After having breakfast, I then excused myself to go back to my suite so I could go and get my things for my shopping trip with Belle and Evie. In all honesty I just needed to get a jacket and my handbag, so I knew I wouldn't be long. When I left Adam and Belle's suite Belle told me that she wanted to change into something else and get her things together. So, with this being said I knew I was going to probably be back in their suite before she was finished.

When I walked into my walk-in wardrobe in my bedroom, I quickly decided on wearing a smart dark purple blazer, so I took it off the coat hanger and quickly shrugged into it. I then started to walk back into my room and towards my bed, where my bag was waiting for me, but I stopped in my tracks when I heard a knock on the main suite door.

"Belle must have finished sooner than she thought" I muttered to myself as I started to walk towards my bedroom door. "Come in!" I called as I looked over to the main door expecting to see Belle step into the room, however I pulled one brow up in confusion when Deborah stepped into the room. I knew that I had to expect that Deborah and/or Hayley would appear from time to time. Hayley had been recently appointed to help Deborah, given the fact that Ben had now left college he was now free to take more royal events. So, Hayley had become Deborah's assistant, they both worked very well together, and I knew that they would do everything that they could for Ben and myself.

"Oh, Hi Deborah" I smiled warmly at her as I stepped forward.

"Hello Dame Mal" she smiled back at me as she walked up to me.

"How can I help?" I enquired.

"Erm- "she started. "This letter arrived this morning for you" she advised as she held up a small white envelope in her right hand.

"Letter?" I questioned in confusion as I took it from her. Who on Auradon was writing to me? I found this such a strange occurrence, everyone close to me would just either email, ring or text me. I then quickly dismissed the confusion of what was currently happening, this is how things were going to be now. I was Ben's consort, and I was going to receive mail like this – even though this did catch me off guard, another realisation of the reality that was my life now.

"Yes" I heard Deborah say, which tore my eyes away from the letter and back up to her.

"Ok" I nodded. "Thank you, Deborah," I smiled once more.

"You're very welcome" she replied politely before she turned and left the room quickly, closing the door behind her.

After I watched the door close with a loud snap I then looked down at the letter for a few seconds before walking back into my bedroom. I then sat down on the foot of my bed as I opened the letter to read:

Miss Mal Faery

Auradon Castle,

Beast Road,

Auradon

AU1 1RD

Dear Dame Mal Faery,

I hope you don't mind me writing to you like this, in all honesty I didn't know how to get in contact with you so I thought I would take a stab in the dark. I hope that I haven't caused any offence.

My name is Chloe Lee Miller, and I am an upcoming play writer; and I have a proposition for you. I am currently in the process of writing a new play; and I would love to have the opportunity to work with you. I loved your song and video of 'Rotten to the Core'; and I believe that you could help me with the musical numbers that I would like to put into my new play.

If you are interested, or would like to arrange a meeting to talk about it please find attached note with my contact information.

I look forward to hearing from you, and I understand if you don't want to be a part of this venture. I know you are a very busy person, especially with your upcoming wedding, congratulations to you and His Majesty.

Warm Regards,

Chloe Lee Miller.

Well, this was very unexpected! I still couldn't believe how much one song and video could cause this much of a storm. One thing I never expected was that people would want to work with me because of it, and now that Chloe and Doctor Tennant got in touch it was quite overwhelming for me. When I left college, I expected to maybe do an internship for a few months while juggling my royal duties before going fully into my royal role. I never expected to help with a play, and due to the amount of work that I already had to do I didn't know if this was going to be something that I could do. This was something that I knew that I was going to have to think long and hard on before making a decision.

"Mal" I heard a voice say, and when I looked up, I watched as Belle walk into my bedroom.

"Yes?" I replied as she stood in front of me.

"Do you have everything sorted?" she asked sweetly.

"Not quite" I chuckled.

"How so?" she questioned in confusion.

"I was distracted by this" I advised as I held up the letter.

"Oh" she muttered. "Do you mind if I look?" she questioned politely.

"No" I stated as I shook my head. "Of course not" I added as I handed her the letter.

"What do you think about this?" I heard her ask as I started to get my things together.

"I don't know" I advised as I slid my phone into my bag and quickly closed my bag. "I guess it is something that I could do, I think I'd have to look at my schedule" I advised as I threw the strap over my shoulder and looked up at her. "It's hectic enough as it is" I advised.

"Yeah" she agreed. "Well, I'm sure you'll think of something if you wanted to do it" she offered as she handed me back the letter.

