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(Y/n)'s POV
I opened my eyes to an empty bed.

Anakin had fallen asleep in here with me last night and I had expected him to be here when I woke, but he was nowhere to be seen. There was only a dent in the mattress and a crinkle in the sheets right where he once laid. It hurt that he was gone, mainly because I kept picturing him rushing away before dawn, filled with regret.

We did not go far last night, I still remain virtuous, but we went a lot farther than we should have.

I sighed as I placed my palm on my sheets and pushed myself up, my hair fell to the side as I yawned. Seconds later my bedroom door opened and I glanced up, expecting it to be Padmé, but my heart skipped a few beats when I came to realize it was Anakin.

He stood there in his clothes for the day with his weapons on display, and his hands were resting elegantly on his stomach. His hair, nicely combed to the side and every button on his tunic was done, "The Queen is requesting your presence for breakfast." He spoke politely and softly.

"When did you leave?" I asked, fully sitting up.

He nervously swallowed, "Only an hour ago your highness," He looked down at the floor to hide his eyes from me. He was not quick enough though, I still saw the shame behind them, "But if you recall, we agreed to never speak of those transgressions again, so please, let us move on from it." He turned around and walked out of my room, "Get dressed, I will wait out here for you." He closed the door before I could say anything back.

I dropped myself down to the bed with a groan. How am I supposed to move on from it when the way he made me feel is all I can think about? Although I am not sure what it is that I want from him exactly, especially since there is not much I am allowed to want when it comes to him.

I feel lost in my own head and it is all because of that foolish, yet endearing kiss.

♟

I tapped my fingers in a row on the table as I sat lost in my own thoughts. Wishing I was anywhere than where I am right now. Do not get me wrong, I love my mother dearly and I enjoy the time I get with her, but I was not in the mood today to talk about marriage, children, or my legacy.

"So, it has been obvious to us that you have taken a liking to King Anthony." My mother was trying to pry information out of me while we sat at a table in the back garden, having our breakfast, "Should we be shopping for a wedding dress?"

I sighed quietly to myself knowing I was not going to be getting myself out of this conversation. I shifted my gaze to the person behind her, Anakin, who was currently talking to one of the female house-maidens. He seemed relatively normal in the conversation and kept his distance, her on the other hand — she appeared to be flirting and making it obvious with her cliche hair twirls and the slow batting of her lashes.

I glanced back down to my mother, pushing away the uncomfortable twist in my stomach, "It is still early to tell if if he is marriage worthy Mother, but I do enjoy his company and he is a kind man—," My words were cut off by the sound of laughter and I shot my irritated gaze behind my mother once more. The woman talking to Anakin was laughing a little too dramatically as she not-so-subtly placed her hand on his bicep.

He eyed her hand that was looking comfortable on him, and his gaze slowly met mine. I quickly looked away from him as I grabbed my juice from the table and chugged it — so I may have asked Padmé to add a little something to this for a morning kick. But in my defense, I am stressed beyond my wits.

"Easy there," My mother chuckled as I struggled to swallow the large amount of liquid I took in at once, "You are going to choke if you drink it like that sweetie."

"Sorry Mother, I was parched," I set the empty glass down as I looked back up to Anakin who was now a little further from the woman than they originally were, but was still engaged in a conversation with her, "You know," I spoke loud enough so he could hear me, "King Anthony is having a festival in a few days time and he has invited me. I would like your permission to go."

I noticed from my side-vision that Anakin had whipped his head in my direction. I withheld a smirk, knowing I got the reaction from him that I wanted. My mother on the other hand looked ecstatic, "Oh honey I think that is a wonderful idea, of course you can go. But you do know Anakin must go with you as well, so do not put up a fuss about that." She rolled her eyes, already sensing drama before it had even occurred.

"I am aware that moron will be attending," And I am even more aware of how pissed he is right now, but he can not say a single thing to me since my mother was right here.

"I promise I never taught my daughter such manners," She chuckled, looking above me. I looked to where Anakin previously was to see that he was no longer there, the hand-maiden was gone too.

I did not need to turn to know that he was standing right behind, probably over my shoulder as usual, "Not to worry my Queen, I am used to the Princess's colorful language and immature attitude."

I turned my head only slightly and looked at him over my shoulder through the corner of my eye, "If you do not mind, this is a conversation between my mother and I. Do you not have someone else to annoy?"

He snorted, no doubt sensing the jealous tension in the air, "I heard we are going on a trip, I simply came forward to gain more details about exactly where we are going so I can plan accordingly."

