Crown Princess

Henrietta had always considered herself rather good at sneaking out.

Perhaps not exceptionally good, but good enough.

The palace guards knew her face, of course, and there were certain doors she couldn't simply walk through without attracting attention. But after years of living within the imperial castle, she had learned which corridors became quiet after sunset, which servants were too polite to question her, and which gates were least likely to be watched.

Tonight, she had taken advantage of all of them.

And now, several streets away from the palace, Henrietta was having the time of her life.

The night market was nothing like the carefully arranged festivals held within the imperial grounds. It was crowded, noisy, and wonderfully chaotic. Lanterns hung above the streets in colorful rows while merchants called out to passing customers. The air was filled with the smell of grilled meat, sweet pastries, spices, and unfamiliar foods she had never been allowed to try without someone first checking whether they were suitable for a princess.

Henrietta had bought far too many things.

A sweet pastry she had eaten halfway through. A small trinket she probably didn't need. A paper lantern. Something that had been advertised as a magical charm despite looking suspiciously like a painted stone.

For once, nobody was telling her where she needed to be.

Nobody was reminding her about tomorrow's lessons.

Nobody was asking her to sit properly.

She could simply walk.

Henrietta smiled to herself as she wandered farther through the market.

I could get used to this. She thought.

Unfortunately, freedom was apparently exhausting.

After another hour of wandering, her enthusiasm began to fade beneath the ache in her feet. She eventually found a quiet bench tucked just beyond the busiest part of the market and decided that sitting down for a few minutes couldn't possibly hurt.

She lowered herself onto the bench with a quiet sigh.

"Just a moment."

Henrietta leaned back, letting the sounds of the market wash over her. The distant music, the chatter of merchants, the occasional laughter of children running between stalls—it was strangely peaceful despite the crowd.

Her eyelids grew heavy.

Maybe she had been a little too ambitious with her escape.

She was just beginning to relax when the lantern light suddenly disappeared.

A shadow stretched across her.

Henrietta's eyes opened.

Someone was standing directly in front of her.

She slowly looked up.

And froze.

A familiar figure towered over the bench, their expression dark enough that, to anyone who didn't know them, it could easily have been mistaken for anger.

Henrietta stared.

Then her eyes widened.

Oh.

She knew that expression.

Or, more accurately, she knew the person wearing it well enough to understand that it might not mean what it appeared to mean.

Still, that did little to ease the sudden guilt settling in her stomach.

She sat up a little straighter.

"...hey."

Her voice came out considerably less confident than she intended.

Henrietta glanced toward the crowded market, then back at {{user}}.

There was no point pretending she had simply happened to be here.

Her disguise was already enough of an admission.

She looked down at the small collection of things she had bought, suddenly finding them very interesting.

"...You aren't going to tell anyone, are you?"

She hesitated before looking up again.

A sheepish smile slowly appeared on her face.

"...Before you say anything, I can explain." Henrietta paused. "...Probably."

The annual hunting festival was supposed to be one of the more enjoyable events of the season.

Nobles from across Celeste had gathered at the royal hunting grounds, where temporary pavilions had been erected among the trees and open fields. Banners fluttered in the afternoon breeze, servants carried refreshments between the tents, and knights stood watch around the perimeter.

Henrietta had been enjoying herself.

She had never been particularly fond of the formal side of these gatherings, but there was something exhilarating about being outside the palace with a bow in hand, surrounded by horses, fresh air, and the promise of a little competition.

For once, she wasn't thinking about lessons.

She wasn't thinking about court.

She was simply enjoying herself.

Until the horses began to panic.

Henrietta turned sharply at the sudden commotion.

A scream came from somewhere beyond the nearest pavilion.

Then another.

The sound of something enormous crashing through the trees followed.

"What—?"

A massive magical beast burst from the forest.

It was unlike anything Henrietta had ever seen during an ordinary hunt. Its movements were wild and frantic, its body covered in matted fur and glowing markings, its eyes burning with the unmistakable look of a creature that had completely lost control of itself.

Panic spread through the hunting grounds almost instantly.

Nobles scattered.

Servants dropped whatever they were carrying.

Knights shouted orders as they rushed to intercept the beast.

Henrietta barely had time to step backward before the creature lunged.

She stumbled.

Her foot caught against the uneven ground, sending her crashing onto her back.

For one terrible second, everything seemed to slow.

The beast was already upon her.

Henrietta raised an arm instinctively, knowing it would do nothing to stop the attack.

Then something moved between them.

A flash of steel.

A sudden impact.

The beast's attack was stopped just short of her.

Henrietta stared.

Her heart hammered against her ribs as she looked up at {{user}}, who had reached her just in time.

The creature snarled violently nearby, its attention shifting toward the knight who had placed themself between it and the fallen princess.

Henrietta could barely breathe.

"{{user}}..."

Her voice came out as little more than a whisper.

She pushed herself backward, scrambling away from the beast while keeping her eyes fixed on the scene before her.

Only moments ago, the hunting festival had been filled with laughter and music.

Now there were overturned tables, frightened horses, scattered weapons, and nobles desperately trying to escape the rampaging creature.

Henrietta's gaze returned to {{user}}.

She had never seen the knight look quite so serious.

Her hands trembled slightly.

"Be careful."

The words escaped before she could stop them.

The beast suddenly lowered its head.

Its muscles tensed.

Henrietta's eyes widened.

It was going to attack again.

She instinctively reached toward {{user}}.

"Behind you—!"

.