Confusion spread throughout the room as members of the family began looking around at each other.

"The Prince?" the King asked me and I could only nod.

"That's preposterous," the Queen said to no one in particular.

I watched Nicholas and Theodore briefly glance at each other before turning their attention back to me.

I steeled myself so they couldn't tell that I was telling a bold lie. I kept myself from looking at Sophia who hadn't yet said a word.

"Rowland, what do you think about this?" The King turned to the man seated beside him.

He cleared his throat before speaking, "We've long suspected there was a mole close to Your Majesty. I have not once believed the leaked information was a natural occurrence. That said, I find it hard to believe either of the Princes could be involved."

"Father this is ridiculous," Theodore stepped up, "I mean, what are we talking about here? She's obviously mistaken"

"Yes, surely Amelia heard wrong," the Queen agreed, "She's been through so much. She can't be sure of whatever she's saying"

"Or you know, I'm sure they just said that when they knew she'd be listening" Theodore added with a little smile seemingly pleased with himself to have cracked the case.

"I think we take a step back and interview her some more," the Grand Duke spoke up again, "I'm sure we can find some clarity"

"Are you certain?" the king asked me with that commanding voice of his.

I glanced over at Nick and found a look of pure disbelief on his face.

"I'll never forget it," I spoke after turning my attention back to the King, "That's what they said,"

"Did you do this?" King Richard asked his son, Theodore.

"Father, you know I didn't" Theodore quickly replied, "Why would I ever?"

"I almost wish this was you," King Richard replied after a pause, "At least then I would know you have the nerve to be a strong king"

"I have only ever done what you asked," Theodore said.

"I know," King Richard turned to his other son, "Nicholas--"

Nick was staring at me with those eyes, paying his father no mind.

"Amelia, would you leave us for a moment?" The king asked me while the Prince's eyes and mine remained locked together.

I broke away from his gaze. Curtsied respectfully and turned to leave.

"Sit down, Nicholas" I heard the King's voice with my back turned. I turned to find my boyfriend walking up to me.

He took my hand and pulled me out of the room even as his father tried and failed to order him back.

When we were outside the room, I got a proper look at the pain in his eyes.

"Baby, what you're saying is impossible" he spoke with such urgency, "I'm trying to understand but--" His voice trailed away.

When I didn't say anything, he continued, "Are you not feeling alright? You've been acting strangely all day and I thought it was just the trauma-- is that what this is?"

"I'm fine," I turned away from him. I couldn't bear the look in those eyes anymore, "I only answered the question I was asked"

He let go of my hand and I realized I'd been clasping tightly onto his, "What you're saying is impossible"

"It's--" I started to say something but couldn't find the words.

"My brother would never do this. He adores my father, he would never work with some rebels to kidnap you!" I could tell there was no chance in hell he would ever believe that about Prince Theodore. It left only one option.

"Are you saying I did this?" he asked me.

"Did you?"

It's funny how trust works. You lose it and suddenly everything is on the table. He'd manipulated me into loving him, who knows what else he was capable of?

Still, it broke my heart when he turned away from me abruptly. My heart shattered more and more with each step he took away from me back into the drawing room.

=^..^=

My bed felt great, big and empty. Even more so than the one at Miss Penelope's. This one was supposed to have Nick in it. He was supposed to have his arm around me as we slept providing me with warmth.

It was cold and quiet this morning. I began to wonder whether I'd made a mistake. It was the first time I considered that maybe I didn't mind so much if Nick had been controlling me. I wanted him anyway.

Or maybe that was only a result of their conditioning. I remember thinking as I pulled myself out of bed how terrible it was not to be able to trust your own feelings.

Wondering where Celeste was, I pulled at the rope beside my bed. Regardless of her feelings about yesterday, she still had to attend to me whether she liked it or not.

When a minute had passed, I pulled at the rope once again, this time letting my frustration show.

It took her an unreasonable amount of time to arrive at my door. I might have dwelled on it if I hadn't heard the door unlock before it opened.

"Good morning, my lady" Celeste bowed as she walked in holding a tray of food.

"Was that door locked?" I asked her quickly.

"Yes, my lady." she replied, "Her Majesty has requested you remain in your room"

"Locked in my room?" I asked, confused, "Why?"

