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Don't miss out on something great because 
it might difficult

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The Ball

Natalia

Natalia looked at herself in the mirror. Her maids had just gotten her dressed in a proper ball grown. It was not as puffy as most dresses the other princess and queens wore. Hers was a light flowy dress that was a nice light lavender dress with a laced white top. 

Her hair was done in a crown braid with her tiara resting on her head. To anyone who saw her they would think she was the luckiest woman alive. For the fancy dresses, the money, the royal status, and everyone coming to her beck and call. too bad it wasn't a glamorous as the world thought it was. 

A knock on the door pulled her out of her thought. She walked and saw a man, around her age waiting there with a smile. 

"Your highness I am Sir Samuel. King Joesph has sent me to come and retrieve you." He said with a smile. "you look are by far one the most beautiful women around." Natasha gave him a thankful smile. 

"do you charm all the ladies with your words Samuel?" She asked walking in front of him, Lady Maria followed her, catching the eye of Samuel. But he didn't make it obvious trying to seem cool in front of both of them. 

"Only the ones who are worth the kind words." He smiled. "I'm Samuel what is your name, my lady?" He asked addressing Maria. Maria gave Natasha a look. Natasha smiled at her friend. 

"Not interested." Maria said. "come, your highness, we have a ball to attend." Natasha let out a soft chuckle at her friend before following in suit. Maria wore a white gown with gold imprints on the side of it. 

Samuel watched as the two ladies walked away from him. He sighed scratching his head as he walked with them to the grand hall. Once they arrived in the grand hall they were greeted by many guests from long and far just waiting for the arrival of the royal family. 

Natalia noticed the number of eyes on her, and the whispers that followed. The thing about taking a break from the world is that the world is gonna talk about you when you come back into the light. But she was just gonna ignore the comments and follow her parent's example. 

Even they are going through the rumors and gossip. Not only because of who they are but because of the child they rose. But they held their heads high and didn't care about the rumors the flew around. they cared only about their kingdom and their fandoms. 

"Excuse me." Someone said getting Natasha's attention. natasha noticed that Maria left to go speak to another lady so she was left alone for the moment. She turned to see a younger looking girl. No more than three years younger than her. 

"Hello," Natalia said, giving the lady a curtsey. Natasha knew who she was, she actually knew who everyone in this castle was even if some of them didn't know her. "you look lovely princess." Natalia said

"Thank you, and you look absolutely stunning yourself." She said, apparently Natalia was so lost in thought earlier she didn't hear the arrival of the royal family. But she was glad that she was able to meet the youngest of the Roger family. Wanda Rogers. 

"Why thank you so much, how are you doing this evening?" She asked. 

"I am doing well." She said. "I see you bet my older brother this morning." She said with a smile. Natalia knew that Wanda knew something. She could tell from the excitement from her voice. Which means the king was planning something of his own. But even so, Natalia saw no reason to lie to the girl about her views on her older brother. 

"Your brother's mind seems to be distracted." She said in all honesty. She saw that Wanda was going to reply with the same old statement she had been hearing for a while, he is mourning the death of his fiance so she interrupted her. "besides the obvious reason I sense your brother is holding a grudge against me." She said with full honesty.  

"A grudge? I don't think so princess, I think my brother is... shy around women. I know you have been hearing that it is about Princess Margret-" 

"Wanda if I may say with the deepest respect, Princess Margret passed with many weeks ago, almost two months. A man, no man, can spend that amount of time crying in his room over a girl." She said with such bitterness in her tone not towards Steve but to something entirely different. "Are you sure there isn't something else bothering him?" She asked. 

"I believe not. They were in love." Wanda said. "it takes time for lovers to move on. Especially if only one of them has to move on." Wanda seemed a bit offended by the accusations that Natalia was making, however, she didn't push on it. "I don't mean to offend you, Natal-" 

"Natasha, I am taking a new turn in my life, I would like for people to call me Natasha." She said.

