"What?!" Clary had one of those shocking moments when you think your soul is about to leave your body and doesn't plan on coming back, just mentioning her father's name gave her goose bumps, but the thought of seeing him again? That was just unbearable.

"You know better than anyone that there are some things you must fix with him, I promised I would make you happy, didn't I? If it's him what creeps you to the bone, well then we must do something about it" Jace took her by her wrists before she turned away from him, refusing to give him and answer and avoiding the truth they both knew: she missed her father.

" No, we must not… what happened last night… you know all the memories, the nightmare, the fear, they're just because of a whim of mine, it was one of those episodes that people sometimes have and they start acting like children, Yeah, that was it and nothing more… I'm really touched about your concern, honey, but there's nothing that we can do… Valentine might be gone for good and I must accept it" She still hadn't figured out about the way she felt towards him, she hated him for leaving, but she had loved the man he had once been; there was just no closure in between them, she needed that, she needed answers, but she wasn't ready yet.

"So… you really don't want to know the reason why he left?" Clary looked to the ground before her husband took the truth out of her by just staring, she sighed.

"I do, but it's not time yet… if my brother or mother knew about this they'd lost the last bit of peace they have left… I couldn't do that to them, it would be a scandal for everyone I know… I just can't do it, Jace" even though the desire of finally knowing something about Valentine. After all those long years, somehow amazed her she had to remember that she wasn't the only who had known and loved him. She had a family to protect and take care of; if she would end up ruining everything for her loved ones, why did she even get married in the first place? Her father would do no good for her or her family, she had to let go of him.

"Think about it… just think it trough before you deny the fact you want it… I didn't say he has to stay very long, but you truly need to talk to him, see him one last time… I don't want him to constantly make you feel unhappy even when he's not around, alright?" his hand caressed her cheek softly as Clary tried to swallow those desperate tears gathering on her eyes "I just want to take care of you"

"You… Thank you…" she realized there was no way to persuade him, he was too hardheaded and when it came to her it was almost impossible to make him change his mind; still she thought that time was the best offer he could make, the only one she had actually.

"You have nothing to thank me… It's actually a very selfish act…" they giggled and she looked up to him, he was being honest, so awfully honest to her, it pierced her heart.

"It depends on how you take it, you know … Sometimes, people make horrible things for those they love… but love is such a complicated and terrible thing, there's nothing stronger than it… that's why love may break you, but you won't be able to break it…" and she was right, she knew how difficult was to love those who were close to her and try to be a good person and live well, but the question was… how to live without love?

"Well, Maryse… It's obvious that your husband has been quite busy these days… and Alexander doesn't seem to be helping him anymore…" Maryse wished that every conversation she had with Celine wasn't an interrogatory, but between the Lightwoods and Herondales it had always been like that; the palace was a battlefield, and everyone fought their own war in order to defend the side they belonged to.

"Alec is trying to, uh… give his father some space, Robert isn't very relaxed these days and my children don't feel very comfortable around him when he's not feeling well" Maryse tried not to shake while answering, Celine was delicate, beautiful, refined; but once she detected some kind of threat against her family, she could be terribly coldhearted and scary.

"I wonder why could that be happening… my brother in law used to be such a calm and nice man… but guess it's age what ruins us all, isn't it?" she had sure learned some things from Imogen, her menacing stare was exactly the one that the Queen Mother always gave to Robert.

"No, dear Celine… I believe it's life and it's implications what changes us so much… but I don't think you've ever felt that…" still, that was a game for two, if Celine wanted to fight, she'd get a fight; after Maryse answered, the laughter she released was just a proof of how affected she was.

"You'd be surprised, darling… about the things I've had to live… but I, opposite of you, don't find any good in trying to hide it…" she crossed her arms to her chest.

"I don't see why you should care about the things I say out loud or don't…" Maryse knew there were many things that everyone knew about her and her husband, so why did she have to put them on evidence?

