The next week passed uneventfully. Whenever Chuck had free time, he spent it with me, and whenever was not with Chuck, I was in seemingly endless fittings for my new wardrobe, provided by the crown. The queen had ordered me two ball gowns, four day gowns, and two evening gowns, as well as all the undergarments, nightgowns and dressing gowns I would need. While at first I had marveled at her generosity, I had since realized that this was merely another punishment, another test. A true princess would bear it without complaint, because she would have had such fittings her entire life. So I stood still and kept my back straight and didn't complain, instead choosing to obsess again over Laurence and where he had gone, what he was learning.

My visit to the library indicated he hadn't left to find word of Belcampagnia, The only other place I could think he would have gone was the tower, but why? Nothing had changed there since they had found me. There was no evidence of anything except a lost princess trapped in a tower. Exactly the same as my diary. So why take it? Why investigate? What was Laurence— and, by extension, the queen— hoping to find?

My answer arrived soon enough. A week after The Kiss, Chuck and I were again having breakfast in the garden. He had hardly touched me since, as if he had sensed my discomfort. He had spent the two days immediately following barely speaking to me, not even making eye contact. I tired quickly of that— I was hardly going to lose my only ally in this place over something as minor as a kiss— and finally confronted him about it.

"Have I done something wrong? You've hardly looked at me since we had dinner with our parents."

He cleared his throat and continued staring at the ground. "I fear it is I who am in the wrong, my lady. I must apologize for my boorish behavior that evening."

I feigned surprise. "You mean when you kissed me? Oh, Chuck, there's no nead to apologize for that."

His eyes finally met mine. "Really? You didn't mind?"

I smiled and shook my head. "We're going to be married, Chuck. If you want to kiss me, you have every right."

"But do you want me to kiss you?"

The earnestness in his eyes swayed me. I swallowed hard and nodded slowly, forcing truth into my words. "Of course I do," I said, proud and relieved when my voice didn't waver. His face lit up in a glowing smile, and for a moment he was almost handsome. This time, when he leaned in to kiss me, I was prepared, and I met his lips with equal passion. Inside, I felt nothing, and for the first time I had doubts about my marriage to Chuck. Would I be able to feign love for him forever? How long would it be before he realized I was pretending?

Despite this little episode, Chuck remained distant. His social anxiety had crippled his interactions with me, and the only way I could think to prove my equal feeling toward him was to kiss him myself, something I was sure would shock his sensibilities, not to mention the court's. Perhaps someday, if I felt we were truly alone…

We were interrupted at our breakfast by a messenger, who told Chuck someone— I didn't catch the name, but I could guess— was waiting for an audience with him in his study. He politely excused himself, and I, my appetite gone, made my way back to my chambers, where my history of Ineria was waiting. I made a brief stop at the library, where the librarian regretted to inform me that he had not, as yet, come upon the name Belcampagnia in his search of the library. I assured him that he would find it and continued on my way. I had only made one wrong turn, which I quickly righted, when I heard raised voices.

"I'm only asking you to consider the possibility!" one said. I recognized it immediately. Laurence, back from wherever he had been.

"Why won't you consider the possibility that Elise is exactly what she says she is?" Chuck replied. "Is it really so unlikely?"

"Unlikely that a woman in a tower who claims to be the princess of a country that no one's ever heard of is indeed a princess? Yes, I'd sigh so! If you'd only look at the evidence I've found—"

"Damn your evidence! Elise is my fiancée! I love her and she loves me!"

The room fell silent, allowing time for the fleeting thought, Evidence? What evidence? to cross my mind before the full brunt of what Chuck had said hit me. He loved me? When had that happened?

"What?" Laurence asked quietly. "What do you mean?"

"I kissed her, Laurence. God help me, I kissed her, and it was wonderful. And then she told me I could kiss her whenever I liked, and we've been together whenever we could since we got back."

"And you've fallen in love with her." Laurence sounded as gobsmacked as I was.

"I have."

"You've told her?"

"I don't want to scare her off."

"But if she loves you—"

"I'm nervous, all right? She hans't told me she loves me, and if I tell her, she might close me out completely."

Laurence gave that familiar snort of stifled laughter. "She wants the throne, Chuck, not you. She'll put up with anything if it means she'll get it."

Another long pause. "Get out," Chuck snarled finally. "Take your evidence to my mother and carry on with your little plot to destroy my happiness. Go."

I moved quickly down the hall and out of sight before Laurence opened the study door. I caught a glimpse of him before he turned and went the opposite direction down the hall. He looked tired, as though he had ridden hard to get here, and more worried than I had ever seen him. For an instant I forgot that he was my enemy, trying to discredit me and ruin my plans, and I saw him as just a man trying to id what he thought best. I felt sorry for him then. Alone in his beliefs, rejected by his closest friends. I shook my head and forced myself to remember my reasons for hating him. He's your enemy, I told myself, but for the first time the argument felt weak.


Jealousy isn't attractive on anyone, Laurence.

So yes, this chapter was short. I know.

Leave a review (I'm looking at you, Spotty)!

~Mazzie