Let us touch the dying, the poor, the lonely and the unwanted according to the graces we have received and let us not be ashamed or slow to do the humble work. - Mother Teresa

Day Three

Josie was awoken by Thea. She gripped the thin sheet, refusing to rise. She hadn't been able to sleep for most of the night, thinking about what had happened. She felt like the cat, who had found what she had wanted only to be bitten back and killed. Kota's threat hung over her, she couldn't tell anyone. She wasn't supposed to have seen such a thing, but why? What was so wrong with the boy that no one could know he was him, and Kota wasn't Prince Xavian?

Thea pulled her out, holding Josie's hand as she walked over to the mirror, half asleep. She looked like she hadn't slept for days. Her hair was messy and plastered against her head, despite the coolness of the northern summer. Thea dressed her in a thin robe of silk and a skirt. She whispered softly about a shared bath, then she led Josie out of the room and down the small set of stairs. The bath was near Lexa's room. She spotted a few girls walking over to it in similar clothed.

Thea brushed open the door and Josie gasped. In the centre of the pool was a steaming mermaid; her out stretched hands gifting the users with water. Columns rose out around the pool, and small half circles of seats stood in between them. In seemed like a place from out of a fact book, she had also imagined that this was what a bath in Italy looked like. She looked over the girls already in the room. At first she thought about going to them, talking with them, but she knew what they'd be talking about; the talks with 'Prince Xavian'. She felt a surge of emotion she couldn't place and decided she'd have a day to herself.

Thea brought over a tray of soaps and towels. Josie led her over to a small alcove in the corner of the pool and realised that she'd have to strip to her underwear. Josie planned out her route quickly, then slipped the robe off and was under the water in three seconds. The bath was shallower than she thought but she noticed seats carved into the mermaid's base. She folded herself instead of sitting near others. She accepted Thea's offer to help soap her down, together she was shiny and clean within minutes. Thanking her Josie wrapped the robe back on and took the stairs up to the main room. She looked out the only window in the room, a high arch of glass above them, as if the sky could just open up and rain down on her. As they packed up she realised that she couldn't see the sun's reflection. She shook her head, but looked up again. The glass wasn't glass, it just an open sky.

For the first time since she found out about the two princes she fought about it all. She was overcome by such a simple fact. Not the white marble columns or the flower arrangements that someone had taken hours to arrange perfectly. It was the sky, so close, that made her remember why she had wanted to come to such a place. She didn't come to make friends, to talk with princesses, even meeting the Queen was an afterthought; she had come to solve a mystery. She clasped her hands together, feeling better. She'd solved the mystery; she'd discovered a missing prince. Why did she even need to stay any longer?

She knew the answer by the time she returned to her room. She'd only got half an answer to her questions, and now she had a dozen more with no way of getting the answers. Thea smiled as Maisa pulled out a divine day-dress. The dress was a swirling yellow, and as it wrapped around her she felt like she was home again. She didn't know if the two women had thought she was home sick but she didn't mind. Home was still too far away, and she was going to tell the world about her family's farm and give her father all the answers to his questions. For that she'd have to stay a little long, she just hoped Kota wasn't going to dismiss her.

A knock came on the door and Thea walked briskly over to open it. Outside a staff member bowed and offered a plate with a single letter balanced on its surface. Thea talked the man and took the plate. The man straightened and stepped away from the door, Thea closed the door. She stepped hesitantly towards Josie. Josie was frozen for a second wondering who sent the message, but then she stood and crossed the room picking up the thick paper. She thanked Thea and looked at the name. She felt a sinking feeling as she read the name on the outside. Kota Singer.

Swallowing her fear, hoping she hadn't done anything that Kota had threatened against, and read the message. Lady Josephine, come to my I would like to request you meet with me. Now, if at all possible. Your staff should know where my rooms are. Tell them this is from Kota Singer. Josie clenched her fist, glaring at the writing, it was clear that the sender was trying to be gracious but the order was clear. The way he just presumed he could order her around, to his rooms of all places! What did he want to shout at her before he sent her away? Or maybe he wished to embarrass her. She didn't know the guy at all, and she felt like she was about to find out. She threw the paper in the bin and turned to the two women. "Bring me the best dress you have, if he wants to kick me out, I'm doing it in style." The staff, bless their souls, didn't question it and began undressing her.

