Marina id back against the wall with her legs curled up to her chest, her corset piece she had torn from herself earlier now clutched against her middle, and the concealment of cardboard boxes fring up her custrophobia and sudden loneliness. Her tears have subsided, but there was a dull, throbbing ache in her ribs and a stinging in her feet. She dared not move apart from the moderate rise and fall of her chest. Her hair was cold and damp against her skin, causing her to shiver, and she tucked her fingers in between her thighs or under her arms to warm them. Her eyes felt heavy from crying and from the exertion the day had on her.

  She closed her eyes for a moment, imagining the faces of all the people she saw only hours ago. Her father's indifference... her mother's stern frown... her lover's sad smile... and the grin of her groom to be... And that was the truth. The groom was not her lover, nor would he ever be. The image of him alone was enough to almost make her start crying again. That's all she wanted to do. It was all she seemed to be able to do right now as she waited, until she was eventually startled by the boxes moving that concealed her. She raised her corset piece up to shield her face, scrunching her eyes closed in brace.

  "Easy, easy... It's just me... Everyone's gone now." The becoming-familiar voice spoke to assure her. Marina lowered her pathetic excuse for a shield as she met Remora's gaze, her eyes beginning to gleam as her heart thudded in her chest. She took a breath of relief at the sight of Remora's face, her muscles rexing, though she made no effort to draw closer to her.

  Remora sighed and kneeled down, her eyes searching for answers just from the sight of the princess's face alone. She looked the definition of miserable. They simply faced each other in a long stillness, wondering how to go about this situation between them. Remora then cracked a smile.

  "I'd... offer you something to eat from here, but let's be honest... you really don't want the crap we serve around here... especially not with your royal taste buds." She ughed. Marina simply stared back at her silently with frightful, tired eyes as her only response. Remora's smirk faltered and she cleared her throat. Her eyes trailed across her form.

  She was slim... pale and feminine... and most certainly beautiful. She was fit for a princess, unlike Remora who had a firmer, stockier build, her hands a bit rougher, her arms wider... Her eyes trailed up to the girl's face. She had oceanic blue eyes, a type of blue that reminded her of the view of the sea from her home, and her hair was a deep obsidian, though it had a soft curl to it like the waves. It's clear she was named after the shores that harbored their home, the Kingdom of Alverot. She was pretty, yet mysterious like the sea, although, certainly not ruthless just from her meek attitude alone. Remora was taken from these observations when she noticed the princess was trembling.

  "Gods, I'm sorry, you must be freezing..." She observed the state of her thin, mangled wedding dress. It's pristine whiteness had been tampered from the muddiness the storm brewed, and it made her wonder just how far this girl had traveled. Remora stood, going to the breakroom to fetch her overcoat, Marina's eyes trailing her the whole time. Remora returned with the heavy coat, and kneeled again in front of her. She held it up to throw it over the princess's shoulders, causing her to flinch again.

  "It's okay... here... this should help." She reassures softly, moving again to drape the coat over her shoulders. Marina quietly tensed before feeling the comfort of its weight, the subtle warmth it brought, and an even warmer fragrance like vanil and sandalwood that washed over her with it. She rexed and pulled it tighter around herself, releasing a breath.

  "Thank you..." She murmured. Marina's eyes screwed shut as the words fell from her mouth... How many times her mother or tutor would sp her wrist, or have her father scorn her for talking so delicately to the people they described as "filth" beneath them... But now, none of them were there to do so. She didn't know if she missed it or not. Remora too was surprised at her gratefulness, instead expecting some kind of conceited response... She had the urge to make fun of her for it, but directed herself otherwise.

  "So... you... really are the princess...?" Remora inquired. Marina's eyes drooped at the reminder of her very existence, her gaze cast downward instead of meeting Remora's.

  "Yes... I am." She answered, her voice airy and delicate. Remora waited for her to add onto her response, but the princess simply continued to look down at her curled up p. Remora blinked at her, still trying to wrap her head around the fact she was face-to-face with royalty... and not just the royal guards she experiences on occasion, but the actual Princess of Alverot, daughter to King Harold Amon and Queen Victoria Amon.

  "So... big day huh? I mean, your wedding that's..." Remora approached the topic like she would a stray dog, and she could quickly tell the princess was beginning to tense at the mention of it. "Did something... happen? I mean... to run from the... happiest day of your life, right-?" Remora started again, her voice unable to mask its awkwardness. Marina sighed.

  "This has been the worst day of my life..." Her face scrunched up with bitterness. Remora felt her body tense, realizing she struck a nerve.

