A new morning dawned, but not with the usual warmth that summer brings. The air was saturated with the aroma of dry leaves and the moisture of dew. The sun, hidden behind a blanket of gray clouds, was barely able to filter its light, giving the landscape a golden and melancholy hue. Priscilla, still wrapped in the sheets of her bed, slowly sat up, feeling the cool autumn air seeping in through the half-open window.

  It was her favorite season. There was always something about autumn that made her feel more alive. The crunch of the leaves under her feet, the warm colors that contrasted with the colder weather, and the wind that ruffled her hair without asking. Everything seemed to invite her to put aside her worries and simply enjoy the moment.

  She rose with unusual energy and made her way to her dressing table, where several of her maids were waiting.

  — I don't want anything formal today, please. Something comfortable. I plan to go riding. — she instructed them as she brushed her short hair in front of the mirror.

  The dress she chose was simple but practical, allowing her freedom of movement while maintaining the elegance her title demanded. Her hair, barely styled, fell naturally, the butterfly fringe framing her face.

  As she stepped out into the courtyard, the autumn wind greeted her with a crisp embrace. She closed her eyes for a moment, enjoying the feel of the air against her skin. Her horse was already saddled, a strong brown animal that had been her companion since childhood. She had watched him grow and over time they had developed a unique bond.

  —Today will be a good day, won't it? — she whispered to the animal as she stroked its neck.

  Quick as a cat, she mounted and adjusted the reins. Without waiting, she set the horse into a trot, leaving the courtyard and entering the paths that led to the nearby forest. As they advanced, Priscilla alternated between leisurely trots and fast gallops, enjoying the speed and freedom she felt only on the back of her faithful friend.

  The sound of the hooves echoed rhythmically, harmonizing with the sighs of the wind and the crunching of fallen leaves under the weight of the horse. It was as if the forest welcomed her with open arms, protecting her from the responsibilities and pressures that awaited her at the palace.

  But while she was enjoying the ride, a sharp sound broke the silence: gunfire. Priscilla pulled on the reins, stopping her horse abruptly. The animal snorted uncomfortably, its ears moving toward the sound. She pricked up her ears and soon distinguished the murmur of men's voices from the barking of dogs. The hunters were close.

  —It's hunting day…— she muttered to herself, frowning.

  Hunting was a common activity among the nobles, but she did not like it very much. She didn't want to cross paths with them, so she turned her horse and headed to the other side of the forest, looking for a quieter place.

  After a few minutes of riding along less traveled paths, she came to a clearing where a crystalline lake stretched before her. The water reflected the cloudy sky and the surrounding trees, whose leaves were beginning to turn shades of red and gold.

  Priscilla dismounted carefully and let her horse approach the water to drink. She took out a small cloth bag she had brought with her, containing some bread, cheese, and fruit. It was her little ritual: she always took something to eat on her trips into the forest.

  She sat on the edge of the lake, stretching her legs and letting her boots brush gently against the water. The sound of the wind through the branches and the soft whisper of the waves against the shore filled the air. For a moment, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath, letting the scent of nature envelop her.

  As she bit into a piece of bread, her mind began to wander. She thought of the hunt and how it was often used as a metaphor for life at court: everyone chasing something, be it power, alliances, or even convenient marriages. In contrast, here at the lake, she was far from any of that.

  —If only I could stay here forever. — she whispered, letting the sentence drift away on the wind.

  She looked at her horse, resting peacefully by the water, and felt a surge of gratitude. This was her safe place, her moment of peace in a world that gave her no respite.

  Priscilla was enjoying the serenity of the moment when something unusual caught her attention. A group of small rabbits emerged from the forest, jumping nervously toward the lake. They moved quickly, as if fleeing from something, and soon took refuge behind the imposing body of her horse. The animal, accustomed to the unexpected movements of nature, simply snorted, but Priscilla couldn't help but feel her heart skip a beat.

  Cautiously, she set her feed bag aside and sat up, scanning her surroundings with a wary eye. The air, which had seemed so calm before, now seemed charged with an inexplicable tension. The wind carried the sound of rustling leaves and something else: footsteps. These were not the slow footsteps of someone enjoying the forest; they were fast footsteps, accompanied by male voices approaching in a hurry.

