Leaves rustled,
The sun shined,
And the river glistened as Micah heartily read the storybook to the curious eyed children infront of her, listening intently.
"So, the crow embarked on a journey with all the other crows and ravens and made a village of their own where no one could mock them. The end.
Now, who liked this ending and the crow's solution and who didnt?" She said.
"I liked it, now they can live in peace." A curly haired girl named Melody said and almost all of the rest of the children agreed, thats how it almost always was, Melody participated the most in class and no one else had the courage to challenge her confident answers.
Micah smiled and turned to the tree that was giving them shade.
"What do you think?" She asked the golden haired girl peeking from behind it.
She had been secretly listening in on Micah's classes for over a week now.
The girl's eyes widened and she turned to run away, "If you can answer this, I'll let you sit in my next class." Micah offered and she stopped.
The girl walked towards Micah slowly and shyly looked at the rest of the children.
"First introduce yourself and tell us what you thought of the ending." Micah held her hand in encouragement.
"M-my name is Rose and I didnt like like this ending." Rose uttered.
"And why is that?" Melody asked with a scowl.
"Because running away from your problems isnt the answer, you should face them and solve them. An- and what about the raven with the purple feathers? The dove he liked was still in the Tori Village that he left."
Micah beamed at her, "Wow Rose that was a very smart point of view! And also the reason why I wrote this story for you all today, I was hoping you would question the ending because what do I always say?"
The children all replied together, "Always question everything, even the questions, because there is always a reason."
Micah clapped, "Exactly! Oh my little ducklings are getting so smart, Im afraid you all won't be needing me soon."
"Miss Micahhh." They all whined and protested that they still needed her.
Micah laughed, "Alright everyone that ends our class, take a sandwich each from the basket and go dip your feet in the river, its very refreshing!"
They all cheered and took their lunches to the river and Rose shyly followed them too.
She turned to collect the children's notebooks and heard a shreik and a splash from behind her.
She ran towards the river and saw Melody standing there looking like she was about to cry and she saw Rose in the water, struggling.
Micah dived in and pulled her out.
Rose coughed out water and started to cry.
"Its okay, you're fine now." Micah wiped her face and craddled her.
She heard the sound of a sword unsheathing and cold metal pressed against her neck,
Micah's heart beat loudly and she shivered in fear.
"Unhand the princess right now and you may live."
✧
"When we reached there Princess Rose was in the girl's arms, crying." The soldier reported to King Hertz who listened carefully.
"So, she kidnapped Rose?" He asked.
"It seems so, Your Magesty."
"No, Rose said she saved her, and that she's a teacher." Queen Prietta entered the throne room.
Hertz sighed in confusion, "Just give her a reward and be done with it."
Prietta scoffed, "So, what, you're going to just throw some gold coins at her and be done with it? She saved your daughter, the Princess of Corona! Would you have done the same if she was a boy?"
Prietta had been insecure the moment the King had frowned upon hearing that it was a girl and not a boy he would be fathering, however the King loved his Queen dearly and didnt want to upset her even in the slightest.
"No, my love, I was going to give her a very big reward." He reasoned.
"That is not enough! Is that the price you put on your only child?!" She shouted.
Hertz sighed, "Bring the girl to the throne room, and we can ask her what she wants."

The moment the guards brought in Micah, King Hertz was awestruck by her elegant beauty and soft features. And he knew that she would be perfect.
"What is your name, girl?"
"Micah Westbrooke, Your Magesty."
"And what does your father do?"
"He owns the library, Your Magesty. And my mother has her own bakery in Twinnings street, it'd be great if you visit once, you'll absolutely love it." Micah said hopefully, if the King came to their bakery, more customers would come in too.
"Oh why not, and I've heard that you're a teacher too."
"Yes, Your Magesty, I try to share the knowledge I have."
The king nodded slowly, "A generous and kind hearted person."
"So, it has been reported to me that you kidnap- I mean, saved my daughter." He said.
Micah smiled softly and nodded.
"You should be rewarded."
Micah wondered if it was a crime to turn down the king in modesty so she let her excitement show on her face and eagerly waited for his next words.
"You saved the Princess of Corona, so, the reward should be as magnificent!" He announced and every person in the throne room curiously anticipated it.
"And what reward can be as magnificent as marraige to my brother, The Great General of Corona, Prince Fane!"
Micah's face fell,
Her heart seemed to have stopped beating.
Everyone gasped and the Queen squealed and clapped her hands, "Oh you're so right, she's perfect for him!"
Micah's hands shook so she hid them behind her.
"Go home and tell your parents that you are to be the bride of the prince and tell them they need not prepare much, we only need you. And of course I expect that you prepare yourself as well, for you will need to take great care of his highness, the protector of our lands."
✧
Later that night, back at home, Micah silently sat at the dinner table with her parents and her elder sister Lailah.
"What's wrong, love? You're quiet tonight, I haven't even scolded you on coming in late today yet." Her father said.
Micah pursed her lips and began carefully, "Father, remember how you warned me not to let my kindness get me in trouble?"
Her father nodded,"Why? Did you get in trouble?"
She nodded and her mother frowned.
A few seconds passed as she tried to come up with a subtle way to break the news.
"Oh tell us alre-" Lailah started and Micah suddenly blurted out, "I'm to get married next week."
Lailah gasped,
"To General Fane."
Her mother dropped her spoon and her father almost choked on his soup.
After Lailah got over her shock, she removed her hand from her mouth and smiled.
Her smile grew wider and wider until she was laughing in joy.
Micah watched in silent anger, her lips started to quiver and she pouted her lower lip and started to cry. Loudly.