I had been avoiding the women's room for the past few days. Part of it was because I really didn't want to see the other girls-especially Celeste- but mostly because it was part of the master plan. Anne and I had decided that I had to play the "female in shock" for two days, and then make an entrance.

So the day of my date with Maxon, I made my grand entrance. My maids had made me a new line of dresses- I was dropping the simplicity look, but I wasn't going for sexy, like Celeste. I didn't need to fight for Maxon in that way. Instead, I needed to look like a queen. The dress was cleanly cut and a deep blue, and I wore moderate heels. Anne straightened my posture up and showed me how to walk. I practiced a few times in front of the mirror. Chin up, shoulders back, walk like I own the place. I had to admit, I was beginning to believe that I could be a princess.

When I arrived at the Women's Room, I discovered Celeste already there. I headed for a chair in the corner so I wouldn't have to talk to her, but she made a beeline for me. In a swift motion, she knocked the book I had brought with me from my hand and wrapped one of her hands around my wrist. Her nails were sharp and claw-like, digging into my wrist painfully.

"Listen here, you little whore. Keep your hands off Maxon. Especially right before my dates."

"I have no idea what you're talking about," I said coolly.

Celeste's nails dug deeper into my wrist. "Don't play dumb with me. I'm on to you. Maxon goes running off towards your room and comes back with his hair a mess and his suit all rumpled. I know what you're doing."

"Celeste, Maxon came to me looking like that. We didn't do anything. " My pulse was racing. I could feel myself start to shake, and tried to calm myself. Be a princess, I told myself. "Ask Sylvia if you don't believe me," I added, pleased to hear how calm my voice sounded.

Celeste wouldn't have it. "You don't deserve to be here and you know it. You were supposed to leave after your screw-up with the Report, and what happens? You and Maxon get all cozy during the rebel attack, and magically you're still here. It sickens me." Her voice was filled with a surprising amount of venom.

My face flushed at Celeste's implications. I opened my mouth to argue, but Celeste's other hand was suddenly on my face, squeezing my chin so I couldn't open my mouth.

"You need to stop trying to be the seductress. You will never win that way. Kriss and I agree, this will end, even if it's with you being executed for breaking the law, even with the Prince." She dropped her hands and sniffed. "Lord knows that's what your slut friend Marlee truly deserved. Did you take lessons from her?"

My blood was boiling. I felt my hand clench into a fist, and if Queen Amberly hadn't picked that moment to enter the Women's Room, I might have slapped Celeste again and destroyed my chances of staying. My hand immediately dropped upon seeing the Queen. Celeste and I curtsied, and then Celeste swept across the room, seating herself near the queen. I felt a huge sense of relief. I hadn't lost my temper this time.

Queen Amberly smiled at me. "It's good to see you're feeling better after your near-encounter with the rebels, Lady America."

The Queens' words somehow calmed me for the time being. Or maybe I was just happy she was acknowledging me over Celeste. "Thank you, your majesty," I responded with a small curtsey.

"My husband and I are very grateful for your quick thinking. You saved our son." For one brief moment, her grace dropped away, and I could see her for who she really was- a worried mother who had just come close to losing her son. And then her regality returned. She seated herself by the window, and Celeste immediately flew across the room to be beside her.

I seated myself in the corner, partially to calm myself after Celeste's accusations. I was still a little upset. How many people thought that Maxon and I had- was Celeste just trying to get to me? That was the logical explanation. It was getting down to the wire. With four of us left, we really had to stand out. Of course Celeste would do anything to get under my skin. I remembered Marlee's words from our first night in the palace- that people had their own ways to get under each other's skin. Celeste had found my weakness and exploited it well.

That still didn't explain her accusations about yesterday. Maxon had come to me looking a mess. I had assumed it was Celeste, but I doubted she would let me take any credit for kissing Maxon, when the credit was clearly hers. I felt a moment of relief, knowing Maxon most likely hadn't been kissing Celeste yesterday. For one brief moment I pondered the other girls, but quickly pushed that away. Kriss had made her intentions about kissing before weddings very clear, and I had seen Maxon with Elise- there was no chemistry at all. So I didn't need to worry about them. Not that I should have been worrying. I should have been focusing on my task at hand-

But my mind finally admitted to something I had been trying not to think about for the past few days. The King's words about other girls offering themselves to Maxon had been eating away at me. I knew that the king was probably trying to get to me, but some part of me wondered. Was there someone else in the palace? Someone kept hidden from sight? Someone who worked here, maybe, who was sneaking around, kissing him…or worse-

No. I wouldn't let myself think like that. Maxon had told me I needed to trust him. And I was going to try to do that. I was going to forget about Celeste and the kings suggestions about Maxon; I was going to do what I came here to do.