"Right. Natasha, I don't mean to offend you but I think you have the wrong Idea of my brother." She said. Wanda heard her mothers call for her to come to greet guest so she sighed. "Please don't make your decision on my brother based on your first meeting. I swear he is a good guy." She said before walking away. 

Natasha watched her walk away and only shook her head. The girl knew nothing of her own brother. Natasha knew the moment she saw Steve that he was holding a grudge against her, for what reason she didn't know. Did she care? Yes. Because it affected her family, her kingdom. The only two things she had left in her life. 

But it didn't dwell on her too much. She wanted to be positive but she wouldn't change just for the approval of the prince. She wouldn't change who shes ever again because of who she is beautiful and she knows that now. And this time she will not forget it. So she is gonna hold her head high, just as she has always wanted to and she is gonna become who she really is, the confident, sarcastic, funny and capable princess she was a few years ago. She was gonna be herself once more. 

Steve

Steven was still in the garden with Sharon sitting very close to him. She had her head on his shoulder. 
"You know I am going to be wed again don't you?" Steve asked. Sharon moved her head off of his shoulder and looked him in the eyes. 

"Steven you promised." She said, rather annoyed with him. 

"Sharon, I have not promised a thing. I have told you that I loved you, I have told you I want to be with you but my kingdom comes first." Steven said as Sharon rolled her eyes. 

"Your kingdom always comes first. What about us Steven? When will you finally put us first?" She asked, her voice was filled with such annoyance she sounded like a five-year-old who was getting denied the satisfaction of getting a toy. 

" Sharon you knew the moment you stepped into this relationship with me that I would always care about the well being of my kingdom." He said. 

"If you cared about the well being of your kingdom you wouldn't have kissed me that night!" 

~~three months  before the Princess's death~~

Steven was having a rough time with Margret. They have been arguing a lot more lately, in fact, the 'spark' that seemed to be present at the beginning of their engagement was starting to fade away. It seemed as if his childhood friend was fading away from him, and he hated that. 

But one night he just needed to step out and give Margret some space before he said something that he knew that he would regret. But here is what happened. 

"Peg," he said, it was a nickname that he called her by, because they have known each other for so long they thought that using their full names was so formal they didn't want to do that. 
"Listen I just don't understand why you are acting like I ruined your life." He said as he followed her down the hall. 

"Steve! You aren't ruining my life but you may just be ruining our kingdoms future!" She said annoyed. 

"What are you talking about? you act as if you are the only one who cares about the arrangement." He said raising his voice but not too much to cause the attention of soldiers or royals walking by them. 

"You don't I know that. If we wanted our arrangement to seem strong you wouldn't stand a foot away from me, you would actually look at me-" 

"I do look at you and I don't avoid you like a plague," Steven said in defense. 

"Why are you lying to me? You act as if you no longer want anything to do with me! You are acting as if I ruined your life You have even started drinking once again, you are drunk right now!" She yelled. 

"It was a party, of course, I had a few drinks."Steven defended himself. "It's not my fault or your fault I am drunk." He said. "well definitely not mine."

"Are you trying to say It's more my fault than yours that you are drinking once more Steven?" She said hurt and confused. Steve used to be her best friend, she didn't understand where everything started to fall apart. 

Steve didn't respond to her. And that's what hurt her even more. She watched as he walked away from her and a single tear fell from her face. She never wanted things to be like this between them. 

Steve walked away to the garden, he moved the hair that had fallen on his face backward. He was really frustrated. He sat down on the bench trying to take everything in.  He sat there for a while before he heard a gasp of a frightened girl. 

"Oh my, I didn't see you there." She said Steve recognized her as Wanda's lady in waiting. Lady Sharon. "oh your highness." She said giving him a polite curtsey. 

"No no please you don't have to do that," Steve says. He gave him a small smile insuring her that it was okay. 

"what are you doing out here your highness." She asked. "it's very late." 

"Well, I think I just needed some air. I come out here often you know to breathe." He said. She couldn't help but laugh. 

"That's not possible I am out here all the time and I have never once seen you out here." She admitted. 

