"She took you to a gun range?" My mother's voice was dripping with shock.

"Yeah," I breathed out, "yeah she did,"

"Did you... shoot the gun?" Mum's word were slow and curious.

"Yeah, yeah I did," Mum had a raised eyebrow, "a few times actually. At one point I even hit the bullseye, though I think that was just luck,"

Mum chuckled and smiled, "And what did you do after that?"

"Well, she did some shooting as well, in the next pen. Mum, she is so good, it's crazy,"

"Interesting," Mum sat back in her seat. I moved back and forth in the kitchen. The wild nature of yesterday still humming in my mind. I started wiping and placing the cutlery in the drawer.

"And she gave me a few tips as well, then we had a milkshake afterwards and then she had to leave," 

"Hmm," Mum hummed to herself. I popped the cutlery basket back into the dishwasher. 

"But yeah, it was very interesting. I don't think I'll ever shoot a gun again in my life if I don't have to," I huffed, "no way, and no thank you,"

"That's good to hear," Mum chuckled, "The last thing I expected from you, was to become a military girl,"

"No way," I shook my head, "definitely not,"

"A lot has happened in the last few months," Mum hummed, "I wouldn't be surprised if something else crazy like that happened,"

"Don't worry," I chuckled, "that won't,"

"Uh huh, what's the plan for today?" She brought the tea to her lips as I began hand-washing some of the non-dishwasher items. 

"Hanna's back, so we're meeting up,"

"Are you going to tell her...?"

"About Cas? Yeah, finally,"

"What time is that?" Mum gave a sideways glance to the clock. It was half past nine. 

"Ten," I gritted my teeth, wiping my hands on my dress. Dad had driven into work before dawn and my bike was still stolen from all those months ago. Luckily, we'd dredged up Feodor's old bike which was in relative working condition. 

"Time to get moving," Mum sung as I swept past, slinging my messenger bag over my shoulder.

"I know, I know. See ya!"

"Bye!" Mum called out as I closed the door behind me.

...

The ride into town was relatively brief. There seemed to be more cars out than normal. I grinned, letting the sun shine brightly against my face. 

I sped past Burbank Coffee, half expecting to see Cas and Vlad's tall figures inside. 

Cas, a little part of me panged with sadness. The engagement ring rested on a chain around my neck, occasionally bumping against my collarbone. I've moved it from my hand mostly for security. The last thing I wanted was a priceless ring going down the drain! 

We'd chatted last night on the phone. Unlike most nights, last night was a little shorter. He had schedules to arrange, things to do, people to meet. While the bulk of the royal duties was spread across his family, Cas had thrown himself into his new challenges with an unparalleled vigour.

The workaholic nature will be something that I have to look out for, I noted to myself. 

There was nothing about a hardworking man that I had a problem with. But if it came to a point where I'd never be able to see him, then I might have to address things differently. 

You could always step into the public eye with him, a part of me suggested. I quashed the idea almost immediately. That'd be unparalleled suicide! Why would I enter the ring of bloodthirsty ravages, and savage opinions? 

I huffed. Some days, I just liked to let my hair fly how it wanted. Some days, I just liked having my clothes slightly creased, or was fine with them sitting not entirely perfectly. What was so wrong with that? Nothing at all. However I'd seen the way the tabloids treated the monarchies. It would make national news if I had even the slightest slip up.

Are you simply being selfish? A part of me wondered. Perhaps, this is the service to your country that God has called you to?

"I've already taken a bullet for my country," I huffed, dismounting the bike for a heavy incline, "I shouldn't have to be called to make any more. I should be able to love the man that I love in peace and quiet!"

Luckily there was no one around to witness my mutterings. 

You know that he won't be able to keep you a secret forever, right? I immediately shushed that one. Eventually there would be children, maybe a slight of hand that the photographers caught. A sneaky hallway kiss broadcasted for the entire world. 

Cas kept himself perfectly hidden for years! I mulled to myself. So well hidden that most wouldn't be able to recognise his face. As long as he kept to himself and on the fringes of the press, then all would be well. The people would be happy and the press would be sated with the dramas of the elder members of the family. 

I humoured myself with the mysterious secret weddings between celebrities. Russia's Prime Minister's daughters being an international mystery.

