I was nervous as I slowly made my way to the front foyer, hoping that there would be no disasters during this ball and that it would all run smoothly. I absently ran my hands down my dress, an understated, red, satin A-line. It would match the other girls, who wore similar shades of red and orange.

Beckii had decided to theme our ball around autumn, mixing the two regions' fall aesthetics and traditions. Even though I was still upset with her and she was barely talking to me, I had to admit she had done an amazing job with her tasks.

I had ended up agonizing over the centerpieces and floral decorations more than I needed to, knowing Alex would be judging them. The decorators had done an amazing job with the grape vines climbing the tall columns of the ball room, and they had delicately hung the imported Red Oak cuttings along the banisters. Attaching tree branches to the walls and ceiling had been a bold choice, but they somehow knew exactly what I had been picturing. Chestnuts, the main fruit of the Italian fall, had been Albany's idea, and they were incorporated into all the decorations.

Anouk had come up with the idea to change the sheer curtains to a red color, making the light outside filter in as a rosy pink. Here in the capital our falls were more subdued, and we were nearing the end of the season, but we knew Italy was still bright and colorful this time of year and wanted to emulate that.

I heard someone running up behind me, and I turned to see Beckii hurrying down the hallway as fast as she could in her tall heals. "Atlas," she hissed in a harsh whisper, skidding to a stop next to me, "They changed the guest list. It's not just ambassadors."

Her eyes were wide and her breath ragged, making my stomach churn with a new anxiety. "What do you mean 'not just ambassadors?'" I demanded. I didn't want to be late, so I offered her my arm for comfort, and we started walking towards the foyer with our heads bowed together.

"I mean," she drawled under her breath, "the Italian princess is here."

I balked and stepped on the hem of my dress, making Beckii tighten her grip on my arm as she caught me. I couldn't think of something to say, my mouth gaping as I searched for anything. "Oh. . . I hope the forks are on the correct side," was all I could come up with. Suddenly this wasn't just a ball for Italian government officials, this was the future leader of an entire country. If we messed up, we could have serious effects on our international relations.

I felt bile rise in the back of my throat, and I took a few deep breaths to keep myself from vomiting. I leaned into Beckii more, looking for comfort.

As we slowed our pace so we could collect ourselves, I wondered if Alex had known she was coming. He had been so stressed, but I had been skeptical about the importance of his meetings with the ambassadors. He had called it a test, and now it seemed serious enough to be one. It was evening, so they would have already met by now. I hope it went well. I caught myself before entertaining the thought to quickly go find him before the ball started; after what happened last night, I think we both needed space.

Beckii snorted at my comment, and a sudden rush of happiness filled me. I had missed her so much, and I thought that this night might bring us together again. She seemed to relax too and wrapped her other hand around my bicep.

"Is it just the princess? Any other royals?" I asked, slowing even more as we approached the main foyer.

"Thankfully," she replied with a sigh, "and she's only a few years older than us. . . maybe she'll go easy on our group."

"What do girls our age like?" I whispered, pushing open the door for us.

"I don't know," she hissed with a smile, adding jokingly, "should we serve more hard liquor?"

"Beckii, no," I laughed, trying to be quiet even though her comment had caught me off-guard. She playfully hushed me as we joined Albany and Anouk, who stood at the end of the long carpet that led to the grand ballroom. The other girls and various guests lined either side, creating a column for the royals and ambassadors to walk down as we opened the doors to reveal the culmination of our hard work the past two weeks.

"Did you hear?" asked Anouk quietly.

"Mm," I replied, nodding my head. My palms were sweating, and I resisted the urge to wipe them down the front of my skirt. I knit my fingers together and held my hands in front of me, trying not to wring them out of habit. Anouk startled next to me when the trumpets blared behind us and the announcer started the procession calls.

