(y/n) - your name

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"As a prince, surely you would have the decency to not be shameless and peek on a vulnerable lady who is changing." I spit out in distaste, quickly changing into my clothes behind Onyx who was covering me.

I just hear Five chuckle and I walk out dressed as he peers at me. "I guess I am no prince then." He takes a step towards me but Onyx intervenes and snarls at him, bucking him away in a threatening way.

"Calm down boy, this one is just a mere pest." Five raises a brow at me, his own horse wacking her tail against his head.

"Dolores, stop hitting me! I'll stop now." I snicker as his horse rolls her eyes almost as if she didn't believe him before trotting away to graze. Onyx follows behind closely, leaving me with Five.

"Why are you here? Why are you following me?"

"I saw you leave your bedroom through the window and I was intrigued. Not many princesses are brave enough to sneak out. Then again, you are not like other princesses." Five shrugs, picking up a rock and skipping it across the pool.

"I am not for frilly gowns and jewellery." I shrug, heading towards a tree and climbing up the trunk to grab an apple as Five watches me with amusement.

"That I can see." He picks up my mask, inspecting it. "You are very much different than anyone I've met. Why do you hide behind men's clothing and this mask?"

I jump down and quickly snatch the mask out of his hands. "I am comfortable wearing these and like my father said, they keep my identity hidden from those who want me." I sit down by the pool and Five follows suit.

Can he just leave me alone already!?

"And why do you hate the idea of marriage?" I freeze, the apple in my hand in midair.

"And why are you asking so many questions?" I narrow my eyes at Five as he shrugs, leaning closer to me with a smile as I lean back slightly.

"I dare to say, I am curious about you (y/f/n). So why avoid marriage?"

"Agreeing to that nuisance is equivalent to agreeing to giving up your freedom to disgusting pig-like men who want to overrule your every action and thought." I spit out next to me, cursing.

"Not every man is like that." Five mumbles.

"They all say that at first. In the end, it's all about fucking sex and greed." I sneer out, memories of my older sister being pinned down by her husband unwillingly. The apple cracks in my grip, remembering the blood on my hands and the knife I gripped as her husband lay lifeless on the floor. I shake my head from the horrid memory as I look up to see Five frown at me.

"What about when marrying for love?" I freeze, looking out at the water at the idea of marrying someone I truly loved.

I wish.

"Maybe I'll reconsider the idea then but I highly doubt that will happen to me."

"You never know, maybe love awaits you." Five beams at me and my heart jumps at the sight of his adorable dimples.

"Enough about me, what about you Prince Five Hargreeves."

"And what about me?"

"None of your siblings look like your father except for you." Five chuckles, leaning back on his palms.

"Going straight for the family secrets huh? I am a Hargreeves by flesh and blood but my other siblings are children my father saved on his battles. You could say that he saw some potential in them."

I chuck the apple core away behind me as soon as I was finished with it. "And why do you insist on the topic of marriage?" Five sighs out, the warm rays of the sun washing over him like golden silk. His hair was tousled from the wind, growing slightly long with a hint of scruff on his chin.

"I am not supposed to tell you this but my father is considering passing the crown down to me. However, I need a queen." Five looks at me expectantly.

"I cannot take the role as queen! That is too much responsibility for me. I have not a single clue of how to act as one-"

"-and that is why I want you. You do not care for the money and luxury that comes with the role. You are smart and have the intelligence of making sound decisions for a kingdom to prosper greatly." I frown at Five.

"I can't-"

"-Maybe we could marry for love." Five cuts me off with his statement, his cheeks turning slightly pink. "Would you marry me if we fell in love?" I abruptly stand up, hiding my own red cheeks as I whistled for Onyx who was snuggled up with Dolores.

I quickly get up on his back as he bowed down and Five quickly gets up. "(y/n) wait! I apologise for anything I may have said to offend you. I did not mean-"

"-I will see you later at tonight's festivities Prince Five Hargreeves." I bow and urge Onyx to ride off quickly back to the village before my father sent a search party for me.

Marrying Five out of love?

That is not possible.

