In the castle gardens...

Eliza was dropped off from her carriage and she rushed to check on her cousin, Angelica. She tried to find her in her usual spots, but Angelica was nowhere to be seen. Eliza asked a handmaiden regarding to Angelica's whereabouts, and in response she was told was that Angelica left her quarters.

Eliza sighed because she was so eager to meet her cousin after a while.

Her face lit up when she came across Angelica coming towards her.

"Where have you been?" Eliza asked with a fluttering heart.

"What brings you here?..." Angelica spoke in a low tone.

"I had so much to tell you...I thought I'd have to leave without even seeing you."

When the two sat in a garden, Angelica accidently cut a flower. She seemed to be lost in her thoughts. Eliza was surprised and felt sad for the flower. She picked it up afterwards.

"Look at what you cut, Angie. You should be more careful. . . . . . . Are you okay?"

Angelica forced a smile before responding. "You met by chance and rode together?!"

"Yes..."

Angelica almost grit her teeth at the very response she did not want to hear from Eliza who's been spending time with the man who was arranged to be her fiancé by her father.

"Feeling the breeze was so reinvigorating," Eliza spoke in delight, proud that her fears have been overcome after all this time.

"Leaning onto a man riding horses together...it does sound intimate, after all," Angelica looked at Eliza in the eye.

"There you go again..."intimate"? He merely taught me the right posture," Eliza explained her situation before Angelica could get the words twisted.

"So what you're telling me is that there are no feelings involved?"

"Feelings?" Eliza asked in confusion for she never put thought to how she felt. From what Eliza could recall, she was amazed by her success to overcome her fears. Eliza felt that something was odd coming from Angelica who stood straight up like a jet and never avoided eye contact.

"How do you really feel?" Angelica asked, desperate for her honest response.

"I wouldn't call them 'feelings'. Oh come on, Angie, It's nothing of that sort"

"That's a relief...Or else it would have been provoked quite teh cumbersome predicament for us both..."

"What are you trying to say?"

Angelica darted daggers at her once more.

"Your Grace?"

"Don't you ever meet that man again!"

"Huh? What?" Eliza was still lost.

"That betrothal suggested by your father has already been turned down," Angelica spoke with anger and satisfaction in her tone.

"Alexander Hamilton is set to become my future husband!"

...BADUMP!

...BADUMP!

...badump!

badump...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

What....

Those words echoed in Eliza's head. She didn't even notice that she dropped the flower that Angelica cut. Angelica tried not to show her smile, how happy she was that her cousin finally knew.

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

The Schuylers' place

"A girl? That son of Hamilton was in the company of a wench?" Lord Philip asked.

"Yes! They were riding a horse together!" one of his men answered.

"How did she look like?"

"Yes...she...well, looked like a noble damsel....and the two looked quite intimate. She had no qualms about putting her life at stake to protect him. But if you give us another chance, we will get rid of him without fail..." the other man asked.

Lord Philip did not say a word after that.

"Your Highness, we dealt with them promptly, so I envision no other trouble," Adams reassured his lord.

"So the future son-in-law already has a lover?" Lord Philip asked with curiousity.

"We are trailing him so we shall soon find out who it is..haha," Adams spoke with pride that success is drawing near.

Lord Schuyler smiled joyfully.

....

Meanwhile the lord and his ambassador talked nonstop about their plans for Alexander, Eliza stayed in her room, gloomed about what Angelica revealed to her.

Eliza pov

I did not feel happy. I should be happy...

But how come I don't...

I was so lost in thought, I could not keep track of what time it was. Alexander was the first and last thing I thought about ever since Angelica revealed the truth. I stared at my handkerchief that I lost back then.

I wanted to do something to keep my mind off this. So I dressed with my long petticoat and left my chambers. I had to pass my father and his ambassador to exit the door anyway.

"The night is ripe. What brings you here?" my father asked me.

"I had to ask you something," Eliza responded. Before he could allow her to spill, he told his men and ambassador to leave us.

Philip- "Go ahead"

Was it necessary to ask him about my turned down betrothal? That I had to be sure by asking him about it. Although I felt scared to, letting it out would be healthy. It's good. IT's okay.

"Was my betrothal really quashed?"

Okay. I did it! Now what?...

"By betrothal, you must be talking about Alexander Hamilton. Has your mother told you?"

"N-no...p-please answer me..."

"His son was already added to the lsit of candidates for selection" Papa said, feeling sorry for me. And disappointed about his plans failing.

I opened my mouth to say something but could not find the words.

"Did you suddenly find yourself unwilling ot lose such a virtuous specimen? Don't you fret, love, I shall find an even better spouse for you," Papa said reassuringly.

Another spouse....guess he wasn't going to fix it...

I curtsied to him. He must've seen stars in my eyes, like I was going to cry (which I was).

