09

After a few weeks passed by the meeting that everyone was talking about finally came.

It's a meeting between the royals and one of the wealthiest families, the Westbrooks.

I think we already know what they will be talking about. Marriage.

I was on my way to fetch the princess from her room when the King told me that he will be the one to do it because they needed time to talk before the meeting.

I walked towards the meeting area. It's another big room and high ceiling but this time it has a big ass table in the middle.

There were already guards there before me. two were standing by the door, and inside there were three every corner.

I stood by this boy who was just about my age maybe a little older with a similar uniform, I guess he is also a personal guard.

"Hey" He smiled at me "I'm Tristan" I turned to him. He has black hair and green eyes.

"Hi," I said neutrally. I'm not really a social person as you can see.

He smiled "Not much of a talker are you, that's okay"

I just choose who I want to talk to.

"So what's your name?" He asked.

I sighed "Leo"

He nodded "Isn't that a boy's name?" he said confused.

I just shrugged.

The door then opened and in comes the Westbrooks. There are four of them. One is obviously the mother, she looked like a bitch honestly, head held high like she knows everyone is lower than her, then there's the father, brushed back blond hair, white beard, very intimidating and he has a huge belly.

Then in comes Charles. Ugh. Just seeing him puts me in a sour mood.

He smirks at me then follows his Santa Clause-looking ass father then someone walked behind him that I almost didn't notice, a girl she's about his age, she has blond hair that ends only at her shoulders. She looked bored then she looked up catching me looking at her then she smirked.

They all sat beside each other waiting for the royals. Charles never stopped looking at me, like he was challenging me. I just looked at him with my bored expression.

Then the royals arrived. Everyone stood up and bowed. The King walked beside his wife and the princess behind them.

I studied the princess and she is walking with her natural grace and posture with a serious face. She always has a serious face, that's why I feel so special every time I make her laugh because I know I'm one of the only few people who saw it.

Then she looked at me slightly, I give her an encouraging smile but she only replied with a sad smile.

They were all seated when the King sat. Then the meeting began.

Sir Westbrook was already smiling, trying to get on the King's good side.

"Okay, What does the house Westbrook propose?" The King started.

Sir Westbrook was already excited to share his proposal "Your highness, If my son and your daughter get married we will be able to offer a lot of our family's land and farms from the outside that will greatly affect this kingdom" He passed a scroll to the King "Listed there is all the lands and farms that we are willing to offer" He smiled smugly.

The King passed the scroll to Ulric, who I didn't even notice that's was standing there. Ulric started to read the scroll.

The King interlocked his fingers from both hands and set them above the table "Sir Westbrook, you know that when they do get married your son is going to get more of what you can offer" He said, Sir Westbrook gulped "But that is fine with me" Santa sighed with relief, the King continued "The most priority I have is my daughter being happy and being respected by a person with a high status and you are the highest family in this kingdom, My daughter has a lot of suitors even from other kingdoms, your son is only one of her options, he still needs to prove himself as a good man and a good protector for her"

Sir Westbrook nodded "Of course your highness, I have a daughter as well, as you can see" He gestured to the short-haired girl "So I know where you are coming from. My son is an outstanding man, he already fights at the arena even though he is still in training, He is also very respectful to women"

I snorted at that. Respectful to women my ass.

It's like the princess was the only one who heard me because she was the only one who looked at me and bit her lip to stop herself from smiling.

I smiled at her and winked, she rolled her eyes but smiled.

The meeting continued for a while. Both families discussing their child's future. Then finally it ended.

The royals were the first to leave then followed by the Westbrooks. I noticed that Tristan left with the Westbrooks. He must be a personal guard of either Charles or his sister, probably for the sister, I think Charles is a little too prideful to accept protection from a knight.

We followed the Westbrooks to exit. Charles then came to me then whispered "If I marry the Princess, I'll make sure you'll never be seen here again" Then he bumped my shoulder before leaving.

I saw his sister looking at us confused about what Charles was whispering, then she walked beside her brother.

I sighed and then headed for my room. What a long night. I took my towel and clothes for a shower. I always changed in the shower because I don't want to risk anyone seeing me in a towel in the hallway. That would be humiliating.

