Selina Rose leads a normal life as a princess: attending balls, tending to her garden, and going to school. But soon enough things start to fall apart.
Nothing makes sense in this princess's castle: the walls seem to hear secrets, the library seems...
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"Jim is a hero to save you," the Queen's head turned towards him. "How may we ever repay such a service?"
"There is no need, really," replied Jim.
"Oh, surely anything!" chimed the King.
His white beard showcased his wisdom and knowledge. Alyssa would always complain otherwise.
The King and Queen gave each other a glance as the King proceeded, "If clearing things up with your father is something you wish for, it will be granted."
His father was a man full of tricks, and yet here was his perfect opportunity to salvage himself.
"Sir, I greatly appreciate your gesture, but I must get going."
"But there is a storm raging outside!" Selina slammed her hand against the chestnut table.
She was not even aware of the action she had subconsciously done. Everyone stared at her alarmingly.
The Queen turned back to Jim, pointing at her daughter as she calmly said, "Well, she has a point, of course."
Jim remembered his usual way around the castle, but Selina helped him find the room he was looking for: one of the many guest rooms. Much lavish than any room he could step into back in town. The room lay much smaller than any of the princesses but still held a cozy installation. Through the windows, he could hear the howling of the wind as the rain splattered against the windows.
"Well, make yourself at home." Selina turned around and tried to shut him in the room.
"Please, Selina."
Selina whipped her hair, leaving droplets across the floor as she let out her fury.
"What do you want from me?" Jim stared at her, a sense of relief almost coming to him. "I mean, you come barging into my home one day and expect me to have answers to your ridiculous riddles! I mean, what do you even make of me—"
"I want you to be honest with me, for once, please." Jim took a step closer to her, looking around the corridors and lowering his voice. "I understand the integrity you have to maintain, but I just thought,"
Selina continued his whispering, "Thought what?"
"I thought you could be different with me. Alyssa never was, and it was hard for me to talk to her. But you seemed so much different than your sister that night."
"Jim," Selina's voice crescendoed.
"Shh!"
"What night?" she collected her voice again.
Heels were clicking against the floors a few hallways away. Jim grabbed Selina by the arm and pulled her into his room.
"The library, Selina. The library." Jim sat on his bed, the fancy one he would spend the night on.
"This is what I am talking about. You just go on but never care to explain yourself." Selina walked around his room.
"Fine, you want a rundown?" Jim looked at Selina with keen eyes.
"Yes, I do!" Selina turned to him with pure frustration. Jim took a moment and stared at the freshly cleaned carpet.
"Remember the day I showed up here, talking about the night before?"
"Well, of course I do." Selina still stood up, her arms crossed now.
"Well, that night, we broke into the royal library and made a hefty mess." Jim continued.
Selina stared at him blankly, confusion painting her face.
"A mess?" she questioned.
"Yes, a mess. We threw books everywhere. We hid them at the end of the night."
Selina furrowed her eyebrows as she slowly approached Jim.
"Whatever for?"
Jim sighed as he stared at the concern on her face.
"The vault, Selina." She sat beside him in the bed, deep in thought.
"Jim, what vault?"
"Why do you do this?" Jim whispered to her softly.
"Do what? What vault?"
"I am done here. I am going to your sister." Jim abruptly stood up, but Selina grabbed at his fresh sleeve. Jim halted, turning around.
"Please let go of-"
"I want to understand, please." Selina pleaded to him with a look he had never seen on her. You could see her awake, ready to pounce. Her eyes glittered with opportunity and curiosity.
"If you still have a hard time understanding me by mocking me, then I ought to talk to your sister!" Jim tried to escape her grasp, but she kept pulling him back, as she sat on the edge of his bed.
"But what good would that do, huh? She will deny everything like I am. I assure you, I do not remember that night if it ever happened." Jim turned around slowly, finally letting Selina leave his arm. He put his hands on his hips.
"It happened alright."
"Okay fine sure, it happened! Now what? What is so marvelous about that night that needs to be talked about?"
A knock.
The pair stares at the door, then at each other.
Jim steps away from the princess, yelling, "Come in!"
The door creaked, but just as it did, a flash of thunder rode across the window of the room, frightening them both.
"Hello?" came a faint noise from the door.
"Oh, Alyssa!" Selina peeled her eyes away from the windows. "There is something urgent we must discuss with you."
"I am sure it can wait, there is something more urgent I need to talk to you about." Alyssa continued.
"What is it?" Selina quickly responded.
"Please take your seats swiftly and quietly! Settle down in the back!"
The princesses and Jim stood in the shadow of the room as many castle staff and officials flooded into a small circular room. The room filled fast and with fury; people talked in hushed tones as the King and Queen were nowhere to be found. Brushing behind them were two more staff personnel who asked to move them out of the way. As they did, the King and Queen came in, their faces almost pale. Their mother patted Alyssa on the shoulder and walked past the group, and made their way to the center of the room. Everyone stood up with urgency to bow to the couple. Selina, Alyssa, and Jim followed. As the couple stood next to a man, the King and the frail man exchanged a knowing look.
"I am afraid to announce that this storm might be bigger than imagined," the King's voice echoed as gasps spread across the chamber. Alyssa silenced her gasp, as Selina couldn't.
