I am so amazed at the positive feedback! My primary reason for writing this fanfiction (other than the fact that I cannot wait for the book to come out) is because I LOVE writing so much. It is an escape for me, and I hope someday I can create and write a story for my own characters. In the meantime, thanks for the confidence boost!

A.R. Darcangelo

P.S. Anyone else excited for the PLL finale tonight? My two younger sisters have me hooked!

Chapter 4:

When I walked downstairs for breakfast, I was a few minutes late on purpose again. The reaction I got this time was so much better than the first.

Queen Amberly beamed at me from across the room, bowing her head slightly in approval. Kriss and Celeste were burning with jealousy. They both glared at me from under their eyelashes. Elise just smiled and patted the seat next to her. I dared to look up at Maxon.

He had put his fork down and was watching me glide across the room, a small smile forming on his lips. His expression could only be described as admiration. He tugged his ear discreetly.

I sat down, lifting the bottom of my gown up gracefully, keeping my shoulders back. I tugged my ear, too, and looked up through my lashes to see Maxon give me one last crooked smile before returning to his food.

"Gosh, America, that dress is just dazzling. You have some really talented maids," Elise complimented, turning her body to face me. Kriss and Celeste continued to glare from across the table.

"They are very talented. I'm so lucky to have them," I replied.

"I'll be sure to request them when Maxon asks me to be his queen," Celeste said, flipping her hair over her shoulder.

I ignored her. "I couldn't believe they had this up their sleeve," I said, gesturing to the dress. It was a deep red, the same color as the dress I had attempted to seduce Maxon with, but there was beading across the bodice that could be nothing but hand crafted. The top layer, which was a thin, black netted type of fabric, split down the middle to reveal a lighter red in shimmery satin. The sleeves covered my shoulders, and the top dipped about four inches below my collarbone, revealing just enough skin to be beautiful, but modest. The back had a small opening too, resting just below my shoulder blades.

My maids had kept my hair in its unique waves, curling pieces here and there to soften them, and then had placed a diamond encrusted headband in my hair that was just shy of being a crown.

I truly looked like a queen.

Queen Amberly stood up shortly after I got there, excusing herself and telling us girls she would meet us in the Women's Room later that afternoon. A few minutes later, Kriss stood up, and to my surprise, walked over to Maxon and sat right in Amberly's seat.

"Is she even allowed to do that?" Celeste hissed between her teeth.

I shrugged, upset I hadn't thought of it first.

Kriss giggled and put her hand on Maxon's forearm. I threw up in my mouth a little bit.

I looked down at my food and didn't look back up until it was obvious that Kriss was gone. The tirade of flirtatious giggles had finally ceased. Elise and Celeste had left seconds after Kriss had sat down with Maxon, rolling their eyes as they went.

I glanced around the room, and the only people there were a maid and butler, one cleaning up the royal's table and the other standing by the door with a platter full of empty glasses. I eyed the last strawberry tart in the middle of the table.

I was already bursting at the seams with food, but my sweet tooth was calling me to it. I reached over and took the tart, not bothering to use a fork this time. I took a large bite and finally let my posture sink as I let my eyes roll back into my head a little bit. I needed to bribe whoever made these to send me some if I ever went back to Carolina.

A polite cough behind me caught my attention. I turned around too quickly, my mouth still full of strawberry tart. Queen Amberly stood behind my chair, smiling endearingly. "I'm sorry, is this a bad time?" she asked, laughter in her eyes.

"Nah at all, yer Majes-se," I replied around my food.

Queen Amberly laughed heartily, the first time I had ever heard her do so. "Swallow your food first, and then we can talk." She sat down in Elise's chair, discreetly avoiding watching me as I chewed the rest of the tart and washed it down with some juice.

"I'm sorry about that," I apologized, blushing.

"No need, dear," she said, waving her hand in the air to brush off the apology. "I just wanted to see how you were doing. You have had quite the week here at the palace."

I knew she wasn't just talking about the Report, but also my grand entrance the other night, as well as this morning. I realized how much of an unorganized mess I must look.

I sighed. "Yes, I think I am doing fine now. Perhaps a little more stressed than usual, but it's not every day you are trying to win the heart of a prince." I smiled at that, knowing she probably understood exactly what I meant.

She seemed to know, her eyes focusing on some distant memory. "Ah, yes. What a feat. Though I think you are about as close as you can get in that area. You just need some shining up." She smiled lovingly at me. Wait, did she just say what I think she said? Did she know that Maxon's heart was already mine? "You know, America, when I was present during the last Selection, I experienced all the same things you girls are."

I knew she meant well, but I highly doubted she came here because her ex-boyfriend made her sign up, or had to deal with him showing up at the palace just when she'd decided she had feelings for the prince. But I listened intently anyways.

"I know it can be very emotional. A girl your age has a hard enough time just finding who she is and what she believes in, much less training to be the next queen, as well as falling in love with the country's next king." She looked at me pointedly. "When I was feeling overwhelmed, I would just walk around the palace. It gave me time to think, but also to explore. I thought I may never have another chance to see the palace again." She laughed at the memory. Then her smile faded, and she lowered her voice. "Once I found a room. It was actually an older secret passageway where Gregory Illea must have escaped to when rebels attempted to attack the palace. I don't know how it has stood for as long as it has," she wondered aloud. "It was on the second floor, behind the mirror hanging on the wall. I had stopped to pull the pins out of my hair. Although I loved my maids, I always felt as though they were trying to pin weights to my head."

I smiled at her. "Luckily, I have never had that experience," I told her, tucking a stray curl behind my ear. It fell forward again, just as Mary had designed it to.

Queen Amberly smiled back. "Yes, your maids seem to know what they are doing. I am very impressed with your latest entrance." She winked at me. Then she stood up, tucking that curl into my headband. This time it stayed. "I really must be going. It was nice speaking with you, America. I will see you soon." And with that she left me alone.

I stayed where I was, staring at the doorway, replaying the conversation in my head. I wondered if Amberly had had similar conversations with the other girls. And I certainly would be seeing her shortly. Within an hour or so, we were all to meet her in the Women's Room for tea.

My eyes popped open as something she said struck me. The room behind the mirror on the second floor. She couldn't possibly have meant for me to discover it, could she?

There was only one way to find out. I took the rest of my strawberry tart and wrapped it in a napkin, and set off for the second floor.