"Yeah" I nodded. "I've never done something like this" I clarified. "It's weird how one song, and one dance can cause that much of a ruckus" I chuckled.

"Well, it was amazing Mal" she returned kindly.

"Thank you" I stated nervously as I swept some loos hair behind my right ear. "I guess we best go and pick Evie up" I said, hoping to move the conversation from my current nervousness. "She will be chomping at the bit" I teased.

"Probably" she chuckled back. "Do you have everything that you need?" she asked.

"Yes" I nodded as I stood up; and we both smiled happily at each other.

"Come on then future daughter in law" she grinned broadly.

"After you future mother-in-law" I grinned back as we both started to walk out of my bedroom. When we started to walk into the living room part of my suite, I started to get really excited at the prospect of spending time with my sister and my future mother-in-law. Let's just hope there is no drama this time.

When me and Belle walked out of Auradon Castle I noted that the royal limousine was already there with Dawson stood waiting at the back of the limousine for us. As we stepped up to him, he smiled at us as he opened the door for us, and he held the door open for us. Belle quickly climbed into the limousine, and I followed suit, and as I pulled my seat belt on Dawson closed the door behind us.

"Hopefully this shopping trip won't be like the last" I heard Belle say as Dawson climbed into the limousine and he quickly put his seat belt on.

"You mean by ending with me getting ambushed by the press?" I asked slowly as I started to feel nervous. Of course, I knew that the Press was going to always be lingering, I just hoped on this shopping trip that they weren't going to get as close as they did last time.

"Kind of" she admitted as the limousine pulled away. "I was more thinking of you being injured" she confirmed. "Yes, being ambushed by the press is bad enough; but you are used to them by now" she continued which caused me to bite down on my bottom lip. "And you handle them very well" she smiled warmly. "And I know that given your and Ben's recent engagement you know that the press is going to be looking for any opportunity to try and get any news from you" she concluded.

"True" I agreed. "Even though I do know how to handle the press it still is overwhelming for me" I admitted. This was the truth, no matter how long I was in the limelight I always knew the attention from the press was probably going to be something that I was going to battle with. Yes, I felt I was better at dealing with the Press now than I was when I first came to Auradon, but there still was times when it overwhelmed me.

"I get that" Belle nodded. "Even after all this time I struggle with it too" she admitted.

"Really?" I asked slowly. "You hide it very well" I noted.

"It comes with practice" she smiled. "Years and years of practice" she chuckled.

"I'll make a mental note of that" I chuckled back.

"Good" she replied. "If you do feel yourself struggling with the press, or in fact anything- "she started. "Promise me you will come to see me" she urged as she threw me a concerned look.

"I'll try" I promised.

"You'll try?" she repeated slowly as she slowly pulled one brow up in confusion at me.

"Yeah" I answered. "I can only promise to try to come to you, because I try to deal with things myself" I clarified.

"I get that Mal" she answered. "Everyone does that" she added. "I guess what I was trying to say- "she continued. "Is don't let things get on top of you" she told me kindly. "Especially this whole proposition nonsense" she finished as she pursed her lips together.

"I'll try Belle" I promised her again. "But it's hard" I confirmed. "I just hate that even though me and Ben have been together for a long time there are still people in this kingdom that try to keep us apart" I sighed sadly. "When will they learn that they aren't going to win" I stated. "I love Ben. He loves me" I started to chant. "We are going to get married, they are going to have to come to terms with it" I finished. I really hoped that everyone in the Kingdom that doubted me, and Ben was going to start coming to terms with the fact that we were going to get married. I was going to be his Queen, and no matter what anyone said or done was going to change it – the trial showed this.

"And they will" Belle stated. "In the meantime, just ignore them" she dismissed. "What do they know?" she shrugged. Me and Belle both pulled a blank face at each other for a few seconds before we both burst out laughing at each other. I know the conversation that I had just shared with Belle did have a serious undertone to it, but I loved the fact that me and Belle were able to make it light-hearted. This just showed how much of a good relationship I had with Belle, we were able to talk like this, and this was something that I was always going to be grateful for. I loved Adam and Belle, and I loved how they accepted me into their lives, and I couldn't wait to spend my life with them and my Beautiful Beast.

We were now a couple of streets away from Evie's apartment I text Evie to let her know how close we are to picking her up. I couldn't stop a smile spread across my face when she quickly texted me back to say she was going to start making her way down. I should have expected this, if I was being completely honest, I was half expecting her to be in the lobby by now.

