Standing woodenly outside the heavy door, Cade could just hear the strains of music and warm buzz of conversation. He was late, as decorum dictated, because a royal could never be the first to arrive to their own party. Frankly, Cade thought his ancestors were just afraid of awkward conversations.

Not that he could blame them. He was too. That room was probably filled with half the selected, three-quarters of the council, their spouses, and at least Uncle Albert. There would be no scarcity of awkward conversations in there.

Though of course, if he dawdled in the hallway for much longer, someone was bound to happen along, and Cade definitely didn't want to converse with anyone out here.

He nodded at the footman to open the door, which he did, proclaiming, "His Royal Highness, Prince Cadence Schreave."

Only the few people gathered closest to the door heard, curtsying or bowing respectively, before returning to their conversations. The Great Room had been filled with small tables, each covered in a silver cloth with a dutiful servant stationed nearby. A string quartet stood on a small stage erected in the corner, playing a melody of indistinct classical tunes. The entire room had been bathed in a silvery light, which although Cade knew would look striking on camera, unsettled him just a little.

He stood uncertainly for a moment, looking around the room, searching for someone not wholly reproachable to converse with. Meyers and his wife were chatting jovially with Uncle Albert's assistant, Martha Chambers, but Cade would like to put off that conversation for as long as possible. Pamela was standing stiffly to the side, engaged in conversation with a councilwoman named Bethany Essex. Finley was sitting alone at a table, swirling around a crystal flute of what looked like orange juice.

"Hey," Cade said, approaching her.

She looked up quickly and smiled when she saw him. "Hi! Sorry, you spooked me."

"I didn't mean to." Cade cleared his throat, "Can I sit?"

"Of course, Your Most Royal Highness, you may sit at your table at your own party."

"It's not really my party," Cade mumbled.

Finley shrugged, "That's probably a good thing. No offense, but the music sucks."

"It…it does, doesn't it?You know, it's supposed to be refined."

"I guess my music taste doesn't really count as refined," Finley snorted. "This dress is refined though, right? My maids told me it was okay, but I wasn't sure." The sudden shift in demeanor caught Cade off-guard. Finley never seemed like one to worry about that.

Still, he looked at her dress, a simple dark-green shift dress. The short, curly blond hair had been tied back with a matching hairband. It was a perfectly acceptable outfit, perhaps not quite as dressy as the cameramen stationed around the room would have liked, but acceptable.

"Yeah, no, I mean yes. It's fine. It's good."

Finley nodded slowly, swishing the orange juice around her cup. "Okay. I've never been to anything like this before."

"I'm sure you're not the only one," Cade assured her, taking a mental inventory. Ellis had definitely been to events like this, probably Pamela, and perhaps Blythe, but that really was it. All the other girls were in the same boat as Finley. Maybe he should have offered more advice, more instructions, more anything.

"I know. I guess I'm just a little nervous."

"Oh. Do you not like parties?"

"No! Of course not! I mean, look at me, I'm a social butterfly! Just not when…" she gestured towards a suit-clad councilman, "you know."

"Ah," Cade nodded in understanding. "It's just a get-to-know-you," he said, grasping for something reassuring to say.

"Yeah. But isn't it also a get-to-judge-you?" Finley laughed at her own joke.

"Probably," Cade admitted.

"Ugh, and all the cameras. I haven't been on camera since I was seventeen," Finley scrunched her nose in thought. "And I guess that time at the park."

Cade flushed at the memory. It had really only been three weeks ago, but so much had happened since, it felt like longer. In all its depressing glory, that had been one of the peaks of Cade's romantic life. Even if he hadn't kissed Finley that day. Even if he wished he did.

"If it helps, these are stationary cameras. They're just taking photos, I think. They can't record."

"Oh," Finley brightened. "Oh! I didn't know that! Between you and me, I was trying to hide here till they left. You're a lifesaver," she said, grabbing Cade's hand.

Her palm was warm and soft, with a surprisingly strong grip. The touch sent tingles up Cade's spine, a pleasant enveloping feeling. Finley was beautiful, even in the plain-ish dress. It was over in a moment though, Finley removing her hand, clapping once.

