happily every after?

3

He led me deeper and deeper into the castle through corridors and rooms I didn’t even know existed. It was a dumb move, going completely alone and unarmed with a stranger after what just happened but i knew i could trust him. Besides he wasn’t a stranger anymore right? I crashed into him earlier and he saved me from being harassed and we even knew each others names.

It was shocking, the fact that so much had happened in such a small period of time. The one day of my life that was supposed to be perfect turned out to be the most hectic of them all.

I wasn’t sure of where he was taking me or what was to happen next in my life but one thing I was sure of. There was no way in earth I was choosing James. I couldn’t believe my parents wanted me to be with him. Tears stung my eyes at the thought and I took deep breaths to prevent myself from crying again. “They didn’t know he was like this” I mentally scolded myself trying to convince myself that my parents cared a little bit.

i couldnt imagine what would have happened if alex and his friend would not have stopped by. I cringed at the thought and realised that we'd stopped walking.

He had stopped in front of a tiny wooden door surrounded by wines “I come here whenever I want to think, it’s my favorite place” he stated unlocking the door. “Aren’t you supposed to keep such places a secret, what if someone exposes your place? Then it wouldn’t be special anymore” I whispered. To be honest i was kinda flattered that he had shown me his favourite place. that he thought i was worthy of seeing it. “I’m sure you wouldn’t do that” was all he said before he stepped in. I followed and gasped at the sight in front of me.

It looked enchanted. Ivies covered the brick walls and moss grew in patches all over the ground. There were two windows on either side of the room allowing moonlight to enter and fall all over the room. Instead of a ceiling there was a glass dome on the top giving us a clear view of the moon that the clouds covered gracefully like a veil. Fireflies swarmed around the room making the place seem magical. Wild flowers covered some parts of the room making it look colorful . Everything was so simple yet so beautiful. He pointed to a place in the corner where a checked blanket was placed along with a pillow. I made myself seated as he sighed and sat in front of me on the slightly damp ground.

“You know I expected you to be smarter” he began. I gave him a confused look as he continued “I mean there are hundreds of men down there ready to be with you and you chose him”. “Actually I didn't choose him, my parents wanted me to choose him, I had to listen to them” I responded staring at the sky. The stars were twinkling brighter than ever, completely unaware of the messed up world beneath them.

“And you couldn’t have just said no?” I could feel his intense gaze on me. “They wouldn’t have listened, it doesn’t matter now any way” I whispered. He didn’t reply after that and I diverted my attention to the stars again. It was silent for two minutes.

“You have pretty eyes” I spoke up in an attempt to start a conversation. He looked at me kinda flustered “thank you. And to answer what you previously said, it does matter. I get that they’re your parents and all and you probably love them a lot but some decisions are to be made on your own. After all it was your selection not your parents' selection. What if he showed his true intentions after you’d chosen him? I may not know you much but you’re the princess I care for your safety. You deserve so much better than him”

I was taken aback by his words and I took in a shaky breath feeling all sorts of emotions raging through me but mostly frustration“I know but it’s not easy choosing someone in just a matter of hours and when there’s so many people to choose from! I never wanted to have a selection, I wanted to fall in love like a normal person but clearly being a princess means nothings ever normal for you. You can’t even be yourself, no one wants to talk to you because of your status, because they’re all under you. No one realizes how awfully lonely it gets and don’t get me started on the boundaries and all the limitations. I’m not allowed to go out beyond the gardens because it’s for my safety but after today I feel like I’m not safe even when im in the castle. I thought once I found the one for me it would all be better but how would I know if someone wants me for me or for the crown” I said releasing all my anger. I was tired of holding it all in

He looked kinda surprised at my outburst“well if it makes it any better, I don’t talk to you just because youre the princess also you never know what fate has in store for you, you’ll find true love one day” “why do you talk to me then” I asked, my voice was just above a whisper. “I don’t know, there’s just something about you that intrigues me” he said smiling a bit. I was taken aback. I had no answer to what he said maybe because i wasnt used to compliments but I didn’t want the conversation to end either. “Your eyes look prettier when you smile, i dont feel like looking away from them”

It was true, I could just sit here and look at his eyes forever. Now that I had a better look at him I realized it wasn’t just his eyes. He himself was gorgeous. It was as if god spent extra hours sculpting him. His jaw was sharp and his cheekbones were defined. He had full lips, Even better than mine. I was slightly jealous. His eyebrows were shaped like an arch and his hair was slightly curly at the ends. He was tall and I could see his muscles from underneath his shirt and as the moonlight shown on him he looked like gods own personal angel.

