Allura's POV:

☆Flashback☆
Birthday Ball
At Gamming's Palace

"Do make haste Allura the guests should arrive at any moment now." Lilly has been attached to me the entire day even putting on my heels is stressful. "It is my ball am I not allowed to arrive a little later." I walk out the room in annoyance. "No. Especially since Father and mother could not attend everything must go well or else I will be blamed." We make our way to the ballroom.

At the doors is Aden awaited us. "Princesses." We curtsy. "Shall we enter Princess Allura." I take his hand and the guards open the doors and our arrival is announced. There are many guests people who I can not remember having even one encounter with. But I do see Pedro and Cara together. They must have worked through their issues.

"Happy Birthday little sister." Samba hugs me with a biscuit already in hand. "I hope the food is to your liking brother." He nods his head as he shallows the rest of the biscuit. "Are you wearing the shoes I had sent for you. Those cost me a lot, I have not come empty handed." I lift my dress to show him the shoes. "I love them brother, you have great taste indeed." He looks proud and then changes his mood when he sees Lilly with a gentlemen. "Has she invited him? I should have a talk with him seeing as she is taken by him. Excuse me." He walks off and when he reaches them Lilly looks annoyed by his presence.

I had not noticed Aden had left my side and is now conversating with gentlemen across the room. Ladies approach me to wish me and I try my best to listen to thier talk on how they plan on getting the gentlemen to notice them. After a while they forget about me and it feels as though I am not even there, I try to chime in but they don't hear me. Looking around the room I notice Miguel and immediately overcome with relief. I walk towards him notice how we match. "Miguel finally you are here I had to socialize with strangers and Ruby has not yet arrived." I am quite sure he knows how relieved I am to see him present.
....

He has gifted me a bracelet. It is beautiful and intentional. Truly beautiful. I can not say the same for Aden all he gifted me were gowns. I am so lucky to be thought of in this way. "This is where you tell me if you despise or love it?" I pull from my thoughts and smile forgettibg that i have not thanked  him. "I love it. Thank you." I place the box on the table and try to put it on. Miguel decides to help me.

The glove was making it difficult so I slightly pull it down to my thenar. As he places it his fingers brushes my hand for a moment. It feels needed. I feel the exact place of where he touched me feel the absence of where once was his fingers. I have never liked being touched unless I initiate it but with him I feel at ease. Oh no. No No.

"May I have a dance? I promise you will redeem yourself." I take his hand and we head for the dance floor. My thoughts will not shut up about his touch. I feel so gullible for fantasizing about a mere touch. I blame romance novels. My body is very near him, I have not been counting my steps I wonder if I have stumbled on his right or left foot. Bless his heart because he always goes along with however I misstep so that it looks intended. No wonder I was an absolute mess with anyone else I dance with. Why on earth am I smiling to myself? What is happening to me? Why am I suddenly overwhelmed by his presence. He is my friend. Only a friend. So how come I do not feel like this by any other friend?

Am I...Do I. Please no. "My sister must be looking to cut the cake now. Excuse me?" I hurry past the crowd of guests into the hallway. This can not be happening. I must be mistaken. Perhaps it is because I am surrounded by him often and now I have confused that for..feelings. Yes yes that must be it. "Allura." I flinch out of my thinking. "Ruby. You are here." I try regulating my breathing. "Are you alright, you look frightened." I should tell her, she will reassure me that I am right in my thoughts yes. "Sister it is time to cut the cake. Come along you two." Great, now I have to see Miguel. I will stay attached to Aden that way he will not approach me.

Throughout the night I am attached to Aden by the hip. Miguel was surrounded by ladies the whole night. He did not even try to approach me he must have been delighted. Now why do I care? I do not care. I do not. The guest had to leave and Ruby promised me I will receive my gift on Monday morning. Miguel did not even say goodbye he merely vanished.

Monday Morning
Gamming's Palace

Breakfast is great whenever it is sweet. "I promise if the Vicount does not approach me today I will have Samba's head. He must have scared." Samba can be quite scary when he means to be. "If he can survive a conversation with your brother he will make a great husband. You would not want a weak husband right?" She laughs under her breath. Aden's walks in and slams the newspaper on the table catching our attention. "Have you seen what is in the paper? No because you would not be giggling otherwise." Lilly and I exchange a confused look. She grabs the paper and reads it and sighs after a minute read.

