The princess crumpled the letter in her hands, her hopes shattered once again. How could she have been so naive as to trust the empty promises of yet another suitor? They were all the same - seduced by her beauty but not her spirit. 

She walked to the window and opened it, letting the cool night air soothe her anger. The birds were asleep in their nest, unaware of how they had been used. She felt a pang of guilt for involving them in her silly fantasy. They had served her well, and she had repaid them with deception.

The princess steeled her heart. She would not be rescued. She would find her own way to freedom, claim her throne, and have her revenge on the Queen. No prince would save her - she would save herself. Her beauty had always been her curse, reducing her to a prize to be won. Now it would be her weapon.

She devised a plan as cunning as any strategy of war. She would flatter and flirt with the next suitor, promising him her hand and kingdom. And when his guard was down, she