"But... what about me?" she asked softly. "Who will protect me if not you?" The thought of being vulnerable again, after all these years... it terrified her.

ben smiled reassuringly.

Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes as she looked up at ben. She knew he was right; she had come so far since those early days when she had been little more than a spoiled princess. But still... it was hard to let go.

"Thank you, ben," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "For everything." She reached out and took his hand in hers, squeezing gently. "I don't know what I would have done without you."

Queen Haley sat back in her chair, surprised by Ben's sudden announcement. "You do? Who is the lucky lady?" she asked with a smile, already feeling a wave of happiness wash over her at the thought of one of her closest friends finding love.

"That's wonderful, Ben!" Queen Haley exclaimed, beaming with approval. "Lady Lily is a lovely woman, and she deserves someone as kind and loyal as you in her life." She paused for a moment, considering the situation. "Of course, there are certain protocols that must be followed when asking for someone's hand in marriage. Lady Lily's family would need to give their consent first, but I'm sure they'll see what a perfect match you two make."

Hearing Ben's voice, she turned to face him, her expression curious and slightly guarded. "Of course, Ben," she replied gently. "What do you need my help with?" She paused for a moment, studying his face. There was something different about him today; an air of nervousness that she hadn't seen before.

"I see," she said carefully, not quite sure how to react to this news. "Why do you wish to meet him?"

As far as she knew, he continued to serve his king and queen loyally, always watching over her and their children like a hawk. But even so, there was something... off about him. Something Haley couldn't quite put her finger on. Perhaps it was simply the weight of years bearing down upon him, or perhaps there was more to it than that.

She made a mental note to speak with ben again soon; not as his queen and ruler, but as a friend.

One day, as Haley sat in her private chambers, going over the day's affairs, there was a knock at the door. She looked up expectantly, wondering who it could be. To her surprise, it was ben standing there, looking uncharacteristically nervous. "Your majesty," he began hesitantly, "I... I need to talk to you about something."

"Yes," Haley said softly, her voice barely audible above the beating of her heart. "I saw you with Lily." She lifted her head then, finally meeting ben's gaze. There was so much pain and confusion in those depths that she couldn't help but wonder if he felt the same way about everything as she did.

"Marry?" Haley repeated, her voice cracking slightly. "You and Lily?" The realization slammed into her like a boulder dropped from a great height, leaving her reeling. All this time, she'd thought he was hers, but it seemed that reality had been nothing more than a fragile illusion.

"I... I don't know what to say," she managed after a moment, her voice barely above a whisper. "I didn't realize... I mean, I just thought..."

The days went by in a blissful haze, and Haley found herself looking forward to each one with a sense of anticipation and joy. She had never been happier than she was now, surrounded by her loving family and protected by ben. It almost felt as though she could face any challenge that came her way knowing she had this unbreakable bond at her back.

One day, as she sat in the garden, enjoying the warm sunshine on her face, she noticed ben standing nearby, watching her intently.

"Huh?" Haley turned to look at him, surprised by his sudden declaration. "Marry someone? But... ben, you're not even human." She shook her head, trying to clear her confusion. "I don't understand."