Arrived at her own Chambers, Cassandra let herself fall on her bed.

She stayed there for a while, thinking. She had decided not to go to Horace,

because he was working and she did not want to disturb him.

Finally she came to a decision. She looked up from her pillow to the loose shelf in the floor next to her cupboard.

She got up from her bed. Her hair was completely confused, but she didn't care.

She threw her hair forward and quickly made a tail in her long blonde hair.

A few shorter tufts that could not get into the tail fell nicely down her cheeks.

She went to the loose shelf and pried it open. There was a box that she took out and opened.

She pulled out her sling. She was already wearing her dungarees that she liked so much with her knee boots underneath.

She grinned for a moment as she felt the slingshot in her hand.

She knew she was going against her father's promise, but she didn't care.

She had never maintained it. And her father did not expect that she would already go back into the forest.

He didn't have to find out either.

She had decided and she stayed with that. She would not stop practicing with her slingshot.

She had to be able to defend herself a bit, right? She knew she could do that already,

but suppose her father discovered it again ... then she needed a good excuse.

She walked back into the corridor and as soon as she passed her father's office she started to walk a little softer.

She went around the corner and down the stairs.

What she had not seen was that her father's assistant had seen her pass by.

She knew that Cassandra should not just leave and when she saw the slingshot in her hand she knew she had to warn Duncan.

Cassandra, meanwhile, had already arrived downstairs and walked to one of the side doors

in the castle that opened into the courtyard where the stables were.

"Good morning, Darren!" She said with a smile to a knight on guard. He smiled back even nicer.

"Good morning, Your Highness!"

" How often do I have to say it. Just call me Cassandra. " She said with a smile.

Darren now smiled even wider. Kassandra was always kind to everyone. Cheerful and happy.

She knew everyone's name and was therefore well known among the staff. Everyone liked her.

"Of course your highness! Uhhh ... I mean ... Cassandra! "

Cassandra laughed and waved goodbye as he opened the door for her to let her through. He bowed slightly.

King Duncan's assistant knocked softly on the door of his office.

"Yes?" A loud voice sounded.

The assistant gently opened the door. Duncan was writing at his desk.

He already had some gray shades in his hair and she saw a beard.

Duncan looked up.

"Ah, Linda. Can I help you with something? "" He asked kindly. He was also loved by his employees.

"Sorry to bother you Your Majesty." They wait a moment for his sign that she could go on.

He nodded so she went on.

"" I saw your daughter go down with her slingshot.

I thought maybe it was best that I would inform you as she was quite secretive when she walked

past your office your Majesty. "

Duncan was silent for a moment and then nodded.

"You are right, Linda. Thank you for briefing me about my daughter's activities. "

"You're welcome, Your Majesty." She said, and Duncan signaled that she could go.

Duncan did not want to send knights behind her. By the time they were ready, she had already flown.

He decided to go himself. He was not going to follow her into the forest,

but to stop her before she had the chance to leave. Then strict measures were needed, he thought.

Cassandra stood in the stables. She had saddled her horse herself.

Perhaps something she had taken over from the Ranger's. The work was done quickly.

She guided her horse across the courtyard to the large gate.

She didn't always bring her horse, but now it seemed the best.

She could also use some company and she loved her horse.

Horace was on guard with Daniel and Steven.

They were very bored because no one had ever attacked the castle in more than 50 years.

"I can't wait to be able to crawl into my bed again," Steven said.

He was a slightly tinted boy with cock black hair and dark brown eyes.

Around 23 years old. He was tall and well muscled.

'' Yes, you can go back to bed later. I have to make paperwork for the rest of the day. ""

Daniel replied. Daniel had light brown hair and green eyes. He too was tall,

but with just a little less muscle than Steven. He was around 40 years old.

"Well, that's good for you!" Steven laughed

"Shut up, you should do that in 2 years." Daniel said bluntly.

Well, then I still have 2 years to enjoy the powernaps! "Said the cheerful Steven, in turn.

