You were supposed to get this yesterday, but my laptop crashed. Luckily, though, she is working perfectly right now.
Enjoy lovebugs ;)

"Mercedes, what scares you about marrying Sam?"

Mercedes had gaped at her mother's question. This is because, of course, her mother has always been supportive of her friendship with Sam. So much so that she never introduced the topic of becoming married to Sam. It was a shocking question, to say the very least. Not once did Queen Cecily ever even give the inkling that she wanted her daughter to be betrothed to Duke Samuel.

"Whatever do you mean?" Mercedes inquired.

"Has anyone ever told you the real story of how your father and I came to marry?" Cecily tried. Mercedes had thought it over, but she had never heard the story from her parents. Instead, she was given the regurgitated versions from her parents and her grandparents before they met their demise. It was a story that was loved by those who were fortunate to have the real version.

"I can not say that you have."

"Well, before I was supposed to marry your father, your grandfather originally wanted me to marry Duke Princeton. Princeton was sweet and unassuming. He was intelligent, and he had money, which would have worked. However, I didn't feel anything for him. There was not a spark that I can speak of. So before I was supposed to marry him, your father's mother found me. A Princess of a small country that would be the perfect match for the future King. When I first met your father, I felt that spark. He was charismatic, kind, intelligent, and loving. I married him in three days, and from that beautiful union, we have been blessed with four amazing children. Three young men and one beautiful young lady. I do not believe I would have been afforded that if I married the Duke."

"A beautiful story." Mercedes smiled.

"Do you feel a spark with Sam?"

"I do."

"Then why not marry him?"

"I'm scared. I do not wish for us to ruin our friendship with a relationship. I know he loves me, but what if he grows tired of me and wishes to be with someone else? My heart could not bear the thought of him leaving me for someone else or being with someone else while he is married to me." Mercedes answered. Truthfully, Mercedes was guarding herself with her own fear of insecurities. She loved Sam, and she wanted nothing more than to marry him, but she was frightened. Frightened that it wouldn't work out and she would spend the rest of her life in a loveless marriage.

"Mercedes, I have watched you and Sam grow up together since you were just small children. I watched him fall in love with you when you were too oblivious to recognize it. I also saw how hurt he was last night when you accepted Lord Tinsley's proposal. He is going to love you until the both of you are old and grey. However, I am not the one to force you to make a decision. But I will say that your father and I would already grant the marriage between you and Sam if you no longer want to accept Shane's." Queen Cecily smiled. She stood and pressed a kiss to her daughter's forehead before leaving the study. Leaving Mercedes with her own thoughts.

"Princess Mercedes, I am in love with you. I can not just stand idly by, grin, and bear it while you marry Lord Tinsley." The man who had grown considerably in the past month was stressed. He stared deep into those honey-brown orbs and tried to understand what she was thinking. It could have been confusion and frustration, but he was sure that he saw that she loved him, too. More than she was willing to admit in her nightwear, free from any makeup. However, he had never seen her look more beautiful than right now.

"And you tell me this now. Sam, I am set to marry him tomorrow. I went through the entire courting season seeking out a marriage with him. You have fancied many women, including Lady Rose and Lady Berry."

"But they are not you. I was trying to rid myself of you, but I simply can not. I am in love with you, and I know you feel it too. I refuse to live without you. When I am not around you, I am suffocating constantly. Looking for you at the royal gatherings is the only thing that forces me to get ready. Being around you feels like I am richer than the monarchy. I refuse to let you do this. You can not marry him."

Mercedes jolted awake from her dream. It was so real, and it felt like it actually happened. She couldn't believe that her dream was filled with Sam proclaiming his undying and unyielding love for her. She could not live like this any longer. She had to be truthful, and that meant starting with Shane and ending with Sam.

Shane was surprised that Mercedes had sent for him to come to the palace. He was hoping that they could have gotten a jump start on their wedding. However, he did not want to rush the Princess. He walked into the main study where he saw Mercedes standing by the window. She looked beautiful, yet he could tell that her mind was elsewhere.

He cleared his throat, "My bride-to-be."

Mercedes turned her head and made a smile that didn't reach her eyes, "Duke Tinsley. Thank you for coming on such a short notice."

Shane nodded his head, "I figured you would want to start planning the wedding immediately."

"There is not going to be a wedding." Mercedes insisted.

"Pardon me?" Shane asked. Surely, he was not hearing her correctly.

"I am not in love with you. It would be wrong of me to try and force love when I know my heart is somewhere else. I am sorry for doing this to you, but I must end it before it is too late. Shane, I can not marry you." Mercedes explained gently. Shane sighed before heading towards the door.

"I am hoping that we can still be cordial," Mercedes called out.

Shane chuckled, "No, it is quite alright. I am going to make plans to travel immediately. I do hope that you find the love you are looking for."

Sam was in the midst of packing his bags. He was only going to be here for another fortnight, so he needed to figure out what he wanted to take with him, and he didn't. As he was placing clothes in his carrier, he received a knock on his door.

"Come in." He spoke softly as he went to his desk. He thumbed through his drawers, looking for his notebooks, and when he looked up, he saw Mercedes. She looked stunning as usual. Her hair was in loose curls down her back, and she had on one of her day gowns. Even though this was her casual wear, she still looked so beautiful.

"What a lovely surprise, Princess! However, you should be going over the details of your pending nuptials." Sam spoke earnestly.

"There will be not a wedding," Mercedes spoke loudly.

Sam dropped his journals, "Pardon?"

"I told Shane I did not want to marry him. It is you who I want to walk down the aisle and see. It is you with whom I want to spend the rest of my life. It is you with whom I am so deeply in love. I am so sorry that it took me so long to say it, but I do not wish to be in a world where you are not in my life. Sam, you have given me so much more than you have given me your friendship. You have given me courage, confidence, love, and so much more. You are so kind to me, and I could not bear to lose you over someone who probably only wanted to marry me out of my title. I want you, Sam. I want to marry you." Mercedes spoke boldly as tears sprung in her eyes. Sam walked over to Mercedes briskly and kissed her passionately on her lips. His hands were holding her plump cheeks, and her hands were wrapped around his neck. They kissed passionately, sealing their future love in this kiss. This kiss wasn't stolen, and it wasn't in the dark; instead, it was their own. It was symbolic of their love and future. When the need for air was dire, Sam pulled away gently and stroked her cheeks with his thumb.

"You really love me?" Sam questioned quietly.

"I do, Sam. I really do." Mercedes whispered sweetly as she pecked at his lips.

"Then I suppose we should get married." Sam joked.

Mercedes giggled, "We shall."

"And I suppose I need to buy us a house too."

"You shall."

"I can not wait to make you my wife."

"I can not wait until you are my husband."