Dear Diary, what a jolly good time I have been having with my new tutors! The world of magic is vast (and oftentimes contradictory between my lessons) but I think I am beginning to get the hang of it!

Dear @abigailgrunewald.bsky.social,

I am chuffed by your response! I knew my letter risked going unanswered, as I have no doubt you are teeming with suitors, lovely as you are.

What is your favourite bird? I have never courted a lady via correspondence, so please forgive any impropriety.

–HRHPF

Oh Diary, Perclancy has submitted his resignation as my tutor. I am dreadfully happy for him but I will miss his mentorship, his crooked spectacles, our fluffy biscuit fights, the giggles. I wish for myself what he has found with his canary-fingered villager… love.

Oh ho! I have received a letter!

M’lady,

It has taken me some time to summon the courage to write you. Indeed I am of sovereign blood, but I am also just a man. Forgive my boldness, but there is an air of mystery about you that I very much wish to know.

Respectfully,
His Royal Highness Prince Farallel, Heir to the Praglish Throne

Dear Diary, perhaps you can help me work through this tender predicament I find myself in. I have thought of nothing but my exquisite maiden since laying my eyes upon her yesternight. Oh, I must confess – I approached her after the ceremony. A common lady! Daddy would PERISH at the mere thought!

Oh Diary, what a momentous day!!! Though the prickly political aide (Julia?) was *not* up to task in assembling the components for the blessing, we “made clamberries into paste” as the commoners say!!!

Golly me Diary, an age it has been! I have been busier than EVER with Royal Duties, partnering closely with the young lad on Phase 1 of bridge repairs. And every Brogday, I don my trusty gildebeest moustache and mingle at the market like a proper low-born, in total disguise! A thrill, it is!

Oh Diary! I had a jolly good scare! There were a number of fraudulent entries written upon your pages – a crock of nonsense it all was – and the ONLY explanation is that a band of THIEVES came to steal you away and expose Royal Secrets! Mummy was right, I risk life and limb beyond the castle walls!

Good eve Diary! I granted my first-ever royal audiences yesterday (!!!) to two enterprising, sweaty little villagers, and I must now select a path forward for bridge repairs!

Oh Diary! I write to you this glorious evening from my royal chambers inside a rather large tree?! What a lark! I am certain I made a lasting impression on the darling townsfolk, how curious they are! Their skin is coated in a thin layer of shiny grime, perhaps it is the climate?

Sweet Diary! Tomorrow, Fishdee the 40th of Mundelar, Helena Nine, will go down in HISTORY as the day I make my make my GRAND DEBUT as future King of the Realm!

Dear Diary, I have been musing over my packing list for my trip to the wet little village!
- My toadshark hide boots, for mucking about with the common folk!
- A photo of Mummy, for my bedside table!
- My best whippoorwill tail quill, for signing royal decrees!
- You, old chum, of course!

Diary old boy! You will not BELIEVE what has happened! Daddy is sending me on my VERY OWN royal quest to aid the precious little peasants in the village!

Good eve Diary! I am tucked into my bed chambers in my very best nightcap, feeling positively snug. I went searching for Mummy to give her a goodnight kiss but alas, she had already retired for the day! I will smooch your fine pages instead.

Dearest Diary, good morning old chum! Today is Chisserday and you know what that means! Natural sciences! Perclancy will be taking me through a lesson on the courtship rituals of the whippoorwill, which of course is Daddy’s favourite bird. I hope to catch him during luncheon and share what I learn!

Dear Diary, what a jolly fine day! The bumbleflora are blossoming, their rich fragrance wafting into my turret. Perhaps I will pick a nice bouquet for Mummy – or rather, ask the gardeners to, oh ho!