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Agnes ran to her and gave her a long hug. “Hello, Mother.”

  Mother? Val stared. If that was true… Agnes was the princess and not just a messenger! And Val had treated her as a common girl all this time. No wonder the maid addressed Agnes as royalty. She obviously didn’t know who Val was.

  What would her father say about her manners?

  He was not here now. She needed to remember that. Nothing bad was going to happen to her.

  “I’m so happy you are back,” the queen said to Agnes before looking at the others. “Who is this girl?” She took a step closer, narrowing her eyes.

  “This is Val…”

  Val brought her hand up, stopping what Agnes was about to say. This was her time to tell her story. To let the world know she was still here, alive, and surviving. No matter what.

  “I’m Valentina Sampaio.” She lowered her hood, letting her messy blonde hair fall behind her. “I’m here to ask for help. My father imprisoned me in a tower seven years ago with almost no food and no one to keep me company. He did this against my will, and he would never visit me to see if I was still alive. Please, don’t send me back there.”

  The queen brought her hand to her lips. She seemed shaken by the news for a moment, but then took a deep breath. “You’re safe here, Princess Valentina. And you may stay as long as you want.”

  “You’re under our protection now,” the king said sympathetically. “We won’t allow any harm to you.”

  Val was immensely relieved at his kind words. He was so gracious and tender, unlike her own father. “Thank you.”

  “Allow us to introduce ourselves properly since my daughter forgot about it,” the queen said with a gentle smile. “I’m Queen Laura, and this is King Pedro.”

  Val started to bow, but Queen Laura gestured for her to stop. “That won’t be necessary, darling. Would you like to take a bath before dinner?”

  “I’d love that, Your Majesty.”

  “Call me Laura.”

  Val smiled, feeling the tension drain from her body. For the first time since leaving the tower, she felt completely safe.

  * * *

  The queen took Val through a corridor on the west side of the castle. She opened a door and showed her a large and well-lit bedroom decorated in dark green and bronze. A young maid was there, already preparing the bed. Val’s old room at the palace had the best of furniture, the finest silks, and fixtures of solid gold. But it was cold and impersonal, and she had hated it with a passion. But this room was cozy and warm, and she almost cried from happiness at how homey it felt.

  “You can stay here as long as you want. This room is all yours,” Queen Laura said. “I’ll let the kitchen know that we have a guest for dinner. Jane will stay here to help you.”

  The queen gave her one last smile before leaving.

  Val stood still in the middle of the room, unable to move. She didn’t know how to act or what to do. She noticed a beautiful blue dress decorated with flowers laid out on an armchair.

  “My lady, would you like to take a bath?” the maid asked. Val turned to her and found kindness in the maid’s green eyes. Jane didn’t look much older than her, probably in her early twenties. She had little freckles under her eyes and smooth black hair tied in a low bun. Val nodded but still didn’t move until Jane came to her aid. “I’ll prepare the water, and you can take these clothes off in the meantime.”

  “All right,” Val said in a small whisper, still overwhelmed by everything.

  She waited for Jane to leave before taking her cloak off. Then she slowly took off her raggedy old dress and makeshift shoes, standing naked in the middle of the bedroom. Val stared at her old dress, all dirty and full of holes. It was such an awful, ugly thing compared to the one on the chair. And real shoes! Would she even know how to wear them after all this time?

  “The water is warm…” came Jane’s voice, and Val crossed her arms over her chest, turning around to find her waiting at the door. “Sorry, didn’t mean to scare you.”

  “You didn’t,” Val said quickly. “I’m just not used to being around people anymore.” She hoped this wouldn’t be a problem forever. She wanted to get used to people again, to be sociable, maybe even to have friends.

  Val had the best bath of her life that night. Her skin felt fresh and clean once they were done, and she smelled like roses. It felt as if she had a new body now. She let Jane help her with her hair, washing away all the years of dirt.

  “If I may ask, would you like me to cut your hair?” Jane asked.