"I pity you all, really… Acting like you were the good ones, the bright side of the family… when both of our husbands have the same blood running through their veins, brothers, equal souls and hearts… Robert is as bad as Stephen can be and backwards…" Celine didn't seem so pleased about their talk anymore, and Maryse was also tired of not defending herself.

"Well, then, you accept that Stephen isn't perfect either… but at least Robert doesn't have to pretend he loves anyone near him to do something about it… let's stop trying to fool the other, Celine. You may know everything about me and I may do as well… but that won't make any difference about the way this whole matter will end, if you do know the truth, you'll be smart and let things be what they have to be… what they were meant to be from the start, and if you think we're such mean people, well then I must remind you that I tried to stop him, but what's fair is fair and must be done…" it was a weird fact that Celine was more aware of the situation than her own husband was, but what could she do about it?

"You're talking of justice now? Well, then… do you think it's fair for that kid you bear to be born as an excuse so his father won't leave you all behind?" curious, she accused Maryse for something she had also done.

"And what was what you did with Jonathan? Ah, exactly the same… darling, I didn't ask for this baby to be born, but you did at that time… and that's what makes us different, Celine, that's what we'll always fight for, none of us is better than the other, but we'll always try so hard to be" and that was it for Maryse, she stood up from the chair made a quick bow and left; the worst was just beginning, she knew that when they had nothing to hide, it was because the bomb was about to explode.

The academy had certainly adjusted to the idea that Clary was a princess, the students didn't make a fuss about it anymore; but once something happened to her or her family, they were the first ones to find out. Clary and Simon were sitting on their everyday table, just the two of them, and she was surprised to be the one who was shaking like jelly instead of him, he looked so relaxed and happy.

"Oh, screw it! I need to tell you something!" after Jace had talked to her, she hadn't been able to sleep well for a whole week, she had to let it out, she had to hear other opinions that would make her go back to her senses and to reject the proposal.

"How bad is it from one to ten?" he asked analyzing her expression, Clary bit her lip.

"Let's say a six, maybe? Or rather seven… point five... well, it depends on what you think about it…" that was when the old Simon came back, he got really nervous about that reply.

"Oh, by Raziel! I knew this would happen! Now you won't be able to escape from him! Oh, Clarissa, I thought that you better than anyone, and having the mother you have, would know how this works… Damn it! How could he? I knew he was a pig… but this much? You're still 17! No, wait, let me guess! It was because of that "sweet" grandma of yours? Then that misses is really fucking crazy!" Clary could hardly understand what was going through his mind, and besides he was speaking far too quickly, she felt dizzy from just looking at him.

"Ok, time! What the heck are you saying?" she knew that her situation was a bit difficult to process, but not that much!

"I'm saying what's true! You may not take it as something bad but for me as your best friend who suffers from usual panic attacks it's terrible! I can't believe that those people seek children so much, are they cannibals, or part of a satanic group or something?" that was when she got it.

"I'm not pregnant, you dumbass!" she tried not to speak too loudly so the sea of whispers wouldn't starts, Simon seemed to be able to breathe again, his purple cheeks turned somehow pink again and he took her hand in his.

"You've just made me the happiest guy on earth… the day that you tell me that you're having his kid will be the day when both of our lives will be over, pumpkin… Okay, let me breathe a bit more… alright, I'm fine, what's going on? And try to go easy on me, the last time you said "I need to tell you something" you became a Crown Princess, I don't need that kind of death scares anymore! "He accused her.

"It's not my fault that you're so dramatic, Lewis! This is it… when Jace and I went to my house to spend the weekend, he… well, I showed him some pictures of Valentine and me and I told him the "beautiful" story we shared as a family and I… started having nightmares about him, well you know how bad I get once he's brought up…" she began, almost hesitating.

"If I don't know, then who on Earth does?" he whispered.

"The thing is that… Jace told me that he… he wanted him to come back to Idris…" it was even hard to say out loud, Simon grimaced and then looked straight to her eyes.

