My Fantasy-Inspired Style Theory

July 25, 2026July 25, 2026 ~ Brooke F. ~ Leave a comment

Happy July afternoon, dear readers!

Lately, I have fallen down a very specific rabbit hole.

And by rabbit hole, I mean the kind where you open Pinterest to find outfit inspiration and suddenly you are three hours deep analyzing whether a dress belongs to your woodland fairy Pinterest board, an enchanted princess board, or a wizard board.

(As one does.)

I have always been fascinated by personal style. Not just trends or what is popular, but the deeper question behind style:

Why are we drawn to the things we are drawn to? Why do certain outfits, rooms, colors, and objects immediately feel like “us”? Why can two people wear the same trend but somehow look like they belong to completely different aesthetics or have totally different vibes?

Recently, I came across Ellie Jean’s Style Theory and I was immediately intrigued.

I really loved the idea behind it: that personal style is not just about finding clothes that look good, but about understanding the patterns behind what we naturally gravitate toward.

I like to think that style is storytelling. Our closets, homes, and Pinterest boards are often little collections of the worlds we wish we belonged to.

However, while I really appreciated Ellie Jean’s theory, I never fully found myself fitting into it. Not because I thought it was wrong or anything, just to be clear. Actually, I think it is a really creative and thoughtful way to approach style. But I realized that my brain approaches aesthetics a little differently and has a bit of a different lean. I don’t just look at an outfit and think, “I like that dress.”

My brain immediately goes:

“That looks like a fairy’s ball gown!”

“That looks like a Wizard’s casual fit.”

“If I were a knight, I would wear THAT.”

(Yes, this is how my brain works. No, I cannot turn it off.)

I realized that I didn’t just connect with style through categories. I connected with style through stories. Specifically, fantastical creatures and characters that are associated with these stories that we often see in popular media. And that is where my fantasy-inspired style theory came from.

The Fantasy Style Theory

The idea is simple:

Your personal style can be understood through seven fantasy archetypes.

These archetypes are not meant to tell you who you are as a person. They are not necessarily personality tests. Instead, they are a fun way to describe the themes, feelings, and imagery that you are naturally drawn toward.

The seven primary archetypes are:

👑 Princess — Beauty

The Princess is drawn to elegance, romance, softness, and things that feel special.

🌿 Goblin — Nature

The Goblin loves the organic, handmade, collected, and earthy.

🛡 Knight — Structure

The Knight values craftsmanship, practicality, order, and strength.

🔮 Wizard — Wonder

The Wizard is curious, imaginative, and drawn toward mystery, knowledge, and magic.

🐉 Dragon — Power

The Dragon embraces confidence, intensity, drama, and richness.

🧜 Mermaid — Flow

The Mermaid loves movement, elegance, emotion, and things connected to water.

😇 Angel — Peace

The Angel is drawn toward serenity, harmony, spirituality, and lightness.

Rule One: Primary Archetypes

Most people will not fit into only one archetype. Actually, I think the fun comes from mixing them together.

Maybe you are mostly Princess with a little Wizard. Maybe you are a Goblin who loves Knight structure. Maybe you are even a Dragon who secretly loves soft Angel details.

Your style is a recipe in a sense. And these seven main archetypes are the ingredients. Now, onto rule number TWO!

Rule Two: Child Archetypes

When two archetypes combine, they create a new expression.

Examples:

👑 Princess + 🌿 Goblin = Fairy

👑 Princess + 🔮 Wizard = Enchantress

🌿 Goblin + 🔮 Wizard = Druid

🛡 Knight + 😇 Angel = Paladin

🔮 Wizard + 🧜 Mermaid = Sea Witch

These combinations create smaller aesthetics that blend the qualities of both archetypes.

Rule Three: Major Aesthetics

When three archetypes combine, they create even more specific aesthetics.

