Sorry for the long wait, I've been insanely busy lately and haven't had much time to write. I promise I'll try and update sooner next time thought! :) Sorry if this seems like more filler, it just needs to happen in order to form some back story for future chapters. Thanks for the nonstop support and I hope that you are all still enjoying my story. Also, if it's not too much to ask I would love it if you would check out my new story The Hidden Truth and tell me what you all think about it. :) Anyway, enjoy!
Maxon's POV
A coffee cup dropped to the ground. Everyone's eyes looked wild with relief or anger mixed up with them. They were thrown off my by announcement that I wanted to end the castes. I wasn't expecting anything else. My father would have never suggested such a thing and this was only the first day back to our meetings. There was no way that they would have been prepared for this. I leaned back in my seat waiting for them to tell me what I was going to do. Saxton looked completely lost for words as he started to rub his temple, his lips slowly moving and then stopping. He didn't looked at me but he would at everyone else in the room.
"Prince Maxon," DeLisle started looking me dead in the eyes. "That would make some of the other castes very angry and confused. While we all know that you are trying to get the lower castes some help that's not really something that we can do right now." I looked over at him. He had a glare in his eyes. It was easy for people like him not to understand why this had to happen. He had always been a Two. Even if he had been a poorer Two, he had gained favor with the Royal family and now would never have to want for anything ever again. Other castes didn't have that luxury. America had taught me that.
"Everyone will become more equal, DeLisle. I have a plan to do all of this slowly so that the change isn't too much for any one of the castes. But, it is going to happen. This needs to happen." There were whispers amongst the politicians. While I had overall say, or I would once I was king, but without their support my plans wouldn't really go anywhere.
"It's a good idea," Saxton whispered. "We always knew that this country needed a little bit of change if we were going to ever stop being attacked by the Rebels. But I'm not sure about your plan to dissolve the caste system, Maxon. It'll take a lot of planning and time. Many more meetings. It's not a decision we can make right now or even really vote on. We'll have to go through several steps and processes before we can decide if it is even possible."
"I understand that, Saxton, but I have been brainstorming my own ideas and—"
"That is wonderful, Prince Maxon, but I agree with Saxton. Until we can look through all of the planning you have already done and we do some more as a team effort, we will never be able to go anywhere. We'll have to meet again when you can bring those plans and decide what we are going to do from there," Emmert interjected. I nodded my head slowly.
"I understand what you are all saying but we need to have change in this country, as Saxton was saying. This will prove to be beneficial for everyone, I promise," I stated looking directly at DeLisle. He was still clearly annoyed by my suggestion as were several others. "We have been blessed with privilege for far too long while others suffer. They work harder than we do and go nights without food and heat. Bare necessities that we all take for granted," I finished looking at one of the diplomats who was sending his coffee away without finishing half of it.
More whispers. How hard was it for them to understand that people needed to have their needs met? I wanted to be a better king and lead my country into a better age. It would take a lot of time and effort but we would eventually find a way to get there. Saxton looked at me and nodded, which told me that I needed to leave the meeting where it was if I didn't want to start anymore of an uproar. I nodded and looked amongst those faces who wanted to support me but were afraid to those who were unsure and back to those who wanted to spit in my face.
"Meeting adjourned," I whispered as I stood from my seat. Everyone watched in silence as I walked out of the conference room and walked down the hallway. Lunchtime I decided. I needed a break from people and from my responsibilities. After all there would be no escape once I was crowned king. However, I didn't have much of an appetite and didn't know what to do with myself. I knew that I needed to kill an hour of time until my next meeting and decided to wonder around, lost in my thoughts.
Somehow I found myself inside of the throne room. I reminded myself that I only had twenty minutes before I was meeting Kriss to discuss coronation and run through how the ceremony would go. After, we would go to the jewelers and exchange her ring and pick out what she wanted her tiara to look like. It was tradition for the first crown that a king had to be the last one that his father had. For me that meant that I would get my father's crown from when he turned forty. On my thirtieth birthday, I would receive my first crown. I was secretly grateful for that tradition so I didn't have to pay that much attention while we were looking around. I had always hoped that I would be doing this with America and now I had to learn how to move past that dream. I was doing much better with everything, or so I hoped that I was, and I was looking forward to the dinner that I had planned with Kriss after we finalized the plans for the coronation.
I ran my fingers across the arm rest of my father's throne. There were so many times that I had seen him sitting here and imagined myself in his shoes. I always thought that he would be pulling the strings and now I had the opportunity to see what kind of king I was going to be all by myself. He would have punished me far beyond imagination for what I had suggested today, especially since I was engaged to Kriss and not America. I didn't think I would be able to protect her this time had my father still been alive. He would have blamed her for changing me and making me say stupid things like this. That I had to be grateful for. However, my anger got the best of me and I picked up the nearest object—a small stand that had once held a vase of my mother's favorite flowers—and threw it at his throne. He had made me so miserable for my entire life and now I was going to have to deal with the people who had made him happy, who sat back quietly and did what he wanted them to do. This whole plan of mine was going to cause all sorts of revolts before word even left the palace.