  "Oh... did... something ruin your wedding?" She inquired softly, settling down next to her, curious about the story, which Marina seemed hesitant to share in full.

  "I did." She responded simply. Remora sucked in a breath and looked down at her hands, watching her pick at the skin around her nail. She then noticed the pristine jewel and golden band around her left ring finger. It looked like it costed more money than Remora would ever own in her entire life. She wouldn't admit it, but her eyes glittered at the sight of it for a moment too long.

  "Why...?" Remora pulled her gaze back to the princess's face. Marina bit the inside of her lip, still averting her gaze.

  "I can't go back... not to him..." She muttered, the exhaustion clear in her voice. Remora shifted closer, pcing a hesitant hand on her arm as a symbol of some kind of comfort.

  "Who...? The prince...?" She scooted a little closer. Marina accepted the touch, albeit hesitantly, and nodded in response.

  "I could never love him." She finally admited. It felt good... being able to tell a stranger... even if her distrust told her it was wrong. Remora tilted her head, but she started to understand. Her face shifted into a soft, teasing smirk.

  "Well... isn't that the whole thing with you royals? Marrying people you barely even know... It's all political, isn't it?" Remora jested, but it only caused Marina to sink further. She felt guilty. Yes, that was tradition. Marriage wasn't a symbol of love in the upper css world... it was a symbol of alliance and prosperity for the kingdom. A symbol of the promise of future heirs. Love was meaningless in politics... it was all about strategy.

  "That man... is not a good man... a good prince, sure... but not a good man..." Her voice wavered, and her head dipped to rest on her knees, feeling her emotions and guilt beginning to boil over again as she curled into herself. Remora instinctively reached for her shoulder, desperately not wanting her to cry again.

  "H-hey, hey! I-it's okay, hey, don't cry..." Remora shifted to sit directly next to her, rubbing her back softly, although awkwardly. The princess lifted her head enough to reveal the tears streaming down her face.

  "Please don't turn me in... You have no idea what he'll do to me..." She managed to whisper out in a strain. Remora felt her heart melt... somewhat begrudingly. She certainly was... sensitive like a princess. Remora shushed and cooed her as she rubbed her back, letting her get it out of her system.

  "I'm not... I mean I already lied to the royal guard so..." She ughed nervously, letting her ughter trail off in an awkward drop. Oh Gods... what had she gotten herself into? She shook her head, focusing on the present. "But, um... what's your pn then? I mean, abandoning your kingdom..." She stopped herself, noticing the state of this girl's mental condition. She schooled herself to be more cautious. "I mean... where are you pnning on going... your highness?" As the words hit Marina she let out a small whimper.

  "I don't know..." She dipped her head back down. She hated this feeling... the feeling of being completely useless... and yet it was all she ever knew. All she could do was choke on her tears, and she was growing tired of it. Remora sat there and watched her quietly as she continued to cry. It was shocking to Remora. All she ever saw in royalty was snooty, uptight, and dramatic... Well... it seemed this girl as one of those parts down... Was this really who was the future of their kingdom? This sad, helpless girl? She couldn't help but internalize a groan... Both at the fact that she didn't want to help this girl, but also that she was going to. Seeing how the princess didn't seem to want to talk much, it was better to act instead.

  "Come on..." Remora stood to her feet, dusting off her dress and reaching a hand down to her. Marina looked up to her with wide gleaming eyes.

  "What...?" She drew back. The image of this peasant girl dragging her all the way back to the pace fshed through her mind. She had no strength but she was ready to struggle if need be. Remora smiled and rolled her eyes.

  "I said come on... You can't sleep here... I'll take you back to my house so we can figure this out for you." Remora urged her hand closer. Marina stared at her then her hand, then back up at her. She felt her throat close from her anxiety, but ultimately, she felt pulled. Her hand lifted and met Remora's who carefully pulled her to her feet. Marina winced as she put weight on her shoeless, banged up feet once again. Remora then realized her eyes had to draw upwards to meet hers. She looked so small curled up in the pile of boxes, and now was a few inches over Remora. She cleared her throat and looked down, noticing the scraped and bruises of the girl's feet.

  "It's not too far from here... You'll be okay?" Remora went to the door, turning the knob. Marina sighed and nodded, her gaze still cast downward as she braced to step outside once again.

