Once upon a time, a girl named Sophie went into the forest with the queen's huntsman. Her lips were the color of ripe cherries, her skin was as soft as fresh snow, her hair was black as the night. When they stopped to rest, the huntsman drew his knife and took her heart. It was no surprise to Sophie. She had heard the rumors, the whispers around her. They said she was too kind and gentle to rule; such a queen would be a disaster. And Sophie believed them. She believed everything she had heard about herself, all the poisonous words people use to prevent girls like her from gaining power. However, Sophie would prove that even the darkest magic cannot extinguish the fire that burns within every girl. And that the greatest power is kindness. They can list all your weaknesses, but they cannot make you believe them. Only you can do that. "Kindness is many things," she said. "It is gentle. Tender. Tolerant. It is born from patience and faith. Sometimes, yes, it is dangerous. If you help an injured animal that might attack you, if you defend someone who is being abused... all these are dangerous. But trying to understand another creature, to put yourself in their shoes, to help them, even when it costs you, that shows strength, Sophie, not weakness."