"Right then, I guess I should meet people."

Cade coughed. "Yes. Sure."

"Any suggestions?" She wiggled her eyebrows, "I want to make a good impression."

Cade scanned the room, looking for someone inoffensive, someone who wouldn't push Finley too much.

He gestured towards a curly-haired, middle-aged woman. "That's Donna Lyons, she represents Calgary. I think her daughter just graduated from elementary school, so if you ask to see photos she'll probably like that."

Finley nodded one, pulled back her shoulders, and walked off without looking back. Cade knew that he should follow suit. Carefully pushing in his chair, he stood, deciding to approach whomever was closest to him.

That happened to be Pamela. She was smiling pleasantly as she spoke to a councilman. Her brown hair had been tied into a low bun, and she wore a pink gown with lace covering the arms. It sparkled as she moved, catching the light ever so slightly.

Pamela curtsied as she approached, and the councilman, Collin was his name, bowed his head. "Good evening," Cade started.

"Your Highness," Pamela answered. "This is such a nice party. I am so happy that you decided to have it." Cade didn't know how much he agreed with her, but still, he nodded in appreciation.

"It is. We're very happy you decided to follow through with our suggestion," the councilman said. "Ah. Excuse me, I think I see my wife. Miss Ramseyer, it was very nice to meet you. Please have your cousin contact me if there is anything he wishes to discuss further."

Once Collin had left, Cade turned to Pamela curiously. "Your cousin?"

Pamela nodded, straightening the hem of her skirt. "Yes, Your Highness. I told you that he was running for a seat at the political debates we had attended." Oh right. Pamela had said something along those lines, but that day had been so long and so strange, that Cade had almost entirely forgotten.

"Oh yes. Of course. I remember."

"I believe it is considered to be good sportsmanship for current council members to reach out to prospective ones," Pamela concluded. "He was being very polite."

How very unlike the council. "Oh, that's good. Sorry, never mind, I was just wondering."

"No, no. I should have explained. I apologize."

They were quiet for a few moments before Cade spoke again, grasping for something to say. "So, do you really like the party?"

Pamela came as close to beaming as Cade had ever seen her. "Yes. It really is such a nice opportunity to meet everyone. I really am happy about it."

The praise, even though it had nearly nothing to do with Cade, still made his polite smile widen into something more genuine. "Oh, thank you, but you really should tell that to my aunt."

Pamela cocked her head to the side. "Your aunt, Your Highness?"

"Uh, yeah. She planned the whole thing. I actually didn't really do anything, which isn't that…I should have."

Pamela pursed her lips at the revelation. "Well, if I have the chance to converse with her, I will make sure to tell her."

"Have you been to events like this before?" Cade asked. He had surmised as much earlier, but perhaps he had been wrong. It certainly wouldn't be the first time.

"A few, but mostly local ones. My aunt always told me about the events her and my uncle used to attend. Before he died."

Of course, how could Cade forget that. Governor Ramseyer was scarcely talked about, probably because everyone was scared of sharing his fate. Apparently, allegedly, he had been killed by the rebels twenty years ago, and although no one could dispute that the man was in fact gone, the actual details of his death were very murky. If Cade recalled correctly, they had never even found a body.

But that wasn't Pamela's fault. She was just a girl who had very publicly lost a family member. Cade could relate to that. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to…"

Pamela shrugged, unbothered. "Don't be. I never knew him, but to answer your questions, yes, I've been to things like this before."

"Have you talked to many people yet?"

"Some. They've all been very nice so far."

"That's good."

Again, they were silent. It wasn't really a bad sort of silence, the room was so full that it wasn't awkward, and the music kept it from being truly quiet. Besides, Cade was starting to understand that Pamela didn't really like to get past those surface-level small talks, and he didn't want to push her in such a public place.

He didn't need to force anyone to put themselves in an uncomfortable position if he wasn't going to choose them. Perhaps later, when he had narrowed down the selection, but when they weren't even at the Elite…he wasn't going to ask her to do that.