I ran my hands through my hair and started to pace. How was I ever going to convince the Illéan diplomats that we needed this change? I knew what my plan was but they weren't going to give me a chance. They were going to act exactly like my father about this and that was the last thing that I needed. I was trying to run a whole country and I didn't think that I was ready. I hadn't had nearly enough training because I had never actually been trusted but now I didn't have a choice. I wished that I could through it all away and just be a Five, running around snapping pictures of whatever I felt like. But it wasn't meant to be that way.
I wondered if I could get a glass of whiskey brought to me. I had only gotten drunk out of anger once and I had never wished more than I did now that I could throw the rest of my responsibilities away for the day and get drunk off my face. In that moment I missed hearing the door open and wouldn't have noticed that someone else was in the room until Kriss' arms found my waist, hugging me from behind. I relaxed back against her. It felt good to be hugged, good to be held and be able to fall against someone when I was on my breaking point.
"Hello, my dear," I whispered as I turned around and kissed her forehead. She smiled up at me before lightly pulling away and opting to just hold my hand. We hadn't spoken much in the past few days. Not only had our schedules kept us apart but I could tell that she was still annoyed about how I was acting when America was around. But today all seemed to have been forgiven and she was acting in a fairly good mood. I guessed that her training with Sylvia had gone much better than my meetings with Saxton.
"Hello, my prince," she smiled as she lightly kissed my hand. "The jeweler is ready for us. If you still want to go with me that is."
"Of course I do, I wanted to give you a better ring, one that suits you more. And I want to be there to get a glimpse of what you are going to be wearing on coronation day since I don't get to see you in your dress. Superstitions," I said shaking my head teasingly trying to show all of my disappointment. She laughed and I was glad to see this new air between us. At least if we were getting along I didn't have much to worry about where she was concerned.
I wrapped her arm lightly in mine and started to walk down the hallway with her. I had a guard order a car and head down to meet us at the palace exit. The jeweler's was just down the road of the palace, within the pathway of leaving the hill actually. But it was still nice to be able to take Kriss for a short car ride so we could just lean into each other and relax for a few moments. I was insanely grateful about how reliable she was and how hard that she was working. I needed that all the help I could get in my path to become a great king. Powerful and strong friends were the only way I was going to make change in the country and Kriss would be something important to have around, fighting my battles by my side. She was intelligent and that would be helpful in making all of these changes. Her opinions would help me with my reasons and I knew that together we would be able to make those changes. I thought that perhaps I would put her over the educational department so we could help the castes understand why things had to change and cope with the changes that were coming their way.
Once we walked through the doors, Kriss started looking through photos of old crowns that the past queens had picked. She ignored the rings for the most part and for that I was grateful. I didn't know if I could scrape the ring that I had taken so much time to design. I smiled over at her as she flipped through the pictures and designs that had been specifically made for her. She ended up picking a simple silver one, the middle holding a small loop of diamonds and leaning back against her head the demonstration crown looked absolutely lovely. I couldn't deny that it made her shine no matter if the old me would have wanted to. She started talking up the designer to make a few alterations and I sat back and watched quietly, looking around at some of the old crowns that were on display for ideas of the one I would or might want someday.
America's POV
"And you never leave a trade with?"
"Making yourself or the other party feel like they missed out on what they wanted. You don't want to leave anyone feeling like the other owes them more than what they received or you'll cause grudges and future problems."
"Correct, Ms. Singer," Daniele said smiling at me. He leaned down to open up the next file when there was a knock at the door and in walked Celeste. "And that is your training completed for the day." Clearly they had a date for the evening. I smiled softly up at her. It sucked that I hadn't seen her for a while but I was happy that she was finally settling in to a really great relationship. I planned on walking around the gardens for a little bit and then looking through the plans that Maxon had left for me anyway.
"America, why don't you come on a double date with us?" Celeste said smiling over at me. At first I couldn't believe that she was actually talking to me based on the fact that she had walked straight over to Daniele and had only given me a small smile and wave. I looked up at her finally realizing what she had said. Double date? Who was I supposed to ask? The only people I knew at the palace were either engaged or involved in a relationship with someone else and I had spent my time convincing myself that breaking up an engagement wasn't something that I wanted to be known for.
"I don't know I'm sure Daniele would want you alone," I said, giving her a small eyebrow wiggle trying to be as suggestive as I could. Luckily Daniele wasn't paying much attention as he packed up his things but Celeste managed to blush a little bit.
"He doesn't mind, do you Daniele?" She said, looking over at him with a small puppy pout. It was as if she already had him wrapped around her finger—but she wasn't manipulative to get that anymore.
"It could be fun."
"Who would I even go with Celeste?"
