Jamie stood alone. His abilities were raw and untrained, but he was done letting fear of the unknown hold him back. He inhaled a deep, bracing breath, and centered himself in the present. Today was the day he would prove himself to his family.

“Look at this!” Mr. Shaydra’s eyes were wide and bright as he slowly made his way to Jamie. “Little Jamie’s taken over his grandparents’ shop, eh?”

“Hi, Mr. Shadydra. I haven’t taken over, but Grandfather let me work here all by myself today.”

“Two chocolate tarts, my boy. Agnes says it’s not good for my health, but I need chocolate to think. I wouldn’t be able to do all that counting without your grandparents' heavenly food giving me energy.”

“I completely understand,” Jamie nodded and moved to retrieve the order. He carefully picked up two chocolate tarts and placed them on the counter as if they were diamonds. “That will be six copper coins.”

Mr. Shaydra handed Jamie the needed payment and scooped up his desserts. “I like to have one for the road, one for home. Good day to you all,” he said with a mouthful of chocolate as he made his way out of the shop. Across the shop, Mother and Grandfather gave him a thumbs-up. Jamie shrugged with a bashful grin.

“You were right, it’s not as scary as I assumed,” Jamie was so certain he would do something so stupid to enrage his first customer, his grandparents would never allow him near the shop again.

“He’s a natural. He reminds me ah’ me when he was my age,” Grandfather said. “One day soon, he’ll be the best dang worker ever to step foot in me’ shop.”

“We shouldn’t get ahead of ourselves, dad, but you’re right, he is a natural,” Mother said. “Jamie takes to the family business quite well.”

Jamie opened his mouth to agree, but a high, youthful voice chimed in: “Good morning, Mrs. Christiansen. Is Jamie around?”

“Good morning to you, Joan,” Mother pointed to the counter. “Jamie will take your order today.”

Jamie's heart pounded as Joan Mckeown greeted him with a bright smile. “Hi Jamie!”

"“H-hi Joan,” he swallowed. “How are you doing today?”

“I’m doing well. And how are you?”

“Good. I’m doing good,” Jamie had no idea why he felt so nervous around Joan. She treated him with kindness and always seemed to be in a cheerful mood; yet her standing before him made him want to hide in the back room until she was miles away. The affliction often came on suddenly whenever girls his age entered the shop “What will you have today?”

“My mother requested a marzipan cake. She said she put in the request a few days ago, I came to pick it up for her.”

He nodded for several seconds. “Uh, yes, as you wish,” There was a marzipan cake somewhere. At least, he thought so, but he also didn’t want to look like a fool in front of Joan. What kind of worker didn’t know the layout of his small shop?

“Behind you, Jamie,” Mother said.

He whirled around to find the treat in question on the shelf behind him, dusted with frosting and a smattering of strawberries. Jamie carefully lifted it and handed it to Joan. “This is yours. Or, it will be once you pay for it."

“Her mother already paid for it, Jamie.”

Jamie nodded again. “Oh, right, forget I said anything. Don’t forget everything I said, but you can ignore what I said about paying for it, because you did that already. Or, your mother did.”

Joan still smiled, like she missed his embarrassing tirade. “Thank you, Jamie, and you as well, Mrs. Christiansen. I’ll let you know how they like it.”

Mother waved as she left, but Jamie felt his heart pound long after she departed. He rehearsed what to say and how to act countless times, but all his preparation came undone as soon as someone like Joan walked in and said hello. As much as he stuttered and fumbled, he managed to complete her order and didn’t throw the cake in her face. That counted as a victory.

“Ya’ know,” Grandfather said. “That girl’s always talkin’ about you whenever she’s in here.”

“Really?”

“Yep. She’s always askin’ me or your ma’ if you’re around, if you’re comin’ in today. She must really like the way you make the food.”

Mother grinned and laughed. “I suppose that’s one possibility, dad.”

A few more customers trickled in, so Jamie straightened his back readied himself to face them.

Princess Caitlin Faraday marched down the winding roadways towards the eastern section of Skystead. She flicked the green coin into the air and caught it between her fingers. Swiping it from Mother was almost too easy, but she needed to find a worthy recipient quickly. Gerop’s Wine and Tasting probably didn’t need any financial assistance, same for Clothes for Ladies and Lords, based on its size and density.

