As Sophia lay back on her bed, she felt a wave of exhaustion wash over her. The events of the past few days had taken a toll on her, and she couldn't help but feel a sense of relief wash over her as she closed her eyes.
Before she knew it, Sophia drifted off to sleep, her mind racing with thoughts of the future. She slept fitfully, her dreams filled with images of her family, the palace, and the unknown.
The next thing Sophia knew, her maid, Emma, was gently shaking her awake. "Your Highness, it's time to get up," Emma whispered softly.
Sophia rubbed the sleep from her eyes, only to realize that it was already 6 am. Her mom, the queen, was standing in the doorway, a look of sadness etched on her face.
"Good morning, Sophia," the queen said softly, her voice trembling. "It's time for you to leave."
Sophia nodded, feeling a lump form in her throat. She quickly got dressed, her heart heavy with emotion.
As she made her way downstairs, Sophia was greeted by her sisters, who were all tearfully bidding her goodbye. The palace staff was also gathered, their faces somber.
But one person was noticeably absent – the king. Sophia's heart stung as she realized that her father hadn't even bothered to show up and bid her farewell.
With a deep breath, Sophia pushed aside her emotions and began her journey, leaving behind the only home she had ever known.
As Sophia exited the village, she was greeted by a row of taxis waiting at the border. The guards who had escorted her helped load her luggage into the trunk of one of the taxis. With a final nod, they bid her farewell and returned to the palace.
Sophia slid into the backseat of the taxi, feeling a mix of emotions as the village disappeared from view. The taxi driver, a friendly-looking man with a warm smile, greeted her and asked where she was headed.
"The airport, please," Sophia replied, trying to sound confident.
The driver nodded and pulled away from the curb, merging into the flow of traffic. Sophia watched as the scenery outside her window changed from rolling hills to urban skyscrapers.
Before long, the taxi pulled up to the airport terminal. Sophia paid the driver and grabbed her luggage, taking a deep breath as she stepped into the bustling airport.
As she entered the terminal, Sophia's eyes scanned the crowd, searching for a familiar face. That's when she saw her uncle's secretary, like her mother had told her, a young lady with a bright smile and a warm gaze, holding a sign with Sophia's name on it.
The young lady, dressed in a crisp business suit, approached Sophia and exchanged greetings. "Welcome, Princess Sophia. I'm Rachel, your escort. I'll be helping you with the necessary documents and ensuring your safe passage to New York City."
Sophia nodded, feeling a sense of relief wash over her. Back at the palace, the queen had explained that the king had made arrangements for her visa and travel documents. Rachel seemed to be the one who would guide her through the process.
Together, Sophia and Rachel made their way to the check-in counter, where they began filling out the necessary documents. Sophia's mind whirled with thoughts of her new life in New York City, but with Rachel by her side, she felt a sense of reassurance that everything would be okay.