"I don't know, my lady" she answered quietly, "May I help you get dressed?"

"Why? It's not like I'm going anywhere" I replied in a petulant manner.

"Is there anything else I can help with?" Celeste asked once more with her head turned away from me.

I noticed how rigid she was being and felt just a little bit of guilt.

"Nothing," I replied quietly.

Celeste had no more words for me. She only made her way back to the door, locking it behind her. I could have complained but immediately knew it'd be pointless. No one in the castle would disobey a direct order from the Queen. What I needed to do was figure out why she'd given it in the first place.

=^..^=

As if I couldn't believe it until I checked for myself, I walked up to the door and pulled at the handle. It was indeed locked.

It quickly started to feel like it did when I was Miss Penelope's prisoner all over again. I'd only traded one prison for another.

I returned to my bed still dressed in my nightgown well into the day. I lay in a fetal position and let my mind wonder.

I thought of Princess Sophia and when she planned to fulfill her end of the bargain. It occurred to me that we hadn't actually talked about it but surely she intended to get me away from here.

It was clear there was nothing left for me in Lenoria. That became even clearer when the handle of my door rattled later that day.

It rattled and then it was pulled forcefully.

"Morgan, open the door" I heard Nick's voice come through.

I didn't respond. In truth, I couldn't bear to look at him. Was it shame or anger? Both?

"Morgan" I heard him call out my name once again and this time, staying quiet was an even tougher ordeal.

"Fuck!" he raised his voice and kicked the door causing me to jump, "Open-- fuck!"

"I can't" I replied. In hindsight, not the smartest thing I could have done.

Nick hit the door again, two times too many, before storming off.

I lay back in bed and groaned. I was so tired.

I wished I could return to the country estate before any of this had happened. I wanted to be in that library again. I wished I could go back to the time before I was kidnapped, before learning the truth, certainly before yesterday evening.

=^..^=

Celeste returned later in the day with a light snack and a tonic on the Queen's order.

"Where's Prince Nicholas?" I asked her.

"I don't know, my lady" she replied while placing the tray on my table beside the previous one.

I really did feel like a prisoner.

"Would you like me to help you get cleaned up?" she asked me.

I could only shake my head.

We remained in silence until it grew uncomfortable with her standing in the corner watching me.

"You may go," I told her.

"Her Majesty has requested you drink the tonic" Celeste replied.

"I will when I'm feeling up to it" I replied.

"She's asked me to remain until you do"

Naturally, I grew quite suspicious.

"What is it?" I asked, eyeing the bowl on my vanity.

"It should make you feel better," Celeste replied, "Her Majesty is worried since you've been through so much and you're looking very thin, my lady"

"I'm fine," I told her.

"Please, my lady" She pleaded, "Her Majesty herself is very fond of this tonic. It's very healthy"

I sighed. It didn't seem like there was any way out of this. It was the Queen's order after all.

"Bring it here," I asked her and she obeyed. A moment later, she was handing it over to me while I remained seated at my bedside.

I eyed the liquid in the bowl suspiciously. Nothing looked out of the ordinary. It's not like they could poison me, could they?

I chuckled at the thought. No, that was ridiculous.

I brought the bowl to my lips and poured the tonic down my throat. It tasted a bit like grapes. Again, nothing out of the ordinary.

"Is there anything else I can help you with, my lady?" Celeste asked again.

I shook my head.

=^..^=

Whatever was in it, it made me incredibly tired and sleepy within the next hour. I found myself dozed off so long that I didn't wake up until late that night. I had entirely missed dinner.

I pulled myself out of bed trying desperately to ignore the feeling that there was someone missing in it.

I pushed my way into the bathroom and sat on the toilet to pee, the whole time wondering what Nick was doing.

I mentally kicked myself for missing him so much. He had been manipulating me, why was it so easy to forget that fact and long for his presence?

And I'd been off the drug for weeks now, shouldn't I have been over it by now?

After peeing, I began to realize how filthy I felt and decided to take a shower.

While I scrubbed, I decided I couldn't just stay locked in here forever. I had to do something about it. I decided I needed to meet Princess Sophia the very next day and demand she come through on her end.

Turns out there would be no need to make a fuss. She would request my presence the very next morning.

