Lex POV:

I beamed with pride at the way my princess spoke to our father's and the snobby prince. Neither my stepmother or her mother said anything during the ordeal, probably afraid of what the repercussions would be, Collette just kept trying to grope me under the table, which had been pissing me off and forcing me to physically remove her hands from my lap, and Josette just sat there quietly, taking it all in.

"I have to color myself impressed, William. That daughter of yours speaks like a true queen. With her being the next in line for succession, is she heading to the trials next month? I am sending Alexandre." I couldn't believe how casual my father spoke after having just been arguing with the man sitting across from him.

King William looked a little in awe still, clearly surprised his daughter spoke to him in such away. After seeming to compose himself he replied, "We haven't discussed it with her, but I believe it would be the best thing as of now considering what has transpired. Dear?"

Queen Lydia looked up when her husband called upon her. "I would feel better if we discussed it with Estelle, darling."

"Nonsense, we didn't discuss it with James before we sent him to the trials and he went with no problem."

"Will, my love, Estelle is more stubborn than James and she is more free-willed. She will fight us on this if she isn't ready." Lydia let out a nervous laugh. "And she's still recovering from losing her brother just as much as we are from losing our son. . . I believe she needs time to heal before sending her off."

"I understand that, but she also has a responsibility as the next heir to the Asterian Throne. She just demonstrated qualities of a queen when she put us into our place, so I believe she is ready to go into the trials. . ." William gave his wife a look after he was done speaking, saying without words that his decision was final. "Don't you think so, Dia?"

"If you believe so, dear, then I agree. . ." Queen Lydia bowed her head, though she held a deep frown on her face.

"Maybe Alexandre and her could be Trial Partners like James and Frederick's older sister were." My father stated and at the mention of Frederick's sister, the prince's jaw tensed, his eyes taking on an expression I couldn't place. "Wasn't Camilla your sister, Frederick?"

"Yes. . . She was. . ." Frederick replied quietly, his eyes appearing as if he might cry. "She passed away a few months ago. . . While battling The Corrupted. . ."

I suddenly felt sorry for the guy, knowing what it was like to lose someone close to you. He must still be grieving since it was still fresh. Hell, my mother passed away quite a few years ago and I still find myself grieving at times.

"We are very sorry to hear that, Prince Frederick. . . How are you and your parents holding up?" My stepmother budded in, her voice forlorn.

"They're taking it day by day. . . It's been especially hard for my mother. Camilla and her were very close. . ." The male looked up. "Father seems to have pushed his feelings aside and bottled them up. He has turned his attention mostly to training me to take over the throne."

"Oh. Does this mean you'll be joining the trials as well next month?" My stepmother questioned the blonde male, leaving me wondering why she started talking so much. She didn't usually say much, agreeing with everything my father said, especially when in meetings with royals, so to say I was a little bit thrown off was an understatement.

"Hmm. . . I hadn't given much though to that, but seeing how my father has already begun my training, I suppose so. I mean it is the customs of the Holy Kingdoms to have every future successor go through the trials." Prince Frederick rubbed his chin, his eyes widening suddenly. "You know maybe I'll ask Princess Estelle to be my partner in the trials."

My jaw clenched at his comment, a surge of jealously rushing through my body.

"Not if I ask her first." I blurted out and all eyes turned to me. "That is, if she'll agree to it. Estelle and I have. . . history. . . We've known each other since we were kids and have a sort of trust that, no offense, you don't have with her, Prince Frederick."

"Hmm, I may not have that relationship with her yet, but in time I will. Afterall, she is my betrothed. " The blonde prince smirked at the last part and Queen Lydia let out a gasp.

"Prince Frederick! You were not supposed to say anything yet. The papers haven't even been drawn up." Queen Lydia's eyes looked like they were about to bulge out of her head and she bit her bottom lip nervously.

My blood was boiling. This deucebag prince had the nerve to first say he would be asking Estelle to be his partner in the trials and now he was claiming her as his betrothed? Estelle was and is mine. He will not be marrying her. Not if I had anything to do with it.

"Oh, Lydia. You're overreacting. The whole reason he is here is for the betrothal and it's not like it wouldn't have gotten out sooner or later." King William calmed his wife, speaking so casual about the engagement of his daughter to the prince sitting next to him.

"Doesn't Estelle have a say in this?" I blurted out angrily.

"Alexandre, this is none of your business so I suggest you bud out." My father warned me quietly to where only I could hear him. "Know your place, son."

I wanted to argue, but knew I would face repercussions from my father if I did so I just sat back angrily as the conversation went from the engagement back to the trials.

The entire time, I swore Prince Frederick was looking at me with a smug expression on his face.

Go ahead and be smug, buddy. I'm going to laugh my ass off when my girl rejects you since she's already mine.

Estelle POV:

I couldn't stay in that dining room a moment later after being told I was the one responsible for my brother's death and hearing all the royals arguing. It was stressful, childish, and not at all progressive so I decided to go for a walk through the castle.

Of course, as my father and Lex's had stated, a royal guard followed me. No matter where I went, whether down a hall, or into a random room for a moment, the guard followed.

I hadn't been sure where I was actually even going when I set off
on my little adventure, but I found it actually quite fun to try and see if the guard truly was obedient and would follow me no matter what. At one point, I even went into a bathroom, but the guard merely waited outside for me after I shut the door.

I let out a giggle, rushing around a corner, not paying attention to which side of the castle I was on.

