Another chapter done! This story is speaking to me so I'm excited to let it do so. Chapter 4 of Man of Omerta will post on Tuesday as scheduled. I'm working on both of these stories as inspiration strikes while I'm home. For more information on my stories and to see pic teases for this story, join Agoodwitch Writes on Facebook. Hope you're all staying safe and well.

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Chapter 27

The day following our reception, we were sitting in the Women's Room just after breakfast. The five of us were alone, which meant the others could snipe back and forth as they speculated where Esme and the queen were.

Maybe they're writing up the report on the receptions to present to Edward and the king.

Maybe she was hungover or sick. The queen seemed to have some condition.

Then Tanya started, saying that it was likely her southern upbringing and working in the factories. That any province below Sumner was said to have more health issues.

"Or she could be taking a nap. We had a long day yesterday and it is Friday. She'll want to look rested for the Report tonight. I'd much rather be resting than locked in this room."

"You seem to rest a lot," Angela said. "Maybe Tanya's right about the south."

Conversation stopped and all eyes focused on the door as it opened. A maid entered and quietly made her way across the room. When she stopped just to my left, Rosalie's eyes narrowed at me.

I picked up the folded piece of paper that sat on her tray and read Edward's words. Before I could do or say anything, Rosalie pounced.

"What did Edward say?"

"That he needs to speak with me."

"Somebody's in trouble," Tanya sang.

I didn't dignify her with a response but as I got closer to the door, I heard Tanya say just loud enough for me to hear. "Maybe he's finally going to send her home."

"Really?" Charlotte sounded giddy at the idea and it made me sick to my stomach.

If he wanted to spend time with me, wouldn't he have worded it differently? I didn't have to wait long because Edward was waiting outside the door.

"You need to talk?"

"We don't have much time, but I have to show you this. Just understand that you can't share this with anyone. No one can know about what you're about to see."

"Okay."

"Let's go."

Edward led me up to the third floor taking a staircase I'd never been allowed to use before. He was practically dragging me by the time we got down the hall, pulling me to a stop in front of a set of double doors. He unlocked them and pushed open the left door, gesturing for me to go in ahead of him. The room was large, but mostly empty. There was a large wooden armoire and dresser, a bed, and a table and two chairs. The walls were white, like they were prepared to be painted again soon.

"This is the Princess Suite."

I turned to Edward, who was smiling at me. "It's so bare."

"These rooms haven't been used since my mother slept here. Since she moved into her current rooms, these rooms were emptied and then primed and made ready for the next princess. Let me show you around."

Teddy stood behind me, pointing out the study, closet, bathroom, a balcony much larger than my current one, and finally he stopped in front of the final door.

"What about this one?"

"That leads to my bedroom. Can't have the prince too far from his princess, now can we?" His voice dropped and my stomach jumped.

"I suppose not."

"There's one more thing I need to show you. Behind the armoire is a secret door that leads to the safe room and other parts of the palace. This can't be used often, but this is a good excuse. Now, you only have fifteen minutes."

"Fifteen minutes for what?" I asked as he walked over to the armoire and opened the secret door.

"Is she here?"

I was frozen in my spot because I had to be dreaming. There was no way she was really here. But then a young woman stepped out of the passageway in a plain uniform, her hair was hidden under a cap to obscure her identity, but there was no denying I was staring at Alice.

"What … how are you here?"

"Oh, Bella, I've missed you so much."

Alice nearly tackled me and I fell to the ground with her. We were laughing and crying in a heap on the floor as Edward crouched beside us. "Twelve minutes, Alice you know how to get back to the kitchens."

"Thank you, Edward, for everything," she nodded.

The soft click of the door closing behind Edward had me sitting up. "Tell me everything. How are you here? You were supposed to be sent to the south after you were stripped of your caste? Is Jasper with you? Are you safe?"