  Val hesitated. She ran her fingers through the knots and tangles in her hair and thought about all the years she spent with it. It had been like this as long as Val could remember. But if she wanted new things, she needed to learn to let the past go.

  “Yes, I’d like that. But not everything.”

  “We’ll just take care of these knots,” Jane said, giving her a little pat on the shoulder.

  Val didn’t dare to look, closing her eyes while she heard the scissors working on her.

  “Jane, do you know the story of the monsters who live in the forest?” Val asked in a small whisper.

  Jane’s giggled sweetly behind her. “Oh, I know all of them, my lady. There’s one about a terrible bogeyman who lives deep in the forest, always waiting for the night where he can hunt the little kids who don’t stay in bed. People say that the kids he kidnaps fall into a deep sleep for many years as a punishment for their reckless behavior…”

  Val smiled, relaxing in the bath as she listened to the new story Jane told. Maybe she could get used to her company after all. Jane’s fingers were fast and gentle, and Val barely had time to think much about it before she was done.

  “Let’s get you dressed. It’s almost time to eat.”

  When Val finally looked herself in the mirror for the first time in seven years, she didn’t recognize the girl in the reflection. Back in the lake, she’d just caught a brief and blurry glimpse of herself, but here her image was clear as day.

  Her hair surprised her the most. It wasn’t a mess of blonde knots all over her head anymore, but smooth honey locks falling down around her shoulders. She had the mature and sweet face of a fifteen-year-old girl still growing up. Not a child anymore, not yet a woman. Looking down, Val admired how the dress fit perfectly, making her feel like royalty for the first time in years.

  She smiled at the mirror, happy to see that although some things had changed, she still looked real. And the most real thing of all: she wasn’t a lonely girl stuck inside a tower anymore.

  * * *

  As Val entered the dining room, everyone turned around to watch. The queen and the king nodded and smiled, inviting Val to join them at the table. There was a group of three small kids on the left side. They had light and medium-brown skin and shiny black curls, all of them looking at her with wide eyes. On the other side, Nando and a man with red hair similar to Agnes’, were also smiling at her.

  A girl got up from her chair beside Queen Laura, someone Val didn’t recognize for a second. Agnes wasn’t in the dirty road clothes anymore; she wore a delicate pink dress and butterfly arrangements in her curls. Val realized that everyone’s crown had similar, intricate designs that perfectly complemented their curly and coiled hair.

  From her side of the table, Agnes couldn’t seem to take her eyes off Val. The attention was flattering, but that in itself wasn’t what made Val’s heart beat faster. She realized Agnes had looked at her like this before, just more discreetly. She loved the feeling.

  “Sit, please,” Agnes said, seeming to gather herself after a few seconds.

  Val sat beside her as the servants brought the food in.

  “This is my older brother, Matheus. You already know Nando—Fernando, his husband,” Agnes explained. Val had a faint memory of hearing something about this before.

  “And these are my younger siblings,” Agnes continued, pointing to the small children. None of them looked older than ten. “Aurélia, Diego and Clara.” Val nodded at all of
them politely. The tallest girl couldn’t stop looking at her, an adorable shyness behind her dark eyes. When Val smiled at her, she looked away quickly.

  Conversation flowed easily once the food was on everyone’s plate. Val felt more comfortable than she’d expected; she liked being around these people. They seemed like a nice family that respected and loved each other deeply.

  She wished she was born in a place like this, instead of to a father who saw her as a burden. Once she’d been terrified at the very idea of interacting with other people. Now, she was beginning to feel confident that she could fit in with them and gain their respect.

  Val left the table later that night feeling refreshed and light. It was still overwhelming to be around so many people after spending years on her own, but she was learning fast, and she quite liked her new friends.

  “Val! Wait a moment,” she heard Agnes say, and turned around to see the girl coming to her.

  “Is everything all right, Your Highness?” Val asked.

  Agnes flinched at the term. “No, I just…” She opened her mouth a few times before saying, “I wanted to know how you are feeling. I know it can be a lot to take in, but we’re all here to help you.”

