Priscilla awaited this day with a mixture of excitement and nerves. Only once a month did she have the opportunity to devote herself to one of her most secret passions: fencing. Unlike martial arts, which her grandmother tolerated as part of her training, fencing was seen as an exclusively male sport in that society. For the queen, allowing her to practice something like this would be unthinkable, and Priscilla was not ready to face her disapproval.

  In the carriage, on her way to the place where she practiced in secret, her fingers played with the edge of the mask she carried with her, a symbol of her anonymity on the piste. There, no one knew her as the princess. Her mentor, a former friend of her father's, had welcomed her like any other apprentice. To him, she was simply “Laurent,” a promising young man with a natural talent for the foil.

  The small practice room was hidden in a quiet neighborhood, far from the bustle of the castle. Upon arrival, Priscilla took a deep breath before entering. The metallic sound of swords crossing and the echo of quick footsteps on the wooden floor immediately enveloped her, filling her with a sense of belonging.

  —Laurent! — her mentor exclaimed upon seeing her. He was an older man with gray hair and lively eyes that always sparkled with enthusiasm when he saw his students. — Today we have a special challenge for you. Ready?

  Priscilla nodded, adjusting her mask before taking up her foil. Beneath that covered face, she was not a princess, she was not a woman; she was simply a passionate swordswoman.

  Her opponent, a tall and experienced young man, was already waiting for her in the ring. The confrontation began with a clash of swords that resonated through the room like lightning. Every movement, every thrust, was a dance in which Priscilla was completely lost, forgetting for a moment her title, her responsibilities, and the rules that governed her life.

  The minutes passed, and although both contenders were trying their best, Priscilla's agility and precision began to prevail. With one final blow, her sword touched her opponent's shoulder, winning the duel.

  — Impressive! — said her mentor, applauding. — You have an innate talent, Laurent.

  She took off her mask, allowing herself a proud smile as her breathing returned to normal. However, the satisfaction was short-lived. She looked at the clock on the wall and realized that time had flown by.

  — I must go. — she said quickly, returning the foil to its place.

  — See you next month. — her mentor replied, suspecting nothing.

  On the way back to the castle, Priscilla mentally reviewed every move she had made on the piste. Although she enjoyed every moment of fencing, she also knew that her double life could not last forever. Eventually, someone would discover her secret.

  When she arrived, she took off her gloves and hid her mask in a small compartment in her wardrobe. As she looked at herself in the mirror, her cheeks still flushed from exertion, she couldn't help wondering how much longer she could go on hiding that part of herself.

  The idea that her grandmother might find out sent a chill down her spine, but the idea of giving up fencing hurt even more. — Maybe. — she thought as she caressed the edge of the mask, “one day I can fight without hiding.”

  The carriage advanced through the cobbled streets at a frenetic pace, each turn and jolt reminding Priscilla that time was not on her side. With sweat still fresh on her brow from her fencing practice, she did her hair as best she could, seeking to hide any evidence of her recent activity.

  — Faster, please! — she exclaimed to the coachman, aware that being late for one of her grandmother's events was unforgivable.

  As they approached the palace, she could see the main entrance illuminated by lanterns, with guests already entering in single file. Without waiting for the carriage to come to a complete stop, Priscilla hurried down, lifting her skirt slightly so as not to trip as she ran to her room.

  Once inside, the maid assigned to her service, Mathilde, was waiting for her in the dress she would be wearing for the evening.

  — My lady! Where have you been? The queen is asking for you. — said Mathilde as she began to untie the ribbons on the dress Priscilla was wearing.

  — I had my fencing lessons, Mathilde. — replied the princess, trying to undress quickly while her heart was still beating fast, both from the fencing and from nerves.

  In a matter of minutes, she was ready. Her dress, an elegant design in silver tones with lace details, reflected her status, but also her discreet and sophisticated personality. With a final touch-up in the mirror, Priscilla made her way to the grand hall where the reception was taking place.

  The hall was full of nobles chatting animatedly while the soft music of a quartet filled the air. Upon entering, Priscilla was met by the sharp gaze of her grandmother, who was surrounded by a group of dignitaries.

  — Priscilla, dear, there you are. — said the queen, with a mixture of relief and severity.

  — My apologies for the delay, grandmother. Something unforeseen occurred. — the princess replied with a small bow.

  The queen watched her for a moment, as if trying to read beyond her words, but finally nodded and continued her conversation.

  Priscilla took the opportunity to mingle with the guests, greeting acquaintances and making sure to maintain impeccable composure. However, her mind was far from the event. Every now and then, she felt the weight of the mask hidden in the compartment of her wardrobe and wondered what would happen if her secret came to light.

  Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

  She sat elegantly next to her grandmother in the place of honor in the hall. From there, she could observe everything: the twinkling lights of the chandeliers, the lively conversations of the guests, and, above all, Maximo, who seemed to be the center of attention that night.

  Surrounded by a small group of young nobles, Maximo maintained a polite smile while the girls tried to court him in an obvious way. They flirted with exaggerated gestures, their laughter was louder than necessary, and they all sought to stand out from the rest.

  Priscilla pursed her lips slightly, trying hard to keep her expression neutral. She knew that she could not, and should not, interfere, but she could not prevent a slight discomfort from settling in her chest.

  — My dear, you are very quiet tonight. — said the queen, interrupting her thoughts.

  Priscilla turned to her grandmother and gave her a quick smile. — I'm just watching, Grandma.

  The queen nodded approvingly. — That's what a good hostess should do. But remember, watching is not enough; you must participate.

