🌬️2🌬️

The children tugged me in different directions, all endlessly fighting for my attention. I giggled softly as they all demanded me to come to play with them.

They were powerful little things, successfully managing to drag me behind them like I was a rag doll. I smiled softly as I saw how all of their little faces glowed with a sparkling innocence.

They have shit to worry about.

They were too young to worry about the choice of flavor that would occur once they hit the prime age of eighteen. Too young to stress about how big of an impact the universe's decision would make to the rest of their lives.

A girl swung by herself on the swings and I decided to sneak away from the others to go say hi. She looked up at me, her bright purple eyes stinging my soul.

That's definitely new. I thought to myself in confusion.

"Can I sit?" I asked, pointing to the swing next to her. She smiled and nodded her head. I moved my dress as I sat down and turn to look at her "So why don't you join the others?"

She watched the children with a disturbing disdain "I'm not a brainless, naive child" I blinked at her mature words.

Is this normal?

I decided to just go with a nervous smile "W-what do you mean?" She stared at me, I looked deep into her violet eyes and I saw emptiness, a complete lack of innocence.

She looked like a hollow shell with the face of a child "I know something they do not" Her lips turned upwards into a wicked grin. "Tell me, princess, how long have you had your scandalous blue hair? "

Shock took over my body. I quickly checked my sleek ponytail for any blue strands Yvette might have missed when coloring my hair.

"Don't fret, it's not visible" Dread hit my stomach as I stared at the little girl, fear lacing my eyes "I just don't have the eyes of the weak".

I looked around for anyone that could come and save me, " You're not one of them, I don't know why you pretend to be" I felt under examination as I sat directly in the path of this little girls judging eyes.

"You're so much more than them, yet you pretend to be weak, and for what?" She didn't sound like a minor anymore, but an old soul who knew much more beyond her years "So you can entertain the idea of being with the man you think you love?"

I didn't realize that I had indeed stopped breathing, I felt like running away but my feet seemed planted firmly to the floor "Your highness, love is unstable and unreliable" I stared at Peighton who was standing inside the house with a cup of tea. "Your seemingly perfect kingdom is going to fall apart before your very eyes".

"The young Prince will be your immediate downfall, but he will also help in revealing who you truly are" I forced myself to look up at the girl. This seemed to be her plan because a bright smile broke on her face revealing hundreds of sharp fangs.

"An agreement that should never have been made"

"Your highness the prince demands your attention!" My head snapped up to the orphanage caretaker smiling at me.

I looked back down at the child to see she was swinging mindlessly as if nothing had happened. I cautiously tapped her shoulders and she looked up.

She looked stunned by my appearance but I could guarantee that she was not and startled as I was. I didn't say anything more but instead stood up and walked away from the swing set.

That encounter has completely ruined swings for me.

I walked into the house and was greeted by Peighton, he smiled at me lovingly "Did you enjoy your time?" I nodded distantly, my head somewhere else at the moment.

"Great! It's time to go" I nodded again. He put his arm around me and started leading me towards the door. Before we left I looked back at the playground. I tried not to but my eyes ended up looking at the swing set.

The girl was still there, swinging by herself. As if sensing me looking up at her, she looked up and waved at me, an innocent smile on her face.

But it wasn't the smile that caught my eye. No, it was her naive brown eyes that stared right into my soul.

"Are you alright?" I snapped out of my trance and shook my head, clearing out all my thoughts. Peighton stared at me, worry lacking his sapphire eyes.

"YES!yes I'm just thinking," I thought about a quick excuse "I'm just a bit worried about how I'm going to face all the houses today".

He chuckled " Don't worry, you'll do great" I blushed at his encouraging words, he took my hand in his and started drawing soothing circles on it with his thumb "And besides, they don't need to like you, you're not getting married to them, are you?"

It was a teasing question but I also heard the slightly possessive tone behind it, "No, I guess I'm not" He kissed my forehead, his lips lingering there for longer than needed.

I was no stranger to how territorial Peighton could be. Growing up he didn't have to share anything because of his status and that made him think that he didn't need to share anything. When we started dating he became extremely possessive over me, continuously stating his claim on more than one occasion. It was also no secret that he was jealous of my close friend Sanjay.

He made it extremely clear that he didn't like him in the past and I made it extremely clear that Sanjay is just a friend. But did that calm his doubting thoughts? No.

We went back into the carriage and drove to our destination. Ever since I could remember me and Peighton would hang out by a large blossom tree that sat at the edge of the borders, near the forest. It quickly became our safe spot where we could go and talk for hours, without worrying about our duties and expectations.

"Baby can you grab the small box inside the bag" I nodded and stretched my arm out to grab the bag and pull it closer to me. I reached my hand inside the picnic bag and pulled out a small white box. It had golden designs that decorated it, giving it a beautifully elegant look.

I admired its beauty for a few seconds before extending my hand to give it to him "No I want you to open it" I looked at him in confusion.

I carefully unlatched the little lock before lifting up the lid of it. Much to my dismay, the box was empty. Confusion flooded mind. I looked up at Peighton "It's em-

My words clogged my throat as I was met with him on one knee. In his pale pink hands was a ring. I dropped the box and covered my mouth in shock, tears filled up my eyes.

" Honey, I love you more than you will ever know and from the first day I met you I knew that if I didn't make you mine I was going to lose my mind" The tears that threatened to spill from my eyes gave up and ran down my cheeks "Will you do me the absolute honor of becoming my wife, my queen and my future"

He will be your immediate downfall...

"Yes" I whispered but once his words truly settled it I screamed "YES!" I jumped into his arms, resulting in both of us falling onto the grass-covered ground.

He held me in his arms. I looked down at him and admired my new fiance, the sunlight that peaked in through the cracks in the tree, kissed his face giving his pink face a beautiful glow.

"I love you" He murmured to me, his eyes bore into mine and I had no doubt in my mind that I wanted to marry this man " I love you too". I leaned down and claimed his awaiting lips with mine.

But he will reveal who you truly are...

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