We had wowed our guests with the first impressions, and the beginning of the ball went off smoother than I had anticipated. Albany had added the princess to the seating arrangements before we had gathered, and she ended up sitting next to me at the head table, the queen on her other side. Carina De Rossi seemed very kind and sociable, and I tried to come off as gracefully as I could while my nerves wound up like springs ready to snap. I tried to remember the small bits of information we had been studying, and I injected them into the conversation as much as I could; she seemed more amused than impressed, and I felt childish.

Prince Christoph was the first to ask the princess to dance, allowing me to take a deep breath for the first time since I sat down. I didn't have much time to talk to Anouk on my other side before Alex appeared behind me and cleared his throat.

"Can I have this dance, Lady Atlas?" he asked evenly. I squinted at him, but then jumped up and put on my best fake smile as I realized how close I was to the queen. I excused myself and curtsied to her, who gave me a look that could, at best, be described as cold, and then to Alex before taking the hand he had offered me. I didn't find any comfort in his touch as he led me to the dancefloor and bowed as the music started.

"Did you have to?" I asked lowly through clenched teeth as soon as the song had started. I pushed back against him when he tried to pull me closer.

"What?" he laughed, surprisingly jovial. He must have been reveling in my discomfort, and he gave me an amused smile as he spun me.

"Do you know how suspicious this looks?" I demanded, keeping my voice just loud enough so he could hear me over the music.

"A prince dancing with one of his Elites?" he proffered, inching his body closer to mine as we danced.

"His Elites?" I couldn't help but ask, blushing in the bright lights of the ball room and making me feel uncomfortable.

"Our –" he started, taken off guard as his authority in this conversation slipped. "It's not like we announce it publicly who our choices are," he continued, looking over my head as he regained his composure, "would you rather I call you communal?"

"Easy," I threatened, the bite taken out of my words as I accidentally stepped on his toe. My blush deepened.

He flinched but moved past it, grinning at me mockingly. "I just want to get a dance in with you before Ross steals you away for the rest of the night," he teased as the music picked up and we fell into a rhythm with the rest of the dancers.

Alex was adept, and I could trust him enough to guide me without needing to overthink every move. The music was swelling. My body was starting to heat up as I realized that we were being heavily scrutinized, and I had no excuses anymore if I were to mess up. We hadn't had any dance lessons or practice in a while, and Alex's words died out as he noticed my shift in mood.

He would delicately brush his hands under mine any time I gave the slightest hesitation to lead me into the next move, and for a moment the rest of the party fell away. Blood was rushing in my ears and every gentle touch of the dance was like electricity on my skin. The bodice on my dress suddenly felt constricting and my head spun.

"Sorry. The first dances are always the hardest," I heard him say as he pulled me close again, "I should have given you more warning." I took a few deep breaths, a shiver traveling down my spine as reality came crashing back to me.

He rubbed the side of my arm when I didn't respond. "You'll get – you get used to it," he said, unable to cover up the trip in his words without me noticing, "I don't even have to think about it anymore, but I forgot you don't do this very often. . ."

"An understatement," I replied, pulling away to curtsy as the music ended. I felt dizzy from all the spinning and was glad the song finally ended.

"Thank you for the dance, your majesty," I said, turning to walk away and searching the front table for Ross. He wasn't there

I felt a hand slip into mine. "One more?" Alex asked, his earlier façade dropping as he gave me a half smile with hope in his eyes.

"Uh, I don't. . ." I trailed off. I shouldn't, for so many reasons. We couldn't do this in front of everyone, not when the entire room would be reading into everything we do. All the stress that had melted away started to creep back into my head. I remembered where I was and how dangerous a wrong move could be.

The band started the next song as I stood awkwardly in the middle of the dance floor; it was a slow, languid song to balance out the intensity. I couldn't just let everything else drop away and distance myself from all the responsibilities that should be racing through my head right now. I couldn't.

I was too eager to glide back into his arms. I looked up to see him smile for a moment, but then watched as he blinked a couple times, looked around, and then drop back into that neutral, tense look he always wore in public. I dropped my gaze, looking at the flower pinned to his jacket as if it were the most fascinating thing in the room. Whatever had been there in the last song was gone, but there was no hiding how it had affected both of us.

