Jace felt more than bored in one of those repetitive and annoying meetings with his father and the parliament. He didn't even know what was he exactly doing there, they never listened to him anyways, he just had to be there to show them that he cared about what was going on in his own country, but he felt as nothing but a decoration, a pretty face to see inside and outside the palace. 'The life of a loner' he thought, he wanted to be a good leader, but how the hell could he be it if they didn't even let him try? His own father thought he was a rude and reckless boy; there was no person on earth who trusted him blind and completely except maybe for his grandmother.

"Highness, not trying to be rude but you should stop yawning…" whispered Hodge next to him smiling jokily.

"I'm not yawning, I'm sighing with a little more passion" he answered angrily.

"Sure, but still your father will get mad" Hodge could be a really nice person once you got to meet him, he was the only one that ever listened to him, so Jace could see him more as a mentor and friend.

"He always gets mad anyways. He's like so bipolar sometimes, but when it comes to me there's nothing I can do right…" it was so embarrassing and sad to confess something like that, he probably wouldn't have said anything if he had been talking with his parents.

"Don't say that, prince. Your father just needs to confirm that you already grew up and that you're a smart man that will make the right decisions, but he needs evidence… and I'm not sure that's the message he's getting while you fight with the princess like a five year old 24 hours a day" Oh, so now it was his fault that his wife was such a little pain in the ass! The question was actually: How not to fight with her? She had always to be against him, and they always ended up remembering the reason for their misery, and had only been four days since the wedding. Jace knew from the beginning it would not work, but this was just was a mess!

"It's she who acts like a madwoman all the time! Can't anyone give me a break? I have enough with her already screaming all the time, I don't need you all to tell me to be good with her!" he was tired of being scolded for not being a good husband, was she a good wife? He was more certain that anyone that she surely wasn't!

"That's the thing, highness. There's a big difference between you and the princess, she wasn't born here, this isn't a safe place for her, you understand? She feels uncomfortable, if you could just be a little friendlier with her…" for the first time in his life, Jace got tired of being there doing nothing and listening to Hodge, he stood up silently.

"I'm afraid I'm not feeling very well, but don't worry… you should continue with your business. Excuse me" he made a bow for his father and the servants opened the door for him, he left. He thought were could he go when he felt trapped everywhere he went to, but he stopped at the Queen Mother's chambers, she was with Alec looking happy and pleased. They were holding some old pictures of his cousins and him.

"Remember when Izzy accidentally broke aunt Celine's dress, grandma?" he said and his grandmother laughed.

"Of course, dear! Celine looked so angry that Jace thought she would explode and then took Isabelle to the bathroom and they locked themselves in there for hours" Jace did remember that day, it was the anniversary of the foundation of Idris and all the royal family had to attend the ceremony that was going to be held in the center of Alicante, he and Izzy were playing as always and she stepped into his mother's dress and broke it, she started yelling so hard that she got scared and they both ran away, they didn't come out until their grandma told them to, Izzy was punished by her father later.

"I'll never forget them for making me go alone…" Alec answered with a smile and Jace felt jealous of him. He was actually the rightful crown prince as he was older, but only because he was a Lightwood he couldn't accede to the throne, he could be both a normal guy and a prince, no responsibilities, no duties, and of course no regrets. Alec had the life he had always wanted, he had everything and yet when his freedom was in front of his eyes he decided to return to the cage.

"You've always been really stupid, Alexander…" he left the room.

Clary thought that what was happening was only shown in TV. But no, she was actually doing it! She had to stay still with 3 heavy books balanced on her head, keep her back straight and respond friendly and correctly whatever Amatis asked.

"Repeat me again why the heck am I doing this?" she said grudgingly.

"You must learn poise and grace to serve your guests at the ball, Highness" Amatis said and she sighed carefully so the books wouldn't fall.

"But they're not my guests! Wasn't the party for Prince Robert and Princess Maryse?" she was afraid that the books would fall and break her nose, they were really heavy.

"Yes, but Prince Jonathan insisted to bring some of your school friends so you could talk to them and not get bored, it's a great opportunity for you to show calm and correct" Clary couldn't believe what she was hearing. 'That motherfucker…' She said inside her head, when Jace said "school friends", he didn't mean her friends; he referred to his idiots and knuckleheads friends. 'He wants to try me, uh? He will! They'll all have a taste of Clary Fairchild!'

