Hey. First of all thank you for all your wonderful reviews. You're great, really. I hope this chapter lives up to your expectations. Many couldn't wait for the chapter where Bella and Edward meet. So here it is. It took me very long to write it but I wanted it to be good. And I think it is. I just hope you think of it the same way. Now I don't want to build up to much tension. At least I think I don't :P

ENJOY!

EPOV

I hate being a Prince. Honestly, being a prince is not nearly as exiting as you might think it is. It's not always just dancings and good-looking princesses. You always have to act like others expected you to and everybody wants something else of you. And I was sick of it. At least I have one thing I love. The market that takes place in our castle every month. Many people from different countries come to sell their goods. You hear a lot of things froms those people. And I always take the time to talk to a few of them to hear their stories.

Today the market should have taken place but it was canceled because our soldiers would come back. Everybody was freaked out about it. Except for me. I didn't like fightings and I was sick of the struggels for power of my time. Why couldn't people just be glad with what they have? Why did everybody always want more? I didn't get it.

There was a knock at the door. I went to open it and was faced with my maid Lauren.

"Yes?" I asked already annoyed.

"My Lord. Your father expects you outside to welcome the soldiers."

I nodded and followed her. Great, now I would have to pretend to be all happy about our soldier's return. Just Great. I sighed. There was no way around it.

I arrived at my father's side who gave me an approving smile.

We didn't have to wait long. Soon we saw them coming. James aproached us first. He bowed and smiled.

"We were successful. France is now under your comand" He told my father. Then he turned to me.

"I have something for you, my Lord." He told me then he walked away again. When he came back he wasn't alone any longer. He had dragged a girl with him. She had bruises all over her and she seemed not to be able to walk on her own. When James stood in front of us he threw the girl to our feet.

"I brought her to serve you as a slave, my Prince. Once she was Princess Isabella now she's your slave."

I looked at the girl in front of me. She wouldn't look at me. I could only imagine how she must have felt. She lost her father and her home. She was dragged to a foreign country and should now be a slave for those who were responsible for her father's death. I couldn't help but feel sorry for her.

"So she's mine?" I asked cautiously. "I do with her whatever I wish to do?"

"Of course, son" my father said. "I think this is a good idea. It will show her and her people where their place is."

I nodded. Then I leanded down and put my hand under the girl's chin. I lifted her face and and was met with beautiful brown eyes. Eyes whitch also held the horror of what she must have lived through. I could tell how scared she was. She tried to pull away but I didn't let her.

"You're Princess Isabella?" I tried to sound friendly to take away some of her fear.

"I used to be." She whispered. What could such a fragile girl have done to deserve something like this. I stood up. What could I do to make things better for her?

"Lauren?"

"Yes, my Lord?"

"Please take Isabella to the castel and let her take a bath."

I noticed waguely all the shocked faces around me. But I couldn't concentrate on that because Isabela gave me a look so full of hope that I could hardly breath. Even this little gesture on my part meant so much to her.

"W-What?" Lauren muttered

"You heard me."

"Of course my Lord."

I gave Isabella a reassuring smile as she followed Lauren. She smilied back although her smile didn't really reach her eyes.

"Stop!" Lauren and Isabella stopped and everybody's eyes went to James. He was furious it wasn't hard to see. His eyes held nothing but hatred and anger. Somehow he manged to compose himself to some point before he spoke.

"Why are you treating that slut like this… my Lord?" he asked with venom in his voice "She doesn't deserve it."

In realitiy I didn't know why I wanted her to be treaten well. I guess I pitied her. Nobody should be treated like she had been. Nobody deserved it. I had never heard anything positive about her country, but after meeting her I was willing to believe that it was due to her father. She couldn't possibly be anything but nice. Or was I wrong? Her father's blood also went through her veins. Maybe she was just as bad as him. But even if she was I wouldn't think of her like that unless she'd give me a reason to.

"James." I answered cautiously. "Don't you think it wouldn't make us any better than King Charlie if we treated people like he did?" From the corner of my eye I could see Isabella stiffen but I didn't have the time to think about why she did because somehow I had made James even more furious.

"Y-You're comparing me to him? Him of all people?" He paused then he seemed to realize to whome he was talking and added an ironic "my Lord"

"I don't intend to do so, James. Since we're not going to treat Isabella badly."

"Edward. What are you thinking? Her country is ours. Keeping her as a slave will show everybody that we won." My father seemed rather angry as well. Great now I would have to convince two stubborn people that hurting people isn't a way. When you think about it… It's sad that those two people want to do everything to hurt one little girl. I mean she already lost everything why hurt her more?

"Father. Don't you think it would be a good idea to keep her just like the other maids. She could be my made." If I wasn't so into it I would have laughed at Lauren's expression. "It would show both. One, that we don't treat her like a princess and pretend like nothing happened. Two, we would show our mercy. Father please. Until now she didn't do anything wrong. Do you think she had any say in what her father did? A girl? Show mercy."

I looked at Isabella again and I saw tears forming in her eyes. She mouthed a "thank you" at me and looked back at her feet.

"Well. Son what you say is true. I like your idea but she won't be just any maid. She'll be your maid and you can still do with her what you want. Her serving you should be enough to show her and her people where their place is." My father said after a short pause.

"But-" James looked as if he wanted to kill someone right there.

"That's my final word. You and your soldiers should all go home now. Get some rest. You earned it."

I turned around again and faced Lauren and Isabella again.

"Lauren. Isabella will take your place from now on you can go back and ask in the kitchen for work." I told her but never tok my eyes off of Isabella.

"Yes my Lord." Lauren stomped away, obviously angry but I didn't have time for her.

"Isabella look at me." I just had to see her eyes. See the change in them she wasn't as scared as before anymore. But still. Who could blame her?

"Yes my Lord." She said almost inaudibel.

"From now on you are my maid. You take my others and noby else's. If something happens to you you tell me. Nobody is allowed to touch you. Understood?"

"Yes my Lord."

"And please don't be afraid of me. I won't hurt you."

She nodded but looked at the ground again. I fought the urge to lift her chin to look into those amazing eyes again. At the same time I wondered. Why do I want her to not be scared of me? Why do I care for her at all? Her father has done terribble things. But remembering her eyes I just knew she couldn't be bad. She was an angel send to hell.

I hope you liked this chapter as much as I did. This is a biggest chapter I have EVER written (you can clap and through of your clothes and sream if you want to ... just kidding :) ) No really I wanted to make this chapter special for you guys.

I hope you review because this was really hard work I REALLY want to know what you think about it.

So...

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