“Mother, I don’t need,” I grunted as my lady in waiting tugged on my corset, making my waist seem smaller, “I don’t need a suitor.” I sighed, put a hand on my hip and turned around to face the queen of Eldoria in a bulky, light blue ballgown dress that was as fine as silk.

My mother, Astoria, pinched the bridge of her wrinkly nose and stepped forward, “You and your father’ve talked about this. I’m getting older by the second and your brothers are much too young, Cressida. You’re getting a suitor, end of story.” She snapped at me, steam nearly coming out of her ears.

I had three brothers, Theon, who was 16 years, Marx, 15, and Elio, 8. I was the eldest at 20 and my twenty-first birthday was on the fifteeth of August.

I grumbled and picked up my dress, running out of the castle. I sat on a granite bench in the floral garden with irises, lilies, marigolds, and roses, each flower thriving with life and color. I threw some of Theon’s blades directed at a couple of his dummies. Bullseye every time.

Before I knew it, a group of rambunctious men rode on grey horses. Rare ones, “Must be from Lunaris.” I muttered under my breath.

Lunaris was our enemy kingdom. They stormed the palace when my mother had me and nearly killing my father, Thaddeus, thus leaving him with one leg. In our kingdom, Eldoria, royals are oddly sacred. Lunaris was against that.

One of the men spotted me, his group and him walking towards me, “Oi! What’s a lovely lassie like you doin’ ‘ere?” He called out, earning a chuckle or a snicker from his friends. I rolled my eyes as he towered over me. “What’s your name, yeah?” He admired my red hair.

“Cressida.” I scowled. The man smirked, letting out a dry laugh.

“Princess Cressida West? Heir to the throne of Eldoria? Aye, you’re stubborn, ain’t you?” He smiled warmly, “Hawksley. Jaxith Hawksley.” The man chuckled at my reaction.

My face faltered for a second. Jaxith Hawksley, the youngest of Lunaris. That explained his idiotic behavior… “Explains how rambunctious you are. You’re lucky that I haven’t called the guards.”

Jaxith let out a hearty laugh, “The guards?” He was definitely amused, “Oh, darling,” he leaned in over my ear, “You amuse me.” He whispered. His crew left towards the Briarwood forest with their majestic, grey horses.

My breath hitched. I wasn’t gonna tell anyone yet. Lunaris was too cowardly to act upon us. I stared in Jaxith’s direction where he winked at me. My lady in waiting, Calliope, called out to me. Tonight was the night where I found a suitor. In a month, I was to be wed.

“Coming!”I rolled my eyes at his action and joined Calliope.

Soon enough, I was at the ball, wearing a golden silk dress, representing the color of our kingdom. As I walked down the stone staircase, there were mostly men, obviously. A lot of them asked for my hand, dancing the night away. Nearly all the princes danced with me, but I was clearly uninterested. All but one, Prince Kieran of the Triston Isles.

He bowed in front of me with an oddly Prince Charming kind of vibe, without the charming, “May I have this dance, my lady?” He regally took out his hand.

My mother and father were watching. They told me that if I hadn’t accepted the second to last suitor, I had to pick the last one. That was him, a self-centered, self-obessed neanderthal. I sighed and took Kieran’s hand.

As we finished, my mother helped my father up, “My daughter has found a suitor, Prince Kieran of the Triston Isles! Let us—“ He bellowed. Suddenly, the doors bust open and there he was, Jaxith Cullen Hawksley. …I may have done some studying.

“Not yet, sir.” Jaxith called out. The whole hall gasped. I glanced at Kieran, scoffing and joining Jaxith. I offered my hand to him, “Gladly, princess.” His whole demeanor was flirtatious.

For once, I didn’t resist the dance. My moves were a tad rusty, but they were smooth. My brothers ripped me off of him, making Calliope take me to my quarters.

I sat on the bed, “Calliope, that man is wondrous!” I exclaimed.

“Are you crazy?” She hissed, putting her hand on her hip. “That man is the reason why there are rules! He’s a Hawksley.” Calliope snapped.

I rolled my eyes, “I am not taking that idiotic,

self-centered neanderthal of a man!” I retorted. I was obviously talking about Kieran. Calliope didn’t have anything else to say. She went off in a huff and stormed out my room. I changed into a mint green nightgown and crept under the linen covers.

A day later, I was reading in the garden until Jaxith walked up, “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell just as sweet.” He spoke up, reciting a line from _Romeo and Juliet_, the book I was reading.

