CHAPTER TWO

MY MAIDS STARED AT ME when I came through the doorway with a bright smile on my face. They sense my happy mood because they were gushing once the door clicked shut behind me.

"Did you meet a guy!?" My two maids, Lina and Freya exclaim at the same time. While my head maid, Genevieve, shakes her head at the two. "How was your day at the Women's Room, your highness?" She has a kind smile on her face. "Okay ladies, we should give the princess some room to breathe. Princess, do you need anything?"

I turned myself around to stare at my reflection in the floor length mirror. I run my fingers through my hair. I look identical to Father and Maxon with blonde hair. My blue eyes are the same shade as Father's own. I'm short at 5'5 but my family is tall. My father told me, I'm the spitting image of Grandmother, when she was my age. I saw portraits of my grandmother, she's so beautiful with her gorgeous blonde hair and piercing blue eyes. When I was younger, I wondered about the young woman I'll someday grow into.

"I'm going on a date tonight!" I burst out into laughter as I arched my shoulders. "Can you help me to decide what I'm going to wear?"

"Awwww isn't that sweet!" Freya places her hands on her chest, feeling all of it for me. "Of course we can help! Tonight you're going to take down a man!"

My maids are a blessing, they will help me to pull myself together as a princess. They will hold me when I sobbed over my bad day or after heated fights with Father. They pampered me while taking wonderful care of me. I couldn't live without them. We're bound by a sisterhood, only death can tear us apart.

"If Lonnie is going to have a great time tonight?" My head maid smirks at the other two. "She needs to be the most beautiful jewel in the palace. C'mon girls, we have work to do. Lonnie Schreave needs to start dressing like the queen herself."

My maids soon swirled around me, pulling me to my bathroom for a bath. After the quick bath, my skin smells of plumerias, lilies and lavender. For once I look the part of a fairytale princess. My maids are very dedicated to making me the prettiest girl in the palace. Well, that's part of their goal as long as I'm happy.

When I was wrapped in my robe, Lina came out of my closet with pink day dresses. She laid all four dresses on the bed. "I think you should go with the shorter dresses in case the date is more casual. You always look good in pastel pink." Lina pulls me over to the bed so I can choose my dress.

The first option was a tulle pastel pink dress with off the shoulder sleeves. The skirt is a full skirt with a ballerina tutu that goes past the knees. On the bodice it has sparkling diamonds, it shines so bright it would have blinded me. When I ran my finger over the smooth satin, I fell in love with the dress.

The second option is the same one as the first but the skirt is way shorter and it was a strapless dress.

The other two dresses are similar to each other except one is the lighter shade of pink. I lifted up the first dress. "I'm going with the first one. It's so beautiful and sophisticated. I-I just want to feel beautiful and happier for once without a tiara on my head."

They helped me change while they lace the back of my dress. I was humming while they worked on me. My mind echoes about being the jewel in the palace. "You're London Schreave, no one is the palace jewel but you. You're no longer a little girl but a woman. You're going to rewrite your story tonight. Everything, even the path your father has laid out for you will crumble." I had said to my reflection. "You're more than a princess, more than your father's prized jewel."

"You'll be a beautiful jewel," Freya mutters quietly after she was finished lacing my dress. She did it so tight I was taken off guard. "Does it have to be so tight?"

"It's the only way to keep the dress from falling down. Don't want any incidents tonight especially with a guy who is there with you?" My maid ignored me as she guided me to my vanity so all three of them could do my hair and makeup.

My skin was soon covered with lotion and powder that radiates the smell of vanilla and cinnamon. I brought my arm to my lips so I could smell the radiating smell. I asked my maids to leave my hair out, it was wavy and smooth against my backside. And I didn't want a tiara on my head but a lily on the left side of my ear. My makeup was light with pastel pink eyeshadow around my eyelids while my lips were painted with glittering pink lipgloss.

When I stared at the girl in the mirror, I almost didn't recognize myself. I look so beautiful like the girls from the novels. I smiled sadly at the girl who's trapped with a cruel father, the girl who's childhood dreams were stolen from her and the girl who's eager to rewrite her path. The girl who's going to light up the world someday. Whoever this girl was, I love her even if she was covered with lotion and powder, she's still glowing with pride and happiness. I turned around on my seat so I could face all three of my beaming maids.

"Oh guys, I love it. Thank you all so much!" I was on the verge of tears but I shoved it down to the deepest corners of my heart. I wanted to hug them right now. "What am I going to do without you?"

"You probably would have died from the ache!" Genevieve chuckled as she held me at arms length. "All we want is to see a smile on your face, Lonnie. You deserve a chance of finding your own soulmate. I don't care if the guy you're seeing is a prince or not but in your heart, he's your prince charming. Go on and enjoy yourself. Stay true to who you are, princess. Now off to dinner with you, don't want the king fussing about your tardiness."

I forgot about the time. It's almost time for dinner. I instantly was out of my chair making a beehive at the door. "You're dismissed for the night," I told the girls. I saw the flicker of doubt in their eyes. "Don't worry I'll be fine. I can take care of myself. And yes, I'll give you all updates about tonight." I was out of the door before they could protest.

