This chapter is much longer than usual! Enjoy!

-Jade-

She walked back to the castle with William's father by her side. When they reached the top of the stairs he turned to her.

"Are you joining us?" he asked with a soft smile. Jade shook her head slowly.

"No, I am sorry." She answered. "I still need some time for myself."

"I can understand that." He answered her but seemed a little bit disappointed in her decision. "Please, have patience. My son wants nothing else than to have you here, by his side."

The words hit Jade to her very core. She needed to know if this was true. Would William ever admit this?

"It is true." The king added, like he had read her mind. "Even though he is absolutely incapable of telling you himself." He said before he left her.

Jade inhaled slowly and her thoughts were swirling. She couldn't just forgive William just because his father had touched her. He still had to prove to her that his father's words weren't false...

Jade walked back to the tiny thing that was her room. When she entered she was surprised to find that instead of furniture there was food and pots occupying it.

Is he throwing me out? She wondered and leaned against the door frame. What is this supposed to mean? She supported her head against the door frame as she studied the room.

"There you are!" Jade turned around. Elizabeth stood behind her with a neutral expression in her eyes. "You don't sleep in here anymore." She stated as one would when it rained.

"Then where do I sleep now?" Jade sighed. "On the other side of the walls?"

"In your chamber." Elizabeth answered. A little ray of happiness shone through her neutral expression. Jade raised her left eyebrow.

"Do not think that this changes things." Jade muttered. Elizabeth obviously knew all the details and she knew that this was his work. An attempt to make up for what he did.

. . .

As Jade stepped into her chamber she didn't feel like she had walked into a place she had missed. She had only missed a proper and softer bed and sunlight.

"Do you need help with your clothes?" Elizabeth asked while Jade traced her fingers alongside the freshly made bed. The covers were so soft she couldn't wait until she would go to sleep tonight.

"Yes, please." She answered.

Half an hour later Jade was dressed in an underdress and was alone again. She ran her fingers through her newly combed hair and walked up to the window closest to the door.

How would William act from now on? Will he act different or the same? Jade wondered. If she was to believe his father he would, at some point, be easier to be around... Jade pushed the thoughts away and went to the bed. The bed was warm and softer than she remembered. She laid down and turned to her left side. There was something on the nightstand.

In front of her, in a beautiful vase, stood a bouquet of white roses. They almost looked exactly like the ones her father grew. She sat up and crawled closer to the roses. There was nothing else than the flowers. No piece of paper or a trace from whom had left them in her chamber.

They have to be from him though. She thought.No one else would bring her roses like this... but how did he know that these were her favorite?

"Not good enough... " Jade whispered and touched one of the roses with her thumb and index finger.

-William-

Jade never came. Elizabeth had told him a moment ago that she was in her chamber and had gone to sleep. There was no longer any reason for him to stay awake. He had spent the night sitting in his shame next to his father, who refused to tell him what he and Jade had talked about. "Talk to her yourself." He had answered William in a coarse and grumpy voice.

It was clear as day that William's father was still very upset with him. He hadn't said a word more than he needed. Except for a snide remark here and there. And even then it was with a minimal amount of words.

"Your grace." William awoke from his thoughts when a woman spoke to him. In hope of it being Jade, although the chance very slim, he looked up. To his big disappointment it was Linnea; the girl he his mother forced him to dance with.

She was standing in front of him and his parents. Her eyes watched him eagerly as she waited for his response.

"Linnea." He answered and gave her a bored look. She pressed her lips together. She was nervous. She shot off a smile towards his mother, who reciprocated it gladly and immediately.

"I was wondering if we could finish our dance?" She asked. "It is a pity that it was interrupted." William's eyes narrowed. These words were his mother's. He got up and took the two steps down to Linnea. Her face lit up in hope that she was going to get what she had asked for.

"It wasn't interrupted. I ended it." William said coldly and watched the joy run off her face. He could see her eyes flicker towards his mother.

I knew it... He thought. His mother was behind this.

"Don't ask me again. I don't want to dance with you."