"Whatever, let's just finish with this" the faster the better.

"Ok, we'll start easily. When and who founded Idris, highness?" really? How dumb did Amatis thought she was.

"In 1234 by Jonathan Shadowhunter, he claimed to be called by Raziel himself to found the territory of the angel." She tried to sound relaxed, still it didn't work.

"Very well and when did Edmund Herondale become the king?" Clary hated when Amatis talked so slowly to make sure that she was paying attention, it was annoying and a bit insulting.

"In 1853, when he was eighteen years old" she started to shiver and that only made it worse.

"Prince William Herondale died at what age?" Clary knew that for sure but with that weight on her head and her own anger she had to think it over and over again.

"At… 76?" Amatis smiled pleased.

"Correct, so Princess Lucie married who and why?" that was a tricky one.

"She married Jesse Blackthorn, she assured everyone that they were totally in love but then later discovered that the Blackthorn family was trying to overthrow her brother from the throne, their marriage was a symbol of alliance between the two families." Now she was talking insanely quickly.

"A little slower and calmly, highness" Amatis advised her.

"You wouldn't say the same while doing this!" she complained feeling terribly uncomfortable.

"Ok, I'll go faster then." 'It's official, you just bought a ticket to hell, Clarissa' her mind scolded her. "Prince Robert's mother was?"

"Phoebe Gladstone, later became a Lightwood to difference Prince Robert from King Stephen"

"When did King Stephen marry Queen Celine?"

"Wait, do I even know that?" Clary was getting nervous from looking at Amatis' cold and threatening eyes, she could make you kill yourself if she wanted to.

"When was Prince Alexander born?"

"I'm pretty sure it was in May…" and now she had no idea of what she was talking about.

"And Princess Isabelle's favorite color is?"

"I haven't even met the princess yet!" she cried, she obviously made Amatis feel angry.

"Prince Jonathan goes to bed at what time?"

"Seriously? How am I supposed to know?"

"You're giving up?" she said with a devilish smile.

"Yes!" she yelled and felt that the weight over her head wasn't there anymore, she covered her face and fell aside from the couch but she didn't hear the sound of the books falling, only of her bones breaking. When she had the strength to open her eyes she saw a confusing scene, Magnus was on the floor holding the history books looking worried, her maids looked like they were going to faint and Amatis just crossed her arms to her chest.

"Never lose focus, not even while being pressured. Take a break; we'll meet at the Prince's private room in half an hour, get her ready" and she left just like that.

"Is she crazy? Does she know how important these books are to Queen Imogen?" said Magnus nervously.

"Being a Princess hurts" she complained as Magnus helped her up.

"You have no idea, highness. That dress was my favorite" said Magnus watching the beautiful pale pink dress with shoulder length sleeves with silver glitter that he loved dearly, now slightly crumpled and crushed by Clary.

"That woman's going to kill me someday!" She said and went to the garden, which was the first place in the palace that she actually liked, except from her huge and very cute light blue painted room and her comfy and enormous bed she loved sleeping in until Camille woke her up every day at 7 am. For her surprise, Alec was sitting in the bench she used to seat in talking to someone on his phone.

"I miss you too, sis, no matter your sarcasm. Grandma says you'll have to show up sometime, ok?" so it was Princess Isabelle, she wasn't going to interrupt and when she was about to leave he saw her.

"Uh, I was just…" Alec held a finger in the air telling her to wait.

"I'll call you later, Iz. Love you, bye… So, how's the princess life, Clary?" he finally said with a bright smile telling her to seat next to him, she did.

"Trying, boring, terribly difficult… when was your birthday?" Alec seemed shocked by her question.

"On September, but I don't really understand what does that have to deal with this?" Clary smiled to her nonsense words.

"Right, Never mind, Amatis drives me crazy with her questions..." Alec giggled with her.

"I know, but she's the best teacher on earth." He assured her. Alec's voice was something like a drug; it could make you feel fine even if the hardest times, she understood then why Jace was so close to him.

"Yeah, there was so much things about the palace I didn't know, this place will change me for sure" she had thought that over and over again, the palace would change her personality and appearance, so why wouldn't it change the way she was?

