Chapter 1
Cassandra (Cassie) 🎀
Cassandra—better known as Cassie, or Cass—was a maid in the palace of Blazeora.
She loved her job and her friends at the castle dearly.
But the best part of her day was always seeing the nobility. The way they dressed, spoke, and carried themselves fascinated her. Of course, she had never spoken to anyone of their class.
The prince had been walking through the gardens as she made her way back to her cottage after work.
Lost in thought, he ran straight into her.
Cassie barely had time to react before she stumbled backward.
“Oh—”
She caught herself just enough to keep from falling completely.
“I’m so sorry—” he said quickly, stepping forward.
Too quickly.
He nearly ran into her again trying to help.
That didn’t help.
“I didn’t see you,” he added, then paused.
“That—no, that’s not true, I just wasn’t looking where I was going.”
He winced slightly, like he already knew that hadn’t come out right.
Cassie blinked at him, still a little startled.
She had to tilt her head slightly to meet his eyes.
“I’m alright,” she said softly.
He nodded.
Then nodded again.
“Right. Good. That’s—good.”
There was a pause.
Not long.
But long enough to feel like something else should be said.
“I usually don’t run into people,” he added.
Then, after a second—
“Not like that.”
Cassie’s lips curved, just slightly.
“I would hope not.”
That seemed to help.
At least a little.
He let out a small breath, almost like a quiet laugh.
“Yeah,” he said. “I should probably work on that.”
He stepped back then.
Finally giving her space.
Cassie noticed.
Of course she did.
“Are you sure you’re alright?” he asked again, a little quieter this time.
She nodded.
“Yes.”
Another pause.
He looked like he was about to say something—
Then didn’t.
Then did.
“I’m Charlie,” he said.
Just that.
No title.
Cassie hesitated.
Just for a moment.
Then—
“Cassie.”
He smiled.
Not wide.
Just enough.
“That fits,” he said.
She didn’t know what that meant.
She didn’t ask.
The moment lingered.
Not awkward.
Just… unfinished.
Cassie stepped back slightly.
“I should go,” she said.
He nodded quickly.
“Right. Yes. Of course.”
She turned—
Then paused.
Just slightly.
Like she was about to say something.
Then didn’t.
And walked away.
She didn’t look back.
But she could feel it—
He was still standing there.
Watching.
Cassie shook her head as she continued down the path.
“Stop this silliness,” she murmured under her breath.
Being a seventeen-year-old maid was hard enough—without boys.
She didn’t slow down until the garden path curved out of sight.
Only then did she let out a small breath.
“That was—”
She stopped.
There wasn’t a word for it.
Strange, maybe.
Unexpected.
She shook her head slightly, adjusting the edge of her sleeve as she walked.
It didn’t matter.
It shouldn’t matter.
He was the prince.
That alone should have been enough to end the thought.
But it didn’t.
“I’m Charlie.”
She frowned faintly to herself.
Not Crown Prince Charles.
Just—
Charlie.
That was the part that stayed.
Not the way he looked.
Not even what he said.
Just the way he had said it.
Like it was nothing.
Like it was… normal.
Cassie let out a quiet breath.
“Stop this,” she murmured.
She reached the small gate near the edge of the path, pushing it open and stepping through.
This was familiar.
Routine.
Safe.
She focused on that instead.
On the gravel beneath her shoes.
On the way the wind moved through the trees.
On anything that wasn’t—
“I usually don’t run into people.”
She almost smiled.
Almost.
“That’s good,” she said under her breath, shaking her head.
Then, after a second—
“Not like that.”
That did it.
A small smile slipped through before she could stop it.
Cassie pressed her lips together, trying to hide it
from no one.
There was no one there.
That made it worse.
She let out a breath, slower this time.
“At least I can’t get in trouble for my thoughts,” she told herself quietly.
That felt like a safe enough line.
A reasonable one.
And still—
her mind didn’t listen.
She reached for her bracelet, turning it once around her wrist.
Teal-blue eyes.
Dark, curly hair.
Cassie stilled.
“No,” she said softly.
Firm this time.
“You are not doing this.”
She dropped her hand back to her side and kept walking.
Faster now.
Like that might help.
It didn’t.
“Hi, Miss Cassie!”
A voice called out, pulling her from her thoughts.
She smiled. It was the princesses—Clara and Lucy, both younger than Charlie.
“Hi, girls,” she said softly.
Lucy, the youngest, stared up at her with wide eyes.
“What’s going on?” Cassie asked carefully, mindful of the strict no-fraternizing rules among the staff.
“What’s going on?” a familiar voice echoed behind her.
She turned quickly. Prince Charlie stood there, a small smile on his face.
Cassie dropped into a quick curtsy and looked away, reminding herself of her place.
“Miss Cassie?” he asked gently. “Is something wrong?”
“Nothing of concern,” she replied quietly.
“As long as these little troublemakers aren’t bothering you,” he said, smiling at her before glancing at the girls.
She felt her cheeks warm as she met his teal-blue eyes.
He walked away, the girls trailing behind him.
Cassie stood still, her thoughts already returning to him.
“No,” she muttered under her breath. “You cannot think about the prince.”
But her mind refused to listen.
Teal-blue eyes. Dark, curly hair.
“At least I can’t get in trouble for my thoughts,” she told herself, smiling faintly at her own foolishness.
“Ew!” Lily whispered, staring at the large spider in the corner.
Cassie froze. She hated spiders.
Her hands reached for her bracelet as fear crept in, and she let out a quiet whimper.
Lily glanced at her, already knowing how much she disliked them.
Suddenly, a shadow filled the doorway.
Cassie turned—and saw Prince Charlie.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, stepping closer.
Great. Just great.
She was terrified—and here was the most distracting boy she had ever met.
The king and queen appeared not long after Lily left.
Cassie straightened immediately, dropping into a deep curtsy.
“Your majesties.”
“At ease, child,” the queen said gently—but her tone was different than usual. More serious.
Cassie rose slowly, her hands folding tightly in front of her.
Something felt… off.
The king and queen exchanged a glance before looking back at her.
“Walk with us,” the king said.
Cassie hesitated only a moment before nodding.
Her heart began to beat faster as she followed them through the quiet halls of the castle.
They entered a quiet sitting room.
No one spoke.
That was what unsettled her the most
The queen studied her for a moment.
“You care for the children,” she said.
“Yes, your majesty.”
“And they care for you.”
Cassie hesitated. “I hope so.”
A glance passed between the king and queen.
Then—
“Would you be willing to marry my son?”
Cassie froze.
“Pardon?”
“My son needs a wife,” the queen continued. “And you are kind, respected, and well spoken. The children speak highly of you.”
Cassie’s mind spun. She was only seventeen. Her birthday was just a week away.
And yes—Charlie was kind… but that didn’t mean she wanted to marry him.
“Please,” the queen said softly. “My husband reaches the mandatory retirement age next month. The king must have a wife.”
“Why me?” Cassie asked. “Why not a lady of the court?”
The queen exchanged a glance with the king.
“No one else meets the requirements,” she said simply.
Cassie swallowed.
“In our land, the future queen must meet certain standards,” the king added. “We believe you are best suited.”
She hesitated.
“With all due respect… this is my first conversation with your majesty,” she said nervously.
“We are aware,” the king replied.
Silence stretched between them.
Cassie took a slow breath… then nodded.
“Okay,” she said quietly. “I’ll do it. I’ll marry your son.”