"Alright, let's take out the "Jace Herondale Qualities List" out… Let's see…presumptuous, whimsical, annoying, narcissistic, a bit selfish, very absolutely and disgustingly blonde… but insane? That's a new one! What the hell goes trough that mind of his?!" he didn't explode but neither he was happy about it, that gave her a clue of what to do.

"I know, but… he thinks he's helping me and… I don't know, I really want to…" but then she thought better about what she was saying.

"Whoa, whoa… hold your horses there, miss occasionally reckless; Clary, do you realize what would happen if Lucifer, who also happens to be your father, comes here? You mother will have a heart attack, Luke will have to take your Grandfather's hunting gun down of the wall and your brother will surely end up in the hospital with a coma… anything else you need to consider before you say a rotund no?" she hated when he was right.

"I know what I should do… but what about my own mental health? I was just a little girl when he left saying absolutely nothing, and then he stops writing to us and disappears into thin air! I just want to know what… made him hate us so much…" Simon loved that about her that she was able to make him feel like shit every time they argued about something.

"Ok, I'm asking you to listen to me for once since you became the wife of Goldilocks, just once! I know that you think you're a disaster because your father was enough of an ass to leave you all, but since when do you need him so badly? Your mother did great without him and you always had Luke and Jonathan... why, Clary? Why would you want to change that also? Think of how your mom would feel if she found out all of this? Is this really how you want to thank her? Or trying to solve something that's not that important at all? Pumpkin, don't let this win over you… you're strong, brave, smart, beautiful, adorable, talented… you never needed him to be all of that, so what could you know that you don't already? He's an idiot, he lost the best people in the whole world for his pure stupidity, that's it…" he was pretty clear, and Clary knew, it wasn't necessary to say another word, that was it.

"You're absolutely fucking right… if he doesn't want to see me again, well then I don't want that either…"

"God, as soon as I get out of is when the water starts to boil…" Alec entered his sister's room looking very frustrated and angry, Izzy could have noticed if it hadn't been because of her cell phone, texting Simon was one of her favorite and never ending hobbies.

"Are you cooking something?" Izzy asked, obviously not aware of the situation.

"Yes, my anger! And it looks like it's finally ready, could you pay attention to me, please?" he scolded her for her teen like behavior.

"Alright! What is it this time? Is Camille flirting with Magnus again?" it wasn't exactly the time for her to mess things up, that comment made him get even angrier.

"No! And don't mention her name on my face again! The thing is that aunt Celine and mother had an argument today, Grandma is starting to worry about what are our parents thinking of, Uncle Stephen is now probably ahead to kick father on his noble parts and father probably doesn't give a damn about anything as always, now … How could this have something to deal with Camille?!" he exploded, Izzy chuckled and replied.

"I don't know, the bitch is so meddlesome, she's everywhere! Anyways, did Celine touch mother? Because I might be the one heading to kick her noble parts right now!" she knew that Maryse needed someone to protect her and the baby as Robert was lost on his own mind.

"No, they just talked and talked about things they don't usually say so easily… and mother is really mad about it, she's having some pain on her belly…" and before Isabelle walked out of the room burning with fury, he ended "but take it easy! The doctor's already with her!"

"I don't understand…. How could this happen? You think aunt Celine knows something?" Izzy played nervously with her hair, as his brother looked at the window, drown on his thoughts.

"She might, and that's no good…but I don't blame her…" it was somehow ridiculous for Alec, blood against blood, constantly fighting to prove that someone is better than the other, they were equals, but still they had to hold on to it so they wouldn't be damaged.

"Because we're all guilty, I believe that the only ones who are really out of this are Jace and Clary… and that's just because they know nothing about what's going on… that's sad, that they'll have to pay the price for something they didn't do…" Isabelle wished for so long she that she could've stopped everything and everyone for a moment, but she had realized that the matter was out of her hands, she was the one who had decided to stay out of it and because of that no one knew what Robert could do, still they had to cover him somehow so it wouldn't end worse.

