Part III: Freedom
Five hours later Val saw the first signs of a city between the mountains that surrounded Belo Vale beyond the end of the forest. There were little houses with gray slated roofs all around, and at the end of the road, a large castle. It didn’t resemble her father’s palace built of marble, with the golden doors and thousands of guards in the area. This one was far older and constructed from ordinary stone.
“Home, sweet home,” Agnes said before they rode down the road.
A few people stopped in their tracks to stare when they saw them. Val felt exposed and increasingly nervous. Did all of them know who she was? Could the news have spread so fast? Would it reach her father’s ears? She tried to hide her face under her cloak and make herself smaller on Hera’s back.
“Val? Come on. We’re almost there,” Agnes said.
Two guards bowed low as they approached the castle. After dismounting from the horses, Nando and Agnes guided her inside.
A young maid with light brown skin and short blonde hair welcomed them at the entry. “They’re waiting for you in the parlor, Your Highness,” she said with a bow. Val froze at those words. How did she know who Val was?
The maid guided them to another long corridor lined with beautiful landscape paintings before they entered a large room where two people chatted over a table. Both had beautiful crowns of bronze colored twigs on their heads. The man was tall with pale skin and a large black and gray beard. The woman had medium-brown skin and dark curly hair tucked under her crown. She smiled seeing the newcomers and opened her arms.
Agnes ran to her and gave her a long hug. “Hello, Mother.”
Mother? Val stared. If that was true… Agnes was the princess and not just a messenger! And Val had treated her as a common girl all this time. No wonder the maid addressed Agnes as royalty. She obviously didn’t know who Val was.
What would her father say about her manners?
He was not here now. She needed to remember that. Nothing bad was going to happen to her.
“I’m so happy you are back,” the queen said to Agnes before looking at the others. “Who is this girl?” She took a step closer, narrowing her eyes.
“This is Val…”
Val brought her hand up, stopping what Agnes was about to say. This was her time to tell her story. To let the world know she was still here, alive, and surviving. No matter what.
“I’m Valentina Sampaio.” She lowered her hood, letting her messy blonde hair fall behind her. “I’m here to ask for help. My father imprisoned me in a tower seven years ago with almost no food and no one to keep me company. He did this against my will, and he would never visit me to see if I was still alive. Please, don’t send me back there.”
The queen brought her hand to her lips. She seemed shaken by the news for a moment, but then took a deep breath. “You’re safe here, Princess Valentina. And you may stay as long as you want.”
“You’re under our protection now,” the king said sympathetically. “We won’t allow any harm to you.”
Val was immensely relieved at his kind words. He was so gracious and tender, unlike her own father. “Thank you.”
“Allow us to introduce ourselves properly since my daughter forgot about it,” the queen said with a gentle smile. “I’m Queen Laura, and this is King Pedro.”
Val started to bow, but Queen Laura gestured for her to stop. “That won’t be necessary, darling. Would you like to take a bath before dinner?”
“I’d love that, Your Majesty.”
“Call me Laura.”
Val smiled, feeling the tension drain from her body. For the first time since leaving the tower, she felt completely safe.
* * *
The queen took Val through a corridor on the west side of the castle. She opened a door and showed her a large and well-lit bedroom decorated in dark green and bronze. A young maid was there, already preparing the bed. Val’s old room at the palace had the best of furniture, the finest silks, and fixtures of solid gold. But it was cold and impersonal, and she had hated it with a passion. But this room was cozy and warm, and she almost cried from happiness at how homey it felt.
“You can stay here as long as you want. This room is all yours,” Queen Laura said. “I’ll let the kitchen know that we have a guest for dinner. Jane will stay here to help you.”
The queen gave her one last smile before leaving.
Val stood still in the middle of the room, unable to move. She didn’t know how to act or what to do. She noticed a beautiful blue dress decorated with flowers laid out on an armchair.
“My lady, would you like to take a bath?” the maid asked. Val turned to her and found kindness in the maid’s green eyes. Jane didn’t look much older than her, probably in her early twenties. She had little freckles under her eyes and smooth black hair tied in a low bun. Val nodded but still didn’t move until Jane came to her aid. “I’ll prepare the water, and you can take these clothes off in the meantime.”
“All right,” Val said in a small whisper, still overwhelmed by everything.
She waited for Jane to leave before taking her cloak off. Then she slowly took off her raggedy old dress and makeshift shoes, standing naked in the middle of the bedroom. Val stared at her old dress, all dirty and full of holes. It was such an awful, ugly thing compared to the one on the chair. And real shoes! Would she even know how to wear them after all this time?
