(The book will be repackaged in paperback asPrince Charming.
)Her RoyalHighness, fashioned as a standalone companion novel, continues in that tradition.
The only problem: Milles roommate Flora is a total princess.
Credit: G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Reader
Shes also an actual princess.
after all, real life isnt a fairy tale or is it?
Im still wearing my jeans and T-shirt, since my uniform is supposed to be waiting for me in .
Pulling my backpack into my lap, I take out the email I printed out.
Room 327, I read, my fingers moving over the numbers.
The room Im going to live in for the next year.
Thats one of the weirder parts of this whole boarding school experimentliving with someone else.
Still, good practice for college, right?
Im mostly surprised by how many boys there are.
All kinds of boys.
Boys who look about twelve, boys who tower over me as they make their way into the house.
The ground floor still looks like someones house.
There are paintings on the wall, little tables full of bric-a-brac, and soft carpets underfoot.
Its a little less chaotic up here, and dimmer.
There are fewer windows, and the carpet underfoot feels almost moldy as I creep along it.
That might endear me to my roommate, right?
Picking the crappy side?
Ive come to Scotland, and Im here for the next year.
He answers almost immediately, and I grin with relief to see him there in the living room.
Oh my god, its so .
quaint, she says, raising her eyebrows, and I wave at her.
If quaint means a little creepy and small, then yes!
She frowns slightly, leaning closer to Dads phone.
No, a voice insists.
This is not what was agreed to.
Shes taller than I am, and her hair is gold.
Literally gold, like dark honey.
Its held back from her face with a thin headband, and that face .
Her skin is so smooth and luminous I want to stroke her face like some kind of weirdo.
Im not sure she would even know what the word pore means.
Does she follow one of those intense ten-step skin routines?
Has she found magical sheet masks made of pearls?
Maybe this is just what being rich does to your face.
Because theres no doubt this girl is also very, very rich.
Her clothes are simplea sweater and jeans tucked into high leather bootsbut they practically smell like money.
She smells like money.
Your mother the man starts, and she throws up her hands.
Call her, then.
the man asks, his heavy brow wrinkling.
Call my mother, she repeats, her voice carrying just the softest Scottish burr.
Her chin is lifted, and I can actually feel tension vibrating off her.
We were told the man says on a sigh, but shes not giving in.
On my phone, Dad scowls.
Maybe its jet lag.
Her lips part slightly, eyebrows going up as she stares at me.
Ive never wanted to pull words back into my mouth so badly.
But something about how this girl is talking just .
So maybe this is who I am now?
Millie Quint, Confronter of People.
I decide to keep going with it.
Do you mind being a little quieter?
I waggle my phone at her.
I take a deep breath and turn back to Dad.
Look, Im here, Im safe, everything is great .
ish, and Ill call you back later, okay?
Rubbing his eyes, Dad nods.
Sounds good, Mils.
Love you, too.
He hangs up, and I go back to the suitcase on my bed.
I turn around to see my new roommate standing there with her arms folded.
I take a second to study her now that Im not blinded by her bone structure and shiny hair.
I did, yeah, I tell her.
Her lips purse together, curling up into a smile.
Its the one I got working on the yearbook last year.