Cade took the chance to look around the room. Couples or small groups were coming together, exchanging a few words, then moving on to the next. Most of the council had made it, some of their partners, a few diplomats and other high-ranking employees. They all seemed to be having a good time, perhaps due to the generous amounts of alcohol stationed around the room, but a good time nonetheless.

A firm grip landed on his forearm, shocking him out of his thoughts. "Cadence," Vivienne said. Then, almost as an afterthought she looked to Pamela, "Oh, Pamela."

"Your Highness," Pamela chorused, curtsying again.

"I need to borrow the prince. Excuse us." Vivienne, still tightly clutching Cade's arm, led them away. He followed, muttering a goodbye to Pamela. He really did not need to get on Vivienne's bad side.

Vivienne waited till they were safely out of earshot before voicing her complaints. "Do you actually enjoy talking to her?" She was smiling as she said the words, one of the cameras being almost directly parallel to them.

"I don't know. I guess. Yes."

"Oh. I do not. She is a…what is the word in English…a tryhard."

Cade looked down. "She's nice."

Vivienne raised her eyebrows dubiously but didn't say anything further on the matter.

"So um, what do you need?" Cade hedged.

Vivienne breathed a sigh of disgust as she looked around the room. "No one here likes me."

"E-excuse me?" Cade stammered. "That's not true. I-I like you." At least some of the time.

"Not you. I meant them," she gestured to the crowd of politicians. "They really do not like me. I think they would not mind much if I were to die right now."

"That would make two of us." Vivienne cracked a smile, the closest she had ever come to looking amused at something Cade had said. In the four years they'd known each other, she had only given him the most cursory of polite laughs.

"For the same reason too."

"Well, I don't think having me on your arm is going to help."

"They hate you more than they dislike me," Vivienne stated bluntly. Cade didn't appreciate her choice of semantics. "Come." Slowly, as if Vivienne didn't detest every moment of being next to him, she steered them towards an exuberant-looking Nora Louise, a bored-looking Andrew, George Hyde, and his wife Claudia.

"Also, Cade," Vivienne started softly. "I have not forgotten about our deal. I will help you."

Before Cade had a chance to answer, what he would have said was beyond him, they reached their destination. Nora Louise beamed when she saw Cade. She was wearing a shockingly pink dress with capped lace sleeves. The skirt reached to about her calves, a floral pattern stitched onto the folds. The front pieces of her hair were tied back with a large bow, edged in the same lace as her sleeves.

"Cade!" she exclaimed. Her eyes slid to Vivienne, "Vivienne! You're back! I was wondering where you went."

"Oh, were you?" Andrew muttered under his breath.

"Hi, Nora Louise," Cade greeted. He shifted his gaze to the head of the council. "Um, George, Claudia, hi, how are you?" he asked, extending a hand.

"Very well, thank you," Claudia answered. "We were discussing Miss Lexington's college. University of Allens, right dear?"

"Yeah, for English," Cade answered for her.

Nora Louise looked up in surprise. "You remembered!"

Cade felt himself flush at the sentiment. "You said it the first day," he mumbled.

"Our nephew goes there," Hyde interjected. "He's in his third year. I can give you his contact information if you would like."

Nora Louise gasped a little. "Yes, please, I would love that."

"Why did you choose there?" Vivienne asked blithely. She seemed as equally disinterested in the conversation as Andrew. How easy it must be to have nothing to prove.

"I really liked it when I toured!" Nora Louise supplied. "There's so much greenery, you know I really like nature, and it's all built in this gothic-style. It looks like something out of this romance novel I read, with all the arches and dark stone."

Vivienne didn't deign to answer. Luckily however, Nora Louise didn't seem to notice and kept gushing about the school and its offerings. It was nice to see how much she genuinely cared. No ulterior motives, no hidden agendas, no longing for a better school or program. Nora Louise was just happy to be going to the school. Cade was a little jealous, if he was honest.

"Which one?" Andrew asked.