“The water is warm…” came Jane’s voice, and Val crossed her arms over her chest, turning around to find her waiting at the door. “Sorry, didn’t mean to scare you.”
“You didn’t,” Val said quickly. “I’m just not used to being around people anymore.” She hoped this wouldn’t be a problem forever. She wanted to get used to people again, to be sociable, maybe even to have friends.
Val had the best bath of her life that night. Her skin felt fresh and clean once they were done, and she smelled like roses. It felt as if she had a new body now. She let Jane help her with her hair, washing away all the years of dirt.
“If I may ask, would you like me to cut your hair?” Jane asked.
Val hesitated. She ran her fingers through the knots and tangles in her hair and thought about all the years she spent with it. It had been like this as long as Val could remember. But if she wanted new things, she needed to learn to let the past go.
“Yes, I’d like that. But not everything.”
“We’ll just take care of these knots,” Jane said, giving her a little pat on the shoulder.
Val didn’t dare to look, closing her eyes while she heard the scissors working on her.
“Jane, do you know the story of the monsters who live in the forest?” Val asked in a small whisper.
Jane’s giggled sweetly behind her. “Oh, I know all of them, my lady. There’s one about a terrible bogeyman who lives deep in the forest, always waiting for the night where he can hunt the little kids who don’t stay in bed. People say that the kids he kidnaps fall into a deep sleep for many years as a punishment for their reckless behavior…”
Val smiled, relaxing in the bath as she listened to the new story Jane told. Maybe she could get used to her company after all. Jane’s fingers were fast and gentle, and Val barely had time to think much about it before she was done.
“Let’s get you dressed. It’s almost time to eat.”
When Val finally looked herself in the mirror for the first time in seven years, she didn’t recognize the girl in the reflection. Back in the lake, she’d just caught a brief and blurry glimpse of herself, but here her image was clear as day.
Her hair surprised her the most. It wasn’t a mess of blonde knots all over her head anymore, but smooth honey locks falling down around her shoulders. She had the mature and sweet face of a fifteen-year-old girl still growing up. Not a child anymore, not yet a woman. Looking down, Val admired how the dress fit perfectly, making her feel like royalty for the first time in years.
She smiled at the mirror, happy to see that although some things had changed, she still looked real. And the most real thing of all: she wasn’t a lonely girl stuck inside a tower anymore.
* * *
As Val entered the dining room, everyone turned around to watch. The queen and the king nodded and smiled, inviting Val to join them at the table. There was a group of three small kids on the left side. They had light and medium-brown skin and shiny black curls, all of them looking at her with wide eyes. On the other side, Nando and a man with red hair similar to Agnes’, were also smiling at her.
A girl got up from her chair beside Queen Laura, someone Val didn’t recognize for a second. Agnes wasn’t in the dirty road clothes anymore; she wore a delicate pink dress and butterfly arrangements in her curls. Val realized that everyone’s crown had similar, intricate designs that perfectly complemented their curly and coiled hair.
From her side of the table, Agnes couldn’t seem to take her eyes off Val. The attention was flattering, but that in itself wasn’t what made Val’s heart beat faster. She realized Agnes had looked at her like this before, just more discreetly. She loved the feeling.
“Sit, please,” Agnes said, seeming to gather herself after a few seconds.
Val sat beside her as the servants brought the food in.
“This is my older brother, Matheus. You already know Nando—Fernando, his husband,” Agnes explained. Val had a faint memory of hearing something about this before.
“And these are my younger siblings,” Agnes continued, pointing to the small children. None of them looked older than ten. “Aurélia, Diego and Clara.” Val nodded at all of them politely. The tallest girl couldn’t stop looking at her, an adorable shyness behind her dark eyes. When Val smiled at her, she looked away quickly.
Conversation flowed easily once the food was on everyone’s plate. Val felt more comfortable than she’d expected; she liked being around these people. They seemed like a nice family that respected and loved each other deeply.
She wished she was born in a place like this, instead of to a father who saw her as a burden. Once she’d been terrified at the very idea of interacting with other people. Now, she was beginning to feel confident that she could fit in with them and gain their respect.
Val left the table later that night feeling refreshed and light. It was still overwhelming to be around so many people after spending years on her own, but she was learning fast, and she quite liked her new friends.
“Val! Wait a moment,” she heard Agnes say, and turned around to see the girl coming to her.
“Is everything all right, Your Highness?” Val asked.