His chest moved with a deep breath and he swung me out, making my skirts shift around us as I turned back in. I could tell something was bothering him, but somehow I knew it wasn't me. I must have been getting good at learning when he's annoyed with me; it happened so often.

"You did a grand job tonight," he said earnestly, looking down at me, "Though, I'll never forgive you for that fennel and chestnut soup."

I slouched forward with an airy laugh, realizing I had been holding my breath. I raised my hand in front of my face to hide my smile. "Alex, it was so gross," I chuckled, relaxing and promising myself I'd stress about it after this dance, "When I tasted it this morning I nearly fainted, I thought the Italians would hate it."

"They loved it," he muttered, keeping his voice low, "which meant we had to pretend to love it too."

"You weren't the one eating it while trying to have a conversation with the princess," I hissed, making his shoulders shake with a gentle laugh.

"The flowers look great," he said after he composed himself, "though. . . there are things I would change."

I purposefully stepped on his other toe.

"I didn't deserve that," he mumbled before spinning me again.

I noticed Albany dancing with one of the ambassadors to my left. "How did the meeting go?" I asked after a moment. All three princes seemed out of sorts, though they hid it well.

He sighed. "Messy," he replied under his breath, "I'll tell you about it later."

I wanted to ask him more, but the music faded to an end too soon. He bowed to me and I gave him a curtsy before returning to the edge of the dance floor, searching for Ross. He was dancing with Anouk, which was a show in itself; he was so tall, and she was tiny, but they managed to make it look graceful. I caught his eye for a moment and my heart hammered in my chest just from the eye contact.

He came over to me when the next song switched and offered me a silent hand. Curtsying, I followed him to the middle of the dance floor. There was something comforting in his touch, nothing like the comfort I felt with Alex. It felt calm and grounding, not tangled and complicated.

"Hey," I breathed, turning my head up to look at him.

He had been wearing a closed off, passive expression, but when I smiled at him, he broke out in a wide grin. "Hey, Atlas," he greeted, amused by the casual language at such an official ball, "How are you?"

I tried to keep my smile small, but just being around him again made my heart soar. I had missed him, and I was able to show my feelings openly with him without having to worry about what others might read into it. There was no need to convince the world that I didn't care about him, and it felt refreshing.

"I'm a little stressed," I chuckled, "but in a couple hours I'll have finished this project successfully and then I can relax again."

"I understand," he said warmly, "you all did a fantastic job. Truly, you ladies had some great ideas and they did not go unnoticed."

"How were your discussions with the princess and ambassadors?" I asked quietly, noticing the dark circles under his eyes as he guided me around the other dancers. He hid it well, but I could see the exhaustion in the way he moved.

"Alex was a mess," Ross mumbled, looking around for a moment, "but I think it went well. . . all things considering."

"Yeah?" I asked, wanting him to continue.

"I am sure you are aware of the riots and uprisings going on right now," he said grimly, "It is hard trying to convince a prospering country to back a monarchy that cannot control its own subjects."

I didn't know what to say to him, but then he spoke up. "But that is not a subject I want to speak of right now," he said, slowing to a halt, "Would you join me out on the veranda? It is a little warm in here."

I looked up and gave him a small nod. I could feel my face burning, but I hoped he couldn't see it in the dim lights now that the sun had gone down.

I let him lead me through the other dancers, noticing Alex dancing with the Italian princess. They were very close, but their faces held grave expressions as they talked quietly. I felt an unwarranted pang of jealousy that melted into shame. Alex could do anything he wanted and even if I was constantly dreading the end of our friendship, I didn't want to let on how much it meant to me.

I just couldn't help but notice how good they looked together, like how a royal couple should look. I tried to picture one of the other girls standing next to Alex as Illea's new princess, but none of them could match up to an actual princess like Princess Carina. Maybe Alex could call off his selection and choose someone other than one of the Elites, someone who could handle the pressure of being the Queen of a crumbling country.

