Lee

A leader has three obligations. Learn, Marry, and Lead with righteousness. You had trained your whole life within the walls in the palace for this very season. You walked around your room trying to find a way to avoid the destiny of being married to one you didn't love just because it was the duty of one to claim the throne. You were conflicted. You wanted to be a leader, a good one but you didn't want to be forced into something as serious as a lifetime marriage to be deemed a leader worth following.

A week. A week is all you had before you had to marry. It was time to decide. Freedom in an unknown world or imprisonment in a familiar one. You paced around to pick up random things that would fit into "things I need to survive outside" and tossed them on the bed. You went to find a bag to put the objects in. Your mind raced as you forced things into the bag before slinging it over your shoulder.

You slowly walked to your balcony trying to think if this is the right thing to do, go against everything you were raised to do. You stood on your balcony trying to slow your heartbeat from the adrenaline rush you had. You looked down at your feet and took a deep breath. Before you could throw your leg over the ledge a ship crashed into the same woods you had scoped out weeks before hand.

A smile spread across your face. A ship wasn't supposed to fly in this area without permission, and there were no ships meant to fly through this area for another two weeks due to the wedding preparations. If this was something, threat or not, it could hold off the wedding. You could see guards running towards the direction of the smoke rising from the woods.

You slowly stepped back into your room and put your bag down. You walked over to your bed and sat down, your head leaning against the wooden canopy post. You hoped that something big would happen, something that would change your future, even if it was temporary.

Hours passed. You stared at your ceiling for what felt like hours. Your mind raced about what could possibly happen when you get a knock on your door, since you weren't immediately called down that means it was something serious and that made you sink into a deeper thought. When you finally got a knock on your door you jumped up with a quickness, fixing your posture and hair.

"Come in please." You called out.

A servant slowly walked into your room and handed you a scroll that had a ribbon that immediately made you realize who it was from, your mothers signature sign covering the ribbon. You looked up at the servant while holding onto the scroll.

"Do you know anything about what happened?" You questioned.

The servant slightly leaned forward in a bow, avoiding your eye contact before replying.

"No, your highness..My apologizes."

You looked back down at the scroll in your hand and slowly opened it. The scroll had information about an intruder who is being kept in the palace cells until they can be transported out. " Not native to this planet and intentions are unknown." stuck out like a sore thumb. You continued to read before getting to a certain part.

"Wearing odd clothes yet wears a bracelet that seems native."

This made you curious. You wanted to see for yourself. What did this stranger look like. Did they look like you or any of the species you've read about in books. You stood up with the scroll still in your hand and walked over to your dresser. You looked at the scroll one more time before looking at yourself in the mirror.

You placed the paper down before reaching over to your crown that you had roughly dashed onto the dresser earlier while contemplating your life decisions. Your hands trembled as you picked up your crown and placed it on your head. You took a deep breath before looking in the mirror once again. Your posture and face changed, switching from a girl in a crisis to someone who carried themselves with dignity.

"Can you escort me to our locked chambers?" you turned to the servant. "I need to see something, but it must stay between us."

As you walked down towards the chambers you could feel your heart beating out of your chest. When you were greeted by guards you used some excuse of being sent by your mother to interview the one not native to test your negotiation and interviewing abilities, hoping that your mother didn't make this an off-limit place for you.

To your surprise they let you in with no problem, leading you to the very cell he was being kept in. The walk was long, the guard trying to engage in small talk that was one-sided as you never said a word back to him due to your brain being in overload from the slight excitement and fear of what could possible be behind those doors.

As you walked closer to where he was held you could see other species you had seen in story books also being held in cells, it could only make you wonder if they there before him or came with him. The guard banged on the cell door and spoke one word in a language you didn't understand before opening the door.

When he opened the door, your eyes widened.

It was a younger man. He looked to be of the same species as you. Just a regular human or humanoid. His hands were shackled together while his ankle was attached to a chain. He didn't seem like a threat and since his chains weren't too big you figured that he didn't act deranged during his capture. It would be a shame if someone that attractive was out of their mind. You walked into the cell to get a closer look. The man stood up and tried to speak to you, but you couldn't understand a word. As he spoke you noticed the bracelet on his wrist. Your Bracelet.