Agnes flinched at the term. “No, I just…” She opened her mouth a few times before saying, “I wanted to know how you are feeling. I know it can be a lot to take in, but we’re all here to help you.”
“Thank you,” Val said. “I’m feeling grateful and exhausted.”
Agnes nodded in understanding. “I was speaking with my parents, and we need to take some precautions regarding your situation with King Jorge. Would you mind coming to a short meeting tomorrow?”
“Not at all. I want this sorted out as soon as possible.” She couldn’t wait to leave the bad memories of her father behind.
“Great.” Agnes looked as if she were about to leave, but hesitated. “Have a good night.”
Val wanted her to stay. She had gotten used to sleeping beside Agnes during those nights in the forest. But here, everything was different.
“Goodnight,” she said instead.
Back at the bedroom, Jane helped Val get into bed. She tucked the blankets around Val, fluffing the pillows behind her head and blowing out the candles. Val watched her work, admiring her pale face.
“Comfortable?” Jane asked once she was done.
“Yes, thank you.”
When Jane went to leave, Val reached out of her blankets, holding her arm. “Wait.”
“What is it, my lady?” Jane asked, sounding genuinely curious.
Val hesitated, unsure of how to phrase what she was feeling, how to put any of it into words. ‘Fear’ came into her mind first. It was weird to be between four walls again, even though she wasn’t locked in. But the fear would not leave her mind.
“Would it be all right if you left the door open?” she asked.
“Of course. But it may be a little drafty.”
“I don’t mind.” Val licked her lips, trying to gain the courage to admit what she was having a hard time putting in into words. “Sorry, this is so embarrassing. I don’t think I’m ready yet to be left on my own.”
“Don’t ever be ashamed of asking for aid,” Jane said gently. “I’ll be in the room just on the other side of the hall. Call me if you need me.”
Val gave her a little nod, holding the tears she wanted to shed. She was so glad she wasn’t alone anymore. It was such a relief that people were prepared to be patient and tolerant with her.
“Goodnight, my lady.”
“Goodnight, Jane.”
* * *
Val woke up to the sounds of birds singing outside her window. She slowly opened her eyes, taking the room in. It wasn’t a dream at all—but real life! She was still free. A moment later the door opened as Jane stepped in with a tray of food, and Val smiled and sat up in bed.
“Good morning!” Jane said cheerfully. “You’re a little bit late for breakfast, so I decided to bring it to you.”
“I’m so sorry. Are they mad at me?”
“They’re all fine,” Jane said. “They understand how tired you must be. Don’t worry too much. Eat your food, and when you’re ready, you can join everyone outside.”
Jane left her on her own, and Val had the best breakfast of her life. There were croissants, bread, jam, orange juice, and different types of cheese and fruits. The new tastes were overwhelming to Val; she tried to remember to eat slowly because her stomach was still adapting to proper food.
Once she was done, she refreshed her face and found a marvelous green summer dress to wear before leaving the room. Val looked at both sides of the corridor, unsure which one would take her outside. She heard the faint noise of laughter coming from her left and followed. Just as she reached another hall, she stopped to admire the portraits on the walls.
There was one of a young woman with bright red hair and large blue eyes that she guessed was Agnes’ and Matheus’ mother, the previous queen. Besides that, there was a family portrait of Queen Laura and King Pedro surrounded by Agnes and all their kids, including Fernando by Matheus’ side.
Val heard more sounds of laughter and turned to find a glass door that lead outside to a beautiful garden. She smiled at the scene that met her eyes. Agnes and her little brother were sparring with wooden swords. Diego tried to hit Agnes’ left leg, but she skipped out of his reach, and he stumbled to the ground.
“I win!” Agnes said, doing a cute little dance.
The boy groaned on the floor. “Not fair.”
“Fair and square, boy! Now let us play,” Matheus said, bringing Clara, the youngest girl to the circle. He pretended to fight, letting her hit his legs. He was a good actor, and Val smiled to see the little girl having the time of her life hitting her oldest brother.
Val let out a small laugh, and Agnes turned to see her. She walked close and gestured for Val to sit beside her on a bench nearby.
“I’m sorry I missed breakfast,” Val said, embarrassed.
Agnes frowned. “Why would you be sorry? Don’t worry about these things. You need to relax and recover from your ordeal.”
Before Val could reply, the girl who stared at her last night came over to them carrying a bouquet of purple violets. She gave them to Val and bowed cutely before running away.
