A girl was drawing, moving the quill across the paper with smooth but precise motions. Around the drawing lay scattered other sheets full of notes. At first glance, one could tell the character of these notes was educational, but she didn't seem to care.
Lost in her drawing, she didn't notice when another woman, much older, approached and took it from her.
The woman, dressed in servant's clothes, analyzed the girl's drawing with a furrowed brow and judging eyes. "Princess, would you care to explain what you're doing during lessons?"
The young girl, with long white hair and bright emerald eyes, wearing an ostentatious blue dress and a tiara adorned with small rubies, looked away, pouting in response.
The servant brought the drawing close to her face. It was a landscape—a meadow full of flowers, with a forest at the foot of a mountain in the background.
"Please, we've had this conversation before. You'll fall behind in your studies if you keep this up," the woman said.
"It's not as if they matter anyway. It'll be my older brother who takes the throne in the end."
"But Princess, that's not the point. As a representative of the royal family..."
"I must be prepared for all kinds of situations," she finished with a mocking tone. "Why do I have to learn about spirit theory if I can't even use it!?"
The princess stood up suddenly as she complained, unaware that her dress had caught on a table leg. The result was that she fell flat on her face.
"Princess!?" The servant rushed to her aid. "Are you alright? Did you break anything?"
With teary eyes and a little blood coming from her nose, the princess replied, "I'm fine."
The servant used a handkerchief to clean her up. "Here, use this for your nose."
The princess nodded slowly with narrowed eyes. Obediently, she wiped herself with the handkerchief.
"Princess, I try to do my best for you, but you don't cooperate. What is it that you want?"
The young girl quickly composed herself and, with a radiant smile, pointed at the room's window. "I want to go outside!"
"Outside?" the woman repeated nervously. "I don't think that's possible."
"You can take me! You don't live in the castle!"
"Your father the King said you are strictly forbidden to leaving the palace."
"Then take me in secret!"
"They'd cut off my head if I did something like that."
"Come on, Matilde, please, don't be like that!"
The servant looked away. "I'm sorry, but I can't help you."
The princess slumped and began pounding the floor with both hands. "I'm so tired of this palace! I know every hallway, the names of every guard and servant!" She jumped to her feet. "I've counted every single brick!"
When she looked back at the servant, her face showed more nervousness than usual. In fact, she looked outright frightened.
"My King," the servant said with a trembling voice while bowing, freezing the princess in place.
Turning around, she found herself face to face with a man—tall, with black hair and mustache, his bearing commanding respect, and the golden crown he wore gleaming in the window light.
"Father," the princess also bowed, trying to hide her nervousness.
Though she didn't meet his eyes, she could feel her father's severe gaze piercing her.
"Zara, what had I told you about your desires to go outside?" the man said.
"That they weren't fit for a princess..." she replied, almost whispering.
"I came to see how your studies were progressing, but I see you prefer to waste your time." His words were laden with great disappointment, which Zara could feel perfectly.
"End the lesson for today." The King turned to leave the room. "Remember, Zara, this is not behavior worthy of a princess of our empire." Zara lifted her gaze to meet her father's. "I hope it doesn't happen again."
The princess sighed, lowering her head once more. "Yes, Father, it won't happen again."
The man left the room, leaving her in silence.
"I'm sorry I can't do more, Princess." The servant gathered her things and withdrew as well after bowing to Zara.
The princess stood there, not quite sure what to do. Finally, she took her drawing and decided to leave the room.
As she walked through the hallways, she greeted both soldiers and servants alike. None stopped for long. They bowed and continued with their work.
After a few minutes of walking, she stopped before a window to gaze at the landscape. The distant mountains, the vast meadows, the lush forests.
"Books don't do justice to the landscapes seen from here."
"You're right, little sister, very right."
Zara screamed and stepped back. Beside her now stood another person. A beautiful woman with long white hair and emerald-colored eyes. Though she wore a crown similar to hers, she was dressed in a tunic, carried some books under her arms, and wore a monocle.
"Olivia, don't startle me like that!"
"Oh, if you want to read more about landscapes, I recommend this book."
