~5~

"You, what?" I choked out.

He just smiled in response. "Yes, you heard me correctly, Princess (Y/N)." I cringed at the name, the way he said it just sounded so wrong.

"I'm sorry, you've got the wrong girl, I'm just a common girl, a peasant, and there's nothing royal about me," I answered. He frowned at my comment.

"Now now don't say that about yourself, are you saying the Prince doesn't know how to chose his own bride?" He said as his face twisted into a saddened, yet mocking one.

"As a matter of fact I am, there are royal kingdoms who can give you far more than me, I'm just a girl who lives a simple life in a village, and I'm not ready for any of this!" I said raising my voice.

I expected him to get mad at me for talking back to a prince, but he smiled again. "Ah, you're stubborn as usual (Y/N), but I'm sorry to say you don't have a choice in the matter." He chuckled.

"Well I'm leaving, guards! Please open the doors, I would like to leave!" I commanded more harshly than last time hoping my commanding tone would make them open the doors.

"(Y/N), I'm afraid they only listen to me, nothing enters or leaves this castle without my permission." My eyes narrowed and I glared back at the prince.

"What is this? Am I being parented?! Well, then again I'm not sure what that's like, but still I refuse to be kept here!" I snapped.

He sighed giving up, and I thought he would let me go right then but, "Fine, if that's how it's going to be, (Y/N), come with me now. If I'm going to have to order you do to everything then that's how it's going to be, and you wouldn't dare go against the royal families orders, would you?" He questioned, his eyes full of malice.

I sighed slightly defeated. "But isn't this basically kidnapping? Don't you need my consent for me to marry you? I mean I never agreed to be betrothed." I puzzled.

"You did come to this ball, didn't you?" He questioned trying to prove a point.

"Well yeah, it was practically mandatory, you did say all maidens were to attend did you not?" I shot back.

"Nevertheless, I chose you, (Y/N), now you must come with me, one cannot refuse royalty and expect there to not be a punishment." He threatened.

"Hmph," I sighed giving in. "Fine..."

He smiled as I slowly walked towards him and stopped in front of him.

"Thank you, my love. Now follow me," he said offering me his hand so I would hold it. I turned my head away in distaste.

"I'm fine on my own, just lead the way." I pulled away defensively.

He shrugged as I began walking beside him and he quickly linked arms with me.

"Hey!" I yelled defensively as I tried to pull my arm free from his grasp, but it refused to budge.

"It wouldn't be very gentleman-like of me to not escort you dear," He insisted. I looked away, embarrassed.

We began slowly making our way through the castle to who knows where. I paid no attention the entire time, trying to process everything that was going on. In my confused state of mind, the one thing I remembered about the trip was going up a long, large, insanely beautiful spiral staircase. The remainder of the trip to, well, wherever we were headed, was mostly a blur. All I know is the hallways seemed smaller, narrower in fact. Nothing about what was currently happening made sense to me. My confused daze lifted when I noted we had come to a halt in front of more monstrous doors, but these ones weren't made of glass, but a thick wood.

"We're here, darling," He said as I cringed at his words.

"And... Where exactly is that?" I responded dumbfound, which caused him to chuckle, seemingly amused to my confusion.

"Tsk tsk, (Y/N), had you paid no attention to the entire walk here?" He asked, raising an eyebrow. Oh shoot, I didn't hear a thing, I must've been so lost in thought I didn't realize. "Uhm, I'm afraid not, Your Highness."

"Hmph, I thought I had told you there was no need to use such formality with me, it's Adrian, (Y/N)." He insisted.

I sighed. "Alright, Adrian, why are we here?" I asked, still uncomfortable with calling him by his name.

"Why, our room, of course!" He said gleefully, causing me to start choking on air. I was practically dying from shock and laughter. This guy can't be serious!

"My love, what's wrong?" He questioned with a look of terror and worry. I glanced at his sincere eyes and found that this wasn't a joke to him.

"You're kidding," I managed to speak.

"Of course not, if your going to be my betrothed then it's only appropriate we share a bed." He answered with a stern look.

"But I don't even know you! I haven't met you 'till today! And I don't sleep with strangers! I'm sorry, but I cannot accept, please take me to another room," I demanded harshly, but it only sounded like a plead.

He flinched noticeably, taken aback by my rude remark. I saw his jaw twitch slightly and I feared he was going to yell at me, but his eyes softened noting my sudden change from anger to regret.

"I understand, (Y/N), all of this is very new for you, and I'm sorry for dragging you into it so fast." He started quietly. "I shall have some maids prepare for you a suite in the meantime, but I do hope you realize that by the time we are officially married, we must share a room, a bed for that matter. I do hope you become accustom to this new environment, and I'll try to do a better job explaining what is going on tomorrow morning, but tonight you need your rest."

