"He craved a soul
That would value his story,
More than his history." ~ Pierre Jeanty

The crown prince paced around his bed chambers.

What is wrong with me? Why did I summon her to my bed chambers? What will she think of me?

All it took was one comment from his sister to leave him in such a frenzy.

She is hesitant to marry you because she does not know you.

Why did it matter if she knew him or not? Her entire culture left him in a state of utter puzzlement, he did not know how to react.

But, what really bothered him was how much he wanted her to know him.

In the capital, no one had to know what your biggest dreams were or what your hobbies are. No one had interest in who you were only what you could do.

If that was the perception people had towards each other, what more would they have for the crown prince?

They only needed reassurance that he could lead the kingdom, they only needed reassurance that there was something they could thrive on. Forgetting that the one behind all their success is a person, with human emotions and fears.

Fears they were never allowed to show, for they had a reputation to uphold, a facade that should never fall.

For each and every day, the crown became an even heavier burden, each and every day
his soul became more laden.

Once, maybe just once, the prince wished for someone who would hear his story. Once, just once, to see him differently.

The doors to his chambers opened and Dakota strolled in.

She wore a pastel pink dress with flowing skirts that swished by as she walked. Her chestnut was plaited into a French braid, with wisps of hair sticking out.

A cheeks were glowing red, almost as if she was winded. If her face did not give it away, her uneven breathing did.

Her boots held slight scratches to the sides and dried mud camouflaged itself to the side soles of her shoes.

Her hands fiddled together before her breast, out of sheer nervousness or habit, one could not tell.

The prince suppressed a smile.

She has spent quite a lot of time with Trina.

"Greetings your grace," she spoke softly, bowing low.

"Please, you do not have to bow in my presence," Prince Theodore started.

"Apologies, it is-"

"Your custom, I know," he cut her off gently.

Dakota allowed herself a smile. Most people that she had met had either marveled at her humbleness or chastised her due to her position. No one ever bothered to try and understand why she did what she did.

Least of all, she never expected it from the prince.

"Is the something you need from me your highness?" She asked.

"No, nothing of such sorts. I heard from my sister in passing that you wanted to know me better?" He said, almost as if he were teasing her.

Dakota flushed a bright red.

Only you Trina, only you.

"Well, I cannot really expect myself to marry someone I only know by their name, nothing else." She bluntly replied.

The prince smiled and huffed out a laugh. She had her own expectations and the kingdom had their own expectations of her. It practically seemed like she would not allow the capital, this place to wash out who she really is.

Even though that has happened to many people many times.

"You could have just asked around you know, most people would be willing to talk about me." His eyes twinkled.

"From their perspectives? I apologize, but no. What other people say about you is based on the perceptions they see of you, if I wanted to know you, I would have to find out from the source." She shrugged.

Stunned. That was all he was stunned. To an echoing silence. No one ever bothered to know him, no one ever bothered to ask him. Everything people knew about him was based on the achievements and praised he received. That he was an astounding prince, wiser than most have been. No one ever bothered to know his story.

Until her.

And it was not that he needed someone to fall in love with. It was not that he needed someone to make his heart beat. Maybe he just needed someone to talk to, maybe he just needed a friend.

"What is there that you would like to know?" He all but whispered.

Her gaze softened. "Everything,"

And for once, something in the depths of his soul awakened.

"Come with me," he said and she followed him out to his balcony.

Out on the wide spaced balcony, deep in the corner a mini feast had been prepared.

In Trina's words, such meals were considered a snack.

Dakota begged to differ.

A snack did not consist of almost every kind of fruit ranging from size to color.

A snack did not have different variations of wine just to taste.

A snack did not not have enough food that could feed ten hungry people.

The people of the capital did not believe so.

However, the 'little' snack area had been made a little more cozy as there were no plates nor cutlery, therefore one had to eat with their hands, and instead of extravagant chairs, plush cushions were placed for extra comfort.

Dozens of candles littered the balcony to light up the darkness of the night sky.

Dakota sat down on a cushion and reclined her head to stare at the stars.

Thousands upon thousands of twinkling stars painted the dark sky like a magnificent canvas. Vast colours of reds and blues winked down at her in their merriment.

"Lovely," she whispered in awe.

