In the farthest wing of the palace stood a tall, shadowed castle, its gloomy atmosphere a sharp contrast to the brilliance of the other side. Inside, Bella stood by the window with a small spyglass, peering out eagerly as nobles arrived at the ballroom. Her body leaned dangerously forward, balanced on the edge as she strained her neck, desperate to catch a better view of the festivities she was forbidden to attend.
"Your Highness!" Lumi, her maid, cried out in fright, nearly dropping the tray in her hands as she rushed forward. Startled by the sudden shout, Bella let the spyglass slip from her fingers, tumbling out of the window.
"Your Highness, are you trying to commit suicide?" Lumi wailed, pulling Bella into her arms as if to shield her from the fall that almost happened. "What would I tell your mother?" Her voice broke into a sob.
Bella, caught off guard by the dramatic embrace, managed a small, awkward smile.
"Lumi, you're overreacting," she said gently, patting the maid's shoulder. "I was only leaning forward to get a better view of the ball. Nothing more." Her lips pressed together in annoyance as she glanced at the window. "And now, thanks to your shouting, I've lost my spyglass."
"You frightened me first!" Lumi shot back, still pale as she stepped away, shivering at the thought of what could have happened. "If I hadn't walked in at that moment…"
Bella sighed, her earlier excitement dimming as her gaze drifted back to the glittering ballroom far below. "It's all right," she murmured softly. "Since I can't attend, I thought it was only fair to watch from here. But now I can't even do that."
Her voice carried a thread of sadness, one Lumi knew well. Bella's elder sister princess Lucy , had already warned her never to step out of her quarters, and truthfully, neither she nor her mother had ever been welcome at such grand occasions. They were not considered worthy. The nobles looked down on concubines and illegitimate children, and her father, obsessed with his reputation, kept Bella and her mother hidden away in the shadows of the palace.
"Your Highness," Lumi said softly, pulling Bella out of her thoughts. "What if you sneak in as a maid?"
Bella's eyes lit up at the idea.
"You're a genius, Lumi!" she exclaimed, jumping with delight and agreeing without a second thought.
"I'll wear your clothes. No one will know it's me. As long as I avoid the royal family, I'll be perfectly fine."
"But Your Highness, you'll have to be extremely careful. Just take a peek at the ball and come back," Lumi warned, her voice tight with worry. She knew her mistress was terrible at being discreet. Silently, she prayed to the gods of luck not to let them be caught, as she helped the excited Bella get dressed.
Now dressed in plain brown clothes with her hair tied in a simple, low style, Bella looked no different from the other maids. As long as she kept her head down, she would blend in.
"I'll be back before Mother goes to bed, I promise," Bella whispered as she climbed down the stairs quietly. Excitement and nervousness rushed through her as she sneaked out of the castle to begin her adventure.
If only she knew–curiosity also kills fishes.