"Why are you out here? What reason does a pretty lady like you have to be out here all alone? Meeting someone perhaps." He questioned her. She smiled shyly at the prince. 

"No of course not, I guess I need air too." She said. Steve smiled at her. "I know why I like to be out here but why did you choose out all the places in the castle to come out here?" She asked.

"Sit with me," he said ignoring her question. Sharon looked around to make sure no one was watching. Yes, she had a crush on Steven, who didn't? He was the hottest man in Rogerteria. But he was also Princess Margrete's and no one dared cross her. "Come on I won't hurt you," he said with pleading eyes. reluctantly Sharon sat down beside Steven. "You see that?" 

"No." She said looking in the direction of Steven. 

"exactly. Look around there are no guards, no one's prying eyes questioning me everywhere I go, no king asking me about my wedding, no fiance bugging me about keeping up an act, no mother telling me to look the part. It's just me." 

"And me." She pointed out. Steven laughed nodding his head ever so slightly. 

"And you." He laughed. "look at me. I have known you for the total of two minutes and I have already told you so much about me." He said he was amazed at how much he could share with Sharon. 

"Forgive me if I am being to forward but your fiance, what is going on with that?" she asked hoping to keep Steven on his good side to see what is going on with her. 

"Oh, that's a boring story. One I probably shouldn't share with you. Not unless I want my head on my father's stake." He said rubbing his temples. He was once getting annoyed with his family. Sharon just watched as his mood kept changing. It was kind of frightening actually. "I am forbidden to tell you yet everything in me really wants to tell you what is going on," Steve said admiringly. "And I am not sure why." 

"Well, maybe it's because I seem like a trustful person." She said as Steve raised an eyebrow. "What? Do I not?" She asked. 

"Well," Steve said sarcastically, Sharon acted offended and playfully hit his arm. Steve laughed. She reminded him so much of Peg, she reminded him of a time where things were much simpler. And with the alcohol running through his system it was really starting to affect his choices. 

"Steven, you are not like any of the princes that I have met," Sharon said to Steve once the laughter faded away. Steve raised an eyebrow.

"Is that a good thing." He asked. 

"depends on who you ask." 

"If I was asking you?" He said getting much closer to her. Sharon took note of his movements and didn't pull away from him. His face got awfully close to the point where she could feel his breath on her face. 

"Well, I would say it's the best thing about you." She whispered. her lips were parted ever so slightly. Steve stared into her eyes, that were now starting to blur. and before he knew it, his lips connected to hers. nothing ran through his mind. The crimes he was committing towards not only towards Margret's kingdom but to his own crown. Nothing. His mind was blank and the only thing he remembered from waking up was having his arms wrapped around Sharon's naked body. She told him of the night and things seemed a bit out of place but he never questioned it because the smile on her face when she looked at him was enough almost make him believe he was calm even if inside it felt completely different. 

~modern times~

Steve stared at Sharon's questioning eyes. She was hurt once more by Steve's choices so he took her hand. 
"Things have never been sane with us...but I can assure you that we are gonna make it through this. And although the death of a friend allowed us our freedom last time my father is sure to make sure no harm will come to Natalia." He said. Sharon scoffed at the name of the princess. "I am sorry things are not ideal." 

"Steven we should have run away when we had the chance," Sharon said lightly but Steven shook his head. 

"I was needed. Peg was my best friend and I was scared." He said. " I was in no shape to leave her. If I had I would have never had forgiven myself." 

"It's always one thing with you Steven Rogers," Sharon said. "Why can't it be us? This is our time. Make me your queen. Tell your father you will not marry her." She said, in almost an ordering tone. Anyone who would have seen Sharon speak to Steven like this would have thrown her in a prison cell within seconds.  

"I will not disappoint my father. He has the power to replace me for the thrown in a madder of a second. With my sister also in line for the crown he could throw me out of the running." He said not knowing how else to explain to Sharon why he couldn't nor would he say no to his father. 

"You know I can do that too." She said Steve looked up at her in shock. 