"No, you would much rather dance with that peasant girl you found in the gutters." Linnea hissed at him. He smiled.

"Charming." He stated. "Thank you for making this easier. I would much rather dance with her than someone as vile as you." He said and walked away. Behind him he could hear Linnea's shocked gasp.

On the way to his chamber William walked by Jade's. He just needed to make sure there were guards outside her door. When he arrived at the end of the corridor he saw two guards. Feeling relived he left without a word.

-Jade-

A couple of days passed and all of the guests had finally left. Most of them left the day after the last feast as Elizabeth had said. However, some stayed an additional day. Jade had withdrew from all activities except dinners while the guests were still present in the castle.

The day they had left she had watched from a window as the last carriage disappeared from the courtyard and through the gates.

Apparently she had been expected to bid the guests farewell in the great entrance hall together with the royal family but Jade refused. She wouldn't show those horrible people even the tiniest shred of respect. She knew that her presence wasn't wanted. Only the King and William wanted her there. The king hadn't specifically ordered her to participate, so she stayed away.

Jade still hadn't spoken to William. He hadn't exactly tried to talk to her. The only occasions she saw him were at dinner but they didn't speak to each other then either. She noticed that he looked at her at every given chance. He did it when she didn't seem to notice it. At least that was what he thought.

This evening Jade took the seat opposite to William's, instead of the one next to his. She no longer needed his protection from the queen. She was sure that the king would take care of her.

Jade's new seating arrangement seemed to bother William immensely as he entered. He was barely able to hide his disappointment and actually stopped in his steps.

It was easy to see that he didn't appreciate her new seating arrangement.

"One could think that the two of you have become mute." The King muttered annoyed as their plates were removed after dinner.

Jade took a sip of her wine to keep herself from smirking. The king was a man with humor, but also one with very little patience it seemed. William gave his father a very dark look. He didn't appreciate his father's meddling.

"I am practicing patience." Jade answered the king sweetly. He raised an eyebrow and seemed partially amused by her answer. However, it still wasn't good enough because she wasn't talking to William. Which seemed to be the king's sole ambition with his conversation.

"Practice faster." The King said and Jade couldn't hold back her laughter.

"It must be nice to have little jokes that no one else understands." William muttered. Jade ignored him.

"It is. You should try it." His father answered and drank some of his wine. "Talking makes it easier." He added. William put his cutlery down and locked eyes with his father. A silent conversation was obviously being held. Jade was pretty amused though. She knew that the king meant well. He just wanted them to get this over with and talk to each other.

"Fine." William muttered and then looked at Jade. It surprised her but she met his gaze. "Jade, can I talk to you?" he asked in a lower voice so his father wouldn't hear.

Jade glanced at the king, he nodded and seemed very pleased with the result of his meddling.

"Do you need my father's approval?" he asked but was immediately reprimanded by his father with a throat clearing. Jade got up and walked towards the door. William joined her when she came around the end of the table.

"That was a delightful way of asking me to go with you." Jade said when the door closed behind them. William offered her his arm and she took it, a little reluctantly.

"Please don't make this harder than it is." William muttered.

"Make what harder?" Jade asked as they walked.

"Apologizing." William answered without looking at her. The left corner of Jade's mouth twitched upwards.

"I can't imagine that it would be difficult to apologize for something I regretted." Jade muttered. William heard her but ignored her.

They walked in silence together out of the castle. William was clearly thinking of something but didn't speak his mind. Jade looked at him when he wasn't looking. The hard face was concentrated and far away in thought.

Jade wondered what he was thinking about, and quite frankly she was a little bit on edge. It was hard to relax around him and she wanted him to speak first. William shouldn't get away so easily just because she was getting impatient.

When they reached the foot of the stairs that led them to the gardens, Jade drew a deep breath. William noticed and seemed to awaken from his thoughts. He stopped and placed himself in front of her, close enough so that she had to tilt her head slightly upwards to meet his gaze. He pressed his lips together and his gaze flickered between Jade's eyes and the gardens.

