It felt like the walls were closing in around you. The homeschooling, the training, the same routine, over and over- it was suffocating. You often felt like you were ungrateful, thinking about how people would’ve done anything to be in your position, but they simply couldn’t have known how hard it was, being the heir to a kingdom so powerful and vast.

People only knew about your existence, but never had they seen you, for the king had made many enemies during his reign, and couldn’t risk putting you in harm’s way. That’s why you had been confined to the castle until it was time for you to find a suitor. To soothe the boredom, your parents had given you a confidant, helping you in all your personal tasks, someone you could trust and confide in; you also had a guard, Simon, whose duty was to protect you from any harm or threats, even though you had never left the castle.

Both were close in age to you, the only people you could ever get attached to and who knew every little detail about you. In the years, the closeness between you and Simon had turned into chemistry- a very dangerous thing, since he couldn’t possibly ever be more than your guard. You were destined to be married to a suitor of royal blood, and of course, he couldn’t possibly know that you felt the exact same way.

You weren’t sure how you were even able to convince Simon to let you sneak out of the castle to head out to the tavern for the night, but your birthday ball was nearing, and he didn’t want to leave any stone unturned. If you were going to be the death of him, that’s how he wanted to go. Also, he’d always thought it was unfair for you to be encased between the castle walls, so if he was going to lose you forever, at least he would be the one to grant you one night of fun.

“Your Highness-” Simon began, offering his hand to dismount his horse. “No titles,” you cut him off harshly, your palm meeting his. “I’m just me tonight.” He chuckled, his fingers ghosting against your waist as he helped you to the ground. “My apologies, force of habit.”