  “Thank you,” Val said. “I’m feeling grateful and exhausted.”

  Agnes nodded in understanding. “I was speaking with my parents, and we need to take some precautions regarding your situation with King Jorge. Would you mind coming to a short meeting tomorrow?”

  “Not at all. I want this sorted out as soon as possible.” She couldn’t wait to leave the bad memories of her father behind.

  “Great.” Agnes looked as if she were about to leave, but hesitated. “Have a good night.”

  Val wanted her to stay. She had gotten used to sleeping beside Agnes during those nights in the forest. But here, everything was different.

  “Goodnight,” she said instead.

  Back at the bedroom, Jane helped Val get into bed. She tucked the blankets around Val, fluffing the pillows behind her head and blowing out the candles. Val watched her work, admiring her pale face.

  “Comfortable?” Jane asked once she was done.

  “Yes, thank you.”

  When Jane went to leave, Val reached out of her blankets, holding her arm. “Wait.”

  “What is it, my lady?” Jane asked, sounding genuinely curious.

  Val hesitated, unsure of how to phrase what she was feeling, how to put any of it into words. ‘Fear’ came into her mind first. It was weird to be between four walls again, even though she wasn’t locked in. But the fear would not leave her mind.

  “Would it be all right if you left the door open?” she asked.

  “Of course. But it may be a little drafty.”

  “I don’t mind.” Val licked her lips, trying to gain the courage to admit what she was having a hard time putting in into words. “Sorry, this is so embarrassing. I don’t think I’m ready yet to be left on my own.”

  “Don’t ever be ashamed of asking for aid,” Jane said gently. “I’ll be in the room just on the other side of the hall. Call me if you need me.”

  Val gave her a little nod, holding the tears she wanted to shed. She was so glad she wasn’t alone anymore. It was such a relief that people were prepared to be patient and tolerant with her.

  “Goodnight, my lady.”

  “Goodnight, Jane.”

  * * *

  Val woke up to the sounds of birds singing outside her window. She slowly opened her eyes, taking the room in. It wasn’t a dream at all—but real life! She was still free. A moment later the door opened as Jane stepped in with a tray of food, and Val smiled and sat up in bed.

  “Good morning!” Jane said cheerfully. “You’re a little bit late for breakfast, so I decided to bring it to you.”

  “I’m so sorry. Are they mad at me?”

  “They’re all fine,” Jane said. “They understand how tired you must be. Don’t worry too much. Eat your food, and when you’re ready, you can join everyone outside.”

  Jane left her on her own, and Val had the best breakfast of her life. There were croissants, bread, jam, orange juice, and different types of cheese and fruits. The new tastes were overwhelming to Val; she tried to remember to eat slowly because her stomach was still adapting to proper food.

  Once she was done, she refreshed her face and found a marvelous green summer dress to wear before leaving the room. Val looked at both sides of the corridor, unsure which one would take her outside. She heard the faint noise of laughter coming from her left and followed. Just as she reached another hall, she stopped to admire the portraits on the walls.

  There was one of a young woman with bright red hair and large blue eyes that she guessed was Agnes’ and Matheus’ mother, the previous queen. Besides that, there was a family portrait of Queen Laura and King Pedro surrounded by Agnes and all their kids, including Fernando by Matheus’ side.

  Val heard more sounds of laughter and turned to find a glass door that lead outside to a beautiful garden. She smiled at the scene that met her eyes. Agnes and her little brother were sparring with wooden swords. Diego tried to hit Agnes’ left leg, but she skipped out of his reach, and he stumbled to the ground.

  “I win!” Agnes said, doing a cute little dance.

  The boy groaned on the floor. “Not fair.”

  “Fair and square, boy! Now let us play,” Matheus said, bringing Clara, the youngest girl to the circle. He pretended to fight, letting her hit his legs. He was a good actor, and Val smiled to see the little girl having the time of her life hitting her oldest brother.

  Val let out a small laugh, and Agnes turned to see her. She walked close and gestured for Val to sit beside her on a bench nearby.