They pulled her into the small room Maisa went into to produce her clothes. There Josie realised just how long she could have stayed. Twenty different outfits lines four different rows. Some were red, most were yellow or gold, and a smattering of other colours wrapped around the small room. Josie touched the cloth of the closest one and brushed it onto her skin. Royals wore things like this every day. Maisa spoke up, "When I sure you, I thought gold, I hope you don't mind." Josie smiled.

"They're all beautiful, you're wonderfully talented." She walked over to the day dresses line, picking out several then putting them back. At last she came to a red dress, which had somehow found its way into the sunlight, and looked as angry as she was. She brought it out fully and nodded. The women clapped and hurried to dress her again. Josie picked a pair of heels, slightly higher than she was used to, which wasn't very high at all, but still.

She asked Maisa if she could take her to Kota Singer's room, she smiled as she said the name. She felt her anger fade into the dress. She was ready to face whatever he wanted to throw at her. Maisa frowned at that, but nodded. They walked down the stairs and over to a part of the house she hadn't seen yet. They climbed two sets of steps to the highest floor and she curtsied at the door. "My lady, Kota Singer's room, if you don't mind me asking, why are you meeting him?" Josie shook her head.

"I don't know, he sent the letter," Maisa nodded, then in a moment of confidence she grabbed Josie's hands. "I hope it goes well for you, I want you to stay." Josie nodded.

"I hope I do." Content with that Maisa stepped back and curtsied again.

"Good bye then, Lady Josephine, I will be down stairs ready to prepare you for dinner tonight. I think I have the perfect dress." Then she was gone, hurrying out of the hall and through a door. Josie suddenly didn't feel so brave. She turned to the door, examining it. It was wood painted was simple despite the trapping of wealth around it. Josie wondered if Kota Singer liked it that way, thinking himself better because he had a simple door. Perhaps it was because of the simple life he'd once had before someone had found him to replace the real prince. Was he proud of it? Proud of fooling the nation? She raised her hand and knocked twice.

The door opened and a middle aged woman opened the door. She had blonde hair, tied up in a plait, and brown eyes rounded off with a delicate amount of makeup. Her face lit up as if laughing at a joke that Josie wasn't in on. If she'd been any other mood Josie might had marvelled over the maid's beauty. But not today. "I received a letter." She said, forcing calm into her voice. She didn't like being a product of a joke.

"Yes, of course. Please come in," The woman's led her into a sitting room. A small set of stairs led up to an indoor balcony. Josie wondered just where they were, realising she had gotten herself completely lost. She'd been sure they were on the fourth level, and there were only five levels. "Please, sit, would you like some tea?" The maid gestured to a set of ornate chairs surrounding at table. In a flurry she produced a tea pot and with cups around it. Josie nodded, feeling bad if she refused the maid; the maid hadn't done anything wrong.

"I'll tell him our here." She smiled again, a giggle escaped from her lips. "I don't think he'll believe me." Josie frowned but said nothing as the maid disappeared into another door. Josie sighed and decided that it couldn't be as bad as she thought, sipping her tea, she considered the possibility that Kota Singer simply wanted to reinforce his threat. She nodded to herself. That was it; all she had to do was sit and listen, then she could go.

She turned at the sound of the door opened and her mouth dropped open. Everything she'd been thinking was rewritten. Maisa's confusion, the maid's nice

She turned at the sound of the door opened and her mouth dropped open. Everything she'd been thinking was rewritten. Maisa's confusion, the maid's nice words, the letter; Your staff should know where my rooms are. Tell them this is from Kota Singer. She gasped at her stupidity. Of course, he thought she'd assume who had sent it wasn't really Kota Singer. She wondered suddenly if the staff knew who the real prince was. She stood in a rushed and bobbed a curtsy. Her mind whirling. Why would he want to see her, hadn't he heard what Kota had said, she'd be considered a traitor! But he'd asked her to see him, not the other way around. She felt like hitting her head against the wall, this was all too much.

