Julianna sat on her bed and sighed. It had been a long, strange day...and she was glad that it was almost over. Sighing softly to herself, the Princess gently eased open her window and gazed into the starry night sky. There were many things on her mind. Today she had met the prince, and he hadn't been as bad as she thought he'd be, yet...

There was just something about him that she didn't like.

She knew it wasn't his physical appearance. The prince was no doubt the most handsome man she had ever met, but...omething wasn't right. He didn't seem like a prince at all. For some reason, Kelvin lacked the haughtiness that came with all princes.

He had even called her 'gorgeous', which she found impossible. Either this prince was incredibly stupid, or he was extremely bad at lying.

Julianna closed her eyes as a gust of cool, fresh air wafted into her chambers. When the wind dissolved, she opened her eyes just in time to see a person clad in black run across the royal lawn.

Julianna blinked, puzzled. It had happened so fast that she hadn't been sure, but...There he was again! This time the person just stood there, gazing far off into the distance.

Julianna wasted no time. Picking up a jeweled slipper, she heaved it at the mysterious person, managing to hit him in the head. The man stumbled forward and fell, a leather pouch by his side falling noiselessly to the ground. Without looking back, the stranger ran off into the night.

Julianna couldn't help but stare after the man. She was confused.



Daybreak came all to soon. "WAKE UP, PRINCESS!!" Eliza, her personal maid and best friend yelled.

Julianna groaned sleepily and sat up. "Do shut up, Eliza. You're going to wake the whole palace with your loud obnoxious voice."

Eliza merely sniffed. "Guess what happened last night!" she exclaimed mysteriously.

Julianna rubbed her eyes and yawned. "What?"

"The royal treasury was robbed!"

Her eyes shot open.

"WHAT?!"

Eliza nodded. "It's true...I heard that a pouch of gems, the king's best, disappeared last night."

Julianna frowned. "A pouch, did you say?"

Eliza nodded again. "Yup, a black leather pouch. Now c'mon Julianna, you're expected in court today. Get up."


An hour later, Julianna was dressed in a plain green gown and matching green slippers. Her long brown curls were carefully combed, then pulled into a simple upsweep. To spite her father even further, Julianna arrived late to court.

The King as usual, was in a grumpy mood. "Julianna! Where have you been?" he exclaimed, annoyed. The princess merely shrugged.

Five tiring hours later court was over, and Julianna was on her way back to her room when she bumped into Prince Kelvin.

"Oh! I'm terribly sorry!" she stammered sarcastically. What was the prince doing in these corridors anyway?!

Instead of waving of waving off her apology as a chivalrous prince would have done, Kelvin grabbed her roughly by the arm, a dangerous gleam in his deep emerald eyes.

"Princess, you are treading on thin ice. I would advise you to stay out of my affairs." he hissed angrily.

Julianna scowled. "I don't know what you're talking about! Now let me go!"

Kelvin merely gripped her even tighter. "You know what I'm talking about."

Sticking a hand inside his cloak, he pulled out-

"My shoe!" Julianna murmured in shock. "You're..the...the..."

Kelvin's lips curled up in a cruel smile. "Thief?"
he finished for her.

Julianna had gone pale white.