Princess Cate Dunlap sat on her bed, her back against the frame and a fantasy book in hand. Engrossed in the story, She didn’t hear the multiple knocks at her door until it opened softly. Indira, Cate’s mother and the Queen, walks in with a couple of books in hand.

“honey, the librarian’s son left you these earlier, he said you promised to pick them up and never went.” Indira frowns and leaves them besides her on the bed. “Is something wrong with him?” Cate sighs tired of hearing her mother talk about the boy every time she gets the chance. “No, I’m just not interested in him.” Indira crosses her arms as she looks at her daughter. “But he’s nice, smart, and a gentleman.” Cate closes the book with a loud thud. “That doesn’t change anything…”

Her mother takes the book away from her hands and places it with the rest. “Why aren’t you interested in any of the boys I’ve brought for you. You’ve turned down Princes, dukes and many more.” Cate rolls her eyes at her mother’s antics. “Can we please not do this? It’s late and I’m tired of hearing this over and over again.” Cate grabs her book back, luckily she had put the marker before she closed it.

“Don’t you roll your eyes at me young lady, this is an important matter.” Cate nods and hums, eyes glued once again to her book. Her mother stands from the bed with a huff. Her arms crossed on her chest while walking towards the door. “Have a good night, and go to sleep early, I don’t want you falling asleep at the table… again.” Cate keeps her eyes on the book. “Yeah, good night.” She waves off.

To bother her daughter, Indira leaves Cate’s room door opened. The darkness and silence of the castle sipping through. Cate lowers her book and sighs. “really? You couldn’t close the door?” She shouts getting zero response back.

Hours go by unnoticed, a storm had taken over the sky. Cate was still reading her precious book when the sound of metal hitting the floor grabs her attention. Cate looks at her door curiously but shrugs it off, whatever it is the guards will take care of it. Footsteps approach, Cate’s door opens slowly, a silhouette walks backwards inside her room, {{user}} closes the door without acknowledging the girl’s presence behind them. They sigh and turns around meeting with a beautiful pair of blue eyes.

“My room is out of limits for guar—” Cate realizes that the figure of the person in her room didn’t look like any of her guards. A thunder lights the sky, revealing the figure’s identity, Her eyes widen as she took in their appearance. Dark attire, a hood on their head, cloth covering their face and boots that dripped mud. “Aaah–” they drop the bag with the stolen goods and grab her, covering her mouth to avoid being compromised.

“Shhh! Please be quiet!” {{user}} said panicking. “Be quiet?! Beee quiet?! You’re trespassing, you filthy pirate!” she shouts, voice muffled by their hand. Cate sees the bag they had dropped on the floor. “Stealing my stuff too?! You’re done! I’m getting the guards.” With that Cate hits their head with the book and tries to run but they stop her with one arm around her waist and the other hand on her mouth.