I tried not to think about it as Ross held the door open for me.

There were two guests, one of the state advisors and his plus one, who were chatting quietly outside but cut off when they noticed us. Wordlessly, they left to go back into the ballroom and give us privacy. Ross still brought us to the farthest part of the veranda, tucked away behind a pillar. I turned away from him and leaned on the banister, looking out into the garden. Slouching never felt so good.

"So how are you really doing?" he asked again, leaning on the stone banister with one arm. He ran his fingers down the back of my arm lightly, making me shiver at the touch.

"Oh, I'm sorry," Ross startled, immediately straightening to pull off his jacket, "You must be freezing out here."

I wasn't, but I took it anyway. My senses were flooded with the scent that wafted off the fabric, filling me with a different kind of warmth. He looked ragged, but he was smiling as he watched me throw his big suit jacket around my shoulders.

"Thank you," I said after taking a moment to let my head stop spinning, "Um, I'm okay. . . just stressed."

"I am sorry we have not found your brother yet," he told me softly, making me wince, "but we are still looking. I check in every day."

I felt my chest squeeze painfully. How could I be worrying about princes when he was still missing? I felt sick thinking about how easily I had forgotten about him because of this ball, Alex, and Ross. "Thank you," I muttered, grateful for his sympathy as waves of sadness crashed over me, "It's been. . . rough."

He shifted his weight uncomfortably. "I wanted to apologize again," he started after an awkward silence, "for being so aggressive when I found out about. . . you know."

"I should have told you," I said, sighing. I feel like I've been saying this on repeat, but I didn't know what else to give him. It was on this same veranda that Sjin had threatened me before stealing my brother; the memories made me clench my fists to keep them from shaking.

"What are your thoughts on the selection now?" he asked suddenly, making me focus on him again.

"My thoughts?" I asked, raising an eyebrow at him.

He cleared his throat, looking around uncomfortably. "Now that you are. . . available. . ."

His words shocked me to attention, any exhaustion being replaced with adrenaline at the revelation. I was single. I could compete in this competition for real, maybe even win.

I cut straight to the point. "What are you asking me?"

He straightened, taken aback by my bluntness. "I would like to give us another try," he offered quietly, adding, "if you want. . ."

I paused, paralyzed. "Oh," I said breathlessly, swallowing a lump in my throat. Sjin and I had been on and off but we always came back to each other, so I hadn't been truly single like this for years; I had been 18. I felt a pang in my heart, unable to chase away all the memories of him and still missing the life we used to live.

Suddenly I felt like laughing as I thought about it, seeing how ridiculous my life had become. A hot-headed cage fighter staying in the castle, dressing like royalty, and stealing nights away with the second most powerful man in the country and heir to the throne, and he wasn't even the one I was fighting for.

Was I fighting for Ross now? I didn't feel prepared to jump into a new relationship so quickly, but I knew the selection wasn't going to wait for me.

I realized I had been staring off into space. "Um, yeah," I answered quickly, blinking rapidly as I came rushing back to the present.

I looked over at him, my thoughts whirling around my head until we made eye contact. He had a wide smile on his face, and I felt myself relax. Ross had a steadiness about him that quieted the storm in my head, and suddenly all the worries and bad memories faded as I saw him drop his head and then look out into the garden with a nervous laugh.

"Yes," I repeated more confidently, straighten and turning to face him, "I would like that."

He breathed a sigh of relief. "Good," he replied, licking his bottom lip quickly, "Uh. . . great! I – I'm glad."

"I've missed you," I told him earnestly, ignoring his awkward comments. I missed how simple and easy it was to be with him. I didn't have to constantly choose my words carefully to avoid setting him off or having him read into it too far.

