Chapter Text
Graduation! The one day meant to be about Regina and her life here at East Easton.
From 123's to what would be her degree? All captured in a capsule of photos, bad art projects, and medals. Decorating several outdoor foldable tables.
Her greatest accomplishment was being crowned valedictorian of her graduating class at North Shore.
Her yard was overcrowded with relatives pretending to be excited for her, but yet couldn't tell her or Kylie George apart.
There for the steaks and grub, her family had catered in for the special event.
But that's not what made the backyard get-together exciting!
Her grandmother, from a small posh farm town in Europe, was coming!
That made even the money-loaded Graduation cards seem like dirt in the wind by comparison.
Regina adored her grandmother, who had the sass of Dorthy from Golden Girls, but the laughter and warmth of Julie Andrews. Corrinne Beatrice Dutton was not a woman to be messed with, and she was the sort of sophisticated and put-together that Regina aspired to be.
Horseback rider, adventurer, and even had toured with a russian production of the Nutcracker.
Her grandmother was nothing short of amazing! Her career and busy lifestyle, however, kept her an ocean away.
Leaving them to mostly communicate through letters and pictures of each other's lives.
So today was a special one indeed, knowing her grandmother was flying all the way here to see just her!
Supposedly, she had exciting news, and hopefully that news was, she was moving to East Easton.
But for right now, this party was about her, and Regina was taking it all in.
Today was the day she was supposed to feel triumphant for graduating from the dump of North Shore, and for not only graduating at the top of her class, but for landing a scholarship at Illinois State.
Instead, her mother was staring at her like she was about to detonate a bomb rather than stuff their faces and talk to guests they would never see again!
"What? Do I have a zit or something?" Regina huffed. "I told you we shouldn't have skimped out on those spa visits!"
“Regina,” her mother said softly. “We need to talk.”
Regina blinked. June George was never the serious type, so why did she sound like she was about to tell her that they were putting their dog down?. Maybe her grandmother wasn't going to make it? Or worse, Gretchen had blurbed about what they had spent the last weekend doing!
“If this is about the beer I stole, it was just so Aaron would talk to me—”
“It’s not that.” Her mother inhaled, steady, but strained. “There’s something you need to know about our family.”
Regina’s stomach sank. Please don’t be cult members. Please.
Regina couldn't handle anymore truths about her family anymore.
Her Dad's side was absolutely disgusting!
It was bad enough some of them dipped chicken in ketchup, and she had those cousins from Misery---Missouri!
How much worse could it get?
“We’re returning to Lilymoore,” her mother continued.
“To where?” Her lashes fluttered at the bullshit country's name.
Let alone the fact that they had anywhere to return to!
They had lived in East Easton all of Regina's life!
Had her mom been smoking pot?
“Our home country,” June admitted.
Regina shook her head. “We’re from Illinois.”
Her mother closed her eyes. “No. We’re not--Well no I'm not. .”
And the truth spilled out like shattered glass.
Corrine Dutton wasn't just the head queen bee of some farm hick town, she was the reigning Queen of Lilymoore that sounded like a Hallmark town on steroids.
She knew she was meant for more than the cesspit of Illinois!
So on June Geroge went!
A hidden kingdom.
A broken monarchy.
A family forced into exile decades ago by some whacko she thought her grandmother had made up to scare her into not talking to strangers at the airport, and that's why they had all the extra security when they traveled.
Her mother leaving Lilymoore for a guy she met while studying French in Paris.
A throne left empty.
A grandmother who was not just rich, but a reigning queen.
Regina was the heir.
Regina was the future ruler!
Regina was going to spend the entire summer in Lilymoore undergoing princess training before publicly acknowledging her title.
What about her red solo cup future at Illinois State? What about going to Florida for Spring Break and making memories she wouldn't remember?
Her future — her entire identity — evaporated in seconds.
She didn't want to be a Disney princess!
“Mom,” she whispered, “I just graduated. I’m supposed to go to college—”
“You will. After the summer. Your grandmother agreed it would be good for you since we've slighted you on having tutors otherwise and she agrees trying to keep your life as normal as possible is the best route to all of this!"
"But---"
Her mother touched her cheek. “This is who we are, Regina.”
Regina felt like she was drowning.
Not who I am, she wanted to say.
But duty was a tidal wave, and it swept her away.