Examples:

👑 Princess + 🧜 Mermaid + 😇 Angel = Venus

🌿 Goblin + 🔮 Wizard + 😇 Angel = Cottagecore

🛡 Knight + 🧜 Mermaid + 🐉 Dragon = Lighthouse Keeper

👑 Princess + 🔮 Wizard + 😇 Angel = The King’s Seer

These combinations are where the storytelling really starts to happen. You can also go HIGHLY specific from here.

Rule Four: Emphasis Matters

This is one of the most important rules. The recipe matters, but the proportions matter too (Just like with baking!).

Two people can have the same archetypes and create completely different aesthetics depending on what they emphasize.

For example:

🌿 Goblin + 🛡 Knight + 😇 Angel

With more Angel:
A peaceful pilgrim aesthetic. Soft, simple, spiritual, serene.

With more Knight:
A forest guardian aesthetic. Practical, protective, structured.

With more Goblin:
A woodland caretaker aesthetic. Earthy, handmade, collected.

Same ingredients, but you can end up with a totally different “flavor”.

Rule Five: Modifiers

Sometimes someone resonates with more than three archetypes.

Those extra archetypes become modifiers. It is important to note, however, that modifiers do not replace your main aesthetic. They add another fun little layer to the overall aesthetic.

For example:

A Princess + Wizard + Angel might be a King’s Seer.

Add a Dragon modifier, and suddenly the aesthetic becomes richer, darker, and more mysterious.

Add a Goblin modifier, and it becomes more nature-focused and earthy.

Think of modifiers like adding spices to a recipe. (Yes, I know I keep comparing style to cooking. I stand by it. Also, I’m not a great baker so let me have this.)

Rule Six: Distillations

Each archetype also has a pure expression. (Still workshopping these tbh)

👑 Princess → Muse

🌿 Goblin → Forager

🛡 Knight → Champion

🔮 Wizard → Alchemist

🐉 Dragon → Sovereign or Empress

🧜 Mermaid → Tidekeeper or Leviathan (Still thinking about this one)

😇 Angel → Saint

These are the strongest expressions of each individual archetype.

The Purpose of the Theory

At the end of the day, this is not about putting yourself into a box. I want it to be about giving yourself more language to understand what you already love. You can be a Princess who wears combat boots, A Knight who loves pink, A Dragon who collects flowers, and even a Wizard who lives in a cottage.

The point is not to follow the rules. Or box youself into a highly specific category. The point is to discover the story you are already telling.

Because, in this theory, personal style is not just about what we wear. Maybe it is about tapping into the little fantasy world we create around ourselves. Pretty cool, huh?

ANYWAYS, sorry for the info dump, and thank you for making it all the way through this post. Feel free to leave your thoughts below!

I Started a Writing Event! (and the importance of a Writing Community)

June 9, 2026June 9, 2026 ~ Brooke F. ~ 6 Comments

Happy, June! Just wanted to give everyone on here a fun little update on what’s going on in my creative life!

The answer, shockingly, is not writing. It’s ok to gasp. I know my posts paint the picture of someone who is soooooo consistent (insert eye roll here)

I’m actually NOT currently buried in a novel draft that has turned into a continuous hell to edit, nor am I working on a poetry collection (though I have a few half-finished ones in my drafts somewhere). I’ve been doing something actually quite different from my usual projects…

I started a writing event! I guess that isn’t a super big reveal since you read the title in big ‘ol letters. I think its pretty exciting though.

Instead, I’ve spent the last several months organizing a little community called Cup & Quill Collective.

It’s become one of the most rewarding creative things I’ve ever invested my energy into.

The idea started simple enough. I wanted a place where people could share their writing without the pressure of publication, social media algorithms, or trying to become the next literary sensation. I wanted a room where someone could read a poem they wrote last week, a chapter from a novel they’ve been working on for years, or even a resurrected long dead project that they just want to pay homage to before setting it aside.

I was also highly motivated by my own lack of creative community. After leaving college, that outlet was gone whereas before, I signed up for writing workshops and classes to fill that void. Even though they had NOTHING to do with my major (hello writing minor!)