When my hands brushed against satin material, I froze. I knew that material anywhere. It was what the tapestry hanging just outside the Ceremony Room was made out of.

The Ceremony Room. The very room my brother had taken his last breath. The last place I had ever seen him. The very room in which my entire life changed in the blink of an eye.

I raised a shaky hand to the intricate golden doorknob, my other hand trembling as I braced myself against the white oak wood door, struggling to breathe.

"Your highness? Is everything alright?" The guard spoke in a kind tone, stepping towards me to check on my well-being.

I didn't respond, shaking my head and gesturing for him to wait.

After I was able to breathe again, I gently turned the knob on the door, fighting to hold back the tears threatening to spill out as I stepped into the room.

"Princess Estelle?" The guard followed pursuit, his concern evident on his face when I didn't respond.

I just kept walking forward, my heart pounding in my ears as I took in the room.

Sunlight streamed into the room through the elegant stain glass windows, casting shadows across the floor. Since this was my only lighting, I couldn't make out too much. This room tended to always been dark unless you turned on the overhead lights, but I felt like if I saw it all again, it would break me all over. . .

Walking towards the stage, I could just make out dark stains on the carpeting. They were in the exact spots I saw the puddles of blood during the battle. It appeared as if someone had tried to scrub them clean, but it just smeared and left the remaining stain. I also noticed there were less chairs in the room than before, a lot of them having been broken during the battle.

Making out the silhouette of the stage stairs, I walked forward, taking the steps slowly, one at a time. My bodyguard was at my back, our footsteps echoing across the wooden stage and creating a loud noise in the eerily quite room.

I was trembling by now, tears spilling down my cheeks. I could see and almost hear the battle again as I knelt down onto the stage, my fingers tracing the spot where a dark red stain sat. This was the spot my brother died. . .

"My brother. . . Died here. . ." My voice broke, coming out barely above a whisper. "This stain is from his blood. . ."

"Your highness, maybe we should go?" My bodyguard touched a hand to my back.

I simply nodded my head as he helped me to my feet, my sobs uncontrollable as we left the Ceremony Room.

Once the doors had closed behind us and we were back in the hallway, I felt myself let out a breath of relief.

That room just held too many bad memories right now, and I was still processing everything that had occurred.

"Will you be alright, your highness?" The guard looked concerned and worried.

Before I could answer, I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket, followed by the sound of my best friend's ring tone. Wiping my eyes with the back of my hand, I answered. "Hey, Jos." 

"Estelle, I have news for you! After you left, your parents and Lex's were talking and-"

"I must say, Princess Estelle. You impressed me in there." At the sound of his deep baritone, I looked up, meeting the blue eyes of King Andre. "That is something that is not easy to do."

I could still hear Josette speaking on the phone held up to my hear, but I couldn't make out what she was saying, because I was staring at the King of Umbris as he practically stalked towards me.

Ever since I met him when I was a child, I was always intimidated by his tall stature and smug expression on his face. It was like he was better than everyone else and nothing you said could change his mind about that. Well, I didn't think anyone was better than anyone else. I just felt that people might do less bad things than others. That doesn't make them perfect or an angel and I had the feeling King Andre was far from being an angel.

"Estelle, did you hear me? Frederick was saying that you're-"

I couldn't hear the rest of what she was saying, for I was only paying half attention since the royal in front of me was talking at the same time.

"Estelle, my dear. . ." He was a foot away from my bodyguard and myself. "You might just have the qualities your kingdom needs in a Queen."

"And then your father said-"

"My kingdom needs that in a royal as well. . ." He reached a hand out and brushed something off my shoulder, making my body go rigid. "It's too bad Alexandre is engaged to Collete already, and you are betrothed as well, or I would suggest you and him marrying to unite Umbris and Asteria."

I froze. What did he just say?  

"Pardon me? Lex is engaged? Wait. . . he told me there was nothing between him and. . ." I was in shock, trying to process the first part of his statement.

"My son says that to everyone, but they have in fact been betrothed for a few months now. We had the paperwork drawn up before he left to come here." Andre spoke smugly, a hint of a smirk forming on his lips. "Did he not mention this to you?"

"No, he did not. . ." I could feel myself begin to shake in confusion and anger. "Wait, I'm not engaged to anyone."

"You might want to go talk to your parents and Prince Frederick." That was the last thing the Umbris King said before turning on his heel and walking away.

What the hell?

"Estelle, are you listening to me? Prince Frederick is here to-"

I shook my head, swallowing down the knot in my throat. "Jos, I'm sorry. . . King Andre just said I'm betrothed. . . But to who and since when?"

"That's what I've been trying to tell you! Prince Frederick is here because your parents want him to marry you. They were talking about drawing up the paperwork and how you would do whatever you were told to do." I could hear the sadness in her voice for me.

"I can't believe this. . . I can't believe I trusted any of them. . . Lex lied, and his father says he is engaged to Collette. . . My parents want me to take over the throne. . . But lie to me about being engaged to this prince. . . Who I allowed to seduce me. . . Oh my gosh. . . I'm a fucking fool. . . He knew all along and played me. . . And Lex is so gonna hear it from me. He has no idea! He lied to me too!"

"Are you going to be okay?" Josette sounded worried.

"No. Yes. No. I don't know. I feel betrayed, confused, and stupid." I could hear my heartbeat in my ears I was so upset. "Jos, I gotta go."

I ended the call before she could say anything else, wiping the fresh tears away from my face.

"I'm going to confront my parents." I told the guard and started heading towards where I knew they would be.