Salutations! I realize it's been a while. Won't make up excuses, but please still R&R! I shouuld probably warn you that I won't be able to update anytime soon, and I hope that you all understand. It isn't just because I'm busy, but I no longer enjoy writing as much as I used to. Thanks for all of your support so far. You guys mean the world to me 3

I can't help but love Jacob. He was there for me when no one else was. He was the one beside me, cheering me up all the time, the one who lifted my spirits and forget what was missing, even if it was only for a short while. He helped me. He's the one I held on to when I was lost; he was the only one who had helped. Yet, was this my limit? I couldn't help but store feelings for him. I'm only human. He filled parts of the hole that Edward left. He healed my wounds. He made me see a light that I thought had gone. He brought me back to life.

Yes, it was true; I do love Jacob. However, what was the extent of my love? I knew he was important to me, enough to care for him and wish for his happiness. Yet, would I be willing to marry him, just to make him happy? Taking his feelings into consideration, I knew what I had to do to set things right with him. Of course, I know how much I owed him, how much he has done for me without realizing it, but I did not love him more than I would a brother or a dear friend. And for the first time since I met him, he was asking me to do something for him in return. He was asking me for a shot at his own happiness. How could I be so selfish as to deny his feelings for the sake of my own?

Why me? There were so many other princesses who are more beautiful, more intelligent and much more suitable than me. They are sweet, selfless and kind. Of all people who deserved him, who could make him happier than I ever could, why chose me? I wasn't fit to be his bride, none the less, to become his Queen. Not after everything I have done, or rather, what I have yet to do.

Before I could answer, Father banged his fists on the table and rose to his feet. "I won't stand for it, Prince Jacob!" He opposed. "Please reconsider what you're asking. Bella is just a child- barely even fourteen. She doesn't even have experience or the knowledge to rule a country! Please give her a year or two, for us to prepare her into a proper Queen, or the perfect Lady at least."

"Oh, come now, Charlie. You and I both know that's nonsense you're spouting. I cannot find anything wrong with the way Princess Isabella is now, and I'm sure over the course of time, she will be able to learn her duties quickly enough. Furthermore, we both know that she is at the perfect age to marry," King Billy said, shaking off all of father's concern. All eyes shot back at me. I felt the pressure of their gaze on my back. I opened my mouth slightly, to say something, anything, desperately wanting some form of coherence to leave mythroat.

"Is- is there something wrong Bella?" Jacob asked, his eyes melting with worry. I watched as he realized the meaning to my silence. He quickly got off his knee and started laughing; brushing off what I knew he was feeling. Embarrassment. Rejection. Loneliness. I could feel the shame I felt for hurting him. My throat was tight and dry, and my mind was working hard to figure out how speak again.

"Ahaha! Calm yourself, Princess, it almost appears as if you've seem a ghost. Never mind what I just said. Your Father is right; you are much too young to become a queen. But be prepared, Isabella, I vow never to give up! I'll wait for you, and sooner or later, I shall propose to you again!" Although he was
facing me, he didn't look at me when he said that. Instead, he was gazing far off into the distance, past me and everyone else.

Seeing him hide his pain crushed me, riddling my being with full-blown guilt. How could I do this to him? Jacob was my safe harbor. When the world around me seemed like it was crashing down, he was there, smiling brightly at me. In amidst all of these changes, Jacob was the only one who stayed the same, and
for that, I'm grateful. He was always beside me, following me without a single complaint. I knew how much Jacob really loved me, how much I know he was willing to do for me, and yet, this was the way I repaid him? How was I supposed to look at him in the face?

I wanted to go back in time. Or maybe bang my head against the wall. What in the world was I thinking? I was the only thing standing in the way of Jacob's happiness. All the things he has given me, and I couldn't even say thank you, or apologize for not saying anything. He was so good to me, too good, and I didn't deserve him. My insides were screaming at me to tell him I was sorry, that he meant so much to me that I couldn't bear the thought of him unhappy; but my body wouldn't listen.

