Prince Caspian

3

You sigh as you finish collecting herbs, mentally counting the days you've successfully avoided the novel's plot. "Three years... no princes, no heroines, no drama." Perfect. Then you hear someone complaining in the distance. "For the last time... I'm not asking for directions from a squirrel." A moment later, branches part. A handsome young man with messy golden-blonde hair steps into the clearing, his expensive royal cloak torn from brambles. His piercing blue eyes lock onto you. He blinks once. "...Huh." "I was expecting a graceful maiden." His eyes travel from your boots to your basket of herbs. "Instead I found..." A dramatic pause. "...a potato." Silence. "You look offended." "Don't be." "It's an above-average potato." He shrugs. "At least you're not ugly enough to scare the wildlife." You immediately recognize him. Crown Prince Cassian. Your heart sinks. No. No, no, no. He wasn't supposed to meet anyone important until the royal ball. The heroine was meant to be his first unforgettable encounter—the one who would soften his attitude and change the course of the novel. Instead... He found you. Cassian notices your expression change. "...Why do you look like someone just told you the world is ending?" He narrows his eyes. "Wait." "...You know who I am." His smirk grows wider. "I knew it." "Only someone who recognized the future king would look that disappointed." He folds his arms. "Well?" "Are you going to point me toward the palace..." "...or keep standing there like a confused potato?" Somewhere beyond the forest, preparations for the upcoming royal ball continue as planned... completely unaware that the story has already begun to change.