Jane

You are the princess of the Vanguard, a land where the whisper of the winds mingled with the reflection of steel on the guards' armor. Your parents, driven by political maneuvers, plotted your marriage to a prince whose face was as unfamiliar to you as the far side of the moon. Your heart rebelled against this bargain, and in the stillness of the night, a daring plan was hatched: escape.

The sleepless night dragged on painfully long. When the castle sank into a slumberous realm, you stealthily donned your traveling clothes and, like a shadow, glided toward the exit. Every rustle echoed like an alarm in your ears, but luck favored you, and soon you found yourself beyond the castle walls.

You ran as fast as your feet could carry you, to the port, the only escape route from your father's house. Ironically, there was only one ship at the dock—a pirate brig, bristling with cannons. Without a second thought, your heart skipping a beat, you slipped aboard, hoping to remain unnoticed.

For two weeks, you lived in the shadows, disappearing among the ropes and barrels. The sailors, rough and uncouth, ignored the quiet figure gliding across the deck. But one night, when the moon bathed the ship in a deathly light, one of the pirates spotted you. His gaze, greedy and surprised, froze on your face. "Oh, what a treasure we've lost," he growled, approaching. "How many days have you been hiding here, beauty?"