Stephen laid down on his bed. After the catastrophe that was his second magic training session, he needed a moment. Stephen wasn’t sure what to make of Princess Augustina. Not only did she want the king’s head, her father, but the king made her out to be a traitor – even Sebastian said she wasn’t the same princess he knew. Stephen had his share of teenage rebellion before (he once skipped school for a week, pretending he had the flu) but this was something else.

But then again, Stephen thought, this was much more serious than just some phase. Kate, who was Augustina’s sister, had held a dagger to the princess’s neck. The King slapped his daughter and called both of them witches. What was going on?

A knock came from the door.

“Come in,” Stephen said as he leaned up.

Isabelle, the older maid from before, came into his room. Her expression was controlled and friendly.

“Good afternoon, young master,” Isabelle bowed, “I came to see if you needed anything.”

“I appreciate it,” Stephen immediately checked himself to make sure there wasn’t a pocket or button out of place. He chuckled, “Kate never checks in.”

Stephen didn’t know how to act in front of Isabelle. On the one hand, she was a beautiful maid, but on the other hand, she was almost old enough to be his mother.

Isabelle smiled back, “Oh? I’ll have to have a word with her.”

“I didn’t mean it like that,” Stephen quickly corrected, “I just meant… Well, I guess…”

Isabelle stepped inside and took a seat beside Stephen, tucking her dress underneath herself. Her back was perfectly straight and hardly a hair was out of place.

“You don’t need to say it,” Isabelle turned to face Stephen, her eyes were bright and understanding, “You’ve got a lot on your mind?”

Stephen blushed and nodded, “A little, yea. So much is happening, I don’t know what I’m supposed to do anymore. I was brought here by accident, but now the only reason I had for being here is gone.”

Isabelle’s smiled faded, “Yes, the princess. I was afraid she’d turn up like this.”

“Seems like she and her father have a problem.”

“She has problems, yes, but they do not come from herself,” Isabelle turned away, her fingers clenched up, “I wasn’t lying when I said you were the first visitor we’d had in a long time. For over a year, this castle has sealed itself away from the outside. Even before that, everyone around here was walking on glass.”

Isabelle turned back to Stephen, “You’re the first outsider we’ve had within the walls. The first person who has no agenda, no bias, no ulterior motive.”

Stephen leaned back as Isabelle reached over and grabbed onto his wrist, “You can – no you must do something about this. You’re their son, the fallen queen’s chosen!”

As if her mind suddenly caught up with her body, Isabelle turned an embarrassed shade of red and pulled back her arm. She stood up suddenly and brushed herself down, “I forgot myself, my apologies. You’re still a child, I shouldn’t have lost myself like that. I’ve been so worried about the princess’, their father’s never been the same since two years ago.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Stephen murmured, his heart racing, “What did you mean, the fallen queen? And about the king not being the same?”

Isabelle bit her lip, “That is not for me to say. I would ask Lord Sebastian.”

“He’s a lord now?”

“He owns a library or two, but he was granted the status when he became the Court’s magician.”

Stephen shook his head. Isabelle was about to excuse herself when Stephen called out, realizing something she’d said bothered him.

“What did you mean, I was chosen by the queen?” Stephen was sure he was alone back then, but he remembered there was a snap somewhere behind him, just after the queen gave her prophecy.

Isabelle froze. She turned to Stephen with a plastic smile and said, “Don’t fret about it. I am sure we’ll meet again, take care of yourself. And do be kinder to Kate, she will never say it but you’ve made an impression on her. It’s been a long time since she’s been friendly to anyone.”

“Friendly?” Stephen muttered to himself. Of all the people Stephen had met so far, Isabelle was the one person he was sure wouldn’t keep a secret from him. He shivered. Regardless of her reasons, what bothered Stephen most was she called the queen ‘fallen’. In the back of his mind, tucked within all the movies and books Stephen had watched and read, a theory was being crafted. It wasn’t a pleasant one.