"And there's another thing that no one told you for sure…" he started saying, Clary didn't know what to think about that.

"What exactly is that?"

"You were actually committed to me" then she felt like chocking with her own breath, and her body started to shake

"You… is that for real?" it was a little uncomfortable to talk about marriage with the cousin of her husband.

"Yes, my grandpa committed his older grandson to you, and I'm two years older than Jace. But as I'm not a Herondale, I don't have the power to do that" Alec wasn't sure that it was right to make a confession like that to her, but she still had the right to know.

"That's true…" she said with a chuckle. "You would've been a much better husband than Goldilocks is".

"You call him that too?" he said smiling.

"Yeah, you know how fun is to make him get angry?"

"I surely do, I've known him since he was a baby! He's adorable when he gets mad" Clary felt happy with Alec around somehow, he was a nice and friendly person, not as her husband was. She actually thought about being married to Alec instead, it would've been so much easier, so not forced, she wouldn't have hesitated then and she would've been happy in that moment. And maybe, who knows? She could've even fallen in love with him.

"You say since he was a baby? Because I'm pretty sure he still is!" they laughed together.

"I know he can be harsh sometimes…" but what he saw in her eyes was: Really, sometimes?"Ok, most of the time! But you'll see that he can be a great person if he wants to" Alec felt like lying to her, being such a despicable person and acting nice to everyone when he was nothing but his father's puppet, a weapon and a traitor.

"That's the problem, he doesn't want to!" she reminded him.

"It's just because you haven't given him a chance. You just need some time until you can't stop thinking about him… he's the kind of person you never forget" and even harder to forget when you're trying to steal his life.

Aline was supposed to feel joyful and pleased. She had won, from 35 worldwide dancer it was her who got the first place, but her mother managed to make her feel useless again, Jia said that she had won over 10 competition when she was her daughter's age, she had her ways of destroying everyone's hopes. But that didn't compare to what she was living t the moment.

"You have mail" her mother said and left a letter on her nightstand. It turned out to be an invitation… to the palace?

Dear Miss Aline Penhallow.

The palace has the honor to invite you to the Homecoming party that's going to be held in honor to Prince Robert and Princess Maryse Lightwood next Saturday at 7 pm.

Formal wear, please.

PD: I hope to see you there so we can catch up, Jace H.

If Jace wouldn't have written something in the invitation she probably would've thought that it was just a cruel and disrespectful joke. But now she had another idea going through her mind, it was the perfect occasion to hang around with Jace and at the same time make her competition feel insecure. It wouldn't be difficult, the girl seemed most silly and fragile than anyone she had ever seen, and she would believe anything that someone that showed superior told her. Aline had her reward served on a silver platter.

"Try not to send me to the hospital, would you?" said Jace next to Clary while her dancing teacher talked and talked to no end, she was shaking and her bottom lip must've been bloody because she bit it so much.

"Oh, I'll send you to the hospital, but not for the reasons you think…" when you mix nervousness with anger, nothing can go very well.

"You pervert!" even his whispers made no sense.

"You'd wish, if you weren't the prince and my husband I would call the guards every single time you'd touch me" she threatened him.

"You wouldn't have guards if I wasn't the prince or your husband, you fool!" Clary felt like something burned inside her chest, she only had felt that the few times she had fight with her brother or Simon.

"Let me dream, can you?" she begged, because her real life was nothing but a nightmare.

"But you sleep like a bear in hibernation, woman! How many hours of sleep do you need?" she finally turned her head to see him eye to eye, with an expression of wanting to rip off his head in that second.

"Are you calling me lazy?" Jace cleared his throat and answered.

"I believe I called you a bear".

"That's it!" Clary raised her hand to reach Jace's neck refusing to stand his words anymore, but everyone was looking, she changed her scowling for a fake smile and her hands went down to his chest pretending she was fixing his tie "He's so focused on other things that he even forgot how to wear his tie" she said with a giggle and they all laughed with her, but then she started feeling weird, with her hands feeling Jace's uncontrollably fast heart behind his shirt, it rushed since the very moment her skin touched his, she looked to his golden eyes waiting for an answer, but then she sank in them forgetting even how to speak.

