"I did the right thing! Why can't you just admit it?" Amber demanded, hands on her hips.

"Because didn't do the right thing!" Sofia insisted, tears filling her blue eyes. "You humiliated me and ruined my life!"

"Why do you have to be like this?" Amber yelled and started walking out of Sofia's room. The blond princess swung open the ivory door and turned back to her little sister. "Trust me, I know what's best for you. I'm your big sister!"

"That doesn't mean you know more than me!" Sofia protested and Amber rolled her eyes.

Then the blond walked out of the room, muttering how she knew more than her younger sister. Sofia groaned and flopped onto her bed, fed up with her older sister. A soft knock sounded through the room and Miranda, Sofia's mother, entered the room. The woman had dark curly chestnut hair and a sea green dress on. Her queen crown sat atop her head and the woman held herself like royalty.

"Sofia?" Miranda called softly. "Honey, what's wrong?"

"Nothing," the teen princess muttered and turned so she wasn't facing her mother.

"Did you and Amber have a fight?" Miranda asked and sat down next to Sofia. Her pale hand ran down her daughter's back. Sofia sighed and turned back to her mother.

"Yes," Sofia admitted, sad.

"Why?"

"Amber told Hugo that I had a crush on him and now I don't know what to do," the blue eyed princess admitted.

"Why did Amber do that?"

"She said that I never would've told him anyways, so she did it for me."

"Amber was just trying to help," Miranda insisted.

"I guess," Sofia sighed.

"How did Hugo react when he found out about your crush?" Miranda wondered.

"I don't know, I haven't talked to him yet," Sofia replied.

"Well than maybe you should do that," her mother suggested. Sofia nodded and laid her head on a pillow.

"I guess so," Sofia murmured. "I just wish Amber wouldn't always play the 'big sister' card. For once, I wish I could be a big sister."

"Well, I have to go greet Lady Joy. She's visiting the castle today," Miranda told her and stood up, biting her lip nervously. Then she dashed out of the room, worry on her face. What Sofia had wished for resonated with the queen. Memories threatened to overwhelm the queen, but she pushed them away, rushing to greet the visiting noble.

Sofia walked into the parlor where James was sitting on one of the sofas. The blond prince was writing down a royal decree on a piece of parchment while he waited for her.

"James, you wanted to see me?" Sofia prompted as she sat down in a chair across from the couch the prince was sitting in. James looked up and sighed, rolling up his decree.

"Yes, Sofia, I did," he said. "This fight between you and Amber is ridiculous. I've decided to intervene."

"How so?" Sofia acted.

"I brought Hugo to talk to you," James said and Sofia leaped upwards.

"What?" she cried out as the black haired prince walked in. He had grown into a handsome young man, one of the most eligible bachelor in the world.

"Hello, Sofia," Hugo greeted and bowed low. Sofia took a deep breath and red crept into her cheeks. The princess curtsied in return while James snuck out of the room.

"How are you, Hugo?" Sofia whispered as Hugo took her hand and brushed a soft kiss against her knuckles. Even though it was a proper greeting, it sent shivers down her spine and spoke volumes.

"Sofia, can we skip the formalities?" Hugo requested, straightening.

"Of course," the princess replied and sunk into a couch. Hugo sat next to her.

"So, Amber told me you had a crush on me," he started. "Is that true?"

"Yes," Sofia breathed, worry and humiliation rolling through her. It was terrifying, admitting her true feelings to Hugo, but she needed to be honest in this moment.

"Well, I'm glad to hear that," the dark haired prince responded. "Because I like you too."

"You do?" Sofia gasped, her blue eyes raising to meet Hugo's dark ones. They were glinting with a smile.

"Of course. I've liked you since we became ice dancing partners but I was just too nervous to say anything."

"Me too!" Sofia laughed. "From now on, let's just be honest with each other."

"Agreed," Hugo said and they shook on it. "May I go meet your father? I want to ask him for permission to court you."

"Court me?" Sofia repeated.

"We both like each other," Hugo explained. "Why not?"

"He's in his office," Sofia offered and stood up. "I can show you the way." And, together, the two royals left the room, unaware of that a queen was watching them through a keyhole, drowning in guilt and memories.

"Dad are you busy?" Sofia asked, walking into her father's office. It had rich mahogany walls and was filled with books. Roland sat behind a desk in a tall red velvet chair and glanced up as Hugo and Sofia entered. "Hugo and I need to talk to you. Please?"

"Have a seat, you two," Roland offered and gestured to the bench in front of the desk. Sofia sat but Hugo remained standing behind the princess.

"No, that is alright, King Roland," Hugo said. "If I may, I would like permission to court Princess Sofia, sir."

"Really?" Roland replied, twirling a quill between his fingers as he thought. The young royals stiffened in the silence as they waited for the king's verdict.

"Please, daddy," Sofia begged softly.

"I give you permission, Hugo," Roland said finally, smiling. The two grinned and breathed a sigh of relief. "You'll treat her with respect and be courteous, of course. I couldn't think of a better man to court my daughter."

"Thank you, sir," Hugo said and shook the king's hand. Sofia smiled and thanked her father, than the two royals left the king alone to his duties while they went to enjoy time together as an official courting couple.

Miranda was distant and forgetful as she led Lady Joy through the castle. The blond girl was Sofia's age, sixteen, and was here as a potential wife for James. But before the young prince met the woman, Miranda had agreed to show her around since it had been a while since Lady Joy had been to Enchacia's castle.

But now Miranda was regretting her decision to play tour guide. Her mind was elsewhere, caught up in memories, so much so that she almost got lost in her own home. It was a relief when they arrived at the tea room. James was already waiting for Lady Joy with a delicious spread behind him on the table. Miranda left the two young ones to their fun and locked herself in her room. She called for her maid, Violet, and had a bath. Then she nibbled on cheeses and bread, refusing to go to supper and face Sofia. That night Roland asked if she was ill. Miranda said she was just tired. But as she fell asleep memories began to pull her under, drowning the queen as sleep remained out of grasp.