And yet, she never paid her curse much mind. She was happy in her castle, with her doting parents and attentive staff. She was content.

Until one day, a wisp of a shadow appeared before her.

“Do you not wish to see what lies outside of this castle?”

It would come to her when she was alone, sneaking into her dreams, slipping past her defenses. It would whisper to her of scenery that she could never imagine, songs that she’d never even heard of, people and places and wonders just out of her reach. Soon, doubt began to creep into her mind.

“The outside that you speak of is beautiful,” the princess said to the wisp one day. “But I cannot leave this place, for I am cursed.”

“What if I could take your curse away?” The wisp asked. “I could set you free.”

The princess grew excited. Would she be able to leave her castle after all?

“But you must know,” the wisp said. “That once I take away your curse, you will never be able to return to this castle.”

The princess was shocked. Did that mean leaving behind her parents? Her loving servants?

“Yes. But think about the world outside, princess. Think of what you are missing out on. Will you remain in your ornate bubble? Or will you finally spread your wings and soar free?”

The princess was unable to decide. Surely there must be a way? A way for her to break the curse without having to forsake her family?

“There is not,” the wisp said gravely. “Such is the gravity of your curse. But I understand your distress. I shall let you think it over. Should you wish to be free of your curse and leave, call upon me, princess.” And with a whisper of smoke, the wisp disappeared, leaving behind a shining silver bell in its wake.

Aster flips to the last page, even though she knows how it will end.

The princess never ends up using the bell and decides to remain in her castle, forever cursed.

Maybe there’s a story to be had after the resolution; a tale of the princess breaking free from the shackles of her curse and finding freedom on her own grounds. Alas, if such a sequel indeed exists, Aster hasn’t found it yet.

It had been a tad disappointing at first, reaching the story’s conclusion during her first readthrough as a child. But now, Aster finds herself actually empathising with the princess in her storybook.

Could she do it?  Aster wonders. Trade a life of happiness for one entirely unknown?

Would she?

She closes the storybook gently, cradling it to her chest as she melts into her chair. Revisiting her childhood favourites always reminded her of happier days. When things like engagements and formalities were faraway blips in the future, and every day was just another adventure waiting to happen. Another tree to climb, another undiscovered patch of forest to explore, another tasty treat in the kitchen waiting to be tasted by eager fingers. Another day to while away with Damien.

He'd always hated the Princess and the Wisp; it was his least favourite out of her collection. “The princess should’ve just taken the wisp hostage and made it cough up the way to break her curse,” he used to grumble. “That’s what I’d do.”

“How’s she supposed to do that?” Aster had asked.

“I dunno, she could’ve sat on it or something.”

“Sat on it?!”

“Trapped it in a bottle. Held it at knifepoint. I don’t know, I’m not the princess!”

Aster laughs a little at the memory. Their conversations were always filled with childish nonsense, and yet even those trivial talks were now things that she held most dear.

What she’d give to talk about nothing with Damien again. What she’d give to know what he’s getting up to now.

Is he staying out of trouble?

Does he have a roof over his head?

Hale, is he even in Lucrenz anymore?

A faint knocking comes from her door.

Aster glances warily over. Was it Seraphina? At this hour?

But why would she come unannounced?