"Ok, I think we had enough instructions. Your highnesses, we're going to start" said Madame Dorothea, as Amatis called her. With those words they both reacted and stood up. "So, this is actually a very simple waltz, highness. Prince Jonathan leads"

"As always, duckling head has to guide" she said as they got in position to begin.

"Well it's me who has to dance with a carrot!" he answered.

"Pumpkin, my nickname is pumpkin!" it was like the eight time she reminded him that. The music started and she felt like someone poured cold water at her back, shaking must've been taken in count as a dance.

"Ok, so you first go forward, then backward, right and back again, understood?" they both nodded, Clary thank Amatis for sending her to change her bulky dress for a little more simple one, but still she had to wear heels! She asked herself how not to fall wearing those. The music started and Jace held her close, now it was her own heart which raced, and she forgot everything she had been hearing for the past hour.

"You're not moving" Jace said making her thoughts go away.

"I'm not? Sorry" they began dancing, or well, hurting themselves.

"Ouch, you're supposed to step on the floor, not in my shoes!" he complained

"But she said we have to go right!"

"Your right, not mine, you dumbass!" she felt like in a carrousel, going round and round with no idea of where she was headed.

"Don't call me that, aren't you supposed to talk correctly all the time?" she reminded him, but Jace seemed to be dying on the inside.

"Try to do that while someone who's half tall than you are breaks your foot!" Clary huffed.

"Ok, stop it. Highnesses, I think you do have the idea, but… while you're dancing you don't need to think about the steps or routines, you just let the music guide you and you'll see how it all flows" Dorothea was far more nice than Amatis was when they didn't do something right.

"You see? Like this I'll go to the ball with crutches!" Clary dug her nails in his shoulder like telling him: Shut up, you jerk! But surprisingly Dorothea's advice worked, when Clary stopped thinking about what she was doing and with whom, it everything went right, suddenly it felt like their bodies were fated to be dancing partners, it was like she had been dancing her whole life, it just felt right, and she didn't like it so much.

But it didn't matter if she liked it or not, Saturday night came anyways, and she was going one side to another around the main room, dragging her emerald dress with pearl ornaments and bows, she had to accept it, Magnus was attentive. She looked at the mirror once again, her curls looked beautiful with her golden crown and her makeup was barely showing, she felt pretty for once in her life, truly pretty. And it looked like Jace thought that too, when he came to the same room and stared at her for a long time without her noticing, he looked at what a good stylist could do with a messy girl, she didn't look like herself anymore, she looked like a true princess.

"Did the duck eat your tongue or what?" she said when she noticed Jace at her back.

"No, my careless wife broke my foot, actually!" he said approaching her. Clary had to accept that he looked well too, with his blue suit and crown, it was the same Jace on the inside but in the outside he looked like and angel, a perfect and fair angel, such a shame that they can't make you look good in the inside.

"Oh, you're such a cry baby! Lady Amatis said you just needed one bandage!" she said smoothing her dress.

"Exactly, Now even the devil will be afraid to touch you, you're poisonous or something!"

"You'll be surprised of how much people want to touch me" she assured him, Jace let out a chuckle.

"Yeah, right. Says the virgin…" he said with a smile, she showed a death glare but then she softened her expression.

"You just say that because you don't know the real reason why someone wants to touch you" she said fixing her hair a bit in the mirror.

"Because I'm incredibly handsome, of course" that was his answer, but inside Clary thanked her devilish thoughts.

"Nope, because you're incredibly cheap!" point for her, obviously. Jace mouth definitely fell to the floor accepting that he lost that fight.

"Fine, whatever, you're so lucky, Clarissa. So lucky!" he said angrily while taking her arm to enter The Accords Hall. They walked slowly greeting the guests with a kind and delicate gesture, Clary looked around the room with a little hope of seeing her friends, but of course they weren't there, instead she saw Sebastian, Jordan and… the girl she had screamed to in the cafeteria, what was she doing there? Why would Jace invite her? And damn, she looked so cute! It was official, it was her end.

"Who's her?" she said nervously, Jace kept smiling.

"Why do you care, nosy?" she tightened her arm around his.

"You'll have to try much harder if you really want to kill me" he finally said when they got apart and they both went their separate ways.

"He's impossible!" she said angrily while sitting next to Alec, he looked handsome too.

"It would be a blessing if that was true" he giggled.

"Right, do you know who she is?" she said pointing at the girl who was now laughing with Jace.