Before I could say a word, he continued walking down the narrow hallway and I followed close behind him. At the end of the short hallway was another set of large doors. Adrian walked ahead of me and opened the door for me, which was a dark, eerie room.

He raised his hand and snapped quickly, and I heard footsteps approach rapidly. Before I could turn around, two maids hurried into the room, and I saw small flickers of light appear. I found myself feeling disgusted, that royalty don't even have to lift a finger, and everything is done for them.

The two maids scurried out of the room when they had finished and Adrian moved his arm, motioning for me to walk inside.

I walked inside avoiding eye contact and looked inside the room.

"It's huge," I gawked. I saw the Prince smiled from my peripheral vision. As much as I hate to admit it, the room was bigger than my entire house.

The candles that the maids had lit no more than a minute ago shone brightly onto the magnificent walls, not hiding a single detail. On top of the lighting, tall windows much like the balcony were across from me, but unlike the ones downstairs, these windows had curtains.

I looked towards the giant bed and I realized how exhausted I was, physically and mentally. I yawned, causing Adrian to gently place a hand on my shoulder.

"It's about time for your curfew, I think you should get some rest (Y/N)," he replied softly to my yawn. Yep, I'm definitely being parented. "I'll leave you to get changed, I'll be outside if you need me."

Adrian's footsteps echoed as he left, but before he could close the door, the two maids from before hurried into the room once again. One of them handed me a silk nightgown. The doors closed behind them, and began towards me.

"Your Highness, If we may..." One of them spoke. I understood what she was hinting at.

"Oh, uh, Thank you, but I can dress myself," I addressed. The two maids exchanged confused glances, but then bowed in acknowledgment, leaving me to the silence in my 'new room.'

After the door had closed behind the maids, I carefully took off my dress and slipped into the nightgown, which oddly fit like a glove. I looked into the giant mirror only a few paces away from me and stared at my reflection. It felt so weird being inside a piece of clothing that could probably buy me enough food for a month. I began undoing my hair by taking out all of the individual bobby pins, which was a tedious process.

I looked into the mirror one last time, but now my hair was draped across my shoulder. While looking at myself in the mirror, I came to the sudden realization of what was happening. I shouldn't be here... I thought silently to myself. I never asked to be betrothed, let alone am I ready for that, I don't belong here, I need to get out of here!

My sudden discovery opened my eyes, and I bolted for the doors to the balcony.

I threw open the glass doors and I ran to the edge of the balcony. All hope of escaping was suddenly vanquished when I looked down. The drop from the balcony would most definitely fatal, due to being on an entirely different floor. All my adrenaline for escaping dropped into the pit of my stomach. There's no way out of this, unless of course I can make it to the lower level balcony, there were stairs there! Though there's no way of getting there tonight, I might as well accept my fate tonight.

I let out a sigh and started back to my room, or prison rather, with my back towards the castle. I took in one last breath of fresh air, but it was cut short when I ran into a wall. I inhaled sharply when instead of falling, I was caught before I could even stumble, leaving me held in place by what was clearly not a wall.

"Sorry for bumping into you, that was almost a nasty spill," Adrian replied letting go gently. I turned around quickly, and quite awkwardly to face him.

"May I ask what it is you're doing out here?" Adrian asked with suspicion. He knew the reason I was out here, but I refused to let him believe it. "S-Sorry, I was only getting some air after everything that has happened today, it has been very stressful and hard for me to comprehend."

"I see, though I do believe now is as good of time as any to sleep. Would you allow me to tuck my beloved into bed?" He queried, causing my face to prick with heat. I knew there was no way out of it. I sighed yet again in defeat, and I took his hand. He smiled softly as he led me back into the castle.

I let go of his hand to make my way into bed, and I moved aside the covers for myself. I plopped into the bed and I felt the bed collapse around me. This is the most heavenly thing I have ever been on.

I shifted under the covers and laid my head on the pillows, and had never felt so relaxed in my entire life. I yawned once again as I felt my eyelids had weighed tons. The Prince walked over too the bedside and brought the covers over me up to my neck.

I vaguely remember anything that happened after that, for the last thing I remember was closing my eyes, feeling something warm on my forehead, and drifting off to my long awaited slumber.

Adrian's POV

As I tucked the love of my life into bed, I felt the feeling of overwhelming joy flood through my heart. Seeing how peacefully she slept made my heart beat faster than it ever had before. I planted a kiss on her forehead and slowly backed away, afraid it would wake her, but she was already fast asleep.

At last the feelings of tranquility ran its course through my veins. She's finally here, with me... I thought to myself. I blew out the light from the candles at the bedside table and backed away further. As badly as I wanted to hold her in my arms at that very moment, I maintained my self control.

At last you're here with me (Y/N)...

I took one last look at her before closing the door to leave her to her sleep. I began down the hall to my room, but not to go to sleep, but to make sure of one more thing...

That there would be no more obstacles in the way to stop me from getting what I want.