"Once upon a time, blah blah blah," Sarah groaned and lay back on a pile of hay.

Derric Harver laughed and continued to unload bales of hay from the cart. History never held her interest for long.

"You're supposed to be studying that book, not mocking it. You know how upset Father will be if you don't pass your history exam. You need that merit if you ever want to move up from lady's maid."

"So, what if I don't." Sarah shrugged. "It's not like I'll ever be nobility; that takes a royal order. No matter how much money my mother collects, she still hasn't been made a noble—why should I be any different? Besides, I could always come here and work in the stables with you." Her face lit up and she bounced forward. "Oh, I like that! Think of how much fun we'd have!"

Derric let out a genuine guffaw and dropped his bale of hay. "I love you, little sister, but we both know you wouldn't last a day in here. You may not be nobility, but your blood is high society; mine is peasant. The only thing my life is good for is working here in the stables."

"No it isn't!" Sarah glared at him, one hand on her hip while the other balanced her history book. "It's what my mother thinks you're good for. I know better. You could be the highest scholar in all the kingdom if you'd just let everyone know how smart you are."

Derric ignored her and gestured to the page still open in the book. "This one's fun. It's about a girl in a red cloak who outsmarts a wolf. You remember? What happened and in what year?"

"Ugggggh." Sarah let out a whine and plopped the book back down on the hay. "Can't I just do this later?"

"Don't you have duties in the castle? You could be attending to those instead of studying."

"No. Maria's sleeping. I have my morning off to spend with you, but I might leave if you keep making me recite history." Sarah winked and twirled around, her skirt stirring up loose feed.

"You know you need this. Don't fight it." He grinned despite himself. "Stop that—you're going to get your dress dirty."

"Know what we should be doing? We should be helping you get out of these stables and into the palace guard. It's not as good as a scholar, but it's something!"

Derric shot her a withering look as he pulled the last bale from the cart, but Sarah was undeterred. "We have to get you a new position. You're so strong! You'd be a fantastic guard."

"I'm not welcome in the castle, as you very well know, so how could that ever work? I told you—I'm fine here."

"What happened wasn't your fault," she said. "Your mother was the one who—"

"Let's not talk about it." Derric turned his back on her. He hated speaking of his mother. It always made his stomach squirm. Sarah didn't understand—not really—everything that happened...or how much Derric missed his mom.

"It's not fair," Sarah said. "It's not like you asked her to curse the princess. Besides, no one knows she's your mother. No one knows who you are."

Grimacing, Derric shook his head. No, he hadn't wanted what happened. Worse, he'd tried to fix it and only messed things up more. A flood of memories made him shudder. There would be consequences for his actions. He knew it.

"We could give you a different name, just to be safe," Sarah suggested. "We could change your fate. Make you new."

Her words stung—they always did on this topic—like a knife in his chest, one that never dulled. When he was eight, their father signed him over to the stable and never looked back. Sarah, then five, never gave up on him. Over the last nine years, she'd continued to come visit him, always looking up to her big brother, never knowing the whole story.

"Der..Dare...Dan..Daniel!" she said, tapping her chin and chuckling. "You could say you're from another kingdom! No one would ever know who you were. Daniel of Dellsby."

"Sarah, I don't have time for this. I'm working. What happens when the princess wakes up?"

"She won't." Sarah waved the remark away. "They gave her a draft to make her sleep so she'd be well rested when Prince Humphrey Degalt of Dellsby arrives." Sarah turned up her nose and raised her eyebrows in a mock solemnity as she pronounced the prince's name.

At the mention of the sleeping draft, Derric tensed. Once again his mind flashed back nine years—to the day he made the biggest mistake of his life.

"She's been given a sleeping draft. Poor dear, never sleeps a wink at night. She'll wake when she's ready."

"What's the point of being the princess's lady's maid if you are always here with me?"

"I'm not always here with you." Sarah smoothed out her petticoat made of finer fabric than Derric would ever be able to afford. "I'm only here every spare moment I can be." She grinned and threw her arms around his waist, squeezing him tight.

"You're here more often than you're home with Father." He extricated one arm and wrapped it around her tiny frame.

"Maria doesn't mind. She knows I come and see you."

"The princess doesn't forbid it?" Derric eyed her through slitted lids.