Couple this with a SUPER supportive encouraging and amazing friend who also knew a person and the ball began rolling.

I reached out to a local coffee shop owner and their event manager and asked if they’d be interested in hosting a literature and poetry night.

To my surprise, they said yes.

So it began! I started creating sign-up forms, answering emails, making flyers, posting on social media, coordinating readers, arranging themes, introducing speakers, and occasionally wondering if anyone would show up at all.

Fortunately, people did.

One of the biggest things I’ve learned is that there are far more writers around us than we realize. They’re sitting in coffee shops, working office jobs, attending church, raising families, and carrying notebooks filled with stories nobody has heard yet.

Many of them aren’t looking for that big publishing deal though that would be fabulous, admittedly. But, like me, I think they’re just looking for a few ears to listen.

Cup & Quill has given me the chance to meet people from all kinds of backgrounds who share one thing in common: they love words. Some are seasoned writers. Some are reading their work aloud for the first time. Some come just to listen and enjoy a cup of coffee while hearing local creativity.

All of them make the room feel a little more alive.

Ironically, while I haven’t been producing as much new writing lately, I feel more connected to writing than ever. AND THE MOTIVATION.

Nothing is more motivating than knowing that you have an outlet to share your work with. You don’t have to “sell” yourself. You just show up and read. Not to mention how incredibly inspiring the talent of the other readers is. I walk away feeling delighted every time. And I always walk away ready to write.

It reminds me how absolutely pivotal a writing community is for the average creative. At least that’s how its been for me. Burn-out is a lot more likely to stay away when you have others to vent and share your work with. It becomes a fulfilling cycle of creative inspiration. Reminder for myself and maybe you too: creativity does not exist in a vacuum. Make sure you’re consuming work, too!

Sometimes the most creative thing you can do isn’t write another page. Sometimes it’s inviting other people to share what they’ve been working on with you!

Final note: take a look at the flyers I so professionally designed with my free version of Canva! Take this as a sign that YOU too can make a cool event, make some cute posters, and people will attend!!

365 Days of being a Writer: Month 4

May 16, 2026May 16, 2026 ~ Brooke F. ~ Leave a comment

To recap, the last month was on observation! Hopefully, you found a variety of different inspirations from the day-to-day simple sitting and listening. Perhaps, in this month, you can put those observations to even more use as we shift the focus to dialogue. Observation month focused heavily on images and listening. This month, you can take what you heard and translate them into actual conversations between characters. Welcome to Dialogue Month!!

Also, a little sidenote- this month has less prompts to give you a bit of a break as we hit observation and character month pretty hard. The following months will have fewer and fewer prompts as we get into actual creative writing less creative journaling, and writing exercises. Let’s stay away from that ever-prevalent writer’s burnout!

Month 4 – Dialogue

Write a conversation where someone hides the truth.
Write a conversation with no dialogue tags.
Write a conversation between siblings.
Write a conversation between enemies.
Write a conversation that happens over text messages.
Write a phone call scene.
Write a conversation interrupted by something unexpected.
Write two characters arguing about something trivial.
Write two characters apologizing.
Write two characters flirting awkwardly.

Break:
94. Listen to people talking in public and jot down interesting phrases.

Side Quests I’ve been up to lately

April 19, 2026 ~ Brooke F. ~ 1 Comment

Happy April afternoon, dear readers! It has been a minute since I’ve done a personal update so here we go!

Over on my tiktok, I have been posting about reframing activities in my personal life as “sidequests” and, let me tell you, this has increased my enjoyment in regards to the activities significantly. (Except for the taxes sidequest. That one will always suck. I hate it I hate it I hate it).

All that being said, I wanted to update ya’ll on a few “sidequests” I have been up to lately!

