Adjusting to normalcy.

Elizabeth awoke with a soft yawn, her pink eyes hazy and soft. 

Hinata, who was reading Alexander's journal, quickly looked up. 

"Your highness, you're awake." She said with a sheepish smile, placing Alexander's journal down. 

Elizabeth rubbed her eyes as she sat up, her blanket sliding down her small frame. 

"Hinata… where…?" Elizabeth dropped her hand as she looked around the room, "Where is Alexander?"

Hinata stepped towards Elizabeth. "He and the boys went out on the town. They plan to watch a movie before having lunch, " she explained.

Elizabeth frowned as she wrapped herself in her blanket. "Well, that's not fair." She pouted, "Did he say anything before he left?"

Hinata nodded. "Indeed, he said you're free to stay as long as you wish, your highness."

Another yawn escaped Elizabeth as she glanced over at Alexander's journal. 

It sat atop Alexander's drawer, slightly askew thanks to Hinata's hasty placement. Elizabeth pointed towards it. 

"What were you reading?" She asked softly. 

Hinata glanced back at the journal, her expression briefly changing: "Well…" she began, before composing herself. "…I was skimming through Alexander's journal, he's quite the talker, on paper."

Elizabeth's pout shifted to an opportunistic smile. "You don't say? Am I mentioned in his notes?" She asked, her fingers tracing the edge of her blanket.

Hinata hesitated, her gentle demeanor slightly unnerved. "He…" she began as if searching for the right words. "…he writes about many things, your highness. You are certainly part of that." 

Elizabeth nodded. "Can you hand it to me?" She asked, outstretched her hand.

Hinata swallowed before picking up the journal and handing it to Elizabeth.

"I should warn you, these are Alexander's private thoughts. He never intended for you to see them."

Elizabeth nodded as she flipped open the journal. Her curiosity had long outpaced her restraint. "I'll be sure not to hold him accountable, if that's your concern."

Elizabeth ran her fingers down the first page, "I just want to understand him better." She whispered, looking over a particularly rushed segment of writing. 

It looked as if Alexander's mind spilled thoughts faster than he could write.

— — —

Entry one: 

Ben gave me this journal, and I was debating whether I should write in it or not. 

Eventually, I decided whatever, guess it couldn't hurt. 

Well, it could, if like… someone smacked me with it. 

I don't know, it feels weird. Like writing a letter to my future self. 

Hello, if you're reading this please tell me we've made it out of the slums. And by slums I mean do we have a noble house yet? 

If yes, I'm proud.

If no, then what the hell are you doing man?! 

You're gonna have to marry into a family at this point, and it sure as hell better not be Louise, she's a demon!

Speaking of which, is that offensive to demons? I hope Zara doesn't get offended.

— — —

Elizabeth giggled softly as she continued reading Alexander's ramblings. 

He had no direction when he wrote, often jumping from subject to subject while screaming into nothingness.

However as Elizabeth continued flipping through pages, the rambling grew calmer and the events increasingly recent. 

She soon stopped at an entry that involved her. 

— — —

Entry–seven:

I try not to think about Elizabeth, but it's getting harder. 

Every time I'm with her she gets closer and closer.

I don't want to hurt her or turn her away.

But I don't know how to deal with her either. 

It's one thing to have a girl like you, it's another thing entirely for her to be the princess.

It's like trying to cross a canyon on a broken bridge.

I'm scared of opening up to her, because I know there's no going back. 

I know she won't let me pull away.

Jules and Karl tell me I have it in the bag, but I don't know if I believe that. 

Because out of every option she's met, I cannot be the best one. 

Though, even if I were, what do I do when things get serious?

I'm nobody from a broken house in a foreign kingdom. I own nothing but my soul and I don't know if that's enough.

I don't want to be a burden, I want my own titles, my own achievements, and I want to find my family… or what's left of it. 

I have so much to do.

I don't want all of my ambitions to be swept away under the title of consort. 

I don't want that responsibility.

If only I could just disappear when she's around. 

Goddess, that sounds so wrong.

— — —

Elizabeth stared at the page silently, her fingers lingering on the page.

Here right before her were Alexander's thoughts laid bare. His fears, his hopes…

And his thoughts on the future.

Hinata watched cautiously, her practiced calm now tinged with concern. "Your highness, are you alright?"

Elizabeth smiled softly before looking up. "I'm more than alright, Hinata." She said with a chuckle. "Alexander… he loves me too."

Hinata's eyes bugged before she quickly recovered. "Uh your highness, could you explain how you came to that conclusion?"

Elizabeth's smirk grew as she gently snapped the book shut. "It's simple, he's worried more about how our relationship would work rather than if it should exist at all."

She then set the journal beside her, her eyes gleaming with excitement and determination. "His not questioning what he feels, but how he should feel it. How he should work it into his life, that's love… Hinata. Even if he doesn't say it."

Hinata seemed to relax at her explanation. "You certainly have a knack for reading between the lines, your highness." 

Elizabeth nodded. "I'll have to change my approach, help him realize I'm not his enemy." She then moved to slide off the bed. "I don't want him swept away by my title either, so I suppose that means names are off the table."

"Names?" Hinata asked curiously, watching as Elizabeth dusted her dress.

"Indeed, I believe Alexander will respond well to a relationship in all but name." Elizabeth further explained. "I should've realized that sooner."

Hinata nodded, her pale hands folding neatly behind her back. 

"I see, so how will you approach this, your Highness? Alexander isn't as subtle as you, I'm sure you've realized."

"And I'll use that to my advantage." Elizabeth quickly replied with a smirk and a point. "Marriage may be off the table, but being his girlfriend in disguise is all but guaranteed."

Hinata chuckled softly. "You truly are Charlotte's daughter. Both beautiful and dangerous."

Elizabeth winked. "I try."

— — —

Alexander exited the theater with a wide grin and a novel. 

"Thanks, guys… You weren't completely useless." He teased, flipping through the hardcover book.

Jules chuckled. "After seeing your reaction to the film, I felt it criminal to leave without a souvenir."

Karl nodded. "Yeah, but be sure not to walk and read Alexander. The capital is a busy place."

Alexander looked up with a sheepish smile as he tucked his book under his arm. "R-right, so where are we going now?"

"It's a little inn called The Shattered Anchor." Jules answered with dramatic flair, "They serve a delicious roast."

"And the cider there is next level," Karl added.

Alexander felt his stomach growling at just the thought. "Then what are we waiting for?"