"Well, she doesn't know who you are." Sarah released him and sat back on the bale of hay, drumming her fingers on her thigh. "She knows I have a brother, but she doesn't know it's...you. Like I said, no one knows your name—they just call you the stableboy."

"I have been erased from memory," Derric said with a soft sigh.

"Exactly! That's why you should show them how much you can do, move up in the world!"

Derric had opened his mouth to rebuff her again when they both froze at the sound of someone outside the stable.

"Sarah!" The feminine call was hushed, secretive. "Sarah, are you in here?" A young woman peeked around the corner, spotted Sarah, and gave a soft shriek. "I knew it!"

Mouth dropping open, Derric gaped at Princess Maria Regalla of Opea. It'd been nine years since he'd seen her up close. Flawless curled locks cascaded about her shoulders, framing her heart-shaped face in curtains of raven silk. Dark eyes lit up at the sight of Sarah: eyes larger than any Derric had ever seen before—with lashes thick, long, and black as her hair.

"My lady, I thought you were sleeping." Sarah reached out her arms and accepted the princess's embrace.

"I faked the draft." Maria winked at her. "I hate that stuff. I sleep at night, but they won't believe me."

"I thought the curse kept you awake at night." Sarah frowned, and Maria shook her head.

"Living with a curse means learning to live. I figured out how to sleep ages ago. I'm never tired in the morning." She glanced past Sarah to where Derric stood, still gaping at her. "Is this your brother?"

"Yes," Sarah said with a smile, turning to face him. Maria stepped forward, eyeing him with unguarded interest.

"I've heard so much about you from Sarah," she said, her voice taking on a hint of reverence. Even though he was a foot and a half taller than she was, he felt small before her.

"Your Majesty," he mumbled, bowing and losing his balance.

"Rise." She made a dismissive gesture with her hand, and he did so. For a moment, she studied his face. "It's strange you're here when your sister works in the castle. Why the stables, Master Digson?"

The use of his sister's last name put him off balance, but he stammered a reply.

"I—I. That is..." He shook his head and adopted a simple tone. "I'm not equipped for a position in the castle, m'lady. I haven't the wits for it."

"You seem bright enough to me. You're tall, you look strong, and you've got a nice chin. I bet you'd make a good guard."

"That's what I said!" Sarah exclaimed, hopping to Maria's side. "I never noticed his chin, though. Is it nice?"

"Oh, very." Maria nodded, reaching out and tugging at Derric's sleeve. "You see how it's sort of square and strong? He has a rather nice face all over—very attractive." She snatched her hand back, shocked at her forwardness. Clearing her throat, she turned back to Sarah. "He'd do well in the guard."

Derric stared at the princess, uncertain how to react. She studied his face with interest, and though he struggled against the redness creeping up his neck, he appreciated the moment to study her as well.

Soft. That was the word that came to mind. Maria looked like she'd be soft to touch, with her beautiful skin reminiscent of cinnamon. Her lips pursed as she turned back to Sarah to answer a question Derric hadn't heard, but they still held their full shape. Everything about her said petite and royal, from her perfect nose, to her manicured eyebrows. What on earth she could find attractive about him, he didn't know.

Something isn't right. The tiny voice came unbidden, and he brushed it aside. For once he'd accept a compliment and keep it.

"I need to sneak back upstairs before anyone comes to check on me," Maria said, her gaze back to the stable entrance. "Come with me."

Sarah obeyed at once, Derric forgotten until they reached the stable door.

"Master Digson." Maria turned toward him.

"Your Majesty?"

"I'll see what I can do about your position. I'm sure you'd much prefer the guard—far more interesting than the stables."

Derric nodded but said nothing,knowing it wouldn't make a difference. He'd never leave the stables. Even if he pretended to be someone else, he'd never be able to escape his past. One thing was certain—the princess could never know the truth. He couldn't imagine her horror if she found out what he'd done.   

And that's Chapter 1 of "A Stolen Kiss". I hope you'll enjoy Derric, Maria, and Sarah's adventure as it takes off. Find out what Derric did in Chapter 2!

Until then, let's hear from you. Does anyone else have a well-meaning, if not occasionally obnoxious sibling like Sarah? Sound off in the comments, and if you've enjoyed Chapter 1 hit that lovely little star!

Also, if you want to keep updates on ALL THINGS Stolen Royals, check me out on social media by following the external links added to this chapter! 

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