It was a decision we made out of blue, there was no way Hera was serious. That was what I had in mind. But, when I woke up the next morning, I found her awake and prepared. My initial thought, though, was that she was going to leave me. She was finally fed up with me.

My arm reached out to her while I was still half asleep.

Hera must have realized I was awake. She turned around, all smile, and greeted me. “Oh, finally waking up, princess?”

I pulled my hand back instinctively.

“How are you feeling?” she asked, turning her back on me again to continue packing her stuff. “Are you feeling well? Do you need medicine?”

No, because medicine was expensive—still is, honestly. I didn’t answer her. “Why are you leaving?” I asked instead. My voice seemed sore and cracked, it sounded embarrassing.

Hera turned her head towards me again—not smiling—with her forehead frowned. “What do you mean?” she asked, her eyes trained on me.

I curled myself on my mattress. “Why are you leaving me?” I asked again, sounding even more pitiful than before. I glanced at her packed bag—to be fair, I didn’t know where she picked up that bag. I never owned a bag like that.

Hera seemed to notice that my sudden sulking was due to her packing up. Well, maybe she remembered my story. Her expression softened. She scooted next to me and patted my head. “I’m going somewhere,” she said—which, of course, got me disappointed. Yet, she continued, “Together with you.”

I raised my head, confused. She extended her arm for me, as if a knight in some fairy tale, escaping away with the princess of some evil queen. It was cheesy, now that I think about it. I didn’t even accept her hand! We were just sitting there in silent in that awkward positions.

Hera pulled her hand back, nervously scratching her head. I blinked. “What was that?” I wheezed, breathing out a cracked laughter. “You’re acting all cool like that and I’m just dumbfounded.”

“You know, I want to look cool,” she admitted, pouting. “But your reaction is so underwhelming.”

That made me laughed more. When I calmed down, though, I put out my hand, waiting her to take it like some princess. “Well,” I challenged, “Where shall the knight take the princess away?”

She took and kissed the back of my hand. “Wherever you want, my princess,” she said with exquisite manner. “I shall take you faraway.”

So, long story short, we got ready. It turned out that Hera was actually packing both her and my stuffs in those bags. We didn’t take a lot, considering we were planning to go by foot. I helped her packed the remaining little things.

“Anyway, where are we going?” I asked. Hera didn't tell me where we were going. I realized that she took our decision last night seriously. Which—I guess—was alright. Though, we were poor. Where could these two poor women go?

Hera didn’t answer straight away. She threw her gaze at the ceiling for a second—perhaps, trying to find an acceptable answer. “You know, you told me that you’re interested in the royal life?” she brought her gaze to me, grinning. “I happen to know how to get into one of those houses.”

A surprising turn of event, indeed. Who would’ve guessed? Definitely not me. The most I thought would be some new town, better than this slum. Going straight to a royal’s palace? Hell, never in my wildest dream.

Hera looked proud of herself. “Splendid idea, no?”

I shrugged. “You’re crazy,” I said, though couldn’t hide my excitement. “I’m on.”

And we went on our journey. Even though we said we wanted to elope, we didn’t take it too far. We left my nest as it was, only taking some necessities. Nothing grand. After all, we couldn’t stay in such a palace nor anywhere else. I guess it was just like another getaway for us.

We left the neighborhood and headed out west. The slum is located at the border of this town, in the poorer area. Outside the border is a wide uninhabited area. There are forests, river, lake, hill, and so many ecosystems scattered out in the wild.

We headed straight to the woods. Perhaps, one of the shortcuts to the palace—which I didn’t know whose. Seeing all the green and nature was refreshing. It was another entirely new experience to me—who was born and grew in the slum. All my life, I was surrounded with moldy abandoned buildings, small alley against small alley, roof that didn’t protect me from the cold winter, and things that didn’t make me happy. However, now, being surrounded by the greenery of mother nature was such a gift. It made me realize just how vast the world is—and how tiny I actually am.

“Whose palace are we going to?” I asked Hera. The nature was so overwhelmingly mesmerizing that I had to distract myself with little talks. Honestly, all that beautiful wilderness was taking my breath away I felt like passing out.

Hera was startled when I asked, as though I caught her doing something forbidden. “Ahh...” Hera’s eyes trailed away—she was hesitant. “It’s... the Zelinda.”

“The Zelinda,” I nodded. I know the name. It was the royal family who managed the town I lived in. Though, it seemed that they took more interest in enhancing the wealthy area rather than everyone’s wellbeing. They were also the ones that came to the festival almost every year. Of all royals, we were heading to the house of Zelinda. Definitely not what I wanted. “How do you know how to get into their palace?” I hissed.

“I stumbled into the garden once,” Hera answered bemusedly.

I nodded. Maybe, it wasn’t difficult to break into a royal’s palace? Though, suddenly, something clicked in my mind. “I think I heard a rumor that the only daughter of Zelinda was kidnapped,” I said abruptly.

Hera took her time to reply, frowning at my question. “How do you know something like that?” she retorted.

“I heard some men talking about it once,” I shrugged. “I don’t think I believe them, though.”

Hera remained silent. Her eyes were focused to our path. I thought she didn’t like the conversation of some royals, so I just let it hung there.

It was quite a long, overwhelming journey. But the real thing was even more bewitching. We arrived at the palace—and I was spellbound. There the palace stood tall, atop of the hill. I could see the white stone wall. How many rooms were in this palace? There were so many windows and balconies! Insane. The greenery was also noticeable even from this far. There seemed to even be a private garden. How could that be legal? While I live in a small ‘house’ barely fitting for one person, these royals live in such a huge place. I couldn’t imagine the inside of the building. Must be even more ridiculous.

Uncertainty crawled to my neck, as though wanting to choke me. Just by standing miles away from the palace, I could already tell I didn’t belong here. While Hera—she seemed to fit in this kind of dreamy place straight out of fairy tale.

Hera offered her hand—maybe she noticed I was anxious?—and smiled at me. “Shall we go, princess?”

That was her attempt on reassuring me—and I appreciated that. She was more of the princess here, but nonetheless, I accepted her hand. “Sure, my Queen.”