..."Taking mine, but it's been promised to another" - Taylor swift, Ivy...

I was sitting down at the oak tree, reading my book when I see someone approach me from afar. But I don't look up thinking it's just another farmer passing by. The shadow of the person standing over me makes me look up at them. My eyes widened as I realized it was the princess. “Oh, I'm sorry, your Highness,” I say, getting up from where I was sitting as I brush off the grass from my gown and I bow down a bit. Which makes me drop the book that I had completely forgotten, I was holding. I close my eyes as I take a deep breath and slowly come up again from my bow. “We shall talk tonight” She says, giving me a look. I look around seeing one man far away but I keep pretending. “Yes, your highness,” I say again as I give a little nod and she turns to leave as I watch her. This was unusual, the princess would never come and find me like this. I pick up my book as I walk away back to my home. My mind spiraled of what she possibly would want to talk to me about.

It felt like forever till the night, Summer in this village has the sun staying up longer than ever making the day feel longer. I waited for her as the darkness took its place in the sky and the breeze became colder. I waited for what felt like hours but was probably just one or two. I slowly drifted to sleep, my eyes slowly closing as I fell asleep. The morning had come and there was no trace of Bella anywhere. I sat there confused, not sure if I should try to find her, but I knew I couldn't since it's the day now so I had to wait till the night falls again. I went to the market as I knew going early would give me good deals. I walk there as I walk into the store, the bell on the top of the door makes a noise as I walk into the store, and I look around trying to see where the staff usually sits. She walks out of the door from inside the store “Hey, Augustine” she says cheerfully. And I give her a little smile “Hello, Miss Mintz, I would like some bread” “Sure thing, honey” She says as she puts bread into a bag “Have you heard the news?” she says again as she looks back at me and I shake my head “You know, you'd hear more if you lived closer to the town” I laugh a bit as she continues “There is news about the princess” She says, which really catches my attention “what about the princess?” I ask curious “There was a royal carriage late last night…” She says as she almost whispers the next sentence “They say that the princess has been moved to meet a prince in the nearby kingdom”

The news shocks me a bit but i don't let it show, I mean, a prince? Who could it be? I thank Miss Mintz for the bread and quickly rush back home, my mind already filled with my own theories and speculations of what I've heard. But knowing Bella she wouldn't do that now, would she? It made me confused and since she isn't in town, I couldn't really ask her. And the fact that she had been acting strangely around me lately is making a lot more sense and the meeting she wanted to have yesterday but never showed up was also strange. I decided that I'd try to sneak my way into the castle tonight.

The day passed quickly as I spent it doing chores and helping out the farmers. It was late now and I dressed in dark clothes and wore pants and a hood, which would make it easier for me to sneak around. I made it to the castle and climbed into Bella's room through the window. No one was there, I could hear footsteps from outside her door as I quickly took in hiding inside her closet

I heard someone turn the doorknob, and then the door opened with a creak. Footsteps came closer and closer until I could faintly make out a voice talking and then I heard Bella's voice, replying. “Yes Father, I'll make sure to attend the ball” I stayed in the closet, breathing shallowly and silently, until I heard the door close again and the footsteps fade away. Then, I stepped out and saw Bella standing there in a dress that looked new, her eyes having a confused look in them and also an alert look on her face. And before I knew it she was going to yell so I quickly put my hand on her mouth. As I quickly took off the hood I had over my head. “shhh…It's just me,” I say as I slowly take my hand off her mouth, “sorry,” I say again as I take a step back from her. “what… are you doing here?” she says, taking a step closer to me, “I hear rumors about… some prince and I wanted to ask you” She looks at me a bit taken back, she moves from the middle of the room where we were standing to her bed. And I follow her with my gaze, as she sits down looking down at her dress. I walk towards her and stop once I'm in front of her. The tension between us is like a tightly wound spring, ready to be released at any moment. “My father has found a prince for me to marry,” I blink a few times, feeling my eyes burn, I feel a lump in my throat as I wanted to ask her more about it, but I couldn't bring myself to. I could see the sadness in her eyes and I knew that she was trying to stay strong. I sat down next to her and put my arm around her.

We stayed like that for a few minutes, not saying a word. I could feel her shaking and I knew she was trying to hold back her tears. I wanted to tell her that it was going to be okay, that she didn't have to go through with it, but I knew that wasn't the case. I wanted to protect her, to keep her from this terrible fortune, but I was so powerless. We stayed like that until both of us had composed ourselves again. I looked at her and gave her a reassuring smile. "It's going to be okay," I said, and I meant it.

She looked away, not able to meet my gaze, as she said, "I don't know what to do. I can't run away, and I can't deny my father's wishes. What if this prince is dreadful? What if I'm not happy with him?" I could hear the desperation in her voice and I knew what she was asking me, “What about you?” she finally says.

I took her hands in mine and said, "You don't have to do anything you don't want to do. You can make your own decisions and follow your own path, no matter what your father says." She looked at me, her eyes full of sadness and I knew what she wanted me to say, and I felt my heart racing knowing I couldn't be selfish. I sighed, and said, "I can't ask you to stay with me. I want you to be happy, and if that means you have to marry this prince, then I'll accept it. I'll always be here for you, no matter what." I brushed her tears away and she looked into my eyes. She leaned forward and pressed her lips to mine, and for a moment it felt like nothing else mattered. When she pulled away, she said, "I want you, not a stupid prince." I gave her a small smile and said, "I can't save you." I kissed her cheek as I wiped the tear falling from her eyes.

“I know,” She says, closing her eyes, letting a tear fall down.

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★ THE END ★