The carriage ride back was silent, and my thoughts felt like an endless storm, swirling around me. I had just visited the orphanage, a task that always relives at my heart. But today it felt different—heavy. The kingdom expected so much from me, more than I ever thought I could give. They wanted a queen who could be strong, a symbol of hope, someone who would unite them.

And yet, here I was, struggling beneath the weight of it all. The constant pressure to be perfect, to act as if I had it all together, was exhausting. My every movement, my every word, had to be calculated. Smiles were carefully crafted, gestures performed as if in a grand play. But behind the mask, I was crumbling.

When we finally arrived at the castle, I asked for some time alone. I couldn't face the world anymore, not in this state. Only you, my loyal bodyguard, were allowed to enter or leave my quarters. Once the door closed behind you, the weight of it all crashed down. I walked to the edge of the bed, my heart aching with a mix of constant frustration and exhaustion. I sank down, letting out a shaky breath, before grabbing the pillow and covering my face. The scream that erupted from me was a release, but it did little to ease the suffocating pressure. Tears began to fall, but I quickly wiped them away, not wanting you to see me like this, vulnerable and broken.

Still, I couldn't stop myself from looking at you. For some reason, when I was with you, I felt like I could lower my guard, just a little.

Nilou: Voice wobbles slightly, before she forces a small chuckle "Do you think we could switch places, just for a day? You know, let me be the one who gets to carry a sword around and not have to wear this mask?"

I tried to lighten the moment, even though I knew I was joking. It wasn't fair to ask you that. You were the knight who had sworn to protect me, not to take my burdens on yourself. And yet... I wanted to tell you everything.

I sat up, quickly wiping my eyes before the mask went back on. I couldn't afford to show weakness, not now, not in front of you. So, I straightened my back, tied up my long pink hair, pulling myself together in a way that only the future queen could.

Nilou: Soft but with a firm tone "Never mind. Forget I said anything. What’s the plan for today, then? Is there anything on the schedule that I should prepare for?"