  Priscilla nodded, although in reality she had no intention of moving from her place. Her gaze, almost without meaning to, returned to Maximo, who at that moment looked up and saw her directly.

  It was a brief moment, just a few seconds, but it felt longer than it should have. His eyes seemed to search for something in hers, as if, in the midst of all that unwanted attention, finding her was a relief.

  Priscilla quickly looked away, feeling a slight warmth on her cheeks. She knew she shouldn't think about it any more, but her treacherous heart reminded her that this silent connection was something she valued in some way.

  The queen, attentive to detail as always, watched her closely. Although she said nothing, the small smile that appeared on her face suggested that she had noticed something, something that Priscilla did not even know how to express.

  And so, while conversations and laughter filled the hall, Priscilla remained in her place, exchanging occasional glances with Maximus from afar, as if those small connections were her only refuge on a night full of restrictions and appearances.

  Priscilla, looking for a respite from her grandmother's overwhelming gaze, went to one of the palace's more secluded balconies. The cool night air caressed her face, partially calming the nervousness she had felt throughout the evening. The moonlight illuminated the place, giving it an almost magical touch. She leaned on the railing, allowing her mind to wander far from the bustle of the hall.

  Suddenly, she heard footsteps approaching. Turning around, her eyes met Maximo's. He had his hands in his pockets, his expression relaxed but with an air of distraction.

  — Oh, I didn't know anyone was here. — He said, although he didn't seem bothered to have found her.

  Priscilla straightened up, feeling her heart race with a mixture of surprise and something else that she still couldn't quite define.

  — I was looking for some fresh air. — she replied, her calm tone hiding her nerves.

  Maximo nodded and approached the railing, standing a few steps away from her. They both remained silent for a moment, listening only to the distant murmur of the party and the soft chirping of crickets.

  — It's exhausting, isn't it? — he said suddenly, breaking the silence.

  — What is? — asked Priscilla, turning her face towards him.

  — All of this. The expectations, the empty conversations…— Max explained, looking towards the horizon. Then he looked directly into her eyes. — Sometimes you just want to disappear for a while.

  Priscilla understood this better than she wanted to admit.

  — Yes, it can be quite… oppressive. — she replied.

  They both shared a small smile of mutual understanding, that silent complicity that only arises between those who face similar challenges.

  Priscilla, noticing that the conversation was becoming more comfortable, decided to speak without thinking too much.

  — And you? Why did you escape? — she asked, trying to sound casual.

  Maximo let out a slight laugh.

  — Too many girls trying to court me at once. — he admitted, shrugging his shoulders as if it were part of his daily routine.

  Priscilla laughed, but her smile quickly faded as she remembered how she had watched that scene from afar.

  — It must be difficult to be so popular. — she replied, with a hint of irony in her voice.

  Maximo looked at her sideways, picking up on the undertone in her words.

  — And you, why did you run away? — He replied, turning the question around on her.

  Priscilla looked away towards the moon, she couldn't tell him that she had left because seeing Maximo surrounded by so many women made her feel particularly uncomfortable.

  — I guess I needed a break. — she finally said.

  The conversation hung in the air, but they both knew that there was much more that was not being said. For a few moments, the world seemed to stop, leaving them alone under the cloak of night, with only the breeze as witness to this unexpected encounter.

  Priscilla, after a moment of silence, looked up at the clear sky. The stars were shining brightly that night, as if they wanted to compete with the palace lights.

  — The stars have always fascinated me. — she said, breaking the silence. —They are so far away, but at the same time… they seem so close.

  Maximo followed her gaze to the sky.

  — It's funny how they've always been there, the same for everyone, but each person sees them differently. he replied, leaning on the railing next to her.

  Priscilla looked at him, intrigued.

  — Different?

  Maximo smiled, with a reflective air.

  — For some, the stars are a map; for others, a refuge. For me, they are…— he paused, as if searching for the right words. — They are a reminder of how small we are in comparison to the universe, but also of how much we can dream.

  Priscilla couldn't help but feel that there was something deep and melancholic in his words.

  — That's… poetic. — she said softly, looking back up at the sky.

  They both fell silent, gazing at the constellations. The distance between them seemed to shorten with each passing second, and although neither dared to move, the atmosphere was charged with an almost palpable closeness.

  Maximus turned his face slightly towards her, as if he were about to say something else, but before he could utter a word, a sound of hurried footsteps broke the stillness.

  — Maximo! — Selene's high, familiar voice filled the balcony. Priscilla wrinkled her eyes at the sound of that voice again. Did she always have to show up at the best moments?

  Both turned at the same time, startled. Selene appeared in the doorway, with a broad smile and her eyes fixed on Maximo.

  — There you are. I've been looking for you everywhere. — she said, without even glancing at Priscilla. Then, without waiting for a reply, she walked forward and took Maximo's arm with a familiarity that made Priscilla uncomfortable.

  Max hesitated, looking at Selene and then at Priscilla, as if he were caught between two worlds.

  — Can we go? There's something I want to show you. — Selene said, pulling gently on his arm, not giving him time to reply.

  Priscilla looked up at the stars, feeling the moment they had shared vanish into thin air.

  — See you soon, princess. — said Maximo in a voice that tried to be neutral, but Priscilla noticed the slight hint of discomfort in it.

  — Of course…— she replied, without turning around, trying to keep her composure.

  Selene, with a triumphant smile, took Maximo away from the balcony. Priscilla remained where she was, looking at the night sky, although she could no longer see the stars with the same clarity.