“Get out of the way!”

Roskva jumped around and saw the hooves of a team of horses rearing up over her head.

“Whoah! Whoaaa!” Roskva called, grabbing the reins of the lead horse and pulling the horse down. Calming the lead horse by calmly whispering to it and petting short hair. With the lead horse calming down, the rest of the team started to calm as well.

“Sorry about that!’ Roskva called to the stunned driver. “I didn’t hear you coming!”

“Oh.” The driver said still dumbfounded.

“Driver, what’s hold up?” The elegant carriage door opened and a well dressed noble peeked out. Clearly annoyed. Roskva waved innocently.

“It’s my fault! First time in the city!” Roskva laughed and shrugged good naturedly. “I’ll let you get on with your day.” She let go of the horse who tried to follow after her as she left the middle of the street.

“I see,” the noble said, stepping down from the carriage. “Visiting from a neighboring kingdom?”

“No, I just live up there.” Roskva turned to point at the northernmost mountain that surrounded the valley kingdom. Seeing the people backing away from her like she had the plague. When she turned back around, the noble had approached. He was tall, with dark brown hair and hazel eyes that just drew Roskva in without her permission.

“From the mountains?” He asked. Looking up to the mountain, Roskva had pointed out.

“Yeah,” Roskva said dumbly. Feeling her cheeks getting warm.

“What brings you down?” He asked, stepping up onto the sidewalk and motioning for his carriage to pull off to the side for other traffic to pass.

“My birthday, I turned eighteen last week.” Roskva said merrily. “I’ve never been off the farm before, It’s very different, Beautiful! So busy! So Alive!” Roskva looked around at everything, though paused in her immediate area, the signs of bustling city life still moved at a breakneck pace on every other street corner.

“I’m happy to hear that,” the noble said, His smile only growing. “Would you like to join me? I’d be happy to show you all the city, every corner.”

“Really?” Roskva felt her heart skip.

“Think of it as a birthday gift.” He insisted, holding out his hand for her to take.

“I don’t even know your name. And you don’t know me, either!” Roskva half-heartedly tried to decline.

“Any woman who stands in the middle of the street and risks getting run over just to admire my city is a woman I’d like to know.” He said, voice so smooth it’d melt butter. “And my name is Starkon.”

“Roskva.” And she couldn’t stop herself from taking his hand. Letting him lead her to the carriage. “But I have to be back by nightfall. I promised I’d meet the Midgley’s there.”

“Done.” He agreed, the footman of the carriage opened the door and Roskva stepped into it. Immediately feeling out of place in the beautifully upholstered seating. It was all royal navy blue with stitched designs. Precious stones and metals bedazzled the walls. Thick drapes lined the windows to keep the sights hidden. Even the smells inside the carriage were different.

Roskva felt ashamed to wear her muddy boots in the lovely carpeted carriage and stiffly sat on the velvet seats.

“It’s such a shame the sights will be obstructed by the drapes.” Starkon said as he stepped in and sat opposite of her. “If I’d known I was going to meet the woman of my dreams I’d have picked the open air carriage.” Roskva grew warm again. The carriage started forward and Roskva felt her heart being left behind as the realization of what she agreed to hit her fully.

“I’m sorry?” She asked. “I can’t believe for a second you don’t have other women around you that are much lovelier dreams to see than me.”

“Beautiful women are everywhere.” Starkon said with a sigh. “Especially in the palace. But there isn’t much beyond their beauty.”

“The… palace?” Roskva slowly felt the dawning realization in the back of her mind. Starkon, the possible prince and heir to the throne to be crowned any day now, leaned forward. Reaching out for the fringe covering half of Roskva’s face. She recoiled before he could touch her.

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“What’s the matter? I won’t bite.” he said with a curious smile. “Why cover your face?” Roskva felt the cold radiating from her scars. It always felt the cold more intensely than anywhere else on her body. Against her better judgment, she moved her hair out of her face. Revealing the deep blue and purple scarring over her blind eye. Starkon audibly gasped and straightened. Roskva quickly hid her face. Brushing her hair out of place in trying to hide her shame.

“What happened?” He asked.

“There was an accident on ice.” Roskva said, embarrassed. Unable to look him in the eye. “It’s awful to look at, I know.”

“Does it hurt?” Starkon asked, then shook his head. “I’m sorry, that’s such an insensitive question. Forgive me.”

“Oh no! It’s not, I mean I don’t mind.” Roskva interrupted. “It doesn’t hurt. It feels really cold and gets really stiff when it snows. But it’s not painful.”

