5 more chapters guys! I'm sorry that I didn't get around to updating yesterday like I promised. However, I am working on chapters 26 and 27 today and tomorrow so depending on how much you guys like this chapter, maybe I'll be able to update tomorrow (and perhaps later this evening again?). Back home in our favorite kingdom of Illea in the next chapter! :D Enjoy!
America's POV
It was day two of the meeting with the New Asian government. Having gone over the files the night before, we were pleased with the offer they were giving us and didn't feel cheated in anyway. Maxon worried that the Caste System wouldn't be dissolved in twenty years but also rationed that if most of the progress was completed by then that we could appeal to their better sense of mercy and hopefully extend the time frame. It all would depend on how much work could be done by then but I had never seen him so proud and certain that he would be able to pull something off. I remembered how happy he was to be able to say over and over that the Castes would be removed and in a lot of ways, everyone in Illéa would be equals. How lucky was I that even though we were just friends, he was still making all of these changes because of conversations we had had over the course of the Selection? He was brave, honest, and truly one of the greatest men that would ever exist in the world. I put on my outfit for the day and headed down the halls to where the meeting would be starting shortly.
Outside on our half of the building stood Elise, looking around the hallway as if she was looking for something. I smiled at her when I saw her, which earned me a smile back, and I headed down the hallway to greet her. "You seem to be doing well since the Selection ended," I looked down at her ring and saw the small red jewel sitting on top of a silver band. She smiled and lifted it to me so that I could have a closer look.
"Yes, it is funny how I was so worried about Maxon sending me home and how much I would disappoint my parents and offend their honor when I left. Now they couldn't be more proud of me, here in New Asia as Ambassador to Illéa relationships alongside my fiancé, who I met here when I came to see if I could start studying in this country. Now I know that I would be anything but happy with King Maxon and that our marriage would have been completely faked." She smiled brightly as she looked one more time at her ring before putting her hand back down. "What about you America? Are you seeing anyone?"
"Well, I was but nothing was really feeling the way that it should. I've been in love twice already and it wasn't like it with this guy that it was before. And I just didn't want to keep leading him on so I think when I get back to Illéa I'm going to call it off. I don't want to drag on something I know I don't want to be a part of."
She nodded, as if there was an unanswered question hanging in the air. She kept quiet as she pondered my words and I knew exactly what she was trying to figure out. Was I still in love with Maxon? Would I be the wrench that made his relationship with Kriss fall apart? "Well, that's too bad America. But you can't get too hung up in the past. It's there for a reason but it's also in the past for a reason."
"I know," I replied, looking her dead in the eyes as I continued. "I'm very happy for them, Elise. I want them to have a happy and long life together. But I know that was the kind of love that I want for the rest of my life and I deserve not to settle for anything less from anyone else."
"Very well said," she replied, looking up at the clock. "Anyway, I'll see you later America. We will definitely have to visit each other if you and I are ever in the same country," she said as she walked through the halls and back to her end of the building.
Shortly after I was joined by the rest of my party, waiting as Maxon took the front of the group as we entered the room. The Prime Minister did the same at his double doors and the two shook hands from across the table before they sat down. Unlike yesterday's meeting, there were a few members of the press in the meeting room today. They must be here to record whether or not the agreements went through and they would probably be impressed if our two countries pulled it off in one day. I had to hope that this would be the case. I was ready to get back in Illéa even though I was enjoying my job here in New Asia. I knew that the sooner I ended things with Scott that the guilty feeling that followed me around in my stomach would go away. Maxon looked at me from the corner of his eyes, almost trying to tell me to relax from whatever I was distracted by and to focus on this meeting incase Daniele and I were needed to step in and offer our assistance from the Italians.
"Well, King Maxon our team has look through your paper work and came up with several things that we would like to say to you." Li started, sitting upright in his chair as he passed out copies of the plan we had given them. I glanced at mine briefly and saw that there were a few notes written in red on them.
"Of course, Minister Li, I would be more than happy to hear about your suggestions to our plans and hope that you will be willing to listen to some of ours." Maxon replied, passing out our own copies of their plans. "Would you like to begin or would you prefer that I did?"
