"Lift your head. Straighten up... Good. Now smile," My maid demanded with her normal flat voice. I showed her a sweet, good-girl smile on my face.

I looked in the mirror. I saw short, but skinny girl, with pale skin. My wavy brown hair was put in a beautiful braided bun. I've got to say; Wicky made an excellent job. My body was covered with millions of tiny, icy blue crystals. "All that hard work... Just for lunch," I muttered under my breath.

"Princess should not talk like that," my maid ordered. She wasn't angry, and she was just doing her job. But her always same voice make me call her Paper face.

I looked in the mirror again. I turned around and wanted to leave the dressing room, but Paper face called me back. "You forgot your tiara," she warned before putting it on my head. Somehow I was looking myself in the mirror again "And remember - have your head high, or you..."

Her last words were cut out when my mother came in. Paper face bowed. "My Queen..." She mumbled

I bowed too like I was learned ''My Queen," I repeat

"Gorgeous," she sighed when she saw my dress. She touched it, of course without any permission. As always.  "Everything is so perfect..."

"Why did you come, ma'am? Is there anything I can do for you?" Paper face asked.

"Nah, not really. I just need a princess. You know..." She looked at me.

"Princess must not be late. Never." I was repeating learned words. Over and over again.

"My little girl... I'm proud of you," she said. I nood, and felt my tiara slowly slide down. I was trying to fix it without anyone seeing it, but maid saw it and did it instead of me.

"Remember, keep your head high," she warned again and let me go. Keep your head high. I heard those words... Every day, again and again, over and over.

We were walking through the maze of stairs, halls, and rooms. I caught a reflection of the old window and curiosity conquer me. I looked through the window, and the first thing I saw were kids. Kids, outside, running and playing with each other. Boys with wooden swords and shields, some of them had daggers and knives. Girls had their dolls, made out of straw and old rag. One group of girls had their 'Queen,' with wooden crown and tons of maids. I was amused by them, in this poverty and misery they were still happy. While old women were sitting on benches and gossip, older girls were caring for their baby sisters. As all this was happening, men and boys were working on fields. I loved to peek at their lives, it was interesting, how they were changing and exchanging things and experiences. Their way of life was different but amazing.

"Come on Princess. We can't... Err, we must not be late." Voice woke me up from daydreaming. I wanted to shook my head, but at last moment I remembered that I should not do that. I lifted my dress and went down the stairs. We stopped at the end of the hall - in front of the big doors. I put a small smile on my face, as the doors opened.

The first thing I saw were two big thrones at the end of the table. One for the King - my dad and one for the Queen, my mother. Dad was already sitting on his throne and talk to the stranger next to him. And on the oposite of my chair, there should sit Princess Annalise, late as usual. And the stranger talking to my dad was actuality a boy, my age. He was politely responding to my father. The first impression of him was right. He looked well-behaved, hardworking and friendly, but reserved. And, he was handsome, I can't deny it. But he wasn't my Alex. Alex's blonde curls were falling on his slightly tanned face, with his bright brown eyes, matching mine, making him look perfect. The stranger was a complete opposite of him. His dark eyes were looking around, and his black hair, cut above the shoulder.

When he saw me, he stood up and came across the room to me. He bowed and kissed my hand.

"Princess Sophia," He softly said

"Just Sophia will be enough," I replied. I was acting like I'm in love, but this was it. Just act. I spoke those words a hundred times, and I'll say it hundred more times. I'm not going to marry anyone. I'm entirely happy unmaried with Alexander.

"Well, I am Prince Emanuel. But I guess that Emanuel will be enough too," he smiled back.

I sat down. The table was full of everything - potato, rice, corn, pork, chicken - but I took only some vegetables. Don't get me wrong; I would eat it all. But that would be considered 'rude.' Stupid rules. I remember, when I asked my mom where does all this food come from.

"People give it to us," she explained

"Why? They are apparently starving!" I was upset.

"Those are the rules," she replied. Years past as I was discovering 'rules'. How we have everything, while they have nothing. And I hated that. I hate myself for that.

My daydream was cut off the second time this day. I snapped back to reality, as the doors opened and the redheaded girl rushed in.

"Sorry, I am late," Annalise called. "I was... Oh, it doesn't matter. But I'm hungry," she continued. Sometimes I was jealous of her, she was a princess, but she wasn't forced to marry anyone. And she was brave enough to behave as she wanted to, and she never wore a tiara, no matter what. I, on the other hand, was an impression of perfection. My hair was always tidy, my head high and always straightened up. And Analyse was still better looking than me. She was cute and childish, with her red curls and green puppy eyes.

An awkward silence filled the room. "So...," Annalise seriously starts. "Potato is the best,"

I couldn't help but laugh.

And surprisingly, I wasn't the only one. Emanuel laughed too, but Analyse was still serious.

"But it is! Didn't you try it?" She asked upset.

"I guess..." I almost choked myself.

Emanuel suddenly stopped laughing. "You seriously didn't try it?" We started to talk. The ice was broken.

***

"He was kinda cute." Annalise fell back on my bed. She turned to me. "Wasn't he?"

"Could you unbutton my dress?" I asked

"Could you answer my question?"

"No."

"So I'm not going to unbutton your dress either."

"You want to play like this? Wicky!" I called. "Could you come here for a second?" I poked my tongue to Annalise.

"What you need?" Wicky asked.

"Could you please open my dress?"

"Sure. Are you going to sleep?" She questioned suspiciously

"No, just for a walk. Sunset is quite pretty at this time," I answered.

"You liar! You are going to your Alex!" Annalise stabbed me with her eyes.

"No, I don't," I replied. "Well... Whatever! Could I just get some comfort clothes?" I blushed.

"Sure, sure," Wicky smiled.

Minute later, I was ready. "Don't follow me," I told Annalise.

"I want, I've got much better things to do," she rolled her eyes and looked at her nails. "I'm going to a ride with Gina. Do you come with me? To the lake?" She looked up at me.

"No, I'll go with you tomorrow morning. I'm really going to take a walk right now. Maybe I will freeze something," I winked at her. She just laughed and let me go. The ice was our joke.

The smell of fresh air filled my nostrils as I stepped out of the golden cage. Park behind castle was peaceful and quiet, the only thing I could hear were horses far away.

Someone hugged me from behind. "Alex," I whispered, "what are you doing here?"

"Just visiting. Can't I see my princess?" He kissed my neck.

"Sure you can," I answered and turned around. Now I was looking him in the eyes.

"Can I get a kiss now?" He asked

I smiled and gave him a small kiss on the tip of his nose, grab his hand and ask.

"Are we going to see the sunset or not?" I ran to the park, on our favorite place for looking sunsets. I sat on the soft grass and put my shoes off. My white feet dipped into the grass, shining in the disappearing light of the sun.

I found Alex looking at me. "What's wrong?" I asked.

He shook his head. "You're just too beautiful for me," he sighed

"I... I'm not," I blushed. He leaned forward, his lips only for a hair away from mine.

"You sure?" He asked. I put my hands around his neck and kissed him. I felt rain slowly dripping down my body.