She straightened her face completely blank. Prince Xavian walked over to the couch, his right leg seemed weak but he was hobbling far less than he had been the day before. Josie watched him, he didn't meet her eyes. He picked up a tea cup and poured some for himself. Josie clenched hers. "Good morning." He said at last.

"Good morning, Prince Xavian." He smiled at that and nodded, sipping his tea.

"No titles, I'm hardly a prince anyway." He waved his hand at her expression. "So how have you been? Obviously not so scared of my cousin as he thought you'd be." Josie felt like admitting that she was more scared than he thought, but she refrained, thinking that she'd blow her opportunity to talk freely. She sighed.

"Xavian, why did you call me here?" The prince's mouth formed a line. He frowned at his cup. Then he sighed and said, "I don't meet a lot of people, and while this selection is half for me, I haven't been allowed to talk to any of you. So, I'm breaking the rules, and seeing if I'm ever going to marry you." Josie's eyebrows shot up.

"Excuse me?" The prince looked at her curiously.

"Well, you are here to marry a prince, right? Or, maybe you're already in love with Kota, that's fine. I don't mind, I'll tell you know, he doesn't like you that much. Told me himself. Hmm…sad really," Josie bit her tongue softly and shook her head.

"I'm not in love with anyone; I'm not here to marry anyone anyway. I'm much too young." The prince's expression asked his question for him, "I came here to meet the queen; I'm a big fan of hers, so I took the opportunity and was lucky enough to be counted as one of the selected. However, I have not been able to talk to her, until then, I don't want to leave." The prince pursed his lips, and looked at the maid. Then she clenched his teeth and nodded seriously.

"You want to meet my mother?" Josie realised what he was about to offer for her to see her. Josie shook her head quickly. "Only if she wants to meet me, I'm not that sort of fan; I just look up to her that's all. I wanted to talk to her to see how she thinks." The prince nodded, clearly not understanding her. "Oh, it doesn't matter right now, don't worry about it."

"Alright," Josie took a sip from her cup and glanced at the maid through her hair. The maid smiled at her and Josie looked away, embarrassed. "Would you like to go outside?" The prince asked, Josie nodded, placing her cup onto the holder. The prince was looking at his maid and the woman hurried back through the door. "She likes you." He prince said, matter-of-factly. Then he rubbed his hands together, "She's going to tell everyone now." He didn't seem that concerned, but Josie wondered if this counted as having a relationship with another. But wasn't he the prince too? She looked at the empty fire place. She decided that Prince Xavian probably knew more than she did, so she'd have to trust him.

Following the maid was a tall dark skinned man. The man bowed to Josie, who wondered if she should curtsy back. She rose as he straightened. The prince pushed himself off the chair, his weight stayed too long on his right foot and he back began to fall over. The man hurried forward, but the prince caught himself. He laughed, at the two staff member's expressions. There was fear in their eyes. Josie looked over the boy in front of her, but she couldn't see anything wrong with him. She didn't ask though, the tightness in the prince's expression deterred her.

He glanced at Josie and held out his hand, "I believe I should take your hand, since you're a lady." Josie offered her hand and matched the prince's slow pace as he tried to walk normally. They exited the room and made their way to the other end of the house. At the stairs they went quickly, however he almost slipped once and she had a sneaky suspicion that he's asked for her hand so she'd be right there in case he'd right leg gave way. The man followed at a respectful distance. When they found their way to the back of the house, they entered the highest balcony. She tried to not react as she stared out onto the great expanse of the royal estate. Straight paths followed into a forest and they continued on for miles until, in the distance, Josie thought she saw a town.

The prince didn't keep walking instead he lent against the balustrade. Sunlight fell on his blonde hair and Josie realised just how pale he was. She walked over to the railing and looked out to the horizon. "How did it happen?" The prince shrugged, "I fell over badly, it happens."

