The Princess and Her Secrets

A warm breeze whispers across the balcony as you, Princess Seraphine, stand gazing at the setting sun. Another day of stifling lessons is over, and all you crave is the peace of sleep. But dinner looms, a formal obligation in the Great Room.

The scent of your favorite meal, spaghetti, offers a brief comfort in the tense silence shared with your parents. Then, the King’s voice shatters the calm, announcing that since you’ve turned eighteen, it’s time for you to marry a prince from the neighboring kingdom for political alliance. Your protests are swiftly dismissed; as Princess and subject, you will obey. You flee to your room, tears of frustration and helplessness falling freely.

The next morning, after a restless night filled with a strange, intimate dream, you prepare to leave. A heartfelt farewell with your maid, Rosie, is the only solace before you are whisked away to the foreign palace. Upon arrival, you find the palace eerily quiet and empty. As you settle into your unfamiliar room, a knock at the door introduces you to Prince Oliver, your intended. He is unexpectedly polite and handsome, offering a glimmer of hope that this arranged marriage might not be as terrible as you feared. He invites you for a walk the next day and arranges for your dinner to be brought to your room, allowing you to continue settling in.