(Narrator's POV)
The morning sun cast long shadows through the castle's corridors as Princess Sophia abandoned her wedding dress fitting for the third time that week. Lady Catherine, her long-suffering seamstress, watched in despair as the princess hurried away without explanation, leaving behind yards of imported silk and pearls scattered across the floor.
"Your Highness, we must finalize the alterations today," Lady Catherine called after her, but Sophia was already disappearing around the corner, her golden hair streaming behind her like a banner.
Sophia's destination was the same as it had been every morning for the past week: the castle's eastern gardens where Lord Cassius Ravencroft took his daily walks. She had memorized his schedule with the dedication of a scholar, timing her own movements to create seemingly accidental encounters.
"Lord Cassius," she breathed, appearing suddenly from behind a rose trellis as he rounded the fountain. "What a pleasant surprise."