"I've missed you too," he replied, his hand twitching up to reach for my face before he dropped it back down again. He chuckled, shifting his weight between each foot. "Do you – you do want to get back to the party?" he asked stiltedly, already turning to walk back to the ballroom doors.

It was the last thing I wanted. I felt truly calm for the first time in weeks and I didn't want to think about what this would mean to the Selection and the rebellion. "No," I smiled, pushing the thoughts away. Ross turned back to face me and I reached up to lightly tug on his collar.

Our lips connected and a rush of relief flooded through me. He felt familiar and comfortable, and I couldn't help turning my head and deepening the kiss. Ross wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me in tightly, so I moved my hands up from his chest to wrap them around his shoulders.

I gave a small exclamation as I felt him lift me up easily, but then he turned to sit me on the banister, bringing me to his height so we didn't have to crane our necks so much. My skirts made it awkward and difficult for him to step in between my legs, but he was able to push them down and out of the way smoothly to press his body against mine.

We were breathing hard a fire was alight in the deepest part of my core. As hard as I tried to keep my thoughts rational and remember that I was still hosting a party and we were still very much in public, I felt my resolve slipping. I was lost in the feeling and taste of the prince's lips. My heart fluttered as he threaded his hands under the jacket I still wore to run them up the sides of my ribs and around my back.

I almost whined as he pulled away quickly, but then slid off the banister as he looked over his shoulder towards the door. I could hear footsteps coming, and as I looked to Ross I realized my lipstick had been smudged onto his mouth. I quickly grabbed him and pulled him to me roughly, wiping off the make up with my hand roughly and then using the other to clean myself up as best as I could without a mirror.

"Ross, Atlas," Alex called out as a warning. I immediately pulled Ross's jacket off me and threw it haphazardly over the banister. I didn't have time to think about how he knew we were back here. When we rounded the pillar and stepped back into the light coming from the party, I saw Alex had the Italian princess with him. Ross and I both bowed to her as they stopped in front of us, and when I looked up I saw Alex straighten and avoid my gaze.

"Come on," Alex continued jutting his chin out to nod at Ross, "Father is retiring for the night and wants to see us before he leaves." He had a hard look in his eyes and the seriousness of it made Ross silently nod his head without argument. I leaned over to grab his jacket, offering it to him. I wanted to keep it because I was actually cold now, but I knew that would be all over the tabloids tomorrow morning if anyone saw me with it.

Ross gave me a short bow and reached for my hand to kiss it, staying chaste in front of Princess Carina. "Lady Atlas," he said, giving me a hint of a smile as he straightened, "I will be saving a dance for you." I glanced over his shoulder to see Alex roll his eyes and grimace.

"Your majesty," Ross said, turning to address the princess. Alexandre impatiently grabbed Ross by the shoulder, and I stared as he pulled Ross back into the ballroom. At the door, Alex's expression seemed to change and he looked over his shoulder just long enough to give me an almost imperceivable nod. I had no idea what he was trying to do here, but I didn't have the luxury of asking.

They left me alone with Princess Carina, who gave me a small smile and curtsied back to me. "Lady Atlas," she greeted, "Will you join me in a walk through the gardens?"

"Oh!" I exclaimed, surprised by her request, "Of course! Uh, shall we?" I offered her my arm and motioned to the stone steps that lead to the garden. I didn't know why she wanted to speak to me specifically, but I didn't want to seem rude by asking.

Silently, four guards stepped up to accompany us, but the princess waved them off.

"Your majesty," I warned, flashbacks of rebels storming the palace playing in my head, "that might not be the best idea. . ."

"We won't be long," she said with a warm smile, her English perfect, "I just wanted to learn more about the Selection." She turned her head to look at me, but then I saw her eyes flit back over her shoulder to watch the guards return to their post. I was still cautious, but I assumed there would be increased security at the walls and gates and that we would be safe if we stayed close to the castle.