"Scott," she replied smiling. I looked up at her and gave her a confused look. I didn't know anybody by that name. "Officer Alexander." Great, Maxon's personal guard and someone who seemed to be his friend. As if I needed another reason to have him angry at me. I looked up at Celeste about ready to say no when she cut me off. "Come on Five, he's a Two that's much better than anything you could have gotten lying around at your house before you came here. Besides, it's just dinner and you deserve to have a little bit of fun. I'm not telling you to start writing your wedding vows."
"Fine," I replied lightly rolling my eyes as we started into the gardens. There already waiting for us was Officer Alexander, dressed down to a simple dress shirt and slacks. It was always weird to see what guards looked like when they weren't in uniform. He was normally a rather decorated soldier and seeing him in something so simple showed me that even higher ranking officers could be normal. He smiled and held out my chair for me to sit down, sitting across from me while Daniele and Celeste took the other two seats.
Dinner was a lovely three course meal but I could have cared less what we ate. It was simply nice to be surrounded by friends. I hadn't been able to see much of Aspen or Lucy as they were busy planning their wedding. It was going to happen in the early weeks of February so they had a lot to plan. I had lost my friendship with Maxon after our last argument at the promotion ceremony but I didn't know if I was ready to be around him. I had seen him and my heart didn't skip a beat any more like it used to. At least the plan to get over him was going smoothly. Kriss still avoided me, often turning down hallways or opening doors to rooms I knew she wasn't supposed to be headed towards so we wouldn't have to have a conversation. Hopefully soon I could show her that I still wanted to be friends but for now I could understand her hurt and inability to trust me. Time heals all wounds or at least I really hoped it would.
After dinner, Scott offered to walk me back to my room and I agreed, wanting Celeste and Daniele to have some time to their selves. I knew how important it was to have time as a couple and I hoped they would work out. She had the opportunity to start a new life and that was something I really wanted for her. We started to talk on our walk back and he lightly took my arm as he gave me an idea of how he had grown up. Regardless of having money, his father was constantly at work trying to gain the Royals trust so he could fulfill his ambition to become a high ranking officer. He explained that he wanted to follow in his father's footsteps and that he knew that he could do a good job when the time was right.
I smiled over at him, glad for the distraction. My mind had been so full about all the things that I had to learn and everything I was trying to let go of. I had never been good at making friends but here in the palace new relationships were coming much easier to me. "Thanks for tonight," I said smiling up at him.
"You're welcome. I know it must have been hard for you when he picked someone else. Everyone could tell how close the two of you are."
I nodded softly not sure what to say. "I really just wanted him to be happy. If Kriss makes him happier than I do, well, that's what I want."
"So you're not the jealous ex-girlfriend type," he said smiling softly teasing me.
I went to respond when I saw Kriss and Maxon at the end of the hall. For the first time, my whole body didn't want to hurl but part of me started to fuel with a bit of jealousy. I didn't know if I would ever have anyone special in my life again or if I'd even want it. Scott didn't seem to notice the two of them walking down the hallway headed in our direction but not really noticing the two of us either. They weren't locked arm in arm like I would have thought but Maxon was lightly holding her hand and she was swinging them.
Before I could ask if we could head down the side hallway, Scott turned towards me, standing in front of me and stopping abruptly. He slipped his arms around my waist and before I could respond he had pulled me into a soft kiss. It wasn't overly passionate or hungry but it reminded me what I had been missing out on.
"Sorry, I just got carried away in the moment," he whispered under his breath as he pulled away.
I leaned in and kissed his cheek before heading back to my room deciding that I didn't want the company on the walk anymore. "It's alright, really," I said with a soft smile as I waved goodbye. It wasn't the most magical kiss I could remember but it woke up something inside of me. The part of me that knew it was alright to love.
Maxon's POV
My heart dropped when I saw America kissing Officer Alexander. She looked across the hall and then up at me. There was anger and hurt in her eyes and she pushed open the door to my study pointing her finger for me to follow. So much for a nice dinner just the two of us. "Kriss, it's not what you think?"
"It's exactly what I think Maxon. You still have feelings for her, you still want her!" She was almost shouting at me at this point.
"Kriss, please. I love you and I want to be with you. Yes I was in love with her too and there is still some lingering feelings that won't leave no matter how hard I try. I've told you that all before. You think if I hadn't picked you that it would have taken you two weeks to get over your feelings for me?"
"No Maxon but sometimes it doesn't even feel like you're trying. And if you don't want to try why don't you just ask me to leave so you can be with her again?" She looked close to tears and I tried to pull her into my arms. If tonight was any indication I had to work even harder to completely fall in love with Kriss, not just have some feelings for her. She pulled her arm away from me and didn't let me touch her.
"You don't want to be my princess?" My heart stopped working for a few moments. What was I going to do if she went home? I had already sent all of the other girls home, Celeste was moving on, America wouldn't speak to me, and there was no way that I wanted to marry Elise.
"No, I just need some space, Maxon. It's obvious to everyone that you still love her and that hurts. After I am crowned alongside you, I just want to go home for a week. Clear my head. That's all I'm asking for. I still love you, just please. Let me go see my family and friends."
"Okay," I whispered.
