THE MOMENT
The Princess remained quiet as a group of three adventurers wandered into her library. She wasn't hiding, but the book in her hands was infinitely more interesting until the trio finally arrived before her to demand attention.
The blonde, blue-eyed Princess preferred to read over almost anything else, and now that her Kingdom had failed, she finally had the time she needed to enjoy it. She may have inherited the castle and the throne, but they amounted to little more than symbolic power. And, without anyone to acknowledge that symbol, she was a title more than anything. In fact, these were the first adventurers she could remember ever seeking her out.
"Princess...," the smallest adventurer stepped forward. She was a young girl who looked about 10 years old with brown hair and green eyes, and wearing gold plate armor. She presented a ghostly purple orchid to the Princess. "I have avenged the murder of your family; they are at peace," she said. She knelt and held up the offering. The Princess gasped as a tear trailed down her pale cheek.
"Thank you!" Her voice was breathless as she fought back the stronger emotions. Her family was at peace now. The Purple Orchid was on their family crest, and the ethereal one held by the girl was obviously sent as a message of hope. "Thank you so much!" The Princess could only repeat her gratitude as she accepted the gift. She stood and held the translucent plant close to her chest as she smiled down at the girl. Suddenly, she felt an instant understanding. She'd never be able to put her finger on it, but something about the girl felt familiar. "You're a Princess too, aren't you?" she asked.
"I'm Princess Six," the girl nodded with a grin.
"Oh, wonderful!" the Princess seemed to grow happier. "Ever since the atrocity...," she shook her head, despite the joy in her voice. "The peasants fled the kingdom. I have no subjects, and this castle lies empty," she walked forward and placed a hand on Six's shoulder as she met the girl's eyes. "I remained solely to wait for destiny's decision. Would they come back to wipe out the family completely? Would any villagers return?" she shrugged and smiled down at the plant.
"This changes everything. I no longer have a reason to stay, and the fact that you're a Princess too makes the decision simple. As a reward for giving my family peace, I grant you ownership of my castle. I no longer have a need for it," she added.
"Yes, please!" Six nodded eagerly, and the Princess smiled.
"Then, it is yours," she said. "I'll be out of your way shortly," she made the decision quickly, then wandered away and out of the library.
"Oh wow, I didn't expect that," Six smiled at the other two adventurers. They were twins, Karin and Davina.
"It's over? That’s the last step!?" Davina asked, and Six nodded.
"That's great," Davina replied. They shared a laugh, and in the space of a few minutes, a red-haired Princess entered the library. She was dressed almost identically to the blonde Princess, and she went straight for the same seat to begin reading the same book. "Alright, my turn," Davina smiled as she walked forward.
"Princess, I have avenged your family. They're at peace," Davina blurted out the script and offered a purple ghostly orchid.
"Thank you!" the red-haired Princess said. "Thank you so much!" she accepted the gift. "You're a Princess too, aren't you?"
"Princess Davina," she nodded.
"Oh, wonderful!" The Princess began her reply as Karin spoke up.
"What are you going to do with a castle?" She asked Six first, then she looked at her sister to suggest the same question.
"I'm gonna sell mine," Six shrugged. "I don't need it for anything."
"I grant you ownership of my castle...," the Princess continued while Davina turned to answer Karin's question.
"I'm keeping it," she smiled at Karin. "We got housing now. We don't even have to try and build it into a kingdom if we just want to use it for storage and crafting." The Princess walked out of the library, and the three adventurers followed her while continuing their conversation. They left just as another Princess came in and sat down to start reading.