"I don't want to get married, San.", Princess Anabella fell back onto her rose golden sheets, tears clogging her throat, which was decorated with a necklace, with a silver chain and a circular, purple pendant, that San had given her when they were merely children. 

The young man turned, a reassuring smile creating those small crevices in his cheeks that she loved so much, "I know, Ember, but it is what is best for Sonar."

She rolled her eyes and leaned back into her mattress, customized to her body shape and sleeping patterns, "I told you not to call me that."

San, a servant by formality but the princess's best friend behind the curtain, put down what he had been fiddling with, a brush that was littered with the princess's dark brown hairs and sat next to the woman drowning in her nightgown. 

He picked up her hand, petite against his, and stared at the blue glove over it. She stared at the flawless person beside her, his brow furrowing as he turned it over. 

Princess Anabella was only 2 years old and a few months when San's father came to the palace looking for work. At first, the seemingly normal 2-year-old's even more conventional father, King Fabian had declined the young, only 22-year-old, man's plea for labor, any that was available. But, when Anabella's mother, Queen Dahlia, had found that San had no mother, the woman who San only knew from the picture in the locket around his neck, abandoning him when he was born, and Mr. Choi was at the edge of becoming homeless with a baby, she had insisted that Fabian bring the duo in. 

And, Anabella and San had played in her playpen, full of toys only available to the royal family, as his father worked with the horses. 

San's eyes looked up at hers, "Are you going to tell him?"

She sighed before shrugging, "I don't know. He will find out eventually, don't you think?"

San let her hand drop, "I guess."

It took him a few seconds to form words in that strange mind of his before asking, the second most important question on her mind, "And, when is there going to be an heir?"

A small giggle of sarcasm left her lips, "Never."

San nudged her shoulder, "Come on, I want a niece or nephew."

Princess Anabella patted her black hair, which she knew took him forever to style, "I guess you are going to keep dreaming."

"What about your father's advisors? They're going to get mad when they find out Sonar isn't going to get an heir soon."

"My father's advisors can suck my toe."

San simply shook his head, for an argument would only make the princess more stressed. 

"I just don't want to be forced into a man's arms. Let alone a man who can do with me as he pleases.", tears cascaded down her beautiful face. 

The first time San had seen Anabella cry was at her parent's funeral. The princess was still in physical pain, escorted from the palace hospital where her wounds were being cared for. The girl, tiny in the corner of that large room, emptied for the caskets that were propped up in the middle of the room, wept against his chest, clutching the back of his shirt between her shaking fists. All San could do was rub her back, his shart shattering with hers. He had loved the king and queen as parents. But, there had been a small piece of relief when he had found out his Anabella hadn't died. However, he still sobbed uncontrollably into her shoulder. 

San, now back to the 21-year-old with developed features, sighed, "Why did you choose him?"

The corner of Anabella's lips curled up, "What? Would you have liked it if I had chosen you?"

He shook his head. His heart already belonged to Mari-Lacy, one of the kitchen maids. Not that she knew but Anabella did. 

Her tearful eyes scanned the room, only illuminated by a lamp on her nightstand. Yes, it was un-ladylike to have a man that was not your husband in her room, but she was the princess. If anyone thought it inappropriate, they were too scared to say anything. "He's like me. His parents have passed away too. I guess that's why I felt so connected to him. 

San smiled. He was used to his friend's strange and sometimes whimsical behavior. 

  Thanks for reading. I hope you enjoyed!

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