"Your highness?" 

I pace back and forth, looking nervously to Elizaveta, not knowing what to think or how to react. My father basically offered up the rest of my life to strangers, but I'm finally going to cross the border and see the land of the Red Kingdom. It's something I've always dreamed of, but I still want to be loved. 

"Your highness?" Elizaveta repeats, voice growing more and more worried with each passing moment.

Finally, I sit down on my bed and put my head in my hands. "What do I do, Elizaveta?" I ask, looking up to her with weakness I'd never show to anyone else. "I want to prevent war, and I want to see the other kingdom. But I don't want to get married to someone that doesn't love me."

She purses her lips with a small sigh, sitting next to me tentatively. Servants aren't supposed to be friendly with the royal family. It's not their place. "Sire," she says, gently holding my hand while placing the other on my back. "What do you want?"

The question catches me off guard, and I think for a moment. "I-I don't really know," I admit, shrugging with a scoff at myself. "I just don't want anyone getting hurt."

"But what you have to think about is if this will hurt you," she murmurs, stroking my hair gently, reminding me of a mother.

I never knew mine, so I genuinely think of her as my mother. My biological mother was actually my father's mistress, and she died during childbirth. I'm technically only partially royalty. It's a miracle they didn't make my last name Snow, as is commonly given to bastard children. In fact, the entire affair was hidden from the kingdom. As far as anyone knows, I'm pure royal blood.

Shortly after her comment, Elizaveta leaves the room, giving me space to think, which is greatly appreciated. She's very wise, but she allows me to make my own decisions. I appreciate that about her.

After about a half hour of pacing later, there's a knock at my door. The knock is different than what I'm used to. Vladimir and Elizaveta are the only ones that come to my room, and they each have their own style of knocking. Vladimir's is harsh yet upbeat, and Elizaveta's is light and gentle. This one is tentative and heavy.

I reach the door and open it, shocked by who I find standing there. "Prince Alfred," I say in surprise, feeling my cheeks become hotter and my eyes widen in shock. I'm no longer wearing my hood. This is his first time seeing me.

He nods at me, expression unreadable. "Greetings, Prince Arthur," he returns politely, and I find myself awkwardly blushing at the sound of his voice. "May I come in?" he asks, gesturing with his head towards the inside of my chambers.

I nod. "Of course," I say, stepping aside and watching his form enter the room. He looks around as if in awe of the structure before composing himself and turning to face me. 

"Please shut the door," the prince says, and I obey immediately. He seems to relax a little afterwards, but he still seems stiff, standing there stoically in my room.

"May I ask what this visit is about?" I shuffle away from the door slowly, hoping to not appear aggressive in any way.

"I wanted to ask you about the deer," he says, and my brow furrows in confusion. 

"Deer?"

He sighs. "The deer you healed yesterday. It was one that my knights and I had tracked to the border." His eyes avoid mine, and I know why. He trespassed onto our lands, and here he is admitting it.

"What do you want to know about it?" I return stiffly, staying a few feet away from him. I don't know where this is heading.

"Why did you heal it?" he asks. "It's just a deer, and it probably would've died anyway." He looks at me this time, eyes the brightest blue I've ever seen and absolutely piercing. "So, why save it?"

I turn slightly, admittedly avoiding that stare of his. "I don't like hurting anything that's alive," I admit. "I can hunt, and I will for food. I just don't like it," I admit, tugging on my sleeves awkwardly.

Alfred says nothing in reply, simply staring at me silently. "Curious," he finally states, nodding slowly, and I don't know what to think by that look. He turns to leave the room, making it to the door before he pauses and turns around once more. "Don't plan on marrying my brother," he says pointedly. "He loves someone else, and I want him to have that."

That catches my attention. "But you don't love me," I state, and his brow furrows.

"No, I don't love you, but there isn't anyone that I do love. So, it's only right that he gets the one he wants. We're going to be spending a lot of time together." He leaves the room calmly and completely composed. 

I wonder to myself why he felt the need to ask me that and ponder what's going to happen to me since I'm probably going to be married to Alfred. I love him, but he doesn't even feel close to the same thing for me.

I'm left alone in my room in a state of utter confusion and worry. Maybe I will just go to bed and deal with this ordeal tomorrow...

Yeah, that sounds like a good idea, so I strip myself of my clothes and go to bed, hoping tomorrow is easier than I'm think it will be.

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Heylo, my lovely little nuggets! I hope y'all enjoyed this chapter! I'm sorry it's taken so long for me to update :( I've had some writer's block, and I've been busy with school. Don't forget to leave any comments or suggestions. They always make my day :) Anyway, I'll see y'all nuggety readers in the next update! Until then, have an absolutely fantastic and fabulous day! Bai!!! >:3

-IggyScones