"They have each other, they need nothing more…" reminded her Alec, the greatest strength for them would have to be their love, other ways they wouldn't have a chance to survive such thing.

"This means that… we're heading to the end, right?" Izzy had stayed up many nights thinking about where was her father's insanity taking them, what would happen after that, but she could only be sure about one thing, they all would be hurt, they'd feel betrayed, and the end of one side of the family would be unavoidable.

"The end of the planning, but the begging of the plan, Iz" Alec feel a little relieved about it, when there were no more secrets to be told, he could finally say out loud how guilty he was and beg for forgiveness, that if he deserved it.

"Is it too late to prevent them?" she now that at that point, hope was useless, they were tied up and menaced but if she could just help somehow…

"Father will find ways to make them fall… it's useless, sis" the Lightwoods have never been the kind of people who liked to do nothing about danger approaching, but a Lightwood against another one? There was no winning, one had to surrender, and Izzy and Alec had to for their own sake.

"Too bad that we love them so much but we can't do a thing for them, don't you think?" Izzy sobbed quietly.

"I wish that love was enough for saving them… but it's that same thing that keeps us trapped… can you choose in between your father and the lovebirds? Between the man who gave you your life, who has done so much for you… and the guy who has always been like a brother to you, showing his special side only to you, and the sweet and little clumsy girl who turned our world upside down? Can you, Iz? Because I can't… I rather sacrifice myself too, but that won't make any difference, the only winner will be father if he gets what he wants…"

"That means the only way to … defeat him is… being beside him?" Izzy thought with a plan building up inside her mind, but she'd need help.

"Maybe… but he doesn't trusts us anymore, I can't think of one person inside here he considers trustworthy…" she wished her brother was right, that she hadn't shared such a connection with her father.

"Perhaps not right now… but what marks you is permanent, I know father isn't able to forget some things he wishes he could… I myself desire that too but it's not possible, that's the same reason why we won't try to damage him… but we can try to change the plan, make it less of a massacre, Alec" her loving eyes made impossible for her brother to tell her that she was wrong.

"What do you suggest?" but he preferred to hear what the idea was before judging her.

"Make me father's weapon, Alec. Make him trust me and use me for what he wants, that's the only way I can control him, try to make this better and when the time comes… I'll refuse to take my position as heir of the Crown and Jace will be king as it's supposed to be"

-Two months later-

"You're telling me that this girl is meant to take my place as Consort Queen? Don't make me laugh, Lady Amatis!" Clary's mother in law seemed a lot more interested and disappointed in her than she usually was, lately she could find any reason to scold Amatis and her. "I wonder what the hell you have been doing for the past five months! This place and position are not new to her, I expected better from you both… Perhaps you should find ways to be more efficient"

"Majesty, the Princess has made much progress I must remind you… still it's not easy for her… she didn't grow up knowing who she would become as your son did…" her cold stare made Amatis stop talking.

"You dare talk back to me, Amatis?" her cheeks flushed in anger and Clary, who had been looking down embarrassed until that moment faced her.

"Majesty, I don't think you should blame Lady Amatis for anything, she has been the greatest teacher I've ever had… her methods are not useless, maybe it's me who isn't a fast learner but I'm sure that I'll get better knowing that you're not pleased with my attitude…" Clary tried to defend both her and Amatis and somehow ask for forgiveness and understanding at the same time.

"Not pleased, you say? I don't believe that's it, Princess… I am absolutely outraged! If the only thing you've learned from becoming a royal is to attend to parties and wasting time while flirting with the Crown Prince and behaving foolishly with your cousins … then I don't really understand why you're still here… You could do all those things outside the Palace…" Queen Celine had never been so harsh on her, and it was really scared.

"I'm really sorry, majesty… I didn't know I was… being so uninterested in my duties…" she had to admit she had been using all her energies doing research about The Circle, she had forgotten that the Queen was constantly monitoring her tasks.