  Priscilla felt a shiver run down her spine. Instinctively, she positioned herself next to her horse, using her body as a natural shield for herself and the frightened rabbits. She could hear the voices clearly now, laughing and talking excitedly. They were too close for her comfort.

  A group of men dressed in hunting clothes emerged from the trees, rifles in hand. They looked imposing, but what caught her attention the most was a familiar figure among them. Maximo. His bearing was unmistakable, even in the midst of the crowd. He wore a dark waistcoat that accentuated his impeccable posture, and his brown hair seemed to shine in the dim sunlight filtering through the branches.

  The hunters stopped when they noticed the presence of Priscilla and her horse. One of them, apparently the leader of the group, raised a hand to silence the others. Maximo frowned with a mixture of surprise and concern as he recognized her.

  —Princess Priscilla? — he asked incredulously, taking a step toward her.

  Priscilla lifted her chin, trying to maintain her composure despite the unexpected encounter.

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  —Mr. Valois. — she replied in a neutral tone, trying not to show her nervousness. The other men began to murmur among themselves, clearly surprised to find the heir to the kingdom in such a remote and lonely place.

  Maximo looked at the rabbits hiding behind the horse and then at her, realizing the situation. — “Are these little ones the reason for your visit here? — he asked with a slight smile, pointing to the animals.

  —Perhaps they are the ones seeking refuge, not me. — Priscilla replied, crossing her arms while keeping her gaze fixed on Maximo.

  The group let out a few discreet chuckles, but Maximo did not take his eyes off her. There was something about her presence that both disconcerted and fascinated him.

  One of the hunters, clearly impatient, interrupted the moment. — Mr. Valois, those rabbits are our quarry. They're there, hiding.

  Priscilla's expression hardened. — You will not shoot here, gentlemen. — Priscilla said firmly, taking a step forward. Her voice, though calm, was full of authority.

  Maximo raised a hand to calm his companion before he could respond inappropriately. — There is no need to disturb the peace of this place. — Maximo said, looking at the others. Then he turned to Priscilla and bowed his head slightly. — My apologies, Princess. We did not mean to disturb your rest.

  Priscilla watched him carefully. There was something in his tone that seemed genuine, something that disarmed any sharp response she might have had in mind.

  —I appreciate your consideration, Mr. Valois. — she finally replied, allowing her posture to relax a bit.

  The hunters, somewhat frustrated but respectful, began to move away one by one. Maximo, however, lingered for a few moments, as if he wanted to say something but couldn't find the words.

  —I hope you enjoy the rest of your day, Princess. — he finally said with a slight smile before turning to follow his group.

  Priscilla watched him go, feeling a mixture of relief and curiosity. The rabbits, still hiding behind her horse, seemed to calm down. And as the echo of the men's footsteps faded into the forest, Priscilla couldn't help but wonder why her brief exchange with Maximo had made her heart beat as fast as her horse's trot.

  As the hunters disappeared into the trees, the little rabbits, as if they understood that the danger had passed, came out of hiding behind Priscilla's horse. She watched them run off in the opposite direction, their little paws barely making a sound on the dry, leaf-covered ground. The princess sighed, relieved by the moment of silence that had finally settled over the forest. But there was still something uneasy inside her, an echo of the unexpected interaction with Maximo, that she could not shake.

  Priscilla mounted her horse and took the road back to the palace, leaving the lake and the autumnal forest behind. The wind caressing her face and the sound of dry leaves under the horse's hooves were a welcome comfort. When she reached the palace, the guards opened the great wrought-iron gates, and she entered calmly, heading for the stables to leave her faithful companion in the care of the grooms.

  The palace was silent. Her grandmother, the queen, did not seem to be at home, which gave her a break from the constant events and responsibilities that had filled her days lately. After changing into a lighter and more comfortable dress, Priscilla decided to spend the rest of the morning playing the piano in the main hall. It was an activity that deeply relaxed her, a connection with art that allowed her to disconnect from her worries. Her fingers moved gracefully over the ivory keys, filling the room with soft, melancholy melodies that reflected her mood.

  Time passed quickly, and before she knew it, lunchtime was approaching. The princess made her way to the dining room, expecting a quiet meal in the company of her grandmother. But when she entered, the scene that met her eyes took her completely by surprise.

