A long time ago, in the English city of Manchester, lived a respected royal family known as the Phillips. King Fredrick Phillips and Queen Fiona had two beautiful daughters: Princess Roseanne and Princess Caroline. Unfortunately, there was sibling rivalry between the two daughters. Princess Roseanne was jealous of her younger sister, Princess Caroline. Caroline was a kind gentle soul and was so loved by the city. On the other hand, Roseanne was bitter, cold, and cruel, and no one dared to be near her. Both girls were looking for a prince who would soon become a future king someday.

They made a bet on who would get the most handsome prince in all the kingdoms to fall in love with her. A charming, good-looking fellow was seen on top of his horse, strolling into their city. Roseanne and Caroline instantly knew it was Prince Edward from Liverpool, a childhood friend of theirs. Roseanne had her heart set on marrying the gorgeous prince and laying claim to his kingdom. It wasn’t Roseanne that captured him. It was Princess Caroline that the Prince’s heart longed for. They fell in love at first sight, and this made Roseanne envious.

When the Phillips rode in their carriage to visit another kingdom, the citizens cheered on to see Princess Caroline. Young men chased after her with flowers in hand, hoping for just a glimpse, and swooned at her presence. But none for Princess Roseanne. She felt unloved, lonely, and meaningless in her sister’s shadow. “If only there was a way I could gain their attention and have them love me,” Roseanne thought. Her chance came on one fateful day.

On this day, King Frederick and Queen Fiona left their two daughters all alone in their castle. The royal couple traveled in secret, late at night in their carriage. They were on their way to another kingdom until their carriage was under attack. The bandits opened the doors. The King and Queen were stabbed to death and their jewels were stolen. They never found the bandits responsible for the attack. The people cried and mourned for their lost King and Queen, more so for Caroline.  She now, under her sister’s rule, began to see her isolation and loneliness. Shut away by her sister, she stayed inside the castle. She was locked in there for as long as the people wouldn’t see Princess Caroline anymore.

The poor princess felt trapped in her own home, and she couldn’t go beyond the castle grounds. Caroline had wondered why her envious sister would not let her wander outside. Was it too dangerous? She thought. She had always hoped that her sister would love her the same way as she did for her. Caroline never wanted to hurt Rose in any way.

The princess watched the Queen make her way to greet the citizens of their kingdom through giant windows of the castle. But she had heard of their sorrow people:

“I am sorry for you and Caroline’s loss.”

“But how is dear Caroline? Her heart must be so sore from grief.”

She knew her people were concerned for her, and tears fell down from her face. Caroline thought about how they were mourning over her parents. It was all too painful to bear. She had hoped to be with her people and comfort them in this time of need.  Why is Rose acting like nothing matters? Doesn’t she care for our parents? She also wondered.  There was something about her sister that didn’t seem quite right. She decided to keep a close eye on the new Queen and what she is up to. 

The very next day, Princess Caroline had seen Rose sit upon the throne.  She had a marvelous great golden crown on her head, ready to rule the kingdom. There before the Princess’ eyes was Prince Edward, strutting towards the throne. Caroline hid behind the gigantic pole near the stairway. She was able to take a peek about what was to lie ahead between Prince Edward and Queen Rose.

“My Queen, may I express my sadness at the loss of your parents,” Prince Edward greeted Roseanne.

He kneeled on one knee and he kissed her hand. He then rose up before her.

“Thank you, my Prince. Please, come sit by me.”

The Prince sat beside Roseanne, who promptly turned to him and said, “My dear Prince Edward. Now that I am Queen, I’m expected to marry. And so, it would lighten my heart if that man would be you. Edward dear, would you marry me?”

Princess Caroline opened her mouth, appalled by her sister’s behavior, and she gasped. How dare she!

“My Queen, I am honored to be asked, but alas my heart is taken by your sister, Caroline. It would not do to dishonor her, or you, by accepting this proposal. I know of another who loves you dearly. It should be he you ask,” The Prince kindly answered.

Princess Caroline’s heart skipped a beat when she overheard that his love for her was returned. She put her hand over her heart. Then the conversation was over. Prince Edward strolled away, and Rose was fuming once he left. She threw an object on the floor.

“How dare he declare his love for Caroline in front of me!” She growled.

Princess Caroline panicked, wondering what her sister would do next. Oh no!

“What have I done to deserve this? What have I done to make people not love me and give me the attention I so much deserved?” Queen Rose yelled.

Princess Caroline, still hiding behind the pole, peeked some more. She had tried to get different angles of her sister, without being seen. Rose stepped down from the throne and she paced back and forth.