1. I watched the new Mario Galaxy Movie

My review? It was cute and kind of chaotic. Like a Mario fever dream. I do wish they had gone a little deeper with some of their characterization, especially when you have Roslina, the absolute queen to write for but, alas, this is too much to ask for in kids’ movies these days. Don’t get me wrong, it was a fun watch, but I do think a lot of that was due to the fact that I am a Nintendo kid, and the references were NOT lost on me. Nothing crazy, it was just fun. Plus I went with friends and that always improves the viewing experience. Nothing like a bunch of adults giggling in the back row over Jack Black Bowser…

2. I’ve started growing mushrooms in my basement

So, for Christmas, my mother gifted me a mushroom growing kit, and I have been putting it to good use. It actually took me awhile to get started because I forgot about it on a random shelf in my laundry room (sorry mom) and it started growing OUT of the cardboard box without my permission, so I figured I had better set it up because those mushrooms were gonna grow, whether I liked it or not.

Oyster mushrooms by the way. Quite yummy fried in a pan with butter.

3. I’ve been making more Tiktoks lately…

Forgive me, but I’ve been feeding the shortform content beast. Mostly, I’ve been experimenting with the many fun ways one can engage their audience with very specific opinions on dragon designs in media. TikTok has a very active and opinionated user base so, sometimes, it’s fun to tap into that. I’m having a fun time over there, what can I say. Plus it feels like a much more casual space to share things that I like or have been up to.

4. I’ve started a war with the wasps on the porch

I’m winning by the way.

Spring has brought an onslaught of awful bugs, and wasps are at the top of that awful list. For some reason, my front porch is a piece of highly valued real estate in the wasp world. I took it upon myself to bring the property values down. Like way down.

5. I’ve taken to a more intuitive approach when writing

I do have writing goals I’d love to get to, but I’ve been a lot less likely to sit down and write on something when I don’t feel like it lately. My job has been picking up in busy-ness lately, so I have given myself permission to write a chapter or two on whatever project I feel like and not touch it for a week. This is NOT a great way to have an extensive writing output, let me make that clear. If you want to make writing progress, maybe don’t do this because I hasn’t proven productive for my many WIP’s HOWEVER I’m okay with that right now. I’m learning to be okay with Writing being a hobby and that I don’t have to set large, lofty goals with it. My goal should simply be to enjoy it, first and foremost, and in certain life phases that may look differently than in others.

And that feels like a good note to leave on. I’ve been up to more, I’m sure if I’d sit down and think about it really hard, but I think this is a good place to leave it. If you want more details on what I’ve been up to, you can check out my aforementioned TikTok. Take care, friends! Hope you are treating yourselves kindly this spring!

365 Days of being a Writer: Month 3

April 16, 2026April 16, 2026 ~ Brooke F. ~ Leave a comment

This month is going to be focused on observing! Writers are at their best when they are paying close attention to their surroundings. Writers can be inspired by anything but it really helps if you can pull inspiration from your own life (“writing what you know”). In order to do this, one must be observant. So! The prompts for month 3 are designed to help you step out of your own head and take a look at your surroundings! What do you see?

Month 3 – Observation

Sit somewhere public and write what you see.
Describe three strangers.
Write about overheard conversation.
Describe a shop window.
Write about the weather like a character.
Describe a tree in detail.
Write about someone walking a dog.
Describe the smell of a bakery.
Write about the sound of traffic.
Write about a quiet afternoon.
Describe a cloudy sky.
Write about a bird.
Write about a river or creek.
Describe the inside of a coffee shop.
Write about someone reading a book.
Write about someone on their phone.
Write about a couple arguing quietly.
Describe a cluttered desk.
Write about something abandoned.
Describe a bench in a park.

Creative break:
83. Take a walk and write down five things you noticed.

365 Days of being a Writer: Month 2

March 29, 2026March 29, 2026 ~ Brooke F. ~ Leave a comment

This month is character month! Last month was about getting started and building momentum, while this month will focus on building a character or characters plural and developing them one step at a time. Create one from scratch or work on a pre-existing one. These prompts are for you to do what you will.

