*insert brunette waving sheepishly*

So there was yet another mistake. Last chapter, I said that Isabel was the Queen of England. It's Greensmoor. Since Isabel is English, I got confused LOL. Also, some of you were surprised at how fast I update :P Well, you see, I have most of the chapters already written or planned out. I just have to edit them and that's it.

Amy's Playlist: Everything Has Changed-Taylor Swift feat. Ed Sheeran

The entire car ride to the palace is spent wondering what i can expect. Somehow, I am not nervous. Until I spot the large and powerful-looking walls dividing the palace from the rest of the world. The castle is located in the outskirts of the city, but Greensmoor is very hilly. So Nottingburgh, the name of the palace, is sitting on a hill that faces the entire city. You can nearly see beyond Greensmoor City.

The car is permitted to pass, and I have to use all my will not to gape at Nottingburgh's majesty. The castle is located on a sloping mountain, so all the floors have at least a portion located with the prairie. This is my first time near the castle, so I'm very amazed. Civilians used to be able to come here and explore the gardens. But the royal advisors, the Rosenblooms, who've been around since the Kabra dynasty began ruling two decades ago, suggested it to be closed to the public. Which is why there's a much smaller replica a bit further into the city.

The car stops, and my door is pulled open. To my surprise, there are maids and officials, all dressed professionally, bowing their heads at me. I'm about to curtsy, but I remember Ian's reaction and opt to better not. Not knowing what else to do, I look down at my fiddling fingers.

However, as soon as the crowd around me dissolves, i begin to discreetly admire my surroundings as I follow the stone path, which is currently covered by fallen leaves. We walk through a beautiful stone bridge on top of a very lively pond, which stretches horizontally. Uncle Fiske would've definitely died thanks to the diversity of greens. A beautiful prairie surrounds the castle. Birds are chirping, and since it's Autumn, it all seems like a paradise of oranges and yellows here. The prairie is prettily covered by leaves, and the trees look enchanting. I welcome the sharpness of the cold weather, having always enjoyed Autumn and Winter.

The French double doors are opened. I step on a creamy-colored marble floor, and my eyes are instantly adverted to the ceiling. In the middle of it, there is a dome-shaped tower-like structure, with slanted skylights.

Before I can continue drooling at the castle's beauty, I spot a familiar face. "Oh."

Jake Rosenbloom smiles at me. "I know you... aren't we in almost all the same classes?"

The Rosenblooms are the advisors, so they also live in the castle.

"Yes," I reply, glad he remembers me. Jake is a really nice person, so I'm both glad and relieved he lives here.

"They didn't tell me the name of the girl who was helping out. If they had, we would've prepared a birthday gift."

I'm surprised he knows today's my birthday. "That's not necessary-"

"It's your birthday?" Alistair asks, emerging from a door.

My smile disappears. He seems like a good-natured man, but I'm not really comfortable with him around after the situation with Prince Ian earlier. He should've stopped the Prince, and it would've made the situation much less awkward.

"Then I apologize even more for running you over earlier," he continues.

Jake's brown eyes widen, and he spots the reddish wound on my forehead. He pushes a strand of hair back, grimacing as he inspects it even closer. And I just stand there, feeling my heart beat faster at the proximity. I guess it's safe to say I have a crush on him.

"I'll take it from here, Jake," Alistair tells Jake.

He smiles charmingly at me, and I feel myself fluster at his gaze.

"I'll look forward to seeing you everyday," he tells me, before heading outside.

Alistair motions at another set of doors, and directs me inside. It seems like a living room.

"This is where we greet guests," Alistair explains. "You'll be meeting the royal advisors and the King here. Then, we'll move on to the second floor, where you'll have a chat with the Queen and the Princess. And then, you'll see Prince Ian."

I nod, gulping at the mention of the royal family.

He smiles, looking for the right words to say to me. "You'll have to watch out when you're around Jake. I'm a very observant person, but I think it's a bit obvious that you harbor feelings for him."

I gasp, feeling my face redden in embarrassment. "What? How did you... please, keep it a secret."

"I've never been a fan of gossip. Besides, wouldn't it be weird if in ancient man like me would be speaking of a young girl like you?" he replies.

I giggle. "I guess."

"Now, some pointers," Alistair begins. "When they come, bow your head down. You do that to greet the King. Even the Prince and the Queen. Mr. Rosenbloom is very kind, so he'll probably be the first to talk to you. The King... well, as you might know, he's known for being serious. So don't think he doesn't like you. He'll seem awkward, because the advisor probably instructed him to act kindly to you."

I have to laugh at this. The King? An awkward penguin? For some reason, I imagine him flopping down the streets dressed up as a penguin. I bite my lower lip to suppress laughter and quickly shake the thought away. Sometimes, the most random things come up to my head.

The doors, coming from a hallway that leads upstairs, burst open and in comes Mark Rosenbloom.

He is grinning, slightly out of breath. Shaking my hand, he motions at the door with his head. "King Vikram the I is coming."

Just in that moment, the King steps inside. If you are imagining him in rich and medieval garments, they you're wrong. He is in a very expensive-looking suit. And he would've looked serious, if it wasn't for that weird grimace in his face.

"It's his smile," Alistair discreetly murmurs.

I'm glad to bow my head, because I was about to giggle at the expression.

"Please," the King begins. "Sit down."

Alistair motions at the elegant sofa across the King's. I quickly take a sit, and Alistair takes the spot next to me.

"Cookies?" Mark offers, motioning at the platter set out in front of me.

My eyes nearly pop out. They're all sugar cookies. My favorite. I nod, taking one (or two) with the prettiest frosting design. One thing I love of sugar cookies is when they have frosting drawings or however you call them.

The King begins to chat with me, and it seems like the advisor's duty is to keep me comfortable. They begin to mention things that I like regularly. Too regularly. How do they know? Had they been spying me all along? A palace official would be too obvious if they'd sent one. Then it strikes. One of my friends had gone rogue for a while. Either Molly, Hamilton, or Jonah had been spying me and knew all along.

The King looks like he wants to say something. He decides against it, and hands Mark a sort of telepathic message.

He nods and turns to look at me. "You seem like a really nice and trustworthy girl, we look forward to see you around the palace. We also want to thank you for helping us out."

I was forced, but, alright. I smile, nodding.

They stand up, and Alistair pokes my shoulder. We follow suit and bow our heads as they leave the room.

"Time to meet the Queen," Alistair announces.

I don't have a good feeling about this.