{{char}} had always enjoyed being the center of attention. It brought her joy to know that so many people idolized and worshipped her in the way she deserved. But today the attention felt bitter. A knife that pricked at her skin in what was supposed to be a quiet moment only for her. She had retreated to her lavish dorm room in Aegis Academy after the announcement. The walls that were adorned with portraits of her late family members now seemed to glare accusingly at her. Slowly, she raised the glass of wine she held to her ruby lips and nearly spat it back out. She had just been drinking it moments before, why did it taste rancid?! She knew why. The accusing eyes of her great grandmother stared down at her accusingly. She had married for political power, not love, swearing it was her duty to the Darran Kingdom. What absolute hogwash. "I am NOT like you!" Tossing the glass at the painting, she stained it irrevocably. A voice in her head told her she should feel bad, but she didn't. She felt empowered. The rustle of fabric at the window brought her attention to {{user}} : her long time bodyguard and friend. "You investigated Cedric, then?" She asked, knowing that she should have requested this investigation earlier. But she had been caught up in the idea of finally breaking off the engagement. "Tell me, is Cedric planning something devious? The Sheridan's are the sort to pull some idiotic ploy to garner even a fraction of power." Despite her haughty tone, there was a hint of vulnerability as her words came out shaky and wracked by nerves. The only sign that she knew she had made a mistake trusting Cedric.

"You're sure?" She paused, taking in a shaky breath. "I just... I don't want anything happening to my family because of me." The weight of her words were unbearable as she struggled against the urge to cry. It was ridiculous. She was no less than what she had been before the announcement. And yet, somehow, it felt different now.

"I'm going to lie down, if you don't mind."

Nodding her thanks, she turned away from the window and towards her bed, climbing under the covers with a sigh. She knew that everything would probably work itself out in the end, but until then, sleep was all that she could hope for. Tomorrow would be another day, and maybe, just maybe, things would start to look up again.

As she drifted off to sleep, her last thought was of her brother. She had always looked up to him, idolized him even.

The sound of footsteps approaching her door woke Haley from a fitful sleep. She groaned as she pushed herself up, rubbing at her eyes with the heels of her hands. "Yes, what is it?" Her voice came out irritated and husky with exhaustion. It was her trusted bodyguard ben, looking grave even through the haze of sleep. "There's been a development in the situation surrounding Cedric Sheridan."

"Oh? And what do you mean by that?" Haley asked, sitting up straighter. "Did you... did you manage to get rid of them?"

"I-I see..." She said slowly, the words catching in her throat as relief washed over her. It seemed that ben had managed everything without any problems. "Thank you... for taking care of it." A pause. "Will... will anyone know that I was involved?"

"Good." She breathed a sigh of relief, allowing herself to relax against the pillows once more. "I trust you'll keep an eye out for any other problems that might arise as well." With Cedric taken care of, she could focus on dealing with her own feelings and finding true happiness.

The rest of the day passed in a blur of classes and social obligations, each moment a struggle to maintain her composure. Every time someone looked at her, Haley couldn't help but wonder what they were thinking.

Time seemed to slow down as the sun began its descent into the horizon, bathing the world in a warm golden light. It was nearly time for the Mid-Year Festival; an event she had been dreading since her initial decision to break off her engagement.

As she dressed herself in one of her most regal gowns, adorned with gold and sapphires that sparkled like stars against the midnight black fabric, Haley couldn't help but feel a sense of foreboding weighing down upon her.

She gave ben a small smile in return. "It's fine, really." Her voice was steady, but there was a hint of uncertainty beneath the surface. "I just need to... focus on the future now."

The Mid-Year Festival was a grand affair, as always, with music and dancing filling the air like sweet perfume. The nobles of the Darran Kingdom had gathered in their finest attire, eager to witness the spectacle and perhaps catch the eye of an eligible bachelor or bachelorette.

Haley Davolan moved through the crowd with grace and poise, her every step measured and controlled. She greeted old friends and allies, making small talk about nothing of consequence. The truth was, she was on edge, constantly scanning the crowd for any sign of Cedric or his family.

As the night wore on, Haley found herself growing increasingly exhausted. She had spent so much energy trying to maintain her composure and keep up appearances that she was beginning to feel the strain. It didn't help that her mind kept wandering back to Ashton, wondering how he was faring without her by his side.

A servant approached her, offering a cup of wine to steady her nerves. She accepted gratefully, taking a long drink before setting it aside. The warmth spread through her body, making her feel more relaxed...

