So this is like the last time ill be able to update until after my exams…so I thought I'd give y'all another chap.

Sorry I'm currently emotionally unstable, I finished season one of The Flash with tears running down my face the MABubbles was no help with her emotional chapter of 35 Hearts.

Chapter Twenty-Six

❂Of Truest Heart

Princess Lucille

I didn't know anything. I didn't know why Nala-Rose Turner was murdered. I didn't know why my father conceived an illegitimate son. I didn't know why the rebels attacked. I didn't even know where I stood with Adam.

I hated hiding this from Logan, while I'm his sister, and Adam's his best friend, Logan is also my best friend. Not to mention it was only a matter of time before mother or father decided I'm better off marrying someone of importance.

A marriage of convenience. That's what Úna got, so of course – why not me?

But it wasn't what I wanted. I wanted love. I wanted to marry for love. But Adam – I couldn't love Adam. He couldn't love me.

Who did that leave? Some guards that mother would never agree for me to wed, or a marriage of convenience.

I was stuck.

Stuck in a world where princesses couldn't marry the common folk, but the crowned prince was expected to.

"Princess? Are you alright?"

I opened my eyes to find pale green ones staring at me from across the table in the Great Hall where I tended to find myself lost in thought. "Sebastian?"

"You look like you about lost the plot."

I raised a brow at my half-brother, "Lost the plot?"

He smiled weakly, "Someone's full of questions."

Shaking my head, I propped up onto my elbows, "Just thinking about things – more like people, I can't have."

Bash plopped down beside me, "I know the feeling, mate."

"Mate? Really Bash?"

He shrugged, "Want me to call you lass or love?"

I rolled my eyes, "Mate it is then."

Pulling out a small flask, Bash looked to me, "So what's your issue?"

Eyes shutting in embarrassment, I ran a hand through my golden hair, "I like this guy, but I don't know how he feels about me – and I shouldn't like him. And holy crap I sound so narcissistic talking about my boy problems after everything that happened. Hell, you were strangled."

Bash winced, "Don't remind me." His fingers traced lightly along the purple and blue circle drawn around his neck, "However, you and me are in the same boat."

Before I could ask him what he meant, the British man set his flask beside me, and strode out of the Great Hall.

Lady Amethyst

Astra was confusing everyone in the Women's Room with her magic tricks.

Ash, Nia, and Delantie kept to themselves.

Lilly was laughing about something none of us were sure we wanted to know.

Adelaide was trying to teach Cassia how to read.

Sara and Aaliyah were gossiping about something in hushed tones.

Eris was stroking her cat, knee deep in case papers she usually kept in her room,

Jess read magazines – trying to keep up with her bands whereabouts.

And I felt Farrah's eyes glued to the back of my head. It was quite uncomfortable.

Soon, the boredom got the better of me, and I started walking towards the gardens. Aimlessly I might add. I took my sweet time, following all the longer paths.

"Lady Amethyst!"

I turned my head over my shoulder to find Logan jogging up to me. I flashed him a jokingly seductive smile, and the prince smirked.

"Where are you off to?" He asked, slowing down his stride as he pulled up alongside me.

I shrugged, "Just for a walk in the gardens. The Women's Room is dreadfully boring at the moment."

He nodded in understanding, "I may as well accompany you then."

Another shrug, "If you so desire."

As we walked, Logan asked me about my life in Panama, and in return – I asked about his favorite place to visit, shocked to find out that it was the Castle beach.

"You mean to tell me that you haven't been someplace exotic?"

Logan shook his head, smiling all the while – "Being the crowned prince doesn't exactly make you expendable."

"Fair point."

Once we reached our intended destination, Logan plucked one of the flowers from an abundant patch, tucking it behind my ear.

I tried to keep a straight face, "Such a typical Casanova."

The prince laughed, but the amusement faded when the soft noise of someone screaming reached our ears.

"What the hell…?" He muttered, turning to me, "Excuse me, Lady Amethyst." With that – he took off sprinting to the front gates.

Ever curious, I hiked up my skirt and ran after him.

The massive metal arched gate was shut closed and guards positioned themselves around it, but the prince pushed his way through, and soon I was right behind him – extremely glad I hadn't worn heels today.

There was a girl, bone thin and blonde hair three times it's normal size due to knots. She appeared to be a young adult, but it was hard to tell.

"Holy shit." Logan cursed. Eyes wide.

"Prince Logan – who is this?" I asked, grateful that Octavia had ingrained proper etiquette into my brain.

Brushing off my question, he turned to the guard. "Let her in, and get her to the Hospital Wing. Get someone to fetch her a meal and some new clothes – and a bath."

The girl's brown eyes found their way to the prince's face, they lit up – but his remained stone cold – but there was a speck of confusion leaking out behind the walls – meaning there was more behind them. Much more. "Logan-" she started.

He shook his head, "No. Don't."

I stepped up next to him, "Logan, who is this?"

His regal façade improved, and he looked to the guard. "Get Eveline to the Hospital Wing, now."

The guard thawed from his iced composure, and gathered the frail girl – Eveline – into his arms.

"Eveline?"

Logan's face crumpled and he fell back against the gate, "The Dutch Ambassador's daughter."

"Oh…"

"And my ex-girlfriend."

"Oh."

"And she's been dead for four years."

