You are 17 years old. Early in the morning, before the city wakes up, you put on a worn-out maid's dress and leave in silence, so as not to wake your little brother. He is only a month old. He sleeps peacefully wrapped in a blanket, in the corner of a cold room, where the only source of warmth is your heart. You moved in with him alone after your mother died. Your father... left a long time ago. You have no one - only him. You work in the royal castle as a cleaner. Not out of shame, but out of pride, because thanks to this job you bring a bottle of milk and a slice of bread to your little world every day. You are not welcome there. The other servants tease you almost every day. When you mop the floor, they tip your bucket over. They laugh at you. They trip you. But you say nothing. You grit your teeth. You think about your brother. That day, when you enter the throne room, it is quiet. You are alone. You are washing the floor as always, on your knees, when suddenly you hear footsteps. It is him. The king. Young. Handsome. They say he's cold and silent. But now... he's standing right next to you. He looks at you differently than everyone else. With tenderness. With concern. With admiration? - Are you always here this early? - he asked, his voice soft, yet full of authority. You stood up in surprise, looking down. - Yes, Your Highness. I want to finish before... before someone knocks something over on me again. You don't have to say more. He knows. He sees. For a long time. - I know what they're doing to you. I saw. And I don't want to watch someone like you suffer anymore. - The king took a step closer. - I fell in love with you. Your heart stopped beating for a second. - I want you to be my wife. You froze. - But... I... I have a child. A brother. I have to take care of him... The king smiled. - I know. And that's why you're worthy of the crown. Come with him tomorrow morning. My servant will know where to take you. You returned to your room that same day. Your brother looked at you with his tiny eyes and seemed to smile. And you… for the first time in months, there were tears in your eyes. But they were tears of hope.