Falling down the cliff

I noticed the three maids in the room staring at me, and my heart began to race. A million thoughts raced through my mind.

Had I done something wrong? Were they judging me? 

Did I make any mistakes? 

In an attempt to ease my anxiety, I spoke up, "What's wrong?"

One of the maids, a young girl with curly brown hair, stepped forward and curtsied before me. Her eyes were full of admiration and respect as she spoke, "Your Highness, you are one of the most beautiful princesses we have ever seen. It's an honor to have you here and serve you."

Her words brought a sense of relief to me and I smiled at her. 

Feeling more at ease, I turned my attention to the other two maids in the room. "Introduce yourselves, please," I said with a smile.

The other maids quickly followed suit, introducing themselves one by one. There was Lily, the one with curly brown hair who had spoken earlier, then there was Anne, a petite redhead with a gentle voice, and finally, there was Emily, the eldest of the three with long black hair.

"I will be in your care, then," I smiled at the maids. 

***

It was a dark and gloomy night, and the quietness around me was haunting. The sound of the ticking clock in the room felt louder than ever; each passing second seemed like an eternity. The moon was shining brightly through the window, casting a silver glow on the walls. But I couldn't appreciate its beauty, not when my mind was consumed with worry.

Being an imposter princess was no easy task. The mere thought of being caught and punished for deceiving the entire kingdom kept me up at night. I had to be careful with every move I made, every word I spoke. I had to fool everyone with my deceptive ways.

On top of that, a mysterious man had kidnapped my younger brother. I had completed my first task of coming to the Kingdom of Arathorn, but the kidnapper was nowhere to be seen. I was left feeling powerless and helpless, not knowing what to do next.

All I could do was sit in my room and wait for that man to show up. The weight of the situation was overwhelming, and I couldn't shake off the feeling of fear and dread that crept up on me with each passing moment.

I was tossing and turning in my bed, unable to find a comfortable position, as a wave of worries and anxieties gripped me. After a while, I grew restless and decided to take a walk in the nearby garden that I had spotted earlier in the day. With utmost care, I stealthily sneaked out of my room, being mindful not to make any noise and attract the attention of my maids.

As I entered the garden, a sudden sense of peace and calm overwhelmed me, relieving me of all my anxiety. The garden was a sight to behold, with flowers of different colors and shapes in full bloom, their sweet fragrance filling the air. I walked slowly, admiring the beauty of my surroundings and savoring every moment of the experience.

Suddenly, I noticed a slight movement in the bushes. My curiosity piqued, and I approached the bushes cautiously, unsure of what I would find. To my surprise, I saw a small, injured rabbit trembling with fear and pain, its small body covered in dirt and blood. My heart went out to the poor creature, and without thinking, I reached out to touch it, hoping to comfort it.

However, as soon as my hand came close, the rabbit scurried away, leaving me feeling disappointed and helpless. Feeling bad for the rabbit, I decided to follow it and see if I could help. However, as I walked further, I didn't realize that I was nearing the edge of a cliff.

Before I knew it, I had stumbled upon a rock and lost my balance. I screamed as I rolled down the cliff, falling towards the valley below. My hands frantically searched for something to hold onto, but I was falling too fast. Just as I thought it was the end for me, I felt a pair of strong arms wrap around me, pulling me close to a warm chest.

I slowly opened my eyes, and to my shock, I saw a pair of familiar dark eyes staring back at me. I couldn't see the person's face, but these eyes reminded me of the man or the devil I had met the previous night. 

I opened my mouth to speak, but another pair of hands grabbed my hand from above and pulled me up. I glanced up and saw a man at the cliff's edge, his face full of worry as he strained to lift me.

As soon as I saw him, the hands around me vanished. I turned around, but the familiar dark eyes were nowhere to be seen. I felt confused and disoriented.

Wait, what? What the hell was that?

Did I imagine it? Was there really a man behind me, or did I dream it?

The man above pulled me up, and once I was safely back on the cliff, I let out a sigh of relief. I took a moment to catch my breath and look at the person who had saved me. He was tall, with broad shoulders and piercing blue eyes. He was undeniably handsome, with chiseled features.

However, his clothes were quite ordinary, not something one would expect from a knight or a member of the royal court. Perhaps he was a worker in the palace.

As I straightened my dress, I couldn't help but feel grateful for the stranger's help. "Thank you for saving my life," I said, turning to face the man who had pulled me up.

He looked at me for a moment, and then his lips curved into a small smile. "It was my duty to save the princess of Ellendale."

I furrowed my brows in confusion. "How did you know that I was the princess of Ellendale?" 

The man chuckled lightly. "I took a guess, and it seems like I was right."