Adam

'Amberly, I can't believe this is the last ball.' I sighed down the phone.

'I know, you'll be home soon and then I need to leave.' She complained.

'I wish you didn't need to go over to England.' I empathised. Honestly, I didn't want her to be engaged to Prince Anthony but our parents had been planning this engagement since the first time Amberly went over with father and the twins after they were born. Apparently, the two got on well, but I had met the prince several weeks ago and from the first glance I knew this was going to be hard for Amberly.

He was a devilish character who enjoyed pulling pranks on everyone around him. My serious sister was not going to enjoy the prince's antics. She barely handled the tricks from our younger sister Marinda, I wasn't sure she would be able to deal with it from her future husband. The man she was to spend the rest of her life with.

'I don't either Adam but I am the eldest princess. I always knew I would marry to help better Illea's alliances.' She admitted solemnly but I could hear the strength behind her words. Being the eldest she was far more accepting of duty than any of her younger siblings, including me. Amberly may have been the eldest but the only reason she was preparing to marry this prince was because she was the only one of us willing to make that sacrifice for duty. I could never see Marinda sacrificing herself so willingly and mother and father would never force it on her.

'Amberly, you don't need to do this.' I said in a small voice, wishing my older sister didn't need to leave me when I needed her the most.

'Yes, I do Adam. How bad could he be?' She laughed but I could hear the doubt echoing in her laughter. She had heard the stories about prince Anthony and she had met him twice when the two were younger.

'What if you hate him Amberly?'

'I won't hate him.' She replied confidently but I knew my sister and she wouldn't tolerate the mischievous prince's antics. If he tried one of his tricks on her this marriage would be doomed. If there was one thing I knew about my sister she didn't give second chances and I feared prince Anthony was going to need many.

'What about you Adam? Are you happy with all your choices?' She asked, quickly trying to divert the conversation from her and her future husband.

'Honestly, I don't really remember my choices anymore. A lot of them were so long ago.' I admitted sadly.

'Oh Adam, I do not envy you. Are there any that stand out?' I ran through my head all the previous balls and the only name that came to mind was Medea Linh from Angeles our first stop on the tour.

'Medea from Angeles was beautiful and she was really intelligent too.' I mused thinking back to the night of the ball. I danced with her for two or three songs, discussing politics and New Asian relations. Topics that few other girls had tried to broach. I knew from her appearance that she was of New Asian descent but her intelligence surprised me. None of the other girls I had danced with that night tried to let their intellect shine through, but she had. The choice was easy, far easier than any of the others I needed to make after.

There was one thing that I found odd about her. When I looked over at her later in the night she was in a heated discussion with a man I could only assume was her father and he didn't seem to be very happy with her about something. I found it strange because she had spent so much time with me and it was obvious that she was going to be my choice.

'Well, she must have been something special for you to remember her after all this time.' My sister mused jolting me from my thoughts.

'I don't know, I guess it will be easier when they all come to the palace and I can spend more time getting to know them all better.'

'They already love you Adam, all you need to do is find the one who truly loves you and not the idea of a prince and all that comes with that.' This was one of my greatest fears, how would I know which one loved me for me, Adam and not the me who was a prince?

'Look Adam, I need to go dad's calling me about something and there are a million things which need to be done before I leave for England in a few days.'

'Okay Amberly.' I sighed hating how soon she would leave when I returned.

'Just enjoy yourself tonight Adam because after this everything becomes serious. Your decision will affect not only you but all the people of this country.'

'Thanks Ambs, I feel so much better now.' I muttered, feeling a heavy weight settle on my shoulders as I thought about my future.

'You're going to be fine Adam. I need to go.' She answered hurriedly.

'Okay, bye Amberly.'

'I love you Adam, just remember we're all here to support you.'

'I know, I love you too.' I replied earnestly before ending the call. I took a deep breath and looked at my suit for the night. It looked like all the others but something felt different about tonight. Maybe it was just because it was the last ball but I felt like something big was about to happen. I just couldn't figure out what it was. Despite the uneasy feeling I was determined to enjoy myself. Amberly was right, as she usually was, this would be my last night before I dived head first into some of the most stressful months of my life. At the end of all of this I would no longer be simply Prince Adam but instead I would be Adam, prince and husband. How was I ever going to get through this?

