For the good of the kingdom

 

- "I don't understand. Why can't we let anyone know?" 

* voiceover *: "Because the kingdom cannot stand any more instability. The situation is already worrying after your father's death. We cannot tell the people that the sorcerer who killed their king has also cast a spell on the prince and the princess, before he is killed. We cannot let neighboring kingdoms know that the heir to the throne is in the body of a frail damsel. We would be vulnerable to their attacks. We must make them believe that the kingdom has stability despite the death of your father."  

- "But how long will we have to keep this secret, mother? How soon will I be able to return to my body?" 

- We don't know how long it will take. Some trusted soldiers are undercover searching for wizards who can help us. But it could take a long time. In the meantime, you and your sister will have to assume the roles of your bodies. This means your sister will be crowned king in three days. 

- "What?! But mother, the crown is MY destiny..." 

- "That's enough. I explained our predicament to you. We need a king in charge, and you can't be right now. Your younger sister will be the king until we find out how to reverse the spell. 

-"But..." 

- "You, in the meantime, will have to quickly learn how to behave like a princess. You will be required to maintain a feminine and graceful demeanor, appropriate to your role. In a month there will be the ball for your sister's (now yours...) 20th birthday, and there will be many princes from neighboring kingdoms. It will be necessary to marry one of them to strengthen our alliances, so you must be ready to strike them with your grace, "princess". 

- "Mother, you can't be serious..." 

- "I am very serious. And you will obey, for the good of the kingdom. Do I make myself clear?" 

- "..." 

- "It is polite to answer when your mother talks to you." 

- "For the good of the kingdom..." 

- "Exactly. Now it will be better to start your training. You will have to start getting used to move gracefully in uncomfortable women's formal dresses."