Hey guys! First of all, I'm sorry I've been MIA for so long. I just got so busy with the end of school and holidays that I didn't have time to update. School is starting again so I won't be able to update but I'll promise to try and get in an update every 1-2 weeks. Thanks for all of you guys who continued to read this story even though I updated really slowly. And without further ado, here's the next chapter! Enjoy! All rights reserved to KC!

Maxon POV

I throw my hands up in frustration. Where were they? I've been searching for America's maids for hours. I wanted to invite them to the first meeting of the Maxerica club. Yes, I know it is a bad name but I'm hoping we can come up with a better one at the first meeting.

I wasn't sure if America's maids would appreciate seeing me now considering I had just broken their lady's heart, but I didn't have any other option. Besides, they could hardly refuse their crown prince. I hated using my title to get others to help me, but America was far too important.

I circled the palace once more and there was still no sight of America's maids. Out of patience, I spotted a maid scurrying down the hall in the opposite direction, her head down and her hands full of dishes.

A burst of inspiration hit me and I walked up behind the maid. I cleared my throat deeply and asked "Pardon me, but could you help me?" Caught off guard the maid whirled around to face me, dropping everything in her hands in the process. I quickly bent down and helped her clean up, placing the dishes gently in her arms. "Sorry for startling you miss but do you think you could do me a favor?" I asked sweetly.

"Of-of course Your Highness", she replied shakily, smoothing down her dress in the hopes to look more presentable. I had a hunch that she had never been addressed directly by a member of the royal family.

"Do you by any chance know the whereabouts of the former maids of Lady America?" I inquired. She looked puzzled so I quickly added more details.

"Their names are Anne, Mary, and Lucy", I clarified. I smiled internally at myself for successfully remembering the names of her maids. I remembered the time she got shot during the Selection and I didn't even know the name of her head maid who had stitched her back up. I had then learned all their names in the efforts to be more polite. Plus I wanted to get to know the girls who took care of my love.

Understanding dawned on her face. Then she looked troubled for a second, but that expression disappeared as quickly as it had appeared.

"I'm sorry your Highness, but they aren't here", she said apologetically.

"Where are they?" I queried.

"They are at Lady America's house. Queen Amberly permitted it.", she answered. Her face didn't show at sigs of pain or sympathy. I gave a sigh of relief, my secret was still safe.

"Do you by any chance know when they will be back?" I asked. She shook her head no.

There was no way I was going back to America's house, not after the state I had left her in. I guess I would just have to wait for her maids to return. Meanwhile I could start recruiting other members.

"Thank you for your help-", I paused, not knowing her name.

"Alice", she supplied.

"Thank you Alice", I said with a smile.

She smiled back in return.

"Well, I'll need to get back to my work", I said. She nodded her head and turned around to leave.

I turned around to leave but before I could take a step 3 words were whispered into my ear.

"She's a keeper."

I turned around in surprise. But all I saw was the back of the maid, walking down the hallway.

I stood there frozen in shock. Were people still rooting for America? Even after the competition was done?

I was completely appalled. I knew that the people had loved America, but I didn't think they adored her this much. I always knew she was meant to be more than a Five.

I walked dejectedly back to my room. I felt quite useless. America's maids had been my next stop for members of the Maxerica club, and now that they weren't here I didn't know what to do. I could go back to my office and work, but I didn't think I would get anything accomplished. And I wasn't in the mood to face my father's wrath.

He's done so many cruel and heartless things to me. But the worst part is I can't blame him for the situation at hand. This was all my fault. I felt the tears form behind my eyes. I blinked them back furiously while racing back to my room. I refused to let anyone see me cry.

In my haste I wasn't looking where I was going, and in result ran right into someone. When I stood back I realized that it was an officer. I was about to apologize and leave when I notice his tag. It was Leger! Memories came rushing back to me. The morning of the Choosing. Her hand on his chest. In what I now realized was defense, but in what I had assumed as lust at the time. My heart had broken in half that morning. And there was only one person who could fix it.

