As Rebecca lay in bed, the morning sunlight streaming through the curtains highlighted the tousled waves of her hair, and a soft blush graced her cheeks. Freen, fully dressed, stood at the side of the bed, a loving smile playing on her lips as she looked down at the disheveled but utterly endearing princess.

Rebecca's eyes widened as she realized she was still sprawled in bed, her modesty hidden only by the tangled sheets. A flush of embarrassment colored her cheeks, and she quickly pulled the covers up to shield herself. "Oh, um, I suppose I should get dressed," she stammered, her gaze avoiding Freen's.

Freen chuckled softly, leaning down to press a kiss on Rebecca's forehead. "No need to be embarrassed. You're beautiful, even in the morning."

Rebecca's blush deepened, but a shy smile played on her lips. "It's just, you're all dressed, and I'm... well, not," she said with a nervous giggle.

Freen winked playfully. "I can leave the room if you need some time to get dressed. Or, if you prefer, I can join you under those covers," she grinned mischievously.

Rebecca's eyes widened, and she swatted Freen playfully. "No, no, I'll get dressed. Just give me a moment," Rebecca said. "Do you mind... I mean, can you turn around?" She felt a bit self-conscious under Freen's gaze.

Freen raised an eyebrow playfully, "Are you shy all of a sudden?" she playfully said back but turned around as requested, giving Rebecca some privacy.

Rebecca hastily left the warmth of the bed and scrambled to find something suitable to wear. As Rebecca dressed, the realization of the newness of the situation made her heart race.

Once ready, she cleared her throat and hesitantly spoke, "... You can turn back now."

As Rebecca stood dressed, her cheeks still adorned with a rosy hue, Freen extended a hand with a charming smile. "Beautiful as always!" Freen complemented, adding, "Ready for breakfast, princess?"

Rebecca's cheeks flushed further with embarrassment and delight. Shyly, she averted her gaze but managed a nod in response.

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Freen pulled out a chair for Rebecca, who settled in with a grateful smile.

As Freen poured tea into their cups, she couldn't help but admire the way the sunlight played in Rebecca's hair. "I'm glad you like the idea of breakfast outside. It's a perfect morning," Freen remarked, a fond smile gracing her lips.

Rebecca smiled warmly, her gaze meeting Freen's. "It really is. Thank you for making it special," she replied, her fingers tracing patterns on the edge of the table.

Freen chuckled, the sound carrying the warmth of shared moments. "Well, you make it easy," she replied, passing a plate of pastries to Rebecca. "And speaking of making things easy, there's something I want to talk to you about..."

Rebecca's curiosity sparked as she sipped her tea, her eyes fixed on Freen. "What is it?" she asked, setting the cup down.

Freen took a deep breath, a hint of nervousness settling in at what she is going to ask Rebecca. "I've been thinking... about us. About our time together, and, well, the future" she began, her gaze unwavering.

Rebecca's expression shifted from curiosity to anticipation, her hand reaching out to grasp Freen's. "The future?" she echoed, a soft smile playing on her lips.

Freen smiled gratefully at the touch, drawing strength from it. "Yes, the future. I love being with you, Rebecca. I want to be with you, not just as a princess, but as someone who cares for you deeply. So, I was wondering...," Freen's words trailed off for a moment, her nerves fluttering. "...What if we make this official? "

Rebecca's eyes widened, surprise mingling with joy, absorbing the weight of Freen's words."...Freen," she whispered, her heart quickening its pace. "are you... are you asking me to be your girlfriend?"

Freen nodded, a tender smile spreading across her face. "Yes, Rebecca. I want you by my side, always. Will you be my girlfriend?"

Relief washed over Freen as Rebecca's eyes glistened with happiness. Eagerly, Rebecca threw her arms around Freen, embracing her tightly. "Yes, Freen! I would love to be your girlfriend!"

Freen held Rebecca close, reveling in her warmth. They remained wrapped in each other's arms for a while, savoring the moment.

As they pulled back from the hug, Freen cupped Rebecca's face in her hands and placed a soft, lingering kiss on her lips.

"I'm so glad," Freen whispered, her voice filled with genuine happiness.

"Me too," Rebecca whispered back, leaning in for another sweet kiss.

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The atmosphere on the terrace was warm and serene, with the occasional soft laughter and shared glances between Freen and Rebecca.

As they sipped their tea and ate their breakfast, Rebecca couldn't help but feel so happy. The idea of officially being in a relationship with Freen filled her with an excitement she had never known. She didn't know she could be this happy with someone.

Her life had always been under the scrutiny of her parents, and from a young age, Rebecca had carried the weight of their disappointment, constantly met with muted acknowledgment, no matter what she achieved. The typical experience of a loving family had always been elusive for her.