"What?" He asked. 

"I can leave you. You know how many men would be taking a liking to me once I announce I am ready to wed off." She said. Steve looked at her confused. Steve was surprised that she was speaking like that. 

"If you want to say something I suggest you just say it, Sharon." He said rather upset. He stood up and looked at Sharon who was still seated on the bench. 

"Steven your father is about to wed you off to some brat princess. I am about to lose you again and this time Steve I am not sure if you are willing to continue our relationship." She said. 

"What do you mean? I have been nothing but committed to you Sharon, I never even touched Peg after I kissed you! I have never looked at another girl-" 

"Steven, listen you have to understand that this is really hard for me," she said standing up and putting her hand on his face. " I am really stressed out Steven, And you don't want me to be stressed do you?" She asked. 

"No.," he said in almost a whisper. He was very frustrated. 

"Well good, then you will figure out a way to make me your wife will you not?" She said looking into her eyes. Steve didn't want to make a promise that he wouldn't keep. Because would be a very large promise. "Steven." She said getting impatient with him. 

"Right, I will try," he said, Sharon didn't smile at him, nor did she kiss his cheek. She just walked away from him. Steven wasn't sure why she upset the arrangement wasn't even final and he was almost sure no one but his family knows about the alliance. So technically he was not in a relationship. 

He sighed, why do women have to be so goddamn complicated. 

Walking out of the garden he looked around making sure that no one was around to question him about his whereabouts. But as he walked away he felt a lump in his throat, what was he suppose to do? If he denies any arrangement for marriage it would affect his entire kingdom. But he wants to be happy. Would marrying Sharon make him happy? 

He thought about that as he walked away. He never really fully understood what he exactly had with Sharon. Yes, she was beautiful, but her personality could be a bit...harsh. She wasn't the kindest soul but she had her moments. 

When he had first gotten into the relationship with her a few months back he could barely look Peg in the eyes. He was ashamed that he was one of those men who would cheat on his fiance, even if they weren't in love or not. She was still his best friend so hurting her was hard. 

And when she passed he felt terrible. Peg had gotten sick suddenly a month before her death, no one could explain why. She could barely get out of bed and was having trouble keeping her mind together. At first, the symptoms were quite like food poisoning, but it progressively got worse to a point where her father took her back home to their kingdom so she would have a peaceful death. Margret's father and mother were heartbroken, they still where which was surprising to all when they showed up to the ball. 

So when she passed Steven felt like the worse man alive. His best friend died not knowing the truth about Steven. She died not being happy with her best friend. She died as they fought constantly. It was the worse thing to ever happen.

But Sharon seemed to help him forget about the times with Peggy. She always made sure to put all the focus on her. Steven never really thought much about it, however. All he cared about was getting his mind off of Peg. 

"Steven." Steven turned around to see Bucky standing by the door of the garden. His heart dropped. 

"James! It's great seeing you here." Steven said trying to disguise the fright in his voice. James looked at him in shock. for the last hour, he had been trying to determine whether or not he should confront Steven about Sharon and he has finally decided that he would. He wanted to tell Steven that he was an idiot. 

"Forgive me for my words, your highness." And that's when Steven knew he was in trouble. James never addressed him like that unless others were around. "what's is wrong with you." He asked.

"I don't know what you are talking about." Steven lied. James shook his head. 

"Are you gonna pretend like I didn't just see what I just saw? Because if you actually believe that well then there is something wrong with your head." Steven was silent. "Steven you have a kingdom to run you can't sit around messing with other women. Have you ever thought about what this might do to your kingdom?" 

"You know what I have! But have you thought that maybe I am in love with her? Maybe being with her makes me happy?" He asked offended with James. 

"That's going through my mind but then even if you were in love, she doesn't seem to be in love with you!" James said Steven looked at him with annoyance. 

"You don't know what you are talking about James." 

"I do, you wanna know why? Because I watched the way she looks at you, she looks at you like she wants something. Not how someone who was in love would have looked at you. "

"James," Steven said about to argue with him. 

