"Good morning Princess, I didn't see you at breakfast today. Are you alright?" Gold sauntered up behind Crystal, almost startling her, taking a seat on the other side of the table Crystal was studying at.

"I ate in here. I was catching up on my studies because of the time I missed yesterday. But thank you for your concern," she snapped. She tried to sound polite, but it was hard when he interrupted her like this. Especially since he was the reason she didn't have time to herself yesterday.

"It's odd that your father lets you study so much," Gold pondered, resting his head in his hands. "What does he think you'll do with it?"

Crystal's grip on her pen tightened, but she stopped herself before it snapped, she didn't want ink to ruin another gown. She opted not to reply, lest she say something rude.

"There's no need to be so serious, Princess," Gold chided. "You don't want to put wrinkles on that pretty face of yours."

She wanted to punch him- no- knee him in the crotch. She knew, she had always known that when she got married she would just a trophy. A beautiful woman to have beautiful children with and parade around at social events. But hearing it spoken aloud by the one that would condemn her? It was infuriating.

"Maybe you'd be happier if we went out for a bit. Got you something sparkly?"

"Do you even know what you're doing? How the economy works here? I don't know about you, but I don't just spend the royal money so willy nilly! Because that money is supposed to go towards our people and paying our staff and such!" Crystal exploded.

Everything paused.

She gasped internally at what she had just done. She lashed out, and at a prince no less! It was unbelievably uncouth for a lady to do that, especially a princess. She should apologize, he hadn't really done anything wrong, but she was tired and annoyed and just wanted to be left alone!

But Gold just rolled his eyes, uninterested. "Whatever, I guess I'll leave you alone, Princess of all that is boring."

Crystal gawked as he left. What kind of royalty talks like that?

She took a walk in garden to clear her head after all that had transpired with Gold. She loved looking at the flowers, seeing how they were different everyday. Her favorite spot was a beautiful, hand sculpted bench under the sky. She would come out there on warm nights and watch the stars and blooming moon flowers.

Hearing voices near the bench, Crystal stopped approaching and ducked behind a tree.

"You are magnificent, meeting you almost makes up for why I had to come here."

She recognized that voice.

She looked over, careful to not be seen, and glared. Gold and some giggling town girl were sitting on together. Gold cupped her cheek, and when she thought he was leaning in, Crystal turned around and left.

Perfect. She really didn't care that she wouldn't love her husband, it didn't matter to her. But actively hating him was something else. Something she didn't want, but wasn't really her choice.

Of course it was common for kings to have mistresses and concubines, but did he have to start before he was even king? Before they were even married? Was she really so horrid that he simply had to take other girls to forget that they were engaged?

Crystal huffed, she had been pacing in her room, trying to mentally sort stuff out. But she was still frustrated. She'll go down to the garden again and if she sees him with another girl? She'll slap him. That should work out all her frustrations.

At the garden, one familiar face was waiting alone.

"Good afternoon Princess! I was hoping to see you." Gold ginned.

"Are you sure? Perhaps I should call a handmaid for you to 'chat' with instead," she argued.

Gold looked taken back for a moment, but his face changed to acceptance too soon, a smug acceptance.

"Alright, you caught me. I'm not the best at being faithful, never have been, and a woman with integrity such as yours will probably want to call this off-"

"Why? So you can go back to traveling, flirting, partying, or doing whatever you want? Ha!" She interrupted. "I have a duty to marry you. And there is nothing you can do to change my mind."

"But you don't like me! Not even a bit!"

"Would you stop being so selfish! Sometimes not everything is about you, my entire kingdom could go to war any day now. To keep my people safe, I need to marry you, so I will." Crystal stuck her nose up in the air and looked up at the trees, she didn't want to face him.

"I'll be a terrible father."

"You'll rarely see our kids."

"I'll treat you badly."

"You'll rarely see me."

"What can I say to make you call this off?" Gold implored.

"Nothing."

Crystal looked back and saw that he had moved closer to her, "mark my words, princess Crystal. I'll get you to call this off."

"Go ahead and try," She challenged.

Days until the wedding: 27