The princess's bodyguard ( Isolde point of view)

I was eight years old, sitting cross-legged on the plush rug of my bedroom, surrounded by a sea of dolls and toys. The sunlight streamed through the tall windows, casting a warm glow over the room.

My room was my sanctuary, filled with everything I loved: books, toys, and my precious collection of unicorn figurines. I was deeply engrossed in arranging my dolls for an imaginary tea party when my father entered the room.

"Isolde, my little star," he said, his voice full of warmth and affection. He always called me his little star, a nickname that never failed to make me smile.

"Papa!" I jumped up and ran to him, wrapping my arms around his waist. He lifted me effortlessly and twirled me around, making me giggle.

"Now, now," he said, setting me down gently. "I have something very important to talk to you about."

I looked up at him, my purple eyes wide with curiosity. My father, King Aldric, was a tall man with a commanding presence. He had dark hair, streaked with silver, and piercing blue eyes that always seemed to see right through me. Despite his imposing appearance, he was the kindest person I knew, always patient and loving.

"What is it, Papa?" I asked, tilting my head to the side.

He knelt down to my level, taking my hands in his. "Isolde, do you know what happens if you kiss someone?"

I shook my head, my white hair falling over my shoulders. "No, Papa. What happens?"

He took a deep breath, trying to maintain a serious expression, but I could see a twinkle of mischief in his eyes. "If you kiss someone, my dear, you will both... turn into frogs."

My eyes widened in horror. "Frogs? Really?"

He nodded solemnly. "Yes, frogs. And you'll have to hop around the palace, eating flies and croaking all day."

I gasped, covering my mouth with my hands. "That's awful! I don't want to be a frog!"

He chuckled softly, ruffling my hair. "Then you must be very careful, Isolde. No kissing anyone, alright?"

"Alright, Papa. I promise." I nodded vigorously, completely convinced by his story.

He smiled and pulled me into a hug. "That's my girl. Now, what are you playing today?"

"I'm having a tea party with my dolls," I said, leading him to the little table I had set up. "Do you want to join us?"

"Of course," he said, taking a seat on the floor beside me. "But first, let me look at you. You are growing more beautiful every day."

I blushed, feeling a warm glow of pride. "Really, Papa?"

"Really," he said, lifting me up so I could see myself in the large mirror on the wall. "Look at you."

I gazed at my reflection, taking in my appearance. My white hair cascaded down my back in soft waves, and my purple eyes sparkled with excitement. My skin was fair and smooth, and my cheeks were flushed with a rosy hue. I was wearing a pale blue dress with lace trim, one of my favorites.

"You look like a little angel," my father said, his voice full of admiration.

I smiled at him in the mirror. "Thank you, Papa."

After our tea party, my father left to attend to his royal duties, and I decided to find my mother. Queen Elara was in the garden, tending to her roses. She was a vision of grace and beauty, with her golden hair and emerald green eyes. She always wore elegant gowns that flowed around her like a waterfall, and her smile could light up the darkest room.

"Good morning, Mama," I said, skipping over to her.

"Good morning, my darling," she replied, leaning down to kiss my forehead. "Did you have a nice time with your father?"

"Yes, we had a tea party," I said, beaming up at her.

"That sounds lovely," she said, straightening up and smoothing her dress. "Would you like to help me with the roses?"

"Yes, please!" I loved spending time in the garden with my mother. The roses were her pride and joy, and she had taught me everything about how to care for them.

We spent the next hour pruning the roses and chatting about everything and nothing. My mother had a way of making even the most mundane tasks seem magical. She told me stories about the different types of roses and their meanings, and I listened with rapt attention.

As the sun climbed higher in the sky, I heard the familiar sound of laughter coming from the courtyard. I looked up to see my elder sister, Seraphina, practicing her archery with her friends. Seraphina was everything I aspired to be: brave, strong, and confident. She had inherited our father's dark hair and our mother's green eyes, and she moved with a grace and poise that I admired.

"Isolde! Come join us!" she called, waving me over.

I hesitated for a moment, not wanting to leave my mother's side, but she smiled and nodded. "Go on, dear. Have some fun."

I ran over to the courtyard, where Seraphina handed me a small bow and a quiver of arrows. "Want to try?"

"I'm not very good," I admitted, feeling a bit shy.

"That's okay," she said, kneeling down to help me. "I'll show you how."

With Seraphina's guidance, I managed to hit the target a few times, and each time, my sister cheered me on. "You're getting better, Isolde! Keep practicing, and you'll be a great archer in no time."

I spent the rest of the morning practicing with Seraphina and her friends, laughing and enjoying the warm sunshine. By the time lunchtime rolled around, I was exhausted but happy. We all gathered in the great hall for a family meal, the table laden with delicious food.

My mother and father sat at the head of the table, with Seraphina and me on either side. The conversation flowed easily, with everyone sharing stories about their morning. I told them about my tea party with Papa and my archery practice with Seraphina, and they listened with smiles and laughter.

After lunch, my mother took me to the library, where we spent the afternoon reading. The library was one of my favorite places in the palace, with its towering shelves filled with books of all kinds. My mother read to me from a book of fairy tales, her voice soothing and melodic.

As the day came to an end, I found myself back in my room, getting ready for bed. My father came in to say goodnight, sitting on the edge of my bed as he always did.

"Did you have a good day, Isolde?" he asked, brushing a strand of hair from my face.

"Yes, Papa. It was perfect," I said, snuggling under the covers.

He smiled, leaning down to kiss my forehead. "I'm glad. Sleep well, my little star."

As he left the room and I drifted off to sleep, I couldn't help but think about how lucky I was. I had a loving family, a beautiful home, and a life filled with joy and laughter. My life was perfect.