Dinner was quiet as usual. The Elite girls were whispering among themselves while my parents were eating quietly as Maxon looked over at me. His eyebrows arched in confusion once he saw me in a pink dress. "Are you doing something tonight?" He whispers so Father doesn't overheard our hushed conversation.

"Who? Me? What no! Of course not. I'm going down to the dungeon like usual when I'm trying to get away from Father." I lied smoothly as I played with my steak. I couldn't stop thinking about my secret date with a guy. I saw the sunset from the roof. It's so beautiful to watch especially with the lights from the city of Angeles is what makes it extra beautiful. Now, I'm going to see it with Aspen Leger.

Father must have sensed my mood because he turned to Maxon and me. "Maxon, what's wrong with your sister?" He clicks his tongue in a disapproving manner.

"I don't know Father," my brother sighs as he rubs the bridge of his nose. "Teenage girls are confusing especially when they're happy or it's either they're going to cry." Maxon is clueless when it comes to girls. If they cry, he'll make a beehive out of the room or when we get eagerly excited he'll stare at us like we're crazy.

But ever since the Selected has arrived, he's gradually improving when it comes to girls. He knows what to do when a girl is sad and he feels just as excited when a girl is happy. But with me, it's different. I like to tease him, especially pulling off the tears card just to get a reaction out of him and when I get excited, all hell breaks loose. My brother thinks I'm just as crazy as Aunt Adele.

Father gives me the side eye as he cuts through his steak. "What happened today, London? That it will leave you acting in a childish manner that's unfit for a princess."

"Uh- well okay, we were having wedding talks with Mom. It went okay until Kriss said something that upset me but I'm fine now. My maids decided to dress me up for dinner to cheer me up. Ever since the afternoon in my room, it has left me extremely happy." I left out the part bumping into Officer Leger. It's the half-truth but I didn't want my father to ruin my happiness.

My father frowns before sighing. "London, you'll eat your dinner quietly. You're already giving me a headache with your giggling and teenage girl gushing behavior." He has ended the conversation by turning away from me. He didn't care about my opinion unless I was obedient to his rules.

I shake off his scolding words before hitting Maxon with my fork. "You really are an idiot. How come with the Elite, you're an expert on girls but when it comes to your own sister, you're afraid of me!?"

He sticks out his tongue at me once Father isn't looking before eating again. "It's probably because you're mean and you like to do things on purpose. I love you too, Lonnie."

After dinner, I was in my room waiting for Aspen to show. I sprawled across the bed while fiddling with the blanket. I don't know why I feel so nervous, it's one lousy date with a guy. Teenage girls have been out before, they probably may have kissed or stared into each other gazes all night. Maybe they just talk and talk about things they like.

A knock came at the door. Usually my maids will get the door since they're not here, I have to get it myself. I pushed myself off my comfy bed and made my way to the door. I opened it to see Aspen in his uniform, leaning against the door hedge. "Hi," his lips form a 'wow' shape. "You look…" He clears his throat. "Beautiful."

I felt flattered by his words. No one has ever told me that like ever unless it's my family doing it. I closed the door behind me so I could stand next to him. I flat out my dress. "Thank you. You have cleaned up nicely, yourself." I held out my hand for him to take.

Aspen took my hand into his as we walked down the hallway together. "So is there anything I need to know about you, Miss Schreave?"

"I know it sounds crazy but one of my secret getaway's is the dungeon," I saw his panicked look. "It's really not that bad. Okay okay okay, you're probably thinking I'm crazy but it's not that spooky. If you want to get away from the king, you'll find the dungeon will serve your purpose to get away from the madness. Though, I'll go to a cell that is not near to criminals and the Southern Rebels." As soon the words were out of my mouth, I gasped. I had just uttered out one of the royal secrets.

"So basically you're the girl who likes to hide out in the dungeon. Interesting." He muses softly. "I never pegged you as the typical princess type. I'm still not going there. One look at that place, it leaves my skin crawling in fear."

"Nothing is wrong with trying new things!" I shouted. "Yeah trust me, I'm not the prissy princess type either. That's what you're expecting to see huh? A royal brat?"

Aspen shakes his head, he was on the verge of laughing. "When I saw you on the Reports with your family and when I saw pictures of you in magazines, that's what crossed my mind but coming here and bumping into you. You gave me that impression, you're different from your family. That you want to be in charge of your life and how you glow with happiness. How you seem to care for your own people. Even though we had met, I think I found a friend I can go to while I am here."

Did he just friendzone me? Okay, Lonnie. This is a good thing, you could get to know him better

"I could use a friend too," I whispered as we stopped in front of white double doors. This must be our destination. "I'd like to get to know you better and yes I'm more than the girl who camps out in the dungeon. There's more that will meet the eye."

Aspen squeezes my shoulder before we step outside on the balcony that's lit by candles and there's a table with two chairs in the middle. There's pastries and chocolates on the table. I dropped his hand as I rushed to the railing so I could look at the sunset. The Angeles's air felt so cold against my skin that my hair was blowing in the wind. I rested my shoulders on the railing as I glanced at the view.

