As if on cue, you heard a knock on the door downstairs. You held your breath as your heard someone shuffling across the floor to reach the door.

"Oh, hello." A soft voice said. Your mom was the one answering. "Can I help you with something?"

The person knocking said something you couldn't make out, but you also didn't want to wait around to hear. Hopping out of your bed, you quickly grabbed a small backpack tucked in the corner of your room. On the third day you thought it would be wise to be already packed in case something like this had happened. You silently thanked your past self and pulled the bag over your shoulder as your ears picked up on the conversation downstairs.

"(Y/n)? Why do you need her? Shes up in her room. She said all of her duties at the palace were done!" Your mom exclaimed.

You held your breath and silently walked over to the window in your room. Although you were on the second floor, the house itself wasn't all that tall. Opening the window and climbing out, you held onto the ledge for a second before dropping to the ground. Quickly you looked around and realized you were on one of the side roads that ran against your house. Your (e/c) eyes scanned for any sign of palace messengers and after concluding none were in your immediate area, you silently ran down the road.

You passed merchants slowly getting their stalls ready for the day, baking and setting out trinkets that would catch wanderers' eyes. You smiled and waved at a few of them who waved back and watched you with curiosity before going back to their work. After a few minutes, you realized that you were still in your pajamas. Embarrassment flooded your cheeks for a second before sighing, Its all good (Y/n), you can change once you get to Alex's house. The three friends had agreed to meet at Alex's house on the seventh day so that they could go over the plan one more time and set it into motion.

Arriving in front of a small stone dwelling you knocked lightly on the door. You shifted back and forth on your feet as you glanced around, worried that someone from the palace would turn a corner at any moment. After what seemed like an eternity, the door to the house opened to reveal a disheveled and tired version of your friend. He motioned for you to come in and he shut the door behind you as you walked towards the couch in their living room.

"This early in the morning?" Alex asked as he yawned. You nodded silently, biting the inside of your cheek in worry. For some reason you couldn't get a bad feeling out of the back of your head.

"Can I use your bathroom to change?" You asked motioning towards your sleeping attire.

As if realizing what you were wearing, Alex turned away, his cheeks lightly dusted pink, "Y-Yeah of course!" He pointed to a small door down a hall to the right of the couch.

You nodded in thanks and tip-toed down the hallway, making sure to be silent so that you didn't wake Alex's parents. After locking yourself in the bathroom, you pulled out a small pile of clothes that had been shoved into the backpack. You quickly pulled them on and looked at yourself in the small mirror. You had chosen a nice black t-shirt with a v neckline and ripped jean shorts. After you seemed satisfied, you pulled out a pair of comfortable sneakers and slipped them on your feet. After deciding you looked presentable enough you emerged from the bathroom and walked back to the living room.

You looked to your left as you came back and saw Alex messing with something on the counter.

As if he sensed your presence he turned to you with a tired grin, "You want some food?"

You nodded eagerly and sat at the table, your mind momentarily free of the potential danger with food on your immediate mind. Alex placed a plate of eggs and bacon in front of you before sitting down with a similar plate as well.

"I hope this is good enough," He said shyly, "I'm not exactly the best cook."

You shook your head and smiled, "You're already letting me hide out at your house while the messengers are looking for me, the fact that you're feeding me as well makes me honestly love you right now." You concluded as you took a bite of your food.

Alex's laugh rang through the room before you both heard a knock at the door. You both shared a look for a second. panic in both of your eyes, before Alex got up and slowly opened it. He only had a moment to react before someone pushed through the door and collapsed on the couch.

"My god, (Y/n). You're asking a lot for me to be up so early." A familiar voice whined.

You laughed, "Sorry Nadia. I didn't exactly thing that they'd be here this early either but here we are." You gestured at Alex's house with your fork.

"No, I suppose you didn't, but jeez! Who knew you were hot stuff on the palace market." She jokingly said as she watched Alex place a plate of eggs and bacon on the coffee table in front of her.

You shrugged as you went back to eating your food. The three of you ate in silence for a few minutes before people started shouting outside. You all three glanced at each other and towards the window before brushing it off and finishing your meal. Only as the sounds grew louder and louder did Alex stand up and peer out.

"Oh my god," You heard him breathe as he looked out the window with wide eyes.

"What? What is it?" You asked in a panic voice as you ran over to the window.

He turned back to you with a grin on his face, "Nothing, just the neighbors talking."

