I've gotten so much writing done today, it's crazy! I even have some stuff ready to post tomorrow!

Now, this is it!

The chapter you have all been waiting for!

Comment, favorite, follow, and all those like things; but most of all, enjoy!

XOXOXO

The library smelled of old paper and ink; it was intoxicating.

I stared at the rows of tall, mahogany shelves in awe.

"This is the most amazing library I have ever seen," I whispered, afraid to touch anything.

"It's the main source of information for the kingdom. If you have a question about anything, there's a book for that." James mused, flipping through an open book atop a table.

I shook the idea of looking into my grandparents out of my head. That would be wrong. Wouldn't it?

"Are the records kept here as well?" I asked, immediately regretting asking.

"Yeah, the hall of records is this way," he pointed for me to follow, but I shook my head,

"No, I don't want to look. I was just wondering."

Why was I so afraid of what I would find? I couldn't shake the pit in my stomach.

"Okay, do you want to explore some more?"

"Yes. That sounds good. You pick the next place," I smiled.

We walked, arm in arm, with Baileywick at our heels, aimlessly. We were both glad to have, at least some, time together.

"So, do you have any other hobbies besides injuring yourself?" James smirked, giving me a sideways glance

"I forgot to tell you how glad I am that my being accident-prone was the first thing you learned about me" I huffed playfully

Well, if it makes you feel better, your adorable recklessness wasn't the first thing I learned," he laughed "I know that you have two sisters that adore you, I have a twin sister that I avoid as much as I can, you have two overly controlling parents, like mine, you are caring, selfless, and confident. All things that I wish I could say about myself." he listed and I felt that dumb grin again.

"We have so much in common, but how do you know the last three are true?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Because yesterday, when we were strangers and I could have been a serial killer, you sent your sisters inside and faced me on your own. The way you held yourself and took control of the situation told me that you were confident and willing to put yourself in harm's way for your little sisters. I knew I liked you right away" he rested his head on mine, quickly regaining his posture before we were reprimanded by Baileywick again.

"I knew I liked your horse the moment I saw him too, how do you get him so shiny?" I covered my mouth with my hand to try and cover my devilish grin

"He gets treated better than I do, those horses are pampered babies. I can't believe I lost the woman of my dreams to Sampson, just please, don't invite me to the wedding," he poked me with his elbow and I giggled

Did he call me the woman of his dreams? I knew he was probably joking, but he was going to make me explode, and I was sure he knew it.

"We should go check on the girls," I couldn't imagine the amount of trouble they were causing the princess

"Oh, I'm sure they are fine. My sister probably has them both in matching tiaras and held hostage in her bedroom by now," he shrugged casually

"Please, James. I want to see the garden too," I pleaded and he sighed

"Okay, fine, but if we are captured by princess Amber and made into stuffed animals to hold spots at her tea parties, I don't want to hear you complain," a playful grin spread wide across his face.

"Isn't she twenty?" I raised an eyebrow

"Indeed she is, she is seven minutes older than me in fact, but you see, she was raised with me. I do not participate in her tea parties...anymore, so she makes up for lost time every time a willing female shows interest in attending tea parties with her" he shook his head

I had never experienced anyone like James. He was so funny, our sense of humor was the same, and he didn't find me odd like the boys in Hacilith had.

He opened the door to the gardens, bowing to me and then to Baileywick

"Baileywick, are you enjoying our date so far?" he teased, kissing the steward's hand

"Your majesty," he began, pulling his hand away " I can assure you I don't want to be here any more than you want me to be here. But yes, this afternoon has been lovely, thank you for asking," Baileywick flashed us a smile before returning to his stern demeanor.

We both laughed and found our sisters under a gazebo, all of them wearing large hats and jewelry.

"Hello princess Amber, I am Sofia. It's nice to meet you" I beamed and she glanced at me briefly

"Have you come to take your sisters away?" she asked, looking away and sipping her tea

"No, our mother is still in her meeting. James and I just wanted to check-in with you" I explained "Girls, are you behaving?"

Neither of them looked at me, and I looked at James confused.

"I told you, stuffed animals. She has a rule that no one is to speak to 'outsiders' during her tea parties. Just state your business and walk away; it's easier," he whispered in my ear.

"Have a nice time, I will return when it's time to leave" I bowed and rushed James far away from the weird girls who used to be my sisters, "that was odd,"

"It's best if you learn for yourself how psychotic my sister is, that way we don't have to visit her and the unlucky man she marries for holidays" he smirked

I felt it important not to envision married life with James, it would take up the rest of the time we had left. that would be for later.

"My mother seems to be taking a while with your father, I hope he told her he's not going to buy Nightingale and for her to get used to living here," I groaned, sitting on a stone bench next to a fountain in the shape of a rose.

"How long do you think they will wait before securing a ship back to Hacilith?" he asked, holding my hand on his leg.

"An hour? Ten minutes? She wants to leave so badly," I sighed deflated

"And you? Do you want to go back to your home?"

"This is my home" I slipped and blushed "I mean, I'd like it to be,"

"Oh? Why is that? I bet it's because of a boy, you girls are all the same" he grinned looking at the clear blue sky above us

"If I say yes, does that make me a stereotype?"