"Bella, breathe," Alice laughed. "Oh, how I've missed you. And to answer your questions, we've been here the whole time. After the caning, we were taken to the hospital wing and Dr. Cullen did his best to patch us up, but he was worried about upsetting the king by keeping us there to treat us for too long. But by then, Edward had devised his plan. There was a young couple that had family in Panama, so Edward had them sent in our place and we've been working in the kitchens. My hands are so much better, and soon Jasper can go work in the stables. He just needs a little longer to heal. He can walk and sit, but can't do any heavy lifting or move too quickly yet."

I reached for Alice's hands, inspecting the welts. They looked painful, but she assured me they didn't hurt. It was so surreal to be sitting here with Alice. I'd feared that I would never get to see her again. Never get to say goodbye.

"So you're safe?"

"We are. Edward made sure that no one who answers directly to his father was involved. The cook I work under in the kitchen, Carlisle, and he are the only ones who know our true identities. Jasper's beard is growing in, so by the time he reports to the stables he won't be recognizable. Our apartment is tiny, but it is enough. We have a bed and some shelves, I'm trying to make it homey, but -"

"Wait, a bed? You're sharing a bed with him before marriage?"

"We are married. I told Edward the morning of our punishment that I loved Jasper and we wanted to be married. I apologized for all the lies and deceit. Edward being who he is, told us not to worry and that he understood.

"Two days ago, he told us that if we wanted to be married, it would have to be that day. He found a priest so old he could barely see who he was married, so Edward filled out the paperwork for him. Then Edward stood in for my father and our witness. The paperwork was processed and it is official. Edward said that there was so much going on that it was the only time he could get everything done and on the books without someone noticing. He made it look like it was done the morning of the caning, and that the paperwork had been delayed in all the aftermath.

"There wasn't any time for rings, so Jasper tied this piece of twine around my finger and I did the same for him. We're going to have to change it every few days, but it is a small thing when we have each other."

I was shocked, but not surprised that Edward would do that for them. They were in love, and he wanted those he wasn't going to be with to find their match. It made me think about a question I could only ask her. "Have you two ..."

Alice's face lit up at my half question. "We have."

"And? How was it?"

"It gets better. Don't blame Edward if you don't enjoy it your first time. And maybe when you're the princess I can visit you."

"I'd like that, I've been so lonely without you. But I'm not sure I'm going to be the princess."

"What's happened now?" Alice sighed.

"Lot's of things. It took me a while to realize that Edward would have saved you from this if he could, and I get that now. But it caused tension and then there's my own fears that I can't be a princess, and there was a magazine that said the people don't want me and ..."

"And?"

"I think Teddy loves Rosalie. I don't know when it happened exactly, but she's better at the job. I actually thought he was going to send me home when he called me into the hallway."

"A small part of him might love each of you, but you have his heart. You are still here because you're his hope. As long as he believes in a chance with you, you're his first choice. He hasn't snuck anyone else up here to see me because he knew they needed to see it. Have faith in him."

"Having faith in him isn't the issue. I'm not always sure I have faith in myself."

"I wish we had more time, but I need to go."

"Hopefully we'll be able to figure something out. Notes or other visits, something. I miss you."

Alice pulled me in for a tight hug and handed me a tissue to wipe my face. "I'll see if something can be worked out."

I watched as Alice opened the passageway and left. There was a confidence that I'd never seen in her before. It was love. It made her stronger than what life had put her through.

I stood up and exited the suite, Edward was leaning against the opposite wall with his camera in his hands.

"Thank you," I whispered.

"Absolutely."

"No, thank you. I know we argue about the job. What it makes you do, why I don't think I could do it. But then moments like today happen, or yesterday when I was talking with Nica and her cousins. I'm still unsure of that. But I'm not unsure of you. Rosalie asked me point blank if I was still in this and I told her yes, so the least I can do is tell you. So I'm here if you want me to be."

"I do want you … um, here. I want you here."

I crossed the hallway and leaned up to kiss his cheek. "I should head back to the Women's Room. Do I need an escort coming off this floor, or will I be okay?"

