The Next Step

    “Per my previous letter, thank you all very much for traveling from your native kingdoms to aid me in finding a princess for my son. It would have brought me joy if you could have met my son, the crown prince, but unfortunately he snuck out the palace last night leaving a note saying he would like to enjoy the last bit of freedom he had left. Though you will meet him on the final day.  It saddened me to know that many of you in weeks time will return to your kingdoms, but it also brought me great pleasure to know that one of you will be joining my family as my daughter-in-law. Allow me to remind you that you are to be alone while going on this quest so no maids or personal guards. I will be providing protection for each princess from the shadows. I would also like to remind you that if you try anything against the rules you will be disqualified from the contest immediately and escorted back to the palace by a shadow knight. The rules include no sabotage of any sort, pairing up with each other, and no dawdling. Eat a hearty meal and prepare for departure first thing tomorrow. Good luck to all contestants and may the best princess win.”

    When the sun struck the next day the princesses saddled their horses, grabbed a  magic pouch filled with gold, and departed. Eventually all the princesses were gone including Katerina even though she sulked as she galloped on her horse. When the big clock struck noon Katerina hopped off her horse and walked into what looked like an inn for lunch. No one there was aware that she was a princess since her outfit was rather plain and she was not going to tell anyone about it either. That's what she thought until she walked inside. What she thought was an inn was actually a pub and aside from the noise, alcoholic smell, and shady people there was no way for them to not think she was royalty based on the way she acted. Katerina had never acted normal in her life and she didn’t find a reason to need to either so when the waiter asked her,

“What can I do for you little lady?”

She answered with the most normal voice she could muster “ I’ll have the grilled cheese sandwich please and thank you.”

After she ate she continued her journey in search of the Golden tree. Rumor had it that in search of the tree many came across talking animals that sent them into waves of great shock causing them to be mentally unstable. Katerina on the other hand paid no mind to the rumors for they were just rumors. Upon looking for a place to stay a young man came to the rescue by offering his home for her to stay one night. Because Katerina was quite close to the tree, it was getting late so there could be weirdos walking around, and he was the  one offering her a place to stay. She gratefully accepted and followed him. On the way there the stranger introduced himself as Mir to which she replied her name was Kat. For some reason Katerina’s heart thumped widely inside her chest whenever she made eye contact with Mir and she was sure he could feel it too even though it looked like he had no emotion.

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