Month 2 – Character

Invent a character and write their daily routine.
Write your character’s worst habit.
Write your character’s biggest fear.
Write about something your character regrets.
Write a scene where your character lies to someone they love.
Write about your character’s childhood home.
Write about something your character collects.
Write about a childhood memory your character can’t forget.
Write about your character’s favorite meal.
Write a scene where your character gets unexpected news.
Describe your character’s best friend.
Write about a scar your character has.
Write about your character losing something important.
Write about a small victory.
Write a scene where your character feels embarrassed.
Write about something your character envies.
Write your character’s inner monologue.
Write a scene where your character forgives someone.
Write a scene where your character refuses to forgive someone.
Write your character’s morning thoughts.
Write a dream your character had.
Write about your character’s favorite place.
Write your character’s greatest hope.
Write your character’s greatest mistake.
Write a scene where someone misunderstands your character.
Write your character’s personal motto.
Write a moment of jealousy.
Write a quiet moment alone.
Write a confession scene.

Creative break:
61. Make a playlist for your character.
62. Describe the playlist in writing.

365 Days of being a Writer: Month 1

March 15, 2026 ~ Brooke F. ~ Leave a comment

If you’ve ever wanted to write more but felt overwhelmed by huge projects, this challenge is for you.

The goal: 365 small creative actions over one year.

Some days you’ll write and some days you’ll observe. A mixing and matching of all sorts of creative outlets and exercises! So, without further ado, here is month 1.

Month 1 – Start Small

Write about the room you’re currently in.
Describe your morning routine as if it were a sacred ritual.
Write 100 words about a character who is running late.
Write about the smell of rain.
Write a paragraph using only short sentences.
Write a paragraph using one long flowing sentence.
Describe a place from childhood.
Write a conversation between two strangers.
Write about a broken object.
Write from the perspective of your coffee mug.
Describe the sky today.
Write a short scene set at a bus stop.
Write a letter that will never be sent.
Write about a secret.
Describe someone entering a room.
Write about the quietest place you know.
Write a scene where someone lies.
Write about a forgotten object.
Write a 50-word story.
Write a character description in five sentences.
Describe a street at night.
Write about someone waiting for news.
Write about a sound that annoys you.
Write about a smell that comforts you.
Write about the weather changing suddenly.
Write a short argument scene.
Write about a locked door.
Write about a memory that feels dreamlike.
Write about someone finding something unexpected.
Write a story in exactly 200 words.
Take a break: read a poem and write one sentence about how it made you feel.

How to be a Writing Minimalist

March 2, 2026April 19, 2026 ~ Brooke F. ~ Leave a comment

The other day (yesterday), I shared my general frustrations with the internet’s ability to emphasize aesthetics over substance and how this also extends to writing. So, to piggy back off THAT post, I’m going to share some general thoughts and tips I have for simplifying the writing process if you’ve found yourself like me, and overcomplicate EVERYTHING and maybe have begun focusing on the wrong thing when it comes to your creative process. So, let’s go.

Mayhaps, skip the perfect playlist search…

You don’t have to write in dead silence. HOWEVER, maybe consider spending less time picking the perfect ambience video or music and more time…writing…I’m calling myself out here too, I swear. This isn’t a direct attack. Just a thought. Also, silence isn’t the worst thing sometimes. Perhaps give it a try? Let your thoughts be the only thing going on in a room for once.

Words First. Vibes Later.

If you have 20 minutes to write, use 18 of them writing.

Not 12 minutes building ambiance and 6 minutes staring at a blinking cursor.

You do not need:

A fresh notebook.
A themed drink.
A perfect Instagram caption about “slow mornings.”

You need words on a page. That is the only requirement here and we’re gonna HONE IN on that.

Open the document first. Type one ugly or stupid sentence. Momentum is born from action, not aesthetic. I may have to get that tattooed to my forehead because the amount of times I’ve spent picking the perfect font….

Embrace the Ugly Draft

Aesthetic culture has tricked us into thinking even our process should look polished.

But real writing is clunky. It repeats itself sometimes. It says “thing” because you can’t find the right word or whatever code word you put in to signal you don’t know quite what to say in this portion.
It uses too many commas. (Guilty. So so so guilty).