"I..." He started but stopped. Jade waited, not patiently, but she waited. "I know that whatever I say won't make anything better. It won't undo what I did, but I want to apologize." He said while looking into her eyes.

The shame in them was impossible to miss. It was hard to stay quiet and let him speak when the other side of her wanted to act out, just like he had done.

"I overreacted." He continued. "I had no right and if you will let me, I would like to explain myself."

"So you can justify your behavior?" Jade asked.

William's face lit up in reaction to hearing her voice. This was the first words she had spoken directly to him in days.

"No." He answered quickly. "I will not justify anything. I just want to explain."

Jade bit her lower lip and frowned mistrustfully.

"Then do it." She demanded and walked in to the garden.

"Will you not stay?" he asked disappointed after her.

"Can you not explain yourself while we walk?" Jade suggested and touched a leaf on a bush next to her with her right hand. A warm hand took her other hand and motioned her to turn around.

"Can't we talk here?" he asked with a soft gaze. Jade looked at their hands.

When his skin touched hers, Jade shivered slightly. His touch still fogged her mind. She didn't want to, but she loved it. His thumb caressed her knuckles gently, leaving her with little tingling sensations shooting from her fingertips up through her arm.

There is something seriously wrong with me. She thought.

"Fine." She said but withdrew her hand from him. Not because she wanted to but because she would not be able to concentrate if she didn't.

He must be very nervous. Is it really so hard to let me in? To let someone see him?

"I would have gone with you if you had asked." He told her, sounding sincere. "I would much rather have spent the day in your company than with my father and the guests." He continued. Jade waited for the explanation. This was just flatter. "Loren, your guard, rode out to us and told me that you were missing." He said. "I thought you were missing, Jade."

"I know his name." Jade muttered. "I wasn't missing." She reminded him.

"I know." He said. "But I was worried. Very worried." He continued and met her gaze. "You have tried to run away before." He said. "I was afraid that you were doing it again... When I came back to the castle they had found your clothes and the door to the tunnel was open."

"I know all of this. I was there." Jade said impatiently. She forgot what she had promised his father for a second. "Tell me why you did it." She demanded.

"I lost my temper because I felt betrayed." William answered her and looked directly into her eyes.

The words were honest but she didn't know what to answer him. Did he really feel betrayed because she left, without the intention to runaway? What about all the things he had done and said to her? Even before his latest misstep.

"How can you feel betrayed?" she questioning him. William was quiet for a while. He was putting together his answer carefully.

"I gave you what you asked for: your chamber and a day without your guards. You used this to sneak off." He said with a calm voice, but underneath the calm exterior she could sense his true feelings; betrayal and anger. Jade started to get agitated.

"You don't own me, William. You cannot not tell me what I can and cannot do." She hissed when she couldn't control herself.

"I know." His response left her speechless. Had he actually agreed with her? "I was still worried about you." He exhaled heavily before he continued. "All I want is for you to be safe, Jade. I cannot make myself any clearer than that."

"So by safe you mean from others, but not from you?" Jade asked and felt her throat close up slightly. "You hurt me, William." She whispered and barely managed to fight off a sniffle.

"I know! It wasn't my intention, you have to believe me." He sighed tormented. "I am so sorry for grabbing you so tightly and causing you to fall."

Jade straightened herself while listening. It felt like he truly meant it.

"If I could, I would have just made sure that you were alright and..." William ceased to speak. He lowered his eyes to the ground.

Jade felt sorry for him in some strange way. It was apparently very hard for him to express how he had reacted and how he felt about it now. His father hadn't lied about that.

"I forgive you." Jade said quietly. William looked up from the ground immediately with confusion in his eyes.

"What? No, you don't have to forgive me." He said and his hands were discretely reaching for Jade's but didn't touch her. "Don't misunderstand me. I want nothing else than your forgiveness, but don't give it to me just because-"

"Stop talking, William." Jade said and locked eyes with him. "I've heard enough." He stared at her in silence. "And do not tell me what to do." She added. William didn't answer. He just stood there. She waved a hand in front of his face. "Where are you?" she asked and fought off a smirk as best she could.