Amberly

Ending the call with Adam all I could think was how down he sounded. These had not been an easy few months for him. He was inexperienced with girls and he had been thrown into this with very little preparation. Watching all the highlights from the first few balls it was obvious that he was completely lost when it came to dealing with women but that didn't stop them from throwing themselves at my brother, trying to win his affections. The problem for them was he looked completely disinterested. He hid it well and if you didn't know him like I did you wouldn't have noticed. However, I did know him and I could tell he was struggling. I just hoped tonight he would find a girl who captured his attention and was able to hold it for longer than a dance.

I couldn't think about Adam now though because I had problems of my own. More specifically, a prince on the other side of the world who had a reputation for making trouble. The last time I met him was no different than the stories I had heard about him.

He came to the palace when I was ten and he was twelve. I had been avoiding him after he tied spaghetti in my hair at dinner the night before.

He came and found me in my mother's gardens, hiding behind the rose bushes hoping their thorns would ward him off.

Unfortunately for me he didn't fear the rose's thorns or my temper which he had experienced the night before with a smug smile on his face. When he started picking my mother's roses I lost it. No one was allowed to touch mom's roses, no one. I yelled and yelled until finally I had no more words to scold him with. Yet, still he stood there with a smug smile on his face as if my outburst had no affect on him. Then he simply handed me the roses and said, 'I wanted you to have the most beautiful flowers in the garden because a beauty like yours deserves flowers to match.' I took the flowers from him and watched as he walked away, perplexed by the actions and words of the prince. A few minutes later I felt my anger boil again, annoyed at how his words had charmed me. Still, I kept the flowers and put them in a vase in my room. I would often find myself staring at them, even when they began to wilt, long after the prince had left, wondering what he was doing and who he was tormenting.

Now, I just hoped he had grown out of his childish ways and accepted the responsibility of being next in line for the throne. He couldn't still be that immature twelve year old who took pleasure in making me angry, could he?

'Amberly, are you coming?' My father asked impatiently from my door, pulling me from my distressing thoughts about a troublesome prince.

'Yes dad, I'm coming.' I replied getting out of my chair and following him out of the room.

I sat across from him in his office as he handled another matter of state involving funding for the education of those who were formerly in the lower castes. It didn't seem like the conversation was going well, until finally he sighed heavily hanging up the phone.

'Bad news?' I asked already knowing the answer.

'Always, we can't afford to pay the best teachers for the poorer people in our nation so their education will always be inferior to those who can afford a private education. If we can't bridge the education gap the separation between the rich and the poor of this nation will just continue to grow. Your mother isn't going to be happy when she returns.' He sighed running his hands through his hair, like he usually did when he was stressed. Adam had picked up the same trait and the two often had the same dishevelled hair at the end of the day.

'However, this isn't why I called you here.'

'What's wrong dad?' I asked a little confused as to why he had called me to his office, there was no way I could be in trouble.

'I want to discuss this engagement with prince Anthony. I know this should be a discussion you have with your mother but she isn't here and you won't have time when she comes back.'

'Okay.' I answered cautiously.

'Amberly, you're beautiful, intelligent and a just leader.' This looked ominous, as if he was trying to ease me into something. I narrowed my eyes at my father, suspicious of his compliments.

'And?' I prompted impatiently, I had my mother's patience or more accurately her lack of patience. It was something I shared with the twins, possibly the only thing I shared with those two trouble makers.

'This isn't going to be an easy transition for you.' He answered vaguely, looking anywhere but at me.

'Dad, please this is ridiculous just say what you want to say.'

'Amberly, prince Anthony is just like his father.'

'I'm not seeing the problem. Isn't that a good thing? His father is a wonderful ruler, all his people adore him.'

'He is a good ruler but he has never grown up and neither has his son. They are two very mischievous men who when they team up are almost impossible to stop.'

'You make them sound like a warring nation.' I laughed nervously.

'Amberly,' my father said looking at me seriously. 'I want you to promise me you will give him a chance. Promise me you won't make a snap judgement like you usually do and refuse to give him any hope of winning you over. This will only work if you are willing to accept him because of his flaws.'