“I think Aurélia has a crush on you,” Agnes said with a laugh.
Val smiled, admiring her new flowers. “They are beautiful. Your sister is sweet.”
“She is.” Agnes kept looking at Val with those gorgeous blue eyes that made her heart skyrocket inside her chest. “Are you all right to talk to my parents about your father?”
“I am. Like I said, I want to resolve this as soon as possible.”
They stayed a minute in silence watching Matheus and Nando spar, carefully so as not to damage Nando’s hurt ankle even more. There was a connection between them like nothing Val had ever seen before, and their movements were much more a dance than a fight. Not that she knew much about love and relationships, but the way Matheus smiled at Nando every time his husband failed to hit him made her feel like she was intruding on an intimate moment.
“Do you want to be the queen? When your father gets deposed?” Agnes didn’t say if, but when, and Val felt a small spark of confidence.
“No,” Val answered. “I’d hate to even go back there. There are so many bad memories in that land. But I’m not sure what I’m going to do with my life yet.”
Agnes nodded, lost in thought. She looked back at the men dance-fighting before saying, “I gave up my right to the throne too. Aurélia will be the one to rule one day since the kingdom always goes to the oldest daughter.”
“But what will you do instead?”
“I’ll probably just keep doing my job. I wasn’t lying when I said I was a messenger. Sorry about that by the way. It’s easier to travel around when people don’t know they’re close to royalty,” Agnes said, and Val heard a hint of guilt in her voice. “From an early age, I’ve always felt that there had to be more to life. My siblings weren’t like that, they cared about their royal training and education. Except, maybe, Clara, who was already born to lead a battle. I didn’t want to spend my time stuck within the castle walls. I wanted to see the world, to meet people and have adventures.”
Agnes stopped for a second, fidgeting with a loose line on her shirt. “My dad used to think it was one of my flaws. I couldn’t stay still and would get myself into all kinds of danger.”
Val laughed openly. “I don’t think it’s a flaw to be curious.”
“Tell that to the guards who had to search for me when I ran away to the forest in the middle of the night.”
“Did you get lost?”
“A few times,” Agnes said proudly.
“Were you scared?”
“No. I think I’d just keep living my life no matter what.”
Val nodded. “I like the way you think.”
Agnes’ cheek turned a bright pink, and she looked away. “If you ever want to join me, I’d be happy to have a friend on my journeys. I think Nando won’t be around for much longer now that he has Matheus.”
A friend. The word seemed so right and so wrong at the same time. Val didn’t know how to reply, so she just said, “I’m going to think about your offer.”
“Princess Valentina!” Jane came running through the door. “The Queen and King will see you now.”
* * *
Val entered the meeting room with her head held high. She wanted to be ready for this moment: no longer a scared girl trapped in a tower, but a princess who had to make the hardest decision of her young life.
Queen Laura and King Pedro were sitting side by side at the oval table, waiting for her with gentle smiles on their faces. She sat down in front of them and waited for one of them to speak first.
“How are you feeling this morning, Valentina?” Laura asked.
“I’m well. Thank you.”
“We have received news of your father,” the King said solemnly. “Apparently, he has noticed your absence and has sent messages declaring war on any kingdom that offers you sanctuary.” Val’s stomach sank, a terrible feeling of dread making her blood run cold. “We’d like to take your sworn testimony so that we can help you. It’s the only way we can take precautions against your father and ensure the support of the neighboring kingdoms.”
“That means we’ll have to introduce you to someone else. But she’s someone we trust wholeheartedly to bring you justice,” Laura said. “Is that all right?”
“Yes, I’m ready.”
Queen Laura made a gesture to the guard on the door who admitted another woman. She had dark skin, and fluffy white hair in a high bun, expensively tailored clothes, and her arms were full of official looking documents.
“This is Abigail Ramos,” Laura said as the woman sat down. “She’s here to assist you and listen to your story.”
Abigail gave her a small smile. She spread her papers all over the table and cleared her throat before saying, “Hello, Valentina. I’m aware of your delicate situation. As the King and Queen have probably already informed you, I’m here to take your testimony so that your father can be brought to justice. Is that all right? You can start whenever you are ready.”
Val nodded and sat straighter in her chair. She took a few deep breaths, focusing on the wooden table before her. As soon as she was ready, she began to speak.