"The book?" Nora Louise looked surprised when Andrew nodded, but went on. "It was called Designed to Despise. It's about this girl named Jennifer and she goes to college thinking-"

"I know. I read that one," Andrew interrupted, barely looking at Nora Louise.

"You did?" Cade asked, surprise slipping into his voice, before he could stop himself.

"I have a lot of time to kill."

Claudia smiled, "What a nice coincidence! You all should get together sometime, have a double date, wouldn't that be nice George?"

Hyde looked taken aback for a moment. "I suppose. Especially with how far along the selection is getting, there should be more coverage of it. Yes, I suppose it would be nice. If you all would like to, Your Highnesses."

Cade couldn't think of anything more awkward than being on a televised date with Vivienne, her new fiancé and someone Cade could very well marry. Clearly, Vivienne didn't like the idea either, pursing her lips and tilting her head to the side.

No one said anything for several moments, than Andrew, before the silence got too uncomfortable answered for them. "That sounds like a great idea. We would all be happy too, whenever you coordinate with the press."

Hyde pulled out his blackberry, "I apologize for how rude this is," he added as Claudia shook her head disapprovingly. "Would tomorrow work? That way it could be included on next week's report, along with this footage."

"Tomorr-" Cade started.

"Tomorrow works perfectly," Andrew answered firmly.

Vivienne shot him a glare that he pretended not to notice. "Speaking of which, how have your summers been? I don't think I've had the chance to speak with you both since New Years," Andrew continued.

Hyde glanced towards Cade for a fraction of a second before answering. "It's been a busy few months. What with the upcoming elections and all." Cade knew enough to realize that he meant with the investigation, which if Uncle Albert had been correct, was about to be concluded.

The National Security Agency had done their job extraordinarily well. The files Cade had taken from his Uncle's office detailed the names, addresses, and biographical information of at least three-quarters of the rebels involved. Cade had left them on his desk with a note telling them to get out of Angeles, leave the country if they could. He hadn't heard anything back, not even from Lana. He hoped she was in some little village without cell reception in the German Federation or Switzerland.

He didn't know how the NSA, and the council by extension, would react to their suspects missing. Perhaps they already knew. Whenever they found out, it was going to be bad. Better than Lana and the rest being caught and being put through a sham of a trial, but bad. Possibly bad enough to delay the election. That was what they wanted. It was so painfully obvious, Cade didn't even think they cared that much about the rebels breaking into their campaign headquarters. Cleveland St. John just wanted to go into his election being the hero who eradicated half of the rebel threat.

"Yes," Cade coughed. "There's been a lot of…stuff to do."

"That's really too bad," Andrew said, almost sympathetically. "I'm sure it'll all calm down soon."

"That's what I always say!" Claudia responded, "Enough about this work nonsense, tell me, how is the wedding planning going?"

"It's definitely going," Andrew quipped.

"Did you choose a date yet?"

"The eighteenth of December."

Nora Louise gasped. "That's so soon!"

"Not really," Vivienne said evenly.

"Where is it going to be? Did you pick a color scheme yet? What type of flowers are you going to have? Oh, I hope it's roses, those are my favorite. What does your dress look like? Who designed it?" Nora Louise asked all those questions in a rapid-fire succession, her excitement obviously mounting with each one.

Vivienne chose to only answer one of her many questions. "I did not pick a dress yet."

"Have you started looking at any yet?" Nora Louise pressed, bouncing with anticipation.

Cade might have imagined it, but Vivienne almost seemed to scoff. "No. I am not going to use an Illéan designer."

Claudia nodded her head in understanding. "The dresses are all so overstated now. All puffy sleeves and ruffles. It's a crime."

"I like them," Nora Louise stated. "They're very pretty."

Pretending to adjust is cufflinks, Andrew discreetly checked his watch, "Vivienne, it's eight," he said quietly.

"Oh. It is. Thank God," she whispered.

Andrew turned to George Hyde and Claudia, ignoring Cade (and Nora Louise) altogether. But that wasn't really surprising. "You'll have to excuse us," he said politely, "we have another engagement this evening that we have to get to, but it was so nice catching up with you."