  Seated at the table were not only her grandmother, but also the Valois family and the Himt family. The room, elegantly decorated for the occasion, was alive with the sound of conversation and the laughter of the guests. Maximo' mother, impeccably dressed, chatted animatedly with the queen, while the Himt's father joined in the conversation with enthusiastic comments. Brieonne, Priscilla's best friend, sat close to her mother, smiling shyly. And of course Maximo was there, too, though he looked a little less at ease than the others, as if he had not yet recovered from the encounter in the forest.

  Priscilla paused briefly at the entrance, trying to regain her composure before making her way to the table. Her grandmother greeted her with a smile she couldn't quite decipher.

  —Ah, Priscilla, dear, just in time. I hope you had a quiet morning, because we have some special company for lunch today.

  The princess bowed her head with a polite smile and sat down in her assigned place, right in front of Maximo. She felt his eyes on her as she sat down, and for a moment she looked up to meet his. It was only a second, but enough to send a shiver down her spine.

  Conversation flowed around the table, and though Priscilla tried to participate politely, she couldn't help but find her attention drawn back to Max again and again. He seemed equally distracted, responding to his mother's questions with monosyllables while playing with the edge of his napkin. The tension between them, though subtle, was palpable, and Priscilla couldn't help but wonder if he remembered the exchange in the forest.

  Lunch continued, full of trivial conversation and laughter that seemed more forced than natural. For Priscilla, this unexpected encounter was a mixture of discomfort and fascination, a silent dance of emotions that even the best etiquette couldn't control.

  Maximo's mind was a whirlwind of conflicting thoughts as the lunch progressed. Every time he looked up and saw Priscilla across the table, he felt the urge to strike up a conversation with her, to say something that would break through the invisible barrier that seemed to separate them. But the words caught in his throat, stifled by the formality of the moment and the presence of so many people.

  “What could I say to her?” he thought, moving his fork absentmindedly. “It's not like I can talk about the forest… What if I asked her something simple? About her interests? No, no, that would be too obvious.” But the more he thought about it, the harder it seemed to find the right approach.

  Priscilla, for her part, seemed oblivious to his inner struggles. When she finished her lunch, she rose with her characteristic grace and walked over to her grandmother to take her leave with a respectful bow. The queen nodded approvingly and allowed her to leave. Maximo watched as the princess left the dining room with a calm but confident stride, disappearing through one of the doors leading to the courtyard.

  Maximo sighed inwardly. He had made up his mind to speak to her right then, but it was too late. “Why do I always wait until the last second?” he asked himself.

  Meanwhile, Priscilla walked to the backyard of the palace, looking for a moment of peace after the hectic lunch. The crisp autumn air caressed her face, and the soft rustling of the leaves beneath her feet offered her silent comfort. In the distance, a familiar meow caught her attention. A smile appeared on her lips as she saw her black cat, Ebony, resting in a sunny corner of the garden.

  —Ah, there you are, lazybones. — she murmured as she approached the animal. Ebony greeted her with a soft purr and rose to rub against her legs. Priscilla bent down to pet him, feeling the tension of the morning slowly dissipate.

  She sat down on a nearby stone bench, Ebano curled up on her lap. From her vantage point, she could hear the distant murmur of conversations that continued in the dining room, but at that moment, it all seemed to belong to another world. Here, in the courtyard with her faithful cat, Priscilla could simply be herself, away from the prying eyes and expectations of others.

  As Ebony purred softly, Priscilla let her mind wander. The memory of Maximo and their brief exchange of glances came back to her like an unexpected breeze ruffling the leaves inside her. She wondered what would have happened if she had stayed a little longer in the dining room. Would they have talked? Or would they have just remained in the uncomfortable silence that always seemed to surround them?

  But those questions, like so many others, hung in the air, unanswered, as Priscilla continued to stroke Ebony and enjoy the refuge the patio offered her.

  As we progress through this story, other characters will appear, each with their own stories, conflicts and contributions to the main thread. I promise to introduce them to you in an appropriate way, with descriptions that allow you to get to know them not only by their appearance, but also by their motivations, their dreams and their shadows.