I smiled, we'll just have to take that approach. 

We'd be able to live in relative peace. Not exactly Ardeena, somewhere a little nicer. A farmland? With cows and horses and sheep! Every day, I'd wake at dawn to milk the cows and tend for the animals. And when our family was old enough, the children would join me too.

And Cas and I would dance at every sunset, and laugh about all the close calls that we had throughout the years. And one day, we'd even tell our grandchildren about the extremely close call we had that one fateful night, which gave Cas the courage to profess his love and almost costed me my life.

Truly the stuff of fairytales. 

Hanna was sitting by the window that I set my bike against. At loss for a chain, I double knotted a ribbon around the bike to a nearby pipe. Hopefully there were no bike thieves around.

While Burbank Coffee was a little more upper class, Belle Vie was a French-inspired coffee shop. It offered ice cream and other little oddities and was Hanna's favourite go-to. 

Speaking of Hanna- there she was! I wrapped her in a heavy hug. She smelled of cheap cherry blossom perfumes and worn nylon jackets. Her hair was slightly faded and split at the ends. She had a big beam on her face and a wild light in her eyes that'd been amplified by the freedoms of the world. 

And after a brief back and forth, we chatted. She talked about her wild trips and party nights. Of how to tell if someone was high or drunk, tips on avoiding pickpockets and scams. She recalled long nights on red-eye buses and planes. Of men with different accents and women of different colours. Of different political ideologies and worldview. There would never be enough time to fully cross the world, but in a few months, she'd done a pretty good job.

"And now I think it's time to settle down," She sighed, sitting back, sipping at her milkshake. 

"Oh yeah?" I raised an eyebrow. 

"Maybe after another trip," She admitted, chucking to herself. "I'll find a really hot English boy or something,"

"Hanna!" I scoffed, "what happened to the beauty of the motherland?"

Hanna rolled her eyes. "Please, it's about love, Sofia, not what is most convenient,"

"Why not both?" I gave a slight grin.

"That would be ideal," She nodded, looking out the window and up at the large expanse of the blue sky, no doubt remembering all the hours that she'd spent above the world.

Travel had changed Hanna dramatically, there was no denying that. She was a little more worldly-focused. The pressures of getting married were no longer a foremost concern. She was lucky enough to witness different fractures of the abstract artwork of humanity. And it'd changed her. Maybe not for the best, the insanely-ambitious businesswoman that I once knew was no longer at the forefront.

I felt like I should be jealous of her, but I couldn't bring myself to it. I too, had also changed in different ways. If I was to really sit down and think about it, I guess I could say that I'd matured. I'd worked with the royal family, I'd criss-crossed the country more times than Hanna probably ever will. I'd witnessed and met more people and events than the entire town combined. I'd gotten shot. I'd almost died. I could now fight, if it came to that. And the most wonderful of all- I'd fallen in love and was engaged!

Which brought me to-.

"Talking about love," I placed my milkshake down, "I have a secret for you, that you need to keep secret, to your grave,"

"Okay?" A small smile passed Hanna's lips, "what's up?"

I leaned forwards, ever so slightly, "I'm in a relationship, with a guy," I spoke in a low voice.

Hanna gasped, squealing in restrained excitement. She gave a few claps. "Congrats! Why are we whispering?"

"It's with a prince," 

Hanna's face fell, her brow creased in concern. "What do you mean?"

"Prince Casmir-Stefan," I whispered in growing excitement, his name swirling on my tongue. Hanna's face creased even further. She was quiet, sitting back in her seat.

What's wrong? I wondered. Why does she look so worried?

"Are you sure this is safe?" Hanna asked, her face crossed with worry.

"It's definitely safe," I nodded, my shoulder wincing in protest. 

"Sofia, I heard you got shot. Was that because of him?" Her voice was a hushed horror. 

I stuck out my bottom lip, moving back in my seat, "that was my fault,"

"So it was because of him,"

"The prince would be dead right now if I didn't do that," I murmured. 

"Far out Sofia," Hanna cursed, "that's dangerous. You could've died!"

"Can we focus on the positives here?" I pleaded.

Hanna stopped for a moment, looking down, "Sorry, of course. I'm happy for you," She managed.

I decided to keep my lips shut about the wedding.