Olivia handed the book to her sister. Once calmed, Zara sighed and accepted it.
"Chronicles of Fargus," she said, reading the book's title.
"Yes, it's a very interesting book. It tells the adventures of Fargus, a famous adventurer who traveled across the entire continent and visited countless places. The best parts are..."
The woman began narrating moments from the book with growing enthusiasm, seeming to have completely forgotten she was speaking with her sister.
"Ah, well, I'm sure you won't like it as much as I do," she finished with a nervous laugh.
"No, it seems like a good book..." Zara returned her gaze to the outside. "Thank you, sister."
Olivia was silent for a few seconds. "Father scolded you again?"
Zara sighed. "Something like that."
"You know it bothers Papa, your longing for freedom." Olivia put an arm around her shoulder. "If you want, I could build you some mechanism to see those places from a distance."
"That doesn't sound too bad, though I'd prefer it to be in person."
Zara then shifted her gaze to her sister's clothes.
"And your dress?"
"Oh, that. An experiment went wrong and it burned."
"What!?"
"Olivia!" The shout echoed from the end of the hallway.
The monocle she wore made a sound and a blue glow enveloped it. "It seems our dear brother will be joining the conversation."
The man, close in age to Olivia, dressed similarly to the King, his black hair tied in a bun, emerald-colored eyes like his sisters, and a crown similar to the King's but smaller. On his belt, he carried two scimitars.
"Brother Callen," Zara greeted him.
"Ah, Zara, sorry, I didn't see you there," he said upon reaching them, apologizing and greeting his sister. "But I definitely saw you!"
Olivia made a move to leave, but her brother quickly stopped her, grabbing her arm.
"What do you think you're doing walking around like this? If Father sees you, only the goddess knows what he'll do to you!"
"You worry too much, little brother. Father is probably preparing dinner." She freed herself from her brother's grip. "He has no time for me. Before he notices, I'll have a new dress."
Zara raised an eyebrow at the mention of dinner. "Is Father planning to have dinner with us tonight?"
"Yes, that's right," said Callen with a confused expression. "Didn't he tell you?"
Zara shook her head. "He's angry with me. He'll probably send a servant later."
"Can you blame him? You're doing terribly in your studies," Olivia added to the conversation.
"Hey, it's not that bad!" said Zara, trying to hide a blush.
Callen reached into one of his pockets. "Before I forget, here, for your birthday." He handed her a quill. "I know it's not yet, but take it early."
The princess examined it closely, though she noticed nothing interesting. It looked like an ordinary quill.
"I know you like to draw," said her brother. "It was brought from the Union. It's enchanted. When you paint, it will do so in whatever color you imagine, and its ink will never run out."
Zara was surprised and tried it immediately on the drawing she was carrying. Indeed, the colors she wanted appeared just by thinking of them.
"Incredible, I love it, thank you so much!" She ran and hugged her brother tightly. He responded by stroking her head.
Olivia's monocle glowed again; suddenly she seemed more nervous. "Ah, you two, I have to go. I just detected Father heading toward my room."
The woman ran off at full speed. Zara and Callen couldn't help but laugh at the situation.
Once the laughter subsided, Callen sighed.
"Zara, I want you to listen carefully." His voice had taken on a more serious tone, which his sister couldn't ignore.
"It's likely Father will ask you what gift you want for your birthday." Zara's eyes lit up. "Don't say anything about leaving." The light vanished in an instant.
"Why!? I'm turning seventeen, I'll be of age. I'm sure he has plenty of guards to spare in the castle!"
"Father is nervous. The war against Tarzovia has worn him down considerably, and the empire isn't at its best moment."
"But..."
"There's no 'but' about it, Zara. Everything in its time." Zara looked away. "If you insist on that subject, I can't guarantee he'll respond kindly."
Zara stared at him, pensive. "I'll see you at dinner." She withdrew from the place, not without first making a small bow to her brother.
Night fell. Just as Zara had said, a servant came to her room to fetch her for dinner. Everyone was in the great hall, at an enormous rectangular table. At one end sat the King, while Olivia and Callen were seated in other areas. There were two empty chairs, one next to the King. Zara sat in the one closest to her siblings.
