleyn who runs a bakery in town. She makes the best sticky buns this side of Paradise. Just look around for a little shoppe by the name of Baker's Delight.