"Oh, no, he didn't…" he said sounding pissed.

"Yes, he did! She's here, that's why I have to know who she is!" Alec sighed and answered.

"She's Jace's ex girlfriend, Aline Penhallow" Clary froze next to him.

"What…? He had a girlfriend?" she asked shakily. Suddenly, all his words made sense now; the fact that he blamed her for ruining his life or why he looked so miserable at the wedding, why did it seemed like he hated her terribly. She must've been the reason; he might be in love with that girl, Clary felt a little guilty and out of place.

"Yeah, but it was never something very serious, it was more like a hobby than a relationship" Alec assured her when he saw that she had a sad expression.

"Right, whatever you say, he might… just miss her" she said with a broken voice. 'You can be anything in the world, Clarissa. But a heartbreaker? That just has no forgiveness' she thought.

After half an hour the guests of honor came into the room, Princess Maryse looked stunning and Prince Robert looked more like a model than a prince, Clary was completely shocked.

"Sometimes your aunt reminds me of you, princess" Queen Imogen said next to her.

"What do you mean your majesty?" she asked.

"You're both so pretty and nice, a real treasure inside the palace" she replied and Clary smiled.

"Thanks, majesty. It's such an honor to be compared to her" but then she thought why wasn't she compared to Queen Celine instead? Didn't her own mother in law like her? Well, Clary's mother in law didn't like her either, so how to blame her? When she saw Jace approaching, she remembered why had she been taking classes all week long, but she wished she was glued to her seat. They were supposed to begin the dance. He stood in front of her and offered his hand with his "in public" smile. She shook her head slowly.

"Come here or I'll stab you with the mortal sword" he whispered while pointing at St. Raziel's statue that held the sword, she tried not to cry embarrassed while standing up.

"You would do me a favor" she responded while getting in position, the music started and somehow Jace got more threatening than elegant, like it was a competition, he improvised too many twists and turns.

"What the heck are you doing? I'm getting dizzy!" she said while turning again.

"I'm showing you what happens when you bother me so much!"he said with his face to close to hers, Clary almost prayed for the dance to finish but it looked like the song had no end, luckily King Stephen started dancing with Queen Celine and then more couples approached to the dance floor, still they danced until the band finished playing and Jace made Clary bend a little, it happened again, she lost herself in his eyes, losing every memory and thought in that moment. But Jace shook his head trying to wake them both up and they got apart, they both made a bow and just when she was going to walk away, Jace grabbed her once more.

"The dance is over, let me go!" she told him while he almost dragged her to the table with his friends.

"You're my wife, you're supposed to be with me not with my cousin, people will think wrong about your little friendship with him" they both stood in front of his friends and Clary tried to smile friendly but Aline's expression made it hard to do. "Guys, this is Clarissa. Clarissa, these are my friends: Jordan, Sebastian and Aline" he said and sat next to Aline.

"A pleasure" she said and sat also, those eyes made her feel like melting.

"So, this is our crown princess, uh?" said Jordan crossing his arms.

"I believe I saw you somewhere…" Aline started, 'Oh, no. Please don't!' Clary begged inside her head.

"Duh, she's everywhere! She's Jace's wife!" Sebastian answered.

"I know, silly! But haven't we met before?" she asked threatening.

"Uh, no… I don't think so…" she said and stared to the floor again.

"Oh, so cute! She's nervous" Sebastian laughed.

"Anyone would be if you were born poor and not prepared for anything in your life" Clary asked herself if she heard that for real or if it was only her thoughts, but when she looked forward again it was actually Aline who was talking.

"Excuse me?" she shivered.

"Well, you know what I mean. You're Cinderella, you had the ring and you became the princess, the only thing that's missing is… true love, right?" Clary had never heard such a cruel metaphor.

"I guess so…" she answered, Jace didn't seem to be paying attention, and it wasn't like he ever did that but a girl has her hopes. Then the servants brought a little cupcake for them all, but Clary was still dizzy to eat something, and Aline's words took away any feeling she could have and leaving embarrassment instead.

"Oh, it's your favorite! You should try it" Aline said excited while making Jace try his cupcake.

"Just like the old times, it looks like nothing has changed!" Sebastian said happily.

"Hey, don't say that, he's married now!" Jordan answered.

