Chapter 9- Allies and Enemies

Bluebelles112- Thank you so much for your concern! This chapter will tell you a lot more about Daphne.

Guest 1- Thanks! Happy you liked it!

WishIwasAmerica- Happy to be back (even though it took me such a long time to write this chapter too lol) and happy you liked it! This chapter is one of my favs… enjoy.

Happy reader- I love writing and actually do it a lot, I am just really slow with this story right now because I am focusing more on writing my own book. You'll see what happens with everyone in this chapter.

Guests 2 & 3- Kriss still is and has been in custody. In my mind, her birthday party happened before Aspen showed up (though that might not actually have been true). Also, I realized that I wrote her in at one point and I have fixed it. Thank you though.

DBZfanLou- As I said to Guests 2 & 3, Kriss is still in custody and I have fixed the mistake. Glad you like the chapter aside from that and thank you for all your kind words on my other chapters.

Kim 22- Sorry to keep you waiting for so long… it kinda seems like my thing now lol. Happy to hear you like it!

Sarjoo06- Thank you so much!

Ok little life update: The reason it takes me so long to update is that I'm writing my own book and generally focus on that story more I also just got back from writing camp so for the last 2 weeks, I haven't looked at this. I am still going to finish this story, but it might take a little longer. In other news, I am now out of school for the summer, so I will have more time to write.

**PLEASE READ*** Recently, I have been trying to write longer chapters so you didn't feel cheated after I took months to write the chapter. Recently, each chapter has had between 2700-3000 words. This practice does delay the publication of each chapter, though. Please let me know if/when you review this chapter if you would rather shorter chapters on a more regular basis or these long chapters on a somewhat erratic schedule! I really would love your feedback so that I can tailor my publication/writing schedule to what more people want! Either way, (and I know I've said this so many times) I am going to try to update this story more often. Hope you enjoy this chapter! It's one I'm so excited for y'all to finally read!

*All Rights to KCass*

Without further ado… Chapter 9- The Allies and Enemies

Chapter 9- Allies and Enemies

The French reception was interesting, to say the least. It was nothing compared to the disaster of the German reception, but there was still an odd weight to the entire affair. Most of the dinner was spent in quiet conversation with the person next to us. It seemed all of us would do anything to break the weighty silence that pervaded through the room. Daphne had was close to scowling the whole time and Frederick tried to act like he didn't care though he clearly did. I honestly felt terrible him. The woman he was to marry was in love with someone else and wouldn't even give him the time of day. Maxon had told me there were many trade conflicts with the French recently. I wondered if Daphne's confession and Maxon's subsequent rejection had something to do with it. Apparently, King Clarkson believed this would ease the tensions. It didn't seem to be working. The French Monarchs, King Philip and Queen Geneviève

The air around the monarchs even looked heavy with unspoken words. Maxon tugged his ear again halfway through dinner. I smiled at him and nodded slightly. After dinner, Natalie and Tiny had hired a small band to play. The music was lively, but as a five, I could hear when they played the wrong note every now and then. No one seemed to want to dance except for Natalie and a few others from France. Natalie always seemed so energetic and free-spirited, but it was almost crazy. She was probably drunk from the

The reception ended after what seemed like years. The two kings left together as soon as they finished eating, without waiting for the music and dancing portion to begin. Queen Amberly and Queen Geneviève stayed for a while after chatting aimlessly and the selected girls followed their lead. Maxon talked happily with Emilia. We all started filtering out when Princess Daphne left. Of the Elite, only Natalie and Tiny remained when I left.

An echo of footsteps trailed me as the doors closed behind. I was halfway to the stairs when a warm hand took my own. I smiled, turning. My eyes caught on his hair first. It was dark, full of raven colored curls. My back hit a wall. The hands weren't grasping mine anymore. Instead, they pushed into my shoulders. I slid my gaze down. Frederick's cold brown eyes stared back at me.

"Please don't hurt me." My voice wavered as I spoke.

"Now why would I want to do that?" Frederick asked, his voice husky. His eyes were glazed and his gaze fell to survey my body. I tried not to shake.

"We could have so much fun, darling." He whispered. I shuddered at the name. Maxon was the only one to ever call me that. I raised a hand to his chest.

"I would rather not." I said, and my voice no longer wavered. I tried to push him away from me. He barely moved, instead of moving his hand from my shoulder to beside my head. I was trapped, pinned to the wall. His head was inching closer to mine. I vaguely heard a door open and then close down the hall. Frederick's lips smashed against mine.

When Aspen would kiss me, months ago, I felt beautiful and happy. When Maxon kissed me now, it was like flying and fireworks and I felt loved more than anything in the entire universe. I loved it when Maxon kissed me. When Frederick kissed me however, all I could feel was anger and fear. It was terrible. I tried to move out of his grip, but he just kissed me harder.

It felt like years later when he finally stopped. My whole body was shaking. My fingers trembled, my lips quivered, and my legs wobbled beneath me. My lungs burned and everytime I tried to take a deep breath, I couldn't. I looked up at Frederick.

"Please let me go. Let me go." I choked out, a tear falling from my eye.