“Didn’t we tell you stupid peasents to stay away? Or did all that time around pigs rot your brains?” a yell erupted from between two buildings, down an alley. When Caitlin investigated, she found three finely dressed children, two boys and a girl, bearing down on an unkempt set of twins.

“Please, Charles, we promise we’ll leave. We just wanted to do something special for our mom.”

Charles snorted and lunged forward, seizing a small box the brother was carrying. “Let’s see what you’ve got here,” he reached his hand in and pulled a square of chocolate.

“Chocolate?” one of Charles’ friends said. “My father says chocolate is rare! He never buys any for me!”

“Look how much they got! This must have cost a ton!” the girl cackled.

“It’s our mother’s birthday,” the sister pleaded for mercy. “Chocolate is her favorite.”

“Well, I’ve decided it’s my favorite!” Charles laughed, taking a square and stuffing it in his mouth.

The responsible move was getting a knight to diffuse the situation. But what could they do beyond give these idiots a stern warning about the importance of kindness and generosity? They’d be back to their bullying and needlessly cruel ways as soon as the knight was gone. If their parents weren’t going to teach them a lesson, then someone else would have to take up the responsibility.

"Hey!” Caitlin shouted, approaching the trio. “Give the box back and leave them alone.”

Charles looked confused by the development. “Princess Faraday? Is that you?”

“It is her,” the girl said. “What’s she doing here?”

“Ah, dammit,” the other boy said. “They probably got jobs cleaning the stables at the castle.”

“No, they didn’t. I just have little tolerance for bullies and those too cowardly or too stupid to stand up to them,” Caitlin said. “I’ll repeat myself once more: give the box back and leave them alone, or you’ll regret it.”

Charles discarded the box and got in Caitlin’s face. “Aw, what are you gonna’ do, your highness? Have your papa’ throw us in the dungeon? Get your bodyguard to beat us up?”

Caitlin’s fist shot out and hit him in the stomach. He doubled over in pain, so she brought her knee up to his face. The other two looked on in horror as their leader clutched his bloody face and wailed. The girl charged Caitlin, attacking with a barrage of clumsy, inaccurate punches she easily parried and dodged. When she grew bored of the dance, Caitlin elbowed her in the face. She held a hand to her bloody nose and ran off.

“What about you?” she mocked the boy. “Not so easy when someone fights back, is it?”

The boy darted away without a word. She retrieved the box and returned it to the twins, who gazed at Caitlin like she was their shining, divine savior sent by Arakhum Himself.

“You…that,” the sister mumbled. “Wow.”

“I don’t know how we can ever thank you, M’Lady,” the brother took a shaky knee. “We are honored and, uh, humbled, that you did that for us.”

“No need, those morons deserved that,” Caitlin said with a beneficent smile. “Here you go.”

“I don’t know how we can repay you,” he said. “They never stopped bothering us.”

“Actually, I would love to try some of that chocolate. Just a portion, I won’t demand the the whole thing.”

The buttery smooth chocolate ignited Caitlin’s taste buds. Fluffy as a cloud and richly textured as the voice of Arakhum, she savored the meager portion like a prisoner being given their last meal. Whatever masterwork just graced her senses easily matched the castle’s best chefs. She needed more.

______________________________________________________________________________

“If yer’ up for another challenge, yer’ ma’ and I need to make a quick run to Royse Carpenter bout’ the money we owe her from last week. Do you feel up to protectin’ the fortress by yourself?” Grandfather said.

“Sure. Just, return quickly, please,” After dealing with the morning’s deluge of hungry customers, he felt prepared to manage things on his own, but not if Joan stopped in again.

Jamie waited an additional ten seconds before he made his move. Mother, Grandfather and Grandmother often walked in as he dined on the inventory.

He moved around the counter and examined the wooden panels that lined the interior of his grandfather’s bakery. Row after row of cakes, doughnuts and pastries, who could pick a favorite? Fine cakes, ryse, stuffed eggs, frutours, there were almost too many options, but Jamie needed to pick fast.

He decided on a slice of almond cake. His mouth was salivating by the time he got to the counter, so he took a large bite with little regard for evidence clean up. The treat was so scrumptious and satisfying that he closed his eyes and enjoyed the whirlwind of flavors that danced on his tongue.

Jamie nearly jumped out of his skin when he opened his eyes to find a girl on the other side of the counter.

“Good morning,” she said, her voice sweeter than all the treats in the shop.