Daniel grunted.

"Horace?" What will you do later today? "" Steven asked Horace now.

Horace, who was a bit lost in thought and had not really listened to the conversation between Daniel and Steven,

got up when he heard his name.

"Uhh ... no idea. Probably food. I didn't really have breakfast today. "He answered Steven's question.

"Ha! I bet you will visit the princess. "" Daniel teased.

"Who will come to visit me later?" A girl's voice sounded behind them.

The three boys hurried up from the high castle wall they were leaning against and turned around.

Cassandra stood there. She had a tail in her blond hair with some loose tufts along her face.

Her green eyes sparkled in the morning sun.

She was wearing simple dungarees with a white shirt underneath and her sling in the pocket.

She held the reins of her horse in her hands. She smiled kindly at the three boys.

"Good morning, Daniel, Steven ... Horace." She said with a grin

"Good morning, Your Highness!" Daniel said, bowing slightly.

"Good morning, Your Highness!" Steven also said. He tried to imitate Daniel's smooth bow.

"Good morning, Cas ... uhh ... your highness!" Horace corrected himself.

Kassandra laughed at the three.

"You too ... just call me Cassandra." She said kindly.

Horace looked relieved, but not impressed. After all, he always called her that, unless they were in a formal situation.

But Daniel and Steven looked cheerful!

They had never experienced that they could call a royal person by first name instead of

"your highness" and certainly not the crown princess. Steven was especially cheerful.

He walked over to the princess, took her hand in his, and pressed a wet kiss on it.

He smiled briefly and looked at her, then he walked back to his post. Cassandra smiled back.

In the corner of her eye she saw a moment of jealousy on Horace's face. She laughed to herself.

Smoothly and unnoticed, she wiped her hand against her dungarees.

"Where are you going to your high ... Cassandra?" Daniel asked

"Just ... ride through the woods for a little while," she said, pointing to her horse.

"" Would you like me to join you for a while? I'm sure your father won't think it's a good idea if you go alone."

Steven asked worriedly.

Cassandra smiled.

"No, thanks Steven. But he thinks it's okay.'

She didn't like to lie, but it was for their good.

She glanced at Horace and saw a slight doubt on his face.

"Really!" She told him.

Now he seemed less concerned.

They paused for a moment until a loud noise arose behind them.

''Cassandra! Where do you think you are going? "

Cassandra turned quickly and went smoothly on her horse.

"Oops, sorry guys. I really have to go now. See you later, "

she said innocently. She winked at Horace just so smoothly that Daniel and Steven didn't see it.

Then she gave her horse the spurs and ran away as fast as possible.

The boys watched her. She drove straight to the sun, so they could only see her silhouette. She sighed all three.

"Wow!" Said Steven

"Say that ..." said Daniel. "Who will be the lucky one who ends with her."

"Me!" Steven said seriously.

Horace laughed to himself. We'll see about that, he thought.

Then Duncan came running. The three boys bowed when he came to stand with them.

"Your Highness." They said all three at once.

Duncan waved the gesture away. Not unfriendly, but it didn't matter that much right now.

He saw a glimpse of his daughter in the distance, galloping away on her horse.

"What am I supposed to do with her?" He told no one in particular.

None of the three answered because they did not know if he expected that from them.

"She doesn't listen to me." The rules that I set up are like air, that's how stubborn she is. "

The boys nodded.

"Well ... I wish her future husband good luck!" He said dryly.

''God! What am I supposed to do with her? "He wondered again and then he turned around and walked away.

Daniel, Steven and Horace bowed for the last time.

"Goodbye Your Majesty."

"Good day, boys."

When he was out of hearing, the boys burst out laughing.

And they knew that Cassandra would soon be in many problems!

author's note

I am sorry that this chapter was more about Cassandra and Duncan, but I needed it to continue. Otherwise it is not right! Better scenes come between Horace and Cassandra, I promise. Thank you for reading!!