"I need to return as well. I told my father I was meeting with one of the palace photographers to have him fix one of my old lenses. So I'd better head out as well."

We returned to the main floor together and went our separate ways. I took a detour to the bathroom to clean myself up, but there was no hiding that I'd been crying. When I walked into the room, all eyes were on me, but it was Rosalie who asked if I was okay. I told her I would be, and it was clear from all four sets of eyes that they were a bit disappointed. The competition was thick in here.

The rest of the day was uneventful and we were all relieved that we were spectators at The Report. The visiting royals were a blip on the radar in the overall discussion of the week's events. We left the taping and I fell asleep, feeling easier than I had in awhile.

The next morning, we got our answers about the receptions as Esme and Queen Elizabeth came to go over their notes.

"We both understand that these events aren't something you're used to planning, especially in the time constraints, but you all did a wonderful job," the queen said.

Esme stepped up to continue. "The German Federation are old allies and while a formal affair like that isn't something we're used to, there weren't too many mistakes. The Italians were very pleased with their reception, even asking for the wine list they'd been served so that is a great compliment. We may have gained a new friend in the world after Thursday. A formal report on these events will be turned over to the king and Prince Edward shortly, but neither of you have anything to worry about."

Just then, a maid entered and approached the queen. She handed her a note and as soon as she opened it, she nodded to the young woman, who ran to the door and opened it to reveal King Edward and Teddy.

"I apologize for the interruption, but there is a pressing matter at hand. Our war efforts in New Asia have hit a roadblock, so the king and I will be going to see if we can fix the issues."

"Is it necessary for you both to go?" Queen Elizabeth asked.

"It is a very tense situation and Edward needs to learn how to handle something like this. We will be back as soon as we can," King Edward said.

Edward made his way to his mother, kissing her cheek as she gripped his bicep. From there he made his way to us. His goodbye to Charlotte was almost non-existent, while Tanya made a big production about him leaving.

Angela smiled sadly when he stood before her. "I wish I could go with you to show support from a prominent family. Or I could call my family there?"

"It would be helpful, but you need to remain safe here." A kiss to her hand and me moved on to Rosalie.

The tension between them was palpable as he took her hand. "Is this safe?"

"Last time we went there, the situation was better. There's no way of knowing what it will be like now."

"You will be careful, won't you?"

"Yes, Dear." I met Teddy's eyes for the briefest of moments when he told her that, before I turned away. I did see him brush away a tear from her cheek before he kissed it. "Will you keep an eye on my mother? She'll be nervous with both of us gone."

She nodded and he stepped back, but as she rocked forward slightly, Edward almost reached for her, before stopping himself. But he did, and then he came to stand before me.

"Try not to start any fights while I'm gone," Edward teased.

"I'll keep my hands to myself."

"Thank you."

"I know you're trying to keep us all calm, but do we have to be concerned?"

"The diplomacy should work out and we'll be home soon."

"Don't be dense. I mean worried about your safety?"

"Oh. When we're in the air is when it will be the most dangerous. If we can land and take off without incident we'll be fine."

I nodded, knowing that the tears were coming. "Bella, I need to tell you that -"

"Edward, we need to leave."

Edward turned back to his father with a nod and then leaned in to kiss my forehead. "Goodbye, Bella."

The men left and Queen Elizabeth tried to pull herself back together, but within a few minutes, she excused herself to handle some business with the men gone.

Lunch was brought in and we all picked at it, too nervous about Edward and the king. Dinner was served in our rooms and it wasn't until breakfast the next day that we ate in the dining room with the queen, although she was distracted. We'd been told that the king and Edward had arrived safely, but Angela didn't seem herself.

"What's wrong with Angela?" I asked Rosalie.

"Her family went to meet Edward and the king at the military base they would have flown into, but they never arrived. The staff said they weren't expecting them, either."

"So, if they're not in New Asia, where are they?"

"I don't know, but there's something I'd like to talk to you about. Will you go for a walk with me after breakfast?"

"In the garden?" I asked and she nodded.

