The palace courtyard buzzed with activity as carriages pulled up to the grand gates, each bearing a young prince adorned in their finest attire. The royal gathering King James and Queen Amelia had spent months planning was finally here. The sun cast a warm glow over the intricate architecture of the palace, and you stood beside your parents, dressed in a beautiful gown that shimmered softly in the light. A cluster of royal guards stood nearby, ever watchful, as the guests arrived.

You knew why this gathering was happening. Your parents were protective—overly so—and they had decided it was time for you to meet potential suitors. Young princes from kingdoms far and wide had been invited, all with the hope that one might capture your heart. But as elegant as it all seemed, you felt a weight pressing on your chest. It was all too much, too forced.

As another carriage pulled up, you turned your gaze beyond the gates, toward the bustling village just outside the palace grounds. That’s when you saw him. A boy, no older than yourself, walking along the cobblestone path with a satchel slung over his shoulder. His black school uniform was slightly rumpled, and his dark hair fell messily across his forehead. But it was his face that made your breath catch—the effortless grace in the way he carried himself, the warm glow of his skin in the golden light, and those deep, expressive eyes. You couldn’t look away.

The boy, Miles, didn’t even notice the palace or the grandeur around him. He seemed lost in his own thoughts, walking home from school, oblivious to the princess watching him. Your heart raced as you took in every detail, your carefully practiced royal composure slipping for the first time.

“What is it, darling?” Queen Amelia asked, following your gaze. You quickly looked back at the carriage pulling up, feigning interest in the prince stepping out. But your thoughts were elsewhere—on the ordinary boy who had stolen your heart in an instant, even if he didn’t know it.