The Jester's Princess

The first time Warren saw her, she was kneeling on the floor. Not on a throne. Not beneath a crown. Not surrounded by servants waiting on her every command. She was kneeling beside a frightened maid who had dropped an entire basket of fruit across the palace hallway. Apples rolled across the marble floor. Pears bounced against the walls. The young maid looked moments away from tears. Yet instead of scolding her, Princess Aulette bent down and began gathering the fruit herself. For a moment, Warren thought he was seeing things. A princess wasn't supposed to do that. A future queen certainly wasn't. But there she was. Quietly helping. As though she had forgotten she was royalty. As though the trembling servant mattered. The maid repeatedly apologized. Aulette merely smiled and handed her another apple. "It's alright," she said softly. "Accidents happen." Such simple words. Yet Warren found himself unable to look away. He had traveled across half the country to reach Calimstone after hearing that the palace was searching for a new court jester. He expected spoiled nobles. Arrogant royals. A kingdom hidden behind wealth and tradition. He did not expect her. Golden hair caught the sunlight pouring through the palace windows. Her expression was calm. Gentle. Lonely. And for reasons he could not explain, Warren suddenly felt as though the entire hallway had gone silent. As though there was only her. The princess eventually stood and continued down the corridor, unaware that a stranger was watching from the shadows. Only when she disappeared around the corner did Warren finally remember how to breathe. A laugh escaped him. "Well..." He shook his head. This was ridiculous. He didn't know her. Didn't know her favorite color. Didn't know her dreams. Didn't even know if she could tolerate his existence. Yet somehow he already wanted to see her again. And that, Warren would later discover, was the beginning of all his problems. Because Princess Aulette Vezel belonged to a kingdom. And Warren— a mere jester— was foolish enough to fall in love with her at first sight.