Once upon a time in a kingdom far far away there lived an exceptionally kindhearted knight. She was known for donating her earnings to people in need and she had risen through the ranks to become a personal guard to the princess. The princess was as stunning as night itself and her voice was the chiming of a hundred bells. Due to a strange and ancient tradition, commoners were not permitted to look upon the royal family, and all who lived and worked in the palace wore blindfolds on all but the basement levels.

And so it came about one day that the maid who brought the princess’s breakfast tripped on the stairs, saving the food but badly injuring her leg. The kindhearted knight heard the commotion and, because she was as strong as she was kind, she carried the maid to the medical wing and set about delivering breakfast herself.

The knight knocked carefully upon the princess’s door and was greeted by the voice of an angel saying ‘come in’. Although the knight could not see the princess, she knew the layout of her room by heart and valiantly walked towards the princess’s voice.

She avoided wardrobe after wardrobe filled with fine silks, walked carefully around a desk covered with paper and made her way to the royal bed.

“Where is the maid who usually brings my breakfast?” The princess’s voice was unmistakable.

“There was an accident, your highness, your maid is seeing the doctor, I am delivering the food in her stead.”

The knight was approaching the edge of the massive bed in which the princess awaited, when suddenly, tragedy struck! A loose rug took flight underfoot, the tray of food caught on the knights blindfold and she was suddenly staring into the beautiful face of the princess. She turned bright red, covering her eyes with her hands and promising to get someone to clean the mess she had caused, but to her surprise when the princess spoke she did not sound angry.

“Are you ok? Stop covering your eyes, you've cut your forehead on the edge of the tray. I know very little first aid but I am sure I can be of service to you.”

The lady knight hesitantly uncovered her eyes. The princess had gotten out of bed and was rummaging through a draw of silken clothes. Having selected one, the delicate princess ripped off a large strip of fabric, fashioning it into a bandage.

The lady knight was struck by her beauty and her coolheadedness. Surely this was the first time her majesty had ever been in such a situation, how could she be so calm? Little did she know that the calm exterior of the princess was nothing but a front, a mask carefully constructed to prevent her family and the nobles of the kingdom from seeing her in distress. Inside, she was screaming. The princess had fallen in love with the knight the moment they had met, but having no way to convey this and afraid of rejection she had remained silent for years.

As the knight gazed at the princess, she too fell in love. The princess bandaged her head very carefully and sent her off to the infirmary to be properly treated. As the knight left her room the princess felt as though she had missed her chance. They had been face to face, face to face! The only royal in 1000 years to be gazed upon by a civilian. And yet she hadn’t taken the chance to confess her feelings... 

She couldn’t let this moment pass, she had to be true to herself, no matter the consequences. The princess hurried out the door, expecting the knight to be far ahead only to almost run into her standing next to the door. The two looked at each other in shock, each wondering why the other had suddenly appeared.

The princess, who felt pressured to justify her actions said in her musical voice, “I really like you. I always have.” And then the poor princess ran back into her room, slamming the door behind her.

“But I like you too…” the knight sighed. 

Little did she know that the princess hadn’t gone far, just to the other side of the door. The princess heard these words and was filled with joy. She collected herself and returned to the hallway, where the knight was still standing.

“You- you really like me too?”

“Yes. Maybe we could walk around the gardens later and talk about this a bit more? I really should get to the medical wing.”

And that was the first of many dates, their relationship growing until they were happily married and queens of their own kingdom. And their first decree? No one should have to wear blindfolds in the palace ever again (after this decree, considerably fewer people in the palace were injured).

THE END