Heyy I'm back! Did ya miss me? IT'S MAY! Anyways, I know I haven't updated in a long time, and I'm sorry! But, you know as they all say, school comes first. I've been so busy with assignments, homework, and tests. Don't the teachers ever give it a break? By the way, you should really watch Les Miserables. BEST MOVIE EVER! It's almost completely singing, but it was amazing! So emotional! **cue dramatic sob here** Anyways, thanks to everyone who reviewed, favorited and followed. I feel so loved! (Literally.) So, here's chapter 3!

I walk to my room and slowly pull my things out of my small suitcase. I never had much, even when I lived with my parents. All our belongings put together (excluding the furniture of course) could probably fit inside 3 large suitcases. Even so, we lived happily in a small, drab, grey house, until the day I was sent in the service of the Palace. My parents never gave me a reason why.

*****************FLASHBACK ***************

I was sitting on the couch, sketching a picture of my mother while my father was out. We did this often; me drawing and her being my model. I always knew it wasn't something she wanted to do, but then again, she always doted on me, trying to make sure I was always happy. Maybe she thought I was lonely as an only child with no one to play with or talk to. After all, it's sad to say but I had no friends.

My mom always had a melancholy air around her but whenever I asked her why she was always so sad, she waved it off, telling me to worry about myself instead of her. However, she seemed especially unhappy this weekend, although she looked as if she was trying hard to cover it up.

"Mom, are you okay? You look sort of… sad," I said while trying to draw her nose properly.

Of course, she replied with, "It's nothing dear. Come on, let me take a look at your portrait."

"Wait, mom! You can't move or you'll mess it up. I'm not done yet!"

"Okay, okay. No need to yell."

We settled back into a comfortable silence. Who knows how long we stayed there, me sketching and her posing. Suddenly, a sharp rap came at the door, startling both of us. My mom hurried to the door and opened it, revealing the Palace Guards. They both had an imposing figure, being buff, muscled, and extremely tall, casting a shadow over my mother and I.

"We're here to collect Cammie Morgan for her lifelong term of serving the palace," said a gruff voice.

"What?!" I cried. "Why?! I don't want to go! I'm not going!"

The palace guard simply shook his head and said, "No questions. You have to. You have no choice. Come with us peacefully or we'll have to use force."

"NO! I'm not going!" I yelled, taking a step back. I tried to run upstairs, up into the safety of my room, but before I could even take three steps, a rough hand grabbed my arm.

"Come with us young lady." With that, the palace guard slung me over his shoulder and started out the door.

"Have a nice day m'am."

I punched and kicked him, but nothing seemed to affect him in even the slightest. It was terrible that I was being seized from my home, but what was even worse was my mom's reaction. She seemed to have no emotions, not showing the slightest bit of despair or anger.

"MOM! Help me! How can you just stand there! Mom!" I had tears streaming down my face now, cold, wet tears of anger and despair. I can't be taken away! I never did anything bad!

My mother said, with a guilty look on her face, "I'm sorry Cammie but there's nothing I can do. It has to do with a promise I made in the past. I love you, and I hope you have a good life in the Palace."

"Well, I hate you! I hate you forever and I'm never going to love you again! How could you do this to me? If you loved me you would have not made that promise, you would have at least tried to make me stay instead of just standing there staring at me."

That hit home to my mom. She broke down and started sobbing. I saw her mouth move again, but the words were carried away by the wind. I was too far away to hear anything.

********************Flashback Over****************

That was three years ago. Back then, the guard dropped me into a horse drawn carriage and accompanied me to my new life in the palace. I still feel a lingering resentment towards my mom, and I always wondered, What was the promise she made and who did she make it to?

I take out a picture frame from my suitcase. It was taken a few days before I was taken away, when we were still happy and oblivious to everything else that was going on. I put that on the dresser and take out my gold locket in the shape of a heart. I don't wear it anymore because it was, according to the supervisor, "Unsuitable and too expensive for a servant." But, it's still my most valuable possession, the one material thing I actually cherish. To be honest, I have no idea where I got it from, but I never sold it, even when we were strapped for money. I don't know why; it just felt special and important. I slowly open the locket, feeling the designs engraved on the front, looking at the picture it held within, remembering when I constantly nagged my mom to tell me more about it. Of course, she just smiled and said, "You'll find out in your own time honey," which always irked me.

I quickly unpacked the rest of my belongings and walked into the bathroom to find a rag. I rinsed it out and wrung the water from it, then walked into the prince's room, ready to clean it up. Luckily, it wasn't that much of a mess – not what I would have expected from a teenage boy. I started off organizing his books and wiping down the bookshelves. I went around the room collecting some haphazardly thrown clothes, and putting that in the laundry basket for the cleaning lady.

After a few hours of work, the room was completely spotless and tidy. Well, except for the prince's desk. That looked like a mess. Papers thrown everywhere, pens scattered here and there, and books upon books stacked in a teetering pile. In the centre of it all was an old leather bound photo album. I walked over to examine it. I know Prince Zachary ordered me not to touch it, but what can I say? My curiosity got the better of me. It was small but thick, and the pages looked worn, as if someone looked through it many times. I just flipped open the cover when I heard the doorknob turn.

Yeah, so I know this chapter might not have been great, but what the hell. REVIEW! I'll love you all forever.

P.S. I'll try to update soon, but you know those teachers.