I walked with her silently, letting her take the lead until we had disappeared from the view of the castle behind a cluster of tall rose bushes. She slowed considerably, so I tried to start the conversation. "I hope everything is to your liking tonight, princess," I started, trying to sound respectful and dignified, "We've been studying Italy for weeks, it's a really amazing country." My voice quivered and I realized how nervous I was. I snapped my mouth shut, trying to avoid rambling.

She pulled me in closer to her side, placing her other hand on my arm and patting it. "You can just call me Carina," she insisted, her lips pulling back in a dazzling smile.

"That seems to be a trend with the younger royals," I pointed out lightly, trying to fill the silence.

She gave a twinkling laugh. She was gorgeous, and I couldn't help but feel jealous about her smooth, tan skin, hair pin smile and big, dark eyes; not to mention the delicate curves that gave her a womanly figure. "Well, I think of us as friends, Lady Atlas," she mused, her accent peeking through her words and twirling the A's in my name.

I was taken aback by that, considering how little we had interacted. "Oh, of course," I said after a moment, swallowing hard. I don't know why, but my heart was racing. I hadn't felt this nervous about the French princesses, but something about Carina gave off an air of mystery and I couldn't read her tone.

"Prince Alexandre seems to have taken an interest in you," she commented, stopping to admire one of the last blooming flowers of the fall, "and your family."

I stiffened as she let her arm fall out of mine. "Yes," I said cautiously, swallowing hard, "he's been helping me find my brother." Alex had all the time in the world to warn me about the princess and clue me in on what he has told her about me, but I was left in the dark. I had to choose my words carefully, so I don't let any extra information slip. Carina seemed kind and genuine, but I was having a hard time trusting her.

She paused for a moment and fixed me with a curious look. "Yes, I heard," she breathed, stepping closer to me, "So sorry hearing about that, but the prince seemed happy - optimistic about it."

I didn't know how to change the subject, but I tried anyway. "That's my Alex, always the optimist," I blurted, wincing at how bad that sounded and laughed a little too hard to cover up my mistake. If she was looking for any weakness in him, I shouldn't let on that we had any kind of friendship. Why did I have to call him mine? How could I forget his full titles at a royal ball?

Princess Carina furrowed her eyebrows at me and gave me a once over. "Are you okay, Lady Atlas?" she asked.

"Yep!" I choked out, kicking myself. "Um, you had questions about the selection?" I asked, averting my eyes to look up at her tiara, reminding me that she was a future monarch.

She looked around for a moment and then straightened, pulling her shoulders back and looking even more regal. "I have more importance news," she declared confidently, not aware that she was mixing up words, "Illea and New Italy will not be allying. I do not have in my conscience to align my country with that of a tyrant."

I felt the blood drain from my face as she took a step closer to me. I was convinced she was going to say it was my fault, and I jumped as she took my hands in hers.

"But I will be allying with you, Atlas," she said more gently, leaning closer to keep her voice down, "you and the crown prince."

I blinked rapidly, leaning back out of intimidation. "I'm not sure what you mean, pri- Carina," I insisted.

"Prince Alexandre and I will stay contacted," she continued, ignoring me, "Continue to work with him. Form a plan. Once you are both ready, New Italy will be there to back you."

"Thank you. . .Carina," was all I could choke out. This was the next step that Alex and I had been searching for, but my excitement was dampened with the fact that I had been given even more responsibility I hadn't asked for. I felt sick as I realized that this was no longer just a national issue now that we were involving international forces. I already had a hard time contextualizing how much I was influencing the country with what I was doing here, but now it had become even more abstract.

"Um, I don't have anything to offer you back," I added, biting my bottom lip, "I'm not sure how to repay you-"

She cut me off. "I recognize this is all new to you and the pressure is large, but it will get easier with time," she said with a sympathetic smile, "You are never true prepared until you actually ascend, but the prince is a strong leader."

There was very little she could be implying.

"Oh, I don't. . ." I corrected quickly, my stomach churning, "I'm just here as support right now. I'm not exactly competing. . ." I thought about Ross and the exchange we just shared, and suddenly I wasn't sure if that was still true. "I mean, even if I was, it would be for Prince Ross, not Alex." I winced as I said it, realizing I had messed up his titles again.

