"Miss Beaumont, we're so happy to have you on the show" Annie had continued after a brief pause, "Thank you for taking the time. As you can expect, all of Lenoria has been eager to know more about the young woman who has captured our Prince's heart"

"Oh please, you can call me 'Amelia'" I replied, "And I assure you, the feeling is very much mutual. I am very eager to learn more about the beautiful people of this country"

"Oh, can I call you 'Amelia'?" Annie showed me an infectious smile, "It is such a pretty name?"

"I don't know about that," I briefly glanced at the teleprompter and then back at Annie, "I've always thought it's such an old-fashioned name"

I knew my lines well enough at that point but I remained worried I would make a mistake and we'd have to start over. Knowing the King was watching didn't make it any easier either.

"Regal is perhaps the word you're looking for" Annie chimed in.

"I appreciate you saying that"

"Speaking about Lenoria, what do you make of our fine country so far?" she asked me.

"Oh Annie, I absolutely adore this country" I tilted my head slightly to sell the performance. It wasn't exactly a lie anyway. Compared to my previous job, I was swimming in comfort. "It's so beautiful, and I love the people so much"

"Someone more that most, I imagine" She gave me a knowing smile that caused me to blush. That wasn't a lie either.

"Okay, okay, back on track" she reprimanded herself, "There will be time enough for that" she added with an excited look on her face.

"Okay," I let out a nervous laugh.

"Some of our viewers at home might not know this but this isn't your first time in Lenoria, is it?"

"No, Nick and I actually--" I paused when I realized I'd deviated from the script a bit, "I'm sorry, His Highness and I met here in Lenoria several years ago"

"That's alright" Annie didn't make a big fuss about my slip-up either and simply moved on, "Can you tell us what that was like? How you met."

"It's not a particularly exciting story" I confessed, "I had been on holiday. I was visiting Lenoria like I'd always dreamed. You know, I'd always been fascinated with Lenorian history and culture"

I watched Annie nod in response as I spoke. I focused my attention on her just like Nick had suggested, only occasionally glancing at the teleprompter.

"We met at the National Park here in the capital. For the longest time, I had no idea who he was. In fact, I still find it hard to think of him as anyone but my first love. I think--" I paused and gathered myself, "I think meeting him was fate. He's my soulmate"

It was a strange feeling. At no point did I feel I was lying.

"That was beautiful," Annie told me. I felt my cheeks turn red.

"Sorry, that was a bit cheesy"

"No," Annie quickly objected, "I think we can all see just how much you love him. That much we understand"

She looked me deep in my eyes before delivering the second question. Of course, while I knew what was coming, I had to act like I was hearing it all for the first time.

"What we'd like to know is why our beloved Prince seems just as smitten with you. Tell us a bit about the young woman he's fallen so in love with"

"I really don't think I'm anyone special" I answered, "His Highness has a very big heart and I'm just glad he has space in it for me alongside the people of this country. But if you must know, I'd say-- I'm honest and loyal, and I like to think that I support those I care about. While this is all very new to me, I am eager to learn and show the people just how much I care about them"

"Hmm" Annie smiled with a pleased look on her face, "I think it's clear to everyone watching that you are someone special, and so is our prince. What do you like most about him?"

"Okay Annie, I know this might be a bit cliche" I laughed, "But I love how kind he is. I already mentioned his big heart, he does so much for everyone around him. He never sits still as long as there's work to be done. He would be here with me right now if he wasn't so busy attending to important matters for the good of the country"

"Yes, I imagine he must be very busy" She nodded, "That can't be easy sharing your partner with the whole country"

I let out a small laugh as prompted, "We make time for eachother, but I know I can't have him all to myself. In the end, he is a member of the Royal Family and that means sacrifice and responsibility."

"Yes," Annie agreed, "That is the life. Can we expect you to take on more of that responsibility going forward?"

"I would certainly love to," I answered, "As I've mentioned, I absolutely adore this country and I look forward to doing whatever I can. But I know I have much to learn, so for now, I am content to keep learning until I can prove useful"

"I think I can speak for all of us when I say we look forward to seeing more of you," she told me, "And hopefully, more of you and His Highness together"

"Better together, I think" I laughed and so did Annie, "I think our relationship symbolizes unity. I'm just a regular girl like many watching tonight and I hope what everyone sees when they see us together is the shared values that made this country so wonderful in the first place"

"That is beautifully said, Amelia" Annie turned to the camera and frowned, "It's just so heartbreaking that there are those that would seek to trample on those values that you spoke of"

"It is heartbreaking" I agreed.

