The Princess and the Pea - Chapter 1

I've decided to re-write the story The Princess and the Pea.  Here's Chapter one!

Chapter One
Once upon a time, there was a far away kingdom called Daffodil Acres. Like all kingdoms, there was a queen and a king who ruled it. And like all kingdoms, they lived in a castle with servants, maids, knights…and of course, their son, the heir.
Queen Lily and King Henry had a son named Samson, who was reaching the age of matrimony. Since King Henry was busy with other things, Queen Lily made herself responsible. Queen Lily got more frequently in his face, babbling on about whichever princess in whatever neighbouring kingdom and arranging meetings. Prince Samson never really cared, but willingly went to the meetings and other kingdoms in search of a princess suitable for him.
Queen Lily had this tactic. She would invite a so-called princess over for a night, and place a single pea under twenty mattresses and bed sheets. Her belief was that if the girl could feel the pea even under all that, she was a true princess. Only a true princess’s skin was so soft and sensitive, for only true princesses were treated to such delicate creams and lotions. But two months past, and Queen Lily did not find a single girl suitable.
One day, Queen Lily made arrangements for Princess Marilynn to come over. Princess Marilynn was a pretty girl with fair skin, emerald green eyes and curly carroty hair. She stood five foot five tall, and she spoke softly and moved with an easy grace. She was wearing a pink hoop dress with small matching slippers. The queen opened the door for her at exactly three o’ clock.
“Welcome,” she smiled. “You must be Princess Marilynn.”
“Thank you, your majesty.” Marilynn stepped into the grand castle, which contained over thirty rooms and ballrooms, with diamond windows and gold walls. Everything sparkled inside the Daffodil Acres castle, for everyday workers would scrub endlessly at the polished linoleum floors. “Where is Prince Samson?”
Queen Lily gently shoved her son forward. Prince Samson sighed and rolled his eyes. He was a tall, blonde boy with blue eyes.
Princess Marilynn curtsied politely. “Hello.”
“Hello.” Prince Samson rocked back and forth on his heels, not really caring.
Princess Marilynn saw his nonchalance and didn’t say anything more.
Queen Lily gestured towards the main hall. “Come, come!”
Soon, it was night time, and Princess Marilynn was brought to her room. She saw the humongous stack of mattresses and frowned. That was unexpected, she thought. But oh well.
Princess Marilynn climbed onto the bed and tried to fall asleep. But she couldn’t, for she felt something that was poking her in the back. But she couldn’t figure out what it was. The bump she felt kept her awake for the entire night.
The next morning, when the princess made her way into the main dining room, Queen Lily eagerly asked her, “How well did you sleep last night, dear?” The queen waited for Marilynn’s answer. Prince Samson was also there, staring at her.
Marilynn didn’t know what to say. If she told the truth, the queen and prince would probably get offended. So she rubbed her eyes and answered: “I slept very well, your majesty. Thank you for your hospitability.”
Queen Lily’s voice got abruptly sharper as she narrowed her fishy blue eyes and said: “You’re welcome. Now, please leave at once after your breakfast.”
Marilynn was dumbfounded. She didn’t know what she did wrong. But she lowered her head and weakly replied: “Yes, your majesty.”
After Marilynn had left, Queen Lily stood up in an outrage, yelling, “I can’t believe it! That was the 14th girl who impersonated a princess this week! What is wrong with these people? Can’t they feel the pea under those mattresses? Didn’t it disturb their sleep at all? I just can’t believe it.”
What Queen Lily didn’t know was that a witch and her daughter were right on top of the castle roof, pressing their ears against it, and they heard all that the queen said. The witch pulled her hideous lips back into an evil smile. “Linda, we have some work to do!”