"Your Highness! Where have you been? Oh, dear! The King is going to be angry! Oh, never mind, hurry up, please!"

"It's going to be fine. Don't worry, Amelia," I told my handmaid as I entered my boudoir.

"Oh dear, we only have forty minutes!" she exclaimed. "Quick, your bath is ready."

Amelia ushered me to the bathroom, barking orders at the maids to quickly do their jobs. I allowed myself to be undressed and taken to the large stone bath in the middle of the huge bathroom.

The water was warm and inviting as I slowly walked down the marble steps. A heavy fragrance of various floral blossoms hung in the air. I sat compliantly in the scented bath while they washed my hair and scrubbed my body.

My name is Elena Seraphina Lavien.

Or Lena for short. I am a princess of the Kingdom of Ephemere. The only princess, in fact.

Today is my sixteenth birthday.

My father, the King, was throwing a grand party for me. It's a huge event. A resplendent birthday celebration to mark my transition into adulthood. My coming of age.

He had invited children, particularly boys around my age — yes, I still consider myself a child —belonging to high-ranking and prestigious noble families, to attend the party. Even princes from other kingdoms were sent out invitations.

I heard the palace servants whispering that my father wanted to find me a match at the party. The perfect highborn boy, fitting of my own royal status, to marry me in the future.

Marry. Ew. Who would want to get married and be stuck with a boy you don't like for the rest of your life?

I am still too young. I think boys are icky and nasty. All they do is boast, play rough, and pretend they're mighty heroes instead of spoiled little brats that play with wooden swords.

So earlier today, I had sneaked out of the palace and escaped into the safety of my tree house, deep inside the woods right next to my home, where I planned to hide out for the entire duration of the party.

It wasn't the first time. I'd often take the opportunity to escape my boring, repetitive life inside the palace every chance I got. I wasn't exactly a well-behaved princess.

It was the perfect hiding place. No one knew about it, except for one other person. The person who built it for me when I was little.

Unfortunately, almost half an hour ago, that person found me, dragged me back to the palace, and turned me over to my handmaid, ruining my plans of avoiding the party.

That's how I ended up back here. Ugh.

After my bath, they dried me up and massaged scented oil on my skin before wrapping me in a silk robe and taking me back to my boudoir. A servant brought out a selection of pretty dresses for me to pick. I didn't care. I let Amelia choose for me.

Then they made me sit in front of my vanity table while they fixed my hair and painted my face, finishing it off with a suffocating cloud of powder.

When they were done, Amelia led me to stand in front of the huge full-length mirror.

"You look so lovely, Your Highness!" she gushed.

I stared at my reflection and my reddened lips turned down into a scowl. I was dressed in a long-sleeved, flowing light pink dress. My long black hair was braided, with silk ribbons and flowers woven into it.

I hated it. It was too girly. And constricting. My dress was so long that I could trip if I wasn't careful. And I wasn't.

To finish it off, a silver and sapphire tiara was placed on top of my head.

Sapphire. My birthstone. It was also the color of my eyes. A rare blue eye color distinctive to the Lavien royal family in the kingdom.

"It's time! We should hurry. They'll be announcing you soon."

Amelia ushered me out of the boudoir and down the long corridor to the grand staircase, where I'd be making my entrance, while the maids continued applying last-minute touches on me — fixing my dress, tucking loose strands of my hair, or whatever it was they needed to fuss with.

Near the end of the corridor, I saw the person who had ruined my plans, casually leaning against the wall in his Royal Guard formal regalia — a black and midnight blue uniform with gold trimmings. His messy hair was even tucked neatly behind his ear for the occasion. He smirked when he saw me approaching.

His name is Luca.

He is a member of the royal guard, assigned to be my personal protector, my bodyguard.

For as long as I can remember, he has always been by my side. Growing up, I was the only kid in the palace, and my father wouldn't allow me to play with the commoners outside. So I naturally gravitated to the person who was with me at all times.

Luca was six years older than me, but he essentially became my playmate. Maybe I sort of forced him into being one, or maybe he just took pity on me, but whatever the reason, he would always indulge in my childish whims. In fact, he might be the only one that could tolerate my aberrant behavior.

I also consider him my best friend.

But not at this moment. He was the culprit responsible for my misery.

I scowled and waved away the maids that were still bustling around me. I hated being dressed up and being forced to mingle at formal gatherings. I hated being the center of attention.

Luca knew me well, and he obviously found my sour mood amusing. He fell into step behind me as we continued down the corridor.

