There is a joy to shedding the confines of palace walls.Even if just for a little while. Even if only to the small garden at the rear of the palace gates.
It was always an adventure, when I was younger, before I fully understood the weight of the crown before me.
But today—today, I was merely Charlotte.A princess with a little freedom.
Act One: The Escape Plan
"Meet me by the apple tree," I whispered to my best friend, Meryn, as I made my way down the back hallway.Her family had been in service to mine for generations, and while most of the court would consider her just a mere child of a lord, I knew better.
She was intelligent. She was loyal.And most importantly, she knew fun.
"Don't be late!" I added, weaving through the servants' stairs.
Mother had warned me never to "run wild" through the palace grounds, but I had no idea how that was meant to be possible.I mean, how were they planning on keeping me in?With the world outside those gates seeming so... unexplored?
I arrived at the place near the garden, where vines crept over the stone walls.Meryn was already there, grinning as she lifted up a basket.
"You did bring the pastries?" I queried, raising an eyebrow.
"Of course."
There was a sly sparkle in her eye. "I fetched them from the kitchens, of course. With the help of a few... certain friends."
I couldn't help but grin.Even a princess needs a few friendly faces in the right places.
Act Two: The Great Escape
Meryn and I were soon joined by two other friends: Kellan, the son of the castle's blacksmith, and Linnea, the daughter of a merchant who visited the palace grounds with frequency.
We would always find some way to sneak out—usually before the guards had finished their rounds, and always with a basket loaded with pastries, fruits, and whatever we could pilfer from the kitchens.
"Ready for the game?" I asked, bending down to grab a tiny twig and twirling it around my fingers.
Meryn grinned. "I'll race you to the stream."
I gave her a sidelong glance. "You're on."
And with that, the race was underway.
We sprinted through the forest behind the castle walls, weaving between the trees, keeping out of the way of the guards' patrols, and even taking a shortcut through the gardener's shed (with a bit of bad luck, getting us covered in grime).
Meryn reached the stream first, but I was right behind her, collapsing to a halt next to her with a grin.
"Barely," she panted, her face flushed with excitement.
I laughed, brushing a few loose leaves from my hair. "I'll let you win this time. But next time, I won't be so gracious."
Kellan and Linnea arrived a moment later, both winded but grinning.
"You're lucky you didn't get caught this time," Kellan teased, giving me a sideways glance.
I winked. "Who said I ever get caught?"
Act Three: The Plot Unfolds
After hours of running, laughing, and exploring every hidden corner of the forest, we sat under the boughs of a large oak tree, sharing the sweets from Meryn's basket.
"I'm thinking we can break into the royal kitchens tomorrow," Linnea whispered, her voice secretive. "I heard the chef is trying out some new desserts."
I lifted an eyebrow. "You're suggesting we steal royal desserts?"
Her grin expanded. "We could just taste them, couldn't we?"
"Sure," I said, indulging her. "And leave the kitchen staff with a few nasty surprises."
I leaned back against the tree, watching the clouds. "Maybe we ought to bring in a new challenge for next time. Who can pull off the most daring prank without getting caught?"
Meryn laughed. "You do realize we're all already troublemakers, don't you?"
I smiled wickedly. "Of course. But there's always room for more."
We all sat silently for a moment, each of us thinking of the little mischiefs we could play—little, harmless schemes that would send the palace into an uproar.It was the only time I ever felt truly free.