The door was closed, no slammed in my face, as I walked away dejected. I thought he would like me and think me suitable enough for his daughter. I was a good jouster, looked handsome in about anything, and I owned my own country. Maybe I should tell you who I am, I am Prince Charles Magnus II, the first son of the Queen Eliza and King Charles I, and ashamedly I am 12 years old. When I said jousting I meant jousting against a straw dummy in the castle courtyard. Maybe that is why the king slammed his door in my face; maybe I was too young for his 20 year old daughter, Maybel. I admit it; I was in love with her ever since I set my eyes on her which was when I was five. I never thought I would fall in love again. But that all changed the day I met Stephanie.


I was outside practicing with my bow and arrow when I heard the creaking of a wagon. I turned around and I saw an old, bony horse pulling a small wagon loaded down with supplies heading toward the castle. “Poor, peasants probably who are just coming to ask for some food,” I thought, and turned back toward the target. After about 11 minutes I heard the wagon creaking back down the road. I decided I would go see what they wanted from my parents. I went inside the front door and there in the foyer, was no one. I ran all around the castle looking in all the usual places, but I couldn’t find them. By that time I was so exhausted I fell asleep and slept all the way through dinner. I woke up in the morning to a clattering of plates. “Be more quiet!” I exclaimed irritated. “I am sorry,” mumbled a young sweet voice. “Wait a minute,” I thought, “that isn’t the sound of, Betsy, my maid’s voice. My eyes flew open as I took in the young figure in front of me. She was young, about 13 or 14, with pretty, twinkling blue eyes, long golden hair, a petite body, and a freshly ironed maid’s uniform. “Who are you?” I asked her dazed. “Stephanie,” she replied with a short curtsy. “I’m Charles,” I replied. “I know,” she said to me, “I was told to bring you your breakfast, and here it is. Not to be rude your highness, I must be going, I still have to knead the bread, sew some clothes, clean the windows, and I have been up since daybreak. Goodbye your majesty,” and with that she left the room. That was when I fell in love for the second time.


I saw Stephanie almost every day, doing something such as mopping the floors, sweeping, baking, or serving the food. Even though she was busy, we still had time to talk like when she was baking or mopping the floors. She was shy but always had a smile when talking to me. Every day she grew more radiant, and soon she shined like the sun itself. One day though, she wasn’t there. I looked everywhere, even in some places I didn’t want to go such as the dirty servant quarters. But alas, I couldn’t find her. I finally gathered up my courage and asked my parents. “Why she has been taken back by her parents, she is to be engaged,” they said confused. “Engaged?! How could she be engaged to someone here at the castle?” I said angrily. “Her parents went and found her a suitor and why should you care so much?” they said annoyed now. “Because I love her!” I said to their surprised faces. “Charles Magnus II, you will marry someone of equal blood that will bring this kingdom a great deal of money!” my father said outraged. I stormed off to my room. I loved Stephanie and no one else! I could not marry anyone else. That was when I decided I would go find Stephanie. I was pretty sure she liked me back. I quickly packed some provisions and extra clothes. In my room I waited until it was dark, snuck out of my room, and ran toward the stables. There I quickly saddled my horse Midnight, and set out. I looked near and wide. I traveled over rivers, mountains, towns, cities, but I could not find her. One day I was riding in a forest where I saw a little cottage. It was a very quaint cottage made out of stones with a creek in front. I saw to the side a little old wagon with a bony horse in front of it. “Yes,” I thought, “I had found the cottage.” I peeked inside the window, and saw a mother, father, and two little boys, but not Stephanie. I knocked discouraged on the door, which was answered by the mother. “Yes,” she said simply. “I was looking for Stephanie,” I replied to her wrinkled face. “Stephanie is at the Duke Edwards’ castle,” she said proudly, “she is to be married in three days.” “Thank you,” I said even more discouraged but still a little happy because she hadn’t been married yet. I leapt onto my horse and I sped off towards the Duke’s castle.


I didn’t like the Duke at all, he was 45, selfish, arrogant, mean, and he had Stephanie. I neared the castle. “How could anyone live in such a gloomy place?” I wondered aloud. I heard singing coming from a tower above my head. “Stephanie!”I cried out for joy. But how do I get in hmmm…how do I get in. I know I will climb the tower. I got about one foot off the ground before I fell. “OW!” I screamed in pain. Well it was obvious that wouldn’t work. I know I’ll smash through the door, go to her tower, sweep her off her feet, and carry her away to my castle. I jumped on Midnight and we raced toward the door. Bang! Crash! “OW!” I yelped. Maybe I should have taken my lance out first. Wait were those voices I heard. Great the Duke was now coming. I know I should use my bow and arrow, tie a rope to the end, shoot it into her room, sweep her off her feet, and then we can go back to my castle. I shot the arrow perfectly and was swinging up. I was just about to jump into her bedroom when crash! What was this thing on the window? It was like a piece of clear through cloth. “Man,” I thought to myself, “these adventures always sounded so easy when my nanny read me the stories when I was little. I’ll just use my pocket knife…wait was that just a splash I heard in the moat? My hand went to my pocket knife. Great now I don’t have a pocket knife. “I am so dumb,” I said, “I can use my sword.” I got the window open without any mishap except for cutting my thumb. I swept Stephanie off her feet…and fell down. I picked her up again and carried her down the stairs, through the door, and onto my horse. We rode away into the sunset and we lived happily ever after.