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Her Highness princess Natalia felt like someone hit her.
— No! — she shouted, looking at her parents. They looked at each other and Natalia knew what they said wasn't a question. It was a command.
— You will marry prince Alexei — said her father, king Nikolai.
Many people said Natalia was just like her father. It wasn't only that she looked like him with these beautiful, red hair and green eyes. She was like him. Natalia was perfect princess and perfect heir. Perfect future queen of Russia.
Her parents wouldn't be more proud of her if she wasn't so stubborn.
— Father, with all the respect but I do not want to marry him — said carefully Natalia. She couldn't show the anger inside her — He's older than me! It is all seven years!
— Seven is considered as a lucky number — her mother smiled. Alexandra was always an elegant and charming woman. Her smile could bring light to the darkest room — You two know each other and you know he feels something for you.
Natalia rolled her eyes. She knew that and she didn't need a reminder.
— I know, mother. I know. But… Alexei isn't the only choice! If I, future queen, needs to marry, why can't I marry some other… some real heir? What about prince Samuel?
— Prince Samuel? Don't be silly, my Natalia. You know about his engagement.
— Prince Alexei isn't the only choice but he's one of the best — said her father — Do you know the son of Howard Stark wanted to marry you?
— Son of duke Howard Stark? You mean Anthony Stark?
— For the love of God, don't talk about him — muttered Alexandra — I don't want to hear about this… womanizer. If he becomes king of Russia…
Natalia laughed but when she realized she could become the wife of Anthony Stark her face hardened. No, she would never become his wife. She could imagine herself as a wife of a lawyer, even as a wife of a circus performer. But as a wife of Anthony Stark? Princess of Russia as the wife of some duke? Never.
But if that meant she wouldn’t have to marry prince Alexei Shostakov…
Natalia sighed and looked at the window. The sky was clear, without any cloud. It was in the same shade as her dress, the light blue. The sky's only jewel was the sun.
— Marriage with prince Alexei will be the best choice for Russia — Nikolai stood up and looked at his daughter. Natalia spent all of her life, all of these nineteen years with him and she knew when she could argue with and when she shouldn't do that.
— Of course, my father — that was all Natalia could say. Her voice was trembling and she had no idea how she could be so calm. Inside she was burning.
She bowed and didn't even look at her parents. When she left the room she went straight to the garden. She heard her name being shouted by her maids but she wanted to be alone. No, not alone. If only she could be with him…
Natalia's favourite part of the palace was definitely a garden. She loved all these flowers but especially she adored roses. She decided if she had a daughter she would name her Rosalya. Natalia stood next to a bush of beautiful, red as blood flowers, when she heard some voice.
— You shouldn't be there alone, Your Highness.
Natalia smiled. She picked a rose and started playing with it. James laughed.
— I am not alone. I am here with you.
She looked at him. James was wearing his dark guard uniform. His left hand, just like his whole arm, was full of scars. He once joked how he almost lost it. Natalia asked what he would do if he really lost it and he answered it would be harder to kiss her. She laughed even if this joke wasn't funny.
Natalia looked around, wondering if somebody was observing them. She wasn't scared of rumors but if her parents found out that she was meeting with a guard, something bad could happen to James. This man didn't need more problems.
He was an American orphan and Natalia was really shocked when she found out he was really serving Russian royal family. His whole family was dead except his sister who still lived in America. He never mentioned her again and Natalia didn't even know her name. But she didn't ask, knowing everyone has their secrets and things no one wants to talk about.
— I'm going to get married — said Natalia after a moment of silence. James wasn't shocked like he knew that.
— When?
Not with who but when. When she will belongs to someone else and when he couldn't even look at her.
— I don't know. But my future husband will be prince Alexei. Alexei Shostakov.
She said the last few words with visible disgust. They both knew Alexei and they both weren't happy about that choice.
But James didn't say a word. He knew Natalia would marry some duke or prince and have an heir with them. She was a future queen and he was just a nobody.
— I should go — whispered Natalia. She heard some voices and she was sure her maids were coming.
— Goodbye, Your Highness.
Natalie nodded, turn her back against him and went to her maids. She didn't see his face full of sadness and anger that she would marry fucking Alexei Shostakov.
— Goodbye, my Natalia — whispered James, looking at her. She was smiling and laughing. She was a perfect actress and he knew in the other life she would be a talented artist. Actress, maybe a ballerina?
James looked at his Natalia and went back to his duty.
***
Natalia was sitting alone in her chamber and looking at the letters she got from her friends. She just responded to a letter from Samuel and glanced at the few envelopes that were waiting for her. She sighed and took the first one when she heard someone knocking on her door.
Natalia frowed. It was almost midnight and she didn't expect anyone. But when someone knocked in a code only two people knew she smiled.
— You shouldn't be here — whispered Natalia, looking at the James — They will kill you if they find out.
— I don't care.
James didn't wait for her response, closed the door and grabbed her hand, closing Natalia in a strong kiss. She put her hand in his dark hair and looked straight in his eyes.
— I'm promised to someone else.
— I know — James laughed, pulling Natalia to her bed — He's an ass.
They both smiled as they fell to the mattress. The night was cold but none of them felt it. Kisses on their skin, whispers and moans. They were burning and no one could stop the flame.
Natalia bit her lip her looked at the sky. The stars were blinking and shining and the moon… The moon was big and white, looking straight at them. Only the moon knew their secret.
— You are the only man that my heart belongs to — whispered Natalia in the break between his kisses — You are the only man I love. I love you, James.
— I don't know why someone like you love person like me.
— You are a good man, James. You are.
— Not really, no. But you're the only one who understands that.
— Oh, James — Natalia laughed and wished this moment would never end — Don't worry.
She kissed him like it was their last kiss. She knew it wouldn’t be. Even if she marries Alexei she will never love him. Her heart will always belongs to one man. Only James understood her and only Natalia understood him. What if James was born into a royal family? What if they both were born in other world where they could be together without hiding and being scared while kissing?
She spent that night in his loving arms. She looked at his body full of scars wondering what happened to her man. The moon disappeared bringing their secret nobody knew about. Natalia heard the singing of morning birds and smiled. She looked at the sky and at the sleeping James. She kissed him and smiled.
— Don't worry, James — Natalia whispered again — We'll always have the moon.