Today was a day just like any other day. Melanie Ashland woke up in the small house she lived in with her grandparents before getting ready for the day. After washing her face the copper hair colored woman stared at her reflection in the mirror. Her friends had mailed in an application to become the new princess. The king, who lost his queen a while back, never had a child; so he placed the chance to the citizens to become the next prince or princess. Despite her ignoring her friends, they entered her into the contest.

The first interview went well --- she guessed. She enjoyed talking to the people of the council because they recognized her name and knew her parents. While it was sad to hear about her parents, she enjoyed the bureaucrats sharing stories of their parents and some even had the time to share adventures they shared with either her mother or her father. The men and women she had the pleasure of talking to where enjoyable conversationalist and she left in a good mood. The following day she had another interview; this time with the royal advisor and soon the king and queen themselves joined the interview! Excitement filled her as she finally got to see her aunt and uncle-in-law as it was a rare occasion now-a-days. The visit was professional as she was getting interviewed to become the heir of the royals and take over the kingdom despite the fact that she was the queen’s only family member left outside of her parents, surely the king had other younger generation that could easily take over the throne. This was just a time to see her beloved aunt, whom she only wrote to most of the time while still attempting to act professional in front of the advisor. Now she was at home, staring at her reflection in the mirror wondering what was going to happen today? More coffee and tea orders at the bistro but it was a job and she was earning money.

Sighing she dressed in a simple brown dress with a white lace around her middle and a bow tied in the back, she slipped on a simple pair of shoes, pulled her copper hair back into a pony tail with a ribbon and left the house to meet up with her grandparents.

“I’m here!” She announced as she walked into the little shop and shut the door behind her. 

“Oh good morning Melly.” Her grandmother called out as she popped up from behind the counter giving the young maiden a fright. Her grandmother laughed lightheartedly at her granddaughter. “You’re always so jumpy.” 

“When you pop out of nowhere it’s easy to be jumpy!”

“Hey kiddo.” A voice said behind her and Melanie let out a shriek and jumped away from the noise, only to have her grandfather laugh at her as he carried in a bag. “She’s right, you are jumpy.”

“Excuse me I’m not jumpy you two show up out of nowhere!” Melanie attempted to defend herself only to find herself laughing along. And that’s how her day began.

Half the day went by and Melanie was measuring out tea leafs making a new mixture for the store before the bell went off. “Welcome to…” She began before she made eye contact with the man who walked in. “Sir Alfred?” Melanie said in confusion as the King’s advisor walked in. 

“Hello Miss Melanie, I’m here to escort you to the palace.” The well-dressed Victorian man with white hair said with a small bow and gestured towards the door, the king’s carriage waiting outside. Reaching into his jacket pocket he pulled out an envelope and presented it to her grandparents who showed up after hearing Melanie’s confusion. “You’ll find everything you need in these documents.” He said with a polite nod before holding the door open for Melanie.

“Well… if it’s from the King.” Her grandfather said and took the things Melanie was working on and gestured for her to go. 

“Okay…” Melanie’s voice was filled with confusion and went out the door, the footman let her into the carriage and as the door shut she looked out the window to see her grandparent’s reaction, they looked shocked as they read through the documents and began to ask Sir Alfred questions. “Wait what’s going on?” She asked in shock. 

“Don’t worry about it princess,” The footman said as he climbed onto the back of the carriage, “Sir Alfred will meet us at the palace when he’s finished explaining things.” 

“Oh okay.” Melanie said settling back against the comfortable seat before everything finally registered. “WAIT WHAT!?” Melanie’s face and dark blue eyes were pressed against the glass watching the bistro disappear into the distance  and this was the start of her new life.