He delivered the words so firmly, with such a finality, a tone that Cade would never be able to echo. There was no prolonged discussion, the couple bid them farewell and went off to have a similar surface level conversation somewhere else in the room.

That was a talent.

"I thought you were going to Helena's party, not a social engagement," Cade said. The words came out more bitter than he had intended.

"Same thing," Andrew said, shrugging.

"Who's Helena?"

Vivienne answered Nora Louise's question with less contempt than Cade had expected. "She's a friend."

"Well, have fun I guess," Cade mumbled. He walked away quickly, and it wasn't until he was a few steps away and significantly calmer that he realized that Nora Louise had followed him.

"So, we're going on a date tomorrow?" Her voice was filled with hope, she looked so excited that Cade too felt his dissatisfaction with the conversation begin to slip away.

"Well, I guess it depends on if Hyde actually organized the…yeah. Yes, we are going on a date tomorrow," he resolved. Even if Hyde canceled the hasty plans or postponed them or whatever, he would take Nora Louise to do something, see if he could arrange an outing or bake those cinnamon rolls she was always talking about. She looked so excited, a warm glow lighting up her face. Cade wanted her to go on that date, he wanted to go on that date with her.

"Wow. That's amazing."

"Yeah," Cade nodded.

Nora Louise smiled again, hugging him tightly, improperly. "I'm going to try the desserts. I'll see you tomorrow, I guess?"

"Yeah. Tomorrow. We'll see each other. Yeah."

Nora Louise walked away, her head held high. Cade watched her for a few more moments before shaking his head clear. He still had to speak to many people tonight; council members, diplomats, and of course, the rest of his selected. Perhaps they were the most important.

Mona and Blythe were standing off to the side, each sipping from a glass of wine. Mona caught Cade's eye, waving him over. He complied.

"Hi Cade," Mona said simply. Blythe, who had always been extremely hesitant to use his first name, mouthed a hello as well.

"Hi. So, how are your nights going?"

Mona glanced at Blythe, prompting her to go first.

"Well, it's alright," Blythe began, blushing heavily. "You know, there are just so many people and they have so many questions. They're all very polite and helpful though."

Mona snorted. "Please. It's like we're being interrogated. That one over there," she pointed to a tall man in a dark suit, "he asked me about a million questions on my opinion on some stupid policies."

Cade laughed, then asked, "what did you tell him?"

"To get a life." Mona paused for just long enough, then broke out laughing. "No, I'm totally kidding, I told him that the council is incredible, and I am so proud to be a part of Illea, and that I would gladly give up my first born for this country."

"That's uhm, very generous," Cade hedged.

"I know. I'm practically a saint," Mona bemoaned.

Blythe smiled shyly, then murmured, "It was very interesting to speak to everyone. Usually when I talk to reporters it's all scripted."

So was the royal life. The palace employed a whole department of people who organized, researched, wrote, and approved nearly every word that came out of Cade's (or even any member of the council's) mouth.

But none of this was being recorded. And besides, how would the council manage to scare all the women if they had a pre-approved script.

Mona scrunched her nose. "Please. I'm pretty certain my guy did have a script. Or he's a wet towel at parties."

"It's probably both," Cade muttered.

Mona laughed loudly, attracting a few stares. She either didn't notice or didn't care because she patted the seat next to her, still grinning, "Come sit. It feels too formal with you standing like that."

Cade nodded, taking the offered seat. The table wasn't set for anything, no dishes or utensils. Just the silver tablecloth and a crystal vase of flowers. It was the same vase that had been used hundreds of times. There were dozens of them in some storage around the palace, always waiting to be used for events like this. Cade's mother had loved them, insisting that those specific vases were at every state dinner and formal meeting. They were not exquisite or terribly expensive, nothing that would catch a visiting dignitaries eye, but they had always been there.

Until that car crash, that was. Then they were probably put in some dusty cabinet and forgotten about. Just a collection of vases that would work in a pinch.

