Sorry I have to subject all of you to this, but as far as I can tell, there's no other way to respond to unsigned reviews. As I said before, I'm writing this to be a better writer, and thus I welcome, and even encourage, constructive criticism. Constructive criticism would mean that you read the chapter, and if you don't like it, you tell me which parts felt overwritten, or boring, or out of character, or whatever. Constructive criticism is not a one-word review, ten minutes after I post the chapter, saying "bad." That just makes me reread my work a bunch of times and freak out wondering what I'm doing wrong. A freaked out writer is not a productive writer. That is all.

"You look pleased," Father commented when I came to him later that night. "I take it you enjoyed yourself at the wedding?"

I grinned. "Pleased" was a colossal understatement. I still felt like I might burst into laughter, or sing, or run around the room shouting that I was in love with Ella, and I didn't care who knew it. But all I said was "Yes, Father."

Father smiled back. "I'm glad. Now, I suppose you're here about your trip to Ayortha."

My smile faded a bit, but I nodded. "Yes, Father."

"Well, I've spoken with your mother, and under the circumstances she agrees it's for the best. Normally I would at least send word to King Ormono to expect you, but he has issued a standing invitation, so there shouldn't be a problem. I'll write a letter for you to give to him."

I remained mostly silent while Father talked at me about Ayorthaian customs I would need to observe, most of which I remembered from my etiquette lessons. One suggestion did surprise me. "I believe you met the prince when he was here in my absence, so perhaps he will be some company for you, but it might get a bit lonely up there. You're welcome to write to us, of course, but I'd suggest you start keeping a journal. It's a way of organizing your thoughts so you don't take it out on the Ayorthaians."

If even Father was concerned about me getting lonely, I shuddered to think what the next year would be like. I had never kept a journal before, but it seemed as good a confidant as any, so that night I began writing. And what I wrote was everything I knew about Ella, everything I wished I knew, everything I would ask her the next time I saw her, which, I resolved, would be the next day. I wouldn't leave without a proper goodbye.

The nice thing about having only two days between coming home and leaving again was that no one expected me to return to my usual responsibilities. When I woke up the next morning, I could go and check on Apple without any fear of abandoning a horde of advisors. He greeted me cheerfully, but I wasn't sure if he remembered me. He had grown considerably in only a few months; he was no longer the clumsy, long-legged colt I had caught. The groom I had assigned to his care put him through his paces for me. By the time I got back a year from now, he would be well on his way to becoming a fine stallion.

When I returned to the palace, I had intended to go and say hello to Lydia, but I stopped short in the entrance hall, my eyes falling upon the grand staircase, or more precisely, the long, gently curving, well-polished rail running alongside it. Without thinking about it too much, I was running up the stairs and flying down the rail, over and over again, just like when I was a boy. I tried it different ways, mounting the rail sidesaddle, then backwards, then straight on again with my hands thrown in the air as I let out a war cry.

That last time, I nearly slid straight into Cecilia, who had apparently been roused by the noise. I managed to hold myself together a bit better this time than I had the day before, but she still looked shocked. "What on earth has gotten into you? This is the most interesting you've been in ages."

I grinned. "Just happy, I suppose."

Cecilia made a dismissive noise. "Happy to be abandoning your lovely kingdom for Ayortha? Really, Char, I thought you had better taste." She paused, scrutinizing my expression. "Hmm. It's not about Ayortha, then? Well, I don't know what else would make you this silly. If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were in love." I blushed, and she gave a low whistle. "No."

"I… well, yes."

"And might I be so bold as to ask the lucky maiden's name?"

"It's Ella. Ella of Frell."

"Hm. I don't think I've ever met her." She brightened. "But I suppose I shall soon enough. Someone needs to warn her what she's marrying."

I started to nod, and then caught myself. "Marrying? Who said anything about marriage?"

There was a pause while Cecilia digested that. "You mean to say she rejected you? I didn't think there was anyone in the kingdom who would say no to being future queen. Now I really need to meet her."

"No, no, I haven't asked her yet."

"Oh. So what are you waiting for?"

I considered. I loved Ella, certainly. The idea of her as my wife was intoxicatingly wonderful. And yet… it felt a bit sudden. I'd only seen her a few times, and I'd only realized how I felt about her yesterday. The same day she'd claimed to be too young to marry. "Some indication that she'll say yes might be nice."

She waved a hand lazily. "Oh, that. Like I said, any maiden would jump at the chance to marry you. I'm sure there's nothing to worry about."

"Perhaps. Although I don't think Ella's the kind to marry for anything but love. I wouldn't want her to marry me for anything but love."

"Yes, yes, we've had this conversation before. But the fact is, you've found someone. You really think the way to make her fall in love with you is to leave for a year?"

I hesitated. "She said I could write to her."

She gave a most unladylike snort. "Love letters. So much better in theory than in reality. It's not the same as having someone near, someone you can see and touch. And if she's as great as you say, what's to stop her from finding someone else in the meantime?"

I hadn't considered that. "If she falls for someone else, I wouldn't want an engagement to be the only thing holding her back."

"Oh, Char. Sometimes you're too noble for your own good, you know that? Besides, trust me when I tell you, the heart of a maiden engaged to the prince is quite a bit harder to touch than the heart of a maiden who's caught the prince's eye once or twice."

"Maybe you're right." At least it would be a way to find out whether I had a chance. She was surely frank enough to tell me, one way or the other. I tried not to dwell too long on the possibility of a no.

"Of course I'm right. I'm always right. So, how are you going to do it? Will you ask Mother for her rings? Oh, she'll go into raptures."

I winced. "No ring. Not yet. This is frightening enough without getting Mother involved. I'll just… tell her how I feel. Ask if she feels the same for me."

Cecilia pouted. "You're no fun. And I suppose I'm not allowed to tell Mother about this either."

"God, no."

"Fine. Let me know how it goes, I guess."

"Your enthusiasm is overwhelming."

We stood there a moment more in silence, before Cecilia hesitantly spoke once more. "Char?"

"Yes?"

"How did you know?"

I squinted at her. It wasn't like Cecilia to beat around the bush like this. "How did I know what?"

"How did you know you were in love with this Ella?"

It was a fair question, but not one I particularly wanted to answer. "You'd laugh if I told you. It was… there was this whole thing with shoes. But I think I've known since I met her that she was something different, something special. Someone I could love. It was like… I just had to give myself permission to feel it, and then I realized I'd been feeling it all along." That was as honest an answer as I could give. "Why do you ask?"

She looked away. "Oh, no reason. It's an exciting time, with my big brother falling in love and everything. Gives me hope."

"What hope? I thought you were perfectly content to be married off to the highest bidder." My tone was light, but I was genuinely curious.

She looked like she might be on the verge of saying something, but then she closed her lips tightly, and abruptly donned a teasing smile. "Of course I am. We can't have everyone in the family going all gooey at the same time, now can we? Next thing you know the twins will catch it, and the palace will spontaneously combust from all the platitudes."

I chuckled. "And on that note… wish me luck, I'm off to propose."

I was almost out the door when I heard "Char, wait!"

I turned. "What is it?"

"Since this is a big day and everything, you might want to change your breeches. The back of those is completely shredded."

"Oh, Lord. Thanks for the warning." I dashed upstairs to find a change of clothes, feeling for the damage.

"I'm telling you," Cecilia called after me, "This love thing is overrated. If nothing else, it's terribly hard on your wardrobe."

Keep in mind, this is a different time. People didn't exactly go on dates – if you loved someone, and they were the right social status, you proposed. Also, you all know how this bit turns out. I couldn't resist torturing Char just a bit more than GCL already does. More soon!