Princess Elara loved the quiet time just as the sun dipped low below the castle towers. The sky turned soft shades of pink and orange, and the air grew cool and still. This was her signal! It was almost time for her very favorite part of the day: getting ready for bed!
First, she always helped tidy her toys. She carefully put her wooden blocks back in their colourful box, lined up her painted animal friends, and tucked her softest teddy bear into his special little armchair beside her bed. Putting everything in its proper place felt good, like getting the room ready for sweet dreams.
Next, with her kind and gentle helper, Miss Featherwing the wise old owl, Elara would go to the washroom. She washed her face gently, splashing cool water, and then brushed her teeth until they felt squeaky clean and looked sparkling white. Brush, brush, brush!
Then came the very best part: putting on her cozy pajamas! Elara had a special pair made of softest cotton, decorated with tiny, shimmering stars and sleepy moons. She wiggled her arms and legs into them, feeling instantly warm and snuggly, like being wrapped in a gentle hug.
Finally, before climbing under her covers, Princess Elara always went to her big window overlooking the castle gardens. Tonight, the moon was a big, friendly smile in the dark blue sky, and the stars were scattered across it like handfuls of tiny, glittering diamonds. It was a beautiful, peaceful sight.
As she gazed out, she noticed something fluttering right against the glass, near the soft light from her room. It was a small moth, its dusty wings trembling slightly, bumping softly against the windowpane. It seemed confused, maybe wanting to get outside to the sweet-smelling night flowers blooming in the garden below.
Princess Elara remembered what her mommy the Queen had taught her: that all living things, big or small, needed kindness and help sometimes. She carefully, very slowly, reached out and opened the window just a little crack, wide enough for a tiny creature to pass through safely.
"Hello there, little moth," she whispered softly, her voice barely louder than the gentle night breeze outside. "It's safe out there. The lovely flowers are waiting for you, just past the big oak tree in the garden."
The little moth paused for a moment, as if it understood her kind words and gentle intention. Then, with a final gentle flutter, the moth sailed out of the window and into the soft, dark night air, heading towards the twinkling lights she could see among the flowers. Elara watched it disappear, feeling a warm, happy glow spread through her chest. It felt wonderful to show kindness and help a small creature find its way home in the big world.
She closed the window gently, making sure it was secure. Miss Featherwing had finished tidying the room and had turned down Elara's bed, fluffing her pillows just the way she liked them, ready for sleeping.
Elara climbed into her bed, pulling her soft, star-patterned blanket right up to her chin. She felt so perfectly cozy and safe under her covers. She peeked out the window one last time. The stars seemed to twinkle a little brighter now, and the moon looked like it was smiling directly at her, like a secret friend in the sky.
"Goodnight, friendly moon," she whispered softly. "Goodnight, twinkling stars. Goodnight, little moth, I hope you find lots of sweet flowers to drink from."
With the gentle, comforting hoot of Miss Featherwing outside her door and the soft glow of her little nightlight filling the room with a warm, calm light, Princess Elara closed her eyes. She felt peaceful, loved, and happy, drifting off to sleep to dream the sweetest, kindest princess dreams under the watchful, beautiful starry sky.