Minimalist writing means allowing your first draft to be deeply unimpressive.

No one takes photos of a messy draft.

Good.

That means you’re probably doing it right.

Set Constraints on Purpose

Try:

Writing for 15 minutes without stopping.
Writing 300 words before you’re allowed to adjust your playlist.
No desk rearranging once you sit down.
No phone within arm’s reach. This one is so simple and yet, even while I’m writing this, my phone sits right beside me. Clearly I need to say it louder for myself.

Stop Documenting the Process of Writing

When you’re done, just close the laptop or let your computer screen go to sleep. And that’s it. Don’t tell anyone. Don’t take a picture of your space or your draft or ANYTHING. Leave it be. Be proud of yourself and then go take a nap or shower or something. Be happy with yourself. You wrote something, and you don’t have to prove it to anyone.

When Did Everything Become a Photoshoot?

March 1, 2026April 19, 2026 ~ Brooke F. ~ Leave a comment

Pre-warning: I am griping again

Everything now has this pressure to be aesthetically pleasing all the time thanks to the internet.

And listen, I get it. Trust me, ya’ll, I grew up during the golden age of Instagram. Pinterest is probably one of my MOST used apps, and yes, it is a problem sometimes.

Romanticizing your life and making things “pretty” can be fun. It can even be motivating. Lighting a candle before you write. Making your desk space whimsical. Using the good pen. Brewing coffee in your favorite mug. I’ve even written blog posts about fun ways to romanticize your writing process, so, in a way you could say maybe I’m guilty as well.

There is something lovely about being happy with your appearance and space.

But, recently, I’ve come to a weird sort of realization…

It feels like we’ve crossed from intentional beauty into constant performance.

There’s an overemphasis on aesthetics in general. Not just in writing alone, but in life in general. (I know, I know, I sound like a harpy old lady but hear me out).

Girls are expected to be pretty all the time. Self-growth is framed as “hot girl advice.” “Hot girls wake up at 5 a.m.” “Hot girls drink green juice.” “Hot girls don’t text first.” “Hot girls have spotless kitchens and perfect side profiles and somehow glowing skin while journaling about their boundaries.”

Since when did personal growth become a rebranding campaign? And what is this weird obessesion with being a “hot girl who x”?

It’s like the ultimate goal in life is to look amazing at ALL times. To have your life be this curated, aesthetically pleasing collage of neutral-toned items and sunlit corners. Your coffee has to look right. Your Bible has to be color-coded. Your gym outfit has to match. Even your healing has to be photogenic.

It’s ridiculous.

The internet is a highlight reel and we all know that. It captures moments in time. A split second. A perfectly framed sliver of someone’s day. We are not designed to line up and look exactly like these captured moments in time at all times. We are not still images.

We are messy, moving, complicated beings.

Now we are ebbing into looks over substance in every area of our lives. We spend way too long taking an aesthetically pleasing desk picture or finding the perfect angle to show off our cup of coffee beside our journal. And somewhere in that process, the coffee gets cold and the journaling becomes secondary.

The writing — the actual writing — becomes less important than how it looks to be writing.

And that’s where the fun starts to drain out.

Because the substance is the point. Not the proof of it.

There’s nothing wrong with beauty. There’s nothing wrong with liking nice things. There’s nothing wrong with enjoying an aesthetic. I am not anti-whimsy. But when aesthetics become the main goal instead of the byproduct, it begins to feel like everyone is now encapsulating the brand of being a writer. I feel like we’re losing a lot of authenticity in general. Again, I don’t want to sound like I’m grouching about everyone else, this is something I’m guilty of as well. My whole instagram page is color coordinated.

Really, I’m just sort of ranting to the void and maybe myself. Maybe it’s time we get back to the basics.

And if it happens to look pretty? That’s a bonus.

Maybe it’s time to become a writing minimalist. No routine, no coffee, no pretty desk space. Just writing.