  “I’m sorry I missed breakfast,” Val said, embarrassed.

  Agnes frowned. “Why would you be sorry? Don’t worry about these things. You need to relax and recover from your ordeal.”

  Before Val could reply, the girl who stared at her last night came over to them carrying a bouquet of purple violets. She gave them to Val and bowed cutely before running away.

  “I think Aurélia has a crush on you,” Agnes said with a laugh.

  Val smiled, admiring her new flowers. “They are beautiful. Your sister is sweet.”

  “She is.” Agnes kept looking at Val with those gorgeous blue eyes that made her heart skyrocket inside her chest. “Are you all right to talk to my parents about your father?”

  “I am. Like I said, I want to resolve this as soon as possible.”

  They stayed a minute in silence watching Matheus and Nando spar, carefully so as not to damage Nando’s hurt ankle even more. There was a connection between them like nothing Val had ever seen before, and their movements were much more a dance than a fight. Not that she knew much about love and relationships, but the way Matheus smiled at Nando every time his husband failed to hit him made her feel like she was intruding on an intimate moment.

  “Do you want to be the queen? When your father gets deposed?” Agnes didn’t say if, but when, and Val felt a small spark of confidence.

  “No,” Val answered. “I’d hate to even go back there. There are so many bad memories in that land. But I’m not sure what I’m going to do with my life yet.”

  Agnes nodded, lost in thought. She looked back at the men dance-fighting before saying, “I gave up my right to the throne too. Aurélia will be the one to rule one day since the kingdom always goes to the oldest daughter.”

  “But what will you do instead?”

  “I’ll probably just keep doing my job. I wasn’t lying when I said I was a messenger. Sorry about that by the way. It’s easier to travel around when people don’t know they’re close to royalty,” Agnes said, and Val heard a hint of guilt in her voice. “From an early age, I’ve always felt that there had to be more to life. My siblings weren’t like that, they cared about their royal training and education. Except, maybe, Clara, who was already born to lead a battle. I didn’t want to spend my time stuck within
the castle walls. I wanted to see the world, to meet people and have adventures.”

  Agnes stopped for a second, fidgeting with a loose line on her shirt. “My dad used to think it was one of my flaws. I couldn’t stay still and would get myself into all kinds of danger.”

  Val laughed openly. “I don’t think it’s a flaw to be curious.”

  “Tell that to the guards who had to search for me when I ran away to the forest in the middle of the night.”

  “Did you get lost?”

  “A few times,” Agnes said proudly.

  “Were you scared?”

  “No. I think I’d just keep living my life no matter what.”

  Val nodded. “I like the way you think.”

  Agnes’ cheek turned a bright pink, and she looked away. “If you ever want to join me, I’d be happy to have a friend on my journeys. I think Nando won’t be around for much longer now that he has Matheus.”

  A friend. The word seemed so right and so wrong at the same time. Val didn’t know how to reply, so she just said, “I’m going to think about your offer.”

  “Princess Valentina!” Jane came running through the door. “The Queen and King will see you now.”

  * * *

  Val entered the meeting room with her head held high. She wanted to be ready for this moment: no longer a scared girl trapped in a tower, but a princess who had to make the hardest decision of her young life.

  Queen Laura and King Pedro were sitting side by side at the oval table, waiting for her with gentle smiles on their faces. She sat down in front of them and waited for one of them to speak first.

  “How are you feeling this morning, Valentina?” Laura asked.

  “I’m well. Thank you.”

  “We have received news of your father,” the King said solemnly. “Apparently, he has noticed your absence and has sent messages declaring war on any kingdom that offers you sanctuary.” Val’s stomach sank, a terrible feeling of dread making her blood run cold. “We’d like to take your sworn testimony so that we can help you. It’s the only way we can take precautions against your father and ensure the support of the neighboring kingdoms.”

  “That means we’ll have to introduce you to someone else. But she’s someone we trust wholeheartedly to bring you justice,” Laura said. “Is that all right?”