With Freen, it felt like a dream. She didn't have to strive for endless approval and love; she could just be herself, and Freen would love her unconditionally. It was a novel and heartwarming experience, and Rebecca cherished every moment of it.

The realization of this newfound happiness brought a gentle smile to Rebecca's face as she glanced at Freen, gratitude and affection evident in her eyes. For the first time, Rebecca felt like she had someone truly on her side, someone who embraced her for who she was without judgment or the need to meet impossible expectations.

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After breakfast, Freen and Rebecca lingered on the terrace, enjoying each other's company. As they sat there, a breeze ruffled the leaves of the nearby trees, and Freen couldn't help but steal glances at Rebecca. Rebecca noticed Freen's gaze and chuckled.

"What's on your mind, Freen?" she asked, a playful twinkle in her eyes.

"I was just thinking about how lucky I am to have you in my life.... And how I'm happy that my parents made me come to the festival. If they hadn't made me go... you'd probably be with someone else by now..."

Freen's mood seemed to dampen at the thought and Rebecca did not want none of that. She reached out, gently placing her hand on Freen's, the playful twinkle in her eyes softening into a tender gaze.

"Hey," she said, her voice gentle and reassuring, "what matters is that we found each other. We can't change the past, but I wouldn't trade what we have for anything else. I chose you, Freen, not because I had to, but because I wanted to."

With a small smile, Rebecca continued, "But you're right... things might have been different if I hadn't met you at the festival. I might have ended up with someone my parents approved of, someone who fit their vision for the kingdom. But it wouldn't have been for love, and I probably would have chosen someone they wanted, not who I wanted."

Rebecca tightened her grip on Freen's hand, trying to convey her feelings. "So, I'm not just grateful for meeting you.... I'm grateful for choosing you and having the chance to finally know what love is," Rebecca confessed, her eyes filled with sincerity. "I've spent so much of my life trying to meet the expectations set by others, especially my parents. It's refreshing to break free from that and be with someone who sees me for who I am, not just a princess or an omega, but as Rebecca... and still be loved."

Freen's heart swelled with warmth as she listened to Rebecca. The sincerity in her eyes as she spoke meant a lot to Freen. And she was happy that Rebecca was being honest and not sugar coating her words.

However, when she continued to talk about her life before they met, Freen couldn't help but feel for Rebecca. It pained her to think of the loneliness and hardship Rebecca endured. She wished that she could have met Rebecca sooner.

"I'm happy you chose me, Rebecca," Freen replied, her voice filled with warmth. "And I want you to know that I love you for who you are! I don't want you to be anyone other than yourself with me."

Rebecca's eyes softened at Freen's words. "And that's what I love about us," she said, giving Freen's hand a squeeze. "You make me feel like I can truly be myself."

Rebecca hesitated for a moment, a conflicted expression on her face. "Freen, I... I won't be able to cancel the festival just yet," she admitted, her voice tinged with regret. "I don't want to disappoint my parents just yet. They have certain expectations, and I need to find the right time to address our relationship with them."

"But I promise you this – you're the only one for me," she added, squeezing Freen's hand again. "Remember when I talked to you about the festival I told you that I will have to go on dates planned with every heir? Well, I've gone out with everyone attending the festival. So that means, I won't be accepting anymore dates... except from you that is."

Rebecca's eyes searched Freen's for understanding. She saw Freen nodding her head but she saw through that. She could see the flicker of disappointment in her eyes and a subtle slouch in her shoulders.

Freen took a moment before responding, her smile returning, albeit a bit forced, trying to mask her disappointment. "I understand, Rebecca. I can be patient. I... I can wait for the right time. Just having you in my life is more than enough for now." She gently squeezed Rebecca's hand in return, trying to convey her understanding.

Rebecca, however, could sense Freen's unspoken emotions. She reached out, cupping Freen's cheek with her free hand, and whispered, "I can see it, you know? Your disappointment."

Rebecca's whisper hung in the air, and Freen's eyes softened as she realized that her true feelings were not hidden from Rebecca. There was a moment of silence between them before Rebecca leaned in, pressing her lips against Freen's in a soft, lingering kiss.

As they pulled back, Rebecca smiled sadly at Freen, her thumb gently brushing against Freen's cheek. "I... I know it's not ideal... I wish I could be a better girlfriend to you... And I wish I could change it and tell my parents right away. But I'm not ready yet to tell them. I'm sorry.... Can you be patient with me?"

Freen's forced smile softened into a genuine one as she met Rebecca's gaze. "Always," she replied. "And you're not a bad girlfriend! I know it's not easy to tell your parents, especially with the expectations they have. When you're ready, we'll face it together. Until then, I'm content just being with you, regardless of where we are or who knows about us."