"Why did you do that?" Kriss asked when I entered the lounge. Everyone turned to look at me.
"I had to do something, and I had the power. No one was going to do anything. I wasn't going to let innocent people get hurt." I shrugged.
"They weren't innocent!" Regina fumed. "They broke the rules!"
"As my mother says, you can't help falling in love. When it happens, you want to be with them."
"Have you ever been in love?" Kriss asked.
I looked at the floor. "No, but I want to be."
"Why aren't you dismissed? Or are you here to say goodbye?" Regina asked rudely.
"The king was proud of me. He says that I'm the perfect material for a future royal."
"The only reason you three are here is because the King wants it to seem fair that some girls made it to the elite. We all know that only men should be monarchs." Maddox said.
"You think we're inferior, do you?" I asked. "Well, watch. He literally just told me that he's ready to choose me. Under your rule, women would probably have no rights. Men and women are equal."
He snorted. "Women can't make rational choices. For example? You stopping a fair punishment. They broke the rules; they deserve to be punished."
"Dismissed, Mr. Maddox." My dad said.
"Why?"
"Because I know your intentions for when you become King. And Renesmee is correct. Women are nothing more than something you own. Please leave."
"Fine!" He grumbled, storming out of the room.
"Thanks."
He kissed my forehead. "Of course." He turned to leave, but he turned to tell me, "The public wants to hear why you tried to stop you. You and I will have to explain that on the report."
He left the room.
"Well, you definitely put up quite some fight!" Gavril cried. I sat on the couch across from Gavril, but next to my dad. I wore a dark grey dress, with strappy sleeves and an empire waistline.
"I did. Even if Lexi wasn't my best friend, I would have fought for anyone like that. No one deserves to be punished just for falling in love." I sat up straighter. "It's not fair. It was bound to happen to someone."
"Your majesty, will Renesmee be leaving after tonight?" Gavril asked my father.
"No. Everything I want in the next Monarch I see in her. If I have to step down, I don't want anyone besides Nessie ruling after me. She's kind, beautiful, compassionate, caring, and gentle, but also stubborn, and not afraid to fight for what she believes is right. She stuck up for those two people, when no one else did. That takes a lot of gut."
"So she's your favorite?"
"Obviously. My council keeps suggesting that I dismiss her, but I just…..can't. I don't have the gut to do it. And like Nessie said, I'm King. I will no longer be taking advice from my advisors unless it is fair and just."
"Of course, your majesty."
I beamed up at my dad.
Edward's POV
"I'm leaving." Bella said. Those words hurt.
We were in the entryway. Her bag was packed, and she was ready to leave. The caning had been a few hours ago, and it had been too much for her.
"Why? You promise you'd stay!" I exclaimed.
"Maybe I did, but after seeing what you did to that poor couple, I can't be with you. That was cruel!"
"I'm King! I have to enforce rules and laws."
"If being Queen means people have to be punished for falling in love, then I don't want to take on that role. You've changed too much. You're not the man I fell in love with." She looked like she wanted to cry.
"What if I order you to stay?"
"Then I'll never truly be happy." She threw the door open and walked outside to the car where her parents were in. I felt crying. I just lost Bella….again.