Alejandro and Alicia were sitting on a small blanket in an alcove along the Eastern side of the palace, sharing a piece of chocolate cake.

"So you really don't think Amelie's music is good? You're actually trying to tell me you prefer Falcon? That's just—" Alejandro shook his head and offered Alicia a sip of the champagne bottle he'd brought to accompany their dinner.

"Well, I never said I don't think it's good I just prefer other—"

A loud crack from a nearby door caught both of their attention as a stream of guards flew out of the palace, half of them heading toward the front courtyard and the other half directly toward Alicia and Alejandro.

Shit! What now?

Alejandro threw everything to the ground and grabbed Alicia's elbow, helping her up as quickly as he could. "Come on, Alicia. We have to go. Now."

"What's going on?" she asked, lagging behind him as she turned to look at the guards. "Why are the guards collecting our things and chasing us down?"

"They aren't chasing us, Alicia, they are protecting us. We have to get inside."

"What? Why? Shouldn't someone have taught me this a little sooner? I've been here half a year and no one thought to tell me there's emergency guard safety procedures?"

"Can we talk about this later?" Alejandro checked over his shoulder to see a crowd accumulating in the front courtyard. They were too far away to hear what they were saying, but it couldn't be good. "The guards know what to do, but it's quicker if I take you, okay? Can we just make sure you're safe and then you can yell at me?"

Alicia put her hand on his arm and continued running with him along the path, not stopping to look behind her until the door was closed between them and the outdoors, several guards still following them while the rest remained outside.

"We need to get you to the safe room, Miss," one of the guards I didn't recognize grabbed Alicia's arm, causing her to jump.

"I have it from here," Alejandro pressed the guard. "Where are my mother and father?"

"Room One," the same guard answered. "I'll send two to accompany you?"

"Yes, that's fine," Alejandro didn't have time to argue about how many guards he needed. "Thank you. Keep safe."

"No trouble, Your Highness. Appears to be peaceful demonstrators, but we'll keep our focus." With that and a wave of his hand, he and the majority of the guards went off running down the other hallway toward the side courtyard.

"Come with me, Alicia," Alejandro held out his arm and she placed her hand in his. There was something about how effortlessly she trusted him that made him hope for the future. Now, he just had to find his parents and ensure there would be a future for her.

* * *

Half an hour later, Alejandro had ensured Alicia was safely in the room with his father and a few staff members who had been nearby at the time. After giving Alicia a quick kiss, he followed his mother to the upper floor where they could better assess the situation with the palace guards. Despite everything that was going on, his job was mostly to wait for the guards to gather enough information to make a decision.

Alejandro's mind constantly moved back to Alicia. Is she safe? Is she scared? I hope my dad isn't telling her every embarrassing story he can think of just to keep her distracted.

I really hope my dad is telling Alicia all of those embarrassing stories just to keep her distracted.

A sharp rap on the door pulled him back to the present situation as Fetu approached from their left. "Your Majesty, the guards have a report. Would you like me to relay it through the earpiece or allow them entry?"

Queen Sofia looked up and narrowed her eyes. She was sizing up how worried he was by the information. She must have determined the risk was low because she answered him. "Let them in."

Seemingly by magic, but actually by radio communication, the guards at the door opened it to allow two of their colleagues entry, while two more remained outside the door.

"Your Majesty," the two stood on decorum and bowed upon entry.

"We've no time for this. Report, please."

"Ma'am it appears the protestors are remaining peaceful. They are complying to all requests excepting those that involve vacating the property. They say they will not leave the premises without speaking specifically with Miss DuMont. So we need your directive, Ma'am. Do you wish us to use force to remove them or do you wish another course of action?"

He bowed slightly and stood at attention, waiting for her response.

"No," Alejandro said simply, heart beating aggressively in his chest. "No, she's not going."

He looked toward his mother for backup only to be met with a pensive look as though she might actually be considering the course of action. "Mother, you can't let her do it!"

"I can if she is willing, but I would like some guards to attend with her. Ensure there is no risk to Miss DuMont's safety." She turned to face Fetu. "Please coordinate with the king and Miss DuMont and have a plan ready for me in no more than ten minutes. Five is ideal."

Fetu nodded curtly "Of course ma'am." And then he turned to face Alejandro. "I'll keep her safe, Man."

"You better hope you do," Alejandro's whole body was vibrating with fear and anger. "Mother, let me go with her."

"I can't do that, Alejandro. Look at you. You're practically shaking with anger. That will only escalate things we don't need to escalate."

"Let me try first, at least. Let me go see if they will speak to me where I can set up a meeting with a smaller group at a better time. Okay?"

Queen Sofia sighed deeply and massaged the bridge of her nose with her fingers. "Fine. Go speak to them, but take a detail of at least six guards when you do so and have them report back with any developments."

"Thank you!" Alejandro kissed her cheek and almost sprinted toward the door.

"Be careful, my son. We all need you alive." The way she emphasized the word all was clearly meant to convey more than just the country. She was talking about herself, but she was also talking about Alicia. And she was right. Alicia needs me alive. But I need her alive, too. And at least I know what I'm doing out there. She's not prepared for this.

He nodded to his mother and turned into the hallway followed almost immediately by the small contingent of guards Fetu had requested on his behalf. "Keep her safe," he said to Fetu as they reached the main stairwell. "Keep her safe and don't let her do anything stupid until I've figured this out, okay?"

"You know I can't promise that," a pained look appearing on his face for only a moment. "But I will do my best as long as it's within the queen's orders. It's the best I can do. I will keep her safe, though. That much I can promise."

"I know," he whispered as Fetu ran down the hallway toward Alicia. "I know."

Turning to face the doors to the front courtyard, Alejandro took a deep breath and steadied himself. Personable and strong but not dictatorial.

"Let's speak to the people, please. I am ready."

The doors swung open before him to reveal an extremely large crowd. Peaceful or not, this many people in this small of a space had a potential for severe injury or worse. He had to convince at least some of them to disperse, for everyone's safety. Which meant it was time to discuss issues no member of the monarchy had openly discussed before. With an angry group of locals. In front of the palace.

There are so many ways this could go wrong. But it's better it happen to me than Alicia.

Alejandro took the advice of the guard to his right as to where the leaders of the protest likely were and made his way around the edge of the crowd until he reached the area where they were congregating. "I understand you wish to speak to my fiancée," Alejandro said once he was within earshot. "I'm here to facilitate that in a way that is safe for everyone."

Before the young man with a beard could reply, the doors to the palace burst open and Alicia ran from the palace shouting something he couldn't hear out to the crowd.

Oh no.

And within seconds, people were pushing toward her as she fought to move further into the crowd, presumably trying to speak to them about their needs and requests. She didn't know what a crowd this size could do just by walking. But Alejandro did. And he watched it all happen in front of him in a split second.

Someone fell down, the crowd flowed differently, the people at the back assumed the palace guards were pressing them back and began resisting, more people started falling to the ground. And then, the danger grew, as each of those people had the potential to be trampled.

Alejandro's heart sank as he watched Alicia's head dip below the crowd as it engulfed the place where she had been standing. Not only was the palace about a minute away from possibly being overrun, but Alicia was nowhere in sight. I can't lose her.

And then, without thought for himself or others, he pushed around the outside of the crowd and ran toward where he had last seen Alicia, screaming the whole time for the guards to push back the crowd.

"You have to stop it!" he cried, "Alicia!"

His lungs burned as he ran toward her, chaos erupting at every turn around him.

"Alicia!"

Where is she?