"Why is this so tight?" I groan out, wheezing out as the corset around my chest constricts my lungs. "And why does Lila allowed to wear her battle outfit and not me!?" Jill brushes through my hair as Sloane ties the feathered coat around my neck. I was dressed in a royal blue silk and lace gown that flowed to the floor with gold and black detailing on the corset and at the ends of the sleeves that widen past my hands. The royal crown that all my sisters wore sat on my head with the kingdom jewel as Jill laced flowers through my hair.

"Lila is performing the battle ritual today against her lover Diego as per his request and father wants to keep you by his side after what had occurred during the night." Sloane muttered out as she brushed down the feather coat on my shoulders, smiling.

"You look absolutely beautiful little sister." Jill beamed, handing me my mask as I put it on. "A shame that your face will be hidden." We all walk out of my room and into the great hall where the festivities had already started. People were feasting and dancing together, enjoying their time of celebration. I soon stood alone as my sister's lovers came to ask for a dance and I watched on the sidelines.

"My dear (y/n)." I look up to see my father smile at me, kissing the top of my head. "Let me take a look at you." He takes my mask off and I see his eyes welling with tears. "How beautiful you have grown. You look like your mother."

"Thank you father. I will admit, despite my lack of interest with gowns, this dress is beautiful."

"I thought you would love it. It used to be your mothers. She hated wearing gowns but this one was her only favourite." I smile up at my father, knowing he was still in pain of her passing despite being almost a decade. "You will not be needing your mask tonight, I am allowing you to enjoy tonight. You have not lived your age properly and I want you to be happy. So go celebrate!" before I could say anything, my father skips off.

"Now what?" I mingled with some of the girls during the festivities, eating and drinking ale when the doors burst open. I peer over to see the living man that tried to take advantage of me the night before in chains as guards forced him to walk to the front of the hall. King Hargreeves was following behind with his sons trailing behind and my breath hitches in my throat as my eyes landed on Five.

He is so handsome.

His outfit mainly consisted of black and blue, gems and holding lacing his cape with his sword resting against his hip. His hair was still as unruly as the first time I met him, a golden crown resting on his head just like his siblings.

He looks like a king already.

"King Hargreeves!" the announcer exclaims and I head to my father's side at the front of the hall where we were to be seated with the king. We all bowed and I looked up to see Five staring right at me with wide eyes and red cheeks. "The time has finally come to lay this mans sentencing tonight!" Everyone hushed as the man was forced to his knees in front of me. "This man has dared to take advantage of King Athelstan's daughter, Princess (y/n) and is therefore sentenced to death!" Everyone in the hall howled and booed at the man.

"Princess (y/n)." King Hargreeves turned to me, handing me a sword. "If you wish, you can decide to see if this man deserves to go to Valhalla." I turned to the man who faced the floor, my hands shaking as I held the sword in my grasp. I take in a deep breath, seeing Five subtly nod in encouragement.

"Despite this mans act of treason, I believe everyone should go to Valhalla and feast with the gods as it is our right." Everyone bursts into cheer and the man sighs out in relief as I walked towards him. "I shall not take this away from him and he shall die with dignity."

"By the witness of the gods, this shall come to pass." King Hargreeves announce, the man willingly lifts his head and I slice his throat as the blood spills onto the carpet. I lay him to the floor, helping him hold the sword in his hands as he passes away.

"For Valhalla!" I scream out and everyone shouts out in reply.

"For Valhalla!" the people quickly go back to celebrating as the guards carefully took the body out for its proper burial and Five walks up to me.

"Princess (y/n)." He bows, taking hold of my hand and kissing it. "You are absolutely stunning."

"You don't look too bad yourself Prince Five Hargreeves."

Five smirks down at me, taking a step closer. "This is a rare sight. Seeing you in a gown and without your mask." Five twirls a lock of my hair around his fingers. "Makes you glow like royalty as I know you should." I roll my eyes playfully as he takes a step back but raises an arm for me. "Shall I have this dance?"

"I don't see why not," I take hold of his hand as he leads me to the dance floor amongst other couples. "Five..." I smirk up at the prince, his hand on my waist and mine on his shoulder.

"That will be husband and king to you soon." Five whispers in my ear and I shudder from the sudden heat of his body as my heart starts to race.

Maybe letting myself fall in love with him won't be too bad.