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(y/n)'s POV
"Good morning Princess," Anakin stepped into my room while Padme did the final touches to my hair. I glared at him through the mirror, my eyes spewing anger despite my heart feeling somber, "May I have a moment with you?" He walked in further, stopping a few feet away.

"No," I said harshly. Padme held a confused expression at my hostility towards someone I have recently been so warm to. Little does she know he does not deserve any warmth today or any day in the near future, just a cold shoulder and an icy stare, "We will be leaving soon, so go and prepare the carriage."

"Leaving?" He stepped even closer, his scent masking my senses, "What do you mean we are leaving?"

I rolled my eyes. Padme finished my hair then began to apply a small amount of lipstick on me to give my face some color. I had to wait until she was finished before I could remind Anakin what he has clearly forgotten, "Since you have already forgotten let me remind you that I promised King Anthony we would attend the adoption festival he is hosting tomorrow."

"I did not forget we would be attending that," He responded with same attitude I had given, "I am just confused on why we are leaving today and not tomorrow."

I stood from my chair and turned around to face him. A smile spreading across my lips, "The trip will take a few hours and Anthony graciously offered for us to come a day early and rest there for a night. That way I can also have time to enjoy his town, his palace, and the amenities it offers."

I have never once under his watch stayed a night away from my Palace, so I know this was angering him beyond belief. Hence my smile. There was a reason I never have and it is because he, nor my parents have ever allowed it. Something about an unknown terrain and being vulnerable or whatever, I never fully listened to them. The world can be dangerous I know, but I feel like they exaggerate just a bit.

"Padmè, leave." Anakin demanded.

She was about to leave, "Padmè, stay." She walked back to me and stayed at my side with her eyes on the floor, "You leave and get the carriage ready."

His jaw clenched as he shifted his gaze between us both, "Are your parents aware that you will be—"

"Yes, and they are both very delighted." Much to his dismay that was the truth, they pushed for me to accept this offer. They adored Anthony, and adored the idea of me finally accepting someone even more, "And confident in your protection, all will be fine."

He swallowed heavily, his jaw remaining clenched, "What about Ahsoka?"

"She will be safe with Piett until I return." I was worried for Ahsoka, but she thought me being gone would make it easier for her to stay hidden longer. No one would suspect her to be here if I am not, "Also, Padmè will be joining us."

She snapped her head in my direction, "I am?"

I nodded, "Only if you would like to of course. You are always stuck cooped up in this place, a change of scenery will be nice for you." I do love her company, but also having her there will make it that much more difficult for Anakin to get me alone. I am still so angry with what happened last night, and I know he will try to talk me out of my anger. And despite everything I feel for him—I do not want that, where we are now is where we should be, it is easier this way.

Padmè's face beamed with excitement, "Your highness, I would love to," She grabbed my hands with the widest smile I have ever seen her hold, "I need to pack, we are leaving soon are we not?" She quickly let go and rushed tot he door, speaking a mile a minute, "I have never had to pack before—"

My eyes widened when I realized she was leaving, "Padmè—"

"I do not have any outfits fit for traveling, perhaps I could borrow some from..." Her voice  faded away when she rushed out of the room to likely go and pack.

I slowly looked at Anakin now that we were alone. So this is what instant karma is like.

"So when exactly did this conversation take place?" He tilted his head, his oceanic eyes gazing over my dress with approval. My heart raced and I silently cursed at it for betraying me, "I heard nothing of it yesterday."

"This morning, I awoke early," In truth, I never slept. I cried myself into accepting this reality, "My Mother came and told me when she received the invitation from Anthony's people."

He closed his eyes for a moment as he lowered his head down, "(Y/n), I was never going to take her to my room. I only said the things I said because I knew you were there, I heard you come out."

"So it was your wish to purposely hurt me then?" I asked, shaking my head at his actions.

He shot his melancholic eyes up, "You hurt me first."

