It was the season's grand affair—the Royal Hunt. A day when all the noble families made their way outdoors into the vast forest on the palace grounds to indulge in a most upper-class tradition: hunting.
For the men, it was an opportunity to show off their prowess with bows and spears. For the women, it was a rather less thrilling affair—tea parties under a massive tent, with pastries too perfect to touch and far too many frilly hats that obstructed anything remotely practical.
But I, of course, had other plans.
"Princess Charlotte," Lady Anastasia said with that familiar sneer of hers, her fan waving languidly. "Are you really going to remain with us today?"
I gazed at her, feigning interest in the embroidery on my sleeve. "Oh, well, I might hunt, but I wouldn't want to upstage the gentlemen. A woman should know her place."
She laughed. "A princess knows her place."
"Precisely," I replied with a dry smile. "Which is why I'd rather be where the action's really happening." I cast a glance toward the woods, where the men were gathering, ready to embark on their hunt.
And that, dear reader, was my moment of choice. I crept away unnoticed, slipping behind the grand hunting pavilion, heart pounding with excitement. I wasn't about to sit idly by drinking tea while they had all the fun.
I tracked the men's trail, crouching low to stay out of sight. My crown, safely stashed in my satchel, was the least of my concerns. I was here to witness the hunt—not sit like a delicate doll in a tent.
The woods were eerily still, save for the occasional rustle of leaves and the distant cry of birds. I moved as quietly as I could, but soon, the noise of the hunt grew louder—men calling out orders, hooves thundering on the ground, and the occasional cheer as a successful kill was made.
And that's when I made my mistake.
I ventured too far into the trees, hoping to sneak a better view. The thicket grew denser, but I pressed on, impatient to get closer.
Suddenly, I heard a snap, and before I could react, the ground beneath me gave way. I tumbled down a steep incline, hitting the ground with a sickening thud. My arm was twisted beneath me in an unnatural position, and pain bloomed across my head as I struggled to breathe.
I had been so careless.
A shout formed in my throat, but I swallowed it, not wanting to draw attention to my reckless escapade. But then, I heard footsteps—slow, deliberate, measured.
It wasn't one of the men. It was someone else.
Elias.
I barely made him out through the trees, but when his face came into view, relief washed over me, even as the pain in my arm surged. He dropped to his knees beside me, his brow furrowed in concern.
"Princess Charlotte," he breathed quickly. "What in the world are you doing here? You need to be with the others."
"I... I wanted to watch the hunt," I confessed, my voice trembling. "But I think I've gone and broken something."
Elias's expression tightened in alarm, but he quickly composed himself. "You're injured. Stay still. I'll take you back to the castle."
With gentle hands, he lifted me in his arms as though I were a fragile piece of glass. For a fleeting moment, I forgot about the pain and my embarrassment, allowing myself to relax in his hold.
"I will protect you," Elias promised, his voice firm. "Nothing will happen to you."
As we made our way back to the castle, I leaned against him, trying to suppress the sting of tears. It wasn't the adventure I'd envisioned, but there was something reassuring in the way Elias handled the situation.
The sounds of the hunt faded behind us, replaced by the steady rhythm of Elias's footsteps. And all I could think about was the strange, burning sensation in my chest as I realized: Elias had saved my life.
And in that moment, I knew there was something truly special about him.
Back at the castle, Elias was quick to summon the royal doctor. After a stern examination, I was bandaged up and told to rest.
The King and Queen were less than pleased to hear of my little escape.
"Charlotte!" Mother reprimanded, though her tone was laced with worry. "What in heaven's name possessed you to do that?"
"I wanted to see the hunt," I replied, but she cut me off.
"Do you have any idea what could have happened?" she demanded, hands on her hips.
But I wasn't really listening. My gaze had drifted to Elias, standing a few steps behind me, his hands clasped nervously. I offered him a small, silent smile, a wordless thank-you for everything he'd done.
And for the first time, I wondered what it would be like to have someone beside me—someone who wasn't a servant or a royal guard, but someone who actually understood the chaos of me.
That night, as I lay in bed with Whiskers sleeping at my feet, I reflected on the day. It had been wild, I knew, but Elias had been there when it mattered most. He'd stood up for me when I couldn't stand up for myself.
And that, I knew, was something I would never forget.