“It’s not happening.” I crossed my arms over my chest, giving Max a pointed look.

“Come on, Elle.” He retorted. He raised an eyebrow at me. “You know you want to.”

“Of course I want to! I can’t risk getting caught though.” I stared at the floor.

“We won’t get caught!” Reid interjected. He and Max exchanged a look.

“For me?” Max pleaded, kissing my cheek. He moved to my ear, offering all sorts of things.

“Max!” I swatted at him, looking from his eyes to Reid’s. Reid laughed.

I felt my cheeks burning beet red. I looked at Max, silently cursing the fact that he could get me to do anything he wanted.

“Fine.” I said. Then I leaned towards Max. “You owe me bigtime.”

“It would be my pleasure.” He winked.

Just then a maid appeared. “Princess,” She bowed. “Will you be joining the rest of the royal family for dinner?”

I looked quickly to Max and Reid. They both shook their heads frantically.

I sighed. “I’m afraid not. Tell Mother and Father that I’ll be taking dinner in my room.”

The maid nodded.

“Is that all?”

“Yes, Madam.” She stepped away.

“I can’t believe I’m letting you talk me into this.” I put my head in my hands.

“You suggested it, Princess!” Reid clapped my back. If looks could kill, he would have died on the spot.

“This is going to be great!” Max cheered.

We began to walk towards my quarters, unanimously deciding I needed to change. The full-skirted dresses I usually wore were too much for that night.

The twins waited patiently as I put on silk pants and a blouse.

When I walked out of my room, they looked at me and laughed.

“No.” Reid shook his head. He sized me up, then led me down the hallway.

We reached the wing for visiting kingdoms. We passed Max’s room, where he and I spent many evenings.

Eventually, Reid dragged me into his own room. He produced a pair of blue jeans, and I almost gagged.

“I’m not wearing those. They’re for commoners.” I complained.

“That’s the whole point!” Max said, exasperated.

“You’d look really good in them.” Reid promised, and Max nodded his agreement.

“Fine.”

The stretchy denim ended up being quite comfortable, but Max and Reid would never know it. I made a big show of hobbling around in the jeans, plastering discomfort on my face.

“Are you ready to go?” I asked the boys.

“We’ve been waiting for you, slowpoke.” Reid joked. I looked at Max, and he just shrugged.

“I still can’t believe you’ve never left the castle,” Max said, lacing our fingers together as we walked. “Doesn’t it get lonely?”

“No!” I was quick to exclaim.

“Really?” he asked in disbelief.

I thought about it for a moment. “Well, I guess. Maybe sometimes.”

We heard footsteps rounding the corner. I quickly let go of Max’s hand and crossed my fingers. If it was my parents, we would have been in huge trouble.

Luckily, it was just a maid. I had left my crown back at my room, and pulled the pins out of my elaborately styled hair, so one would need to look closely to discover it was me.

Max and Reid breathed a sigh of relief, and I rolled my eyes.

“Nervous?” I teased.

“Not in the slightest.” Reid answered. Too fast. “Are 𝘺𝘰𝘶 nervous?”

Yes. “No.”

“Are you excited?” Max asked.

“Beyond excited.” I smiled. Although the stakes were high, I couldn’t help but forget what I stood to lose. I was leaving the castle for the first time. I could hardly wait!

We reached the first floor of the castle. Out the windows, I saw the grand gate, tall and statuesque with its white brick.

Max and I looked for any signs of people, but all the guards were focused elsewhere and there were no maids nearby.

Reid was unlocking the window. He guided Max and I through.

Stealthily, the boys guided us to a less protected area of the the gate. The boys nodded in an important manner to the guards, and miraculously they let us through. Not even a second look at me, the girl they were with. Max covered my eyes immediately with his hands, and led me forwards.

His mouth appeared at my ear. “Take a look, Princess.”

His hands left my eyes, and I opened them to see the world.

It was the most beautiful thing I ever could have imagined.