"Oh…" Josie didn't know what to say. They stood in silence, the manservant watching them quietly. A soft breeze brushed past them, she closed her eyes. Josie heard voices underneath them and felt herself come back to reality.

"So, Prince Xavian, what do you like to do when you're not doing princely things?" There was a deep laugh. "I'm always doing princely things, I used to play tennis, and I rode horses…I did a great many things now that I think about. But I prefer to serve my country above all." There was a light and high laugh. Then the voices faded too much to understand. Prince Xavian breathed out loudly beside her.

"He's doing this better than I am." Prince Xavian looked tired; he looked over the gardens and sighed. "Do you want to go down, there's no one outside right now." Josie nodded. She was keen to see more of the palace; even if it was at the world's slowest pace. She wrapped her arm under his like girls did at quinceaneras. She pulled him forward, lightly at first but he managed to match her pace.

They walked down a set of stairs; trees grew like bushes along the house. He leaned in slowly, his face completely blank. However by the time they got to the next set of stairs at the other end of the balcony he winced in pain with each step. Josie tried to slow down, but he refused. "Tell me about yourself." He said at the top of the stairs, they took the stairs together, she felt like a walking stick.

"Ah…my name is Josie Agrarian, I'm from Bonita, I'm an old Four…" She stopped, realising she was just rattling off facts. "I'm not sure what you want me to say."

"Josie…I thought your name was Josephine." Josie nodded, "That's full name, Josie is a nickname, but no one calls me Josephine at home." The prince frowned.

"I prefer Josephine," Josie's raised an eyebrow, but lowered it quickly.

"That's fine." She told him, reaching the bottom step. "I'll call you Prince Xavian then, since we're being formal." The prince frowned, annoyed.

"I said to drop the titles; I never said I'd call you by a…nick name." Josie shrugged walking away without him. She looked around and realised that she were they'd first met. She looked around, wondering if anyone was going to turn around that corner and catch them. Josie looked back. Prince Xavian had sat, looking defeated. He touched his leg, sighing. The manservant stayed at the top if the stairs, his eyes looking straight forward.

Josie realised she was being unreasonable. She walked back and offered her hand. "I suppose I should take your hand, since you're a prince." The prince looked up, and shook his head.

"Sorry, Josephine, I can't walk anymore." He sighed. "This is the first time I'm walked in three months, it feels good, but…my legs aren't used to it." He was so different from Kota. His voice and eyes betrayed his thoughts more than any other royal that she'd met. She sat down next to him, leaving distance for someone to walk between them if they wished.

"Who is Kota, you said he was your cousin, but how?" the prince shook his head.

"That's a secret, besides, all Elites will be told everything. At least, that's what's been agreed. Before then, I'm strictly speaking not supposed to even meet you." He looked calmer now, as if talking about rules that he was breaking make him feel better. "I wonder what my grandfather would do when he finds out that all his plans have been ruined." Prince Xavian smiled, but went their eyes met he looked almost concerned, then he shrugged, looking away, "Oh well, he's not king anymore anyway."

Josie nodded. He was taking about King Clarkson, who had retired almost ten years ago. Now it was King Maxon and Queen America running the show, she wondered if Prince Xavian or Kota would take the crown. After all, everyone thought Kota was Prince Xavian; everyone except her father. They were quiet again, the silence was strange now however, like the things they wanted to say should be filling it. At last the prince looked back at her and asked, "Why were you so confident that I was the prince, that I outranked Kota?"

Josie shrugged. "I don't know, but I thought, maybe my father was right. So, I guessed, and talked." Josie laughed at herself. She'd dared to back chat a crown prince because of a guess.

"Your father?" Josie nodded, "He is an old Three, he anyways said there was something fishy going on, every time the Report was on, he'd point out the discrepancies; 'look, Josie, see it's a different shade of red this time' or more recently, 'I remember when that boy was born, and it wasn't in summer', stuff like that. I just used that information, and made an educated guess…I guess." The prince looked at her for a second. A small smile crept onto his face.

"That's good to know. Thankyou," Josie shrugged.

"Anytime,"

"I'd like to meet your father."