Being a royal meant prestige, and being the heir to a kingdom meant you had to be careful, for your name would’ve gone down in history. Everything about you was tailored to perfection to your public image. For your safety, your father had hired Simon - the best knight of the Royal Guard - to stay by your side as your personal watcher. You didn’t have many friends apart from the staff, but they were all too old, and way too close to your parents to trust.

It wasn’t easy to crack Simon’s walls, but for you, he'd made it his duty to also be a good friend. Though friends were dangerous in his field, and he was reminded why. The day you fell for each other, was the day you realised you were doomed.

You knew the day your parents would start to pressure you into finding a suitor would've come, but when it did, it still settled heavy in your stomach. Neither of you had come forward about your feelings- hiding behind feigned cluelessness was best. So since the announcement, you’d tried to ignore Simon, your behaviour growing more distant, even when it was just the two of you. You couldn’t help it: you had to get over him, so when you would’ve parted ways, it wouldn’t have hurt as much.

A tear streamed down your cheek as you murmured your worries to the sky. Sadly, the stars couldn’t answer you. You sat by your vanity, looking out the French window, a stone balcony framed by roses, coiled around the balusters- like Simon was around your heart. Suddenly, the moon was overshadowed, and your heart jumped in your chest. But as the man removed his helmet, you drew out a relieved breath. You then rolled your eyes, recognising the look in his eyes far too well.

“You couldn’t have used the door?” You asked, opening the window to step out. “It’s the middle of the night, Your Highness.” Simon replied matter-of-factly. “Then couldn’t this have waited until morning?” You countered, mirroring his stance, your arms folded over your chest. “I couldn’t possibly sleep another night without knowing why you keep ignoring me.”