"Excuse me." You turned around to face the guard who was practically hovering over you. "Can I be alone with him. He doesn't seem to post a threat. I want to question him privately." You softly spoke.

During this the man stopped speaking, finally realizing you spoke a whole different language. He sat still and watched the guard walked out of the cell, closing the door behind him. You turned back around to face the strange man who was wearing your bracelet.

"What's your name..?" You tried to slowly question, hoping he would understand at least basics. "Name..?" You repeated yourself.

He said something, yet the only thing you could understand was the sounds of EO, but you didn't know if that was a name or another word that sounded similar to letters in your native alphabet. You softly repeated it back to him while looking him in the eyes. He nodded, pointing at himself and repeated it slowly.

You could solve this. It was really easy if you wanted to understand him, but you didn't want to put yourself in a situation you couldn't get out of. You regretted not studying languages over studying different art forms so you didn't have to rely on the odd way of gaining language knowledge. At least not yet, not until you checked something.

You pointed at your bracelet he wore, causing him to look down at his wrist. He shook his head and pointed in a random direction as if it would tell you where he had found it. This made you think, maybe he found your bracelet because he was sent by the heavens. He crashed and found it to save you from your situation. He seemed calm and non threatening, maybe you could use this to your advantage. It's not like you were going to completely use him, he was attractive, and hopefully nice.

You put your finger up, trying to tell him one minute. He stood still waiting for whatever was to come. You stepped closer to him, closing the space between the two of you. Your hands found his shackled ones, grazing the cuffs before holding his hands. You gently placed one kiss on his forehead, then another on his lips. You could feel his hand twitch in response but he didn't dare move or try to pull away from you.

You finally pulled away from him and took a step back. One of your hands found your throat, fingers softly rubbing against your neck. The man stared in silence as you cleared your throat. The sound filling the room. It was very awkward, the random kiss and now you trying to clear your mind and throat as he watched your every movement.

"Odd man…what's name?" You finally spoke with grammar that would embarrass your ancestors who had spent lifetimes studying.

"What is your name?" He replied, trying to correct you in the nicest way.

"Sorry. Yes, what is your name." You asked once again.

"EO. Captain EO." He spoke clearly. "And you are?" A small flush appearing on his cheeks.

You told him your name and status. It seemed he truly didn't pay attention to a word that came out your mouth. Well—he surely was paying attention to your mouth. His face becoming more and more flushed as you talked. It's not like this was his first kiss, but it sure was the first with a gorgeous stranger or a person of your stature all together. Your accent was something he'd never heard before, yet it hit his ears in all the right ways.

You may have picked up his language from a kiss, but it didn't mean you knew everything, commonly using pronoun terms in parts of the sentence where it wasn't supposed to be. Yet something about the mistakes were so charming.

"Can help—" you took a moment to think before saying something else. "I can help you get out." You softly said.

"Yeah? How so." He sassily replied.

You could tell he was doubting your ability to help, maybe being too used to a disgusting Patriarchy. Where your voice may not be that important when it came to political or those considered criminals. You looked down at the bracelet one more time before looking into his eyes.

It took hours and debates on why a meeting couldn't be held off until the next morning, but you insisted on a meeting this late at night, stating that the future of your leadership depended on it. You didn't explain anything, you didn't explain why your leadership was at stake, leaving them desperate and curious enough to agree to such a late meeting.

Your mother didn't attend—mostly because she could care less about your affairs after you agreed to marry someone she chose—allowing you to have full control of the situation without any type of protest. After the council poured in you followed suit. You sat uncomfortable in your mother's throne, a throne that foreshadowed your future.

It was cold and uncomfortable for someone with such wealth and a nation to carry the seat wasn't a bit comfy, maybe that's something you'd change when it's finally yours. Why would you want to lead in such a grueling position.

"I have called this meeting for a very important reason. As I've said the future of this throne is at stake." You spoke with a commanding tone, pausing to look around before continuing. "I have found something very important with someone that you've chosen to hold within our chambers."

