Part 13

Philip looked up when his office door opened and Edward entered.

"You asked to see me My King?"

"Please sit down Ed."

Edward sat down across from Philip.

"There is no easy way to say this but Maxwell will not be marrying Tessa." Said Philip

"Is there a problem?"

"My son has no feelings for your daughter. I will not force him into a marriage that could make him unhappy."

"Sire, they could learn to love each other. My wife and I never met until our wedding day."

"Ed, that may be the case with you. But I will not do that to my son. A good King needs someone he feels he can talk to and trust. He does not feel this way about Tessa. So it's time that the two of you return to your home. I expect you both to be gone by the end of the week."

"Yes Sire. I wish this would have worked out. May I ask does the Prince have his eye on someone?"

"Yes, he does. But I will not say any more."

"Very well."

Philip watched as Edward left. He knew the man was up to something. He then pulled the papers from his desk that would give both of the girls his wife had taken custody of full protection. He wanted no harm to come to either of them. He had also had seen Trina's report on the girls. Both were very bright. Elizabeth stood a very good chance of getting into the University.

Liz sat under a tree in the garden reading through her study guides and making notes. She had noticed that there was a guard watching over her. She knew that something was going on but had no clue what it was, or why she would need a guard.

"How is the studying going?"

Liz looked up to see Max standing in front of her.

"Not bad."

"Mind if I sit with you?"

Liz shook her head and Max smiled and sat down. He picked up her note book and looked at her notes.

"Are these the things you are having trouble with?" Asked Max

"Uh a little."

"If you want I can help you."

"I don't think that is a good idea."

"Why?"

"Lady Tessa wouldn't like it."

"Why should I care what she likes?"

"She is going to be your wife."

"Let me guess she told you that."

"Yes."

"Well her father is meeting with mine right now and being told that I will never marry her. I can't be with someone that I have no feelings for. I can't have feelings for her because I have them for someone else."

Liz bit her lip. She knew that he was talking about her. But she couldn't see herself as a future queen.

"Liz, it's OK to be scared of your feelings."

"Who said I was scared?"

"I never said that you were. I just said it is OK if you are. I know what I feel around you scares me. I never felt this way and it scares me because I don't want to hurt you."

"Let's just say the people of Antar are open to the idea of a human Queen. I know nothing about being a leader."

"You can learn. Liz, you are smart. My mom would show you how to be a good Queen."

"I don't know."

"Liz, I want to get to know you. I want to show you how a beautiful lady like you should be treated."

"This is so new to me."

"OK. We can take this slow."

"I would like that."

"Now is there anything I can do for you?"

"Maybe you can tell me why there is a guard following me?"

"It's for your safety."

"My safety?"

"Liz, no matter what happens you and your sister are part of my family now."

"Really?"

"Really."

Liz smiled, for the first time in a long time she knew that things were going to be ok.