"At the risk of giving negativity a platform on a day such as today that should be filled with joy," Annie continued, "after the recent unrest, many citizens are rightfully anxious. How would you reassure them?"

Just as I had managed to do inconspicuously throughout the interview, I glanced at the teleprompter to glimpse the answer.

"De--" I'd started reading before quickly catching myself. I froze when I realized the words on the screen. My eyes remained glued to the teleprompter, my unfiltered shock must have been clear on my face. Annie's gaze must have followed mine because I heard her gasp a moment later.

The words written on the teleprompter were "Dethrone the Tyrant King".

I turned to look at Annie who stared wide-eyed at the screen. I glanced behind the cameras at the crew members who had begun to murmur. A second later, the teleprompter was turned off which freed me from my trance.

I cleared my throat, wiped the shock from my face, and settled back into my seat. I decided it served none of us to dwell on it.

"Could you repeat that?" I forced a smile in Annie's direction. I knew the words. I'd read them over and over again.

Annie recovered a bit but I could see traces of worry remain on her face. Nevertheless, she equipped her pleasant expression.

"That is beautifully said, Amelia" she repeated. This time, when she turned to the camera, there was more emotion, "It's just so heartbreaking that there are those that would seek to trample on those values that you spoke of"

"It is heartbreaking" I agreed once again.

"At the risk of giving negativity a platform on a day such as today that should be filled with joy," Annie spoke earnestly, "after the recent unrest, many citizens are rightfully anxious. How would you reassure them?"

I knew the words.

"I can understand those who are anxious," I answered, "It's clear why tensions may be high when there are those among us who seek to undo many years of hard-won stability. But I don't think we have anything to worry about. I believe in the strength of the people of Lenoria, and I believe they will come together now more than ever"

I watched Annie place a hand on her chest and let out a big sigh, "Isn't she just a darling?"

"You flatter me"

"So Amelia, just between you and me--" Annie smiled seemingly having fully recovered, "and all our viewers. Can we expect wedding bells anytime soon?"

I blushed and smiled sheepishly.

"There's the face of a girl in love" Annie commented with a big smile.

"I do love him" I replied, the King's words ringing in my head, "But we're taking things slowly for now. We're both young. For now, we're just enjoying being together"

"And we wish you all the best," She told me.

"Thank you" I replied with a smile.

"Amelia, you've been such a delight," she said to me finally, "I hope we can do this more often"

"I look forward to it, Annie"

In the end, it was decided that we needed to redo the entire interview but I don't think it turned out quite as well as the first time.

"You did very well," Annie told me after we'd just finished the second run.

I thanked her as I stood. It wasn't as terrifying as I'd expected when it was all said and done. Turns out Nick was right. All I had to do was get out of my own head.

That said, there was still the matter of the elephant in the room. The teleprompter had turned back on at the start of the second run and the ominous message was nowhere to be found this time around.

"What was that about?" I asked her, "The thing with the--" I pointed at the screens.

She looked tense and I couldn't blame her. That couldn't have been good.

"I don't know" That was her answer before she hurried off to meet the producer.

"That was amazing!" Isidora squealed when I walked over to the makeup area to meet her. "You were so good. No, you were better than good. I still find it hard to believe you're the same guy I met in America"

"Thanks-- I guess" I replied with my voice trailing off, "Hey, should we be worried about what happened?"

Izzy shook her head, "I wouldn't worry about it" she said before pulling out the chair for me, "Come on, let me take off your makeup"

I didn't argue.

I'd let myself relax in the chair as Izzy went to work, content to let my worries float by when I suddenly heard people clamoring.

"Good morning, Your Majesty" those in the room spoke in unison.

I quickly opened my eyes and hurried to my feet to find everyone bowing their heads. It was like father like son to walk in so unexpectedly it seemed.

I curtsied briefly to match the unofficial occasion while everyone else kept their heads bowed.

"Amelia, come," he said in that commanding voice.

Slowly, I advanced towards the entrance to meet him. My gaze shifted from him to the two large men who stood just outside the door and back to him. He was even more intimidating now that we was in full royal attire as opposed to during breakfast when he was dressed more casually.

