The Big Meeting

That night, Missy lay on her bed, replaying the moment that had completely hijacked her afternoon.

"When you grow up, I will marry you!"

Eek! she squealed, burying her face in her pillow.

It was the first time she had ever proposed to someone—and he actually said yes.

Such a smooth talker… but his words made my heart flutter.

She kicked her feet in the air, rolling from side to side, then sat up, clutching a stuffed animal to her chest like it was the boy himself. A giggle escaped her lips, followed by another, until she was breathless from laughing, heart racing.

Outside her chamber, two guards stood stiff at their posts.

"Has she gone insane?" one whispered, peering at the door.

"Middle of the night, laughing like that… she's definitely cursed," the other muttered, eyes wide.

Missy flopped back onto the bed, arms sprawled, staring at the velvet canopy above her. "I must be crazy… I really said that, didn't I?"

She took a deep breath, sat up again, and clapped twice.

"I need witnesses," she mumbled with determination. "My joy must be shared."

With a gentle shimmer of light, a magic circle appeared near the foot of her bed.

A second later, two animals materialized—one gracefully leaping onto the bed, the other skidding in with a joyful bark and tumble.

The cat was Roxy.

The dog was Lola.

Roxy's sleek black fur shimmered with an almost mystical sheen. Her mismatched eyes—one blue, one green—blinked slowly as if analyzing her master's emotional state. Her movements were graceful, like a noblewoman slipping into a ballroom unnoticed.

Lola, by contrast, wagged her fluffy tail furiously, bouncing around like a sugar-high toddler. Her golden fur was thick and soft, and her front right paw gleamed white like a polished boot.

Lola launched herself onto Missy's lap, licking her cheek.

"Lola!" Missy squealed through laughter, trying to push her off gently. "I'm not a sundae, stop licking me!"

Roxy sat elegantly on the rug beside the bed, giving a slow, heavy sigh.

Dogs... such hopeless creatures.

She flicked her tail once, then curled into a tidy loaf beside the dressing mirror like she was done with the drama already.

Missy wiped Lola's drool off her cheek with a silk sleeve and grinned. "Alright, girls. Transform to ypur human forms."

She snapped her fingers.

In a burst of gentle light, both pets began to shift.

Roxy's form rose into the air, limbs stretching, fur receding as her silhouette molded into that of a small girl. When the light faded, an 8-year-old version of Roxy stood calmly by the mirror.

Her skin was porcelain-pale, her cheeks naturally rosy. Her tousled bob haircut framed her delicate face with soft waves and feathered layers. Her mismatched eyes sparkled beneath long lashes and neatly trimmed bangs.

She wore a flared black dress embroidered with golden spiderwebs and cats along the hem. The fabric shimmered as she walked toward Missy with practiced grace. A black-and-purple cat-skull barrette clipped one side of her hair, and her glossy black shoes tapped lightly across the polished floor.

Then Lola transformed.

She twirled through the light like a whirlwind, finally landing in a crouch, arms spread wide.

Now in her human form, Lola was a lively 8-year-old girl with warm beige curls cut into a bouncy pixie style. Her cheeks were flushed, eyes big and bright, and her wide grin was practically blinding.

She wore a white, crisply tailored jacket with gold buttons and trim, matched with perfectly pressed black trousers. Her hands were gloved in white, and she wore sturdy brown boots—clearly made for stomping through anything.

Missy clapped with glee. "Perfect! Now, tea party time!"

She waved her hand, and illusion magic shimmered across the room. The air changed slightly—soft music began to play from invisible instruments in the corner, and layers of silent magic wrapped around the space to prevent sound from leaking out.

A round table with curved gold legs materialized in the center of the room, surrounded by plush satin cushions. A pastel-pink porcelain tea set floated into place, steam curling from delicate cups. Plates hovered briefly, then settled with precision, each one holding colorful cookies shaped like animals and flowers.

"I'll get the cushions!" Lola said, already dragging two with her feet and kicking one into place.

"And I'll fetch the snacks," Roxy replied, flicking her fingers and sending a floating tray of tiny cakes across the room like it was nothing.

Missy floated into her seat like a princess descending from a cloud. "Mmm. Lavender this time," she whispered, inhaling the tea's aroma.

Lola plopped down beside her with a content sigh, legs crossed and cookie already in hand. She bit into it with wide eyes and mumbled, "It's a bunny!"

"Lola, manners," Roxy chided, pouring tea with a flawless wrist tilt.

Lola gave a sheepish grin and sat straighter, pinky finger raised ridiculously high as she took another bite.