"Well, you are… I consider I've been far too patient with you, from now on, Lady Amatis… Princess Clarissa will be studying only the topics I pick for her and you must make sure she learns them perfectly, I'll accept no mistakes or half done work… and most of all, I won't accept any boldness, and that goes for both of you… If she wasn't born worthy of St. Raziel's crown, then she'll have to become worthy… to praise and protect the family the way it must be done…" Clary was sure that all she knew about how to breathe had erased from her mind. Something was really bothering her, but she couldn't know what.

"Yes, majesty" answered Amatis with s deep bow.

"You may go out and be ready for the press conference, Princess not all but much eyes will be on you, including my own, the decisions I take about your learning depend on the mistakes you commit today…" well, damn, she was sure as hell that Clary would mess up.

"Yes, majesty, I'll try to … be more careful than how I usually am" she answered while playing with her hands.

"I hope so, and when you're there… you must keep straight position, your face not reflecting any emotion, hands to the side and no hesitating with words… Guess that posture and body language will be one of your first lessons. You both are dismissed" and she was very observing too.

"You're telling me that the woman is my sweet as hell husband's mother? I don't buy that!" Clary knew that Queen Celine wasn't much of a softened person, but that was just being a bit of a cruel bitch.

"Watch your words, highness… from this day on you'll behave as what you are, and by that I mean a Princess of course, at all time… Queen Celine will be watching and if you don't want your self-esteem to be smashed in less than a minute… you better work hard" Amatis seemed to know much of Celine's way of being.

"You took it seriously, didn't you?" Clary whispered, forgetting about the good hearing ability that she and Luke shared.

"You mustn't take anything that is said inside the Palace as a joke, highness; between joke and joke the truth looms, and you must pay special attention to the words of your elders and stop behaving so carelessly from now on…" Amatis turned from the cool teacher she was to the cold governess she was supposed to be.

"I will, Lady Amatis…" and Clary knew what that meant 'Goodbye to your childish self, Clarissa, time to be a royal for real'

Clary felt like being pierced with thousands of needles as people gathered around the Accords Hall for the press conference. On the other hand, Jace seemed as relaxed and proud as always, he held her hand softly; she had decided not to tell him about what his mother had said, there was nothing he could do either, and she wanted to be a better Princess than she had been, sometimes changes are for good.

"Good afternoon everyone, as always we're pleased to have our dear people her to listen to us, I appreciate the effort you've made to come…" King Stephen was really natural when it came to talk with the people of Alicante, but around his own family, he never seemed comfortable, Clary thought that she was rather the opposite, maybe that's what she had to change?

"But I'm afraid it's not good news we're going to give you today…" Robert took the lead of the speech, that comment made everyone in the room shake, including Clary.

"What's going on?" she whispered to her husband as he looked up to his uncle.

"I don't know…" he replied, confirming the idea she had, this was another of Robert's threats. Her gaze stopped when she found Alec and Isabelle, but they didn't seem surprised at all, rather… embarrassed?

"It's not something unknown the fact that our big family has been divided into two for many years now, it's only natural for us to take separate ways some times to make sure that our personal troubles don't affect at all the development of our Nation and it's peace. Nobody, in the whole word I think, can see him or herself completely alike to the members of their family, and that is what makes us all unique, special… family mustn't represent an obstacle for the things we desire to achieve and I believe that if love, that's the greatest value of it, becomes rather a problem than a benefit, then it's not real; my children here, have learned that on the hard way I must say, but in order to protect them, their safety and their rights… with the approval of their majesties the King and Queen, we've decided to officially divide our families…" that just managed to make Clary freeze while everyone whispered any kind of things, she was shocked. "Lightwoods and Herondales won't coexist anymore, the Palace and its properties shall be spread in between both as the Parliament believes fair and right, the Mother Queen shall be opened to accept suggestions made from me or my wife according to the laws that have been held for a very long time, in a period of changes, anything could happen, and if modifications are needed then they will be done…" that was when she stopped listening.