=^..^=

I was awoken by Celeste walking into the room. She'd informed me that she was here to help me get dressed to meet the Princess in the garden.

After a quick shower, it was time for the gaff once again, and eventually the breastforms.

With each layer from the silk undergarments to the blouse and high-waisted tailored trousers, I got the sense that it was time to be Amelia again.

I was just glad to be out of the room.

"Come, my dear," Princess Sophia beckoned me over to take a seat beside her underneath the gazebo, "Have a seat"

"Good Morning, Your Highness" I curtsied before accepting her offer. The rules of the Royal household had become second nature to me by now. I knew just how to act as a young lady in the presence of royalty. But how much longer would I have to play this part?

"You look better this morning" Sophia commented. I had thought so too when I glanced in the mirror this morning. I also felt more like my old self after the long rest yesterday.

Well as much like my old self as was possible without Nick by my side.

"Thank you, Your Highness" I replied, "I was hoping--"

"Tut," she interrupted me with a wave of her finger, "I invited you here so it is only proper that you listen more than you speak"

"Apologies, Your Highness"

"I brought you here because I thought you should know that my dear little brother left the country this morning. Your boyfriend, that is"

I stared at her blankly, it was taking me a moment to put her words together.

"I had tried to get Father to make him stay but neither one of our parents has ever been able or willing to stop Nicky from doing whatever he wanted--"

"I don't understand," I finally found my voice, "Nick left?"

"Even when the writing's on the wall that he's betrayed this family, they still let him do whatever he wants. Can you imagine that?" she asked before reaching for a half-full glass of wine in front of her. "Shall I pour you a glass?"

"You're lying," I told her.

"Oh, he left this morning, that much is certain. Father even let him use the jet" she replied.

"No, he wouldn't"

"You believe he wouldn't leave you here? You did--" she paused and I could see hints of a smile, "frame him, you know that right?"

"I know, I just--"

"Our father believes he's feeding this rebellion against our family. You did that"

"You asked me too" I argued.

"And you performed beautifully," she told me, "Truly. I couldn't have done it better myself"

It might have been delusional of me but I still couldn't believe Nick would leave me here alone. I was in Lenoria because of him. He brought me here.

God, I couldn't be here any longer.

"I've done my part," I told her plainly, all decorum was now out the window, "I want to leave. Give me my money and help me get out of here. I did what you asked"

"Slow down now," she replied and I watched her reach out, pour me a glass of wine and slide it in my direction, "Drink"

When I only stared at the red liquid in the glass, she added, "Go on"

I sighed, reached over, and took the glass in my hand. I looked at her once again before bringing the glass to my lips.

"Thanks to your masterful performance," Sophia continued, "I am the one of my father's children that isn't a complete screw-up. He's placed me in charge of quelling the rebellion. They've gotten a lot bolder since you were with them. There was an attack on an outpost late last night. I'd like you to help me get rid of them as you Americans say"

Her words had caused some of the wine to spill past my lips and stain my blouse. With shaky hands, I returned the cup to its previous position.

"That's a very expensive vintage you're spilling"

"I already did what you asked. I need you to hold up your end"

"What do you think this was for?" She leaned forward looking a bit more serious. "You think I just hate my brother and sought to ruin my father's opinion of him on a whim?"

"What do you want from me?" I asked in frustration.

"The job isn't done. Far from it," she told me.

I couldn't believe this. I pushed Nick away, and for what? Now he's gone and I'm here alone.

"I can promise that you'll never have to do anything like that again," Princess Sophia continued, "The hard part is over. From now on, you only need to do what you've been doing all this time."

"I don't want to be here" I said quietly.

"Not long now, my dear" Sophia reached over and touched my hand. I think it was the first time I ever touched her, "Help me quell the rebellion and I give you my word, you can leave Lenoria and forget all about us"

"How can I even help you with this?" I asked her, "I'm insignificant"

"You underestimate yourself," she rubbed my hand slightly, "We will do great things together"

I was going to protest but she stopped me in my tracks.

"Return to your room and get changed," she said finally, "We're going out"

=^..^=

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Hi sorry this took so long. I did lose my job and wasn't in a position to write if you were wondering. Anyway, thanks for sticking around.