They sat in comfortable quiet, sipping and munching, enjoying their little world.

Then Missy rose, brushing imaginary crumbs off her skirt and planting her feet dramatically.

"I have two announcements to make!" she declared.

Lola sat upright, her mouth still full. "Mmmmph?!"

Roxy raised an eyebrow. "Go on."

Missy put her hands on her hips. "First… I am engaged! Well, sort of. Not Officially—but still! It counts, right?"

There was a long pause.

Then—

"Whaaat?!" Lola shrieked, nearly choking on her cookie. She lunged toward Missy, shaking her shoulders. "To who?! When?! Where?! How?! Did you confess first? Wait—did he kiss you?!"

"Lola, breathe!" Missy laughed, swatting her away.

Roxy narrowed her eyes. "Is this a joke?"

Missy dropped onto a pillow and twirled a strand of her hair. "Nope. He said, 'When you grow up, I will marry you.' And I said yes."

Lola's hands shot into the air. "Our little Missy's growing up so fast!"

Missy playfully threw a pillow at her.

Roxy, however, was still frowning. "Missy… You've been bullied a lot. What if he's just saying it to mess with you?"

Missy paused, then looked down at her lap, fingers tightening slightly.

"I thought about that too," she admitted. "But he didn't feel like them. He was calm. His eyes… they didn't mock me. He just said it. Like he meant it."

Roxy studied her for a moment longer. "What's his name?"

"…I don't know yet," Missy admitted with a sheepish smile.

Roxy blinked. "You don't even know his name?!"

"Missy…" she groaned, rubbing her forehead. "You're impossible."

Still, she couldn't bring herself to argue further—not when her master was glowing like this. The sparkle in Missy's eyes hadn't been there for months. Roxy folded her arms with a sigh.

"Fine. I'll help. But I get to interrogate this boy the second he shows up."

"Deal!" Missy beamed, throwing herself into Roxy's arms in a hug that nearly knocked the catgirl off balance.

Lola clapped like a seal. "This is my favorite drama!"

Missy turned to them both, suddenly serious again. "Second announcement: I want to become rich. Like… scary rich. I want to build an empire."

Lola blinked. "What for?"

"So that when I grow up, I can throw the grandest wedding ever. One that makes people's jaws drop."

Roxy tilted her head. "Why so grand?"

Missy's smile softened.

"My nanny told me once—when my father married my mother, the nobles mocked her. She was illegitimate, unrecognized, and always whispered about. But she didn't break."

She stood straighter, her eyes glinting. "She fought. She studied. She entered politics, managed trade deals, built networks. Eventually, they respected her. And when my father finally married her properly, they threw the most extravagant wedding the kingdom had ever seen."

She looked at her tea with longing. "I want that too. Not because I have to prove anything—but because I want to stand beside him with pride."

Roxy nodded, slowly understanding. Lola reached across and held Missy's hand.

"So what do we do?" she asked.

"I need money," Missy said. "To start something."

"Ask your dad!" Lola blurted. "He's basically made of money!"

Missy groaned. "He'd say no. He already thinks I'm too imaginative for my own good."

Roxy tapped her chin. "Then offer him a deal."

Missy tilted her head. "A deal?"

"Ask for a loan," Roxy said, eyes gleaming. "Pitch your idea seriously. If it succeeds, pay him back. If it fails, you grant him a wish—anything, as long as it doesn't hurt you."

Missy grinned. "That's brilliant."

"Of course it is," Roxy smirked. "I came up with it."

Missy hopped to her feet. "Tomorrow, I'll wear my smartest dress, prepare a speech, and go straight to him."

The Next Morning...

Missy woke up at dawn, butterflies flitting in her chest.

She brushed her hair three times more than usual, tied her bow just right, and practiced her speech while pacing the hallway. Her fingers were smudged with ink from late-night planning.

Clutching her proposal like a scroll of destiny, she rushed down to the dining hall.

But it was empty.

The butler bowed. "His Majesty left at four in the morning, Princess. He returned at midnight, but you were asleep."

Missy's smile faded.

She hadn't realized… just how early he left. How late he came home.

All this time, she thought he didn't care. That he was ignoring her.

But now…

Maybe he was just too busy.

She stood in the hallway for a long moment, watching the morning sunlight stream across the marbled floors.

But her grip on the proposal tightened.

So what if he's busy? I'll wait. I'll corner him. I'll use his lunch break if I have to.

Because this wasn't just about a silly promise.

This was about her future.

This was about proving herself.