As the first rays of the morning sun broke through the horizon, Mira stepped out onto the balcony of her chamber. 

She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath of the crisp morning air, feeling the warmth of the sun on her skin.

Opening her eyes, she watched as birds flitted by, heading towards a nest in the large tree just outside her window. 

A soft smile graced her lips as she saw the mother bird with her young, chirping lively in their safe haven. 

Nature is truly beautiful, she thought, turning back inside, feeling a renewed sense of vigor for the day ahead.

Navigating the ornate halls of the palace, Mira found herself crossing paths with Princess Elysia and her two maids. Elysia's face lit up as she saw Mira.

"Good morning, Auntie Mira!" Elysia said, her voice filled with joy.

"Good morning, Elysia," Mira replied, smiling warmly. "Are you on your way to have breakfast?"

Elysia nodded enthusiastically, her eyes sparkling. "Yes! Would you come with me? We can go hand in hand!"

Mira chuckled softly, unable to resist the little princess's charm. "Of course, I would be delighted."

As they made their way through the palace, they encountered Zephyr, who appeared to be taking a leisurely walk in the garden. 

Mira suspected he might be waiting for her, but she chose to keep this thought to herself, merely smiling at the possibility. 

Zephyr bowed his head respectfully.

"Good morning to you both, Your Royal Highnesses," he greeted.

"Good morning, Zephyr," Mira and Elysia responded in unison, curtsying. Together, they continued toward the glass greenhouse where the rest of the royal family awaited them.

Upon entering the greenhouse, greetings were exchanged, and breakfast was served. The tranquil setting was interrupted when the head butler entered, leading a group of eight individuals.

"I have brought them as you requested, Your Majesty," the butler announced before excusing himself.

King Aurelius turned to Mira. "These are the ones you requested," he said, causing Mira's eyes to widen in surprise. He had gathered them much faster than she had anticipated.

Standing up and moving to stand in front of them, Mira addressed the group. 

“Greetings to you all. I am Princess Mirella of Verhmina," she said, noting their mixed expressions of shock and confusion. Verhmina was, of course, foreign to them, as it wouldn't appear on any map.

As Mira observed them more closely, she realized none of them were human, just as she had asked. 

There were seven dark-skinned dwarves of varying builds and a dark-skinned elf with vibrant green hair and eyes. The dwarves' presence made sense for a construction crew, but the elf puzzled Mira.

She asked each of them their names, starting with the dwarves, youngest to eldest: Teddy, Jasper, Kyro, Sylas, Oswald, Isaac, and finally, Creed. When it was the elf's turn, she bowed her head gracefully.

"My name is Yvette, Your Highness," the elf announced.

The dwarves smirked among themselves, earning a scolding from Yvette. "You should greet royalty properly, not just offer your names, you simpletons," she chided.

Mira couldn't help but chuckle at their antics, which only deepened their blushes from being scolded by Yvette. Turning back to the king, she smiled. "They are a lovely choice, Your Majesty."

King Aurelius raised his glass. "Only the best for you, dear aunt."

The crew's eyes widened in shock at the revelation, noting the king's appearance  compared to Mirella’s, as they seemed relatively the same age. She addressed them again.

"Can you keep a secret?" she asked, a finger on her lips. Most nodded, but Kyro jokingly said he could for a price. Creed glared at him while Yvette walked over and pulled his ear, causing him to apologize quickly.

Mira revealed her wings, eliciting audible gasps from the group. Oswald voiced what many were thinking. "I thought fairies were just legends."

Yvette, however, did not seem surprised. 

Mira inquired if she had met a fairy before. Yvette nodded, explaining that a fairy had once saved her from a landslide in the east—a man with black hair, periwinkle eyes and a noticeable scar on the right side of his mouth.

"That would have been Baron Terramore," Mira said after some time in thought. "You were very fortunate indeed."

She continued, sharing stories of the earth fairies, known for their reclusive nature and love of mining. Just then, Queen Evelina cleared her throat, signaling the end of breakfast. Mira hid her wings as the maids gathered the empty plates and utensils.

Evelina approached Mira. "Shall we continue this conversation elsewhere?" she suggested.

Agreeing, they moved to the reception room, ready to discuss their deal. The king left the children to their attendants while Zephyr remained, lost in thought, watching Mira disappear around a corner.

King Aurelius noticed. "Would you like to voice your thoughts?" he asked Zephyr.

Zephyr hesitated. "I don't know how to express my thoughts without worrying Mirella or causing her some type of anguish," he admitted.

The king pondered this before gesturing for Zephyr to follow him. "Come with me. Let's discuss this in my office while I catch up on work."