"You look excited," he commented.

"Of course, I am," I replied haughtily, walking with my chin up. I was still mad at him.

He gave a soft chuckle behind me just as we reached the stone balustrades that connected to the grand staircase.

I could see the top of the guests' heads that were milling about the entrance hall below, and I quickly moved away from the balustrades, accidentally stepping on the toe of Luca's boot.

"Sorry," I mumbled, almost tripping on my dress, but Luca caught my arm in time. I snatched my arm away and glared at him.

He gave me an amused look and stepped back into the shadows.

"And now presenting," came the booming voice of the herald. "The center of tonight's festivity, celebrating her sixteenth birthday, Her Royal Highness, Crown Princess Elena Seraphina Lavien of the Kingdom of Ephemere!"

I took a deep breath and my mind went on autopilot as I revealed myself on top of the grand staircase to the tumultuous claps of the guests below. I smiled automatically and gave a little wave as I walked down the stairs alone, trying my best not to trip. I gave a little curtsy at the bottom and started greeting the guests.

Then we proceeded to the great hall, where I was presented with birthday gifts before the banquet was held.

Long tables were arranged on the sides of the enormous great hall, while the middle part was reserved for the dancing area. The guests occupied those tables. A few were familiar, but most were unfamiliar.

I saw a lot of children my age dressed in fine clothing, accompanying their parents or guardians, all belonging to the nobility.

There were three of us at the head table. I was sitting on the left of my father, the King. On his right, was my grandmother, the Queen Mother. We are the last three remaining members of the Lavien royal family.

"Happy birthday, Elena," my father told me as we began eating. "I heard you almost missed your party."

I smiled as I loaded my mouth full of mashed potatoes and gravy. It wasn't very princess-like of me, but I did it so I didn't have to answer him.

But I wasn't fooling him. He was perfectly aware of my intentions.

"Have you been giving your handmaid a hard time again?"

I looked at him in surprise. A knowing smile played on my father's lips even though he wasn't looking at me. I swallowed my food and sighed.

"Father, I don't want to get married."

The wrinkles around his eyes grew more defined as he laughed. "You're not getting married right now, Elena."

"But I heard rumors around the palace—"

"Yes. Rumors," he responded kindly. "For now, just enjoy your party. You're coming of age, my dear. It's something to celebrate."

I opened my mouth to retort, but before I could say anything, my grandmother cleared her throat.

"However, as tradition dictates, in a few years, you will be," my grandmother said from across the table, frowning sternly at me. We were speaking quietly, but her hearing was, apparently, still sharp despite her age. "It's best for you to entertain suitors as early as now, Elena. You are, after all, the Crown Princess. It is your duty."

Duty. I hate that word.

I didn't say anything. I wasn't really close to my grandmother, and I didn't want to upset her. Making her angry is something I've learned not to do in the past. I was afraid of her.

After the banquet, the dancing commenced, and I was required to participate. I wasn't a good dancer, and I stepped on several toes of the boys I was dancing with, but they didn't complain. I was the princess, after all.

As I absently danced with them, my mind wandered back to the tree house, and I imagined myself out there, free from all these strangers. They were all the same. Arrogant, smug, and boastful boys, groomed to take over their family's noble positions when the time comes.

After three agonizing hours, the celebration was finally coming to an end. My jaws were hurting and numb from the smile I had to plaster on my face for the entire night. My feet hurt from dancing. I was bored out of my mind.

I had to endure another hour of saying goodbye to the guests, and, at long last, I was finally free. After bidding my father and grandmother good night, I walked calmly in the direction of my room.

But as soon as I was alone, I walked past my bedroom doors and sneaked into a side passage that led to one of the palace's many towers. I bounded up the spiral stairs, which was a long climb, until I finally made it to the top.

A gust of chilly wind assaulted me as I stepped into the circular stone room. Wide, open windows surround the top of the tower, but not big enough for me to accidentally fall over.

I walked over to one of the windows and rested my hands on the ledge. I closed my eyes and took deep breaths. The evening autumn air was cold but refreshing. It felt like ice in my lungs, but it also eased the tension in my nerves.

Finally, some peace and alone time.

I knew I only had a few minutes before my disappearance was discovered, and my father would order every guard to search for me.

My tendency to sneak out never went unnoticed. I would keep doing it, and they would keep finding me, mostly thanks to Luca.

Speaking of Luca, I wonder where he is?

I opened my eyes and almost screamed.