“You like Shakespeare?” I scoffed.

He leaned against one of the pillars that supported the gazebo in front of my eyes smirking, “What? Hard to believe it?” Jaxith teased.

I sighed and closed my book, “Well, you look like an idiotic mess of a man.” I retorted.

“Ooh, stubborn, smart, and beautiful. What else could I have?” He chuckled at his own words. He walked over to me, opening the page I was on, caressing my hands in the process. “This is one of my favorite pages. If love be rough with you, be rough with love. Prick love for pricking, and you beat love down.”

I stared at his face. I kind of liked the way a strand of his brown, gelled hair fell in front of his face and how his eyes reflected against the page. I snapped out of my trance, “Did you just get broken up?” I smiled.

Jaxith chuckled, holding my chin and leaned in before hearing footsteps along the footpath, “Got to go, princess.” He kissed my hand, grabbed a rose from out of a bush and placed it in my book. I chuckled, shaking my head, staring at him as he ran out of the garden.

As evening fell, Calliope helped me with my nightgown. I read myself to sleep. Suddenly, the castle rumbled and a cloud of smoke erupted halls away from mine, disrupting my slumber. I jumped up and looked through the window, showing a destructive flood of flames and grey horses.

“My brothers!” I shrieked. Calliope’s eyes widened and exited my quarters, locking the door.

“Stay here, princess. I’ll come for you after.” She called.

My nostrils flared and my hands clenched into fists. I swiftly changed into Theon’s trousers, chuckling at the memory of me stealing them before. I was now in a corset and my brother’s trousers. I grabbed a decorative sword, prying open the door. The whole west wing of the castle was corrupted, burnt to ashes.

Jaxith turned me around and gripped my shoulders with his rough, calloused hands, “You shouldn’ be ‘ere.” He snuck a rose onto my ear before grabbing my hand and dragged myself away into the Briarwood forest.

“I’m not leaving without you.” I retorted, feeling the white rose placed on my ear.

“Stay ‘ere, lass. And don’t move.” He ordered, running off into the fiery battlegrounds.

I stayed where I was. I couldn’t believe I was falling with my family’s enemy. But somehow, someway, the thought of being in love with a Hawksley was oddly compelling. It consumed my mind.

Before I knew it, the battle was over and Jaxith limped to a nearby rock just inches in front of the forest. Luckily, I could see his torched clothing with the blaze of fire illuminating the scene. I ran towards his body, Theon and Marx pulled me back. The guards dragged Jaxith away.

“No!” I shrieked, trying to break free of my brothers’ grip. Days passed and today was the wedding day of Kieran and I. Not only that, but today was the execution of Jaxith.

As I walked down the brightly lit hall in an elegant, lacy white ballgown carrying a bouquet of red roses. I was shaking yet the public didn’t see it, they just stared at my stoic expression, wondering why I wasn’t happy.

I linked arms with Kieran, saying our vows. He was first, “Life is the magic that brought me into the world. Fate is the force that brought us together. Trust is our bond, love is our guide. I pledge to honor you, protect you, be at your side. We were two, now we are one from today until my last breath.” He sipped from the traditional golden chalice filled half-way with red wine.

After I said my vows, it was time for the execution. Kieran and I were the first to exit. There was Jaxith, standing at the gallow with a noose on his neck, hands tied with thick rope. He was nearly beaten to a pulp, barely conscious.

Kieran and I stepped on the platform in front of the gallow. He spoke up with a loud, thundering voice. There was a sword right next to me. It was on a barrel. I was silently debating if I should let him free or let him die.

I acted. I grabbed the sword, earning a gasp from the crowd as I stabbed my new husband. I slashed the ropes from Jaxith. He was still conscious enough to get himself up. I gripped the sharp sword and helped his wobbly figure down the wooden stairs.

We were quick enough to escape to the forbidden end of the Briarwood forest. I set him down on a rock, “Hey.” My voice wobbled.

“I got blood on your dress.” He muttered, still pretty weak but still consciously aware of his surroundings to crack a joke. I laughed and leaned down for a deep, passionate kiss.

Jaxith grabbed a white rose and placed it gently on my ear, like a month ago. I chuckled.

“I love you.” He mumbled. I laid beside him. And we just stayed like that. I comforted his bruised form, either staring at his grey eyes or the misty, orange clouds that enveloped the sky in something like a warm hug with a bloodied wedding dress staining the white lace.