“That’s fascinating.” Starkon said. Roskva smiled and played with her hair/ Trying to hide the scarring and the rest of her face. She looked out the window, realizing that she hadn’t been looking at the landscape at all. She scooted to the edge of the seat and brushed the curtain aside so that she could look at the kingdom passing by.

“Your kingdom is so beautiful.” Roskva said dreamily. Seeing the people looking at the carriage in awe as they pass through the city districts.

“Thank you. This kingdom is my everything.” Starkon said, not looking out of the window with Roskva. “But the weight of ruling it is exhausting. Since I lost my parents.”

“I understand,” Roskva turned around sympathetically. “I lost my parents when I was young. It’s just me and Aneira now.”

“Aneira?” Starkon asked,

“Yeah, my sibling. It’s just us.” Roskva said. Reaching out and placing her hand on Starkon’s. “It must be so hard to be alone.”

“Thank you for your comfort.” Starkon smiled. “It’s wonderfully refreshing.”

“Don’t worry about it.” Roskva smiled and went back to looking out the window. The ride stayed silent for a few more districts, and all she could do was dream about living in the city.

“This place is so beautiful, I wish I never had to leave.” She sighed.

“Who says you have to leave?” Starkon asked, “you could stay,”

“Oh. I couldn’t. Aneira would fall apart without me.” Roskva laughed. “It’s a wonderful birthday trip but I doubt it’ll ever happen again.”

“No, I can’t let you walk out of my life, not so easily.” Starkon said, determined, “Allow me to throw you a proper birthday celebration. Whatever I have to do to convince you to stay here.”

“Oh, I don’t know. I don’t think Aneira would travel.” Roskva said shyly.

“Isn’t your sibling here with you?” Starkon asked.

“No. They-” Roskva stopped. Feeling the guilt of how fast they ran out without saying anything to their sibling. “They stayed home.”

“That’s horrible. I’ll send an invite to bring them here and show them how wonderful it is. And hopefully, you’ll stay.” Starkon said. Taking Roskva’s hands into his. Looking into his charming face, Roskva couldn’t deny him anything.

“Okay.” She said with a bashful nod.

“I’m so happy!” Starkon squeezed her hands and Roskva laughed excitedly. Starkon knocked on the wall and the footman looked down into the window. “Tell the driver to head back to the palace at once! We’ve a grand gala to plan!”

“The palace?” Roskva asked. “What about me? And the Midgleys?”

“You agreed to stay in the palace with me, I’ll send a message to your companions informing them of this.” Starkon brushed Roskva’s worries aside. Roskva stared blankly at the back wall of the carriage as she tried to remember agreeing to such a thing.

“I don’t remember-”

“Don’t worry, I forgive you.” Starkon said, patting her hand. His smile faded. “If you are really insistent, I can take you back to the markets.”

“No!” Roskva said too quickly. “I mean. It’s fine. I tend to have a few memory issues. Head injury and all.”

“Well. You can always trust me,” Starkon smiled again, flashing all his brilliantly white teeth. Roskva couldn’t help but swoon. Smiling dreamily. The carriage jumped as it went over a bump in the road.

“Oh, we must be entering the palace grounds.” Starkon said. Roskva gasped and looked out the window to see the palace overhead. The towers and spires rose up to touch the sky, competing with the mountains for dominance. Rays of sunlight filtered down from behind the palace making it shine proudly. The gates opened and welcomed Roskva in with open arms. Every window alight with a glittering promise of better days ahead, it took the young woman’s breath away.

The carriage came to a stop and the door opened. Prince Starkon stepped out to a crowd of nobles all clamoring for his attention. He raised his hand and they fell silent. He turned to the carriage and held out his hand. Roskva took his hand and stepped out of the carriage.

“This is Roskva, make her feel welcome here.” Starkon said simply. The nobles stared at Roskva, making her a little uncomfortable. She tried a smile and waved, one of the nobles hesitantly waved back.

Roskva, treat this palace as your home,” Starkon said. Gesturing to all the palace. “My staff are your servants. For as long as you stay, you will be treated as royalty.” Roskva felt her heart skipping, her head swimming. She felt faint.

“Thank you,” She managed to say, turning to the crowd. She curtsied in her simple dress. “And thank you all for your generosity as well.” Her words broke the spell and the nobles breathed to life again. Clamoring for not just the prince’s attention but now Roskva’s as well. She was swept away and into the palace.