“My name is Valentina Sampaio, and I’m the princess of Pouso Dourado. I have been imprisoned in a tower in the middle of a forest since I was eight years old. My father left me there with no resources, just sent me food twice a day. I broke out with the help of Princess Agnes who was passing by when I decided to escape. I’m here today to ask that my father pays for the way he’s treated me…”
Val told them all the details of her years in the tower, from the first fights with her father to the moment she saw her chance of freedom when Agnes entered the scene.
It was almost evening before Val was finished with her statement. The King and the Queen listened to everything with concern and compassion in their expressions.
When Val was done, she looked up to see Abigail still writing. Val turned to the queen and Laura gave her a nod of encouragement.
“I think we’ve covered everything,” said Abigail, briskly. “But we still need to know if you wish to return as queen when things are settled down, Your Highness.”
Val thought for a moment. She knew what they wanted to hear, but she didn’t want to keep trying to please others, not when she knew what was the best decision. Then she decided to be honest. “I’m a fifteen-year-old girl. I have no idea how to rule a kingdom and have spent most of my life stuck in a tower. I’m sure I’m not the best person for this job. I’d like to leave my kingdom in the hands of people who know what they are doing.”
“What are you saying by that?” Abigail narrowed her eyes, but didn’t seem to be glaring at Val, rather trying to puzzle it all out. “You don’t appear to have any close family to take care of the throne in your place.”
Val licked her lips anxiously. “I’d like to leave the throne to Prince Matheus of Magalhães and his consort, Duke Fernando.”
Silence fell upon the room. Val looked between the adults, easily able to see how surprised they were at her decision. She imagined they’d been hoping Val would become the new queen and that would be the end of it. But she didn’t feel she was qualified to rule a kingdom, and after a lifetime in a tower, it was time she got to make some decisions on her own.
“What about a Regency Council instead?” Abigail suggested. “These are usually provided for a designated successor if an heir is too young to rule and are established for a set period of time. The Prince and the Duke can rule for the next ten years, and you’ll have time to change your mind or to step down from the throne if you still wish to.”
Val nodded, relieved they could all find the best way to deal with the situation. “Very well. I agree.”
“Does anyone else have something they wish to add? Or are we all in agreement?” Abigail waited for all of them to nod and then she passed the papers to Val.
Val signed with shaky hands, barely remembering how to write her own name. She hadn’t had much reason to write in the tower. But Val felt proud when she saw the messy lines on the paper: it was done. She was free. And yet, she still couldn’t believe it.
* * *
After the meeting was concluded and her initial burst of optimism wore off, Val was terrified. What if her father escaped justice? What if he still came and dragged her back to the tower? Or worse?
Jane came every few hours to bring her food and remind her to clean herself and change clothes, but she didn’t bring anyone else with her.
Sometimes, Val thought wildly that she was back at the tower. Never leaving, never moving. But she just needed to look at the open door to remember that things were not the same anymore. Her mother’s voice came back to her in these moments, singing soft melodies that calmed her heart.
After two anxious weeks, the Queen finally appeared in her doorway.
Val looked up from where she sat curled up in her armchair but didn’t say anything.
“Can I come in?” Laura asked.
Val only nodded.
Queen Laura walked with careful steps until she sat down on the arm of Val’s chair. She brushed Val’s golden locks away from her face and left a kiss on her temple.
“I bring news,” she started, her voice quiet and hesitant. “Your father was captured in battle and remanded into custody until his trial.”
Val left out the longest breath of her life. She never thought she’d live long enough to hear those words.
“Did he have anything to say or any message for me?”
“No.”
Good. She didn’t want his words.
“Our guards have brought something for you.” Laura got up and offered her hand. “Would you like to see?”
Val followed Laura through many corridors before they reached an office on the second floor. The room was in chaos. Four guards were carrying armloads of books into the room, leaving them scattered around the various tables and cabinets. Val recognized them immediately as the ones that had kept her company in the tower.
“I’ll give you some time,” Laura said before leaving.
Val brushed her hands over the familiar covers, cleaning away the dust and admiring the letters in the good light. She found her favorite one after a few minutes, the book with the two girls holding each other tenderly on the cover. She hugged the book against her chest; it had been her comfort for so long in captivity, and now it would stay with her forever.
“There are so many. I don’t think we’ll be able to fit all of them in here,” Agnes said coming in with another load of books in her arms, then left them on the table and turned to Val, looking insecure. “Was this all right? I remembered you mentioning how much you love them and felt we shouldn’t throw them away.”
Val was touched at Agnes’ thoughtfulness. “It’s more than all right.”
