𝕿𝖍𝖊 𝕯𝖊𝖆𝖉 𝕻𝖗𝖎𝖓𝖈𝖊

𝕮𝖍𝖆𝖕𝖙𝖊𝖗 𝕿𝖍𝖗𝖊𝖊

~The Innocent~

Aravina Naldecc

He definitely wasn't discrete, that'd probably get us in trouble one day.

I watched in amusement as Yuroki's head popped up right outside my window. He flashed me that—very—attractive grin of his. "Well, hello. Your Highness." I smiled and leaned back against my dozens of pillows. "Are you going to invite me in?" He asked. I pursed my lips and stared up at the ceiling. "Hmm~" I rested a finger on my chin, pretending to be in deep thought.

I could see Yuroki out of the corner of my eye, hanging out my bedroom window looking at me pleadingly. "No."

"No?" He sputtered. "Come on, Ara! I'm gonna fall!" He whined. I grinned and regarded him for a few more moments. "Oh, alright. Hurry up." He scrambled inside only to tumble to the floor. I rolled my eyes at his clumsiness and walked over to him. "God, you're clumsy." I muttered, holding out my hand to help him up.

I felt my heart skip a beat when his hand touched mine. I didn't understand why that still happened, we'd been dating for about a month and a half now.

He looked up at me with a cheeky grin. Before I could pull him to his feet or ask what he was smiling about, he tugged on my hand, making me fall on top of him. "God, Yuro!" He laughed and wrapped his arm around my waist, pressing his face into my hair.

(A few weeks earlier)

It wasn't nearly as beautiful as mother had made it seem.

Little boys darted across the cobblestone streets, dressed basically in rags. Covered in dirt they did their best to avoid the women and girls shopping this afternoon. I hated the way men and boys were treated. Like they were worse than dirt. It was unfair to make a child live on the streets just because they'd been born with a penis.

But there wasn't really anything I could do about it. Not yet anyway. When I became Queen after my mother died, all this would change. Men would be treated as equals, as human.

My mother had chastised me when I'd first brought up the idea of marrying. She'd said there was no need for such a thing. That a man couldn't be trusted and that all they were useful for was sex. I hated her for her double standards. I know that if I said that about a woman she'd lock me in my room for a week. It didn't make sense to me. What had men done?

I wasn't allowed to go into the library. No one besides mother was allowed, actually. And whenever I mentioned the library she'd change the subject. I was going to get down there one day. Maybe I could get Nixina to help me.

I looked up at the guards flanking all sides of me. Mother sure was cautious. I'd wanted to go out on my own for my eighteenth birthday, but my mother had promptly rejected that idea. I felt like six was overkill. Who in their right mind would attack the princess anyway? That was a damn good way to get your head chopped off.

This was boring.

Suddenly, an idea popped into my head. Sure, I'd probably be chastised for it later, but I could deal with that when the time came. I took a deep breath and unclasped my cloak, it'd just slow me down. I quickly slid off the cloak then took off down the street, ignoring the soldiers shouting for me.

I stumbled backward as I crashed into someone.

"Sorry." I muttered. I locked eyes with the boy I'd crashed into and I felt my heart skip a beat. God, he was so pretty. I noticed that he was staring as well, unblinking. "Are you alright?" I asked. He blinked. "Yeah, I'm fine. Why were you running?" I sighed. "I—" "There she is!"

"Shit," I muttered, grabbing his hand and dragging him into a nearby alley. "What are you—" "Shhh." I hissed, covering his mouth. Was this fool trying to get me caught? He said something but it was muffled by my hand. He pried my hand off his face and whispered. "You're royalty?" I rolled my eyes. "Nooo. I dress like this for fun." God, he was stupid. He just stared at me. What was he thinking about? I didn't have to wonder for long though. "I bet you're running away because your mother wants you to marry someone you don't like."