She felt the kiss of the light of dawn against her skin.

Charging through the vast lands, Adèle felt a familiar feeling she had known since her younger years. It was the feeling of being free, of running with the winds that blew through her hair and chasing the rising sun on the horizon.  Mary and Francis rode behind her, attempting to ride as quickly as Adèle. Mary kept yelling her name, telling her to ride slower as she and Francis weren’t able to catch up and laughing. Francis too told her to ride slower, as he grew tired. Adèle simply looked back at them and smiled, then proceeded to ride even quicker. 

They reached the lake where they were able to rest. Mary had taken the initiative to pack food after the ride. She and Adèle laid out a picnic blanket where they were able to rest and eat their breakfast of bread, cheese and various fruits in peace. Francis was currently washing his face and hands with the waters of the lake.

“You didn’t tell me you were fond of riding,” said Mary as Adèle bit into an apple. Before replying to her statement, Adèle enjoyed the sweet flavor of the ripe apple in her hand.

“Riding was one of my hobbies as a child, your grace.”

“What other hobbies do you have?” asked Mary. She averted her gaze to Francis, who was chomping down on a piece of cheese. “Francis,” she said, with a vexed look on her face.

“Well, my brother and me spent much of our childhood outdoors. My mother, enraged, insisted that I stay within château walls to create embroideries with other children and take singing lessons. I loved doing those, too, but I like to think that I formed a strong bond with the outside world,”

“Mary, it seems we’ve just found a perfect match for Bash,” Francis teased.

“Your grace, do you mind if we go into the woods after we’ve had breakfast?” asked Adèle.  

Mary’s face grew stern, but there was a hint of worry, like a mother’s facial expression when her child asks for something that seemed a little too risky. “I’m afraid we’re never to enter the woods,” 

“It’s much too dangerous,” continued Francis. “There are things in the woods that you would rather not know about.” 

As they lingered beside the lake, taking in a hearty breakfast and listening to the chirping of birds in the morning and the rushing waters of the lake, Adèle began to enjoy the life of a royal. It was an undeniable fact that royals live a life of danger, but simultaneously, they live a life of utter bliss, as they have their people on their knees, following them wherever they go. Whilst Adèle had loved this glimpse into the life of royals, she did not regret the life of a commoner; for it was where the common folk where she belonged, even if she enjoyed the luxuries a royal life provided.

“Do you have other siblings apart from Jean-Michel?” asked Francis, and drank a silver goblet of sweet wine.

“I have two little brothers back home, my lord, Theo and Cyril. They’re no older than five. How I miss them so much, now that you’ve brought up the topic of my siblings,”

“Must be difficult growing up surrounded by boys,” Mary commented.

“You could never imagine the distress."

“How do you find French court, Adèle?” Francis asked again. 

“Very pleasant,” she replied. “I’ve met many men and women who were nothing but kind to me. Treated me as if I was an actually titled woman,”

“They are kind, until you find out they were given gold in an attempt to assassinate you,” Francis said. 

“Francis,” Mary said with a scolding tone, evidently annoyed by his inappropriate behavior in front of a guest. “Don’t frighten the girl. This is her first time experiencing life in French court, and I find her as very good company and I do not want you scaring her off,”

“It’s fine, your grace. My brother has already made me aware of some of the horrendous plots that has been made to take away the life of such kind people,” Adèle reassured her.

“You are too kind,” replied Mary. “I’ve never had a little sister, you know, but I’ve always wished I had one, and you have never had an elder sister either. Perhaps I can be your sister, Adèle,”

“And what am I? The shunned out brother?” 

They laughed, and proceeded took a sip of wine in unison. Such feeling of bliss could cease at any moment right now, as they all had matters to attend to. The taste of wine clung to their lips as they laughed and chatted away as time ticked. In the distance, someone watched them indulge in their breakfast.