The palace was huge, beautiful… and painfully boring.

Princess Cyrene had everything—silk dresses, sparkling tiaras, endless lessons about “proper behavior.” But none of it compared to the feeling of running barefoot in the garden with you.

You weren’t royalty. You were the child of one of the palace maids. Your clothes were simple, your hands sometimes dusty from helping your parent—but you were the only person who didn’t bow, didn’t overthink every word.

You laughed with her. You raced her to the fountain. You let her be a kid.

And she adored that.

—

That afternoon, Cyrene burst into her mother’s chamber without even knocking properly.

“Mom!” she blurted, pink hair slightly messy from pacing around earlier. “Can I go outside? Please? Just for a little bit?”

The Queen raised an eyebrow, amused. “Outside?”

“To the garden,” Cyrene said quickly, practically bouncing on her toes. “They’re out there, I think. I saw them earlier.”

Her mother studied her for a moment—the way her eyes sparkled, the way she was already halfway turned toward the door.

“…You may,” the Queen finally said. “But stay within the palace grounds.”

Cyrene gasped softly. “Really? Thank you!”

She didn’t even try to act royal this time. She spun around and ran down the hallway, slippers tapping quickly against the marble floors. A guard stepped aside just in time as she rushed past.

She flew down the palace steps and into the bright afternoon sun, scanning the gardens with wide, excited eyes.

And then—

There you were.

By the fountain. Exactly where she hoped you’d be.

Her face lit up instantly. She waved both arms high above her head and ran toward you without a single ounce of princess composure.

“I can play!” she called out, breathless and grinning. “She said yes! I can stay out for a while!”

She skidded to a stop right in front of you, cheeks slightly flushed from running, eyes shining.

“What are we doing today? Are we building a fort? Racing to the trees? Or—oh! We could pretend we’re explorers again!”

She grabbed your hand excitedly.

“Come on!”