When we pulled up to Evie's apartment block I looked out of the window, and I grinned when I saw her stood in the lobby way. When he eyes landed on our limousine her trademark smile spread across her face and she started to walk out of the building. I couldn't blame her for staying in the building, as I knew that the Press was now also following my family to try and get any exposure that they could on mine and Ben's wedding. I watched as Belle then quickly undone her seatbelt and she slid over to the seats on the side so Evie could sit next to me, Dawson opened the car door just as Evie walked up to the car. And she quickly climbed in, with Dawson quickly closing it behind her.

"Thanks for asking me to come" she said eagerly as she quickly pulled and fastened her seatbelt.

"Of course, Evie" I smiled happily at her.

"Are we needing anything in particular?" she questioned.

"I wanted to pop into the music store, apart from that no" I explained. "What about you two?" I questioned as I looked from Evie over to Belle.

"Nothing in particular" Belle explained. "But I will never say no to a shopping trip" she winked at the pair of us.

"I need a few odds and ends for a few clothing projects, if you don't mind?" she questioned happily.

"Not at all" I replied, and I watched as Belle nodded in agreement to this.

"How is Adam and Ben?" Evie enquired politely.

"They are fine" I answered. "Well- "I started. "As fine as they are going to be" I added. "Obviously it is affecting Ben more than Adam, he just wants to find a quick fix to this" I added.

"Which is understandable" Evie returned. "You just got engaged; and you are going to want to spend time together" she said.

"Of course," I nodded. "I hate the fact that even though I have moved in with him I can't really see him unless it is supervised" I said as I pursed my lips together.

"Sorry Mal" Belle quickly apologised, which made me look over to her.

"It's not your fault Belle" I dismissed. "In fact, I am glad for what you and Adam are doing" I stated. "Otherwise, me and Ben probably would have to break up" I sighed sadly.

"Why?" Evie quickly asked in concern.

"If the council find out we have had time on our own they could withdraw their support of our wedding and relationship" I told the pair of them. "That in turn would mean that they wouldn't support us being together; and they would force me and Ben apart" I said sadly as I felt my stomach start to burn nervously at the fact that this could have become a reality for me and Ben. But I knew that losing Ben was never going to be an option, Ben was my world. And the thought of losing him broke me, and I will do anything in my power to make sure that it never happens.

"They really can't do that" Evie replied.

"Can they?" I asked nervously as I looked over to Belle.

"If the council withdraw their support there are stages before that" she explained. "But I don't even think it would even get to that" she dismissed.

"I hope so" I answered hopefully. "What stages are there?" I enquired.

"Well, you and Ben would appeal it-" she started to advise. "But what you need to remember Mal is that there are more members on the council that love you" she went on to say. "And want to get to know you" she implored. "They don't agree with what Leah and the others believe" she finished confidently.

"Yeah" I nodded, and I started to think about what she just said. Belle was right there was more members of the council that I got on with rather than those who tried to cause trouble for me and Ben. And the members that only knew me from having meetings with them wanted to get to know me better, which was making me feel better about this conversation. Belle was right, and this is what I had to fixate on – not what Leah and the rest of her 'Order' has attempted to achieve.

"Even though I know that that is the true I still can't get the feeling from fear of losing Ben" I admitted. "In all honesty I don't think I ever will lose that, even when we are married" I continued as I stared into space.

"Mal" I heard Belle sighed, which made me look back over to her. "You are never going to lose Ben" she urged. "But I get what you mean" she added as she nodded and pursed her lips together. "As I feel the same way about Adam" she said lovingly, and I knew that she was probably thinking about her Beast. "And I'm sure Evie feels the same way about Doug" she smiled over to Evie.

"I do" Evie confirmed.

"But Mal- "Belle began. "I know that you are worried, anyone would be" she said. "But try to not worry too much" she advised. "I know that is easier said than done, but Ben and Adam will sort this. One way or another" she pressed. "They are both very well versed in the laws of this country" she added, obviously trying to reassure me.

"They should be" I meekly smiled. "They created them" I teased and the three of us burst out laughing at this.

"But I know what you mean" I chuckled as we started to stop laughing. "I do know that Ben will find a way through this; and I know in the meanwhile it is going to be hard on the pair of us- "I continued. "But we'll manage" I confirmed hopefully. "Ben and our relationship are worth it; and it always will be" I said lovingly as a large smile spread across my face as I started to think about my one true love.

"Of course it is" Belle smiled at me, and I watched as Evie only smiled warmly at me. The three of us then went to talk about the things that we wanted to buy during our shopping trip, and to be honest I was happy for the change of subject. Yes, I knew that me and Ben were never going to get away from this situation until a solution was found – I just hoped that it was going to be very soon.