"I'm sure she doesn't care, well… I was his girlfriend before" Aline reminded them. Clary wondered how people could be insensible and make her feel like she didn't belong again, she wouldn't say a thing, but luckily Alec came to the rescue.

"Uh, hey. I'm sorry, cousin, but do you think I could steal your wife for a bit?" he said while holding her arms.

"Sure, just don't flee the palace ok?" he answered being too focused on Aline, Alec giggled.

"Of course not, thanks" he took her hand and led her out to the garden.

"You don't know how much I love you now for saving me, but what are we doing here?" she asked shaking a bit for the cold of outside.

"Well, this is my wedding present, a little delayed but you'll like it" he said pointing to nothing, Clary looked a little carefully and she saw three figures coming through the darkness.

"Oh, by the angel!" she ran to meet her friends.

"Pumpkin!" Simon hugged her strongly.

"I missed you so much!" she said looking at them, they weren't as elegant as she was but still Maia and Helen looked pretty.

"Us too, you know how boring it is to annoy Simon alone?" Helen said rubbing Simon's head while he scowled.

"I have an idea" Clary giggled and she remembered something. "Oh, guys! This is Prince Alexander… my new cousin" she said happily.

"We know he invited us" Simon said a little annoyed.

"Really?" she turned to see Alec.

"Don't thank me too much, I just thought it would be good for you to spend some time with them" he answered.

"Still, thank you very much. You were very nice" said Maia.

"Well, let's see your new house a bit; I'm dying to know everything!" Helen said excited.

"Oh, don't be so happy. This might be a palace, but with its people it feels like a cage" Clary answered angrily.

Jace didn't really care about what was Clary doing with Alec, but they had been out for like an hour and he was starting to get worried. There were cameras everywhere and his father had told him to spent some more time with her or the press would misunderstood their intentions.

"Wake up, Prince Charming! You've been like this since that girl left" said Aline.

"It's nothing, I just…" but Aline sighed sounding annoyed.

"Don't tell me that you're jealous!" Jace chuckled a bit.

"No, way. It's just that my aunt and uncle must be worried for Alec, could you excuse me a bit?" he stood up and left, but he didn't know that Aline followed him.

"Oh, come on, Jonathan! I haven't seen you in like an eternity and you leave just when we're having so much fun!"

"I'm sorry, Aline. But I have royal issues to attend"

"That's ridiculous! You really care about Mrs. Nobody?"

"This is not because of Clary…"

"Who?" he stopped walking for a moment.

"Clarissa, I mean… This is because of Alec" he had to stop talking about her with Alec so much. Then he heard noises and laughter coming from the fountain, he went over there and found Clary, Alec and three other people he didn't know playing with the water, the guy with lenses hugged Clary while she laughed hysterically, he felt like he couldn't breathe anymore.

"What exactly are you doing?" they all got scared by Jace's voice, but then Helen shifted her gaze to the pretty girl next to him and winked at her.

"Uh, a pleasure, your highness" said Maia uncomfortable.

"Jace, we didn't do anything wrong" said Clary getting apart from her friend.

"Actually, you did, who are them?"

"These are my friends, they came to visit" she answered.

"They can't come in without an invitation, you know that" Jace seemed to be burning with anger.

"They're my responsibility, Jace. I invited them" Alec told him hoping to calm him down a bit. Aline was just shocked because of the blonde girl.

"Well, you should've told me. I'm sorry, but this can't continue" he took Clary by her arm and took her away.

"What the hell? Are you crazy? Let me go!" Clary got rid of Jace's hand.

"What do you think you were doing? You cannot just invite anyone you want to the palace!"

"I didn't, Alec did and besides they're not criminals or something they're normal people as you and me!"

"We're not normal people, we're royals, understood? And as a royal you cannot be fooling around with anyone you want to, even worse if it's inside the palace!"

"You were with your friends too, why can't I?"

"Because you're my wife and you're supposed to be on my side!"

"I'm not your property, Jonathan. I don't belong to you…"

"Well, you're property of the monarchy and you have to obey its rules!" Clary released an indignant giggle.

"I always knew you were a jerk, but this is just cruel and unfair" she got inside the palace without waiting for him to say a word. Being a princess would be much harder and awful than she ever thought.

To be continued…

Dreamer.