I must have stood there longer than I realized because Leger spoke up.

"Your Highness, are you alright?" he asked politely. I could sense the strain he was under to remain civil. He hated my guts, I could tell. But he had to put on a mask in front of the other guards and palace staff.

I was about to reply when I had a brilliant idea.

"Yes I am. But would you mind talking with me in my room real quickly?" I asked.

I could see the battle in his head. On one hand he hated me for hurting America. But on the other hand he had to obey his crown prince. A glance at the guards nearby eyeing us seemed to make the decision for him.

"Of course Your Highness", he replied, a hard edge to his voice.

I gestured for him to follow me. He trailed behind me as I led the way to my room. I didn't speak and neither did he. The only sound was the sound of our feet thudding on the carpet and the occasional staff member hurrying off somewhere.

We reached my room after a couple minutes. I opened the door and, like a true gentleman, motioned for Officer Leger to step through first. He marched stiffly into my room and stood there as I closed the door.

"Please take a seat on my bed", I said. "I have a few things to discuss with you."

"Could you please make it fast? I do have a job to get back to", he said in an annoyed voice, sarcasm dripping from his voice. Now that his fellow officers weren't around he had no reason to be pleasant. Other than the fact that I was the future king of Illéa.

"May I remind you that you are speaking to your future king", I said sternly.

"Pssh! As if!" he exclaimed. "You don't even know how to treat a girl properly, so let's hold off on the whole ruling shit for a while shall we?"

Ouch. That was a low blow.

"That doesn't mean you shouldn't speak with a little bit of respect", I replied.

"You left the girl you were planning on married crying", he shot back.

"Twice", I muttered under my breath shamefully. Apparently I wasn't quiet enough. Either that or Leger had amazing hearing.

"What! You're kidding me. You disgusting mongrel! You claim to love her! How could you just leave her in tears?" He was starting to get angry, his voice increasing in volume. Thank God these walls were soundproof.

I processed his words and exploded.

"I do love her! I love her more than my own life! Too much even! I never wanted to leave her. I was heartbroken after I saw you two together. I just didn't know what to do." My voice was pitiful and very weak.

To my surprise, Leger completely changed the direction of the conversation. "You can't ever love anyone too much", he said quietly.

"Pardon me?" I asked.

"You can't love anyone too much. It's either not enough or just right. But there's no such thing as too much. I knew I felt that way about Mer. And now Lucy."

"Lucy as in America's maid?" I asked incredulously. He nodded silently.

Suddenly a wave of relief flooded over me. I had been worried that something was wrong with me. I was prepared to take a bullet for America, die for her even. Thanks to Leger, I now know that it was completely normal. The reminder of his relationship with America stung a little but I ignored it.

"Thank you Officer Leger. That was great advice", I said sincerely. He nods once. I then realized that I didn't remember his first name. I tried to glance at his tag discreetly but before I could get a clear view Officer Leger interrupted me.

"Aspen."

"Hmm?" I asked.

"My first name. I saw you looking."

My cheeks turned red, embarrassed to be caught in the act.

"I'm not much for stealth. I would make a horrible ninja", I admitted.

"Well then it's a good thing you're a prince", he joked.

I laughed and so did he. It felt good to finally understand him. The fact that he wasn't in love with America anymore definitely made him more tolerable. Our laughter died out and silence descended upon the room.

"I actually had something I wanted to talk to you about", I said, breaking the silence.

"Okay", he said.

I looked at all the pieces in my head, trying to figure out the best way to assemble the puzzle. Our relationship was still incredibly tense, so one wrong word could ruin this and he would never help.

I figured out how to explain the situation to him. Now the only thing to do was tell him and hope he'd agree to join the club.

And...done! I was planning on putting the conversation between them two in this chapter but it was already getting pretty long. So I'm going to put that in the next chapter. It will be Aspen's POV. Stay tuned! And don't forget to review! Bye!