'I don't make snap judgements.' I muttered.

'Amberly?' He said, raising his eyebrow at me accusingly.

'Fine, so I judge people too quickly. It's not the worst trait to have.' I grumbled slumping in my chair annoyed with the conversation.

'You're just like your grandfather.' He muttered in exasperation.

'Is that a bad thing?' I demanded.

'No, Amberly, it's not a bad thing.' He sighed but I knew he and grandfather didn't always see eye to eye on most things. I had walked in on some terrible fights between the two of them and both were intimidating when pushed. 'I just wish you were a little less serious sometimes.'

'Are you saying I'm boring?'

'No, god I wish your mother was here.' He muttered.

'Well, she's not so what are you trying to say dad?' I demanded angrily.

'I want you to be happy Amberly.' He breathed walking around his desk and taking both of my hands in his.

'I know.' I whispered looking down at both of our hands.

'I love you so much, I just want to see you with someone you love.' He said earnestly pulling me to my feet.

'It's an arranged marriage dad. The best I can hope for is being content.' I admitted sadly. It was what I dreaded most about going over to England. I had always dreamt of a love like mom and dad's but ever since they told me about the arrangement with prince Anthony I could feel that dream slowly slipping away.

'You'd be surprised what you can find when you leave your mind and heart open to the possibility.' Dad answered pulling me into a tight hug.'I love you Amberly.'

'I love you too dad.' I smiled as his phone began to ring again.

'Sorry I need to take this.' He apologised pulling away and moving back around his desk. Without mom here he was always swamped in work but he never compromised time with us. He was at every meal and made sure to be there when we went to sleep at night. Even though I was twenty-one I still wanted my father there every night telling me he loved me and wishing me sweet dreams. I guess it was just another thing in my life that was about to change. Looking at my stressed father for a few more seconds I then turned and walked out of his office heading for the only person who was always there for me when I needed to get something off my chest.

'Grandfather?' I called into his silent room.

'Is that my favourite granddaughter?' Came his deep voice from somewhere inside. I walked in and smiled when I found him on the balcony enjoying the morning sun of Angeles with a cup of coffee in hand.

'You can't say that,' I scolded taking the seat beside him. 'You have two other granddaughters.'

'You're still my favourite.' He smiled offering me a cup. I took it gratefully breathing the aroma in.

'You're terrible.' I laughed.

'So what's on your mind?' He asked looking back out at the gardens, his silver-grey hair shinning in the sunlight.

'How do you know I have something on my mind?'

'You have that look. Your grandmother would get the same one before she wanted to say something. Sometimes I wish I was more willing to listen.' He finished in a whisper I wasn't sure I was meant to hear. I had never known my grandmother whose name I bore, but from everything grandfather had told me he loved her very much. He met her the same way my father had, through his selection but I knew he regretted a lot about his life before I was born. However, I've only ever known him as my grandfather, the man who would do anything for me. Every now and then I would see a darkness cross his face, often when he spoke about the past he shared with my mother but he would hide it quickly. Sometimes I wasn't even sure if I had truly seen it.

'It's this marriage to prince Anthony.' I admitted knowing he would see it my way. He always did.

'I wish you could just stay here. I don't want you to go off and marry some childish prince. Who, if you ask me, isn't nearly good enough for you.' He answered, bringing a smile to my face. If I was less responsible I would never leave. I would stay here with my grandfather forever but I had a duty and if we were to secure our future alliance with the British I needed to go through with this marriage. Illea was still a very young nation with a tainted history, making most nations unwilling to align themselves with us. Although, my mother and father had worked tirelessly to ensure Illea's standing in the world I knew a lot of the alliances were tenuous and this would secure a powerful one for the future. It would give the nation greater security at a time when it was still very vulnerable to attack.

'I wish I could stay too but I need to do this, I know that.' I replied firmly.

'That's why you're my favourite.' He smiled proudly getting up and placing one of his warm grandfather kisses on my forehead before walking back inside.

'It doesn't make it any easier. What if he's horrid?' I moaned, trailing after him.

'Then you call me and I come over there and sort him out for you.' He answered seriously, looking through his bookshelves for something. I had no doubt that he would come over to England if I called and told him prince Anthony was misbehaving, he was my grandfather.