Her curly brown hair spilled down to her shoulders like a waterfall. She wore a dark blue dress without any sort of embellishments or flourishes to its design. The mystery girl didn’t wear any jewelry, but Jamie had never seen someone seem so effortlessly, artlessly beautiful. The way she carried herself, every move was infused with an aura of exquisite grace, and she smelled like a mountainside on a fresh, Spring morning.

“Oh, Arakhum on High, strike me down now.” Jamie thought to himself. Sure, being turned into a cave troll by girls wasn’t an unusual occurrence, but now his mind couldn’t stay away from the thought of her smell and aura. This was a new level of depravity. He was a professional and needed to act like one.

“Hi,” his voice came out as a muffle with his mouth full of almond cake. He swallowed the food and recalled his father’s advice about fear: find your voice, be in the moment, let the words flow. “Would you like me to...to get, uh. I mean to say, thank you for choosing our business. Our store. What would you like for me to get you today?”

“Perhaps you have a pastry with a chocolate filling?”

“For you? Anything!” Jamie nodded excitedly and dashed away. “I’ll get you a pastry. You probably don’t care, but I think you have really good taste. This is the most delicious dessert in the whole store.”

That got a tiny smirk out of her. “I’ll take your word on that,” she placed her hand down on the table and slid a large green coin over the counter. Jamie picked it up, certain she just made a mistake.

“I’m sorry, Miss. I don’t mean to be rude, but you gave me a King’s Medallion. Aren't these worth a lot of money? And only given by the King or Queen?”

“Yes. You’re very observant.”

“But you only bought a pastry. That doesn’t cost very much.”

She shrugged. “Consider it a reward for excellent service.”

Jamie was ecstatic. Indescribably beautiful, funny and generous? She had to be an angel.

Or a princess.

His elation slowly vanished. The Princess of Amorado wasn’t standing in his grandparents’ shop at this exact moment, right?

“Oh, uh,” Jamie didn’t dare look into her stunningly gorgeous eyes. “Thank you. For being here and choosing me. I mean, thank you for the very kind thing. The medallion. You didn’t have to, but you did, and I like yo-that you did.”

“She’s in here, Your Grace!”

The sudden yell which drew their attention came from a knight at the entrance. A moment later, Queen Mary Faraday stormed past him and into the shop.

“Caitlin! Do you have any idea how long I’ve been searching for you?” the Queen yelled, sending shivers through Jamie's body.

“Because this part of the country is known for being a den of crime and violence,” the Princess said, casually taking a bite of the pastry.

“That’s enough out of you, young lady!” only a few feet away from Jamie, the Queen may as well have been a colossus spewing fire. “I know you took my King’s Medallion and you will to give it back to me right now!”

“I would if I had a King’s Medallion on my person, which I don’t,” Caitlin stated. “So I’m afraid I can’t.”

“You,” The Queen’s gaze snapped to Jamie. “Did you see her with a King’s Medallion?”

A surge of freezing cold overtook Jamie’s body. Lying to a member of the Royal family was treasonous, but he couldn’t betray the Princess’s trust. He looked up at the Queen, then to Caitlin, then to the Queen. He rapidly shook his head. Queen Mary emitted a frustrated noise, then stomped outside. The Princess moved to follow but stopped at the door.

“I promise, she’s not that bad,” she winked and was gone.

Jamie remained rooted to the floor. Princess Caitlin swept in like a storm dashed out just as quickly, but that was more than enough to leave him enchanted. He felt dizzy, almost lightheaded, but in the most pleasant way imaginable. Like he’d been lifted through the ceiling and into the clouds. Mother and Grandfather returned soon after, though he didn’t register that fact.

“You alright, mah’ boy?” Grandfather said. “Didja’ just see a ghost with three heads dancin’ in the street?”

“Yes, Jamie, is everything alright?” his mother said.

“Byei-uh,” Jamie said. “I-uh, got a King’s Medallion.” he held it up for them and the two moved to the counter to investigate.

“Am I dreamin’ or is that a real King’s Medallion?”

“It looks real to me, dad.” his mother said.

“You bet it is!” Grandfather bellowed and whisked it out of his hand. “This is at least three month’s profits! How’d ya’ get it, Jamie?”

____________________________________________________________________________

Despite a long day at the shop, the encounter with Princess Caitlin gave Jamie a burst of energy which hadn’t relented even after he returned home. Father barely stepped inside before Jamie ambushed him, eager to regale him with the day’s events.