"Have you ever stopped to think about what is gonna happen to Wanda?" James asked. Steve looked at him confused. James sighed. "Sharon is there to make sure Wanda has what she needs, Wanda should have Sharon beside her at all times. Sharon has duties to do to make sure Wanda is figuring out what her next step in life will be. And she can't do that if Sharon is out here making out with you." That shut Steven up. "Look, Steve, we really have to get to the ball, but I am warning you, what you are doing, the choice you make will not only affect you but your kingdom. Your family so don't be a dumb teenager about this." 

James walked away and Steven could only stand there. Why does everyone keep telling him about his duties, what if he wanted to be free? What if he wanted to be left alone for just one minute. 

Natasha

Natasha stood in the back of the ball watching many people dance with smiles plastered to their faces. Natasha knew that all these people were not taking life for granted, making the best of what they had and she admired that. 

She saw King Thor and King Tony were having a conversation together, as their wives spoke to amongst themselves. Natasha planned to go and speak to them when a foreign voice interrupted her movements. 

"Princess Natalia of Romanavia, it's an honor." A strong voice that was full of a gorgeous accident said. 

"King T'Challa." She smiled. "it has been a long minute." 

"If that was only a minute my dear I would hate to see a what an hour feels like to you." He laughed. The two stared at each other, the silence started to get awkward. "You look amazing," he said. 

"Thank you T'Challa." She said. "I did miss you-you know." She said. 

"Why it seems like you missed a lot. Out wedding perhaps." He said, not in a mean blaming way but in a teasing way. 

"T-"

"No, it's not your fault. I know you were going in through some difficult times, I married as you have probably have heard. I love her. So maybe our actions were worth it." He said genuinely. 

"I must apologize, however. It was so a hard time." 

"Don't Princess everyone has their moments. However, I heard you are to be wed once again." He said. Natasha nodded her head with a soft smile. 

"Father believes that I should be wedded off. And I am afraid he has already chosen the man who he will soon be my future husband." She replied. T'Challa followed her gaze that was glued to her father. He was shaking king Joesph's hand as if just coming out a deal. 

"Prince Steven? You can't be serious." T'Challa asked. T'Challa was acting much like an older brother now. He looked at Natasha who didn't wear the same amused face as he did. His smile turned to a frown. 

"What is wrong with the prince?" She asked, although having her own suspicious on the prince she wanted to see what other people had to say about him. 

"I am not sure but I know that he is not all worked up as his parents present him to be," T'Challa responded, but kept his voice low. Anyone with ears who heard people talk ill of the prince would report them to the king and that was the last thing they would have wanted. 

"Well I shall not say you are wrong, but I shall not say you are right either. I think Steven, just like us has secrets. And if the look my father is sending me is correct, then I guess soon it shall be my job to find out the secrets of my finance." She said confidently. 

"When do you think the announcement will be made?" T'Chall asked her. Natasha shrugged. 

"Not tonight, if that's what you are asking. Not the day the kingdom celebrates Princess Margret. I give it seven days time. It's enough for the kingdom to prepare themselves for everything to go back into place. Steven shall be crowned in less than five months. which means a wife will be in need. he needs to be wed before he can take the crown. The queen will start preparing right away, along with my mother. Once I am crowned for my crown they shall marry us off. But with planning go around both kingdoms they won't be able to hide it for very long. So a week is when they shall announce the decision." 

"You are quite the detective, my princess." T'Challa smiled. "I do wish you the best." He nodded towards Steven who walked into the room wearing a fake smile. "Because you are gonna need it." He said and walked away from Natasha. Natasha watched Steven closely as if each move he had interested her in some way. 

But alas, for she was not the only watching over someone. Little did she know someone else watched the movement of the Natasha herself. A pair of eyes that took precautions in the princess movement. But no one else saw the woman in blue staring at the princess. 

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People tend to underestimate the quiet ones
I don't because when I am quiet I observe
And the aware one are the ones you should
Fear

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