“Good,” Agnes said with a nod. Then she perked up. “Oh, there’s something else that intrigued me.” Agnes ran to the other side of the room without saying anything else. When Val followed, she saw her leaning over a familiar-looking wooden chest. It was crammed to the top with countless ripped pages.
“What are these?” Agnes asked.
Val kneeled by her side and brushed her hands through the pages. “I had to find a way to keep track of time when I was in the tower. Each one is a day. The night before you rescued me, I counted 2,500 pages.”
She felt tears forming behind her eyes, the very first since she got here. Those pages were real. Her time in the tower was real. There was no way she could erase them or pretend it never happened. But she could leave them behind and learn that her past didn’t define her. What she did now was up to herself. Val could be happy in whatever way she wanted.
Val felt a touch on her shoulder. She turned around, looking into Agnes’ eyes, loving the care and support she found.
“Are you all right?” Agnes asked.
“There were so many things I wanted to do while I was stuck there. I kept thinking, the day I get out of here, I’m going to do everything I always wanted. And now that this day has arrived, I don’t know where to start.”
“Do you want to tell me about them?”
Val sighed and shifted on the floor. “I wanted adventures. I wanted to run free in the mountains, to see all the stars in the sky without a ceiling above me, to visit all the places in the world, and learn all about different cultures and different people. I wanted romance. I wanted to fall in love, to kiss a girl, to have her hold me in her arms and see the passion in her eyes. I wanted my life to be like the things I read in all my favorite books.” Val stared at her own hands, feeling suddenly shy. “It’s funny that even in just a few weeks you gave me so much of it without trying. You gave me hope that I deserve these things and that I can still have them someday. Even if our journey together ends now, I’m glad it happened. I’m glad it was you who passed under my tower.”
Agnes sat closer and took Val’s hands in hers. “It doesn’t need to end, you know?”
Val looked up. “It doesn’t?”
“I’d love to have you with me on my next journey. I could show you every corner of the world and so many things that exist out there.” Her voice was getting more excited at every second. “I could teach you more about living on the road. We could go to so many different places and—and… of course, if you ever want to go back home I’ll bring you there. It won’t be a perfect fairy tale, but it’ll be a fun and exciting life to live.”
Val couldn’t hold back the huge grin growing on her face. “That would be lovely.”
Agnes smiled back, but then a change came over her face, and she opened and closed her mouth a few times.
“What is it?” Val said with a frown, worried she had said something wrong.
“You said I gave you so much of it already. Do you mean the romance too?”
“Oh, that was just…. you know, a silly thing…” Val stammered, hoping she sounded remotely convincing. “It’s fine that it was one-sided.”
“It’s not silly,” Agnes said, holding her hand tighter now. “And it’s not one-sided. I feel it too.”
Val froze for a second. It seemed too good to be true that Agnes felt the same way about her. “You do?”
“I do.” Agnes let out a long sigh, her shoulders immediately relaxing. “Val, would it be all right if I…”
Val leaned closer, heart fluttering. “If you?”
“If I kissed you.”
Val felt as if her heart was about to fly out of her chest. When she answered, it was entirely without fear. “Yes.”
Agnes moved closer, closing her eyes and reaching for her face. Val waited for a second longer before closing her own eyes, just as she felt the touch of lips against hers.
It wasn’t anything like she expected from all the books she’d read. Agnes’ lips tasted like chocolate and vanilla, and they were smooth and warm. Val pressed against Agnes, and she felt their mouths opening, tongues reaching out for the other. It felt like the world was becoming more luminous behind her eyelids, and a fire grew inside of her like nothing else she had felt before. But she was running out of air, and all too soon, it was over.
But she wanted so much more.
Val didn’t open her eyes yet. She felt her and Agnes’ noses touching together and stayed like that for a moment, their breaths mixing together.
“How was it?” Agnes asked in a whisper.
Val smiled, moved away, and finally opened her eyes to find a blushing Agnes waiting for an answer. “I think I need to practice more to be sure.”
Agnes laughed with her. When they finally calmed down, she reached for Val’s hand and pulled them to their feet.
“Come on. We have to start packing for our trip!”
“Where are we going?” Val asked.
“To places far and beyond, my princess. Are you ready for it?”
Val’s heart sang loudly inside her chest. “Please, lead the way.”
They ran out of the room, hand in hand. Val followed Agnes without fear, knowing that from now on, her life would be an entirely new and wonderful adventure. Things wouldn’t always be perfect, and happiness would sometimes feel like a distant fragile thing. But despite everything, she was ready to embrace this new life, glorious and unpredictable and finally hers.