"You may begin, King Maxon."
"Our biggest concern is that though the majority of the ground work will be laid out and nearly completed for the removal of the Caste System in twenty years that it might not mean that everything is completely abolished."
"Ah, yes," Li said with a small nod, waving his hand for Maxon to continue.
"The Italian government has agreed to back up our work and keep us in track."
"Yes," Daniele said, picking up. "I will have constant contact with Delegate America and we will know every step that Illéa lays out before they do it. We will be aware of their progress and of any slack they are trying to get away with. We will be able to keep them in check and ensure that most of the Caste System is going correctly. We would like, however, to be able to meet with you four times in those twenty years to update you on your agreement with their nation. In doing so, we will be able to give you a clearer idea of what is going on."
"And if you feel the need to still invade at the end of those twenty years then we will be prepared to give you a fight again. However, if you can agree with that progress that has been made and award us some mercy for the small amount of work that may be left to be done, we would be eternally grateful of our alliance and of that gift." I finished, looking up at Elise from across the table.
"That is fair enough," Li replied as he gestured over to his delegates. "You can arrange a meeting with them for those four times during the twenty years."
"And your requests," Maxon replied, directing the conversation back in the way he wanted it to go. I was impressed with how regal he was, how powering his stance, how amazing he was already doing as king.
"Yes, we have gone over your figure and have agreed with the number. However, there were several crops that were completely destroyed in our farms. If you are to become our new allies, we would request that you ship us some of your more treasured seeds to be planted over here and keep my people with their jobs and their lines of work. If not, then I am afraid that any peace agreements cannot be reached. We admired the rest of your lined out work and have nothing to really comment on that."
Maxon nodded, pondering their request for a moment. "Of course we would be able to do that, however, it may bring down the figure just enough to ship all of that product over here. My administration in Illéa wouldn't allow such a large chunk of the budget to be spent at one time, but the decision is entirely yours."
Li looked at his team for a moment, and they all nodded to him. He looked as if he was playing with the decision in his mind before he finally spoke up, extending his hand across the table to shake Maxon's. "We have an agreement." They shook hands and a photo was shot from several corners in the room. The war with New Asia was final at a ceasefire. It was finally over.
Maxon's POV
After an entire first day of working out more arrangements and a timeline of when all the troops would be sent home, I retired to my room to prepare for dinner. I couldn't be more proud of myself and everyone who had pulled off the peace agreement. I wouldn't be able to contain my excitement over the fact that we would be able to start removing the Castes just as soon as we got back to Illéa. I looked up at the sky, remembering that my father could barely get the Minister to talk to him about the war—let alone end it. I had pulled this off, I had managed to bring peace between our two countries without him pushing me to do things his way. It was the first time I felt completely confident in my abilities as king. I didn't have to be ruthless and cruel like he had always taught me to be. I could be myself and still get things completed.
I walked down the halls to where we were meeting for a dinner celebration. I smiled over at America in her blue dress—the one that she had first worn on the Report. I remembered how beautiful I thought she was that night and thought of how far we had come since those early stages of our relationship. Even if it had changed, it could possibly have been for the better. I was lucky to have her by my side throughout all this change. I lead the team into the dining room and we all began to eat and talk amongst the New Asian government. For not being very talkative at the first dinner, they were much more open now that the signing of the treaty was being worked on and all of the details had been hammered out. We ate, laughed, and drank as the night continued on, raising toasts to our success and enjoying the first responsibility free moment between our countries in years.
I watched as America excused herself from the table for a moment and found it strange that one of the New Asian delegates seemed to follow her out of the room. I turned around to do the same but found myself confronted with Elise. "You better not hurt Kriss, King Maxon," she said, shaking a threatening finger in my direction. "You made your choice and you will end up hurting my friend if you keep chasing after America. No one here is as clueless as you would like them to be. We have all seen the way you look at her, we saw and heard rumors of you taking her out on the tower just the two of you. And you should know very well how the New Asians feel about affairs. If you want to avoid having future issues with my country, you will take my warning."
