"While he was running after us, I was screaming, "Go, go, go." But with three of us, honey, it's a sideshow. And a circus ain't a love story and now we're both sorry (We're both sorry)" - Getaway Car, Taylor Swift

In shades of gray in candlelight, I looked at Arora in the chapel in the gardens. We would run away together, set up our own life. That life would be better than I could ever get in the City of Night, I was sure. It would be perfect, because I would be with Arora.

"I need to tell my parents," I told her. "I need to give them some explanation on why I'm leaving. I need to pack some things and I need to order a carriage for us."

Arora nodded. "Let's not waste anymore time," she said. "But pack your things first, or else your parents might not allow that," she suggested.

I smiled at her. "I like that, good thinking."

She had a proud glimmer in her eye. "That's what I do."

I took her hand and we left the chapel again. I led the way to my room, where I quickly packed some things. A set of simple dresses, things fit for an ordinary girl and not for a princess. In the meantime, Arora had ordered a servant to fetch a carriage for us and had them bring her and my stuff to the carriage. I opted for my own two horses to be used.

With that out of the way, we would go to my parents. It would be official. I had no doubt my parents would disown me, just like Arora's parents had. Then they would be two jobless, homeless women. But I had confidence that Arora and I would find a way together. We would get there.

When we arrived at the ballroom, where my parents were reportedly still waiting, Arora squeezed my hand in support. She would be right there beside me. We would be taking this step together.

The doors opened and there were my parents, on their thrones again. They looked at me, at Arora and at our tangled hands. But they said nothing as we walked up to them, together.

I did not bow for them and neither did Arora. We just stood in front of them while I was looking for the words I needed to tell them what I was doing.

"I think we were quite clear about not having anything to do with the Aurum princess," my mother said.

"You were," I said. "But I chose to ignore that. I came to the realization that I can't love boys. After dating so many of them, I think I can say that Arora Aurum is my only true love. I came here to tell you I will be dating her from now on."

My parents looked too stunned to speak. That was already an expression I wouldn't want to have missed. I had never been in a situation where my parents didn't know what to say next.

My mother looked scared at her husband. "Roger, how can we have created a homosexual child?" she asked him. "It doesn't run in my family."

"That's not how that works, honey," my father said. "But Ebony, this is completely unreasonable. You know how much this will impact our reputation, the other royals will never see us the same. How could you do this to us?"

I raised my eyebrows. "Oh, you mean how could I choose to be with the love of my life instead of sentencing myself to a life with someone I will never really love, always wishing for that true love that once slipped through my fingers? Yes, I don't know how I could do that to you," I said.

"Ebony Navalle Keeling, I want you to reconsider," my father said.

"I won't," I simply said. "I'll just go be with the love of my life. I heard it will be a good night to have sex." I shrugged my shoulders.

"Ebony!" my mother exclaimed.

"We told you there would be consequences if you would even be seen again with the Aurum girl. There would definitely be consequences to openly portraying yourself as homosexual or even dating Princess Arora. I'll ask you to be careful," my father said.

"I'll be carefully courting my girlfriend, if you don't mind," I just said. Next to me, Arora's cheeks were turning pink. She was probably thinking about everything we did last night.

"We won't tolerate that," my father said.

"What are you going to do about it, then?" I asked.

My father looked at my mother and she looked back at him. It was a silent conversation between the two of them. I couldn't imagine they hadn't been talking about this before, I was sure they already had a plan if this was happening.

"We could disown you on the spot, Ebony," my father said seriously.

"Fine," I answered.

That shocked my parents, again. This day couldn't become any better. I should more often not give a shit about anything while talking to my parents.

"But Ebony," my mother started worried, her mother's instinct kicking in, "what are you going to do, then? Where are you going to live?"

"I'll be fine," I said. "I'm with the love of my life, we'll figure it out. The bigger question is, what are you going to do with the city? It's not like I have a younger sibling."

"Your cousin Karyn will get the city," my father immediately said. I knew they had a play ready to be unfolded.

"Well, that seems to be all good. I'll be immediately disowned, I guess?" I asked.

"Ebony, I want you to reconsider," my mother tried.

I shrugged my shoulders. "I won't reconsider. Maybe your husband wants to reconsider."

My father looked quite angry, he seemed to have no idea he brought this situation upon himself, just like Arora's parents had. "Yes, Ebony, you're now immediately disowned. You'll be banned from the city. I'll ask you to directly leave the city to never come back," my father said.

"Alright," I said. "You'll receive the wedding invitation, I guess."

"Goodbye, Ebony," my father said.

"Let's go, love," I said to Arora. "Let's build our own little paradise."

"Gladly," Arora answered.

And so we left the room, still holding hands, leaving my parents behind. When the doors closed behind us, a tear rolled down my cheek. Arora noticed and wiped it off with her hand.

"You did great, Ebony. It's hard, but you nailed it," she told me.

"Thank you," I whispered. "I need to go tell Damian I'm leaving. I don't want my parents telling him why I left, he's too good for that."

Arora nodded. "We'll find him," she said.

That turned out to be easier than expected, because we walked up to him on our way to the stables, where our carriage was being prepared.

Damian looked at us, his eyes going from Arora, to me and back. He looked confused. Just this morning, I had told him I didn't love Arora and now we were walking together.

"Ebony, what is this?" Damian asked.

"I'm sorry, Damian," I said. "Like I told you this morning, you're a really great guy. I couldn't wish for any better, but I'm leaving now."

"Why?" he asked.

"I haven't been completely honest with you. I told you I did not love Arora, but that's not true. I was lying to myself. I love her, she's my only true love and I want to spend the rest of my life with her," I told him.

Damian thought about that information. "So, you're breaking up with me?" he asked. "And where are you going?"

"Yes, I'm breaking up with you. I'm sorry," I said. Now we're both sorry.

"No worries," Damian answered.

"And I don't know where we're going yet. Both our parents disowned us because of our love. We will have to set up our life somewhere else."

"Oh, okay," Damian said.

"I hope you'll find a woman that loves you back," I told Damian. "You deserve that."

"Thanks," he said.

I waved at him, for the last time and we left for the stables. We left Damian behind, still a little bit confused.

At the stables, Arora and I jumped on the small carriage. We would have to ride it ourselves, our getaway carriage. Arora took the reins of my two own horses and began driving. So we left the City of Night with the setting sun on our backs, with only our clothes and food and water for a week.

Arora was driving the getaway carriage, it felt like flying. The horses were in full gallop as we left the city. It was the great escape, the prison break, as we left the golden cage of the royal life behind us. The light of freedom shone on my face, we weren't thinking, we were just drinking. Nobody was running after us.

We were riding in a getaway carriage, we were crying in a getaway carriage, we were flying in a getaway carriage. We said goodbye in a getaway carriage. They said nothing good starts in a getaway carriage, but I think we could prove them wrong. Think about the place where she first met me, the stars had always been aligned.

It once felt too good to be true, but now I was driving out of the city, escaping with my true love, the Queen of my heart. Wind through my hair, the future bright like the setting sun, life in its truest form. I was happy to once experience that feeling.