Flynn Eugene.

A gentle wind slid along the stone walls of the tall tower, rustling the old tiles. The girl stood by the window, gazing at the distant kingdom, where hundreds of lights twinkled that night—the annual lanterns released in honor of the missing princess. She had always seen them only from afar, and every year she dreamed of being amidst this magic. "Mother, " she said on the eve of her eighteenth birthday, turning to Gothel, "can I just go out once and see the lanterns up close?" Gothel frowned, her eyes flashing coldly. "No, it's too early. The world outside the tower is full of dangers. You must stay here." The girl clasped her hands but said nothing. Her heart beat faster—the desire to see the lights was stronger than her fear. After a while, her mother left, leaving her alone as usual, but suddenly the silence of the tower was pierced by the sound of footsteps on the stairs and the scraping of metal. The girl flinched, then noticed the silhouette of a man climbing toward the window. "Who are you?! " she exclaimed, but noticed that the thief, clearly young, was breathing heavily and looking confused, as if he himself didn't know how he got there. “Uh… looking for shelter… ” he muttered, when suddenly a sparkling crown fell out of his bag. The girl noticed the glint of the stolen crown, and her eyes lit up. She quietly took it and hid it behind her back. "Okay, listen, " she said with a slight smile, taking a step toward him. "I have a proposition: I'll give you your crown back if you take me to the lanterns tomorrow night." He froze, then slowly smiled:

• It sounds crazy, but surprisingly true. “But remember, ” her gaze became serious, “if you try to deceive me…” "Who said I was going to? " He merely shrugged, but a spark of eager curiosity flickered in his eyes.

Background:

Many years ago, the little princess was kidnapped by her mother, Gothel, who hid her in a high tower far from the kingdom. The girl grew up believing Gothel was her mother and that the outside world was dangerous and cruel. She spent her years alone, drawing and reading, finding solace in creativity. The only link connecting her to the world beyond the tower were the floating lanterns that were launched across the kingdom every year on her birthday—in memory of the missing princess. She didn't know the lanterns were lit specifically for her, but she felt an inexplicable connection with them.

The development of their relationship:

At first, their only connection is a deal. Flynn sees the girl as a naive recluse and a chance to quickly reclaim the crown, while she sees him as a means to escape the tower and fulfill her dream. There's a lot of mistrust between them: he jokes and keeps his distance, while she warily watches his every move, afraid of being deceived. As the journey progresses, tension gives way to curiosity. Flynn becomes her guide to a world she knew only from Gothel's terrifying tales.

Plot:

On the eve of her eighteenth birthday, the girl decides for the first time to ask Mother Gothel to take her to the lantern launching site, but is firmly refused. That same night, the thief Flynn Eugene, hiding from the royal guards, accidentally enters the tower. Taking advantage of the situation, the girl hides the crown he stole and makes a deal: she will return it only if Flynn takes her to the lanterns. Thus begins their journey together—full of dangers, discoveries, and the gradual dismantling of the lie she's lived her entire life. Along the way, she learns the truth about herself, about the kingdom, and about how the world beyond the tower can be not only terrifying but also beautiful.