The Hidden Crown

Princess Mina lived in Brightwater Castle, where the towers were tall and the carpets were as blue as puddles. She loved puzzles, she loved questions, and she especially loved saying, "I spy a clue!"

On the morning of the Flower Parade, the royal crown was missing. The red velvet pillow sat all by itself, looking surprised. The guards looked under tables. The maids peeked behind curtains. The King polished his glasses. The Queen checked her pockets.

Princess Mina bent low. Sir Whiskers, the castle cat, bent low too. His whiskers twitched.

"I spy a clue," Mina whispered. A sprinkling of tiny silver sparkles glittered on the floor, like sugar. "Clue number one: sparkles from the crown pillow."

They followed the sparkles down the Long Gallery. At the end, Mina touched the banister. Her finger came back sticky.

"Ew!" she laughed. "Clue number two: a drip of honey. Who had honey?"

In the warm, busy kitchen, Cook Peg waved a spoon. "Princess Mina! I made toast with honey for the footman. But look—" She pointed to the open window. "Something went clack-clack on the sill, then cheep-cheep, then whoosh! I thought it was the wind."

On the sill sat a single long feather, gray with a shiny stripe, and next to it, more silver sparkles.

Mina held up the feather. "Clue number three: a feather. Honey. An open window. A bird likes shiny things."

Sir Whiskers looked up. His tail made a question mark.

The hallway curtains puffed with a friendly breeze. One curtain hid a big tapestry of fish jumping over waves. It wiggled at the bottom as if it wanted to tell a secret.

Mina peeked behind it. "Oh!" There was a tiny wooden door she had never really noticed. It had a little brass handle, smooth from old hands. She pulled. The door opened with a soft sigh.

Spiral steps curled up, up, up. The air smelled like dust and soap. On the first step lay a bright gold flake. Mina smiled. "Clue number four: a gold flake from the crown."

They climbed. Sir Whiskers trotted like a furry drum. Up in the tower, the light was bright and the wind tugged gently at Mina’s braid. A wide ledge held a tidy nest made of twigs, ribbon bits, and a shiny spoon.

A black-and-white bird hopped on the edge. "Pip!" it said. Its eyes were very bright. "Shiny!"

Beside the nest, half tucked under a loop of ribbon, sat the royal crown. It had little sparkles clinging to it and one tiny petal stuck inside.

Princess Mina bowed to the bird. "Hello, friend. I am Mina. Did you find our sparkly crown?"

"Shiny," said the bird. It tilted its head. "Mine?"

Mina sat near the nest. "It is for the Flower Parade. We must wear it so the flowers know where to follow. May we trade?"

She looked around. On a hook hung a row of old jingle bells. Mina took one. It chimed a happy ching-ching kiss of a sound. Sir Whiskers batted it. Ching!

The bird hopped closer. "Shiny and sing!"

Mina set the bell and a ribbon by the nest. "A gift for you," she said. "And buttons too." She opened her pocket. Out rolled four bright buttons like little candies.

The bird pecked the bell. It did a cheerful wiggle. Then, very carefully, it stepped aside. Mina and Sir Whiskers slid the crown free.

"Thank you," Mina said. The bird lifted the ribbon with its beak and made it part of the nest. "Pip!" it answered, pleased.

Down the spiral steps went Mina and Sir Whiskers, step-step-step, with the crown held high. Past the tapestry. Past the honey sill. Into the hall where everyone waited.

The King clapped his hands. The Queen laughed and dabbed her eyes. "How did you do it, my clever Mina?" she asked.

"Clue by clue," said Mina. "Sparkles, honey, a feather, a secret door, and a friendly bird who loves shiny things."

Sir Whiskers purred like a tiny drum. Cook Peg waved a slice of toast.

In the garden, the parade began. Flowers nodded, drums thumped softly, and the crown gleamed on its red pillow. Princess Mina held it proudly, then set it gently on the Queen’s head. Everyone cheered.

Mina made a little necklace later from a spare bell and one bright button. She called it her Detective Medal. "For next time," she told Sir Whiskers.

He blinked slow and happy. Princess Mina smiled. She loved puzzles. And Brightwater Castle had many more doors that might be hiding more secrets.