At first glance, everything was perfectly normal; the room's silence was broken only by the sound of their utensils. But for some reason, everyone was nervous, except for the King.
"Zara," the King was the first to finish his meal, "your birthday is approaching. Is there anything you want?"
Zara glanced sideways at her brother Callen, who shook his head slowly.
She thought about her answer for a few seconds. "Give me a few days, Father. I still need to... think about it." She clenched her fists tightly.
"Very well, daughter." His attention then shifted to Olivia. "How is that research I assigned you going, Olivia?"
Olivia, much better groomed now and without her monocle, hurried to swallow before answering. "It's going very well, Father. I've discovered some very interesting things regarding that. You see..." The King raised his hand and she stopped speaking. "Sorry," said the princess.
"When you discover something, let me know." Then the King turned to Callen. "And how are your trainings going, son?"
"They're going well, Father. I've already managed to use both swords better."
The King smiled, pleased with the response. "Good. That will be all for today. I have matters regarding the war to attend to, so I'll leave first."
Zara bit her lip slightly. Why am I the only one who seems to be locked up? she thought, clenching her fists even tighter, threatening to dig her nails into her palms.
When the King stood up, Zara did too, slamming the table with force.
Everyone looked at her in surprise, but her siblings' faces quickly changed to alarmed ones.
"This isn't fair! You let my brothers do whatever they want! But you keep me locked up in here!?"
"Zara, don't say any more," Callen tried to stop her.
"No, I won't be quiet! I've always wanted the same thing, and you all know it!"
The King hadn't spoken; he only observed. His silence said more than a thousand words, but Zara seemed to be the only one in the room who didn't understand it.
"I want to leave the palace!"
Callen closed his eyes and clenched his fists, looking away.
"I want to see better places, to travel! You're a king, you have gold to spare! Why won't you grant me just this one whim!?"
Olivia looked directly at the King, who maintained his characteristic serenity. But she could notice that in his eyes, a small spark of anger was beginning to burn.
"The answer to that is still no."
"But why!?"
"I won't send you into the unknown, not with such a chaotic world."
"Callen could accompany me, or you could send some soldiers, you could..."
"ZARA!" With his shout, a sinister aura flooded the room. The princess could feel as if the air were escaping her and her legs were trembling. "I'm tired of this. You are a princess, not a peasant, not an adventurer, and as a princess, you must follow certain rules."
"But..."
"But even before being your King, I am your father, and as your father, I forbid you to ever speak about leaving the castle again. Do you understand?"
"Father..."
"Do you understand!?"
Zara fell silent, her mouth twisting in displeasure. "Yes, Father." Completely disheartened, Zara made a small bow and withdrew from the place without looking back.
Back in her room, by candlelight, Zara leafed through the book her sister had given her.
"Father doesn't understand me," she said to herself with a furrowed brow. "What's wrong with me leaving this palace?"
She turned the page. To her surprise, the book was much more interesting than it had seemed. The stories of Fargus, combined with the drawings, seemed to calm her at least a little.
"Well, this is curious," she mentioned, turning to a page that, to her surprise, had a drawing very similar to the views from her window.
The princess looked out the window, confirming what she thought. The mountains in the distance were identical to those in the drawing.
"It seems Fargus passed through here in his time."
Zara turned her back to the window and walked slowly to her bed again. Though Father forbids it, he won't be able to do so forever, she thought as she walked. Someday I'll be able to leave this place, and I feel it's approaching.
The princess noticed a shadow blocking the moonlight coming through the window. She turned just in time to see the figure of a person entering the room, shattering the glass in the process.
"What the hell!?"
As she looked at the shadow that entered the room, it pointed a sword at her.
"Are you Princess Zara?" said a female voice.
Zara nodded; she didn't want to mess with someone pointing a weapon at her.
"Then you're coming with me, whether you like it or not."
Zara blinked a few times in disbelief, while the stranger pulled a small rope from a bag and began approaching her.
Ah, I'm quite sure this is what they call a kidnapping, she thought as she swallowed.