If I were to write a romantasy novel…

February 2, 2026 ~ Brooke F. ~ Leave a comment

This is my way of announcing that I’ve begun writing on a new project. Will I finish it? Who knows? Is it fun though? Absolutely. So I’m going to share it with you guys against your will! The door is locked and the powerpoint-er, I mean the synposis is prepared! Read along, and you may just get a sneak peak of what I’ve written so far…

The Synopsis:

To end a generations-long war, a marriage is arranged between a charmingly naive prince and a dreamy but equally oblivious princess. Neither is thrilled, both long for true love, but duty comes first. Behind the scenes, however, the true powers are at play: the prince’s brilliant and calculating gentleman-in-waiting, and the princess’s cunning and fiercely loyal lady-in-waiting. Each is the secret strategist behind their monarch’s success, and each is deeply committed to their own kingdom. When tradition demands that they too be wed, to symbolize the uniting of the households, they are less than thrilled. But strategy has a funny way of turning into something else when hearts get involved.

Meanwhile, in the shadows of court, two rival assassins, one from each kingdom, are given a single directive: kill the monarch of the enemy side. As their deadly missions cross again and again, a reluctant chemistry sparks between them, even as they try to finish the job and stay alive. The lady and gentleman-in-waiting, ever alert, play a high-stakes game of wits to keep their monarchs alive, all while navigating their own slow-burning, inconvenient romance.

As alliances shift and true affections deepen, three love stories unfold: between the idealistic prince and princess who unexpectedly fall for each other, the wary advisors who find love in the midst of rivalry, and the assassin enemies whose mutual respect may just turn to something more.

As this all unfolds, will the true enemy come to light?

The Preview:

Chapter 1: The Lady-in-Waiting

The throne room was suffocating. Courtiers pressed close in their jeweled silks, whispering beneath the vaulted ceiling as the King rose from his throne. Sage held her breath, watching every movement. A hush finally fell over the crowd. His voice carried like a trumpet blast, proud and commanding:

“Today, I announce a union that will bind two kingdoms. My daughter, Princess Lotus, shall be wed to His Grace, the Scarlet Prince.”

A ripple spread throughout the court. Some gasped, others exchanged quick, calculating glances. Sage, standing a respectful pace behind her mistress, felt her stomach twist and drop. She wanted to look at Lotus with the unspoken question, Did you know?

She dared not. She was the Lady-in-waiting. She was to be still, respectful, and quiet. So she stared ahead, focusing instead on the fountains lining the throne room perimeter, willing herself to focus on the way the light shimmered through the spray of water and the refractions that danced along the wall.

Still, from the corner of her eyes, she could see the princess keeping her chin lifted, her face calm as carved marble. Sage’s heart ached.

The King sat again, dismissing the assembly with a wave of his hand. This evening, his glittering silver crown set with sapphires seemed uncomfortably heavy upon his head. Sage noted the red around his eyes. He had spoken with such regality, and yet, up close, Sage could see him clearly: a tired, older man, with silver beginning to show. A weary man who had seen years of war and felt his only ploy for peace was to marry his own daughter off to a monster.

Courtiers bowed low, murmuring congratulations as they filed out. Sage remained rigid until the chamber emptied, then hurried to Lotus’s side. From there, Lotus and Sage bowed low to the King and Queen before they were dismissed as well.

As they did so, Sage tried to sneak a peak at the Queen. What were her thoughts on all this? Had she also known? Did she even support this mad decree?

But Lotus had learned her steely face from the best, and the Queen’s expression revealed nothing. She only inclined her head ever so slightly before turning with to take her husband’s arm, silks rippling around her like an ocean.

~*~

“You knew?” Sage whispered, unable to keep the edge from her voice.

Lotus finally exhaled, the careful mask slipping. Her eyes were watery but no tears fell. “Only last night. When we were having tea after dinner. My father told me as though he were announcing the weather.”

Lotus moved to sit on her bed, head shaking. Beads braided into her raven hair clicked and clacked as she did so, but she said nothing more, shoulders sagging in resigned defeat.

