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(Y/n)'s POV
I stood on the grassy terrain with a bow in one hand, an arrow in the other. I placed the end of the arrow against the drawstring, just as I was taught, and pulled back - aiming straight for the middle of the target ahead of me.

I got in the proper stance with my elbow vertical, before looking down the line of the arrow, and releasing. I watched with anticipation as the arrow flew through the air, but then groaned in annoyance as it hit the white outer region, instead of the small blue circle I was aiming for.

I forgot to take wind control into account.

I heard a snort from my right and I shot a side-eye at Anakin who was sitting in the grass with a book in his hand, "If I hear another snort from you, the next arrow will go between your eyes." I drew another arrow back against the string, pointing it in his direction to heighten my threat.

He glanced up from the book, amused, "That is, if you actually manage to hit what you are aiming for." He dropped the book down to his lap with a grin and waited for me to follow through.

I smirked, drawing the arrow back further, "I can assure you, that rather large head of yours will be impossible to miss." I insulted, but judging by his smile widening, I knew that it only amused him more.

Anakin Skywalker, he has been my royal guard ever since I was sixteen years old, meaning yes he has been around for nearly five insufferable years, and not a day goes by where he does not vex me, and I him. We also know each other better than anyone else, which comes natural when you spend every waking moment with a person, so we know exactly the proper buttons to push to get under the others skin. He is unreasonable, demanding, controlling, uptight, and he takes this job way too seriously.

Do not get me wrong, I do appreciate his protection and he has kept me out of many situations that would have likely resulted in something catastrophic, but there are also moments where he keeps me from situations that are not life threatening. Like enjoying my time sitting in a tree while I write and listen to the sound of the birds singing and flying free, I hardly see the harm in that. He can sit at the bottom and keep his eye on me from there, but no, I am not meant to enjoy such a luxury apparently — or really any luxury that involves stepping ten feet away from the palace unless I am going to a godforsaken ball.

Every single day we are forced to be around each other, minus the glorious Sundays where his guardian, Obi-Wan, watches over me instead while he has a rest for a day. But even on those days I still see him galavanting around the palace like he owns the place, flirting with every housekeeper with two legs so I never truly get a break from him.

He is infuriating to say the least.

Something I do happen to like about him though is that he does not talk to me like I am a Princess, he is not careful and he is not afraid to speak his mind. He makes me feel like a normal person with the way he challenges me. That is the only decent thing about him. He is still nothing but a thorn in my side.

"Well?" He raised a brow.

I chuckled and quickly turned the arrow towards the target to release, this time hitting the inner circle, flawlessly, "You are lucky I changed directions." I said with a devious smile.

I met his gaze again, and this time he was frowning, "More like unlucky, now I still have to deal with you and that dreadful squeaky voice." He brought the book back up to cover half of his face, probably trying to hide that he was in fact proud of my shot. It was him who taught me how to properly shoot an arrow after-all.

"Try not to act like you do not enjoy my company Anakin," I dropped the bow and arrows onto the grass, and noticed him give a subtle eye roll at my words before turning a page, "So tell me, what is it you are reading?" I sat down in front of him and began to pick at the grass.

"A book." He answered in a monotone.

"Clearly," Now it was I who rolled my eyes and I threw a few strands of the grass in his direction, "But what is it about?" I honestly could not care less what he was reading, I was simply trying to play nice because I plan to ask him for something.

His eyes slightly narrowed and he peaked up at me from over the book, "You want something. What is it?"

Of course he would know.

"The weather, it is rather hot is it not?" I said as I glanced up at the blue sky before looking back down at him. He nodded and said nothing as he waited for me to get to my point, "Well, I was hoping we could go to the river-"

"No," He answered immediately and looked back down at his book as if this conversation was over, but he should know better.

"And why not?" I asked in a sharp tone.

He instantly tossed the book onto the grassy plane and held up two fingers, "Two reasons. One, you have yet to learn to swim, so why bother going to the river? And two, your mother wants you in the dining hall for lunch in less than an hour, so therefore we do not have time."

I groaned, annoyed, and laid back in the grass. I gazed up at the cloudless blue sky as birds passed. I was hoping he had forgotten about lunch with my mother, "That lunch is the last place I want to be Ani, she is going to want to discuss the deal I made about finding a husband." She is insisting on me starting as soon as possible and wishes for me to partake in a roulette - which I find absurd.

A roulette is when I sit on the throne and meet every eligible man that decides to show up, which can be another Prince, a Duke, a Lord, a Viscount or really anyone of high status. One by one they waltz into my presence and try to woo me in the limited time that they have, and I give a nod or a grimace by the end of it, then we see how things go from there.

And nothing, I mean nothing sounds more nauseating than that.