"Good work," he told me.

"Thank you, Your Majesty" I replied finally able to relax a bit.

"You may retire," he added and I curtsied in response, "You may take your ladies with you"

Izzy and Celeste hurried over to meet me by the door, Izzy bowed and Celeste curtsied before following me out the door.

I couldn't help but feel bad for Annie when the door closed behind me.

=^..^=

"Are they going to be alright?" I asked Izzy, visibly worried for them. I had understood almost immediately that what had happened was bad. Who could have done such a thing? There were suspects and they were all in that room.

"I wouldn't worry your pretty little head about it," Izzy told me with a forced smile, "Just focus on how well your interview went. I say we celebrate"

"Celebrate?

"Yes," Izzy squealed happily, "What do you say we get a bottle of wine from the cellar, go back to your room, and drink it all"

"I don't know, aren't you busy?" I asked her.

"I'm not, thanks to you" she replied while touching my shoulder lightly, "I'm scheduled to be here till 2pm. We foresaw this being multiple takes and taking several hours but you turned out to be such a natural."

"I'm not" I objected, "I was so terrified at the start. I don't want to do that again"

"But you are, the people are going to fall in love when they see you tonight. Hang on--" she paused before placing her makeup case on the floor and retrieving small wipes from within, "You still have some smudges here and there"

I stood still while she went to work cleaning my face right there in the hallway.

"Better" she proclaimed a moment later, "Come on, let's have a drink to celebrate"

I sighed when I saw her pleading expression, "Fine"

"Yay," Izzy squealed again, "You'll join us too won't you, Celeste?"

"I can't" my lady-in-waiting quickly replied.

'You can if you want to" I told her, thinking she was worried about what I might think.

"I am working, my lady" she replied, "But thank you for the offer"

=^..^=

That's how we found ourselves face to face with a butler in a wing of the castle I'd never been in.

"Good morning, my lady" he bowed elegantly to me.

"The lady requires a bottle of your finest wine" Izzy spoke up. Why had I let her drag me into this?

"Very well, might I suggest a Château Margaux?"

"Cha-what?" I muttered to Izzy.

"She'll have that" Izzy proclaimed excitedly.

"Very well, my lady" The man nodded, "Shall I have it sent up"

"That's okay, we'll wait"

=^..^=

"Oh my God" Izzy moaned as she lay in my bed drinking what was admittedly a delicious red wine. I was sitting on the bed beside her taking small sips.

"Celeste, can you atleast sit down?" I called out to my friend who was standing as though constantly on duty.

It was weird seeing as out of the three of us, she was the only one that was actually a member of nobility.

"Yes, please sit" Izzy agreed, and even then, she looked reluctant.

"It's okay," I told her before taking another sip.

"So--" Izzy let out what looked to me like an intoxicated smile after Celeste found a seat at my vanity, "am I just imagining things or is there something going on between you and His Highness?"

"What are you talking about?" I took another sip from my glass.

"I saw the way you were looking at him" she teased.

"I have no idea what you mean" I replied turning away from her embarrassed.

"Oh my Prince," she said in a mocking tone, "won't you kiss me before you leave?"

Izzy leaned in, pretending she was going in for a kiss before I pushed her away.

"I didn't say anything like that," I protested.

"But you were thinking it, weren't you?" she probed.

"No!"

"You don't have to hide it," she said, "It's fine. Pretty much every girl in Lenoria has an undying crush on His Highness. He's tall, handsome, insanely rich, did I mention handsome?"

"And that's fine, but I don't have a crush on him" I argued, "He's just a friend"

"That you're dating, uh--" Izzy sighed, "I'm so jealous of you"

"We're just pretending to date. It's all part of the show" I sent the rest of the wine in my cup passed my lips and swallowed quickly.

"Well you're pretending extremely well" She side-eyed me as I poured myself another glass. "The concern, the longing looks, oh it's perfect" She squealed.

"Enough about me, let's talk about you now"

"What would you like to know, 'my lady'?" she spoke in a manner that told me she was enjoying this.

"You're dressing a lot more normal than when I first saw you"

"Oh, that?" she laughed then shrugged, "It was my first time in America and I wanted to do it in style"

"You call that style?" I asked with a sly smile.

"Was that a joke?" Izzy looked so proud, "Oh my goodness, is it the alcohol talking?"