Frederick didn't say anything, but he moved his head towards mine again.

"I believe Lady America asked you to let her go, Your Grace," a familiar voice called from behind Frederick. Frederick paused. I sighed deeply.
"But you knew that," she said. "Which begs the question, you wouldn't happen be assaulting one of Prince Maxon's Elite, would you?"

Frederick stepped back. He turned to face my savior. "I wouldn't know what you were talking about, Princess Emilia."

I slipped away from the wall and turned to stand a step behind Emilia. Her hand floated behind her until it found mine, her fingers lacing with mine.

"Stay away from her. Stay away from all of the Elite. I will leave it to Lady America to see if she wishes to tell Prince Maxon this time. But if I see this again, I will tell Prince Maxon. I will tell all of them, Prince Maxon, King Clarkson, King Philip, Queen Amberly, Queen Geneviève, and Princess Daphne. All of them."

The Duke had lost his confident swagger.

"What are you still doing here?" Em asked. "Go. Get away from here."

Frederick slowly turned and walked away faster than I thought possible. I almost laughed before remembering his lips on mine. I shuddered.

"Thank you." I said, turning to Emilia. "I don't know how that would have ended if you weren't here."

"It's my pleasure." Emilia squeezed my hand. "That degenerate pig will get what's coming to him."

I smiled slightly, dropping her hand. "If you don't mind, I really have to get to my room. It's late and um I-."

I thought about telling her about my kind of date with Maxon, but that would involve revealing our secret signal and I wasn't quite ready to do that yet. "It's late."

"Would you mind if I walked with you?" Emilia asked.

"Of course not. I would love to."

We walked quietly together to the stairs. She had a joyful presence about her. Emilia reminded me of laughter on a sunny day and playing soccer in the mud with Gerad. It was no wonder Maxon loved her. They were both brilliant and hopeful. I smiled.

"So tell me," Emilia began, "was is perfect when he asked?"

I smiled fondly at the memory. "Not exactly. It right before a rebel attack, so no? But also yes. Because he's him and we're us. It was perfectly imperfect."

Emilia chuckled, nodding as if that sounded just like him. It was very Maxon though. It was very us. We were always secretly making and remaking our story.

"Almost no one knows though, that is only the story I will tell my close friends and family at the end." I said to her quietly. "To the country, it will happen at the end in front of everyone. So don't tell your friends."

She nodded and we turned down the hallway to my bedroom. "We can talk more some other time before I leave," Emilia said. "Perhaps we can have morning tea on Friday before the ball?"

"Of course. I would be happy to have tea." I said, stopping at my door. "This is my room. I will see you tomorrow." I turned to the guard standing outside my door, reading his name tag. "Officier Collins, would you accompany the princess back to her own room? I'm sure my maids are inside and I will be fine with them until you return. Good night, Emilia."

He nodded and offered his arm to Emilia. She turned before she left and waved slightly. I smiled at her, waving back. My fingers found the door handle and it opened behind me. I turned and stepped in, shutting it after me.

"Hello, darling." Maxon drawled from where he stood, leaning against my balcony door. I walked towards him, trying to release the tension in my body from Frederick's advances. He walked to me as well, meeting me in the center of my room. Maxon's arms wrapped around me and I melted into him, my forehead resting on his shoulder. "Are you alright, America?" Maxon asked tenderly. God, I loved him.

I shook my head, tears slipping out of my eyes again. Maxon rubbed soothing circles on my back. I could still see Frederick getting closer and closer. I could still feel his lips against mine. I could still hear his lilting voice whispering against my ear. I couldn't breathe.

One of Maxon's arms went under my legs and he lifted me up. "Hey, hey it's okay. I've got you. Just breathe. Breathe, Ames."

Maxon's voice was low and steady as he walked. "Breathe, America. It's okay."

He sat down on my bed, the plush comforter emitting heat even though I wasn't touching it. His shoes clattered to the floor and he leaned against the headboard while I settled in his lap (A/N: this sounds weird and whatever, but I promise it's not, I just don't know how to explain it properly). His arms still held me tight and he didn't stop whispering that it was okay and to breathe. Tears still streaked down my face. I took a deep shuddering breath, then another. I leaned my head against Maxon's shoulder.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Maxon asked softly. The words were filled with more loving concern and adoration than I thought possible. I was quiet for a while.

"It was horrible, Max." The words felt heavy in my mouth. "He just came up and pushed me against the wall and then-" I choked, remembering. "H-He he kissed me. And I told him not to and I tried to get away, but he wouldn't let me. It was horrible, Maxon."

I looked up at my fiancé. Fury radiated from his body. The frozen rage in his gaze winked out as soon as he saw me watching him. "I swear I'm going to ship him off to New Asia." Maxon fumed. "Forget New Asia, I'll charge him with treason. I'll kill him myself."

"I'm not sure that you can do that," I said quietly.

"I'm the Crown Prince of Illéa." Maxon muttered, shaking his head. "First he's an accessory to attempted murder and now he assaults you in a hallway? I can do whatever I damn want to do with that traitor."