Blythe must have seen Cade looking at it, because she gently nudged his hand, saying "It's very pretty."

Cade glanced at her, shaking his head quickly. "Yeah. They are. I mean, it is. Well, there are lots of the vases, I mean, all over the room. I think they were probably bought in bulk."

"Is it real crystal?" Mona asked, tapping a scarlet-red fingernail on the vase.

Cade shrugged. "Maybe. I wouldn't be surprised, but they could be glass."

"It's lovely," Blythe murmured. "It looks like a Van Buren."

Cade had never heard of whatever that was before, but he nodded as if he had. Mona had no such inclination.

"Hell's that?"

"Oh, it's a sculptor my parents collected. They have a substantial art collection."

"I guess they need something to do when they're not off acting in movies," Mona mused. "Art's as good as anything."

Blythe nodded shyly, "That's what they say sometimes. They're on the board for several museums." From the way she said it, Cade could see it was a source of trepidation for her, not pride. Almost as if she didn't like the recognition.

"My mother is a very respected, world-famous, nobel-prize winner actually," Mona declared. Cade squinted for a second in disbelief. "She's a baker," Mona continued, a glint in her eyes.

"That's cool. Does she own a bakery?"

Mona laughed, "You don't have to lie Cade, I know that owning a bakery is a mundane profession compared to everyone else here," she said, scanning the room. "I mean, that's the Prince Regent's executive assistant, that's my sorta-councilman, and hey, isn't that the ambassador from the German Federation?"

Cade did a double-take on that one. He crossed his fingers behind his chair as he followed Mona's gaze, but unfortunately for him, it was Emmerich Scholz. He was dressed in a navy suit, talking to a crowd of people. He was always so good at that; entertaining crowds.

But he clearly wasn't the center of attention here. If Cade was right, which wasn't very often, but that was neither here nor there, the council members and fringe politicians and head of the treasury were all standing around talking to not Emmerich Scholz, but his daughter. Ellis was shining under the attention. Literally. Her dress, a demure silver gown covered in sparkles, caught the light every time she moved.

"Wow," Blythe murmured, looking over.

"I feel underdressed now," Mona added.

Cade shook his head quickly, "No, don't."

Ellis saw them looking over and beamed, "Your Highness," she called waving one arm.

Mona smirked, and Blythe nodded her head. "You should go, you probably have to speak to many people tonight."

Cade froze. He couldn't abandon them for another one of the selected. That was rude and self-centered and a million other adjectives Cade couldn't quite put a name to. What type of man was he, to put some before others? If his mother was here, she would have some proverb about chivalry in courtship.

"No, it's okay."

"Mmhm." Mona gave him a firm shove towards Ellis, looking equally as amused as annoyed. Cade didn't stumble exactly, but it managed to attract so much attention that Cade couldn't turn back.

The crowd around Ellis parted for Cade. Except for her father, that was. The problem with Emmerich Scholz, the German Federation's Illéan ambassador for as long as Cade could remember, was that well, he hated him. And Cade knew himself well enough to acknowledge that he occasionally over dramaticized things in his head, and thought people disliked him more than he did, but Emmerich really hated him. He didn't make much of an effort to hide his distaste either, he wasn't Illéan and it wasn't like Cade could write to complain to the King of the German Federation.

"Daddy, you know Cade of course," Ellis said, reaching for Cade's hand.

"Yes, of course. Your Highness, it's a pleasure to see you tonight," Emmerich said, surveying Cade over the top of his glass of wine.

"You as well."

Ellis laughed, "Gosh, I know this really isn't appropriate at all. There's supposed to be some large event where everyone meets, but I figured you two saw each other all the time, it would just be so awkward for me not to have you introduced in this context."

"Right darling, I completely understand," Emmerich continued. He cleared his throat, "So, how is the selection going, Your Highness?"

Cade's mouth went dry, and he coughed before answering. "Very well. It's been uhm, it's really been a learning process for me."

Emmerich squinted. "...and what exactly have you learned?"

"Just about other ways of life and customs and you know," Cade stammered.