"Hey, I'm funny, okay?" I objected, "I just don't have anyone I can be relaxed with. Nick is always so serious these days. He used to be so fun"

As I spoke, I started to realize that he'd lost that lightheartedness he'd had when we were living together in that tiny apartment. I wanted to help him have fun again if he still could but it seemed to be a lofty task.

I didn't know how to help him because he was always so locked in his own head, shouldering all the problems of the world alone. I wished he would talk to me. How could I show him that he could trust me?

"You were thinking about him, weren't you?" Izzy asked me.

"Of course I was, he's my friend" I replied, choosing not to deny it.

"Okay," she said simply.

"What?" I asked her, sensing that wasn't all there was to it.

"I know that face," she revealed without needing any probing, "That's not how people look when they think about their friends"

"What, are you an expert on faces now?" I asked after a little eye-roll.

"I kind of am" she answered, "I'm a makeup artist, remember?"

"That may not have been my best argument" I conceded.

She shook her head, "It wasn't. But would it--"

We were interrupted by a knock on the door. Celeste who had been sitting quietly listening to us bicker quickly rushed to open it.

"Who is it?" I asked after Celeste and whoever was at the door had been whispering back and forth for a bit.

"Her Majesty has requested you join her in the salon, my lady" Celeste turned to inform me.

My heart skipped a bit when I realized I was in no condition for an audience with the Queen.

"Why'd you make me drink?" I turned to Izzy with a panicked look on my face.

"Oh relax, you've had like one glass" she replied, brushing away my concerns.

I looked at the glass in my hand, it was half empty.

"One and a half" I corrected her.

"You'll be fine, don't worry" She assured me, "Celeste darling, can you get her some water while I freshen her up? Let's see what you have in that closet"

=^..^=

I tapped my foot uncontrollably while Izzy went to work on my face.

"Are you sure this dress is appropriate?" I asked a bit concerned. The almost-white tea-length dress had a noticeably daring neckline alongside exposed shoulders. I didn't know for sure but the Queen struck me as someone that valued modesty.

"Oh relax, it's fine, I promise" Izzy replied without missing a beat as she applied the mascara.

"That's not the wine talking, is it?"

"Of course not, I'm not a lightweight like you are," she laughed, "I wish I could take you to a real party, get you shit-faced drunk. Too bad you're so famous?"

"You could put me in that car crash style of yours," I suggested, "I bet no one will recognize me"

"Very funny" Izzy let out a small laugh before taking a step back to admire my finished look.

I stared closely at the girl in the mirror and she stared back at me. At this point, we were very much closely acquainted. It felt natural to have her as my reflection.

"Stand, let's get a good look at you" Izzy said and I obliged her, "What do you think?" she turned to look at Celeste.

"Very pretty" Celeste replied.

"Right?"

"Okay, okay, let's get moving" I quickly hurried the two girls along, not wanting to be the center of attention any longer than I had to.

=^..^=

Our paths divulged at the end of the hallway. Izzy would be heading down towards the main entrance and I would be following Celeste's lead in the direction of the salon.

"Good luck with the Queen," she told me before we parted ways.

"Thanks" I replied even if I didn't think I'd need it. After Nick, she was the most manageable member of this family.

Izzy reached forward and adjusted the straps of my dress, then stepped back one last time to ensure everything was perfect.

"Good?" I asked.

She nodded, "See you later, 'Amelia'" She said my name in a sing-song manner, "Say hi to His Highness for me, will you?"

I rolled my eyes in response.

"Bye," she said finally.

"Bye"

=^..^=

The guards at the door took one look at me and stepped aside, pushing the door open. I stepped through with Amelia following close behind me.

I was astonished by how beautiful this room was. Unlike most of the castle, the walls here were a smoky salmon, with the intricate gold patterns that I'd come to expect lining the ceiling. The chairs were a beautiful shade of pink, with paintings mainly of landscapes hung on the walls. It was almost immediately my favorite room in the castle.

I quickly scanned the room and while I did find the Queen, I found others seated as well. Lady Olivia, Princess Sophia, and Princess Charlotte who I hadn't met since that day at the airport.

All four of them turned to me as I stepped into the room. I curtsied respectfully and prepared myself for battle.

=^..^=

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Thank you so much for reading. We've still got a lot of story left and have barely even begun so I hope you'll stick around till the end.