Chapter 1, Ruined Kingdom

Azalea covered her mouth and stifled her breathing as a shadow knight marched past her. 

Just a moment ago, Azalea was having tea with her father, now she had been driven from her castle, and almost kidnapped by shadow knights! Azalea didn't know what the shadow knights wanted, she especially didn't know why the shadow kingdom was now destroying hers. 

Azalea snuck into the woods; her dress slowly became covered in dirt and pine needles. 

Just then, someone tapped her on the shoulder. 

It was her maid, Maya! Maya was a solitary woman; she was 19 and very mature, it was also known that Maya had the best cooking skills in all the lands. 

Azalea pulled Maya behind a tree as another dark knight passed by. 

" Where are we going to go?" Azalea asked as the two hid behind bushes. " I know of a kingdom down South, we could flee there." Maya said, pulling out an old, weather- worn map. 

Azalea had but one request, " Why, but we can't leave without Fredrick!" She pleaded. Maya sighed, " Very well, we'll try to retrieve him while not causing the guards to notice us." She agreed. 

Maya and Azalea tip- toed to the king's room. Fredrick was Azalea's turtle as well as the king's comfort animal, Azalea was afraid of what the shadow knights might do to him, so she planned to bring him on her journey. 

As Azalea and Maya stepped out of the grand room, they saw shadow soldiers on either side of the corridor. 

It seemed as though the two were conversing, Azalea dashed down the hall, bumping into vases and causing the guards to come after her. When Azalea was backed into a corner, Maya rushed over and put herself between the princess and the soldiers. 

" You'll have to get through me!" Maya demanded. 

Chapter 2, One Down One to go

The knights laughed coldly, " But why would we want you? Our orders were to capture the princess. Not some maid!" 

Their unkind words pinched Maya's insides, but she stood tall and continued to stand in front of Azalea. 

" I'll have you know, I'm not just some maid, I'm the princess's personal cook. And whose orders?" Maya bit back, the soldiers stumbled. 

" Uh. . . Well now we have to capture you! You know too much!" The two guards said in unison. 

Then, Maya was swooped up onto one of the horses and rode off into the distance. 

" One down one to go." Azalea whispered to Fredrick as the turtle cuddled up in Azalea's cold hands. 

Her stomach felt tight; Like someone was tying knots around her abdomen. 

Azalea hugged Fredrick close. 

She needed to find Maya and the knights, but she also needed a safe place to rest. 

Azalea made the tough decision of going to the land down South. She and Fredrick started their journey. 

Chapter 3, Cowboy Town

Azalea, after many tiring hours of walking, finally collapsed into the river of a warm town. 

When Azalea came to, she was in a room, sun beaming down on her face, " Where am I?" Azalea questioned. 

A boy sauntered into the space, holding a jug filled with the most crisp, clear water Azalea had ever seen. 

" It's okay, you were going to drown, you know. I did you a favor." The boy stated truthfully, handing Azalea the water.

" Hmph. You call taking somebody hostage a favor?" Azalea scowled, the boy rolled his eyes, " The door's literally open." 

He scoffed. 

The boy walked Azalea out of the room, " This town is called Cowmill. I'm well aware of its stupidity, and my name is Maxwell." He told her. 

Azalea still acted cautious, after all, she didn't know him. 

Outside was a busy, hot place, there were hundreds of people buying merchandise and food vendors on every corner. 

It was very impressive to Azalea, who'd only seen small villages populated by the poor. But that place was different, those people couldn't save a penny if their lives depended on it. What an odd place. 

An older, bearded man greeted Maxwell and Azalea at a bread stall, " How about some free croissants for you sweethearts?" The old man offered. 

Maxwell started to shake his head but Azalea snatched the bread and started scarfing it down, " You know the only reason you're eating that is because he thought we were a couple, right?" Maxwell enlightened. 

Azalea spit out her bite, " That wasn't silly banter?" She coughed. 

Maxwell shook his head, " But I don't see how you and I could ever be in love." Maxwell said. 

Secretly, Azalea wanted them to be.