"Ah."

"You know Cade and I went to a flower show. I've never been to one of those before, but it was beautiful," Ellis said.

"Really? Well, next time we're in the German Federation, I'll have to take you to the botanical gardens. Your grandparents love them."

"Well, who knows when that will be," Ellis said, smiling. "And it's such a long flight. I was talking with your cousin, Cade, and he says he rarely visits his family there."

Cade nodded once. "Yeah, it's hard to travel like that. Internationally, that's what I mean."

"Hm. It shouldn't be. Perhaps you're arranging it too closely to the departure," Emmerich said casually, sipping from his wine glass.

Cade's cheeks flamed. "I don't really think so, but maybe." He needed to change the subject. "Are you having fun tonight? With the party?"

Ellis nodded. "Oh, yes. I've spoken to many of the council members and they've all been extremely kind."

"Really?" Disbelief colored his words, and Emmerich glared at him.

Ellis however, didn't seem at all offended. She clicked her tongue, "Well, you know, I've never spoken to many of them before. They don't really bother talking to trainees, so I was a little surprised too."

"They're very busy Ellis, you know that."

"Of course. I didn't mean anything by it. Just that it was wonderful to get the opportunity to finally introduce myself."

Before the conversation could get more awkward than it already was, Aunt Morgan, who had a penchant for particularly good timing, cut through the crowd.

"Emmerich! Auf wiedersehen! What a surprise, my husband must have invited you," she simpered, a crystal champagne flute in one hand. She used her other to gently push Cade away, mouthing go.

Cade turned to Ellis, who looked equally grateful for the interruption. "Do you want to go get some air? It's stuffy in here," she asked.

"Sure."

Ellis led them through the party and out the door, into the same hallway Cade had loitered in less than two hours before. She looked around, and once satisfied there were no party-goers or staff members in sight, she let out a breath. "I would normally say something, but you already know my father, so."

"He's very polite," Cade said softly.

"I probably shouldn't say this so bluntly, but I think you know that he's, well, he's not exactly your biggest fan."

It wasn't a surprise to Cade at all, he had been thinking the very same thing, but it didn't lessen the sting of the words. "I know."

Ellis placed one hand on his chest, her crimson nails over his heart. His breath quickened. "He'll come around though. He just doesn't know you very well, is all. I mean, we saw each other occasionally before the selection right, and you didn't know a thing about me."

Cade let himself laugh. "I knew some things." Her hand was still on his chest. She could probably feel his heart beating through his shirt.

Ellis smirked, pushing her shiny brown hair off her shoulder. "Sure you did. You knew my last name. Maybe you knew my first. You knew I shadowed my father. Anything I missed?"

"I knew you were going to be a great ambassador."

"Who knows what the future holds now."

Cade bit his lip, and then slowly, took Ellis' hand off his chest. She looked surprised, "Oh, I'm sorry I didn't mean to imply anything," she said quickly.

"No it's not.. Uhm, it's not like that. I was wondering, could I ask you something?"

"Why not."

"What you were saying back there, about the council members not speaking to you. Did you mean that?"

Ellis laughed, slapping Cade on the shoulder, but this time with a sense of lightheartedness rather than…well, whatever it had been before. "Cade, you've known these people for your whole life. Of course I meant that."

Oh. "That's…I'm sorry."

Ellis shrugged. "You actually probably know exactly what it's like. They all worked incredibly hard for their positions, and they're incredibly qualified, and I'm sure they have better things to do than to take the time to get to know some trainees who more likely than not won't even end up as a diplomat. It doesn't make it any less hurtful, when you're the youngest person by twenty years in a meeting, and nobody cares about what you have to say. You understand."

He had never considered that before. Governing a country took so many people, for every department head and council member Cade met, there were probably a hundred behind them. Cade was snubbed, excluded, insulted by those at the top, but really, what were the chances he was the only one that they were rude to?

And who gave these people the power to diminish others, just because they weren't as experienced, or well-seasoned, or had slightly different ideas? The provinces elected representatives not bullies, and that's what the council used to be. Before they got a taste of power and ran with it.

