Chapter 13:

Even if Peyton felt sad and incomplete at that moment, she felt compelled to tell Nathan something. When they broke off the hug, she looked at him straight in the eye. "Nathan…I think you should know that…We're going to get married."

"Princess, are you proposing to me?" Nathan asked thinking it was a joke.

Peyton couldn't laugh but she tried to smile as she shook her head. "No…It's not like that. I mean…When you were gone, my parents had already discussed my marriage. It's customary for me to marry the chosen person. My parents had to choose for me as King and Queen."

Too much information, Nathan thought. At that time, they had looks of worry and confusion on their faces. "So…That won't ever change?" Nathan asked. He saw the look on Peyton's face. She looked hurt. "No…No…It's not that I don't want to. It's just…Really sudden."

"I know it is. I've been so bothered lately about this matter as well."

"But let me ask you a question." Nathan said. "Do you want to marry me?"

"Yes." Peyton answered right away.

"Even if there were no laws about who you should marry?"

Peyton was about to say yes but nothing came out. Both she and Nathan were not prepared for that. So, to make up for that, Peyton coughed as an excuse. "Sorry about that. Something just got stuck on my throat."

Nathan didn't really but the excuse. He just brushed off the question so he didn't have to hear an answer. They pretended like none of that happened.

"You know what…I can't really eat anymore…I'm really full." Peyton said without making any eye contact with Nathan.

"Me too." Nathan said doing the same thing. "Shall we go now?" He asked hesitantly.

"Uh…I still have to do something." Peyton said. "But this was very fun. I had a good time." She said, as they still didn't feel as happy as they were right after they kissed.

"I'm glad you did." Then Nathan looked at Peyton and once they were OK enough to look at each other. Nathan gave her a smile and Peyton returned the favor. Nathan kissed Peyton's hand, "Good Night." He said as he left the place and went to his room.

Peyton didn't even bother to watch him leave. After that conversation, she felt like what happened before it (the final conversation) was a lie…Like it meant nothing all of a sudden.

All she could think about was what had happened between her and Haley earlier. She left the garden and went to the entrance of the palace (in front). She sat on one of the benches and started to ponder. Why did she cry? Was there chemistry between Haley and Lucas? Did the kiss with Nathan mean anything? Were they really falling for each other?

Daphne was taking a walk around the palace too. When she saw her daughter, she felt worried and approached her. "My little princess…" She said, as she sat down beside her.

Peyton saw who it was and felt a little comfort. She smiled at her mom and put her head on her shoulder. "Mother…"

"I can see you from the door, and right away…I knew…You're thinking of something. What is it?" Daphne asked as she tugged Peyton's hair behind her ear. "The dinner with Nathan didn't go so well?"

Peyton faced her mother and was reluctant to answer. "He kissed me."

The mother was very excited and happy for them, but when she noticed that Peyton wasn't, she asked, "You didn't want him to?"

"It's not that I didn't want him to. Before the kiss, we were having such a wonderful time. After the kiss, we were fine as well but…" She couldn't continue because she didn't know what Daphne would say.

"Tell me…" Daphne said softly.

"When…" Peyton closed her eyes and sort of prepared for it. "When I told him about the marriage…It brought up some things."

"What kind of things?"

"It's…a really long story." Peyton said. "I'm sorry mother." Peyton said looking at her mom with regret.

"It's OK. You don't have to tell me if you don't want to, but…I do want to know…How Nathan reacted to the news." Her mother asked.

"He acted…surprised…In a normal way. Not thrilled, but I don't blame him…I feel like…"

"Like?"

"Mother, if I tell you the whole story, will you promise to keep it a secret?" Peyton finally asked.

"Peyton, what's going on?" Daphne asked with so much worry.

"Mother just promise me and I will tell you."

"Ok dear. I promise."