  The crisp autumn air of the night hit her face and she had to surpress another shiver. The ground was rough, wet, and cold beneath her tender feet, shifting her weight between one and the other to try and ease the soreness, as well as get the blood flowing. She turned and watched as Remora closed the back alley door and locked it, checking once then twice to assure it was locked. Remora turned back to Marina and sighed, noticing her trying to tough out her pain. She approached and put an arm around her back, ducking to slip under her other arm to support her. Marina felt her breath hitch and she let out a small "oh..." at the sudden assistance.

  "Just lean on me, princess..." Remora's voice was ced with a little humor. The princess seemed in no mood for smiling or ughing, but her eyes seemed more intruiged by her. Remora coaxed her to begin putting one foot in front of the other. As they slowly made their way out of the alley, Remora thought to herself that it was a miracle how this girl managed to evade the entirety of the kingdom that was searching for her at the pace she was moving now.

  Marina felt like a thousand burdens, not only on this stranger she just met, but on her kingdom. What had she done? This stranger was right. She abandoned her kingdom. She felt selfish... so incredibly selfish, and her expression hardened as the guilt weighed heavier and heavier on her shoulders. Remora could tell she was trying to move faster to be less of a bother. She simply smiled at her.

  "Hey, take it easy... you'll hurt yourself more... no rush, okay?" She pulled on her a little, urging her to slow down. Marina stiffened against her pulling, trying to carry on with her pace, but inevitably, shortened and slowed her steps.

  "I'm Remora by the way... Sorry, I realized I never introduced myself." She added, keeping up her polite character for her. The princess hummed politely, although tiredly in return.

  "I'm Marina." She murmured. Remora let out a feigned gasp that half-startled Marina as Remora helped her hobble along.

  "No... really...?" Remora teased, her lips parting in a pyful smile. And finally, for the first time, the princess's lips curled upward, making Remora grin wider. "Strange, it sounds familiar... hmm... can't put my finger on it..." Remora tapped her chin as she pretended to ponder. It elicited a small ugh from the princess, Remora joining in with a lighthearted chuckle. As quickly as she smiled however, her expression slowly sank again into despair, Remora's expression following hers as it also dropped.

  Remora couldn't help but notice how light she felt as they moved through the foggy, cool and humid streets. Yes, Remora was much more muscur in physique, more than the average woman at the very least due to her genetics and more "tomboyish" nature. But even with her added height over Remora, she was easy to support.

  "You putting your full weight on me?" Remora quirked an eyebrow up at her. Marina met her gaze and nodded her head. "Oh..." She adjusted her arm around the small of her back, her thoughts wandering as silence fell between them again. Remora always imagined royals as rge... gluttonous... to match the accumution of their power and wealth... And yet, here was a royal in the flesh... frail and almost feather-like... Remora's eyebrows creased at this observation... She must just not fit the look... but a royal ought to still act like one, right...? She let out a subtle sigh, her eyes trailing to the girl's ring again, the diamonds shimmering against the illumination of the street mps. Her thoughts ran off without her, her mind picturing all the luxuries that could be promised with that simple tiny thing... its fortune that could help her climb to her dreams with ease...

  "Well... at least your prince had good taste in jewelry..." Remora half-joked, her eyes fixated on the glittering piece... Perhaps the princess would let her get a closer look at it...? Just for curiousity's sake...

  Marina then stopped in her tracks, looking down at her left hand. Her jaw clenched and her stomach twisted at the mere sight of it. To any woman (lesser to her knowledge, Remora included), it would be the most beautiful possession in the world. But to Marina, it felt like the object, rather, possessed her. She felt like it was taunting her, the reality that this simple piece of jewelry owned her... robbed her of her future... stole her entire life before she could have any say in it. Not only that, but the face associated with this jewel, she knew, would leave her with endless torment. Even as she scraped her skin against the graveled grounds to flee such a destiny, it still followed her into the shadows of these unfamiliar corners and alleyways... One thing was for certain... that in a single day... no... a single evening, she ruined the very fate id out for her that she had existed 19 years to forge with. Now, there was no going back. As her emotions spiraled into a storm inside her chest, she thoughtlessly reached for the ring, screwing it from her digit.

  Remora then watched in subsequent horror as the princess effortlessly cast it away into the misty streets of Alverot, with nothing but the suble, fading tings of it being banished forever to the stoney, downhill path.

  ( Author's note:

  Thank you for reading this story so far! I apologize if my writing seems different chapter to chapter, I'm still getting a feel for the flow/style of writing that I want to use to achieve this story to its fullest. This is my first time writing something like this in a long long time, so please bear with me... That being said, I hope you are nonetheless enjoying this story so far...!!! )