I changed into my nightclothes consisting of a white pair of shorts and a white shirt then headed for my room.

I opened my door while rubbing my hair with a towel in my other hand. When I closed the door and turned I saw the princess sitting on my bed, but this time she was wearing pink short shorts and a white camisole with a little bit of lace on top.

She looks so hot without even doing anything. Lord guide me to not do anything stupid tonight.

"Bored again your highness?" I asked teasing but she didn't smile like she always did. She just sighed sadly.

I sat beside her concerned "What's wrong?" I asked her gently.

She played with her necklace "I'm going to get married to someone I don't love. I'm going to be miserable for the rest of my life" she said sadly.

I touched her shoulder to comfort her "You don't have to marry Charles if you don't want to, your father already said that you will be the one to choose"

"He said that I will be the one to choose but only from the men that he thinks are worthy and from a high-end family and I bet I'll hate them all. Snotty, arrogant rich men aren't really my type" She grumbled slightly.

Well, I hope men aren't her type at all, but let's be realistic even then I am nowhere near having a chance with her. The highest relationship I can have with her is a best friend.

I pulled her chin slightly for her to look at me "You're born from a high-end family and you're nowhere near being a snotty, arrogant rich woman. Maybe somewhere out there a man with a heart like yours with high status will come and ask your hand in marriage"

You have no idea how hard was it for me to say that.

She smiled at me sadly then she wrapped her arms around my neck to hug me. I wrapped my arms around her waist to hug her back.

It's sad to think that maybe this is how far I'll ever get close to the princess. And it's sadder to think that I'm starting to feel that maybe that's okay. Having her as a friend is better than not having her at all. Right?

She pulled back to look at me but her arms were still wrapped around my neck "You always have a way of making me feel better. You're always trying to make me smile" She smiled.

I smiled "Well ... you're really ugly when you cry, so I'm really doing it for me" I teased even though I know that whatever she does she'll still be the most beautiful girl in my eyes.

She laughed out loud and slightly punched my arm.

There goes our moment. Shit. I fucking hate myself for always joking when I'm nervous, it's like my coping mechanism. And this time it ruins our moment, I wanted her arms to last a little longer around my neck. It felt intimate.

The Princess moved so she is now lying down on my bed then she sighed "Your bed smells so much like you" she said while her eyes are closed.

I'd give anything to see her like that on my bed every night for the rest of my life.

Really Leo? For the rest of your life? You have only known her for over a month.

"I'll be shocked if my bed smells like another person, I'll be scared actually. Someone might be sleeping beside me that I'm not aware of" I joked but at the same time shuddered.

"Stop it. I actually like how you smell, you smell like a baby" She laughed.

Why is she doing this to me? It's like she's not even aware that she's trying to make me fall for her.

"Yeah well, get used to it, I'm going to be here for a while unless you marry Charles then I'm gone" I chuckled.

I fucking hate that douche.

Her laughing stopped and she looked like she was thinking.

"Oh shit, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you think about that again" I cringed.

She covered her face in her hands and sighed "I don't know what to do, I don't want to marry any of them. Especially Charles, I'd rather kill myself than marry him"

I always thought that the luckiest people in the world are the royals since they literally have everything. And to think that they never go through what we normally go through like paying bills and worrying if we have money to buy our next meal. It's just a life anyone would kill for.

There was a time in my life that we really didn't have anything. My father was always gone trying to have a better position and my mother was a tailor. I once thought how lucky the royals were but we have something that the royals crave, freedom.

And now that I look at the princess who was so worried that she might not get the happiness that she dreams of and never have the freedom to choose who she marries and spends the rest of her life with. If someone asked what I'm most thankful for, having the freedom to choose who I'll marry won't even come to mind because for us that was a given.

You'll never really appreciate something unless it's taken away from you.

I didn't know what to say, so I just lay there beside her. When she felt my weight, she removed her hands from her face turned to face me then wrapped her arm around my stomach and buried her face on my neck.

I'm so confused about our relationship. It's like she's sending me mixed signals, but I'm not going to hope for something so unlikely. I know my place and that is just her protector.