I laughed in disbelief, "For good reason Anakin, what we were doing could have gotten you in serious trouble. You on the other hand were just trying to be cruel." I tried to walk around him but he gently grabbed my wrist to stop me, "Release me, now." I wanted to sound threatening, I wanted to sound like a Queen. But my voice broke, therefore I sounded like a girl who had gotten her heart broken for the first.

Of course, he did not listen, "I am cruel? What do you think all of this is for me? You think watching the woman I am in love with search for a husband is not cruel? It is damn near torture."

"That is not my doing. Stop looking for something to help you win. There is no winning Anakin, we have both lost." I pulled my wrist from his grip and he did not fight me, "I will marry a Royal as the law permits, and one day you will marry someone as well." I felt sick.

Again I tried to leave but he blocked my path. Now holding my face in his palms he said, "I do not want anyone who is not you."

I looked down at his lips. I fought the urge to lean forward and touch them with my own, "You are going to have to try."

"I have tried for years," Our foreheads pressed together as our lips lightly grazed, "Years," He enunciated, "And luck was never on my side."

I leaned forward, ever-so-slightly, and kissed him softly one more time. I only allowed it to last a few seconds before pulling away from his touch, "The night we first kissed, it was you who said you wanted to pretend it never happened. It was you for days after saying over and over again that this must not continue because of the roles we play in this society. And it was me who was in denial about it all and you had to talk sense into me," Now look at us, it seems somewhere in the mix we switched places, "Please go back to that mindset, it is the only way we will both survive."

He appeared defeated and dropped his eyes to the floor once more before stepping aside to let me pass, "As you wish, Princess."

I walked to my closet and opened the doors, my gaze trailing on every dress I owned. I was so lucky to be a Princess and so unlucky at the same time, "Now please, prepare the carriage. Padme and I will be down soon."

Without a word, he left.

I dropped to floor and cried.

One can only be so strong for so long.

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"Anakin does not ride with us?" Padme furrowed her brows once the carriage began to move and Anakin was nowhere in out sight,

I shook my head before leaning back and breathing out a long sigh, "No, he will ride behind us. He says he has better viewpoints from there and can spot a threat quickly if one arises." Paranoia is a sickness and needs to seriosuly be medicated. I am one Princess, granted I am the Princess to one of the largest and richest kingdoms in the world, but still not many are foolish enough to attack a royal.

"Have you been alright Princess? Your mood has been rather subdued today." She reached forward and placed her hand atop mine, "More so than usual I mean." She added with a light laugh.

I smiled, "I wish I could tell you I was fine, but the truth is, I have a million thoughts running through my mind that is making all of this more terrifying than I initially thought it would be."

"Care to share your thoughts with me?" She settled comfortably in her seat. We had a long trip, therefore a lot of time to kill.

"Well once a marriage is set in place, I realized that I am going to be expected to have children very soon." That thought alone was the most terrifying of all, I do not know if I am ready to be a Mother or go through the pain of birth. "And what of my living situation? I would have to leave my home and everything I have ever know to live wherever my husband is. Would I even be Queen of Naboo? Or would it go to my heir after my parents pass while I sit in a smaller throne next to a King in another country?" So many changes were coming into my life and I was not prepared for any of them.

"You will always be apart of Naboo Princess. No matter where you go, you will live in the hearts of your people."

I looked out of the window of our carriage. The leaves on the trees were beautiful this time of year, the vibrant orange was mesmerizing, "I know they love me and I know they wait for the day of my reign, but the more I think on it, the more I realize that that day may never come. Not if I marry."

Not if I marry a King. If I got the love I truly wanted, I would not have to go anywhere. Anakin is apart of Naboo just as I, so I would be able to stay here and then our child would reign after us—what a dream that is.

"It is ridiculous how much the laws cater to men."

"You could marry a Viscount in Naboo, then you would not have to go anywhere."

I rolled my eyes, "There is one eligible Viscount in Naboo, and his magic tricks nearly took my eye."

She laughed, and I laughed with her, "Everything will be okay Princess, you just have to follow your heart and trust the universe to put you exactly where you are meant to be."

If only she knew that following my heart would only lead to ruin.

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