The next day - Irene found herself being awoken by the gentle nudge of her shoulder. Morning light poured into her bedroom as those heavy eyelids fluttered open, golden orbs squinting at the sight of a familiar face smiling down at her.
"Rise and shine, Princess! You're due for breakfast with the duchess this morning!"
Groggily propping herself upright, Irene stretched and rubbed her eyes, still trying to sweep away the fragments of fatigue in her body. But just as she turned to face her nanny with a morning greeting - her eyes widened with realisation.
Perched on her headboard, was the large white phoenix she had befriended the previous night. Those beady golden eyes and soft white plumes overwhelmed her vision. Irene jolted up with a start, frantically shifting her attention back to h
