Hi! New chapter!

I think this fic is going to end soon... :(

I have an ending planned, but unless you guys have suggestions for making it longer, I think it will be like 3 or 4 more chaps.

Anyway, hope you enjoy!

Disclaimer: all Selection rights belong to Kiera Cass

The doors of the operation room swung wide open.

Queen Amberly immediately stood up, awaiting the news.

I looked down and clenched my fists, waiting for the doctors to tell us that despite their best efforts, he couldn't be helped, that he was dead. He was so loving, kind, good, and every other positive word in the universe. If he died, the reason I would miss him so much is because our love was unconditional until I broke it by being stupid. Till death do us part.

Even without knowing the news yet, something in the pit of my stomach dropped.

The doctor walked to us and smiled. Oh my God. He's alive. He's alive!

I felt my whole body relax.

"Your Majesty," she said. "Prince Maxon has made it through a successful operation."

The relief that flooded through the queen was obvious. Her posture wasn't as stiff and she cried happy tears.

"However, he will be feeling unwell these next few days. The infirmary will provide His Highness with whatever he needs. But, unfortunately, Lady America," she said. I felt my heart stop beating for a second. Unfortunately? "We have only allowed for Prince Maxon's family members to visit him. It is crucial that he has a successful recovery, and your presence may result in an...overwhelming state for him. Is that alright?"

Of course it's not alright! I need him.

But all I managed to do was nod my head. I shouldn't go against the doctor's words.

I looked at Queen Amberly, and she looked at me with pity.

I think she was going to say something, but the doctor said, "Your Majesty, right this way, please."

And they left me alone. Again.

It had only been two hours since I had gone upstairs from the infirmary.

My head was hurting from too much thinking, and my heart was breaking from too much isolation. I wanted Maxon to be right here with me, but he was bedridden for me. He almost died for me, and I can't go visit him. What has the world come to? What has my life come to?

I didn't even know what I was supposed to be doing. Wander around the palace and watch people's glaring eyes on me? Go home because it's too dangerous here?

A knock at the door drew me back to reality.

"Come in," I said tiredly.

I heard high heels clicking on the floor and even without seeing who my visitor was, I could detect an air of grace and elegance.

I turned my head and saw Queen Amberly wearing a small smile.

I got up from my bed and curtsied.

"Your Majesty," I said quietly.

"Lady America," she replied.

"I'm very sorry for your loss," I said.

She nodded once.

I would never understand how such a kind woman would end up in the hands of a terribly cruel man.

She came closer and stopped at a chair.

"May I sit?" she asked.

"It's your palace, Your Majesty," I reminded her.

She knit her eyebrows together. In her eyes, I could read worry, concern, fear, and so many other emotions that were far from joy. "But for how long?" she asked, something straining in her voice.

"Pardon?"

"How long will this all be mine? Clarkson is...dead," she said, stumbling on that word. "What I'm saying is that Maxon will soon inherit the throne, and I will no longer be the queen. After that, I will just be some forgotten monarch written down in history." She looked so broken.

I felt so guilty. It didn't matter that the judge had said I was innocent. I was guilty inside, and most everybody knew it. I hadn't realized I had taken the queen's husband away; I had also stripped her of her title. "Queen Amberly, I can assure you that nothing of that sort will ever happen. Everyone will remember who you are, and generations from now, they will learn how wonderful you have been for the country and Maxon."

She gave a sad smile and shook her head. "Don't worry about me. I just wanted to get it out there. But are you faring well?"

That was a difficult question. I was fine considering that Maxon was safe and alive. However, my mind would tell me that I was't, with everything that I had indirectly been responsible for. With all that considered, I shrugged my shoulders. "I don't know. I have no idea what I'm even supposed to be doing right now. What purpose do I even have here?"

She looked bewildered. "Lady America, you are here because everyone loves you and wants you to stay. That was the main reason I came to see you. Maxon has waken up and told me he wanted to see you as soon as possible. I have persuaded the doctors to let you visit him."

My heart beat anxiously. "You did?" I asked.

She nodded.

I ran up and enveloped her in a hug. I had never wanted more comfort than now, in these desperate times of hope and need.

I felt her hands timidly brush my back.

"My dear girl, he loves you too much to ever let you go," she said.

I smiled. "Thank you, Your Majesty."

I pulled away from her and gave her a rough curtsy before running off to the infirmary.

I don't know why, but I walked cautiously into the hospital room.

The place was bare except for one filled bed at the back. My steps were slow, but my heart was racing.

"America," Maxon said.

"Maxon," I breathed out. He was actually here and alive.

I made my way over and sat down in the chair next to the bed.

He was silent as he reached for my hand.

"I'm sorry about your dad," I said.

He shook his head and said, "I'm going to miss him, because he was my father. But a part of me is relieved. He can't hurt you anymore."

I squeezed his hand.

"But was it my fault?" I asked quietly, hurt seeping into my voice. "Was it my fault that so many people, including your dad, died?"

He instantly shook his head and sighed. "America, none of this happened because of you. If anyone should be blamed, it should be me. I was the one who didn't listen to you and didn't pick you, which resulted in that pandemonium. I just want you to know that no matter what, no one should and would blame it on you. Or, we could blame it all on fate."

He gave me a small smile.

I contemplated his words. Was it really not my fault? I kept on thinking, what if? What if Maxon hadn't made it? What if the king was still alive? What if the queen died? No. It was still all my fault, but I couldn't tell Maxon; it would just ruin him.

Suddenly, I was pulled out of my thoughts when he said, "There's something I want to give you."

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