You stood up from your seat; your hands held in front of you as a small smile spread across your face. The doors of the council room opened, and EO and his team slowly walked in. When he reached the center of the room you walked down to meet him. In this room no man should ever look you in the eye unless they were of a certain status, most men keeping their heads down as you talked to them. Yet EO kept eye contact with you the whole time, earning distasteful whispers from those that surrounded the two of you.

EO then bowed. You raised your arm searching for a response. He took no time to look back up and grab ahold of your hand before placing a kiss on it, holding eye contact. A small sound left your mouth, you may have just talked about him doing this very action, but you didn't expect him to do right away. You could feel your face warming up, it was embarrassing how something planned could make you react that way. EO looked over to his wrist before reading—very poorly even after practice— a sentence that was engraved on the bracelet.

You didn't tell him what he was saying nor what it meant. You didn't want to mention the words that he just spoke was a love confession that is an equivalent to a proposal. You ignored all the chatter and protest that filled the room. You turned around and walked back to your future throne. You stood in front of the throne and proudly announced what was on your mind.

"I've accepted this man to be my groom, over the next week there will be wedding changes. The last groom was not fit. A man should be musically inclined and have aspirations for our nation's children and future." You paused. Your mind thinking of what to say next. "Our last option in no way shared those ideas. If a man is not fit for children, we should get rid of them..yes?" You questioned with no intent of being debated.

The crowd couldn't protest, even if they wanted to, they couldn't do anything. All they could do was wait until your mother found out the next morning.

"Will you show my friends to a comfortable setting." You said pointing at his team. "Meeting adjourned" You announced.

You pointed at EO and pointed at the ground in front of you. You were telling him to come to you in such a doggish way, yet he didn't protest, speedily walking over to you. You grabbed his wrist when he reached you, not giving him any time to say anything before you dragged him out with you.

When you would walk back to your room a group of servants would usually follow you closely behind, yet this time they were feet behind as if you were carrying a disease. It was unbelievably awkward. You unconsciously gripped EO's wrist super tight. He didn't say anything to you though, maybe realizing something huge had happened. He may have not understood but he had his ideas.

When you finally made it back to your room you shoved him in before slamming the door behind the two of you. You threw yourself against the door and sighed, it felt like you had been holding your breath that whole walk. You began to complain in your native language, taking off your heels and throwing them on the ground. You began to pace and talk about how scared you were about what was to come tomorrow.

EO didn't understand a thing but didn't interrupt you. He silently moved and picked up your heels that you had carelessly dashed. It took you five minutes to realize the reason he wasn't replying was because he didn't understand.

"I'm sorry." You softly spoke in a language he could understand, finally looking at him.

You finally got another good look at him. This time he wasn't in chains and stood straight up. His limbs were long, hands looked nice, and his face was perfect. You walked over and stood directly in front of him, grabbing his face and pulling him down closer to yours so you could get a closer look. In the process he dropped your shoes.

"You're very handsome odd man." You spoke as you turned his face with your hands. "You don't have a persons do you?"

EO was completely taken off guard by how blunt your words were and touchy you were to someone you just met.

"Pers— no? I don't think so." He replied. His face getting warm underneath your hands.

"Ok. Good. You're mine now. I've chosen you for groom. Blessings." You smiled in his face.

"Pardon?" He quickly pulled back from you, backing himself into a wall.

Was this a good thing or a bad thing? A gorgeous woman who's literally a princess saying your her groom. Yet it was iffy due to the fact you barely knew each other. Hell, the two of you met in a cell. How did that make EO marriage material especially without him technically saying yes.

"I said I could get you out. Yes? I'm also trying to get out. Marriage is easy way out." You stated. You shrugged your shoulders as if what was just said wasn't a big deal.

"Marriage isn't a joke— I mean this is serious." His eyebrows pushed together in confusion. "I don't think marrying a stranger is a good idea..especially for you princess." His tone soft yet blunt.

"You're not a stranger. Not anymore." You walked up to him and placed your hands on the wall beside him, trapping him where he stood. "Am I not pretty?" You pouted.