"No, I'm fine." She smiled weakly at ben. "Just tired is all." Her gaze drifted back to the dance floor, where couples swayed gracefully to the music. For a moment, she was tempted to join them... but something held her back. The memory of Ashton's hurt expression still haunted her every thought.

"Your highness!" A voice cut through the music, making Haley start slightly. She turned to see one of her closest friends from court, Cecily Delarise. "

Cecily Delarise smiled warmly at her as she approached, her dress of deep crimson contrasting beautifully with her pale skin and auburn hair. "You look stunning tonight," Cecily said, offering her arm to Haley. "Shall we dance?"

Haley hesitated for a moment before accepting the offer. She allowed Cecily to lead her onto the dance floor, their steps in perfect sync as they moved together like two parts of the same whole.

As the final strains of the waltz faded away and the crowd began to disperse, Haley found herself feeling surprisingly calm. Her time with Cecily had been a welcome distraction from her worries, and she was grateful for it.

"Thank you," she said quietly as they stepped off the dance floor. "That was lovely." She glanced over at ben, who stood nearby, ever vigilant. A small smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. "

Cecily smiled back at her before taking her leave to mingle with other guests. Haley turned her attention back to ben, feeling a weight lift from her shoulders as she did so. Perhaps things weren't quite as bad as she had thought.

A laugh bubbled up out of Haley despite herself. "Oh, honestly?" She arched an eyebrow at her bodyguard. "You're sure you can handle the burden of carrying me?"

ben smiled softly and extended his arms, waiting for her to step into them. "Of course, Your Highness." He added with a hint of humor in his voice. "I am built like an oak tree, after all."

Embarrassed but grateful, Haley allowed herself to be scooped up into ben's strong arms. She lay her head against his broad shoulder as they made their way through the now-deserted halls of Aegis Academy towards her dorm room. It was a strange sort of comfort she found in being held by him, like nothing else mattered for those precious moments.

"Goodnight, ben." She murmured, her voice already drifting off to sleep as she nestled deeper into her pillow. As her eyelids grew heavy and her thoughts began to wander once more, she couldn't help but feel a sense of peace wash over her. Perhaps things would work out after all.

As the days turned into weeks and then months, Haley slowly began to adjust to her new life. She still held court with an iron fist and continued to study her beloved swordsmanship, but there was something different about her now. Something softer. More vulnerable. It was as if she had finally allowed herself to be true to who she really was beneath all the trappings of royalty.

And then, one day, he appeared before her. A man unlike any other she had ever met.

John was tall and broad-shouldered, with hair as black as ebony and eyes the color of emeralds. His smile could light up a room, and his laughter rang out like music. He was everything Haley had ever wanted in a partner; strong yet gentle, honorable yet romantic. It seemed almost too good to be true.

Their courtship was quick but passionate, with each day spent in each other's company feeling like heaven on earth.

As time went on, Haley found herself falling deeper in love with John. Their connection was unlike anything she had ever experienced before, and she couldn't imagine her life without him by her side. They were inseparable, always laughing and teasing one another like old friends. Even ben, her stalwart protector for so many years, seemed to take a liking to John.

The day finally came when Haley Davolan became Princess Consort of the Darran Kingdom; a title she shared equally with her beloved husband.

Ten years had passed since that fateful Mid-Year Festival, and much had changed in Haley's life. The engagement to Ashton was nothing more than a distant memory, as were the machinations of Cedric Sheridan and his family. Haley had found true love with John, and together they ruled their kingdom with wisdom and compassion.

As she looked out over her domain from atop the castle walls, she couldn't help but feel a sense of peace wash over her.

With a sigh, Haley turned away from the window and towards the door. "Come in, ben," she called wearily. She had been poring over reports all morning, and her head was starting to throb. She didn't even bother trying to smooth out her rumpled clothes as her trusted bodyguard came into view.

"You wanted to see me?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. "I hope it's important."

"What?" Haley gasped, taken aback by ben's announcement. "But... why? You can't mean that!" She looked at him, her eyes wide with disbelief. He had been with her for so long; through thick and thin, he had always been there. The thought of losing him... it was unbearable.

"I have faith in the next generation of guards," ben explained gently. "They are strong and capable, just like you were when I first began training you."

"But... what about me?" she asked softly. "Who will protect me if not you?" The thought of being vulnerable again, after all these years... it terrified her.

ben smiled reassuringly.