< Speak Now >

"And me without a sword for once..." he chuckled, shaking his head.

"You usually have a sword?" she asked, looking over at him.

"When I'm out and about," he nodded. "I forgot it today."

"Did you forget it or leave it behind?" She asked, looking over at him.

"Forgot it. I still have my dagger, though," he patted his hip to make sure it was still there. He nodded in confirmation.

She nodded. "Alright."

He relaxed, his arms resting on his knees as he enjoyed the freedom of being outside of the city walls.

"So, how come you want to get out so bad?" she asked, looking over at him.

"It's just... A lot of people want to come talk politics. All I want to do is live like a normal person. I don't want all the attention that my father gets. And with the woman he's set me up to marry... Augh, I want to kill myself," he shook his head.

"Well, whenever you want to escape, married or not, you know where I work." she smiled at him.

He chuckled. "I appreciate the offer," he said honestly.

"But you don't get any more free drinks." she smirked.

"It's alright," he chuckled. "I think I can manage."

"Good." she smiled.

He chuckled. "Are all normal girls like you," he asked curiously.

She chuckled. "What do you mean Like me?"

"Much easier to be with. I would much rather spend the day with you than go to dinner with Ashley," he grimaced at the very idea.

"Is she really that bad?" she asked, a small smile on her face.

"Yes, she is. Noisy, loud, demanding. She acts as if she is the queen."

She nodded. "I can see how you'd want to get away from that."

He sighed, shaking his head. "I don't know how I'm going to handle a wife like that.

"You can say no." She said.

"I am my father's only heir. If I refuse to take the crown as Duke, then we will lose everything. I can't do that to my mother's memory."

"Well, what do you think your mother would want?"

"I don't know. I never knew her. She died giving birth to me. Father doesn't talk about her," he sighed.