I looked at my wrist again, checking the time on the diamond encrusted watch I had found while scouring my closet. I absently thought about how much this must have cost while I stared at the second hand ticking away. I didn't even wear watches, and yet it was sitting with thousands of dollars of other jewelry.

I had been too nervous and now I had to wait in the shadow of a decorative shelf in the hallway and hope that no one would see me this close to the royals' rooms. I prayed that arriving too early wouldn't ruin my plan.

I heard the new guards approaching and swore in my head as I scurried down the hall to peak around the corner. The current standing guards were talking quietly to each other, and I breathed a sigh of relief when I saw them move further down the hall. Slipping along the wall, I bent over and tried to be as quiet as I could as I rushed past the King and Queens room and down to the end of the hall where I had been instructed.

I didn't have time to knock or question if this was the right room as I heard the footsteps of the guards round the corner. Thankful that it was unlocked, I opened it just wide enough to squeeze through before quickly shutting it behind me.

"Lady Atlas," Gavril Turps greeted, making me jump as he reached over and flicked on a second light to his desk lamp. He was in more casual attire, choosing a plain polo instead of his normal blue suit.

"Do you just stay up this late every night?" I asked, looking him up and down suspiciously.

"I wake up for the changing of the guards," he replied, taking a seat at his desk and offering me a couch across from him with a wave of his hand, "I've been waiting to speak with you."

The room was split, and a pair of closed double doors must have led to his real bedroom, for which I was thankful. I felt more comfortable in his private office than I would have if this were a single room.

I didn't take up his offer, choosing to stand in the middle of the room. I had on a plain, beige, strapless dress that I had changed in to after my maids had left, but I wished I had thrown a robe over me as well because I felt very exposed. I still didn't trust him.

"What is your role in all this?" I asked coolly, wanting to skip his normal, 'charming' banter routine and get straight to the point.

"I keep a close eye on the royal family," he replied cryptically, "I control the public narrative as best as I can."

"What do you want?" I demanded, narrowing my eyes at him.

"The same thing you want, I imagine," he shrugged, waving a hand arbitrarily, "a reformation of the government system we are currently."

"So, you're part of the Northern Rebellion," I said to confirm my suspicions.

"The North Star Reformation Forces," he corrected, "but yes, I am. . . and I am aware of who you really are, Atlas Avery."

"An abandoned orphan left to die for some half-baked plot to gain control of a country through depraved means?" I asked bitterly.

He sighed. "Your mother was not always the leader of the NSRF," he explained gently, "she had been a general for a long time before our old Commander was killed in a botched supplies raid about a year ago."

"But she's had this plot for years," I accused, "I was barely a teenager when she faked her death."

"She cared about you, Atlas," he insisted, "but losing her husband really broke her, and she was badly injured from the accident – paralyzed from the waist down for many years; that part was real. She still doesn't have control of her left arm." I had noticed that, but I hadn't realized it was from the accident and not from rebel fighting. "We had lost you for some years too. It wasn't as calculated as she makes it out to seem."

"That's no excuse," I shot back.

"I know it isn't," he agreed, "not everyone agrees with her decision, but. . ." He paused, glancing away from me. "You have proven yourself to be more than capable and worthy of the crown," he added gently.

"I don't want the crown," I insisted.

"I can imagine why," he said with a breathy laugh.

His casual attitude angered me. "I can't anyway," I snapped, "The king would never allow it."

"If he stepped down and let his son assume the throne," Turps pointed out, "he wouldn't be able to stop you."

I rolled my eyes. "As if he would just step down," I muttered.

"With a large enough force and the support of the people behind us," he continued, "we could force him off it."

"It's not going to happen," I barked, crossing my arms over my chest, "he's insane. And even if you were able to do it, how do I know you'll just lay down and let Alex rule in his place? If you want to dismantle the government, that includes him."

"Atlas," he said, leaning forward, "I never married or had my own children. I love the princes like my own flesh and blood. You have my word that they would not be harmed. The NSRF simply wants a restructuring, not a complete dissolving of the current government. Do you know what a constitutional monarchy is?"

I clenched my jaw and turned my head away, embarrassed that I didn't. "No," I muttered.

"It is a system with a separate head of government, but where royalty still holds significant executive power," he told me, surprisingly non-condescending, "Elected officials, checks and balances, a government for the people, and Alexandre rules as a just power. Christoph and Ross would both hold council, and together we will help people."

"Sounds too good to be true," I mumbled, looking at him up and down.

"It's idyllic," he agreed with a sigh, "and I fear that it will not be peaceful. . . Tell me Atlas, what you do feel for Alexandre?"

"Why?" I asked.

"You work extremely well together," he explained, "and you seem to. . . get along very well."

"We did," I drawled.

He furrowed his eyebrows, studying me before continuing. "There is another way, Atlas. . ." he said quietly, his voice trailing off.

"What do you mean?" I asked hesitantly.

"It would completely set you free of any responsibility. You will not have to participate in the rebellion at all if that is your choice," he continued, "It is not as viable as you and Alexandre assuming the throne at the end of the Selection, and I worry that we do not have the time to wait, but. . . we have more than one Elite working with us."

My stomach flipped and I could hear the blood rushing in my ears. There were only two Elites vying for the throne. Albany, and. . .

"Valeera," I stated, realizing the signs had been there from the beginning. She knew who I was when we first arrived, and her cryptic, seemingly random comments all made sense now.

Turps took a deep breath. "Yes," he confirmed with a nod, "You may leave the Selection, and Valeera would move in to take the throne in your place. The only problem is that it may be years before the King passes on the crown, and we don't have years to wait. The plan to force him to step down could still be utilized, but Valeera is much farther down in the polls."

"An overthrow through force? To put me on the throne?" I asked, "People will die - a lot of people. For what? Me?"

I chased out the hope I felt in my heart with crushing reality. Turps had just handed me a way out, one that would be safe and guilt free. Alex would have a queen that was prepared to lead, and he would be safe from the King's wrath.

But he also gave me a chance to be with Alex. There was a future where I could stay by his side forever and I wouldn't have to ever leave the castle. Was it worth it for me? The turmoil, the stress, the worry – I would be meeting with dignitaries, passing legislation, speaking on the Capital Report, convicting criminals, and leading a nation for the rest of my life. And that was just barely scratching the surface.

"The people, the lower castes, a majority of this country. . . want you, Atlas," Turps added, pulling me out of my thoughts.

I didn't believe it was possible, but if I could get Alex on the throne safely, then I was willing to help anyway. Whether it was me, or Valeera, Alexandre would be safe if I worked with the NSRF.

I took a deep breath. This was it.

"I want you to extend an invitation for me."

A/N I didn't know how to break up these next two chapters, so this is a short one and the next one will be THE CHAPTER. Get hyped.