So. I thought this would be up ahead of time but I guess all the inspiration I had earlier this week died as I went through the rest of the week. Lots of dialogue between Edmund and Lizzie in this one. I feel like them two are just adorable together. Or is that just me? Thanks to the +/- 54 people that have read this so far! May they enjoy reading the rest of this as it comes along! Okay let me stop talking so you can start reading!

Lizzie returned to the palace another time that week. The roses looked just as good as they did the last time she visited. Everything was in pristine condition, and the sun made them glow even more in the morning light. The only difference was that she couldn't seem to see a certain head of blue hair amongst the white flowers.

She sighed and walked back towards their little stand at the market. Papa had to go get some tools to repair a door on their barn, so she had to help Nana instead of telling stories and wandering like she usually did. She did smile, though, when children would run up to her and ask if she had another story to tell. But every time she shook her head and said that she was still looking through her book to find an even better story.

In all honestly, she was more worried about the fact that her life had been a lie. The past few weeks had been consumed by thoughts of her real family and why she had been left with her guardians. Maybe they couldn't care for her? Or did they have too many children? That happened a lot…She couldn't help but laugh at herself when the thought that she was some sort of royalty went through her mind. That couldn't be possible. They wouldn't get rid of a princess just like that…would they?

"Good morning," a man said to her.

"Good-" Lizzie looked up and saw the gardener. "Oh! Good morning!" she said, smiling a little.

Edmund smiled back at her. "No stories today?"

She shook her head slightly and sighed. "No. I still have to find a really good one as a special treat."

"That's too bad," he replied to her. "I was looking forward to a tale about a heroic prince and a peasant princess." He smiled at her gently, causing her to blush.

"Oh! Like…" Lizzie bit her lip in thought. "What was that one called again?…Sleeping Beauty!"

The garden boy shrugged. "Sure, like Sleeping Beauty." He couldn't help but feel a little disappointed.

Lizzie tilted her head to the side. "Are you thinking of another story? There's probably more stories like that somewhere."

Edmund shook his head. "No, I don't really know another story like that one. It's more just something from my imagination."

"O-oh," she replied, trying to suppress a blush. "Well, then, would you like anything? There's more than enough here, there must be something you like."

"Other than you?" Edmund asked, raising an eyebrow. "Maybe this muffin?"

Lizzie blushed, reaching for a muffin and handing it to him. "You shouldn't be so open about who you fancy."

"And you shouldn't be so worried about everything." He took a bite out of the muffin and handed her a few coins. "You're only just below me in stature. There's nothing to worry about."

Lizzie could see people watching them, and she could hear whispers coming from their mouths. "I know. But shouldn't you be confronting me about this in private? And shouldn't you be speaking to my…parents?"

He sighed. "Are you afraid I'm going to kill you or something? All I want is to take a walk with you some time. Maybe we could run away together and write our own fairy tale."

"I'll have to decline," Lizzie said, looking down to avoid revealing her blushing face. "But a walk would be nice."

"Tonight the-"

"I'm sorry, but Edmund here is far too busy to worry about a date at the moment," another voice said.

Lizzie looked up before bowing her head once again. "Your Highness! C-could I treat you to anything? Or are you simply retrieving your servant?" She didn't like acting so formal, but she didn't have much of a choice around the prince.

Liam looked her up and down before shrugging. "Neither at the moment. Just making sure my pesky cousin isn't getting himself into trouble."

"Last time I checked I was a year older than you," Edmund said, glaring at his cousin. "And there's no need for you to go around worrying about me. It's bad enough that you're stuck worrying about this kingdom."

Liam waved that off as if it was nothing. "A prince's duty is a prince's duty. Now tell me, what sort of mad peasant's food are you eating?" he asked, looking disgustingly at the muffin Edmund had in his hand.

"I believe it's some sort of muffin with chocolate in it," the garden boy said. "It's rather good, actually. Better than anything your chef ever makes."

Lizzie smiled a bit at the comment. If this was good, then how badly did that chef cook in the first place?

"Would you mind bringing some to the palace this afternoon then? I'll be sure to send an escort." The prince started walking off. "And please, you don't need to look away when I am present. Just the proper respect is fine."

Edmund looked after his cousin before a strange smile crossed his face. "I've never seen him act like that in his life. I wonder what got to him…"

"I wouldn't know." Lizzie was looking around for a basket to put various muffins into. "You should get back to your work. You never know when His Majesty will summon you."

The garden boy laughed at that. "All I ever do is tend to the roses. Otherwise I'm free for the rest of the day. And I already got to do what I wanted to."

Lizzie looked back at him. "And that would be?"

"Seeing you." Edmund smiled at her red face. "Liam would probably like to stay for supper, so I'll get to see you tonight as well. Now won't that be a dream come true?"

"Dining with royalty is always like a dream, isn't it?" Lizzie was paying attention to the muffins, checking which ones had survived the wagon and looked appropriate for a prince.

"You can be like Cinderella!" Edmund said in a sing-song voice. "Knowing my cousin, he'll prepare a gown for you and have musicians at the ready." Lizzie gasped as he took her chin in his hand. "But I hope you don't choose a prince over someone just as suitable. He may be a handsome young boy, but he doesn't have much of a heart."

Lizzie nearly died as his lips brushed against hers for a second. "I-I wouldn't know. But…thanks. For the warning, I mean. I'll try to keep that in mind."

Edmund smiled at her. "Until tonight," he said before leaving, skipping a little as he walked down the avenue.

"And who was that handsome gentleman?" Nana asked, coming over to Lizzie and looking at the garden boy walk off.

"I think the prince called him his cousin," Lizzie said, back to looking at the muffins once again.

Nana giggled. "Ooh, royalty! What did he say about tonight?"

"His Majesty wants me to bring him some muffins this afternoon and the boy was saying something about dinner and such." Lizzie sighed. "Something about being Cinderella."

"Who's going to be Cinderella?" Papa asked, coming back to them from searching for parts.

Lizzie let her head drop. "I was invited to the palace to deliver some muffins and possibly eat supper with the prince and his cousin."

"I see," he said. "Well, one cannot avoid summons from royalty."

Lizzie shrugged. "He said he'd send an escort, so I guess I'll have to wait a while."

xXx

"So that girl fits your fancy?" Liam asked, going to the dining room to see how the preparations were going.

Edmund looked up from the vase and nodded. "Yes, she does."

Liam nodded. "I'm not going to try taking her from you. Although she is quite the beauty."

"What are you pointing at?" Edmund said, glaring at the prince.

"She would make a darling little princess, that's all," Liam said with a smirk. "But I'm not romantically interested. You know I can only love myself."

"I'm not going to let you hurt her."

"I know," Liam said. "But she does look like that little girl you claim to be my sister in that portrait."

Ahh! Okay yeah I didn't like how that came out. It sort of died right when Liam showed up, but the next chapter is going to be better since the story is going to get moving a lot faster! Recommendations? Comments? Questions? Anything? Thanks again for reading and let's hope next week another chapter is going to be up!