'I wish you could just come over with me now.' I whined sitting in one of his chairs by the fireplace.

'You know I would go in a heartbeat but your parents will not let me.' He answered sadly and I knew he was going to miss me as much as I would him.

'What are you looking for?' I asked curiously as he pulled out random books and opened very old looking boxes.

'A book.' He answered vaguely.

'Lucky you're looking in your bookshelf then.' I deadpanned gaining me a head shake from my grandfather who seemed to have finally found what he was looking for.

'Found it.' He announced turning with a black leather book in his hand.

'What is it?' I questioned as he sat across from me with the book held reverently in his hands.

'It's a gift for you. I originally got it for your father when he was younger but we had a disagreement and…' I saw that darkness cross his face before he shook it off and continued. 'Well, that doesn't matter now. I want to give it to you.' He said handing me the black book gently. I looked at it for a long time before he said,

'Well, are you going to open it?'

'Oh right.' I laughed opening the front cover gently. On the inside there was an inscription in gold ink.

To my beautiful Amberly,

Here is a book filled with blank pages waiting for your wonderful creations. Fill the pages with everything you love and everything you see over in England. When you think all is lost look back at these once blank pages and admire what you have created. You'd be surprised how easily you can forget the little moments that make you fall in love. Never forget to love Amberly, don't let it become your greatest regret.

Love Grandfather

'Grandfather, it's beautiful.' I breathed, flicking through the blank white pages just waiting for me to bring them life. My finger's itched to cover their blankness with something, anything. The possibilities already running rampant through my mind.

'You can't use it until you get over to England.' He instructed as if reading my mind.

'Fine.'

'I meant every word in there Amberly,' He continued seriously. 'I want you to find love and when you do don't put it to the back of your mind. It should be the first thing you think of in the morning and the last thing you see before you drift to sleep at night. Never ignore it. Never treat it as anything less than the most precious thing in your life. Don't make my mistake and take it for granted because one day it won't be there anymore.' I could see the regret in his eyes and heard the sadness in his voice. Whatever, he had done to grandmother he was never going to forgive himself for it and it made my heart heavy to think my grandfather was going to live such a sad life.

'Grandfather you loved grandmother. Everyone can see that, why do you punish yourself?' I asked quietly looking up at my forlorn grandfather.

'Some acts are too horrifying to ever be forgiven for.' He answered bitterly, shutting himself off.

'I love it grandfather.' I smiled trying to brighten his mood. Slowly, the darkness and gloom in his body started to abate and he looked at me with brighter eyes.

'I'm glad.'

'I love you too.' I said getting to my feet and wrapping my arms tightly around him, placing a soft kiss on his forehead.

'I'm going to miss your warm hugs Amberly,' He admitted sadly. 'No one can give a hug like you can.'

'I'm sure if you asked Marinda nicely.'

'I prefer to keep all my fingers and toes. That girl is trouble.' He chuckled, the noise rumbling around the room, dispelling the final remnants of his sadness.

'Oh well, I guess you'll just need to come and visit me, a lot.' I emphasised straightening up.

'You planned it that way didn't you. Get your old grandfather hooked on your hugs just so he would come and visit you when you moved away.'

'Marinda's not the only scheming Schreave grandchild.' I smiled sweetly before leaving the room to the sound of my grandfather's deep laughter. I truly wished he could come with me to England, I didn't know how I was going to cope without him. However, if that boy prince stepped one foot out of line I wouldn't hesitate to call him. I knew he would come and follow through on his threat to deal with him. I had seen my grandfather angry and he was far more fearsome than I could ever hope to be.

Returning to my room my thoughts quickly fell back to Adam. I hoped tonight was something special for him. I'm not sure I could stay away knowing my younger brother was suffering back here without me to help him. One of the girls tonight would capture his attention, I was certain of it.

Aisling

'Ash, I can't go tonight. I just can't.' Flora said quietly from underneath her covers as another sickening cough ripped through her body. I hated it when she was this way. I felt like every cough and every painful breath was my own. I felt the pain in myself and I could only imagine how bad it was for Flora. I wish there was some way to save her but all I could hope for was that I could gather enough money to get out of Illea and take her with me so she could at least see something in her short life. She was resigned to her fate. I could see it in her eyes but I refused to believe it. She was my best friend, I wanted her to live forever. How could she leave me?