“She gave me a King’s Medallion for the pastry! And then Caitlin went to follow the Queen, but she winked at me! I almost thought I was dreaming! Grandfather and mother walked in a few minutes later, but they were gone by then, but you believe me, right?”

“Of course I do, and I’m happy to hear that you had such a great day,” Jamie’s father said as he removed his armor. “Izzy, did you hear Jamie had an encounter with Princess Caitlin Faraday?”

“I’m not sure if you heard,” Mother said. “But the rumor is she gave Jamie a King’s Medallion for a pastry. Dad almost started singing and I imagine my mom felt the same way when he showed her the day’s profits. I’m trying to figure out whether Jamie’s more excited about the payment or the chat with the princess.”

“Hard to say, but I think we’ll know for sure when she comes back,” Father said.

“Really? Do you think she’ll stop by again?” Jamie asked.

“As long as we have our best employee to put the charm on her,” Father shared a rueful smile with his mother.

Jamie felt his face burn, and he suddenly felt compelled to change the subject. “I mean, it’d be good because she’d give us more King’s Medallions.”

“And you’d be able to see Princess Caitlin again,” she added.

He knew his parents were only lightly teasing him, but the humiliation was painful. How could they already know about his true thoughts on Caitlin? Was it so obvious?

“Don't be embarrassed, Jamie, it’s only natural; she’s kind, funny, and beautiful,” Mother said.

He shrugged. All correct points, but talking about them out loud made him flush with shame. “I guess.”

“You don’t think Caitlin is pretty?” his father asked.

“Of course I do!”

Their snickering blossomed into laughter at that.

____________________________________________________________________________

Jamie lay awake in bed, once again replay the encounter with Caitlin in his mind. Despite his best efforts to get to sleep, she drifted into his thoughts like a stormcloud.

Their brief conversation was more than enough, and there was no way around it: he developed a thunderstruck crush on the Princess, and he knew for certain she was the most beautiful woman on Earth. Gorgeous, funny, cunning, charming, never had he encountered someone so enchanting. The recollection was enough to make his heart flutter pleasantly.

The new sensation of wonder coincided with a sense of painful dread. What if his parents were right and she came back to the shop? At first, the thought of another encounter between them unleashed a legion of butterflies, but the harsh reality quickly doused the flames of hope. Someone like her would never tolerate the idea of him having a crush on her. If Caitlin knew, she’d want to be as far away from him as possible. In all probability, she would demand the shop be demolished and his family be banished from Amorado forever. Not only would he humiliate himself in front of his dream girl, but his family would resent him forever.

But there had to be a way to prevent that, right? His future wasn’t set in stone, and his destiny was his own, provided he could figure out what appealed to the Princess

Did Caitlin like funny guys?

Did Caitlin like smart guys?

Did Caitlin like strong guys?

He liked to think he was decently muscular for a twelve-year-old; thanks to all the time he spent running around with his friends and working on the O’Doerery farm. Still, he was far from the type of guy who could sweep a girl off her feet, let alone a beautiful princess. The type of guy princesses liked were noble heroes or warrior princes with lots of money. Dashingly handsome types who saved the world from an evil ogre or a wizard with a magical sword. If Jamie were a hero from those tales, he’d probably need a love potion to win Caitlin’s heart, but love potions were both unethical and fictional. Magic only existed in stories to entertain children. Heroes were made through hard work and determination.

Jamie shifted over on his side, moonlight illuminated the sky with its calming glow. He raised his hand to cover it, but when his fingers enclosed over the moon, it slipped away. Somewhere, in the Castle that loomed like a beacon of hope in the heart of the city, Caitlin was probably gazing out her window at the same space. The knowledge that they occupied the same city at the same time as someone so beautiful felt strange. Almost like a privilege.

Then, as if hit by divine revelation, clarity struck. His mind became as clear as the night air.

Jamie’s destiny was to follow in his father’s footsteps and become a knight.

Obviously, that alone wouldn’t be enough to win Caitlin’s approval, but it wouldn’t hurt his chances. And even if he never saw her again, protecting the people of Amorado was a righteous, noble life, one that would make his family proud. Maybe if he worked hard and proved himself, Jamie might impress a member of the royal family.

But he couldn’t let the fantasy run too far afield. First, he’d have to become a knight.

Satisfied, he put his head down and shut his eyes. Tomorrow, he’d tell his parents the good news.