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I sat down looking out to the lake. Nothing was more peaceful then this place. Away from the rumors that circulated around court. And most importantly away from them. Every time I thought of them together, it was like this awful feeling erupted in my heart. I sighed. I had kept my distance from both of them, francis and sebastian.

I heard a rustle behind me, and got up startled. A man stood behind me, he looked a bit older then me. He had blue eyes, bluer then the sky, and brown hair.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you." He said smiling warmly at me. His eyes sparkled in the sun. "I happened to walk by and wondered what a beautiful women like you was doing all by your lonesome."
"I was just thinking. It's nice to get some fresh air." I told him, smiling back at him. I had never seen him around here before. "What's your name?" I asked him, politely.
"I'm Edward archbold. My family is here, visiting. And you?" He asked me.
"Mary." I said. I didn't bother saying queen of Scotland. "Just Mary." I said as he waited for my last name. He looked like he didn't know me. Maybe that was a good thing?
"Okay, just Mary-" it was like someone had squeezed my heart. Only francis had called me that. "May I ask whats bothering you?"
I looked at him. Was I really going to tell him what was wrong? Just that I was legally engaged to a man that was seeing someone else and I couldn't leave him because of the country that I rule... And because deep down, I knew that I still had feelings for him. Feelings that didn't look like they were going anywhere.
"I'm fine." I said with a small smile.
"So you are out by yourself, thinking because everything is absolutely dandy in your life?" He said with a smile as he stepped closer to me.
He was inches away from me now. My eyes glanced down towards his lips. No, Mary, stop it. I told myself. You are engaged to Francis... But he wasn't fully committed to me... I still felt bad for even thinking it, though. I sighed.
"I'm not absolutely okay but I will be." I told him as I looked into his eyes. It was kind of the truth... Although I didn't know if I would be okay. It was killing me that I didn't have Francis.
"Well, if you need anyone to talk to, I'm a very good listener." He told me. "Anyway I should be off. Have to get ready for a party. It must be tiring to be a royal, always dressed up." He said with a laugh.
"Mmm..." I said agreeing with him.

We walked back together as we talked. He told me about his life an coming here to see any possible ladies to marry. His parents were very rich from the sound of it and had a lot of power, even though they were not royals. He told me about how he had wanted to marry someone, once before, but because she was not rich or had any power, his parents had stopped it from happening.
"I had tried to run away with her but my parents caught word of it and stopped me. They had forced her to leave town and never return and now they keep a watchful eye over me." He said with a sigh.
I knew what it was like, forced to do something that you didn't want to do. It was hard but it was the only way. I would always have my country wrapped around my neck, until the day I die.
I told him my story but I skipped the part where I was the queen of a country. It was nice to talk to someone about it without them knowing about who I was. People treated me differently when they knew who I was. It was hard to know who was nice and who just wanted to power.
I saw from a distance Sebastian and Lola sitting together and laughing. I smiled at the thought of them together. Although Sebastian and I had kissed, it really meant nothing. We were both drunk and I don't think he would want to get into a fight with his brother again. Anyway, they were both very good people and deserved to be happy. I was truly happy for them.
I parted ways with Edward once we got to the castle. He had kissed my hand as we said our goodbyes. Although, I would see him at the ball.

"I can't." I heard francis say as I walked towards my room to get ready. I hid behind the wall.
"We haven't done anything since that night." It sounded like Olivia. It was another stabbing pain. Should I walk away before I heard to much or stay? If I stayed, it would just hurt me to hear what they had been up to. I was about to walk away when I heard my name.
"Is this about Mary?" Olivia spat out my name like it was food that tasted horrible.
There was a moment of silence and then Olivia went on. "She only wants you for power, whereas I want you for you." She said, almost seductively.
"She's not like that." He said quietly.
"Oh Francis, when will you see? She doesn't care about you. If she did, then she would fight for you? But where is she now?" She told him. I clenched my fist. I was starting to really hate her.
"I need to go. I need to get ready." Francis told her.
"Do you want me to help." She asked.
"No, thank you." He said and I heard footsteps. I hid in the corner as Francis walked passed and then shortly after, Olivia did too. There was a small smile on my face because of what Francis had said. Of course, I didn't want him just because he was going to be future king. He was caring and passionate and kind hearted. And then his eyes. Whenever I looked into them, I always got lost in them. He was everything I had wished would be my husband when I was little.

Once I had gotten ready with the help of my ladies in waiting, I heard a knock at my door. I opened it to see him there.
"Ahh... We will just leave." Aylee said walking out with a knowing smile on her face.
The others followed her out too.
"What can I do for you, Francis?" I asked him.
"I was wondering if you would like to me to walk you to the ball tonight?" He said, his eyes looking downwards. Almost shyly.
I smiled, "I would love that." He smiled widely at me now. I couldn't help but widen my smile. He offered his hand as we walked.
We talked like we used to. It felt good to talk to him. To see him. To not fight. It had taken a lot of my energy to stay away from him. We both laughed as we walked down memory lane. Life was so simple then.

As we arrived to the ball, a woman came up to us. She had brown hair and brown eyes. She was a lot older then I was.
"Queen Mary. Very nice to meet you. Queen Catherine has told me a lot about you." the brown haired woman told me. "I'm Katia Archbold." Archbold... Where had I heard that name before?
"I hope all good things." I said with a smile on my face. I didn't trust her or what Queen Catherine had told her.
"Ahh.. Francis. So long. How have you been?" She said hugging him.
"Very good. And you?" He asked.
"Good, good. I want you, both to meet my son, Edward." She said. I turned to see the brown haired boy, I had seen earlier.
"It's very good to meet you." He said to Francis. "It's good to see you again.. Queen Mary of Scotland." The way he said my name, was almost like a question.
"You have met before?" Francis asked, raising his eyebrows.
"We met this morning." I said quickly. "When I was on my walk."
There was a moment of awkward silence as we all stood there.
Edwards mum finally said, "why don't the two of you dance?" She looked at Edward and I. "If you don't mind?" She asked Francis.
"Not at all." He said stiffly.
Edward offered his hand. I hesitated, looking at Francis but he just nodded. I took Edwards hand.

I could feel everyone's gaze on us. His mother was beaming while Francis stood next to her with a cold gaze. Queen Catherine was looking us with glee. This was all her doing. She probably wanted to push Edward and I to be together so I wouldn't marry her son.
"Do you always look this stressed when you dance?" He asked, jokingly.
"No, there's just a lot to think about." I said quietly. Was he in on it too? Was he working with Catherine?
"The walk didn't help?" He asked looking intently at me like he cared.
"Not at all..." I said. My eyes were focused on Francis. We were finally on good talking terms, was this going to ruin it? After Edward had twirled me around, I looked for Francis but he was nowhere to be seen. So was Olivia.

Did Francis go off with Olivia? Is Edward really a good guy or is he scheming with Queen Catherine?