The boy froze, staring down at the voice to see a little girl standing at the base of the tree with sparkles in her eyes. She reached for the lowest tree branch a few inches taller than her.

“Urgh...” she grunted, going on to her tiptoes. The boy smiled at her earnest attempt. He climbed down the tree and helped her up.

“Here you go.” The girl pulled herself on to the branch, a big grin spreading across her lips.

“I did it.” She balanced herself on the wide branch and stood, reaching for the next one. The boy chuckled, climbing up next to her.

“What are you doing?”

“Going higher, like you did.”

“Really? How will you get there?” The boy sat his chin atop his arms that lay on the branch she desperately tried to reach.

“Urgh...” the girl spoke in a huff before saying, “You're going to teach me.”

“I am?” The girl looked at the boy and showed him a blinding smile.

“Yeah!” The boy patted the little girl's head.

“Haha, okay. I'll teach you how to climb.” The boy lifted the girl to the next branch. “What's your name?” The girl sat down and waited for the boy to heave himself up next to her.

“Enya.” The boy blinked his eyes at the name. His dad told him before about an Enya, one four years younger than him. Princess Enya. The girl shared the same blue hair as the royal family, and she looked young enough.

Should I bring her down, just in case?

“Higher. Higher!” the girl sang. The boy glanced around them.

No, she couldn't be. There would be servants watching her if she were. The boy helped Enya up another branch. “My name's Larealle.”

“Larealle?” Larealle's lips quirked upwards at the correct pronunciation. He patted Enya on the head.

“Yes, Larealle.”

~

Over the next four years, Larealle and Enya snuckk away from the castle every chance they could, meeting at the same tree in the garden.

Sitting at the top, Enya gazed out to the forest.

“Do you ever wonder what's out there?” she asked Larealle.

“Sometimes, but as soon as I become a knight like my father, I can go on expeditions outside.”

“Lucky,” Enya said in a pout. Larealle let out a chuckle, wrapping an arm around her shoulder and patting her on the head.

“Don't worry. As soon as you become Queen, you'll get to travel outside, too.” Enya's eyes fell.

“Yeah, but I'll have to put on the perfect act, then. No climbing. No exploring. None of that.” Larealle stiffened at her sad tone. He searched for the right words to cheer Enya up before letting out a sigh. His arm around her tightened. As comfort seeped into her body, Enya glanced up at him to see his narrowed eyes staring at the forest. His pink irises looked more serious than usual, maybe due to the shadows of the tree.

“Change the laws, then. If you want to go on adventures, make it so you can. Become a Queen who isn't afraid to stand with her knights, instead of cowering behind them. One who will explore new territories alongside them. An equal.” Enya dropped her gaze, a pit forming in her stomach. She wrapped her arms around Larealle and hid her face in his chest.

“Father would never allow such a thing. After all, a princess's place is standing before her citizens with poise and elegance.”

“Not if you kept it a secret!” someone called out. Enya jerked away from Larealle and looked down to see Sir Kaigode smiling cheekily up at them.

“Father?!” Larealle said in surprise. He climbed down the tree, followed by Enya. Larealle stammered for an excuse as Enya stood behind him, hanging her head in shame. Sir Kaigode's expression softened at their repentant disposition.

“It's okay, son. I've known for awhile about your shared hobbies. I think it's a wise decision for Her Highness to learn to climb trees. If something ever happened at the castle to cause Her Highness to escape, no one would expect Her Highness to hide in the sky.”

At his words, Enya looked at him with wide eyes. She took a step closer, standing next to Larealle, her pulse racing.

“You mean it? You're not angry? My father would disapprove of this, you know.”

Sir Kaigode let out a hearty chuckle, saying, “No, of course not. I think it'd be a good idea for you to learn to fight, too, if you could.” Enya took another step, standing close to Sir Kaigode. She went on her tiptoes, a broad smile gracing her lips and her eyes bulging in excitement.

“Will you teach me?” Sir Kaigode choked at her words.

“Me? But, I'm a Knight Paladin, sworn to uphold everything that is good and right. A top knight. I could get in serious trouble for going against His Majesty.”

At his words, Enya fell, her feet flat on the ground. Her eyes narrowed, and her lips laid in a single line.

“I know, but you're the only one I can trust. You said it yourself, right? I could need this knowledge in the coming future to defend myself. You're already teaching Larealle. I'll just sneak over to his lesson, and you can teach me, too.” Sir Kaigode mulled it over before shaking his head.

“I'm sorry, Your Highness. That's just something I can't do.” Sir Kaigode bowed and left the two children to themselves. Enya fell to her knees, not caring that her dress would get muddy and cause an uproar from her father. Tears crept to the corners of her eyes.

“It's hopeless,” she said, her voice wavering. Larealle sat down next to her and plopped a hand on her shoulder. He stared into Enya's eyes, flinching at the rain bursting to pour down. His arms pulled Enya into his chest, holding her face in his shirt. Larealle knew how much she hated people seeing her weak side.

“Don't worry. My father can't teach you, but I can. I'll show you everything he teaches me, so cheer up, okay? Everything will be alright.”

Enya burrowed herself in his woodsy scent, mumbling, “Okay.”

For the next few months, Larealle taught Enya to fight from lesson one. He taught her how to hold a sword, which in her case turned out to be a stick. The way her body should stand when fighting with and without a weapon. Larealle showed her how to fight hand to hand combat.

Everything Enya dreamed of knowing, Larealle taught her to the best of his capabilities. That is, until his father saw them sparring.

Heaving a heavy sigh, Sir Kaigode told them, “I thought I told you no.” Larealle and Enya dropped their fists, wondering if they should run. Sir Kaigode glared at his son. “You could get in big trouble, Larealle.”

“I know, father, but Enya wants this. She'll be Queen someday, so shouldn't it not matter? Enya should learn everything she can, and besides, she's progressing a lot faster than I ever did. Enya's a prodigy.”

Enya stepped in front of the cowering Larealle and stood her ground as she said, “You told me you wouldn't teach me, but you never said Larealle couldn't. We're both aware of the risks. We know the cost of what we're doing.” Sir Kaigode narrowed his eyes at the determination in her gaze. “If you force Larealle to stop teaching me, I'll find another teacher.” Sir Kaigode groaned, rubbing the back of his neck.

“Fine, fine. I'll teach you, okay? Just don't go getting anyone else in trouble, especially yourself.”

“Really?”

“I'm going to regret this, but yeah. Show up to tomorrow's lesson in something you can fight in. Don't be late.” Sir Kaigode turned to leave before looking over his shoulder and saying, “If you're going to be my student, I'm going to treat you as such. No formalities when it's just us three. I'll call you Enya, okay?”

With a twinkle in her eyes and a grin plastered on her lips, Enya exclaimed, “Yes!”

As he left, Enya could hear Sir Kaigode say, “Might as well start digging my grave now,” but she didn't care. Her dream was coming true.