"No, Maxon. It wasn't Aspen." I said. Maxon met my eyes, puzzled. "It was Frederick. Princess Daphne's betrothed."

A look of understanding flooded his face. He couldn't very well kill the future prince consort of the Queen of France, especially not when there were enough problems with France as it was. Maxon took a deep breath. "Oh."

We were quiet again for a minute before he cupped my cheek. "How did you get away, darling?"

"It was Emilia. She was walking by and heard me ask for him to let me go. She saw him ignore me." I swallowed hard. "So she asked him if he was really assaulting me and then threatened to tell you and your parents and Daphne and her parents if he tried to do it again, to anyone. I kind of believe she might be planning to tell you at least anyway." I chuckled, "She said something about a degenerate pig and what's coming to him."

Maxon laughed. "That doesn't surprise me. Emilia has been quick and witty since we were children and she's always had a passion for justice and for standing up for those who can't do so for themselves. You remind me of her in that way. It's one of the reasons I love you."

I smiled and Maxon kissed my forehead lightly.

"What are we going to do about Frederick, Maxon?" I whispered.

Maxon tensed again. "I think I'm going to do what Emilia threatened to do. Perhaps we can get the French king and queen to hand him over to pay for his crimes. I'm sure you're aware that in Illéa, this kind of thing is punishable by lengthy jail time and to assault one the Elite, someone who could be the next princess and queen, he could face life in jail or death. At the very least, he would get publicly caned."

Maxon kissed my forehead again. "I'm so sorry this happened to you, my dear."

I glared at him for a moment. He huffed a laugh, "My dear, America, I love you more than life itself."

A smile tugged on my face. I placed my hand on his cheek and pulled him into a kiss. "I love you too," I mumbled against his lips.

I drifted off to sleep with Maxon's arms still around me.

Maxon returned to his room while I was still asleep. The bed was cold when my maids came to wake me up. They started their preening as usual. Today, my girls dressed me in a pale pink lace day dress with cap sleeves that fell just below my knee. It was, as always, gorgeous, and perfect for tea with Princess Daphne.

Breakfast was uneventful and afterwards, all of the Elite went to the Women's Room. I sat with Marlee, chatting with her quietly for a while until a maid arrived to tell me it was time for my tea with the Princess. I followed behind the girl silently as she led me to the upper floor. She knocked on one of the bright white doors lining the hallway. A guard I didn't recognize opened it and the maid led me to a small circular table where the Princess was seated alone.

I curtseyed deeply. She nodded her head and waved a hand, beckoning for me to sit.

"Good Morning, Princess Daphne," I said amicably.

"Hello, Lady America," Daphne said in her gorgeous French accent. "I'm so happy you were able to come today."

"It is my pleasure, Your Highness." I nodded. A maid came from behind me and filled my tea cup. "Prince Maxon has told me much about you."

A sour look crossed her face and she made no move to hide it. Her hand waved and the maid with the tea kettle scurried out of the room. "He did? May I ask what?"

I bit my lip. I hadn't expected her to ask that, "Oh, nothing bad." I shrugged nonchalantly, lifting my tea cup to my lips. "He just told me that you are childhood friends."

Daphne's eyes bordered upon murderous as they gazed at me. "Oh yes, of course. We've known each other all our lives."

I nodded. My teacup clattered against the saucer as I set it down.

"And we know each very well."

I nodded again. "Yes, I imagine you would."

"He is almost like a…Oh, how do you say?" She waved a hand, struggling to find the word. "He is almost like my other half." Daphne said after a moment, nodding.

I glanced at the princess, only half surprised. "He is a very close friend? Almost a brother, perhaps?" My words let on nothing of my whole knowledge.

Daphne shook her head violently. "No, no. Never a brother."

"If I may ask, then what?" I tilted my head, coyly.

"That is actually why I asked to speak with you." She said venomously. "You seem the most attached of all of the girls. You said on one of the television programs that you loved him."

I nodded, furrowing my brow. "I- I guess so? I'm not sure what you're implying."

Daphne's gaze fixed to my own. Her eyes were a deep blue and filled with cold steel. I tried not to shiver. "You should prepare yourself. He will never choose you."

My eyebrows creased farther. "Maxon is incapable of love. He had it staring him in the face and yet he still couldn't see it. He is crushed under the weight of his father's disapproval and you- he doesn't love you. He won't choose you because his father hates you and he is clearly in love with me. Even if he doesn't know it yet, he does."

I was frozen. What was I supposed to say? He loves me and not you? Get over yourself? I was lost. My mouth hung open. I could almost hear Sylvia saying a proper princess wouldn't do that, could almost hear her screaming at me and I closed it. I blinked quickly.

"Was that all, Princess?" I asked icily.

She nodded sharply, "Like I said, you should prepare yourself. He would never choose a poor, common girl like you."

I grinned at her with barely concealed hatred, "Thank you for the concern. If you would excuse me, I'm hosting the Italian reception tonight and I have some things to attend to before everyone arrives."

I dipped into another curtsey, not as low as the one earlier. The guard opened the door and I walked out briskly.