I hum quietly as I brush the mare I had been taking care of for the past few days.

"There you go, girl." I put the brush away and wipe the fallen hair off my hands.

I smile and stroke the mare's nose. She whinnies and rubs her nose against my outstretched palm. After Giles and I spoke, I had carved some time out of my schedule to come visit the horses. Taking care of the horses always calmed my nerves. I look up at the sky and sigh.

"Maybe I'm better suited for this kind of work." I murmur.

I look back at my mare and stroke her nose.

"What are you doing?"

A familiar voice causes me to turn around. "Alyn. I could ask you the same question."

"Well, I asked first." He approaches me. He looks up at the mare and begins to stroke her side. "Did you find an instructor?"

"No, right now I'm just going by what you taught me earlier." I glance up at him.

"Hm." Alyn smiles slightly as the mare whinnies happily at the attention. "She seems to like you well enough."

"You think so?" I ask quietly.

Alyn nods, his smile widening slightly. He watches me while I pet the mare.

"What is it?"

"Nothing." He turns away.

"Alyn," I start.

Alyn walks out of the stables without another word. I sigh and clean up the stall. After I finish and head back to my chamber. Later that night, I was called back to Giles's study.

"I have found an equestrian instructor for you, your highness," Giles says.

"Oh?" I tilt my head. The door opens, and I turn around. "Alyn?"

"Sir Alyn has agreed to take on the task," Giles tells me calmly.

"You did?" I look at Alyn. He didn't meet my gaze.

"Sir Alyn's riding skills are unmatched. As Captain of the Guard, he has proven himself a gifted teacher, as well." Giles looks at Alyn. "Be sure to teach her properly."

I watch Alyn carefully. Why did he reconsider? He already turned me down once.

Giles smiles at Alyn. "Her Royal Highness is yours to teach, Captain."

The next day I was sitting astride my horse as Alyn reminds me of the basics. I begin at a steady walk. I glance down at Alyn, smiling slightly. It was just like I remembered from when we were kids.

"Alyn, I know you don't want to do this," I say quietly.

"The Royal Wysterian Guard isn't a troop of personal riding instructors."

"I know that." I nod. I look back up and watch where I'm going. I guess I'm just getting in his way.

"In exchange," Alyn starts. "How about you teach me something else?"

"What?" I look down at Alyn, the look on his face reminded me of his younger self.

"You were a tutor before you came here. So teach me something, and we'll call it even."

I stop the horse. "What on earth could I teach you?"

"That's for you to figure out." Alyn smirks.

I nod and start back up. Soon the lesson ends, just as the sunsets.

"That's enough for today. Here, hop down." Alyn says.

"Right." I dismount but lose my balance and fall backwards. Alyn catches me.

"Still can't dismount very well, can you?" He chuckles.

My cheeks flush, and I look away. Alyn gently pokes my forehead.

"Silly girl."

I look up surprised. Alyn smirks and lets me go. He takes the reins and leads the mare back to the stables.

"You can go back to your chambers for tonight, I'll see you tomorrow." Alyn calls.

I nod, head upstairs and fall asleep.

Several days later it was finally time for my coronation ceremony. As a royal knight of Wysteria, it was Alyn's duty to come greet me. He looks me up and down.

"You don't look ready for this at all." He sighs.

"Just give me a minute." I whisper.

He nods. "Well, we can spare a minute or two more."

"I don't know that I can do this." I murmur.

"Why not?" Alyn asks.

"Alyn, I'm a tutor! Before that, I lived in an abused household." I exclaim. "This is completely different from my life. You at least were raised close to the palace."

"Hey, that's alright. Giles chose you for a reason. Don't worry. Just stand tall and go forwards. You're our one and only princess, you know." He smiles at me slightly.

I meet his eyes and take a deep breath. "Right." I smile and straighten my shoulders. "I can do this."

'Because you'll be by my side, Alyn.'I think to myself.

"Good. Now let's go." Alyn leads me outside where the royal carriage is prepared for me.

I take a deep breath and step inside, Alyn keeps as close as possible.

"Today you will become heir to the throne, Your Royal Highness. Try to act it." Giles says softly.

"I'll try." I nod. I glance out, Alyn is still standing guard next to my window. Our eyes meet, and he smiles.

Suddenly with a shout and festive fanfare, the procession is off down the road. The thrum of the crowds is deafening. We move through the sea of people, I look around for anyone I know. In the centre of the procession, the carriage attracts the most attention. I wave at the onlookers, smiling despite my nerves. This I could do, a mask of happiness, trying not to show how I really feel, I was a master at that. I spot Lilly and some of my former students in the crowd. This time my smile is real. But it soon fades, I spy a shadowy figure behind them. The next moment, the crook knocks my students over and snatches their belongings then he disappears.

"No!" I begin to stand.

"Your Royal Highness!" Giles places a hand on my knee. "Do not forget, your highness, that you are here as the princess."