“Well my eyes don’t want to look away from you either” he muttered almost as if he was saying it to himself rather than to me. I smiled and didnt say anything about it, i know i wasnt meant to hear that. For some reason I wanted nothing but to hug him at that moment right there but I ended up blaming my hormones for that. “You never told me about how you feel, as a guard, arent you afraid of dying or something?” I questioned. “Well honestly it’s not that bad, I enjoy my job. The other soldiers are so friendly, they’re like my other family. The idea of protecting this land excites me and I find pride in dying for this land. I’d rather die a hero rather than a man who sits all day stuffing himself on the throne like a turkey. No offense to your father” I laughed at his words as he looked at me yet again with shock. Poor guy probably thought that I'd lash out at him for saying that about my father. I mean he didn’t say anything wrong.

“So what’s it like beyond the gardens” I asked. “It’s beautiful to be honest, the forests are huge and the markets and people they’re completely different from how they’re up here. Maybe I could take you one day” he replied, his eyes shining with excitement. “Would you?” a new hope bubbled up inside of me. “Nah I don’t want the king to slaughter me” he laughed. I laughed with him however there was a part of me that had wanted him to say yes.

“However I do get where you’re coming from, I can’t imagine being bound to the walls of the castle only” he continued. “Yeah I just want to see what it looks like even if it’s for once and I’d give up anything just for a tiny tour around the forest and Rimendeton itself” I stared up at the stars again, either the sky looked too beautiful today or either I just hadn’t paid much attention to it before because all I wanted to do right now was look at the view above all night. “The view’s beautiful isn’t it” he said almost as if he read my mind. I just nodded in response, still mesmerized by the moon.

“Why aren’t you scared or intimidated by me, I mean you said I intrigue you but why. Many people don’t even look my way because they’re too afraid to approach me” I asked the question that had been troubling me ever since we stepped into this room “maybe because when I crashed into you, you didn’t point your finger at me and threaten to banish me. You just stared at me like I was some alien of some sort. It was cute. I've been working here for 3 years now and no one, i repeat no one from the royal family has been this sincere to me. if i had crashed into someone else they wouldve probably thrown a tantrum because i was just a mere "guard". maybe i just like that you're different" he smiled at me.

“I didn’t stare at you because you were weird, I stared at you because i liked your eyes.” I defended, pouting slightly. He ran a hand through his hair which messed up the neat puff his hair originally were in. he laughed in response"You’re beautiful you know that, I just wish we had met differently you know. I mean what if you weren’t a princess or I wasn’t just a guard, we’d actually have a chance at friendship or anything else. I know we just met but I still wonder where fate would’ve led us if things were just a tiny bit different”.

“I have always wished to have a normal life too. It’s my dream to just wake up one day in a simple hut in the arms of someone who loves me dearly. That one day I wake up and I just don’t have to worry about tiaras and gowns or breathing loud” he was looking at me intently and I slowly put my hand over his entangling our fingers together. He looked up at me, surprised and we just sat there looking at each other under this starry night as the moon shone over us.

Somehow sitting all alone in this room with him comforted me. I noticed how his grip on my hand was gentle unlike james’ hard grip. He was undeniably attractive, why couldn’t I just choose him. Why did the financial status of a person matter? And at that moment as I sat there hand in hand with a person I never thought id see again, I realized how everyone did it. Select someone within a few hours. I didnt now how long id been sitting there with him but a part of my heart had already trusted and accepted him. We werent strangers anymore, i was sure of that.

“What’re you thinking off” he asked. “You” I whispered not caring about anything at that moment. There was silence in the room for a while as we both tried to process what i had just said and then he hesitantly leaned in. This was it and for a wild moment i was ready to let my hormones take over, it just felt so right. you cant blame me for feeling that way though, i had never been this close to a boy before and even though I had met him a few hours ago, I knew he wasnt bad at heart. he actually understood me. My mind was all foggy at that moment and i was too lost to think straight. We were now inches apart, I could feel his hot breath fanning my face. I closed my eyes but our lips never connected for the door burst to reveal my father, along with a very furious James who now had a bruise on the side of his head.

“WHAT IS GOING ON HERE” my father’s voice boomed across the room. Max was standing next to my father and he mouthed a quick sorry to Alex who looked shocked and worried both. I was sure I had the same expression on my face as I just stood frozen in place with my mouth agape. “Uh oh” Alex muttered under his breath as he quickly pulled away and untangled our hands, which left an empty feeling in my heart for some reason.

Curse my lady hormones.