Fight.

I sat up and picked up my book. The book was just a cover- I was here to observe. I peered over at the corner, where Celeste and Queen Amberly were chatting. I watched the way Queen Amberly was sitting. She was straight in her chair, but her posture still seemed relaxed and easy. Her chin was lifted, her eyes were warm. She was regal even when being casual. She looked like a queen at all times, but had a soft side to her.

It was time to put a piece of my plan into action

I set my book down and crossed the room, remembering everything Anne and my other maids had taught me about being graceful. I tried to imagine that I was floating as I walked; that tiny clouds supported me all the way across the room. Act like the Queen in every way possible.

Queen Amberly smiled at me as I approached. "Lady America, my dear, so good of you to join us. How's that book?" Her voice was steady and warm.

"Fascinating," I responded, trying to match her tone. "I never knew how intricate our government really was! Sylvia has excellent recommendations."

Celeste snorted. I was sure I was taking it a bit too far, but it was too late to correct that.

I took a seat as Queen Amberly chuckled lightly at my response. "You should take a break and join us."

Celeste cut in. "We were talking about Maxon when he was a boy." Her words were warm but she was glaring daggers at me.

Queen Amberly didn't notice. "We are. I was just telling Lady Celeste how much mischief Maxon used to get into when he was younger. " She smiled wistfully at the memory. "He was trouble."

"Really?" Maxon was so well behaved; I couldn't believe he had ever been anything but.

Queen Amberly nodded in earnest. "He was quite a handful. He would run around causing all sorts of trouble. The tutors couldn't keep him under control, but the servants found him to be amusing. I can't say the same about the cooks, though," she added thoughtfully. "He was quite the con artist, and not just in the kitchens. He used to steal cameras from me, until I thought it best to get him his own."

Celeste and I chuckled at this. "What happened?" I asked, keeping my tone light. "He's quite serious now. I never would have guessed he was so…" I paused, trying to find an appropriate word."

"Mischievous?" supplied the Queen. "You never would have guessed at all, but his father had a chat with him one day about how he was to be king someday, and Maxon began to behave." She sighed ever so slightly. "I do miss his spirit sometimes. I must say, you ladies bring it out in him. He's never been this cheerful."

I smiled, feeling a warm glow inside. Part of that happiness was caused by me.

The Queen looked as though she was about to say more, but we were interrupted by the clacking of heels entering the room. Kriss stood in the door, looking stunned to see me. I noted she was starting to take after Celeste in her approach- despite her morals, she was wearing a more revealing dress than usual.

Kriss quickly straightened up and curtsied to the Queen, before walking briskly towards me. "America, may I please speak to you? Perhaps a walk in the gardens?"

I looked around, trying to find some way out of it. To my dismay, Celeste piped up. "That's an excellent idea. We can finish the conversation about Maxon later." Her smile was incredibly malicious. I had the feeling that she knew why Kriss wanted to talk to me.

I forced myself to turn and smile. Keep it together, be graceful. "A walk would be delightful, Kriss."

She gave me half of a smile, before turning and heading out the door. I followed her, wondering what she could possibly want to discuss with me.

Kriss didn't speak all the way to the gardens. We finally settled on a bench- mine and Maxon's bench- before she even made eye contact with me. She looked down immediately and fiddled with her skirt.

"Are you okay?" I asked her. She looked really upset.

Kriss took a deep breath.

"I need to know what happened that night of the attack between you and Maxon."

A/N Wow, I did not expect that many reviews already! I'm glad you guys are enjoying my story. Reviews are helpful, even if it's telling me what you don't like it. A heads up, I won't be posting for a bit- my internship is coming to an end, and I have to move to a new apartment. BUT I promise I will work on new chapters any chance I get! The next one is in the works…I cut this one off here before anything too interesting happened because the next chapter is going to be longer, and felt it should stand by itself. Hang in there, I promise it gets interesting! : )