Summary: *Set in world without curse* Zelda has been perfectly fine with her life. That is, until she learns her parents want her to marry Prince Phillip, the son of Queen Aurora and King Phillip. After joining a gang of pirates, she finds a new life-one without a forced marriage. Ten years later, she returns to her kingdom after learning of the gruesome death of her parents. But when she finds her best friend-Prince Henry-has started a new life after her disappearance, she begins to wonder if she's fine with him just being her best friend. She also thinks she can figure out who murdered her parents, but doesn't know if she wants to believe it. Or tell Henry, who may or may not be wrapped up the plans of it all.

Chapter 3

"Here we are," Henry announced, throwing open the door.

I gasped.

Just the entry hall of the castle was huge-bigger than the one at my old castle. And there were so many expensive-looking decorations. I was suddenly afraid to break anything.

"Henry?" came a sweet, too-cheerful voice, and I looked up, seeing a woman standing in the doorway. She looked pretty short, with brown hair pulled up into a ponytail and clear green eyes, which seemed to darken a little as she caught sight of me. "Who's this?"

"Ella, this is Zelda," Henry introduced. "She's an old friend of mine. Zelda, this is my wife, Princess Ella." I noticed his voice deflate a little as he said 'my wife'.

"It's nice to meet you," Ella said, holding out her hand.

"You, too."

When we pulled our hands apart, I felt Henry press a hand against my back.

"Let me show you to your room," he said.

"You mean she's staying here?" Ella asked.

"Just until I can go back out with my crew," I answered. "I'll be here a week, at the most."

"Well, I hope you enjoy your stay."

"Thank you," I said, but I suddenly felt like throwing up. She wasn't as nice as she seemed, and I could feel it.

"And here's where you'll be staying," Henry said as he opened the door.

The room-admittedly-looked pretty good. There was a black carpet on the floor. There was a huge closet in one corner, with a vanity right next to it. There was a single window with a black velvet curtain drawn over it, blocking all the light from outside. But that was fine with me. I really didn't like the sun-especially when it woke me up. And then-pressed against one wall-was a huge, mahogany bed with curtains attached to the four poles at each corner.

"Nice room," I commented.

"Yeah-we used to use it for when mom visited, but ever since she died, we use it as a guest room. Some of her old dresses might still be in there." He seemed to hesitate for a moment before adding, "Umm … I know you just got here, but … there's a ball in a few days, if you want to come."

"What's the occasion?"

"My birthday," he answered.

I suddenly felt terrible. On Henry's birthday, we used to meet in the forest on our horses and just ride through the trees until he had to get back or we got tired. And ever since I left, I'd forgotten his birthday. And I'd never thought about it twice-I'd never really thought about Henry much since I'd left.

"Right. Your birthday," I repeated. "How old are you going to be, again?"

"Uh … twenty-eight," he whispered.

"Right," I said. "Always three years older than me."

"Yeah," he sighed, beginning to leave the room.

Then he stopped.

"It'd mean a lot if you'd show up," he added.

Then he left.