EO tried to reply but he started stuttering. You were practically playing in his face, and he couldn't argue at all. He turned his head away from you, looking at anything.

"Yeah—yeah but what does tha—uh…I just want to know why you think this is a good idea." he replied. "How would—how could this help you." He finally looked back at you.

You finally backed away from him. "I guess I should be honest to my groom." you whispered to yourself before looking him in the eyes. "It takes a lot to explain."

"A lot of time?" He questioned, once again correcting you. It seemed like every time you made a mistake he was going to correct you unconsciously.

"Yes ! too much time to explain."

"I'll listen." He spoke gently, backing off the wall. "Even if it takes all night, I'll listen."

You smiled at his response. You wanted to tell him the eye contact was rude, but you were enjoying it. Your fiancé never looked your direction out of "respect". Who knew eye contact could be such a nerve-wracking thing. You turned away from EO and walked over to your room door before opening it.

"Can you fetch my guest some clothes..." You turned back to look EO up and down. "Something large maybe…?" You spoke to one of the servants outside of the door.

You shut your door and used your open palm to point him towards your bed. He hesitated to move before you used your eyes to direct him out of impatience, causing him to move.

He sat down at the edge of your bed, looking uncomfortable as he tried to not take up too much space. You smiled at him finding his words and actions not aligning cute. He spoke sweetly yet his actions were one of a scary man. You sat next to him and didn't leave any space between the two of you, testing the waters.

EO's face was flushed. The way both of you were acting with each other wasn't the norm or what you were used to when first meeting someone. You were overly blunt and touchy, while he was being what was seen as rude in your culture. He may have been looking in your face, but he was still being extremely respectful and polite. The two of you sat in silence for a minute, trying to figure out what topic to speak about first.

"I'm not against it." EO finally spoke, breaking the silence. "You have your reasons, so I won't judge you. You don't have to be scared to tell me. Just speak freely." He softly said, his knee bumping against yours.

"Scared? Never me. Don't be silly." You tilted your head to the side and made a face that read "are you serious". "Where should I start..." you spoke to yourself.

"The beginning. Tell me everything. Anything about you, your situation, or your land" EO butted in. He wanted to know everything. If he was going to marry you it's only right to learn about you.

You laid back against the bed and put your hands on your stomach. You were already way too comfortable with him. You began to talk about your status and land. You quickly brushed over that before speaking about your engagement. As a future leader your future was already decided for you, you've never had a problem with things being set up or handed to you, expect till now. Your next task was to marry some wealthy boy who had connections to your family.

A man of your culture had to have certain ideals and standards to be considered a perfect groom. He wasn't a bad man, but you couldn't stand the idea of not at least being able to marry someone you could truly grow to love and lead with. Marrying a man with no proper morals or care for fine arts or children is not where you saw yourself.

"Can you sing?" You looked over at EO

"I—yeah? I think so." He replied, scratching the back of his head in confusion.

"Would you breed with me?" you playfully asked to mess with him. His stance on children wasn't important to you right now. You just wanted to make sure he was paying attention.

"PARDON?" EO jumped from the question. He tried to rephrase the question for you, even if you truly meant to ask that. "You mean would I have kids? I would." He once again looked around the room trying to find a random object to focus his gaze on.

You pointed at him with another smile on your face. "Good answer. I knew it." You ignored his flushed face to continue talking about yourself.

You continued on and on, eventually sitting up to talk about yourself more. You talked about your future, your plans for the throne, and a small vision of your short marriage. You tried to not speak much on the marriage; it wasn't a real one so why spend time speaking on it. The night wind drifted into your room. It had to be past three in the morning, yet you were still speaking.

Your eyes were getting heavy, but your mouth still moved. Your head eventually found EO's shoulder unknowingly. You had always leaned against your canopy pole but now that it was blocked your usual lean landed you against EO. Your talking slowed before you fell fully asleep. He didn't move, not yet. He wanted to make sure you were actually asleep before moving.

The room door finally opened and a servant ran in. "YOUR HIGHN—" The servant was cut off by EO putting his finger over his lips and softly shushing the servant.