"It always is," the prince whispered back, seated next to her with his gaze on the stars as well.

Finally breaking the stare from the starlit sky, they both turned to each other and sat in silence.

"I've never done this before. I do not even know the first thing to say," Theodore admitted.

"Well, it is rather easy. Just say what you want to say." Dakota shrugged.

"I am not restricted to my answers?" He said thoughtfully.

"No, I do not want to hear words that appease me, I want to hear words that appeal to you. I want to know about you. Who are you? What makes you, you?" She emphasised.

"Interesting, I have spent my whole life carefully choosing my words and guarding myself, I have never felt this individual independence before. It is rather nice," he spoke, titling his head up with a smile.

"Why do they do that? Why do they force those of noble birth to be the epitome of greatness?" Dakota asked.

"People of the capital have a delusional way of thinking that perfectness is everything. They strive their whole lives for anything and everything that would make them seem flawless. Extreme amounts of money has become a must have, extensive beauty has become a necessity, knowledge is more for competition than for productional means. Everyone wants to be the best and the more titles you have to your name seems to bring you a step closer to this so-called perfectness." Theodore spoke quite distastefully. The mannerisms of the capital would lead them all to ruin.

"What do you think about such an attitude?" Dakota boldly asked, plucking a grape and popping it in her mouth.

Theodore was silent for a moment. He looked into Dakota's eyes and found no judgement in them.

For once in his life someone truly valued his opinions.

"I believe it is a rotten way of thinking. People believe being flawed is a disgrace yet it is flaws that make us perfect. Living a plastic life ruins your soul, you become a prisoner of expectation and a slave to being perfected." He whispered.

"But those are the ways of the capital. It has always been this way, why do you want it to change?" She continued pressing, continued giving him the freedom of his own expression.

"Because I want the capital to change. Their way is not the right way. Old ways will not open new doors." His determination shone through his eyes.

Realization hit Dakota, as she finally witnessed the difference in the capital.

There was a dreamer. In a city of chaotic disbelievers there was a dreamer.

And Dakota greatly admired the prince for that.

"You are only one person, how do you plan on instilling change?" She could not help but ask.

"Slowly, surely, by inviting the right people into the capitalist community and hope they can inflict change." He softly spoke, his hand tucking away a lock of Dakota's hair behind her ear.

Dakota's cheeks darkened with colour and a smile grazed her lips.

Cute, thought prince Theodore.

"You really like to dream big," Dakota commented, trying to brush of her embarrassment.

"In this life, dreaming big is all you have," Theodore said.

For some reason that reply bothered her. One should not be limited to just dreams in their lives. They should be able to go out and achieve them in every life.

"Maybe in another lifetime, I'll be free to do as I please," he soullessly spoke, almost like he did not believe it himself.

"Where would you go? What would you do?" Dakota asked, attempting to brighten up his spirits.

"I would not mind being here, I just wish I could have the freedom to study the stars." He admitted.

"The stars?"

"Yes, magnificent things aren't they? In a way their more perfect than we could ever be. They simply look content shining from their galaxies. There is so much you could learn from the stars. Different constellations, what they are made of, why do they constantly shine?" he rambled passionately.

Dakota smiled. "Maybe in my next life I should become a star. Beautiful but mysterious."

"Who said you are not in this life?" The prince quirked a brow.

Once again Dakota flushed.

A teasing smile played on Theodore's lips. He did not know why, but he found it fun to make Dakota flustered.

Fun was something he had not felt in a long, long time.

"What about you? What are your dreams?" He asked, saving her from further mortification.

"I have never liked being restricted to one place, one kingdom. I have always had the urge to run away, to flee, just to see what it is like beyond these borders. I want to travel, I want to experience new things, to gain new knowledge. Alas, I'll forever be a caged bird to this kingdom," she spoke with a faraway dream in her eyes.

Guilt swam in the prince's belly. "Is it because you are to be queen?"

She faced the prince. "No. Even before I was queen regent I knew I could never leave. I had responsibilities within my own family that restricted my freedom. I was always destined to be here forever. I just wish I was born in a different time, a time where the only limitation from your dreams was opening a door."

" I could not agree more," he replied.

Their eyes met and their souls spoke.

They were more alike than they thought.

And so they bonded under the light of the stars.

And a new union bloomed.