Chapter 1 - The Escape
The sun falling in the evening beyond the gates of the castle was beautiful. I ran to the woods looking for a place to think about my future that had already been decided by the king. I had just received the news from my father, I’ll marry in two or three months, I was going to marry a stranger.
How can he do this? How can he hurry this event? I was nervous not only because I didn’t know my future husband or his family, a wealthy prince from a distant kingdom, but also because my father put in my hands the responsibility of the alliance between two nations. And if I didn’t like this prince? And if all the plans my father didn’t work exactly as he predicted? And if the diplomatic alliance between the to kingdoms did not work well sealed by a wrong marriage? The weddings of princesses are usually made with these goals, the union of the kingdoms, to create a more powerful one.
When I was young, I found that I was different from other children because I was the daughter of the king. Now I could see my childhood go through in front of me as I ran, barefoot, through the woods and getting into the forest. This strange feeling of freedom, from whom had spent a lifetime surrounded by huge gardens, with guards and walls by all sides.
As the night fell, I realized that was very far away to get back to the castle. What would I do? Where could I spend the night? I looked for a small point of light through the vegetation and could find an abandoned rustic little cottage. The light came from a candle that was ending. When I walked through the door, a shiver ran down my whole body. I felt a different fear, for the first time I was alone, and without the protection of the royal guards, I was at the mercy of my own luck.
Inside the cottage, it was all dusty. It was a little old cottage, with its old furniture and a bed covered with a patchwork cover. I pulled back the blanket and started to think about everything that had taught me during my life and I hoped that this phase would have to overcome. I cried a little. Deep breath. I didn’t want all that responsibility in my hands.
After thinking much, I fell asleep, then I realized that hadn’t eaten the small snack that Anna, my maid and only accomplice, had prepared for me before my departure. I needed to eat and rest. I could not look tired tomorrow. Nobody could notice anything.
(I had a Portuguese version of this book)
