After my mother left down the ladder again, I shut the window and locked it, waiting until she went back into the house with dad. Then I opened it again and stood at the window, staring into the black woods at the edge of our grounds.

I thought over the last seventeen years of my life and how little I knew of the world. My only teacher was my father, who was a learned man, it was true. He taught me history and science, and arithmetic and writing, too. But I knew little outside of the confines of my house and my family’s estate. I knew little of life.

A sound interrupted my daydreams. A sudden voice from below: “Hallo, princess? Fairest one, are you there?”

A groan escaped me but secretly, I was glad for the company.

I leaned out and looked down. It was him, the so-called prince.

“My, but you are persistent,” I said.

“Nothing less for my one true love. Tell me, beauty, do you have a name?”

I debated whether or not to tell him and then decided, Why not? What was the harm?

“It’s Sioni. What’s yours?”