SONG FOR THIS CHAPTER- THROUGH THE DARK (Because most of the lyrics are practically Harry's commitments)

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H A R R Y

The next morning, I am up early. Even if I only had four hours of sleep, for some reason I am satisfied. Usually I'm in bed for half the day back at the castle, and the only reason I ever get out of bed is because I can't handle being awaken by Mother Queen's scoldings.

I get dressed in the guard's change room which is currently unoccupied. After finding my black and white plaid shirt, I toss it on along with dark skinny jeans. It takes me a good five minutes before deciding that my skull bandana matches my clothing better than my black fedora today. I take pride in what I wear, I just don't throw on any random thing. Maybe that's one of the reasons the ladies are attracted to me...

The door creaks open and someone lazily walks into the change room, red headphones over his ears. I hear him hum a tune softly, his eyes closed and head moving to the beat of the song. The music is even too loud from afar.

Tousled, yet sleek chestnut hair, toned, tattooed skin. I've seen him around here before. He opens his eyes and looks straight at me. It's Louis Tomlinson, a guard at the grand foyer of the castle. We met yesterday when he asked me if I wanted to go out for lunch with him. I think he's a really good lad with an insanely great sense of humour. Oh, and his sass is almost unbearable.

"Hey, Harry. How's it going so far?" He asks me, yawning and pulling off his headphones.

I sigh. "I almost lost the princess yesterday."

"Wait, what?"

"It's all good now though. She came back." I carefully pick up the fabric of my bandana and tie it around my head.

"How the hell are you so chill?" Louis chuckles softly, "You almost lost the most infamous princess of England, Princess Caroline Ann Weston of the Courageous, and you're all like, "It's all good." He imitates my voice at the last part, making it slow, deep and draggy. I roll my eyes. Sassy ass.

"You're suppose to know where she is, be with her all the time..." Louis says, and a sudden cheesy smirk spreads across his face.

"What?" I ask in a barely audible voice.

"Who knows, maybe you'll catch feelings for her. She's a pretty girl, ya know." Louis says. I might lust her like everyone else, but love? Hell no.

"I don't date, it's not my thing." I glance down at my watch. It's almost seven am. "Anyways..see you later. My shift should be starting soon."

I swing the door open and look back at Louis. He gives me a little wave whilst putting down his phone and I return the goodbye.

"And Styles?" I hear him call out to me so I turn my head to be met with his grin. "I'll never, ever, drop this subject."

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C A R O L I N E

"Caroline...Princess...wakey wakey." A deep raspy voice cooes above me in my sleep. I enjoy the warmth of the sheets laying overtop of me, lazily pulling them over the top of my head.

The voice sighs. I hear slow footsteps get softer, then the sudden sound of the curtains being yanked open. The sunlight seeps through my eyelids causing my closed vision to be a glowing scarlet. Too tired to open my eyes, I let out a groan. "Close the curtains, it's too bright."

No response.

I reluctantly bring myself to open my eyes and look around my room, stretching my tightened muscles. A tall muscular figure stands a few feet away, his eyes carefully fixed on me.

It's Harry. His arms are folded over his chest and he cocks his head to a side as he stares at me. Not his usual perverted stare though, this is different. It's oddly soft, warm and comforting. I feel like I could get use to this side of him. Wait. What the heck am I saying? This is Harry Styles, a bipolar jerk and moody little girl.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" I ask him sleepily and drag myself of the bed. His stare instantly turns into a deep scowl.

Harry ignores my question but his embarrassment is obvious because of the redness flushing onto his ears. "Get ready, we have a big day ahead of us." He says in a monotone voice and walks to the door.

"Why are you telling me this? And who are you referring to when you say 'us'?" I ask him and he clutches his fists. It's fun testing his patience.

He turns around sharply and grumbles, "Because I said so." Well someone has anger issues. To be honest, I think I'm getting use to Harry's pregnant woman mood swings. I have no need to get emotional over his attitude problem.

"And who exactly are you to tell me what to do?" I ask childishly, putting my hands on my hips. But it's true, Harry is merely a guard, not my father. After looking at me long and hard, he does the same scary thing that intimidates me. He leans over to my level and hooks his pointer finger to my chin. Our eyes are forced to meet. His turn into that same dark shade again, almost full of lust.

I can feel his warm breath on my skin, our faces almost touching. "Listen, I'm sure you wouldn't want to be mugged, touched, or raped by some sick person out in the city. You need to be protected..." He leans in closer, his words falling over me like a waterfall, "By me." Those two simple words, two syllables and four letters leave me astonished in the most scariest way. The next thing I know, Harry's soft lips are barely grazing over the skin of my ear and a shiver is sent up my spine.

I hear a sharp cough from the doorway. Harry and I pull away from each other quickly. We both turn our heads to see Laura standing there with a tray of food.

"I brought your breakfast, Princess." She says with a sly little I-told-you-so face. My cheeks redden immediately as images of Harry's lips moving over my ear pop up in my head. How could something barely out of reach feel so...good?

"Please leave it on the table, I'll get washed up first. Thanks." I say, feeling slightly dazed. Harry looks down at me with a hard expression and I walk past him to get to the bathroom. A shaky breath leaves my mouth as I touch the part of my ear that Harry grazed upon.

What do I feel for him anyway?

~•~

After I am done eating breakfast, I put on a purple tank top with a grey cardigan, and skinny jeans. I decide to let my hair down and put on a little mascara, eyeliner, blush and nude lipgloss. I top off my look with a pearl necklace from my jewelry hanger.

My plans for today is to go out. I try to leave the castle as often as I can because I want to be like everyone else. Being in the castle constantly reminds me that I can't be like that no matter how hard I try and that frustrates me. I grab my purse and leave the bedroom.

"Where are you going?" A voice asks me sternly and I don't even need to turn around to know who it is. It's Harry, of course. Who else would ask where I'm going all the time other than parents? His words seep into my head like a sweet venom.

You need to be protected...by me.

"Um, I'm going shopping?" I say as if obvious and knit my eyebrows together.

"Okay let's go then." Harry says casually and walks towards the staircase. I don't move though.

"Let's? I'm sorry, but I don't remember asking you to come with me." I snap rudely, and I'm surprised because this confidence has emerged from the dust.
Harry rolls his eyes.

"You need to be protected by me." He repeats the same thing he said early and crouches down to tie his shoelaces.

"Excuse me, I am perfectly capable of protecting myself." I huff. "Aren't you suppose to be guarding my room?"

Harry laughs, shaking his head and I swear it's the cutest laugh I've ever heard. His dimples appear for the first time and I can't help but stare at them. "Oh Princess, what's so valuable about your room? You're precious, so it's you that needs to be guarded." My ears heat up when Harry calls me precious. I wipe off the corny smile that threatens to appear on my face.

"Besides, this is my job. All these other guys here were hired to protect the castle, well me? I was hired to protect you."