"I don't know." He answered.

"I can tell." Jade said and smiled faintly.

"I am sure you can." He answered sounding very certain.

-William-

Jade was still upset with him for what he had done, she should be, but he couldn't fathom why she forgave him already? Did it just take for him to explain himself to be forgiven? Did she not want him to beg? He had prepared for a much longer conversation.

"Do you find me so boring that you cannot talk to me?" Jade suddenly asked.

William looked at her and felt a bit ambushed by her question. He didn't even get the chance to let the fact that he didn't need to plead for her forgiveness sink in before she had changed the subject.

"Of course not." He answered and met her gaze. There was a playful light in the ice blue eyes.

Jade was toying with him, and somehow he loved it. No one else dared talk to him like she did. Jade seemed to notice that he had a hard time getting the words out and the look in her face turned soft.

"Then why are we not talking?" She asked and started walking. He walked up alongside her. William wanted to talk about everything with her but he didn't know what to say.

"What would you like to talk about?" he asked her and avoided her question.

"I don't know, something?" she suggested and threw a glance at some of the flowers they were passing as they walked. "Why else did you bring me out here?"

-Jade-

William was quiet for a moment but then he looked at her with a curious expression on his face.

"I have one question." He said. "What did you and my father talk about in the gardens?"

"That does not concern you." Jade answered, teasing him and smiled to herself. William did not seem as amused as she was, but there was a smile on his lips.

"I think it does." He stated stubbornly.

"You." Jade answered and gave him what he wanted. His eyes widened in confusion.

"Me?"

"Yes. You." Jade answered and looked directly into his eyes.

"Do I dare ask why you talked about me?" he asked and it felt like she was being questioned.

"No." She answered. "I thought you only had one question." She added and raised her eyebrow at him.

"You should tell me since it was me you were talking about." He demanded and he wasn't so amused anymore. It was entertaining to see him powerless like this. Jade smiled and walked away from him. They had walked around the gardens and were now back at the stairs.

"No, I shouldn't."

"I don't agree." He called after her as she continued to walk away from him. Leaving him alone with his thoughts.

"That is too bad, William." She called back and didn't turn around as she ascended the stairs. The sound of his confused chuckle reached her. Maybe there is a chance to get to know him after all... She thought but was still surprised over what had just happened.

. . .

Jade woke up the next day with a feeling like she was bursting with curiosity. She wanted to know more about William and what his father had told her. She wanted to know why he had chosen her.

Jade had come up with a plan to take action herself, since it seemed that William wasn't going to tell her just yet. Jade told the girl that brought her breakfast to tell Mrs. Coen she wasn't feeling well and that she needed to rest.

"I will tell your governess." The girl said. "Do you want me to send her up?"

"No. Just tell her that I'm resting." Jade said and felt excited that she was going to get away with her lie.

After she had her breakfast Jade got dressed in a simple grey dress that she didn't need help getting into. She figured that she needed to look like as much as a servant to blend in.

I still need to avoid the people that see me every day... she thought as she examined herself in the mirror. Her disguise would only work if she moved around people who she was unknown to... which would be her greatest challenge. Maybe I should avoid everyone... The problem was that she still had to find someone who was close to, or moved closely around, William in order to find out where he was. She braided her hair into one simple braid before leaving her chamber.

The corridors of the castle were many and Jade got lost several times. After a confusing amount of stairs and doors Jade stood outside the kitchen. It was a relief that she had stumbled upon a place she recognized. A girl passed Jade without noticing her and Jade hid behind a shelf filled with bags of flour.

"Is the Prince's food ready yet?" Jade heard a very familiar voice. It was Elizabeth's.

"No." Someone answered her grumpy. "The girl's however is."

"She is not feeling well..." Elizabeth answered. "I need his food within the hour. He is sparring right now so he will need something to eat afterwards."

"With Loren?" The person asked.

"Yes."

"Do you want me to save him some food?" Jade listened carefully. Why did they ask Elizabeth if they should leave food for Loren?

"Yes, but only if there is any." Elizabeth answered.

