"No matter how many people give me advice,
I'm going to do what my heart tells me to do."
Lana Del Rey.

Once back at the palace Katherine sat at the table with James.  Her head rest in her hand and she drummed her fingers on the table.

"So how long have you been a princess?"

"Since the day I was born."

"Ah, so born into royalty?"

"Yes."

"Me too."

"Figures." Katherine mumbled.

"What was that?"

"Nothing." She said probably too quickly.

"Shall we take a walk?"

"Sure." Katherine sighed.

James helped her up, his hand guiding too close to her waist for her own comfort which she gladly moved away from and they began a tour of the palace.

"So where is your bedroom?" James asked.

"Upstairs why?"

"Just wanting to know of course." James replied.

Katherine gagged a little.

(Just letting you know there won't be any of that in this.  I cannot write nor read that really.)

Katherine began to show him around the palace.  They said hello to the maids in the kitchen all busying about and took a nice visit to Adam and his wife.

"Ah, that shall be us one day won't it dear?" James asked wrapping a hand around Katherine's waist.

"Y-Yes." Katherine said holding back her nausea at the very thought.

She hated the very thought of this.

***

Katherine continued the tour until they were at a grand hallway when James pulled her arm back and stopped her.  He looked both ways.

"Shall we kiss?" He asked with a devilish grin.

"No we shan't." Katherine said sternly yanking her arm away.

"Come on sweetheart." James muttered before backing her against the wall.

She could feel his breath against her face.

"Stop it." She whispered.

"Just one little kiss." His said looking at her lips.

"No." She said struggling to push him off.

"Please.  It won't hurt will it?" He grinned.

He began to lean in and that's when Katherine cried out.

"Father! Mother!"

The two came rushing in.

"What on earth?" Mrs. Pulitzer asked bewildered.

"I do not know!" James exclaimed, "We were taking a tour and she pulled me and tried to kiss me."

"Katherine Pulitzer! How unladylike of you!"

"Mother I-"

"You have your studies in the Great Hall.  Go."

When Katherine wasn't leaving she gave her a stern look, "Now."

Katherine walked off, shocked.

***

"One-two-three-one-two-three. . ." Abigail commanded over and over again as Katherine balanced a blue long book on her head and walked slowly back and forth at the same pace.  (Yes she really did have to do that.)

"And then," She exclaimed, "he tried to kiss me!"

"We really shouldn't gossip ma'am."

"Katherine." She corrected softly.

"Katherine."

"But he did! Right there when I was giving him a tour of the palace he pushed me against the wall and tried to kiss me! What a- a-"

An unprincess-like word slipped from her mouth.

"Miss Pulitzer!"

"Ugh!" Katherine cried taking the book off her head and stopping abruptly, "I can't take this!"

And she couldn't.  She just couldn't.  That's why she was leaving.  Tonight.

***

Katherine dressed in her common clothes and grabbed her bag.  It was a long shot not to get caught by anyone.

"Do you have everything Miss?" Abigail asked from across the room.

"Yes." Katherine whispered.

She had rations of food for a few days, a change of clothes, her hairbrush her grandmother had given her and wore the same necklace from her.

"Do keep safe."

"I will.  Please don't cry."

"I shall try not to." Abigail sniffed.

The two hugged tightly and Katherine finally let go before wiping a tear from Abigail's face.

She walked over to the window and opened it, letting the cool night air hit her face.  This was it.  Now or never.  She grabbed the vines that hung outside her window and began to climb out.  Luckily she had had practice from climbing out like this when she was a little girl.  Of course, her parents hated it very much so.  Abigail hurried over to the window and watched as she climbed down down down.  Katherine finally jumped the last two feet, landing her boots on the grass softly.

She began the quick jog across the lawn away from the house and turned back.  There stood Abigail waving a white handkerchief in the distance.  Katherine waved and sniffed slightly.  This was the only place she'd ever known.  But it was for the best.  Here she goes.

Goodbye princess life.