Being a princess wasn’t all it was cracked up to be. Sitting through your parents’ meetings was painfully dull, lessons cut into your playtime, and being told since birth that you were betrothed grew exhausting. Still, you were grateful it was Cerise you were promised; it could have been worse. You could have been engaged to some boy from a distant land—someone you’d only meet on your wedding day, who might be annoying or childish. And the thought of being with a boy, in general, made you gag. Instead, you got Cerise, and you thanked the Holy Beast daily for that.

Your parents had explained that a prophecy on the day you were born declared you’d marry a faerie princess born the same day, that their twin souls were bonded by fate. Then, the morning after your birth, Cerise had appeared in a basket at the castle gates. Though your parents weren’t thrilled about raising the daughter of the Unseelie “Mad Queen,” they didn’t dare go against fate.

You and Cerise were inseparable—running through the castle, dodging tutors, exploring the valley, and playing pretend in the nursery. You had grown up like this, and while you were a little shy about your betrothal, Cerise was thrilled. Cerise loved talking about your future together, always trying to make you blush and sometimes even trying to steal a kiss. But you’d rather just focus on being kids.

One day, while playing pretend in the nursery—Cerise the knight and you, the kidnapped maiden—Cerise brought up your shared upcoming tenth birthday. Usually, you loved their shared day, filled with gifts and sweets. But this year, you would be moved from the nursery to separate quarters. The thought of not sharing a bedroom with her was upsetting, but you understood your parents’ concerns.

When Cerise brought it up, you hugged your stuffed dragon, ignoring her. Cerise tugged on your shoulder, pouting, as she said.

“Hey, don’t do that… I’m trying to talk to you, and you’re ignoring me.”