Yes I agreed to find a suitable husband, but not like that. I do not want to be a prize to win, I want to be a person to love — as daft as that might sound since love in a marriage is but a myth these days. So I am trying to take my time and not feel pressured with my choice. And four moons is plenty of time for that, there are so many balls and outings where I will have numerous opportunities to meet someone even mildly tolerable, yet my mother is acting like I only have four days.

"And so you think drowning yourself is the proper solution for avoidance?" Anakin asked in a mocking tone and so I leaned up on my elbows to look at him. He was currently leaning back on his palms and he watched my fingers as they lightly played with the grass.

"Do not be so tiresome," I sighed, "I was only going to put my feet in the water."

He shook his head slowly as the sun glistened off of his fair skin and highlighted his crystal-like eyes, "We can go tomorrow if you would like, but not today, your mother would have my head if you miss another meal with her."

I fully sat up in surprise with slightly widened eyes, "You are actually agreeing?"

He nodded with a sly smile as he picked his book back up from the ground and placed it on his lap before opening it, "Only because I pity you."

"Well then I welcome your pity," I smiled, "And now you have given your word so when the time comes, you will follow it."

"I always do," He mumbled as he went back to his reading, "Now go back to practicing without bothering me so I can finish this chapter before lunch. And raise your elbow a bit higher for more accuracy it is not vertical enough."

I knitted my brows, "My stance was nearly perfect."

"Nearly," He repeated, "But not quite."

I stood up from the floor and dusted the grass off of my dress, "Perfection is a myth," I stated, picking up the bow and arrows while he watched me, "So do not go looking for it in me, because you will not find it. But I will show you my best." I raised the bow and placed the arrow on the drawstring. I stared vertical down the line of the arrow and slightly adjusted my elbow as he advised, despite not wanting to out of pettiness.

I released the arrow and it hit exactly in the middle. I slowly turned around, expecting to see a smug grin from him. But instead, he looked pleased, "Perfect."

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"Because it makes me feel like I am a circus animal on display mother," I sighed as I dipped my spoon in my bowl of soup and created a small swirl as I stirred it, not really having an appetite at the moment.

She eyed my movements before glancing up to my gaze, "But it is efficient, and this way you can get a sense of what is out there so that way when you do go to a ball or an outing, you already know who interests you and who does not." She sipped on her clam chowder.

Of course, we are talking about the roulette again and she is being more persistent than usual. I just keep thinking about all the bachelors putting on their cringy acts, I heard that some even want to serenade me. And although the idea nauseated me, she did have a point.

"The last thing I want to do mother is sit there for hours while men approach me with their fakest selves." I dropped my spoon into the bowl and sat back in the chair with a slight slouch.

My mother instantly narrowed her eyes, "Sit up like a lady," She scolded me, "Do you want to get one of those hunchbacks?"

Anakin snorted at my expense from the chair to my right as he casually sipped on his own soup that I wished was poisoned. I rolled my eyes, "No, I guess not," I sat up and straightened my posture, while also making sure to kick Anakin in the shin underneath the table. He yelped in surprise and dropped his spoon, making the soup splash onto his shirt.

I giggled as he grabbed a napkin and began dabbing it, "Forgive me your highness', it was hotter than I expected." He cleverly lied.

"It is quite alright Anakin," My Mother smiled warmly as she continued enjoying her bowl. And the second she was looking down, he kicked me back and I jumped at the pain, but did my best not to give a reaction — other than my threatening side glare, "And they are not all fake darling, I went through it myself, some are just nervous. Which they all will be. You are the Princess of Naboo and are gifted with tremendous beauty, both in heart and mind. To be in your presence is an honor and they will know that." She spoke highly of me as she always does. And I do love that she sees me this way, but I hate the expectations that come with it.

I picked my spoon back up and began twirling the soul again, "And is Anakin allowed to be in the room with me?" I questioned.

There are times I do not want him around, and there are times that I do. And it is times like these, which include gatherings and parties and really anything involving people, where I do want him around. He is the only person I know that can keep a crowd at bay with a single glare.

She nodded, a slow smile forming on her lips, "He has to be."

I turned and looked at Anakin who held an annoyed expression, "You are going to be kicking out a lot of unwanted suitors for me."

"How fun," He said in a sarcastic and monotone voice before looking away and bringing his spoon to his lips.

I then turned to my other who looked pleased that I was agreeing, "It is a yes then. But I can stop at any time that I choose. I refuse to sit there for hours upon hours." I was only agreeing because I knew she would not let it go if I continued to refuse. So I was simply humoring her and I planned to stop after about an hour - which should satisfy her for awhile.

Her smile widened, "I will have it set up and send out the notices for this coming Saturday."

That is two days, which is not nearly enough time to mentally prepare for the mental torment I am going to have to endure.

But who knows, maybe it will be interesting.

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