'I have to say it,' I chanted to myself 'I'm sorry Dear Prince, but I cannot marry you. I have to say it. I have to-'

I opened my mouth once again, just as Jacob was turning. My eyes met his, and my mind went blank with fear and dread. Out of nowhere, I heard a quiet, almost-whispery sound exit my throat.

"Yes."

Everyone gasped in unison, their appalled stares boring holes in my back. It took me a full second to realize what had escaped me. Ice filled my stomach, and I could hear the horrible 'thump thump' of my heartbeat in my ears. Maybe I should just crawl under a rock and wither away, or maybe dive right into the centre of the earth. Or hell. Anywhere would be fine as long as I could escape those tender yet confused eyes of Jacob.

"Do you mean it, Bella? You are willing to become my wife?"

"I-"

"Of course she meant it, boy! Keep your head on! She may be young, but she knows what she desires. Therefore, allow me to be the first of many more to say, Congratulations, my son, on your surprising engagement!" Billy boomed happily. Then standing up with a glass of wine in his right hand, he lifted it
up and said, "To Prince Jacob, and his fiancée, Princess Isabella."

"To the Prince and Princess!" The crowd chanted back, lifting their glasses high, before taking a sip of it. Without saying another word, Jacob moved to stand beside me. I felt his arm wrap gingerly around my waist, pulling me closer to him. He wasn't looking at me, but I could clearly see the smug smile he was trying to hide. It made me feel even sicker. My heart started beating at an irregular pace. The sound of it thrummed in my chest and made my throat uncomfortably dry.

I couldn't remember much after that. I was too busy focusing on breathing properly to understand what was going on. Jacob dragged me along for the remainder of the day, introducing me to many of his friends, and some of the more important guests. When the daylight started to dim, the guests excused
themselves politely and left. It wasn't long before there were only family members and servants left.

Jacob was about to show me to the guest room, when King Billy came from behind us and patted Jacob on the back. "There's my son and lovely soon to be daughter in law! I get a wave of excitement just thinking about it. After Rachel and Rebecca left, the castle is in constant need of a woman's touch.
Your mother would have been ecstatic to know you found someone whom you truly adore. I'm proud of you, Jacob."

"So, what are you planning? I know you two have been betrothed for less than a day, but how soon do you plan on getting wed?" King Charlie asked, with a look of defeat.
"The sooner the better, is it not? Within the next year of course." Billy intervened.

"I was actually hoping next month," Jacob proclaimed. "Of course, only if that's alright with Princess Isabella," he added, looking at me with intense eyes. Guilt coursed through me. The expression on his face wasn't doubt or even love. It was joy. Happiness. Trust. He looked at me with such hopefulness
that I returned his feelings, that I was left speechless. How could I possibly tell him the truth now, and break his euphoria? Break his heart? As selfish as I was, there wasn't a single atom of me that wanted to hurt him. So I did the only thing I could do. I didn't trust myself to speak, so I just nodded my head.

"There you have it then! The wedding is in a month! We better start immersing ourselves in the wedding preparations! This is going to be a wedding to remember!" Billy declared while stretching out his hand to me. I placed my tiny hand in his, and he drew me to him, giving me a warm hug.

"Prince Jacob, from this point on, I entrust my daughter to you," Father said while shaking his hand. Once Billy let go of me, mother came to my side and also gave me a hug, wrapping her frail arms around me.

In the corner of my eye, I saw Edward as he collected dishes and rushed off, rounding a corner towards the gardens. I desperately wanted to follow him, but I knew my place. As I held my mother's frail body against mine, I found my mind wandering, my eyes lingering over Edward's shadow.

'This is for the best. Edward has lived here, without me for over five months. He was bound to find someone else to love. He has never loved me. Although, if he did, I am still a princes; and he is just a servant boy.'