Bounty of a Princess

Chapter one - Her Morning.

"Princess Haley?" Angelia asked as she knocked while opening the door. "Your father is expecting your presence." Haley sat up and stretched before looking to Angelia with a smile. "Okay, thank you and how many times do we have to go over this princess title?" Haley said with a laugh as she stood.

"Well if I call you anything else without the title I'm afraid your father would have my head" Angelia said while wrapping her hands around her neck and sticking her tongue out. Both of the girls laughed.

"Shall I gather you outfit for the day?" Haley shook her head "I got it today, thank you though. Tell father I'll be there in a while." Angelia smiled and bowed while exiting.

Haley walked into her closet and looked thought the gowns a bit. She settled on a light purple, long dress with flowers embroidered on the sleeves and skirt part. She showered and freshened up, not grabbing any shoes, and walked out of her room towards the grand dining room.

She took a deep breath before entering and seen her father pacing in a rage.

"Finally! Do you know how long I have been waiting!? What if we had to flee the land!?" He continued to scold her. "I normally take longer." She said putting her hand on her hip.

"Don't get smart with me." He warned. Her mother stepped in. "Okay you two settle down. Remember we have guests coming." I looked at her with a questioning look. "Guests?"

She nodded lightly with a smile and looked to my father to inform me. "You are 17. You are becoming of the age to marry. So a prince from another kingdom we trade with is coming here"

Haley sighed. She knew this time was coming and dreaded every bit of it. She knew even if she didn't like the person, she was going to have to marry them by her fathers orders.

"What if I don't want to marry?" Almost everyone In the room gasped. Her father laughed. "Men have reigned over this kingdom for generations. It is unthinkable for a woman to do so."

Haley lifted and eyebrow "what if I'm the first?" He laughed even louder. "Never knew you was this funny child." He then stood and slammed a hand on the table. "You will marry. I have no sons and I'll be damned if I am the first King in our family to allow his daughter to reign."

The two was standing toe to toe and her mother had to jump in. "Calm down, both of you please." They looked at her and then finally stepped back. He sat down at the head off the table. "As your king I forbid you from sitting on the thrown with a husband."

Haley scoffed. "Your supposed to be a father to me. Not a king." She then stormed out slamming the dining room doors behind her. She heard her father yelling for her but never looked back to the door, making her way to her room.

She looked out of the giant window and down at the Valley. She's never been out there before. The farthest she had been was the edge of the castle gardens.

But now she's finally decided she wants to see the land for herself instead of hearing about it.

She grabbed a pair of flats and slipped them on before making her way to the gardens. She took her normal route so she doesn't draw attention. She looked around before walking to the edge of the gardens about to leave.

"Princess Haley? What are you doing out here by yourself?" She sighed lightly before putting in a fake smile and turning to the knight. "Hello David. I was just going for a stroll as instructed by my mother."

She hoped he would buy it. "I have to check with the Queen for orders first so miss." Haley nodded quickly. "Okay, I'll wait right here!" She said sitting on the stone bench. He bowed before slowly leaving the gardens glancing back at Haley.

Once he was gone and out of sight, she ran as far as she could making it to the valley. She walked behind stands and in ally's so she wouldn't be seen. She seen how the buildings looked. Old and run down. Children in ripped, old clothes but still running around having fun. She smiled at the sight.

She heard the music and seen the many decorations and games being played wishing she could join them. She moved slowly throughout the Valley until a young child running trough the ally bumped into her knocking her out into the street. Gathering attention of some people.

"Isn't that the princess?" Haley looked u pro the person that said that with wide eyes and quickly got up running. Some people began to run after her.

She ran and ran through the valley before being pulled into a ally way and a hand over her mouth. Her back to the stranger, she could feel they was taller then her.

Once everyone ran by, the stranger moved his hand and grabbed her hand tugging it a bit. "Come with me, I'll get ya out of here."

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