The child who had left home returned. Ariana had graduated from school and was no longer all that young.
But unlike most Western women, her face looked more delicate and youthful.
Time seemed to move slowly for her. With her youthful face, it would have been perfectly natural to mistake her for a twenty-year-old college student.
Sometimes, her overly long hair troubled Ariana. She had a head of hair that would make every man in the United Kingdom envious.
That also made it difficult to tie up.
Fortunately, she had her own little personal butler.
Early morning.
Standing before a full-length mirror as tall as a person, Little Bear straightened the black bow tie around his neck.
Before the alarm rang, Master Bear began his morning work.
He entered the walk-in closet, where a preheated electric iron waited.
He went over and took out the clothes Ariana had not worn in a long time to iron them.
He sorted the clothes and labeled them.
He pressed the remote, and the curtains slowly opened.
The first ray of morning sunlight could now fall on the princess's flawless profile.
With his tasks finished, Little Bear took a running leap and landed precisely on the spacious princess bed.
Golden hair lay scattered across the bed, with a few strands clinging to a fair face.
Her eyelashes trembled. Before she had even woken, her restless hands were already feeling around beside her pillow.
Little Bear moved closer, positioning himself right where her hand would touch him.
The alarm rang.
Ariana slowly opened her eyes. Little Bear ran over on his short, furry legs, grabbed the alarm clock, and hurled it against the wall.
"Good morning, Little Bear."
Rising from the luxurious bed, Ariana raised both arms and stretched.
Little Bear stood at the head