Rey's POV

Today was another morning.

Another morning I had to wake up to and another day I had to try and survive in this castle.

Both with a Prince who will most likely try and hunt me down to flirt with me and a man with a mysterious aura who was also highly likely trying to weasel his way to win my affections as well.

The man from yesterday's dance...his eyes...when I had looked in them...he seemed as if he knew the world by all its tears and pain but was acting to suppress it.

He kissed my hand as if to say something without words.

What was I thinking.

I should have pulled away and rejected his kindness right then and there.

My thoughts seemed to circle back to that man with dark raven hair and dark doe eyes.

I was afraid he'd penetrate my mind.

As my thoughts kept going every which way I was so distracted while I got ready for the evening that I had bumped into a wall instead of exiting my room.

"Ow." I rubbed my nose as I felt heat come to it from the impact.

What am I becoming.

This day dreaming has to stop. It was just a few dances with a man I knew nothing about.

I didn't even know his name.

As I walked down the corridors I caught a glimpse of the gardens from a nearby window in which the morning light seeped through.

I was in much need of fresh air.

I turned a few corners to enter the gardens and as soon as I entered I could feel all my troubles melt away.

Perhaps I didn't need travel specifically but instead a place of escape...and escape from all this madness.

All these politics, rules and regulations. As well as all the unnecessary gossip.

I wanted to be free of it all, who says a lady could not read when it made a good way for the imagination and a sense of freeness from reality.

What most did not know was that I knew well of how to read as well as write.

But if I were to ever be caught in the act of reading or writing...it would be a pretty high treason and offense to most men. For as a young lady should be, definitely should not be by the way of the books.

Reason being is because they think it would plant thoughts and undignified thoughts in my head.

And in a way they were right, reading about adventures and what could be than rather what should be was what kept me going each day.

But their thinking was almost like a women would undergo some type of demonic behavior or something dramatic like that.

When all it really was was just wanting freedom from all the rules that have been shackled on our feet and hands.

Ever bound by mens decree of what we should and shouldn't do when they themselves thought us nothing but property themselves.

But as much as I wished for my peace to ever last in reading as many books as I could get my hands on...

Unfortunately books and imagination could only ever substitute for a short time before reality took to its place once more.

Most importantly or rather, most unfortunately what would return would be my hindering problems.

"What am I to do with such turmoil?" I spoke to myself as I thought no one was around.

"That depends on what you can do?" A deep and longing voice spoke out to me.

"Who is there that speaks?" I was currently sitting on the stone edge of a water fountain.

I swayed my hand in the water for a second longer before retrieving it to my side, drying it off with my dress.

"Depends on who is asking?" A familiar voice spoke out to me again.

And I knew exactly who it was.

"Well by the way your dodging my questions I'd say it's the gentleman from last evening. The Prince's personal guard?"

"I'm afraid so. It is I, Captain Ben Solo but most know me as Kylo Ren." As his last words were spoken he appeared in a sudden moment in front of me.

"How long were you planning to hide like a fox Captain?"

"I was merely waiting for the right moment mistress." He bowed towards me as I looked away.

"No need to bow to me. I am of no royalty."

"But you are one of the highest ranking Royal Court's daughters, am I not correct?"

"Adopted by interest. And how do you know such things about me? Are you that fond of me?"

"Your mother herself, Madam Cordelia spoke to me last evening about you, but briefly. I simply listened, is that a crime?"

My 'mother' was trying to be a matchmaker and I did not favor it.

I stayed silent having no words to combat his.

"May I?" He motioned to the seat next to me as I only batted my eyes to the water once more to see my reflection.

"Why do you talk to me? There are many more women around here to pester and talk to."

"Why not you? Do you think yourself lower than the others?"

"Maybe so, but I do not like a man who makes the lady say what he will not."

I was getting quite agitated by the way he spoke, so indirect and not to the point.

"I'm curious of the way you think about things. In my country women are all the same. They are crafty, cunning, like foxes. In this country women are...again, the same like snakes trying to get what they want. But you, you are different."

"I am in no need of flattery Captain."

"I am simply speaking the truth Mistress. We have just met but there is something about you that is fascinating. You are of the royal court but you still think yourself as a lowly commoner."

I turned to him a bit surprised but kept my composure.

His eyes seemed to glimmer with honesty as he looked at me.

The way his eyes were so soft yet confident.

He made me feel warm as if a summer day had appeared from this crisp fall morning.

But I couldn't lose my freedom to a love that might not last.

"I am not very interesting if that's what your getting at. And I do not wish to get close to you so do not act so formalized around me. We are strangers and I'd like to leave it that way."

"You don't. I can see it in your eyes. Your holding back."

"What do you know? You just arrived here yesterday evening and now your acting as if you know me."

"Cordelia told me about you."

"You said only briefly."

"And that she did. I just put a few missing pieces together."

"Stop. Stop talking to me." I couldn't handle anymore of his interest in me.

I couldn't handle the fact that we could possibly start a relationship as people in love, if I allowed his company more than I should've.

"Are you afraid to talk to me."

He seemed quite keen on wanting my answer so I gave it to him.

"I just don't want this to be more than just talking. I don't want to like you and I don't wish to."

"I do. I see your struggling with something. And you can not hide it. All this wishing and not wishing of yours is just a way to say your scared. Scared and alone. But I can be here. I know what it's like to feel trapped and afraid."

He came a bit closer to me as he spoke.

"You can't say such things. A girl's heart isn't something to fool with."

"I am not fooling around with you. I am not like these boys who think they are men. I want to know you as you and only you."

"Then are you a man that thinks you are a boy?" I commented with a snarky look as he only looked at me seriously and quite intimidatingly.

"I am a man that wants to fall in love with you."

My heart almost skipped a beat as my ears heated.

I tried to keep straight breathing.

I knew what this was and I was truly afraid of it now then I ever was.

"You do not know what you ask for Ben."

"Can I at least know your name."

"It is Rey and nothing more."

He took my hand as I did not move away.

The warmth from his hand seeped through my hand like the warmth of a fire.

The morning bells started to ring.

"Rey...will you allow me to walk you back in?"

I was trying so hard not to accept his offer.

"I'd prefer to go alone." I released my hand from his and walked away.

Some part of me screaming to go back and say yes.

But I wouldn't.