It makes me mad to think I'd steal such a wonderful plot... I'm an honest person! Most of the time...

Aelita walked into the shop, and Cali looked up. "Aelita! Over here!" she called.

Aelita smiled. "Hey, Cali." She sat down and took a sip of her tea.

Cali sensed something was wrong with her best friend immediately, and set to the task of getting her to talk it out. That was problem about Aelita. She always kept things hidden, and never bothered to confide her problems to anyone, thinking they were too petty and that there were much more important things to solve. Like the liberation of peasants. She always made sure everyone else was well accommodated before herself, sometimes taking the lowest possible treatment. She also refused to have the servants do things for her. But her father, on the other hand, thought she was being silly and should enjoy her life, because not many could live richly like her.

"What's going on?" asked Cali.

Aelita was taken aback. How had Cali sensed her problem so quickly? Was she being too obvious? "Nothing," she answered, hiding her face behind her teacup.

"Cut that out, Aelita, I know you better than that. What's the matter?"

"It's not important. I'd rather not discuss it," said Aelita quickly.

"Stop that, Aelita. Sometimes you have to do things for yourself instead of giving your life to others," said Cali, getting thoroughly annoyed.

Aelita sighed, giving in. "There's this man, Jeremie... I don't know his last name yet. But my father's soldiers captured him, and he's..." Aelita paused, trying to think of a way to word his description. "He's a letter carrier. We know he's got information, but even under the threat of death, he won't tell. He's extremely smart, and when well groomed, he's actually..." Aelita stopped, blushing. "Anyways, I'm just so confused. Last night, William, he..." She held out her hand and showed the bandage, letting that say what needed to be said.

"And before I knew it, I had entered Jeremie's cell. He is such a rude and arrogant man, but when he saw my puffy eyes and the blood dripping from my hand, he softened incredibly, and actually dressed my wound. He asked me what happened, and when I didn't tell him, he didn't press me. He doesn't whoop at me or make moves on me at all, and he acts to me as if I'm repulsive to him. He's so different from William." Aelita gave a small sigh. "I don't know what's wrong with me, Cali. I find myself questioning my engagement and I'm thinking about Jeremie a lot. I must be going mad."

"No, Aelita. You're in love," was Cali's simple answer.

"What? That's preposterous! I cannot love Jeremie! He's on the other side!"

"Say what you want, but those were all the symptoms I had when I first met Odd. You do remember that I was engaged to that git of a man John, and then I met Odd, and I broke the engagement," said Cali, slipping off into dreamland.

"Of course, I wasn't in such a big pickle like you. My father approved of Odd."

"Of course he did. Who can resist my charm?" A pair of arms wrapped around Cali, and her face broke into a giddy smile.

"Hello, Odd," said Cali.

Aelita laughed. Cali was so happy. Not wanting to intrude, Aelita slipped away, not that the two lovers noticed. They were in their own world by now.

.:Back with Jeremie:.

Two guards came bursting into Jeremie's room. They each took an arm, and lead him up some stairs. Then some more stairs, until they were in a corridor with rich blue carpet and draperies, it was lit up splendidly, and Jeremie's eyes squinted, for he was unused to the sunlight. They stopped in front of a door. What was going on here? They opened it, and ushered him in, rather than pushing him.

Then they turned, leaving the room.

"Wait! What's going on here?"

"Master Stones has ordered you to a new room. Said it was his daughter's idea," said one.

"Oh."

"Dinner will be served at seven every night. Your servants will come in to bring you your clothing, and lunch is to be in two hours." Finished the other. With that, they left.

Jeremie sat at his new desk. Aelita had persuaded her father into giving him such leisure? Why would she do that? He had only treated her with rudeness, he did not deserve it. Did she think she was going to get information out of him this way? Well it would not work. He would make sure of that. He sat at the desk and pulled out some paper. There was one of those new-fangled pen things there, too. Those things were quite convenient. He began writing the battle plans. He knew he'd have more leniency now that he was in this room. It would be a simple matter of being clever enough to outsmart his captors. Master Stones would be cake, but Aelita would be harder.

"Master Jeremie, a visitor," said one of the guards.

"Send 'em in," called Jeremie, thinking it was Aelita. He turned, and saw a man, not much older than him walk in.

"Er... Hello?" said Jeremie.

Ulrich gave him a weird look. "Um, were you expecting someone else?" asked Ulrich.

"No, no," said Jeremie, getting up off his chair and offering it to him. "Sit, please."

Ulrich sat in the chair. He looked over at the closed door. "What I have to say is extremely confidential, so listen closely, for I can only say it once."

Jeremie nodded. Ulrich twisted his hat in his hands. "The Plan is still underway. Washington knows where you are, and is planning on using it to his advantage. He wants you to go undercover. That Aelita woman is showing mercy on you, and he wants you to get as much information as you can from her."

"How?"

"Er... it seems that she fancies you..."

Jeremie blushed.

"Washington wishes for you to romance her, and get the information from her. Her father has a large influence in the war, he must know a lot."

"I have to? Why not you?" asked Jeremie.

"I am not who she fancies. It is you, Jeremie. And also, I have a wife."

"A wife?"

"Yes, her name is Yumi. I couldn't go behind her back like that, even if it was for business."

Jeremie nodded. "I don't have any ties to my hometown. No girlfriend, or family. I shall do it."

Ulrich smiled, and stood. "Thank you, Jeremie. Your country thanks you, as well." Then he left.

.:Back with Aelita:.

Odd had left to go guard the dungeons later, and Cali was left with Aelita again.

"I wish my father would just let me do what I wish," said Aelita. "I don't want to marry William. He's such an ignorant prat."

"How could you say that?" said a highly annoying voice. The two friends didn't have to turn around to know it was Sissi Delmas, daughter of Jean-Pierre Delmas, who owned all the universities in the area.

"I was under the impression that conversations were understood to be private," said Aelita, turning.

"Yes, well..." Sissi didn't say anymore, she took a seat across from Aelita. "Now, what's so horrible about William? You should feel honored to marry him!"

Aelita let out a laugh. "How long have you known William, Sissi?"

"Long enough!"

Aelita set down her cup and looked at Sissi. "There is nothing about William you could like. Besides his looks and his money. He's not nice, he only cares about himself, and he treats me like dirt! Who would want to be betrothed to a prat like him?" Aelita stood up. "Oops, how silly of me. You, of course!"

Aelita stood and left, Cali hot on her heels.

"Whoah, Queen Cold as Ice, don't you think that was a bit harsh?"

Aelita softened. "I guess so, maybe I should apologize?"

Cali looked back at Sissi. "Nah, she needs to learn manners first. But I was really referring to William."

Aelita looked at her friend. It was as if she had betrayed her. "Are you serious? I thought you agreed with me about the whole William thing!"

"I am! I totally agree! But you want to please your father, right?"

"Of course I do, but if he thinks I'm going to marry William, he's wrong. I won't give my life away just to please him!"

"Then you know what you have to do," said Cali, looking away from Aelita. "You have to have an affair. With a man your father absolutely hates... or close to it."

Aelita looked at Cali with huge eyes. "Someone like..."

"Jeremie." they said together.

Whoah, talk about a short chapter! And even after all that long wait! I know, I'm evil upon evil. But you love me anyways:D

A wonderful cliffie if I do say so myself. This is starting to turn out sort of like How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days... let's hope it doesn't, shall we? Lol

Count on the chapters being this short. That's the last thing I have to say.

Lady Epur out