"There is since the girl isn't having hers."

. . .

Jade found her way out to what seemed to be the area were the guards trained. She sneaked alongside the walls of the castle and kept out of sight when someone passed her. After a while she found William. He was sparring against Loren.

This was the first time she could actually see what Loren looked like. He wasn't wearing his heavy armor. Loren was a younger man, younger than most of the guards Jade had seen. However, he still looked older than William. Loren had a light brown tone to his hair and he did not have a beard but stubble. The hair was longer than William's and tied in the guard's neck.

Jade walked quietly and got as close as she could while they kept lunging at each other. The sound of their swords clashing together made her flinch. They weren't wearing any kind of armor for training, except for a thick breast piece that was tied in their sides. It only covered their chests, and barely that. Apart from that, they were not protected from each other's swords at all. William was wearing a pair of black trousers and a dark grey shirt with long sleeves which he had pulled up. Loren was wearing something less... well-made but was equally unprotected as William.

There has to be something special about Loren... It can't be a coincidence that William is sparring with the same guard that he has given one sole task: to watch me. And the thing the person in the kitchen asked Elizabeth... Jade thought and kept to the shadows.

Loren attacked but William parried perfectly. Jade knew nothing of swords or fighting but they both seemed very skilled at it, both of them. They moved their feet almost in sync and Jade was impressed of how little noise they made. Until the Loren attacked again and the sound a metal clashing into metal erupted when William met him straight on this time.

"How is the girl doing?" Loren asked, a bit out of breath. William attacked this time and afterwards they backed away from each other. Both seemed tired at this point. Jade studied William closely. He was sweating and wiped some of it away from his forehead with his arm.

"She is stubborn." William answered in a short tone. Loren smirked and swung his sword in front of himself, waiting for another attack.

"I heard that you are in over your head..." He said and wiped some sweat away from under his nose. Loren received a look from William that made it very clear that he did not appreciate the comment. "Or that's what the maids are saying..." he said and cleared his throat.

"The maids... or your mother?" William muttered right before he charged at his opponent. A loud and surprised grunt erupted from Loren, who didn't have the time or skill to parry or deflect the very sudden attack. William's successful attempt to catch Loren off guard gave him the opportunity to knock him off his feet. And he did. Loren landed on his back and he lost his breath.

"Alright, alright!" He called out. "I yield." Jade kept an eye on William. He was catching his breath but quickly turned around to continue. "Mother doesn't speak of her like that. I heard it from the maids." Loren said, ensuring William that whoever Loren's mother was, wasn't gossiping about Jade.

"Don't believe everything you hear, Loren." William hissed and they flew at each other again.

Jade flinched at the sound when they got into an intense sword fight. She accidentally let a noise slip out of her when Loren almost hit William's arm but he managed to step away.

William ceased immediately and looked her way. Loren's eyes got very big when he recognized Jade. They both stared at her with puzzled expressions on their faces.

"Loren, go and eat." William said without letting Jade out of his sight. William took two steps towards Jade and sheathed his sword. He took his armor off and threw it to Loren who caught it without blinking.

"Yes, your grace." Loren said and smirked at Jade.

This is new... Loren never let an emotion of his slip. Jade thought and frowned.

When they were alone William walked over to her.

"Don't take this the wrong way, but what are you doing here?" William asked curiously and confused. "How did you even...." He stopped talking when he noticed how she was dressed. "Never mind. You obviously snuck out." He stated and the corner of his mouth twitched. Jade's eyes left his face and took a route downwards.

William's shirt was unbuttoned so she could see his chest slightly. It glistened from beads of sweat. Jade inhaled slowly and watched his arms. They were perfectly shaped and a part of her wanted them around her. The other part hesitated.

"I took a walk and ended up here." Jade lied and held her hands up. William locked eyes with her and a wolfish grin crept up on his lips.

"You are a bad liar, Jade." He said and raised his face while catching his breath. Jade bit her lower lip. He had caught her in her lie. He licked his upper lip while waiting for her answer.

"Alright, I was just curious." She confessed and crossed her arms. William smiled and put his hands on his hips. "What?" she asked.