She shook her head at me and gave me a puzzled look. "What?" she asked, blinking fast, "I assumed. . . so you are not. . ."

"I'm an eight," I mumbled, shrugging even though it hurt to admit to the Italian princess, "for now I'm just working with Prince Alexandre on the . . . plan." 'Rebellion' sounded too scary to say out loud.

That was what we were doing though.

"The world is watching, Atlas," she pressed, her eyebrows furrowed in concern, "there are three princes but only one true crown. A new era is dawning in Illea, the country will need two strong leaders."

"Thank you for your support, your majesty," I said, not wanting to further comment on the topic and dig myself a bigger hole, "It means more than words could describe."

She wore a pensive look, but she didn't argue. "You're welcome. I must be getting back," Carina stated evenly, "I look forward to working with you, Lady Atlas Avery." She turned and started walking back towards the castle, leaving me standing alone in the garden.

I let out a breath I didn't realize I had been holding, glad she had given me the time to collect myself before I had to go back in. The weight of her news was like a physical load on my shoulders. I knew I should go find Alex, but I was exhausted and wanted nothing more than for the earth to open up and swallow me whole. I didn't have the energy to deal with this tonight.

When I entered back into the ballroom, Ross was already waiting for me. "How was your walk with the princess?" he asked casually, immediately taking my hand.

"Great!" I lied, the cheeriness in my voice surprising me, "I just showed her some of the autumn flowers."

"That sounds nice," he commented, smiling down at me, "Will you dance with me?"

I grabbed onto his arm lightly, putting my other hand on my stomach. "Actually Ross. . . I'm feeling a little sick," I told him, only half lying, "I think it was the fennel. I'm going to retire for the night."

He furrowed his eyebrows but didn't ask any questions. "It was. . . quite the soup. . ." he muttered, his concerned expression giving way to a small smirk, "Shall I walk you to your room?"

"Oh no," I insisted, probably too quickly, "please stay with the other Elites, I'm fine."

He seemed disappointed and I felt guilt settle in my stomach like a rock. It would be so nice to tell him everything; I would have someone less volatile to go to when I was feeling stressed like this. "Alright," he agreed, "Goodnight Atlas, I hope you feel better."

I turned to leave, but I felt him grab my hand again. "Will you have dinner with me tomorrow night?" he asked, giving me a hopeful look.

I smiled at him warmly, my mood lifting at the thought. "I would love to, my prince," I answered, placing my hands on his shoulders and standing on my toes to kiss his cheek gently, "I'll see you tomorrow."

I made my rounds, curtsying to the queen and checking in with Albany and Anouk to make sure they didn't need anything from me before I retired. Beckii was nowhere to be seen, and I debated going to her room before deciding against it. Our relationship hadn't been repaired that much, though I felt more hopeful than I did this morning.

Alex cornered me as I was about to leave. "Did you talk with the princess?" he asked quietly.

"Not the time, Alex," I scolded, trying to move past him.

He stepped in front of me, blocking me again. "We have things to discuss," he said lowly, dropping his head down so his eyes were shadowed by his brow.

I huffed, looking him up and down. "I'm going to bed," I snapped, stopping myself from shoulder checking him in front of everyone as I stepped around him.

He followed me into the foyer and up the stairs leading to our bedrooms; only the royals and selected were allowed up here, so it was eerily quiet and empty.

"Atlas," the prince barked as soon as we were alone in the hallway.

I threw my hands up and whirled on him. "What do you want?" I demanded, "I'm tired. I don't want to do this now."

"Neither do I!" he snapped, leaning forward to look at me, "but we have to talk about our next step."

"I don't have to do anything!" I shouted, "Remember, this isn't my fight. I'm helping you because I want to, but I'm not going to be your servant answering to every beck and call."