The servant had taken too long to fetch the clothing, if you were awake, you would probably chastise them. Thankfully you were out cold. An early morning, ruined runaway plan, your odd way of learning a language, and fake proposal had tired you out. The world around you feeling like a void of nothingness. The servant bowed and put the clothing on the chair before speedily leaving the room. EO looked over at you to see if there was any sign of you waking up.

He waited a few minutes before he put his hand on the back of your head and used his other to hold you as he laid you back on the bed. He got up and went over to where the servant put the clothes. He wanted to properly lay you in bed but there was no way he was going to do so by getting on your bed with clothes that have touched the unknowns in cell. Sitting on the edge of your bed was already enough.

He looked around your room for a place to get changed. There wasn't even a clothing divider. You didn't own one, people dressed you in the mornings so there wasn't anything to hide. He looked over to your balcony and was thankful it didn't look like it showcased your room. EO took a gander. You were sleep and nobody would be able to see him from the balcony. He looked over at you one more time before attempting to quickly change as quietly as he could.

He took off his jacket and draped it across the arm of your mini couch. He held up what the servant had brought and tried to hold back a laugh. It was a night gown. It looked like a dress, but that was something commonly worn to bed in your culture regardless of gender. He went to take off his shirt and that's when you finally decided to jump up. The sound of your gasp and arm and feet hitting the ground startled EO.

"A woman bust—musrt—" Your speech slurring, mixing up bust with must, then going on the mispronounce must. Your eyes were slightly half open, looking uneven. One eye open while the other couldn't decide if it wanted to show itself or not. EO froze. Shirt in hand.

Both of your eyes finally opened, just for a little before returning to the uneven look. "Very nice." you spoke in your native before slowly laying yourself back down. He felt like he had been holding his breath the whole time, only breathing out when you had laid back down before quickly scrambling to put on the night gown.

After he put on the gown, he folded up his clothes and placed them neatly on your couch. EO looked over to you. You were sprawled about. Your legs dangling off of the bed as your arms were above your head. Your mouth was slightly open, showcasing the fact you kept running your mouth even in your sleep. He smiled at the sight of you in the state before crawling onto the bed. He wanted to make sure you were comfortable. The position you were in would probably cause you pain in the morning.

He wrapped his arms underneath your knees, and another hand found your back. He tried to slowly lift you so he wouldn't awaken you, Moving you higher onto the bed. When he laid you down on your pillow he realized he should've pulled the blanket back to put you under them. He tried to pull the cover from under you carefully.

"Lay down." you whispered in your native. Lifting your hand to reach for EO.

"Mhm.." EO hummed sarcastically. "Get under the blanket Princess." he softly directed you, his hand slowly sliding under your legs to lift them up slightly to get the blanket from under you. He gently put your legs back down before covering you up.

He tried to move from beside you without realizing your hand was holding onto him. He wasn't trying to lay next to you, he thought it would be disrespectful. You may have fallen asleep on him but that wasn't permission for him to sleep in the same bed as you, let alone right beside you.

At least he thought. He wanted to get up but for someone who was half asleep you sure had a tight grip. EO was caught between his moral compass and the situation he found himself in. You kept whispering things he couldn't understand, causing him to give up. He slowly laid down beside you, your hand still holding onto him.

By the morning you had shuffled closer to EO. Your face was in his chest, the hand that had previously held onto him finally limped up, being balled into a fist against his chest. EO's arm wrapped around you at one point of the morning as if inviting you into a hug. For people that only had a few hours to bond and share backgrounds—at least on your side—you were way too comfortable. You would be lying if you said you didn't find him attractive.

Maybe that's why you were so comfy, hell if he wasn't even going to stay long what's the harm in having fun? Maybe it was because you were mixing the last thing you saw with your dreams, dreams full of the odd man you had just met. Dreams that would cause you to shift and smile in your sleep.

It wasn't perverted, just normal dreams. Odd dreams. You had never dreamed about someone before. It's funny how you've could've had so many options yet a random man you picked without knowing shit about him other than him being attractive would be the one who would peaking your interest this much.