We ate our breakfast quickly and left with a curtsey that the queen didn't see in her current state. As we walked down onto the grass, Rosalie turned to me.

"Do you ever come out here by yourself? Or is this reserved for you and Edward?"

"I don't come out here as often as I used to, even with it still being warm for November. And I asked you to come out here with me, didn't I?"

"Fair enough."

"What did you want to tell me, Rosalie?"

"I want us to both be honest with each other. For the longest time, you were clearly Edward's choice, and I'd resigned myself to that. But after the caning, things changed."

"And now you're his choice?"

"No, that isn't what I'm saying. I think that this is between the two of us. And I don't want this to become a war that we can't come back from. I think the way to do that is to be truthful with one another. I'll tell you anything you want to know about Edward and I, and I hope you'll do the same."

"When did you and Edward become so close?" The question I'd been dying to have answered was out of my mouth before I'd even realized it.

"After Alice's caning. I couldn't sleep one night and so I went for a walk through the halls and Edward was sitting on one of the benches that look out onto the garden. I sat beside him and told him I knew he didn't want that to happen to Alice. He looked so shocked that I believed he would have stopped it if he could have. He said no one had thought about how he felt having to sit there and watch it happen. We went up to his room to talk -"

"What?" I gasped.

"Come on, you don't have to act like he hasn't snuck you up there befo-. Oh. Well there isn't anything special. He's got some weapons displayed and a bunch of pictures on his wall over his dresser. But I didn't get close to that. Mainly we sat in the seating area and talked. After that he started seeking me out a lot more."

"He never gave me details, but he told me we were both important to him."

"I've assumed as much."

"When was your first kiss?"

Rosalie blushed and looked away for a moment. "We haven't yet."

"I thought we were being honest with one another?"

"I'm serious. My family is old fashioned. You don't share a kiss with someone until you're engaged. I told Edward and he respected that. So he's kissed my hand or my cheek, but he's willing to wait for me. Especially since there's a chance that we won't be sharing that kiss."

I took a deep breath. That sounded like Edward. Always thinking about other people.

"What about you two?"

"I'm not ..."

"I've been honest with you, the least you can do is the same for me."

"Rosalie, if you really want me to tell you, yes, we've kissed. But I'm not used to sharing all of the details of my private life with people. I'm not trying to be difficult, and you don't have to give me all the information if you don't want to either."

"I can respect that. But can I ask you to do something for me?"

"What do you want me to do?"

"If there ever comes a time when you know Edward is done with me, can you tell me? I love him and if he doesn't want me, I'd like to know."

"Okay. I'm not sure that he would tell me that, but if he does, I'll tell you." I was shocked that she came right out and admitted to loving him. It took me so long to realize it, but I still haven't said the words, to him or anyone. Except maybe Alice.

"Can I ask one more thing? That we not sabotage the other?"

"That I will wholeheartedly agree to. I'm not like the others. But if you don't mind, I should get inside. I have an appointment with Dr. Cullen." It was a lie, but I needed to get out of here.

"It isn't serious, I hope?"

"No, just a routine checkup."

"All right, thank you for talking to me."

"You're welcome."

I jogged inside and made my way to my room. As I got close to my door, I saw a folded up piece of paper. I was the only one in this part of the hall, so I opened it to see if it was for me.

Nearly three hundred fatalities and at least another one hundred and fifty injured in this morning's attack in Paloma. The rebels' demands continue to be an end of the Collection and the royal line. Instructions needed on how to proceed from here.

My mind raced. There was no date on this page, so I had no idea about when it was from. But it was obvious that these attacks had escalated after the start of the Collection and now I knew why. I had to assume this was a Southern attack as it was so violent, but what did that mean about the motives of the Northern rebels? This was not meant for my eyes, but I had no way of knowing if the appropriate people had already seen it. Dropping it back to the floor, a guard or a maid would come across it and get it to whoever it was meant for. There was so much we were still in the dark about, and I wish I'd never read those words. Because this knowledge was dangerous.