What was exactly that he was planning? She knew that her father in law had never shared a very good relationship with him, but not a sick one! A so sick one that made him cut the bond that united them! Not to coexist, not to share the Palace, to divide properties… that was far too much! And why was he doing something like that? Was it because of the arguments they always had? That was just so immature from him; and why didn't Alec and Izzy say a thing? Would she be banned from seeing them? He couldn't do that! They were her friends, her confidents, they were the only ones she could really trust inside the palace, when Jace and her had had troubles, Alec was the one who took care of her, Izzy was the one who reminded her how crazy, funny and sometimes difficult it was to be a girl! They were especial and important for her; she couldn't let them go so easily.

"Excuse me… Prince Robert, remembering that the blood lines you share with King Stephen is essentially the reason why your family are considered members of the Royal Family, why would you want to break all connection with him?" asked a person in the public, while Clary's mind wrote an infinite list of the reasons why what was happening was a huge mistake.

"I think that this modification is best for us to be recognized and have the respect we deserve as Royals, you see… the bond in between Lightwoods and Herondales was my father late King Marcus, may he rest in peace, and as he cannot be with us anymore, I don't really see the reason why we should be taken as an extension of the Herondale family" Did that only sound awful and selfish for her? Why were they taking it so easily?

"Majesty, does this mean that your power will be also divided in two parts?" those questions were absolutely senseless for Clary, what they should've asked but didn't was: Can he do that?!

"It might be, but the inheritance of the throne will remain as it has always been…" Might? How could he use the world might in such serious situation?

"What does her Majesty the Queen Mother think of this?" That's right! Clary's sweet Grandma could do something about it.

"I certainly think this is better for both of my late husband's sons, both his majesty and his highness deserve to be taken as authorities but this does not mean that the peace of our Nation must be perturbed, this will be and advance and progress for our government…" it was official, everyone had gone absolutely crazy.

"If we may ask, the Crown Prince and Princess didn't seem aware of this and both look very surprised, any thoughts about this, highnesses?" Clary looked down to the expecting crowd, she had much to say but… could she really say it? Maybe it really was for good that they should be apart, she could not show any emotion while talking about political matters, what she felt wasn't important, it was rather what was best for Idris. Then she looked at her mother in law, her eyes burnt in a menacing way, and even though her heart hurt… she had to take the place she was given and no other.

"I … trust that his Majesty will make right choices … when he must" and she was honest, but that didn't mean he was making a right choice at that moment.

To be continued…

Dreamer.

Hello, readers! I missed you all crazily, you know? I missed waking up every morning with excitement to see your reviews! Ok, I think I don't deserve forgiveness for not updating recently, and I won't say any excuses I'll just say that: It's summer now, guys! So that means more frequent updates and I'll have more ideas for the next chapters, because If I'm honest with you my mind suffers from a block these days, but I guess it was just the frustration of the Final Exams (ups, an excuse came out XD) the thing is that I want things to happen slowly with this story not all at the same time because I'll make you suffer more than I should so … I'm really trying to be smooth and discreet with the way the story progresses, you know keep not just the drama but the intrigue of it.. You know the Royals have always kept many secrets! And I'm trying to unveil them one by one slowly, so I don't really know what will happen next, but be ready for some serious trouble… so if you think you felt heartbroken in the first chapters, you have no idea guys! Yeah, maybe you'll be sad, confused, angry… but you'll like it I promise! So, as always thank you for reading, I'll be awake all night checking your reviews so please say all you thought about this chapter, I think this was one of the most challenging ones that I've had to write but I had to give you an idea of what was happening in a not so explicit way. I'm so happy that you enjoy the story and follow and favorite it, I myself love how my idea has developed even if it's hard sometimes, I just try to do my best for ya'll and I hope you like it. I'll "read" and write to you XD on the next chapter, bye!