Chapter 1
The sharp, salty tang of the ocean mingled with the rich aroma of roasting meats and fresh spices, filling my senses as I gazed at the untamed waters beyond the harbor. A restless yearning for adventure stirred in me, pulling at my soul like the tides. What would Father do if I just vanished on one of these ships, leaving behind the gilded prison of the palace and its endless tea parties and banquets? As the kingdom’s first princess, freedom was only a distant dream—a glimpse of the world forever denied.
"Princess!" Maya’s familiar voice rose from below, tinged with her usual worry as she looked up, finding me perched high on the harbor wall. My best friend and lady’s maid, Maya had been by my side ever since the incident with my mother’s jewels. She’d almost lost her hand over that accusation, one concocted by jealous palace servants who envied her closeness to the queen. Watching Maya stand before the judgment seat, hands shaking with terror, I knew I couldn’t let her take the blame for something she’d never do. It took every ounce of courage I had to speak against the decision, to defend her. My father finally relented—but not without a cost. From that day on, Maya was bound to me, her loyalty unwavering.
"Maya, I’ve told you not to call me that!" I shouted back, beginning my descent with practiced ease.
“Be careful!” she scolded, clutching her shawl tight as she watched me descend. I grinned, marveling that she hadn’t yet succumbed to a heart attack with all the trouble I dragged her into.
“You worry too much,” I teased, landing lightly on the ground beside her.
“And you don’t worry enough,” Maya retorted, frustration clear in her voice. “You’ve no time for exploring today, prin—Ema. You need to prepare for the birthday celebration.”
“Right, the grand eighteen,” I muttered, rolling my eyes dramatically as we wove through the bustling stalls. Vendors were hawking their wares, their voices rising in a chaotic symphony against the crashing waves. The arrival of new ships and their treasures—the promise of distant lands, of lives lived beyond the castle walls—never failed to thrill me. A pirate’s life, or even that of a humble sailor, would have suited me better.
“Ema!” Maya called, struggling to keep up as I admired a beautifully carved miniature ship encased in a glass bottle, its tiny sails frozen mid-billow.
“I’ll give you a good price,” rasped the vendor, his fingers curled around the bottle. “Four silver.”
“Four silver? That’s absurd,” Maya murmured, leaning close. I smirked, recognizing her shrewd eye for value.
“It’s just like Roderick’s ship,” I replied, inspecting the delicate craftsmanship as sunlight glinted through the glass. Maya’s resigned sigh was all I needed to hear—I knew she understood that I wouldn’t be putting this down. And truthfully, I liked to think my coins might help the vendor’s family more than they’d ever mean to me.
“Two silver,” she said curtly, pulling her pouch out.
“Three, then,” the vendor countered. “I have children to feed.”
“Give the man three,” I said, smiling as I slipped the ship into my bag. “Your work is remarkable.”
“Thank you, little missy,” he replied, his gratitude softening the weathered lines of his face as Maya handed over the silver.
“You waste far too much money, Ema,” Maya chided, her tone exasperated.
“He needs it more than I do,” I replied, shooting her a gentle smile. “Besides, isn’t it a princess’s duty to care for her people?” I couldn’t help but glance around the marketplace—the clamor of children laughing, the riot of colors, and the peace that had reigned over the kingdom since my father’s rule. This was the kingdom I was meant to protect. Though I didn’t crave the crown just yet, I longed for the day I might be as wise a ruler as my father.
“Can we go back now?” Maya urged, pinching the bridge of her nose as I examined a tray of freshly baked cinnamon rolls, steam rising from their sweet spirals.
I flashed her a mischievous look, requesting two from the baker and taking the warm rolls with a smile. “Feed the people, Maya,” I teased, savoring the taste of freedom with each bite, a rare luxury I intended to relish.
As we moved through the market, the press of the crowd and the tapestry of aromas—cinnamon, clove, and something unfamiliar yet mouthwatering—wrapped around us like an invitation. I breathed in deeply, knowing that once I returned, the weight of duty would settle over me again. My father’s overprotection had intensified after my mother’s death, suffocating even the smallest freedoms. Though I loved him deeply, I felt bound, tethered to a role I could never step outside of. I was his only child and the kingdom’s heir, but more than that, I was a daughter who wanted to feel the wind on her face, to experience life outside the castle walls.
“Maybe we can stop at just one more shop?” I asked, a pleading note in my voice.
Maya sighed, holding up one finger in concession. “One more,” she said, though a faint smile hinted at her indulgence. No one understood me as she did. She knew the weight of expectations, the reality of being a princess, and the daunting prospect of marriage awaiting me.
“Careful, Maya. Someone might start thinking you care for me,” I teased, watching her cheeks flush a shade pinker than usual.
Before she could reply, a shout pierced the air. “STOP THAT MAN!” The captain of the guard was pointing at a dark-haired figure sprinting through the crowd, heading directly toward us.
“Princess!” Maya cried, grabbing for me just as the man collided with me, sending me sprawling onto the cobblestones. My cinnamon roll went flying, squashed under his boot as he shot me a wink before racing away.
“Asshole,” I muttered under my breath, watching my treat disappear into crumbs.
“Catch him!” the captain’s voice thundered, his men surging forward. I pulled my cloak’s hood over my head, hoping to escape further notice.
“Let’s go, now,” Maya whispered urgently, extending a hand to pull me up. I took it, my disappointment at cutting our adventure short.