Sage’s throat tightened with shame, cheeks hot. I should have seen this coming. I should have anticipated.

“It isn’t your fault,” Lotus said gently, as if reading her mind. She motioned her friend closer to lay a comforting hand on Sage’s arm. “None of us could have predicted it. Father has been playing his cards close to his chest lately. He is a King at the end of it all.”

But he is also a father, Sage thought but refrained. Guilt did not rest solely on his shoulders.

Sage could not forgive herself. It was her duty to see every threat before it arrived, every storm on the horizon. And for the first time in her many years at the Azure Palace, she had failed.

Her mind spiraled backward, to the day she had been bound to this role. The day she made an oath. A promise never to be broken.

~*~

Sage was fourteen when the Queen summoned her. She recalled it all as if it were yesterday. She remembered the long path through the garden to reach the pavilion where the Queen sat, enjoying the golden summer sun. And though it was a beautiful afternoon, Sage remembered that the guards’ silence brought a chill upon her, faces gray in the midday.

The Queen sat on a blue velvet chair, appearing to be deep in thought. Her crown rested on a small side table beside her, though her gaze was sharp as a blade.

“My daughter,” the Queen began without preamble, “is good of heart. She loves our people, and she is beloved in turn. But she is…not made for the rigors of politics. She has little taste for diplomacy, little head for stratagems.”

Sage, young as she was, lowered her eyes. She had known this truth too, though she never dared voice it. She could see it every day during the Princess’s tutoring sessions. The girl could never quite recall the sequence of battles, or who had signed which treaty, or why it mattered in the first place. She would wrinkle her nose in confusion, or laugh lightly at her own mistakes, as if history were nothing more than a jumble of names tumbled together in her head. Dates slipped away like water through her fingers, and more often than not she confused one monarch with another, sometimes even her own ancestors. The tutors would grow red with frustration, but the Princess only smiled, unbothered, certain that someone else would always be there to remember what she could not.

Mathematics fared no better. Columns of numbers left her wide-eyed and blinking, as if they were written in some foreign tongue. She counted on her fingers long past the age when most had stopped, and when asked to recite her tables, she would hum under her breath to buy time, cheeks pink with embarrassment.

It was at the age of nine when Sage began to do Lotus’s homework for her. At first, she attempted to teach the Princess herself, certain that, someday, it would all come together and click into place. It never did. So, Sage kept up with her Lady’s work while she tended to less “boring” matters.

The Queen rose and crossed the room. Her hand came to rest firmly on Sage’s shoulder.

“You, however,” the Queen said, “have always been clever. I have seen how you watch. How you notice. I’ve seen you poring over her books and lessons far more than she ever has.” The Queen began to smile, but it quickly faded as she continued. “The world will try to outwit her, to corner her. I will not let that happen.”

Her voice softened. “So I charge you, Sage of Rosehall, to be her mind when her own fails her. To stand beside her when I no longer can. She will be the heart of this kingdom, and you must be her reason.”

Sage’s knees nearly buckled under the enormity of it. But she bowed her head and whispered the vow that had bound her ever since:

“I swear it, Your Majesty. My loyalty is hers. My life is hers. I will not fail her.”

~*~

The echo of that oath still rang in Sage’s mind as she looked at Lotus now, her eyes burning.

She was sleeping now. She always did so easily. She had lain down on her bed only for a moment before she was snoring quietly. Even in the face of such an announcement that sealed her fate, she slept.

Sage beheld her with pale skin and blushed cheeks. Her sleek dark hair was half done now, the style not arranged for rest. Her sky-colored gown was rumpled and wrinkled. She was small, and gentle, and perfect. A lamb of the Azure court.

Sage’s fingers curled into fists. The King might throw his daughter to the wolves of politics. The Scarlet Prince might come to devour her. To devour her future kingdom, but Sage would not accept her friend’s fate. She would sharpen her mind as to a blade. She had sworn once that she would not fail Lotus, and she meant to keep it. By her life, she would keep it.