Disclaimer: I do not own the Mortal Instruments series.

J POV

I walked back to my room that I was shown to before so that I could freshen up for dinner. After the four of us left Princess Clarissa's room we parted ways to get ready for dinner. Seeing Clarissa cry over the things that her father said to her stirred something deep within me that I have never felt before. Right there seeing her crying in her brother's arms made me realize that I wanted her in my arms and pouring her heart to me and I was determined to make her mine.

When I first saw her with Prince Alec kissing her hand and how she blushed I grew angry that he made her blush. As she made her way over to me my anger numbed as I was hit in the face with just how beautiful she was and I realized by the way that she carried herself that she didn't know it. I made sure to tell her in hopes that I would make her blush but instead she retorted with a comment of her own and I loved that even better.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door and a voice saying, "Prince Jace may I come in?"

"Yes," I said.

A boy around my age stepped in and said, "My name is Jorden Kyle and Prince Jonathan informed me that I was to help you around the castle and to tell you that the King wishes for you to be in the dining hall as soon as possible."

"Well thank you, Jordan. Please give my thanks to Prince Jonathan and I will be on my way now."

With that, Jordan turned and left my room and me to my thoughts. I walked to the bathroom to wash my face before I walked out the door and to the dining hall. When I got there, the other three were already there talking with the king and queen.

As I sat down, I began to join in their conversation when the king said, "Jonathan, where is your sister?"

I looked up to see Prince Jonathan sitting down across from me.

He said, "She will be here shortly, father."

"Why does she insist on being a nucence? I'm very sorry for my daughter's tardiness."

"Don't worry about it," I said.

"She will be here, father," Jonathan said at the same time.

Just then, Clarissa walked in and sat down next to Jonathan.

"I'm sorry for my tardiness, father," she said tightly.

"It is unacceptable, Clarissa. You made us all wait for you because you had to wait until the last minute to get ready," her father scolded.

"I'm sorry, father. It won't happen again," her voice broke and I could see Jonathan grab her hand under the table.

"King Valentine, it is fine. No one here ate anything anyway. We understand that women need more time to freshen up than men," I said trying to help her out.

I could in my peripheral vision that Clarissa's face had turned beat red as she turned to glare at me. Jonathan also glared at me for a moment before he composed himself. I didn't understand what I said but when I turned back to the king I saw his face contort in anger before he also composed himself.

"Thank you, Prince Jace," he said.

Everyone was quiet for the rest of the meal and I could see that Jonathan never let go of Clarissa's hand throughout the entire time. I looked into Clarissa's face to see her beginning to sweat and shake and I didn't know what to do.

"Okay it seems that today went well so I would like to dismiss you all to your rooms," the king said. As everyone stood up he continued, "Clarissa, could you please stay?"

I looked to Clarissa to see her go rigid and Jonathan pause before says, "Father, should I stay as well?"

"No."

"But fath-"

"No, Jonathan!"

We all continued to our rooms, but when I turned towards Jonathan I saw that he was hiding in the hall so that he make sure that Clarissa was okay. I decided to stay with him as I walked to stand beside him, I see his eyes filled with worry.

"Clarissa, do you know how that felt when Prince Jace said that to me?" I heard the king say.

"No, father," Clarissa whispered.

"I suppose you don't. I felt embarrassed that even my own daughter could not come to my dinner on time and everyone else could! I expect more from you than your brother, Clarissa! Your brother seems to get it, now why can't you?!"

"I don't-"

Clarissa was cut off with the sound of a slap. She didn't cry out in pain, but instead she took in and said nothing. Jonathan went rigid next to me and he looked like he was about to go in there so I put my hand on him to stop him from doing so.

"Get out of my sight, Clarissa," her father said.

We heard hurried steps coming our way and when Clarissa was out of the sight of her father, she broke down. Her brother came out of the shadows to pull her to him and when he pulled back to look at her face, she winced. The spot where she was slapped was all red and I could see that it was swelling.

"Princess Clarissa? Are you okay?" I asked.

"No she's not-" her brother started.

"Jonathan. It's not his fault. He didn't know that was going to happen," Clarissa cut him off.

"I'm very sorry. I will get out of your way because I don't want to cause you anymore pain," I said turning in the direction of my room.

"Prince Jace!" I turned back to see her walking my way. "Do you think that you could come with me? I want to show you something."

When I nodded, she turned back to her brother and they had a whispered conversation. All that I could catch was "I'm going to tell him." With that we said good night to Jonathan and made our way down the hall.

Clarissa led me to a set of glass doors at the end of the hall and we walked through them and I was in awe. Behind the doors was a garden like I have never seen. It held flowers that were as tall as me and in all different colors. I looked over towards Clarissa to see her standing under a tree watching me with amusement clearly written across her face.

"Do you like it?" she asked.

"Like it! I love it!" I exclaimed.

She smiled slightly before her face turned serious. I made my way towards her and she turned around to look out the glass windows that looked out over the castle grounds.

"Prince Jace-" she started.

"Please, call me Jace."

"Okay, Jace, what you have witnessed today wasn't anything compared to what has happened in the past. When Jonathan and I were growing up, our father disciplined us by slapping us or threatening to disown us. He was always harder on me than my brother because I look nothing like him and Jonathan knows this also. I wanted to tell you this so that you don't feel responsible for the things that my father does. Um…" She stopped to turn and look at me.

I could see her shaking as she tries to get a hold of herself. I pulled her to me and wrapped my arms around her waist. She stiffened at first but when she relaxed, she wrapped her arms around my torso. Clarissa began to let her tears fall and soon my shirt was soaked. When she pulled back, she smiled at me and in that moment I knew that I would win her heart if that was the last thing I do.

"Thank you for telling me Princess Clarissa."

"It was my pleasure and please call me Clary."

"Okay Clary, I think that we should head to bed in case people were wondering where we are."

She nodded and we made our way out of the garden and down the hall. We stopped outside of her room.

"It has been a pleasure, Jace. Goodnight."

"Goodnight, Clary."

With that, she turned and went inside her bedroom. I started walking down the hall towards my room making plans to win her heart.