"They slander my choice in a bride saying that she is easily turned by a prince who showers her with gifts." I place my hand under the table in hopes that he does not see that I am wearing the bracelet. He is angry it does not help that he has been in a mood since my birthday I wonder why. And now he will leash at us. "I am truly sorry but my sister is also being slander and yet you only point out your slanders. Your Majesty. They have clearly misjudged the situation." I messed everything up without even trying. "Do not outlet your anger on him. Your sister is in the wrong." Aden's aunt walks in and rubs Aden's back in an effort to calm him down.

"I apologize. I did not know that my friendship with him would bring slander. Otherwise-" she silences me. "It will not happen again. You will end your friendship with that boy moreover you are not to be seen with him. If your care for this alliance you will not object." How can she expect that of me? End the friendship I have not seen him in years and not we part..again. "She will do so." Lilly answers for me. And gives me a look showing that I should not disagree.

In the carriage on the way to the academy

"Was it necessary for you to answer on my behalf ? Why would you do that?" I hate that she just decided for me again and again she does this. "Because it was the only answer. Do you know what would have happened had you not agreed?" She sounds as though she is scolding me. "We can not betray our kingdom for a friendship. Clearly you know that." She looks at my bracelet and shakes her head.

I despise that she ruined everything for me. Everything is her fault all of it.

At the garden

I was so excited to wake up this morning to see Miguel but now this will be the last time I speak with him. I now realise how much I enjoy being in his company and how I love meeting here. It has slowly become my comfort place.
"Morning Princess. Early for our lesson I see." I turn to face him. He looks so happy. I really love when he smiles at me I never noticed and now I will be the one to anger him. "Yes mainly because..." because I am I coward and do not deserve you. Again I will ignore you and leave you.

"Is something the matter. I apologize for touching you I didn't mean to. I know that is no excuse I-" why is he apologize for stupid things. Why would I feel uncomfortable. Everyone keeps misunderstanding me. I can not take it anymore. And now I am crying. " It is not you Miguel. We can not continue to meet anymore we must distance ourselves or else I will be ruined." I hope he heard what I have said through my crying. "What do you mean exactly?" I wipe my tears and breath. "They have written about us. I was slandered and so has Aden this friendship is a threat to my engagement. It must end. I am so sorry." My throat hurts from stopping my tears.

"They speculate you turning my head." Which is actually true because I can feel that too. He looks at the ground and back at me with sadness. I feel horrible. "I understand. But can we not just stop the meetings. We can atleast be friends right?" I sense hope in his voice but we truly can not risk anything. "No. We can not be friends. It has been forbidden." He steps closer to me only a foot away from me. "We will truly be strangers again and you are alright with that does it not bother you? Is this truly what you want or are you always going to be the understanding one?" What on earth? That is not true no.

"Would you rather see me ruined? Do you want that for me? Do you not care for me. I am doing my duty. Are you not the understanding one." He looks puzzled.  " You too are understanding are you not? Else the throne would be yours and not passed to Pedro." He steps back and I realise what I said, I can not believe i said that. "Gail...I did not mean to. I am sorry please. I-" He backs from me getting on his horse. "It is alright. I am sorry I was selfish you are to be married and here I was thinking of a mere friendship." He is upset I can tell by his dismissive tone. "You have a horse so you shall be fine. Perhaps I will see you around. Good day Your Highness." I try speaking but let him go. I watch him ride off further away from me. I have lost my best friend.

The lectures have been canceled due to a cold that has been going around. So I had to my chambers I hope Ruby is not sleeping or sick. "Friend there you are and here is your gift...have you been crying?." She rushes to me and as soon as she hugs ne I cry falling to the floor she follows me along. I explain everything to her and she listens while comforting me. "You love him?" That statement stops my crying. "I do not. I am just familiar with him." She glares at me. "You truly are stupid I swear. You clearly love him. But it is alright deny it. You always do that. It is your specialty. " I get up from the floor.

"I am engaged Ruby. I can not be inlove with my friend of all people. My family would never allow for anything to come of it." She shakes her head. "We might never know since you will not tell them. But only you know what's you want to do. I hope you will not regret your life in 50 years." I will not.

At Gamming's Palace

I have been in bed the whole day. I am awaken by a knock on the door. "Your Highness. Your parents have come to pay you a visit." Lord help me.