It was quiet.

The throne room seemed darker.

The air seemed colder.

But the heat of my tears flowing down my cheeks is enough to make me feel like burning.

Burning in shame and regret.

Alone in the throne room, with my eyes glued to the floor, I stand in front of my parents.

"You have not just dishonored us; you dishonored the whole family and brought scandal to our country! How can you be so irresponsible?"

My father's voice boomed across the throne room. The silence around was suddenly filled with the echo of what he said.

"Daddy, please..." I tried.

My parents are reasonable. They listen to everything before they make judgments. That's why they are great rulers. But why can't they see reason now? Why are they not letting me explain? Why don't they want to listen to me?

"That's enough of that, young lady. You have done enough. Your father and I have entrusted you to run our empire. We thought you are responsible enough to understand all the things you must sacrifice in order to fulfill the duty of being an heir."

I cried harder. I have never seen my mother so angry. Every time I got into trouble, I can always count on her to side with me no matter what. But now...

"Mommy..."

"Laura, what you did is not just irresponsible but also unjustifiable! Your mother and I are so disappointed with you. I thought you would be a model to your brothers and teach them to grow up from their childish acts. But, NO! You are even worse than them! How could you do this?"

"Dad... I just wanted to experience being free. I wanted to roam the world without fear. I wanted to do things without people scrutinizing my every action. For once, I wanted to be ordinary. Can't I have that? Am I not allowed to spread my wings and fly high up in the sky?"

"You have already done it. You ran away and lived your fantasy. Now, it's time to face reality. Because of your actions, we decided to step down from the throne and we shall announce it tomorrow."

I gasped. "No!"

This is not happening!

"We will also announce your upcoming wedding as well."

I paled. That statement alone crushed my very being. Everything is falling apart.

This is not happening!

"What? No!" I said but my dad kept on talking.

"You will marry the man we have chosen." My heart stopped. Everything feels like they're falling apart. "Someone with great reputation and who came from a good family. Someone who can provide anything for my daughter's wants and needs."

"NO!" I yelled and saw both my parents' eyes widen. I stared at them with tears flowing on my cheeks. I watch my mother walk towards me.

Slap!

My head was whipped to the side as I felt the impact of my mother's slap on my right cheek. Time stopped. That was the first time I received such act from my mother. I placed a hand on my cheek and looked up at my mother's eyes that were filled with rage.

"I don't believe this, Laura! You dared raise your voice on us?"

"I WILL NOT MARRY SOMEONE I HAVE NEVER MET!" I screamed, shocking myself at the amount of rage in the statement. I somehow find myself no longer caring about the consequences of my words.

Slap!

I felt numb. I received two slaps from my mother in just a day. Never have I argued with my parents like this. Never have I raised my voice on them nor have I ever been slapped.

I raised my head and saw my father holding my mother down, preventing her from laying another hand on me.

And then... "How could you do this Laura?" I saw my mother's tears for the first time. I saw how disappointed and devastated she was. I felt my heart being ripped out of my chest as I saw the tears running down her face.

Suddenly, I wasn't angry anymore. The shame and regret came flooding back as I watch my mother cry.

"Mommy..." I whispered helplessly. I was stupid. I should have known. I should have known that they will figure things out eventually. I should have just let my stupid dreams of freedom out of my head. It is something that will never happen. I should have just accepted my fate.

I watched as my father wipes a tear from his cheek. My heart was being crushed at the sight. I can't believe it. I made my parents cry.

"Daddy..."

"Laura. Your mother and I already made a decision. You will do as we say or we will be forced to disown you."

I gasped. Disown? Why go to such lengths to prove I was wrong? Why force me to do something because of what I did? Why did this have to happen?

"Don't worry. He came from a good family. We made sure of it. Besides, you don't have to worry about you and him not getting acquainted. You two have already met."

Confused. I looked at my father.

"His name is Alexander Kinsley."

"CARTER, WAKE UP!!!"

I bolted on my bed and almost bumped on Jessica's head had it wasn't for her quick reflexes.

"Oh my gosh. What happened to you? Hold on. I'll get you some water."

I would have probably said something smart like "As if I could go anywhere like this" or something like "Geez, I was just sleeping so don't ask me" if it weren't for my hard breathing. I was seriously panting.

"What happened?" she asked after handing me the glass of water.

After chugging down my drink, I told Jessica every detail of my dream. From getting busted to getting reprimanded down to my father announcing my marriage to Alexander Kinsley. I was crying my heart out when I was describing how I made my parents cry but surprisingly, I somehow made it to the end of my story.

Jessica bit her lip and narrowed her eyebrows just like she always do when she's in a deep thought.

"You know, I don't think your mom would actually hate you like that if she found out about this."

"You don't know that, Jess."

"Yes, I do."

She closed her eyes for a second as she took both my hands and continued. "Your mom maybe really prim and proper, but I don't think she will hurt and even shout at you like that. Honestly, I don't see it happening. I mean I never even saw the queen get angry at you ruining her birthday cake when we were just 8."

"But this is not simply just the cake, Jess. This is something bigger and it could–"

"Ruin your relationship with your mom? Or dishonor the whole country?"

"Both." I said.

"Sure, I think your mom would freak out," Jessica gave me a smile.

"Definitely."

"But I think she'll understand you either."

I snorted in response.

"No, listen to me. Your mom may be disappointed, but she will understand everything. She will be reasonable enough to listen to your explanations. And she will understand that you are her little sparrow that wants to spread her wings and fly high up in the sky. She will understand all the pressure of being a princess because she was once a princess."

I smiled at her. Jessica and her words of wisdom. "You know you don't have to poetic when telling me this."

"Shush. Quiet. I'm not done yet." I rolled my eyes as she continues.

"The thing is she will know that you will want to see the world. She will know that her daughter is a free spirit. She will know that her daughter wants to breathe the word "freedom" once in her life. You know why?"

She looks at me expectantly. When I didn't reply, she rolled her eyes. "Ask me why."

I couldn't help but giggle.

"Come on! You're so ruining my moment."

"Okay, fine. Why?" I finally controlled my giggles and smiled.

"Because she once experienced the thing that you have been experiencing."

"And how, may I ask, would you even know that?"

"You and your mother are so alike. Just like me and my mom are so alike."

I tilted my head sideways. "Okay...?"

"Did you forget that I am your bestfriend which technically translates to our parents being the best of friends?"

"I still don't see your point."

"Ugh. You got your diploma in Cambridge yet you can't simply point the dots together?"

"Hey!"

"The point is my mom understands us when we told her everything. Yeah, she freaked out at the beginning, I mean, who wouldn't? But when we explained everything, she understood everything. And I am one thousand percent positive that your mom will do the same."

I guess you're right.

"I hope you're right."

"I'm always right," she responded, her eyebrows wiggling.

With that being said, the night concluded full of reminiscing about our past.