“What do I have to do to get the people to notice me? Do you know what I had to do? Becoming Queen was my destiny. I couldn’t let the people know that Caroline was supposed to be the successor. I had to hire those thieves to kill my own parents to become Queen. And still, nothing works.”

A loud gasp escapes Princess Caroline’s mouth. She frantically runs upstairs to her bedchambers. Her breathing starts to quicken. She couldn’t believe what she had heard. She was now afraid of her sister as Queen. How horrible! The Princess thought, Why would Rose do such a thing? When she got to her bedchambers, she sat on her bed and picked up her comb. She combed and combed. The more she did, the more she thought about her sister. It nerved her every time her comb touched her hair.  Her skin now prickled every time she thought of Rose. Instead, she started to sing a tune that calmed her down.

Caroline was so focused on the tune of the song and her singing that she didn’t bother to notice the footsteps from her bedchambers.  Bradley, Roseanne’s servant, watched her comb her shiny blonde hair.

“I’m sorry, Princess,” Bradley mumbles.

From a distance, she heard someone mumbling behind her. Before she could take a glance at the person behind her, the person grabbed the comb from Caroline’s hand and tossed it to the side. It took Bradley only one minute to blindfold her from behind, tied a white cloth in her mouth, and tied her wrists together with another cloth. Caroline tried to scream or make any sound, but her sound was only muffled. She was thrown over the shoulder of someone and he started to move. The Princess tried to use her legs to kick him, but even that was no use to her. While they were on the move, Princess Caroline heard the sounds from the kidnapper himself.

“I had no choice. The Queen demanded me to, otherwise, I would be better off dead by now.”

Bradley took the shortcut, the back way of the castle. He wanted to make sure that no one would see them make their escape.

Princess Caroline had no clue where her kidnapper was taking her. The only way she could know was through her sense of sound. She heard the sound of waves getting closer. How strange. Why would my kidnapper take me to the beach? The Princess thought.

Bradley found a small white rowing boat that is made to fit two people inside. He placed Caroline in it. She sat on something wooden and it was moving, swaying side to side.  Bradley sits down in front of her and he begins to row the boat, using all of his strength. Princess Caroline smelled the salty ocean air surrounding her. They were at the depths of the ocean. Caroline looked around and she knew that she couldn’t escape, even if she wanted to.  She felt frightened for her life. She thought for a brief moment that there was a possibility that her life was going to end anytime soon.

Where is he taking me? She wondered.

More than anything, Caroline felt defeated. She lowered her head and breathed through her nose. She sniffled as she felt her tears slowly roll down her cheeks, waiting for her death to come to her.

The boat had come to a sudden stop, and Princess Caroline knew that her time had come to an end. The kidnapper removed the blindfold from her eyes, untied her wrists, and her mouth. When her eyes could see again, she realized that her kidnapper was Bradley, the servant.

“Bradley? You are the one who took me away?”

“We must head to it quickly, Princess. Let’s not make haste. Please, ladies first,”

Princess Caroline discovered that her destination was an island. Caroline jumped off the boat as she lifted her eyebrows. She remembered the stories her parents told her about an enchanted island that was nearby their kingdom. She wondered if this was the very island her parents told her about, but she dismissed it.

Bradley followed behind Caroline as she started to explore what was on the island. There was a cave close by and was heading there. He pulled a knife from the pocket of his pants, ready to do the deed for Queen Roseanne. When he got close to Caroline, he lifted the sharp knife over her head. She turned to him and Caroline’s eyes widened in fear. Her body trembled at the sight of the knife. Bradley’s hand shook, still with the knife over her head, and he immediately put the knife back in his pant pocket.

“I’m sorry, your highness. I never wanted any harm towards you.” Bradley apologized profusely to the Princess.

Bradley bent down on his knees as he grabbed the hem of Caroline’s full-length dress.

“Please forgive me, Princess.” He begged.

“But I don’t understand. Why am I here?” Princess Caroline questioned her servant.

Bradley stood up and faced Caroline.

“There is no time to explain. I must tell you, Princess, that you cannot leave this island. If you do try to escape this island, you… will die.” Bradley said with much hesitation, avoiding her gaze.

“But…”

“I’m very sorry, Princess. You will be safe here. I promise,” Bradley sworn.

The Princess could not make sense why Bradley would try to kill her and then apologize to her.

Bradley turned away from her. He lowered his head and frowned. Bradley could not bear to look at the distressed Princess. He headed back into the boat and rowed in it, watching her being left behind.