"Nothing..." he answered in a low voice.

"You wouldn't have that grin on your face if 'nothing' had been an honest answer." Jade said and William's grin grew wider.

"What did you tell your governess in order to sneak out?" William asked and took a step closer. Jade blinked when he was so close that she could smell the sweat from his skin.

"I didn't tell her anything." Jade breathed out. "I told a servant that I wasn't feeling well..." William looked up and over her head for a second or two.

"You should know that she doesn't look kindly on lying." He said and seemed to have experience of Elizabeth's anger personally.

"I will get back to my chamber, then." Jade said. "Good bye." Jade turned around but just as she was going to take the first step away from William he grabbed one of her hands.

"I didn't say that you had to leave." William said quietly and pulled her closer to himself.

Jade held her breath as his other hand disappeared up around the side of her neck. She leaned her head back and felt his fingers support her neck as their eyes met.

"What do you think you are doing?" Jade whispered and felt his other hand be placed on her waist. She put her hands against his chest and felt torn on the inside. She wanted to feel his lips on hers but there was still a feeling of needing to be cautious hovering in her mind. "You smell bad." The words just ran out of her and she cursed herself for uttering them.

What the hell does that matter?

William grinned widely at her.

"Just tell me to stop and I will." He offered her a way out. But as soon as he spoke the words she didn't want them. Instead she felt her blood pumping out to every part of her body. She could feel every heartbeat in her fingertips.

-William-

Jade didn't say anything. She didn't object to how close he was or where his hands were. The feeling of her hands on his chest made his mind race. He had never felt her so close to his skin before and he wanted more. He wanted her hands to dive in under his shirt and so much more. He wanted to touch her bare skin underneath the dress she wore.

Slowly he lowered his face down towards hers. He felt her inhale nervously and how she exhaled just as quickly.

"I really want to kiss you..." he whispered against her lips and brushed his upper lip against hers. "You can just tell me to-"

Jade didn't give him the chance to finish his sentence. She pressed her lips against his, softly but decisive. William felt her grab on to the fabric of his shirt as they both leaned into the kiss. William's thoughts turned into a mess.

It was impossible to think straight when she was this close to him, and kissing him on top of it all. But one thought still lingered in the back of his mind.

What does it mean? What does it mean that she is here, in my arms?

The kiss came to an end too quickly but he didn't want to scare her away by giving in to his carnal hunger, so he didn't initiate another kiss. He wanted her to come to him. He needed to be sure that she didn't feel like she had to... He wanted her to want him.

Fortunately, William was in luck. Jade pulled discreetly at his shirt. They were so close that he could feel her lips seeking his. They begged without words for another kiss.

With great relief and excitement he pulled her even closer and tasted her once more but deeper.

A dark sound slipped out of him that he wasn't able to keep in. A smile played on her lips when she noticed. They shared a third and much longer kiss before Jade stopped for a breath of air. William could taste her on his lips and craved more of her. This just wasn't enough!

As soon as Jade had caught her breath he pressed his lips against hers again, hungry. Her hands disappeared up to the base of his neck.

"Someone will see us." she whispered between two kisses and smiled timidly.

William quickly looked around them. No one was in sight. He looked back at Jade and noticed that her eyes were glowing. He wanted her. Badly. His thoughts wondered off to a more private place where he could do whatever he wanted with her. To her.

"No one is here." he said quietly and stole another kiss without thinking twice about it.

She tastes so good... He thought and his hands buried themselves in her dark hair. His thumbs stroked her jaws and drew her closer. Suddenly he felt the tip of her tongue touch his lips. He stopped breathing and felt his heart pounding. Blood started to rush down to his crotch but he didn't possess the ability to stop what was happening right now...

------------------------------------------

Hmm... Seem like they're finally sorting some stuff out. Wonder what will happen... will they get caught or not?

I made this one alot longer. I didn't plan for it to be this long, but I added some "stuff" lol.

So thank you for you patience if you made it all the way to the ending of this chapter!

I hope you liked it!