Cade had more or less accepted a lifetime of snide comments and disparaging remarks, but to hear that Ellis experienced the same wasn't right. And Ellis was the daughter of a prominent, well-respected diplomat. How much worse were others treated?

"I mean, it is what it is. You have to earn your place. I understand."

"Well…"

"This night was a win for me. Because of you." Ellis' tone changed from serious to a more playful note.

"It wasn't really my idea."

"I know, but you could have said no, and you didn't," Ellis smiled.

"I guess you're welcome."

"I didn't say thank you yet," she poked him in the stomach, forcing a laugh out of him. "Little presumptuous."

"Hey. That hurt," Cade complained jokingly.

"Oops. How about this?" Ellis asked, poking him again, this time in his chest. She kept going, getting gentler each time, until Cade realized just how close they were. His back was against the wall, and he was almost face-to-face with Ellis. He could see tiny freckles across her nose and hear her breathing.

Ellis stopped laughing too, her eyes meeting his. She was so beautiful, her green eyes set in her perfect face, glossy hair cascading around her shoulders. His hands found her waist and hers landed on his cheeks.

Last time they had kissed Cade had been caught by surprise. This time he was ready for it. Her lips parted as they met his, and Cade kissed her back. If whatever had happened last time could constitute making out, then Cade didn't know what to classify this one. It was like something he had seen in the movies, when the protagonists finally reunite after a long journey.

Only there had been no journey or adventure to prompt this. Ellis was kissing him for no reason at all. No reason other than she must have liked him. And Cade liked her. He liked how kind and genuine she was. He liked her drive forward. He didn't really like her father, but he respected him at least.

Ellis's hands moved to his hair, mussing the blond strands that his butler had neatly combed just a few hours prior. Cade took the cue, shifting his hand to the small of her back. She tasted vaguely of vanilla, something sweet and warm.

"Bon dieu."

Ellis' head whipped around and she separated from Cade. "Your Highnesses," she muttered, curtsying.

With Ellis no longer blocking his line of sight, Cade could clearly see Andrew and Vivienne. They had changed for the party, Andrew ditching his suit jacket, tie, and dress shirt for a button down. Vivienne was wearing a short black dress that Cade couldn't imagine her buying, and equally unimaginable dark red lipstick.

"Hey," was all Cade got out.

They both looked like they had seen a ghost, eyes narrowed in disbelief. Vivienne folded her slender arms across her chest, and Andrew covered his mouth, trying to stifle a laugh.

"So, uh, party was boring?" Neither Cade nor Ellis answered. He held up his hands in protest, still trying and mostly failing to contain his laughter. "Sorry, I'm not trying to make it weird. If you want to really get it going there's some vodka under my desk. Help yourselves."

Cade's face flushed a dark red. 'That's uhm, that's okay."

Vivienne turned to him. "Do not encourage them. S'embrasser dans un couloir. Comme c'est trash."

Cade had absolutely no idea what Vivienne said, but Andrew, who had already been losing his internal battle, burst out laughing, doubling over, clutching his stomach. Ellis, who had managed not to seem as embarrassed as Cade, stiffened, making a small sound of offense. Clearly, she had said nothing nice.

He didn't like being the only person in this hallway oblivious. "Wh-what does that mean?"

Vivienne just raised her eyebrows, and Andrew stopped laughing for just long enough to say, "I can't."

Finally, Ellis gritted her teeth and turned to Cade. "She said kissing in a corridor, how…trashy."

A/N: Why hello, it's me again. I know, it has been uhm, like, I think about eight months but I am alive. And moreover, this story is alive. Yes, I have not forgotten about it, and in my absence I have come up with many amazing new plot lines, for example, did you know that Cade is actually the descendant of Josh Hutcherson? I didn't either until now. No, I'm totally joking, and to be honest, I don't really know when the next update is, but hopefully I can get this story done before uhm, twenty twenty six? I think that's a good (and realistic) goal. LMAO. Okay, see you in the future (probably not soon).