At that moment one of the other maids, Jenna, entered the room. She was coming to help get Flora ready but I couldn't get her out of bed and I didn't want to either. She needed rest, not a ball where an arrogant prince wouldn't pay her any attention.

'Ash?' She whispered and I stepped closer so I could hear her. 'Will you do something for me?'

'Of course, anything.'

'Will you go to the ball instead of me?' Immediately, I regretted my last statement. Nothing was going to get me to that ball. Even if Malvolia hadn't forbidden me from applying I still wouldn't have entered. I had no desire to compete for Prince Adam's heart. A life of ruling a nation and living within the walls of the palace had never been appealing to me. I wanted to be free of Illea not tie myself to it for a lifetime.

'I can't Flora.' I said firmly.

'Please, one of us should go and meet the prince.' She begged around shallow breaths.

'Flora, you know I can't go to that ball in your place. If your mother ever found out…' I trailed off just thinking about what Malvolia would do. I absently rubbed my right arm where my burns were. I never wanted to experience that again. Once more and it just might break me.

'She won't find out Ash. As long as you're home before twelve she will never know.' She reasoned but I wasn't willing to risk it.

'No, Flora, no one will go. Besides we look nothing alike what if they check my identity against your photo. I have blonde hair and you have black. Our eyes don't even match. Your eyes are brown and mine are green.' I answered as if this was the most ludicrous notion in the world, and it was.

'Please Ash you deserve to have a little fun. It's just one night and no one needs to know.' I looked over at Jenna nervously. The other staff had never been kind to me. They knew how Malvolia treated me but they didn't want to associate with me incase they received the same treatment. I didn't trust that they wouldn't rat me out to Malvolia if I did go.

'Jenna?' Flora called, pushing herself up in her bed as I hovered uneasily beside her. 'If Aisling goes in my place will you tell my mother?' She asked bluntly but Jenna didn't even bat an eyelash before she answered.

'No, as far as I know you attended the ball tonight Miss Avery.'

'Thank you.' Flora breathed, turning her attention back to me. 'See, no one will tell.'

'That's one person, Flora.' I answered unconvinced.

'No one will tell Aisling. You deserve this.' Jenna spoke up looking at me earnestly and I found myself believing her words.

'Please Ash, just go to the ball.' Flora begged.

'I don't want to go.' I answered weakly, looking down at my friend helplessly.

'Yes you do, you're just afraid.' She scolded, sitting up a little higher. 'I want you to go Aisling, will you deny your dying friend this?'

'That's cruel Flora.' I said in a low voice. 'And, you're not going to die.'

'Please Aisling.' I looked at her for a long time but she knew I couldn't deny her. All I ever wanted was to make her happy. Her life was so hard, I just wished she could have gone to this ball tonight instead of me.

'Fine.' I agreed reluctantly and I saw the exuberant smile spread across her face.

'Thank you, thank you, thank you. You're going to have an amazing time. I promise.'

'We'll see.' I muttered wrapping my friend in a tight hug.

'You need to tell me everything. You can't leave any details out and don't go hide in the corner so no one can find you. I want to hear about all the wonderful people you dance with tonight, including the prince.' She demanded as I pulled away from her.

'Of course I will tell you everything but I make not promises about the prince.' I laughed as Jenna came up beside me.

'Lets get you ready then?' Flora beamed and I wondered if she was even sick at all. However, it was too late now she was set on me going in her place and it was going to take a lot to get me ready to meet the prince.

'I can't wait.' I mumbled as Jenna led me away to the bathroom. However, despite my protests I felt the flutter of excitement in my stomach. I was going to a royal ball, me, a maid. I was going to be introduced to a prince, no matter how arrogant I thought he was. Maybe I wasn't so worthless after all.

Thank you to everyone who read, reviewed, followed, favourited and were just all round awesome, you make my day. I hope you enjoyed the latest chapter, especially meeting a certain hard-headed princess who couldn't help but take after her grandfather. Let me know all your thoughts so far, it's really helpful and sometimes reminds me of things I would otherwise forget to explain. Anyway, I love all of you :)