Peyton took a deep breath and looked for the right words to say. "Lucas Oliverus…I've told you about him before right?" Then Daphne nodded. "He met Haley in the market, on the first day that he visited me here. After that, the three of us became very close. We always spent time together. But…on the day they met, Lucas and I bonded here. He even showed me how skilled he was in handling weapons. Anyway, while we were bonding, Carl…You know Carl right?" Peyton asked first, as Daphne nodded again. "Carl saw us, and that was fine…What wasn't fine was what he said."

"What did he say?" Daphne asked.

"He said that I looked at Lucas in such a special way. He even compared it to the way I looked at Nathan." Peyton said. "The difference is I've known Nathan for so long, so it's not out of the ordinary for me to look at him that way…With Lucas…I've only been with him for a day and I'm already…" She didn't really want to continue, but she wanted to let it all out. "You know what I mean already." And Daphne, once again nodded to assure Peyton that she was following. "What's even more bothering is that…He was right…" Peyton had a flashback of that time in the field when Lucas was shooting the apple in the tree. "In that moment, I can remember feeling so…weak and…happy. I didn't notice it then, but I couldn't really take my eyes off him. That image…stayed on my mind…I even drew and painted it. And it sounds foolish but until now, I can't get it off my head. I don't even know why. I can't understand my feelings…" She paused first, to snap out of that daze. Then she looked at her mom with such a sad face. Her mom held her hand, and she continued, "You know mother…I was so sure that I was falling for Nathan. Then this stranger comes along and everything's so complicated…And it does not end there."

"There's more?" Daphne asked feeling more and more concerned for her daughter.

"Haley and Nathan…They seemed to be very close. I asked Haley about it and do you know what she said? She said that she liked Lucas, and not Nathan." Peyton said so sadly.

Daphne was sinking in all she had heard. It seemed unreal. After a long silence, she asked Peyton. "How did that make you feel? When Haley said that…"

"I…felt really…crushed." Peyton said. "I even…" She didn't want to say it. "Cried."

"Oh dear…" Daphne said, putting her hand on her forehead. Then she slowly smiled and looked at Peyton. She held her face and said. "I think you've fallen in love with Lucas." She said still smiling at Peyton.

Peyton's eyes were just so wide at that time. "Are you…Are…Are you sure?"

"Well…I can't say for certain, but it's the only thing that would give sense to everything that's going on now." Daphne said as she smiled. From that smile, she laughed in happiness as she hugged Peyton. "My daughter's in love…"

Peyton hugged her mother back hesitantly because she was confused. "Mom…I'm getting married to someone else and you're happy I'm in love with Lucas?"

Daphne broke the hug and felt really sad for her daughter. "Before we get to that…ARE you in love with Lucas?"

Peyton was really silenced. Then she answered with a smile on her face. She didn't feel like smiling but she couldn't help it. "Yes…" She said, and she even laughed.

"Now do you understand why I was so happy?" Daphne asked.

Peyton smiled at her mom and nodded. "But even so…That puts me in the worst position."

"Maybe not…" Daphne said with a smile. "If this Lucas is as 'godly' as he seems to be…Let us meet him. Your father and I…"

Peyton liked the idea but the thought of her father meeting Lucas was nerve wrecking. "I'm not sure if that's a good idea."

"OK then…Let ME meet him first…And then…We'll see what happens. Peyton your happiness means a lot to me. You're my only daughter…My only child. It breaks my heart to see you devastated. Right now, this might be our only chance." Daphne said.

"It's very risky mother." Peyton said looking so worried. "But I'll try it." Peyton said with a smile on her face. Daphne was happy, excited, but still very worried.

"That's a wise decision. Now…Let's get some rest now OK? It's really late now." Daphne said. "Do you want me to take you to your room?"

Peyton smiled and hugged her mother before giving an answer. "Thank you mother…Thank you."

"Your welcome princess."

"I'll be fine. You can go to your room now. I'll do the same. Good night." Peyton said as they parted and went to their own rooms to get some sleep.

AN: Sorry I only updated now. We're having our exams. Everything's just sooo hectic! But please R&R. Thanks so much for reading! Stay tuned!