Chapter 1 –
The forest glimmered gold as the first light of dawn pierced through the canopy. Dew clung to Mariela's dress as she pushed through the underbrush, her heart thrumming with excitement.
There it was.
The blue rose.
Its soft petals glowed faintly in the dim light, like a secret waiting only for her. She knelt, fingers trembling as she brushed against the rare bloom. Legends claimed it brought luck to whoever found it—and Mariela couldn't help but believe it.
Maybe if I bring this back, Father will let me visit the capital…
"My lady!" a sharp whisper cut through her thoughts.
Mariela turned to see Elise, her handmaid, hovering at the edge of the clearing. "Your father will be furious if we're late for training again!"
"Just one more minute," Mariela called back, plucking the flower gently. "I found it! Isn't it beautiful?"
Elise groaned. "You'll be the death of me, I swear. If you fall again—"
"I don't fall anymore," Mariela said with a mischievous grin. "Come on, let's get back before she starts yelling."
But they were too late.
As the two emerged from the woods, Mariela froze at the sight of her stepmother standing by the mansion's door, arms folded, lips thin with disapproval.
"There you are," Lady Mariane snapped. Her eyes swept over Mariela's muddy dress and leaf-tangled hair with visible disgust. "How many times must I tell you not to wander like some… wild creature?"
Mariela bowed slightly, clutching the blue rose to her chest. "Forgive me, Mother. But I found something rare—look—"
"I don't care for weeds and childish nonsense," Mariane interrupted coldly. "Go inside. You're late for dance class. And you—" she shot Elise a glare sharp enough to cut, "—keep her out of the woods, or I'll have you replaced."
"Yes, my lady," Elise murmured, head bowed.
Mariela said nothing. She'd learned long ago that words only made things worse. As she trudged back toward the mansion, her stepmother's voice followed her like a shadow.
"You'll never be a proper lady at this rate."
The hours crawled by in a blur of dance steps, music scales, and etiquette lessons. Mariela endured them all with quiet grace, but her mind was far away—already wandering to the capital, to the sprawling gardens and libraries she'd only read about.
That evening, she slipped away into the garden, clutching the blue rose in her hands. The petals glimmered faintly in the fading sunlight.
"Whenever I look for you," came a familiar voice, deep and warm, "this is where I find you."
Mariela turned to see her father standing a few feet away, dressed in his usual dark coat. Unlike Mariane, his gaze was kind, though unreadable as always.
"Father." She smiled softly. "I didn't expect you here."
"I heard about today's lessons." His lips curved faintly. "And your little adventure this morning."
"I wasn't far," Mariela said quickly. "And I was careful. Look, I even found something rare."
She held up the rose. Her father's eyes lingered on it for a moment. "A blue rose… I haven't seen one before."
"They say it brings good luck," she said, her voice brightening. "Maybe… could I visit the capital with you one day? Just once?"
Her father hesitated. Then, to her surprise, he nodded. "I leave for the capital next week to meet with the king. You may come with me."
Mariela's breath caught. "Truly? I can go?"
"Yes. But only if you complete your studies and behave yourself this week."
"I will! I promise!"
The next morning, the mansion buzzed with preparations for the trip.
"I don't understand why you indulge her so, Peter," Mariane muttered as she watched her husband oversee the packing. "The capital is no place for a girl like her."
Peter's expression hardened. "She needs to see the world."
"Do as you like," Mariane said coldly.
Mariela barely heard their exchange as she bounded into the carriage, her heart hammering with excitement. Finally… a taste of freedom.
As the wheels creaked into motion, she leaned out the window for one last look at the mansion that had been her cage for so long.
In one week, everything would change.