Loving is the easy part

Once upon a time, in a kingdom far away, there lived a young princess named Isabella. She was known throughout the land for her beauty, intelligence, and kind heart. She was adored by all who knew her, including her parents, the king, and queen, and her many suitors. However, there was one person who loved her more than anyone else - a young man named Alexander.

Alexander was a commoner, born into a family of farmers. He had known Isabella since they were both children, and had grown to love her deeply over the years. But theirs was a love that could never be, for the king and queen had already arranged for Isabella to marry a prince from a neighboring kingdom.

Alexander knew that he could never compete with a prince, but he couldn't help the way he felt about Isabella. He longed to be with her, to hold her in his arms, to tell her how much he loved her. But he knew that such a thing was forbidden, and so he kept his feelings to himself, content to admire her from afar.

As the day of the wedding approached, Isabella grew more and more anxious. She knew that she was expected to marry the prince, but she couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. She had never been in love with him, and the thought of spending the rest of her life with someone she didn't love filled her with dread.

On the day of the wedding, Isabella was dressed in a beautiful gown and led to the altar by her father. She looked out into the crowd and saw Alexander standing in the back, his eyes fixed on her. For a moment, she felt a glimmer of hope - could she really escape this marriage and be with the man she loved?

But before she could act on her feelings, the ceremony began. Isabella tried to focus on the words of the priest, but her mind kept wandering back to Alexander. She knew that she could never be happy with anyone else.

As the priest asked if anyone objected to the marriage, Isabella looked over at Alexander one more time. He met her gaze and shook his head, his eyes filled with sorrow. Isabella felt her heart break into a million pieces - she knew that he loved her, but there was nothing they could do.

The rest of the wedding was a blur. Isabella went through the motions, reciting her vows and accepting the prince's ring. She felt like a prisoner, trapped in a life she didn't want.

After the wedding, Isabella retired to her chambers, where she wept for hours. She knew that she would never be happy with the prince, but she couldn't imagine a life without him. She thought about Alexander and wondered if he was feeling as miserable as she was.

Days turned into weeks, and Isabella tried her best to be a dutiful wife. She attended events with the prince, smiled for the cameras, and pretended to be happy. But inside, she was dying.

One day, while out for a walk in the palace gardens, Isabella saw Alexander again. This time, he didn't look sad - he looked determined. He walked over to her and took her hand.

"Isabella, I know that we can never be together," he said. "But I can't stand to see you so unhappy. Let me be your friend, your confidant. Let me help you find happiness, even if it's not with me."

Isabella was taken aback by Alexander's words. She had never thought of him as anything other than a potential love interest, but now she saw him in a new light. She felt a surge of gratitude and affection for him, and she knew that he was right - she needed a friend.