"I'm afraid so," he shrugged

"I guess I'm a stereotype then," I clicked my teeth "Oh well"

He looked down at me, his shining green eyes searched my face and fell on my lips. For a moment I forgot that Baileywick was twenty feet away, ready to strike at any moment. I forgot about my parents, my sisters, and my life before this exact moment. All I wanted was his lips on mine and his fingers to get caught in my hair as he cradled my head lovingly.

My eyes shot down to his perfect lips, and we both leaned towards each other. His hand caressed my chin, bringing me closer to him; his breath on my skin sent goosebumps to the rest of my body. I closed my eyes and gasped as we made contact. His lips were soft, warm, and demanding. Perfect, just like James was.

He pulled back slightly and smiled, pecking me once again on the lips before sliding his arm around my shoulders.

I smiled but was screaming internally. James kissed me. I kissed James. My first kiss, the only kiss I ever wanted again, was with James.

"Your majesty, Lady Miranda is ready and asking for Sofia" Baileywick announced, snapping both of us back into reality.

This was it, the defining moment of our relationship. If my mother sold Nightingale we would be on the next ship out of the harbor, if not we could stay and I would continue to be courted by my James.

My James.

He was mine, and I was his. Even if Nightingale was sold, I could refuse to leave. I could get a job in the village and pay for a small home of my own until James and I got married...and then I would be Queen, eventually. James was twenty and would be crowned King on his next birthday.

Maybe I should go back, who was I kidding anyway? There was no law stating you had to marry a girl because you kissed. What if he ended up getting bored with me? Then I wouldn't have a family or a stable home.

My anxiety was flaring up, once again, and I knew I was overthinking the situation, but I couldn't stop myself. I felt my body shaking as I walked towards my mother.

"Sofia, I'm ready. Say goodbye to the prince." She stated flatly, reaching for her bag "Your sisters are already in the carriage,"

"What did my father say?" James asked, not letting go of my hand.

"Nightingale is sold and there is a ship leaving tomorrow morning for Hacilith, which we will all be on," she looked giddy, but I felt sick.

"I don't want to leave," I stated, holding my ground "I'm 18 and old enough to make my own decisions"

"Sofia, please, we are not having this conversation here"

"Why not? This is the perfect place to have this conversation. Shall we go to the hall of records and look up your parents together, or shall I find out about them on my own?" I asked pointing towards the library

"You do not need to know about them, girl. They are of absolutely no concern of yours" my mother growled menacingly, like a cat trapped in a box

"You and papa expect us to get on a ship tomorrow, to return to our normal lives when you have both been keeping secrets from us! You kept us hidden at Nightingale, refused to let James and I have a real chance to get to know each other, and you make sure the servants never talk to us, why? Who are we mother?"

"You are my daughter, and as such you will stop asking questions,"

"No! As my mother you should tell me the truth!" I surprised myself with how pushy I was being, but I needed her to explain what was going on.

"FINE! I'll tell you the truth! My parents were the King and Queen of Enchancia!" she slapped her hand over her mouth and my eyes widened as I stared at her.

James squeezed my shoulder affectionately.

"wait, are James and I-?"

"No, Sofia, you're not. My parents weren't able to bear children, so they adopted me from the orphanage when I was an infant. I was next in line for the throne, until Anne became pregnant with the twins when I was 14. My father abdicated the throne to his younger brother Roland when it was discovered that James was a male heir." She glanced over at James with a hint of jealousy "My father took on the role of Duke and we moved to Nightingale. I fought my parents for months. They had groomed me to be Queen of Enchancia but suddenly started to match me with princes from other kingdoms, like they wanted to get rid of me."

"That wasn't the case, They loved you and wanted what was best for their daughter!" James defended "you ran away, you gave up your title. They didn't take it from you!"

"Yes, James. I left, but It wasn't until after I discovered that I was adopted. I left because I refused to marry for an advantage, for them to keep up appearances, or to help fund their lifestyles. I felt like an outsider, even though I had been with them my entire life. I married Patrick when I was 15 so I wouldn't be taken back to the orphanage as a runaway, but I always secretly wished my parents would find me. I soon realized they just did not care about me." she took a broken breath "I was surprised they left me Nightingale, but I wasn't surprised that they had known where I was the whole time."

"They didn't, I found you," king Roland announced, entering the hallway "my brother loved you and wanted you to have a good life. They were both devastated when you left. I tried explaining this to you before, but you won't listen."

"Devastated? Is that what they told you? You say they wanted me to have a good life, but who were they to decide what good was? Patrick and I have been happy, our girls have been happy, and we've been happy without titles and money, Roland. I refuse to let my daughter marry into this or any advantageous family. All it brings is pain and loss, even if you think James cares for you, Sofia, he would leave you in a heartbeat if it meant losing his money or title. You need to find a simple man, with simple goals, who won't have to choose between you or money." My mother seethed

"I would never give Sofia up, just like your parents never gave you up. You are so obsessed with the idea that they wanted to sell you, but they didn't. Uncle Reginald talked about you all the time, he wished you would come home, but they were worried if they came looking for you, you would send them away" James tried to reason with her but she shook her head violently

"There is no reason to continue this conversation. Sofia, either get in the carriage or say goodby to your sisters. If you stay, you will no longer be welcome in my household. Make your choice now."

My mother walked past me and I stared at her in disbelief. She wanted me to choose between them or my happiness with James? She was taking this too far.

"Meet me at the dock tomorrow morning if you want me to stay," I whispered, kissing James's cheek softly

"I'll see you in the morning," James pulled me by the waist and consumed me in a passionate kiss.