"Wait what? Back up. She's been dead?" I gaped at him, as if he told me that he wasn't a prince at all. Just some dude who murdered the real Logan and got plastic surgery to look like the prince.

He nodded, looking even more muddled than I was, "She died in a plane crash. The bodies were all burned in a fire from the engine, so no one was identified – but Eveline and her mother died. And even if they didn't, why come back now? Why not four years ago?"

I could see the tears welling up in the princes' eyes, and the situation got ten times more awkward.

"Do you still love her?"

Logan shook his head, "I don't think I could find it in me to ever reciprocate any feelings that were there ever again after this."

Lord Sebastian

The door opened of my bedroom, and my guard peeked his head in, "Lord Sebastian, your mother requests to enter."

I internally groaned, I had no interest in speaking with her, but telling her – or anyone – that wouldn't end well for an already unfavorable bastard son. The news traveled very quickly through the castle. To some I was now "Prince Sebastian" to others I was "Sebastard".

I didn't even have it in me to be mad at Logan for telling everyone.

This was going to happen at some point. I couldn't hide my heritage forever. I guess part of me hoped I could try.

A very naïve part.

"Send her in." I took a sip of wine, letting the bitter taste painfully slide down my bruised throat and ease some of heartache and eventually neck pains.

"You know; this is why they created painkillers."

I sneered, "Thanks for that wonderful bit of knowledge, mother."

Aretha sat gracefully down on the bench across from me. "Sebastian, your father and I have been discussing an arrangement that appeals to all parties – aside from yours as it is unknown where you stand."

I rubbed my eyes – not bothering to correct her on the usage of the king as my father, "Do continue."

"Well, Scotland is looking for an alliance, Mila isn't too pleased with us, and you're of age – Úna needs a husband, you're the king's son."

"No."

"Sebast-"

"No."

"Just think-"

"I'm not marrying the future Queen of Scotland so you can get more power."

Aretha sighed, "I didn't want it to come to this, I truly hoped that you'd agree willingly, but as an order of your king and queen. You – Sebastian Le Tourneau, are engaged to Princess Úna Acheson of Scotland."

Eyes clouded in rage, I stood to my feet, the glass of wine clattering to the floor. "What?" I demanded. "Úna agreed to this?"

My mother rolled her eyes, "Quit being so dramatic. The princess was in need of the alliance, and since Brooks is too young, and Logan has the Selection – you were the next best candidate."

"So now what? I'm engaged to the crowned princess of Scotland? What happens when we get married?" While Úna was a great girl, and a great reason to move on from Sawyer, I wasn't so sure my feelings were so easy to deny any longer.

"You move to Scotland – produce some heirs. Secure your rule in the country. Overcome the name of the Illean King's bastard son, and be known as the King-Consort of Scots."

I gritted my teeth, "Is that all? Or can you leave now. Please." I added the last part in a heartbeat after, thrusting all the resentment I could into the word.

Huffing in offense, my mother exited my chambers.

Discarding my clothes onto the floor, I stepped into the shower. Letting the water trickle down my face. Wishing that everything could wash down the drain with the water. I stood still as the showerhead cried scalding tears down my bare back.

I shut my eyes. Unable to think any longer.

I needed to stop thinking for a moment.

Twisting the water off, I hastily put on some slacks and pulled a shirt over my head. Hair still dripping wet and feet bare, I ran to the one place where I was holding onto the hope she'd be.

My feet slapped the cool marble flooring, and I regretted not grabbing shoes. Not to mention the water dripping into my eyes.

I ran into the gardens – making sure that no windows could spot me from this location, and I waited until Sawyer followed me. I knew she was here. I had seen her walk by the gardens not long after Logan and Amethyst ran to the front gates because of something that I wasn't really in the mood to learn about.

"Bash?"

I spun around, "Lady Sawyer."

She grimaced, hurt in her eyes. "Is that what we've come to?"

"Sawy-"

She shook her head, "No, you've been ignoring me. I want to know why."

My fingers raked through my sopping hair, "I haven't been ignoring you."

"Bullshit." Her language catching me off guard.

I sighed, "Sawyer. I like you, and I shouldn't like you. You're my half-brother's girl." Her eyes widened, and I remembered that she wasn't there when everyone found out. "Yes. I'm the bastard son you've probably heard whispers about."

Sawyer shook her head and took a step closer to me, "I don't care."

"You should care. This could get us killed."

"Then we'll be careful."

I extended my arms, trying to keep her a good distance, "No. You don't understand. Logan isn't the only obstacle anymore."

Eyebrows creasing, "What do you mean?"

I bit my lip, "I'm engaged. As of a few minutes ago – I'm engaged to Princess Úna of Scotland, Sawyer – this can't happen. It can't work. I won't put you in that danger. If anything happened to you, because of me, I would never forgive myself."

OK im sorry. I feed off of drama. It's not healthy. I literally cant write a lighthearted chapter anymore…there's always someone with a problem. And in this case, everyone has a problem.

HEHE Luce has some longing troubles, and we see a cute little half-sibling moment, I guess.

AND EVELINE ISNT DEAD – HEHEEEEEEE PLOT TWIST.

Finally, our Sash issue. Bash is now engaged to Úna.

Star plz don't take Logan from me ;-;

Bye lovelies!

~Hailey