We broke into fits of laughter and spent the rest of the afternoon daydreaming about all the ways we would help our future kingdom and how we would be different than our mother. “I will always tell my children that I am a mother first and a queen second,” Antoinette said, suddenly growing serious. “That’s the way it should be.”

I was about to open my mouth to agree, but a dark cloud drifted toward us. Sitting up on my elbows, I eyed the intruder on our perfect day. “Antoinette, I think it’s time to head back.” Following my gaze, Antoinette agreed.

Only we weren’t quick enough. On our way back to the palace, a downpour let loose. We ran through the pouring rain as thunder rippled through the air. We turned a corner, and I slipped, pulling my sister down with me. Mud splashed up, staining both our dresses. I got up and hoisted Antoinette from the muck. “Quick, through the servants’ entrance!”

Normally, that was a safe place to enter without notice, but this time as we rushed through the door, I discovered we were in great danger. The fearsome sight of our mother stood before us. Her large form took up most of the doorframe, blocking our escape to the hallway, and she was furious. Both of our heads snapped down in submission, to look at our mud-covered shoes.

“What were you two thinking?” She scowled at us, with her arms crossed in front of her broad bosom. This alone caused Antoinette and me to tremble with fear. She never needed to yell; she needed only to whisper, and men would cower. “Do you know how worried Countess von Brandis was? How worried I was? Of course you don’t, because you are selfish girls who think only of themselves.”

I dared to look into my mother’s gray-blue eyes, now as stormy as the world outside, but I cast my gaze back down as she glared at us.

“I probably shouldn’t even ask whose idea this was,” she growled. “Should I, Charlotte?”

“Mother, I—” At that precise moment, a glob of mud fell from my hair. It bounced off my nose and fell with a splat on the brown stone floor.

Her scowl deepened, and her face became crimson. “You are future queens. One of you will be the queen of France. Charlotte, you are always the source of gossip, and your attitude is appalling You are the elder sister. You should be setting a pious example for Antoinette. From this day forward, you will be separated from each other.”

We began to protest but she raised her hand.

“Not another word. Antoinette, you will have a private tutor, and Charlotte, you will be placed with Josepha and Amalia. There will be no more secret confidences, no more contact at all whatsoever.”