"Typical of you to help only when it's convenient for you," he sneered, "You have no idea how hard I've been working while you were picking napkin colors and entrees!" His words were unfair and irrational, but they still dug deep into me. I had been helping him study and prepare for his meeting nearly every day, on top of planning the ball, which was just as exhausting.

"Did I do something to you?" I demanded, my patience wearing thin, "What's with the sudden aggression?"

He looked away from me, his jaw working hard under his skin. "I'm asking you for help," he said quietly, his face softening.

"And I'm saying no!" I threw back, not letting him appeal to my charity. I turned so my back was facing him, adding, "I don't have time for this."

"But you have time for Ross?" he sneered.

I stopped and took a step back so I could twist around and face him. "Is that what this is about?" I demanded, "You're upset that I'm back with Ross?"

"Oh, please," he scoffed, rolling his eyes but avoiding looking back towards me, "I'm not upset about that."

"Don't take your frustration out on me Alex," I chided, raising my hand to motion at him, "or your anger or jealously or whatever is going on here."

He immediately went on the defense. "I'm not jeal-"

"How about next time you feel like this," I said incredulously, placing my hands on my hips, "you come and talk to me about it before you immediately start attacking me."

"I'm not trying to-"

"I get it, okay?" I interrupted, holding up a hand to silence him, "I know how stressed you are, and I know how much you look to me for support. That's not going to change because I'm dating Ross again, but seriously Alex, back off. You can ask for my help, but you don't get to demand it."

I could see I struck a nerve with him. He gave me an angry look, but just as he was about to say something he snapped his mouth shut again and sighed through his nose. "Sorry," he mumbled after a moment, pressing on his eye with the palm of his hand and letting his shoulders collapse forward. "You're right. I guess I'm just. . . I wanted to. . ." he stammered, running his hands through his hair and looking away from me.

I was taken aback. I had expected a childish retort, but it seemed that my words had gotten through to him. Whether he had been comforted or humbled by my words, it was pleasantly unexpected progress. I watched his face go red, and I couldn't imagine how hurt his pride was right now.

His lips pressed together tight before he glanced at me out of the corner of his eye. "Uh, I'll see you in the morning, Atlas," he muttered, biting the inside of his cheek and staring down at the carpet.

I took a deep breath, letting my face soften. I was ready to forgive him right then, but I wanted the words to sink in. "We'll talk tomorrow," I promised with a softer tone, "right now, we both need to get some sleep. . ."

I started to turn, but the way he was standing in the middle of the hallway made me pause to inspect him further. Alex was a master of suppressing his feelings, and whatever the stylists had done made him look fresh and alive for tonight, but there was a darkness in his eyes that aged him and showed his true feelings. Seeing him looking so small and dejected made me feel bad and it struck me that I didn't want to leave him, but I needed to set boundaries, especially now that I was back with Ross.

"Goodnight Alex," I said quietly, looking over my shoulder at him and giving him the tiniest smile.

His head shot up. "Goodnight Altas," he replied calmly.

My head was pounding as I trudged back to my room, and I remembered that I hadn't eaten much today outside of the food I had choked down during dinner. I couldn't think straight, but I also didn't have the resolve to chase away my thoughts.

Ross had taken me back. The party was a success. The princess of New Italy has agreed to help us. I should be happy, but there was something lingering in the back of my mind that caused a fluttering in my chest. It felt like homesickness, but I couldn't think of where that home would be.  

A/N I've been working on scriptwriting dialogue scenes lately and I have to send them out to voice actors soon, but it's made me super insecure about my writing. . . and this chapter was FILLED with dialogue. I've been writing fiction as a serious hobby since 2014 and I have an insanely large body of work, but I guess trashy romance doesn't prepare you for serious publications. 

( T_T)

I really shouldn't be working so much on Atlas, but I've taken it EVEN FARTHER and started 3D modeling her bedroom. . . even though I have a huge thesis project to do. It will take a hot minute to complete, but look forward to that!