He shakes his head, clears his throat, and tightens his lips.

“Well? Are you coming or not?”

“That depends,” I return as boldly as I can. “What’s going on in there?”

He lifts his shoulders, and a smile spreads across his face like oil over bread.

“Come in and find out.”

I contemplate my next move. If my father catches word of what we’re doing, he’ll shout at me for months. No proper princess roams the corridors late at night. Or ever. And if my mother learns of this? Her headache will rightfully devour her sanity. I’ve already endangered myself by following them here. To enter a previously locked room without permission or supervision? Lady and Shield.

Prince Braizen crosses one foot over the other and leans against the doorframe. “So, what’ll it be?”

I clench my fists. Teddy ran in without a second thought, and she’s a princess. Why shouldn’t I do the same? I lower my brows and try my best to sound confident.

“Hold the door. I’m coming.” With heavy steps, I walk towards the mysterious room.

As I pass him, the young Prince leans in close to my ear and whispers.

“By the way, you really shouldn’t listen to Teddy. That’s definitely not how heirs are made.”

I’m inside what appears to be a small cage. Beyond the iron bars lies a huge space I can barely fathom. A domed glass ceiling arches high above tall trees loom amidst a riot of plants that grow everywhere. Butterflies swarm in every direction, and my ears fill with the cacophony of hundreds of chirping birds. Teddy shakes with excitement; her brother’s eyes widen in pleasure.

“This is the aviary,” Braizen says. “My father has filled it with every known bird species in Baelliles. It was a gift for my mother.” As if planned, a flock of blue birds flies in perfect unison near our heads. They race up and trace the dome’s perimeter before swooping low into the trees and out of sight. I laugh in delight. This is the last thing I’d expect to find in a castle.

“Open the door, Braizen! I want to run around!” Teddy demands.

“I will,” he says. “But we stick to the plan. We explore until you hear my whistle, then we meet back here. We can’t stay too long; if anyone finds us, my mother will ship us all to the Crescent Trench.”

I gulp. The Crescent Trench of Arborlow. My father tells stories about that trench. It’s why no one travels to the Osinean Kingdom. People who dare to embark on that journey are never heard from again.

“And remember,” the Prince resumes as he unlatches the cage’s hook. “Some birds are friendly; others aren’t. Be careful of how close you get to them. They don’t mind being watched, but should you try and touch them… Well, you’ve been warned.” He pushes the creaky gate.

Teddy sprints through and takes the first dirt path. Soon, she vanishes behind a plant with giant green leaves that look like the ears of an elephant, an animal I saw in a book of drawings in my father’s library. I almost laugh aloud at the thought.