Aspen soon was standing behind me as he tucks my hair behind my ear. "I like looking at the view of Angeles. I never dreamed I would see something so beautiful in my life. I-I was a Six before I became a guard. All I ever did was work so I could provide for my family. Now, I feel like I can live a life where my family is safe and I can be happy for once."

I smiled at the boy who had lay out his life story for me. "We can change that. Now that you're here, we can watch the sunset or say things out loud. Forevermore we are Aspen and Lonnie without numbers and titles." I climbed up on the railing so I could sit with my legs dangling over the edge. I pulled his arm forward. "Come and sit with me and yes that's in fact a royal order. Get used to it, Leger."

"Is it dangerous to be sitting on top of the railing?" He wanted to pull me back down but he shook off the urge as he climbed up to join me. "You're one crazy princess? Nevermind, I like crazy. It reminds me of the craziest things I have done in my childhood."

"Did you break any laws?" I taunted as I made a face at him. "Do tell, let's hear the crazy things that young Aspen Leger has done."

"Oh I broke curfew and I have a secret ex-girlfriend. I had loved her but I couldn't make her a Six, I just can't do it to her. She probably hates me now." His voice cracks. "The dumbest thing is how I broke off things with her."

My smile filters. He has a girlfriend, a girl he couldn't get over. I moved away from his touch just slightly so he doesn't get the impression that I'm interested in him romantically. "Maybe once you get back home, you could win her back." I smiled sadly. "Don't get your hopes up yet. If she's the one then fight for her again."

"Perhaps," he hedges. As silence fell between us while the sun was coming down leaving a tan glow in the sky.

"Where are you from if you don't mind me asking?" I asked, breaking the silence between us.

"I'm from Carolina like Lady America," he brushes his finger over mine. It left me breathless when he does funny things to my heart.

"Wow! I thought you were from the northern provinces. I didn't know you were from the same province as America. Do you both know each other?"

"I-Uh, we meet briefly but I don't know her very well." He moves his hand away as he stares at the sky with a blank expression on his face.

"I have only known her for a matter of weeks. She's amazing, you'll love her once you get to know her. You're lucky to have her representing your province. I have never been to Carolina, in fact I have never been out of the palace since the rebel attacks have gotten worse." My stomach rumbles in hunger. I hopped down the railing. "C'mon, I'm hungry. Are you coming?"

"Shhhh!" His fingers went to his lips. "Look at the view some more? See how the sun is going down as it leaves a glow that's so bright it leaves the sky dazzling with wonder?"

I groaned as I stared at the sky again. Aspen was right, it left a beautiful glow in the sky. I have never looked at the sky like this before. The sun was no longer there, the sky was pink and orange but I saw the hint of black appearing. For the first time in my life, I felt hope surging through me. I'm no longer a little girl that Father treats me as. I'm old enough to live my own life.

"It's so beautiful," I breathe. "Thank you for this and telling me stories about the sunset. I never imagined seeing something so beautiful."

Aspen grins at me as he takes my hand in his. "Anytime, I know it's getting annoying now but I love your province."

"It's fine," I smile brightly at him. "It is, Angeles is beautiful in its own way. I would like to see Carolina. You should tell me how beautiful Carolina really is?"

"For starters it rains and snows a lot," he chuckles as his green eyes stare at me with amusement. "But the lower caste people there are kind, they stick together which I love about them. The trees are as green as the grass. It's a rural area if anything. My siblings love staying outdoors to play whenever Mom and I are working so we can provide for them. There's a family of Fives I used to know when I was growing up, they have been so good to us, they even help us by paying us everytime we clean for them. They happen to be my ex-girlfriend's family."

I love hearing his story about his family, province and his dating history. I watched as his lips moved while he was talking about the story of his life. My stomach let out another hungry growl.

"I think we should eat," I said as I teared my eyes away from him. I walked over to the table, stuffing pastries and chocolates into my mouth. Instantly I feel so much better with food in my system.

Aspen lifts one of the pastries off the table. "Mhm this is so good," he mumbles with his mouth full. Small crumbs were falling on his shirt.

I couldn't contain my amusement. He's truly funny and kind. This is a date I'll never forget as long as I live. "I probably should get back inside before Father gets suspicious of where I am." I take a couple of pastries and chocolates and wrap them in paper cloth. I placed them in his uniform pockets. "Can you hold it for me until I get to my room?"

"Fineeee," he pouts like a child. "Gimme a moment, all of that talking left me hungry." He takes another bite before we leave the room bursting into laughter.

When we reached my door, I turned to him with a dazzling smile on my lips. "Thank you for everything," I stand on my tippy toes as I lean forward to kiss his cheek. "Good night Aspen. We should do this more often." I said before turning my door handle.

Aspen touches his cheek where I kiss him seconds before. "Good night, Lonnie. I hope so too, you have been so kind and wonderful. You have no idea how much I needed a friend to hear me out." He left me smiling at my door.

A princess can envision her prince as anyone she has set her heart on. Aspen has no idea of how happy he has made me. I opened the door and stepped inside my room feeling like the happiest girl in all of Illéa.