It was not often that the young princess found herself in a situation like this-sitting at the head of the council table surrounded by the kingdom elders. A dangerous criminal had escaped the palace’s high security dungeon, with young princess Cassandra being the source. Now, she sat at a table large enough to host a royal banquet whilst the council elders decided her fate.

Cassandra could feel her pulse beating thickly in her veins as she heard the queen enter the room. Click click click. The council went silent as the queen strode across the room, her crimson heels clicking against the marble tile.

Queen Seraphina sat at the opposite end of the council table, her gaze sharper then the dagger hanging at her hip. Her presence alone felt like punishment. “Princess Cassandra,” she said coolly, her voice echoing through the council meeting room like an icy wind. “You have been accused of treason by aiding in the escape of a criminal. Do you deny this claim?”

Cassandra looked up. Her eyes were wide with fear but she managed to maintain a neutral expression. “I do not,” she stated.

Gasps were fluttered like moths around the table. The eldest of the council, Lord Calvin, cleared his throat and hid the baffled expression on his face. “So, you admit to freeing him?” He asked, his brows furrowed and his thin lips were pressed into a deep frown.

“He was my tutor,” Cassandra said, her voice firm and matter-of-fact, “He taught me to think. He taught me histories that your scribes tried to hide. He told me the truth.”

The queen let out a breathless laugh and stood, “And what truth would that be?”

“That my father, your brother, was murdered. Not by enemies outside the walls but within our very own castle.”

The queen sucked in a sharp breath and glared at Cassandra, “watch your mouth girl!” She spat.

“You fear the truth more than any criminal,” Cassandra continued, “You forbid your people knowledge. You punish questions.”

Queen Seraphina took a step closer and banged her pale fist on the table. “You would burn the kingdom with your rebellion,” she hissed, her tone venomous.

“I would revive it,” Cassandra said, “not from lies and secrets, but from truth and knowledge. Even if it means becoming what you would call a villain.”

The council erupted in murmurs. Some smiling and nodding in admiration at Cassandra. Others watched in fear. She stood slowly and met the queen’s gaze, attempting to gain some semblance of control.

The Queen tilted her head towards Cassandra, “So Princess, what shall we call you now?”

Cassandra let the tension in her body that she hadn’t realized she was holding go and smiled faintly. “You can call me whatever you like. But a villain is only a villain when the supposed hero tells the story.”