"I will share them later," I shooed him off, causing his eyes to narrow. I looked away from him and to my mother with an innocent smile, "Now tell me do you and Father have any plans for the next few days; Or would you like to come as well?"

She set her tea down after taking the smallest sip I had ever seen, "I am afraid we are going to be busy for the next week my love, but I do hope you have a lot of fun," She said with a sweet smile before glancing at Anakin, "The trip there will have you taking back roads through the forests, be careful with my baby." Her voice was stern.

"I always am your highness," I felt him place his hand on the back of my chair — a protective act of his.

I leaned back in the chair and felt his cold knuckles pressing into my skin. I expected him to move his hand away, but he left it there, seemingly unbothered, "The only things in the forest mother are animals and insects, nothing a few guards can not handle."

She drifted her (y/e/c) eyes back to mine, "Sweetheart, the world is a dangerous place, never underestimate it." With her words, Anakin began to gently and subtly stroke my back — I saw it as his way of agreeing. That I, something so soft and delicate is too fragile for the harsh world, "Now let's finish our breakfast," The Queen picked up her spoon and scooted her bowl of fruit and oats closer to her, "And please tell me more about this event of his, what is its purpose?"

♟

"I am just saying Princess, you had every opportunity the past twelve or so hours to tell me about going off on a trip—"

"Oh my god Kin, would you shut it?" Piett complained as he held the multi-colored wolf, Arlo, like a baby as he gave him milk.

I was playing with the white wolf Angel and she was running in a circle, trying to catch a piece of hay that I was dragging on the ground, "I had every intention Ani, but I did not tell you because I got distracted," I shot my eyes up and the moment our gazes locked, he knew that he was the one that had become my distraction.

We have not said a word about it since that one comment this morning, and things between us have been incredibly tense because of it. We do not hold eye contact as long as we used to and there are moments where we purposely get close, so close that I could smell his scent that engulfed my senses mere hours ago. And when that happens I start to feel weak in the knees, but I continue to sit or stand there and pretend like there is not a fire lit inside of me. It is an obvious struggle on his part as well, but it seems he is sticking to his word about never acting on the impulse again.

He dropped his gaze down to the black wolf clawing at his leg, "Stop," He mumbled, moving his leg to the side so the wolf would fall. Menace remained unfazed though and jumped right back on his new owner, probably assuming he is trying to play.

I expected Anakin to knock him off again, but instead he shook his head with an amused smile.

I put my attention back on Angel and threw the hay to the side so she would chase after it, "I am going to go outside for a minute," I stood up and wiped the dirt off of my dress. I ran my fingers through my hair to pull out a few tangles and draped it over my shoulders.

"Do you want me to accompany you?" Anakin asked.

I shook my head, never looking at him, "No I just need some air," I walked towards the stable door, "I will only be a moment."

I took in a deep breath as I closed the stable door behind me so none of the wolves could attempt to run free. I looked up at the sky and watched birds fly past the sun, their shadows momentarily casting over me. I dropped my line off sight down and looked at the tree-line. I did not have this intention when I stepped out here, but seeing the forest now, I had an urge to go to my usual spot and spill out all of my harrowing thoughts into my hidden journal.

I turned and looked at the stable door before getting close and putting my ear to it, "So," I heard Piett, "Has Lady Tano already departed?"

"I am not sure, if she has not then I would assume she will be soon," Anakin responded before mumbling a few ow's, "This little jerk just bit me."

Piett chuckled, "You deserve it for always being an arse to everyone."

"I am not an arse, everyone else is just sensitive and I do not see how that is my problem."

I removed my ear from the door after feeling satisfied that Anakin was too occupied to come check on me anytime soon. Eventually he will, but I feel like I have a good ten minutes to myself, possibly fifteen if he gets distracted by a conversation.

I picked up my dress so I would not trip and ran a slow run to the trees. I broke through the line and stepped over a few stumps as I made my way to my usual spot. I kicked my shoes off to leave them at the bottom and grabbed on the first branch before making my climb. It did not take me long either to reach my spot, only about a minute or so.

I sat on the large branch that was tough enough to hold about three of me and I pulled out my journal and writing utensil from the hole inside of the tree. I took a deep breath as I opened the page and began pouring out everything that has happened these past few days, praying this would somehow help me feel organized.

I got to the part about us in my room last night when I heard a twig snap below. Instantly, I assumed it was Anakin coming to fetch me and I was already preparing for the light annoyed scolding. I closed the journal and put it and my writing utensil back into the tree.

"Took you long enough—" I began as I glanced down just in time to see a figure coming into view, but I froze when I realized this was not my protector.

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