"Look, Elise, I appreciate what you have to say but there is nothing going on between America and I. She's probably going to get engaged shortly to one of the general's sons. I haven't a chance of getting her back even if I wanted to."
Her demeanor changed and I couldn't help but notice. "You'd think that but she refuses to let you go too. And you both are going to end up hurting your fiancée if you're not careful."
I stopped there in the moment. So not only had she run away because I kissed her but she had also left because she was still conflicted over her feelings for me. I looked back at the door and knew that I had to follow her. If she was still in love with me and not Scott, then I could still send Kriss home. I could be with her again. "I understand that Elise and I promise that I will be smart about what I do with Kriss. But I really must be going," I replied, without giving her a second chance to draw me back into her conversation. I ran out the door, searching for America.
Anger filled my eyes when I saw the drunk New Asian delegate, William, pressing her against the wall and trying to give her a kiss. I rushed over to her side and pulled him away by his shoulder. "I believe that you need to retire to your room, Sir." I said, biting back all of the anger that I held inside. I had to keep calm in order to make sure that I didn't offend the Minister but my blood was boiling. She wasn't a piece of meat, America was a person. He grumbled at me and leaned in as if he was trying to kiss America once again. I gave him a small shove, gesturing him back to his side of the building.
"I could have handled that," America shot back at me, straightening out her dress.
"I know you could have." I said smiling at her, guessing that the smile was probably one of complete idiocy.
She looked at me with a puzzling look on her face. "Maxon, what's going on?"
"I have a question for you. And if you answer the way that I've come to believe you will, then I have a couple things that I would like to say to you." I said, taking her arm heading towards the gardens on the property. I lead her to where we would have privacy of any wondering ears and hoped that the scenery would be somewhat romantic enough for what I wanted to talk to her about. "I've come to understand that you're not really in love with Scott."
She looked up at the night sky and stars, as if she was pondering the question. Her response wasn't a yes right away and I knew that I was already right. She wasn't in love with him and she was going to end it when we got back to Illéa. My heart jumped with excitement. "No, Maxon, I'm not in love with him. I care for him, he's a good person, but I'd hardly call that grounds for truly being in love with someone."
I nodded and turned her gaze towards mine, just smiling and looking at her for a moment. "That day you went back to Carolina, I was going to come tell you that I would do anything to send Kriss home and have you back in my arms. From that moment I kissed you, I knew that I had to find a way back to you. And I know that it wasn't fair for Kriss that I was thinking like that, but I couldn't help myself." I paused, looking up at the stars myself. All the shining beauties in the sky couldn't hold a candle to America. "But then she came to palace and she admitted that she wasn't as in love with me anymore but that we would still be able to have a happy marriage and get along for the rest of our lives. She agreed to keep her commitment and I let her because I thought I had offended you and caused you to feel like I would be willing to make you surrender Scott. But now I know that you don't want to be in that relationship." I leaned closer to her, brushing a stray hair behind her ear. "Ames, if you'll still let me, I'd like to send Kriss home." I whispered, my lips nearly on top of hers, nothing but a small breath between the two of us.
She leaned over, having more strength than I did, and kissed my cheek softly. I leaned back, hurt that she wouldn't let me kiss her and fearing that I had offended her in some way. "Maxon, I love you."
I tried to lean in to kiss her once again but found her finger instead of her lips. "America, if you love me as you say, please let me kiss you. Please don't push me away from you. I've been deprived of you for so long." I whined, trying to win her over with a frown and puppy eyes.
"Maxon, if you truly love me, then you will wait to have me back when you've sent Kriss home. You've said that you wanted me before and you've still picked other people over me. When you are no longer engaged, then we can be together. But I don't want to be known as the woman who had affair with her King when he was engaged to the favorite princess of Illéa. If she's as done with you as she says and you with her, then it shouldn't be any trouble at all."
I clutched both of her hands in mine and looked over at her. "Then I hope the next few days fly by so we can return to Illéa. I can't wait to put a ring on that beautiful finger of yours and be able to love you again for every single day of my life." I smiled and kissed her nose, looking into her beautiful blue eyes. "I love you, America Singer."
"And I love you, Maxon Schreave."