You glared at him in annoyance as he walked back to the table to grab your now empty plate. To satisfy your curiosity, you looked out the window to, truth be told, see two people out in the streets talking in a rushed manner. You were about to walk back and help Alex before your ear caught a sound.

"(Y/n) ..."

You whirled back to the scene before rushing outside and coming up to them. You heard Alex say your name in a panic, but you ignored it and ran up to the two women.

"What about me?" You asked as you saw both of their eyes land on you.

"Oh dear (Y/n)! There are people looking for you throughout the village! They're from the palace. Hurry! You mustn't keep them waiting." One of them said as she placed her hands on your shoulders and guided you towards the road.

You shrugged out of her grasp and looked at her coldly, "No. I don't want to. Please, if they ask where I am, tell them I ran into the woods." You turned on your heel and walked back towards Alex's house as he shot you a look of concern and anger.

Once you had stepped back into the threshold, Alex slammed the door shut and Nadia looked at you in worry.

"Why would you go back out?" Alex asked angrily. "Why have other people see you, when you got here undetected before?!"

You bit the inside of your cheek contemplating how to answer, but Alex threw his hands up in exasperation before walking off. Nadia looked between you two before she started giggling.

"You two are like an old married couple." She stated as she covered her mouth with her hand to hide her smile.

Alex turned around, his cheeks red, "I-I pity the poor man who marries (Y/n)." He rushed out before disappearing into a room down the hall."

You and Nadia shared a look before both bursting out into fits of laughter. You sank to the ground, your stomach hurting from the convulsions before wiping away a stray tear.

"Oh that was too good," Nadia exclaimed, "His face was so red!"

You nodded in agreement before feeling a twinge of guilt and pity for Alex. Shaking it off, you stood back up and sat on the couch next to Nadia. Your planning had only gotten as far as making it to Alex's house before it stopped. You supposed that you would just hide out until the messengers left and then go back home. What if they don't go home, you thought, what if they don't stop until they find you. You shook your head as soon as the thought came to mind. You weren't that important, the princes could find someone else to fill your spot, fond of you or not.

You and Nadia spent the next two hours reading books and playing silly games on the couch. It was relatively uneventful until there was another knock at the door. Alex emerged from his room and stomped to the door.

He flung the door open angrily, "What?!" he yelled, but his face paled. You couldn't see who was at the door, but you instinctively moved out of sight of any windows in the room.

"Sorry to disturb you, Sir, but we are looking for a (Y/n) (L/n)." A voice explained as you heard your heartbeak quicken from your hiding spot.

"Shes not here," Alex snapped and went to shut the door.

You watched as someone stuck their foot in between the door in the frame to stop it from closing, "Is that so? We heard from two women that she was last seen in this house." Another voice said coolly. "You wouldn't be lying would you?"

Alex cursed under his breath and shot a startled look at you.

You couldn't do much seeing as you were frozen in place in fear. Nadia looked at Alex before she jumped in front of you and assuming a protective stance.

The two people forced their way inside, knocking Alex out of the way and surveying the room. You could tell that they were both men, and they wore light blue suits with white pants. You could see an emblem with a diamond in a flame on their sleeves, which led you to believe that it was the princes emblem.

Suddenly, their two sets of silver eyes landed on your (e/c) ones. You shrank back as they came towards you and Nadia.

"You cant have her." Stated Nadia as you watched her figure harden, ready to fight.

They ignored her and looked at you, "(Y/n), the princes request that you come back to the palace to give your response."

You glared at them, "Tell them I said thanks, but no thanks."

One of them tusked and looked behind them at Alex and then at Nadia, "Prince Aiden said to bring you back by any means necessary. So if your two friends are getting in the way..." he trailed off as he moved his hand towards a sword resting against his side.

"They really would kill us." You heard Alex whisper as he looked between you and the sword in wide eyes.

Your mind rushed to find a way to fix the situation without putting Nadia and Alex in danger. You were too far away to jump out a window, though you doubted that you would be able to jump out without the men grabbing you either. Still, maybe it was worth a try... You were brought out of your thoughts by one of them clearing their throats and looking at you pointedly.

Your mouth opened, but nothing came out. Your eyes scanned the room helplessly to find some sort of answer written somewhere.

"Miss (Y/n)." One of them said.

You closed your eyes for a moment before startling yourself as you heard your own voice speak, "Okay. I'll come."