That's right, I'm the princess now. Not the young girl who could chase down and beat up crooks that tried to steal from me. But Lilly and the others, they didn't have much, and they just lost it. I couldn't just sit by and watch, I had to do something. My hands clench into fists, and I was just about to yell at Giles when a voice calls out.

"Nixie."

I look up at Alyn. He continues.

"I'll take care of it. Just keep your head high and go forward."

With that Alyn dives into the crowd. I watch him go, smiling to myself. I know he can do it, I have faith in him.

Giles sighs. "That isn't exactly appropriate behaviour for Captain of the Royal Wysterian Guard."

I don't say anything but instead turn back to the window, waving as we go past. This was the least I could do. Alyn was doing what he could, now I have to do what I can.

Later as I sit in my chambers, I reflect on what happened at the parade. I honestly need to get a grip on my temper if I'm ever going to make a proper princess. Although Alyn did get my students things back now, he is being brought in for an official hearing. He has been detained for abandoning his duty as Captain of the Royal Wysterian Guard. I sigh and step outside onto my balcony. No one listened to me when I said he shouldn't be punished. But this was all my fault. If I hadn't been so— a figure catches my gaze. I recognise Alyn in an instant. Taking care not to be noticed I sneak down into the courtyard. I softly call his name. He whirls around surprised.

"What are you—?" He watches me closely then sighs. "How many times do I have to tell you to take someone with you when you leave your chambers?"

I shrug. "I can take care of myself you know. I keep telling you that, but you don't seem to believe me."

"What makes you think I don't?" He taps me lightly on the forehead. "You're the princess now, not some commoner living on the streets. You don't have to take care of yourself."

I watch him in stunned silence. I can never understand him like I used to but then again we were only 8 at the time, and neither of us knew how to control our emotions. Alyn starts walking again, and I quickly follow him. I want to ask where he's going, but I don't want to seem annoying.

"I'm going to the stables." He answers my unspoken question.

"How—?" I start.

"I still know how to read your expressions." he smirks.

"Shit," I mutter under my breath.

He chuckles. "What have I told you about cursing?"

"That it's unladylike." I give him a blank stare. "But I lived alone for 4 years and cursed all I wanted so now you can't change me. Just so you know I don't ever intend to curse in front of Giles. I don't want to die."

Alyn rolls his eyes. I shrug and walk into the stables. He sits on the paddock. I study him for a moment. I couldn't read him very well, but I knew something was wrong.

"Is everything alright?" I ask.

"You could say I got a stern warning." He spoke softly. "As captain of the guard, my first and foremost duty was to protect you, the princess. Instead, I left your side. I deserved the reprimand."

My breath catches in my throat. That wasn't what I meant but still. "This was my fault. I'm sorry." I look away. "You swore to protect me, but I keep giving you other responsibilities."

A long silence drags between us. Without warning, Alyn puts a gentle hand on my cheek and tilts my head up to meet his eye. My pulse quickens, and I feel my face begin to flush.

"Stop moping. Aren't you supposed to be fulfilling your duty as the princess?"

"What?" My head feels as if it was filled with fog. Nothing matters except the feeling of his hand against my cheek. He pinches me lightly, breaking the fog. "Ow!"

"You know why I ran off like that today?" He pauses then continues. "Because of what you said about why you became the princess."

I remember the words I had told Alyn so many nights ago. "I want to protect the people I hold dear."Alyn draws his hand away as I look up at him.

"You have people you want to protect, right?"

"Yes," a soft breeze blows through the trees, blowing a few strands of hair in my face. I brush them away.

Alyn breaks our stare and hops off the fence. "We better go."

Without another word, he turns and walks back to the palace. I follow him quietly as we head back to my room. I observe carefully him the whole time. Something still was off about him, he seems agitated. I sigh and look up at the full moon. I always loved full moons, but now there was an unease in the pit of my stomach. Alyn stops, and I almost run into him. I glance at the door then up at him. I don't want to leave, not when he seems so off. But before I can ask what's wrong, he cuts me off.

"Goodnight Princess." He bows and walks off.

"Goodnight Alyn," I call softly.

I open my door and step inside, my chamber is dark except for the lamp that I left on. I sigh and close the door, why was life so full of mysteries? I wander to my closet and pull out my nightgown. I walk back into the main room, out of the corner of my eye I see a shadow move. I look towards it and jump.

"Leo!" I gasp. "What are you doing here?!"

Leo chuckles. "Well I was going to ask you something, but it seems to of slipped my mind."

I glare at him. "While you're here I guess I'll ask you something." I look out the window. "Did something happen to you and Alyn on the night of a full moon?"

Leo's smile fades then is almost instantly back again. "That, my lady, is something you can find out if you choose me as your suitor."

I sigh. "Leo, you know I can't choose yet. I haven't been here very long, I'm not ready to be thrown into marriage."

"Of course, then I will bid you goodnight Princess." He stands up. "Goodnight."

"Goodnight, Leo," I whisper.

Leo pauses then smiles and leaves. I double-check that there's no one else in my room before I strip off my day gown and put on my nightgown. I crawl into bed, turn out the light and close my eyes.