Princess Of Peas: Grimm Academy Series, #17

By Laura Greenwood

Can a pea under a mattress turn a mermaid into a princess?

 

Banished from the sea and without a kingdom to call her own, Cordelia's only chance of inheriting is to win the Bellpoint Castle competition and become their heir. 

And, with the help of her friends, she might stand a chance. But the one thing she hadn't considered was her heart, and when she starts to get close to her best friend's brother, there's no doubt that's on the line. 

With the competition drawing to a close, and her prophecy rearing its ugly head, does Cordelia have time to work out matters of her heart?

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Princess Of Scales is part of the Grimm Academy fantasy fairy tale romance series and is a standalone retelling of the Princess and the Pea. It includes a fairy tale heroine determined to save herself and a sweet m/f romance. 

 

If you enjoy fairy tale retellings, fantasy academy settings, friendship, prophecies, strong heroines, and sweet romance, start the Grimm Academy series!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Drowlgon Press
• Release date: Apr 13, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215513439

Laura Greenwood

Laura is a USA Today Bestselling Author of paranormal romance, urban fantasy, and fantasy romance. When she's not writing, she drinks a lot of tea, tries to resist French macarons, and works towards a diploma in Egyptology. She lives in the UK, where most of her books are set. Laura specialises in quick reads, with healthy relationships and consent positive moments regardless of if she's writing light-hearted romance, mythology-heavy urban fantasy, or anything in between. You can find a full book list and more information on her website, or in The Paranormal Council Facebook Group. Happy Reading!

Book preview

One

I lean back in my chair and stare into the roaring fire while Astrid tells me all about the things she's heard from around the academy. I don't know half of the people she's talking about, but I don't mind. It's good for me to keep up with the other students, and she has a way of making it all interesting even if I don't know exactly who she's talking about.

The door to my bedroom opens and one of the maids comes inside with a tray of tea and cakes.

Thank you, I say with what I hope is an easy smile.

Of course, Your Highness, she responds, dropping into an awkward curtsy.

I want to remind her that I'm a banished princess and that there's no need for any kind of courtesy title like that, but I know it won't do anything. Whether I like it or not, I am a princess.

She sets the tray down and curtsies to Astrid before leaving the room.

I'm never going to get used to that, I admit, not seeing the harm in it when it's just me and Astrid. It's different when Elisa is with us, which makes sense considering she's an actual princess with a kingdom and everything. Not that she's going to inherit it, there's no chance of that with three brothers ahead of her in the line for the throne.

I thought you were a princess, Astrid responds.

I am. Not that it's any good.

Don't people curtsy to you at home? she asks.

It's kind of hard to do anything at home when I'm banished, I mutter. But everyone has tails there, curtsying is impossible, but some people bow. Most of the time they just ignored me though. I'm not very high up the line of succession, so no one really bothered with me.

Which is why you need to win the competition and become the princess of Bellpoint Castle, Astrid says. Especially now me and Elisa don't have a chance. I need someone to give me my title. From the expression on her face, she seems to be joking, but there is some truth in it. Now her family have cut her off after she chose to court someone they deem beneath her, she could use a title and a position in someone's court more than ever.

If I do win, you know I'll give you one. If not, maybe Elisa can convince her father to do it for her.

She says she's tried.

Where is she anyway? I ask. It's unlike her to miss a chance for tea and cake.

Didn't she tell you? Her brother is arriving today.

Efron?

Astrid nods. I think so. She's excited about him arriving. Probably because she's still hoping that the two of you might end up courting.

I let out a very un-princess-like snort. More likely she's just excited because they're close, like she is with all her brothers.

As they should be when she's the one they have to thank for not being turned into swans.

I suspect you winning the competition is still my best bet for a title, Astrid says.

And there's a long way to go for that still, I point out. There are still a couple of rounds left, and there's my prophecy to contend with.

Astrid sits up and starts pouring the three of us tea. I think I'm technically supposed to do it if I want to observe proper land etiquette, but I don't think that matters too much when it's just drinks between friends like this.

You haven't told us about your prophecy yet, she says. We can't help you with it if you don't tell us.

I sigh. It's a hard thing to talk about. And I should probably wait for Elisa to be here before I start spilling secrets like this. Then again, I don't suppose the situation is going to change between now and when I fill Elisa in, so long as she knows before the next stage of the competition, it'll be fine.

But you're going to, right? Astrid prompts.

I take a deep breath, unsure where to start. I haven't even talked to Matilda about this, and she's my older sister. Not just that, but she had a prophecy of her own.

Maybe I should have thought about confiding in her when we first left the sea together.

All right, so my prophecy is actually a strange one from what I've heard other people say.

Astrid raises an eyebrow. How so?

I know how to undo it.

Her mouth falls open. Are you serious? So no trying to hunt down fairies to get them to tell you what to do?

I shake my head. I told you it was strange.

Why does yours include that information and other people's don't? Astrid asks.

I don't know. Maybe they're all supposed to include the way to end them, but no one listens past the bad bit. I've never given the reasoning much thought. I never knew to until I came to Grimm Academy and started to hear rumours about the different prophecies some of the students had.

"So what is your prophecy? she asks. If you don't tell us, then we can't know how to implement the get out of prophecy free card." She picks up one of the teacups and takes a sip.

It's pretty simple, I say. Three times people will fail to recognise me, and then if I don't get three people to say my name three times without my interference or prompting, then everyone in the entire world will forget who I am and I'll live the rest of my life as a nobody.

Ah, that doesn't sound particularly appealing, Astrid says.

I shrug. It's certainly no worse than being chased by a beast for all eternity. Or dropping dead.

We have no way of knowing if that's actually how either of our prophecies would have ended. Though I can tell from her face that she still worries about it despite knowing that her prophecy is over.

I'm glad you didn't risk finding out, I respond.

Me too. She takes a piece of cake off the plate and takes a bite. Mmm, it's lemon and poppyseed, your favourite.

I absentmindedly take a piece and put it on the saucer of my teacup.

Is that why you've never tried to return home?

I'm banished, I point out. I can't return home.

Yes, but will they refuse to say your name and block you from entry? she checks.

I have no idea. I miss the sea, but I don't want to go home, I say. They don't want me there, so there's no reason to go. Isn't that how you feel about your family home?

I suppose so, Astrid responds. We're not doing very well on the family front, are we?

I let out a small laugh. No, it doesn't seem that way. Though I still have Mati.

And I still have you. And Elisa.

You do. And we're not going to abandon you. Or banish you, or do anything absurd like that.

She smiles at me. Thank you. And you know the same is true for you too?

I do.

We're going to be here every step of the way, Astrid responds. Even once you're crowned as a princess.

I'm already a princess, I point out.

Yes, once you're the princess of Bellpoint Castle, you'll be an heir as well as royalty. You'll be as powerful as Princess Briar, Astrid says, the excitement clear in her voice.

I raise an eyebrow. I doubt Bellpoint Castle has nearly as much power and riches as Briar's kingdom.

Mmm, I suppose that's true. She takes a sip of her tea. That's why everyone's talking about Briar, she's going to be the first queen her kingdom has ever had.

At least she's nice, then, I respond. Do you think she'd have taken part in the Bellpoint Castle competition if she wasn't her father's heir?

Probably. I think a lot of the junior royals took part this time. For a lot of them, it'll be the only chance they have to ever rule a kingdom, Astrid says. Though I hope none of them beat you.

Mmm. I stare back at the flames and try not to worry about the rest of the tests to come when it comes to the competition. Even with the help of my friends, I'm not entirely certain I have what it takes to win. But I'm going to try. Not just for them, either. I want to know that I can win for me too.

Two