"Elizabeth..."

"Yes?"

"I cherish you so much, no one will ever be virtuous enough to take you."

I could not help but smile at the thought of Papa reassuring me with comfort and love. He could not feel any better.

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

3 Weeks later  (3rd pov)

A bright morning time at the Hamiltons' place

There was tension in the room between two lords who saw each other as mortal enemies: Lord Schuyler and Lord Hamilton.

"I reacall you saying that one of us would eventually have to shed blood?!" Lord Hamilton argued.

"If I must shed blood for the sake of our nation, I shall gleefully oblige! But should your viperious daggers point at my son and the prince of England, I shall answer such treachery with great vengeance until demise befalls me," he continued.

Lord Schuyler didn't say anything in response, indicating that he did the work. "Should I feel threatened, perchance?"

"Call it a warning. For as long as I breathe, Your Highness shall never ascend the throne."

...

Meanwhile...

Alexander was lying in his bed after having a rough day since yesterday. A young maiden intruded and came before the sleeping beauty.

She gradually lowered her catnip to his nose, and Alexander sneezed in response. This reaction made her jump.

This little girl was his younger sister, Rachel (named after their late mother)

"Rachel!" Alexander called her name with a big smile on his face when he lifted her up. However, the pain stabbed him like daggers.

He got up afterwards for his appointment with tutoring Eliza with his lectures.

When he reached the palace, he saw how strange it was that a number of lecturers were gathering around. When they found him, they were ready to give him news.

What news could they have for him.

...

...

...(a while later from discussion)

Alexander was shocked by the news.

"Cease Her Highness' lectures?! But we yet have to finish our chapter," he exclaimed.

"Direct order from His Majesty," the other mentioned.

"Is she suffering from any ailments?" Alexander asked.

"Are you already that distraut over your future spouse?"

"Hey! Edmund, what kind of indiscreet remarks are those?" the leader of the lectures asked, appalled by his language.

"Tutor Alexander Hamilton will be appointed the king's son-in-law. I thought everyoe knew already?" Edmund responded with disdain.

Alexander's heart sank. He was excited to meet the "princess" again, but all for this?

- - -- - - - -  -

In the study hall / a "classroom" kind of room

Their lecturer was doing a roll call for every princess/noblewoman in the room.

"Let us verify attendance..." Edmund announced to his students.

"Ahem. .. . . . . Lord Beaufort's daughter?"

"Here!" a daughter of Lord Beaufort answered.

"Lord Gerald Pole's daughter?"

"Present!"

As he called the following names, Eliza was moping at her desk that was at the far back corner of the room.

Eliza could not stop thinking about Alexander and the part when he would have to leave her forever. She realized that what he was facing was a fake. Those times they spent together weren't real. All this time, he believed she was the princess of England; one with unmatchable beauty. Could he be looking for that in a woman? In the king's eyes, was I too much of a tomboy to even be loved by such a kind man? How did all this happen? That smile of his I won't get to see everyday when the day of his wedding with Angelica comes...When will I recover from this...When wil-

"I said "Lord Schuyler's daughter?"!" Edmund called out with frustration in his voice.

"Y-yes, I'm here...I apologize..." Eliza apologized.

Oh no, what a way to start my day...

"Lord Schuyler's youngest daughter?"

"Here I am," Peggy announced, raising her hand for him to see. Peggy noticed that her elder sister has been moping about all morning. When the teacher wasn't looking, she scootched closer to Eliza.

"What are you doing back here? Did our cousin grow tired already?" Peggy whispered.

Eliza never said a word and just crossed her arms as he sighed.

"Betrothal talks are never written in stone, Eliza. So what if he's a man of great virtue, when you're not fated to wed? Aren't you happy?" Peggy asked, putting her hand on Eliza's back to comfort her.

After "school", the two sisters and Rose returned home. While Peggy went back to her room, Eliza stood there in the center of their house, quiet. Depressed. She reluctantly came upon the horse that she attempted and failed to get on (Chapter 01)

I felt longing to ride it once more the more I thought about Alexander teaching me well with patience. Just when I successfully rode on one. Without him, I wouldn't feel this way...

Rose caught me going near the horse, and she ran to me to warn.

"What are you doing here, again? Let us go back in...before your mother sees you!" Rose whispered looking at Eliza and behind them. Worried that they are not the only one out here.

Instead, I just patted the horse on the head. It was chewing hay very well.

"What is that dejected look on your face? Is it because you can't ride horses anymore?"

"Something like that..."

Without him, I don't think I've ever felt this free before. Without Alexander, I don't think I've ever felt understood by my personal interests before. . .

Rose saw the depressed look on my face. She came up with an idea.

"There will be a full moon tonight, so let us play on the swing!" Rose suggested. She didn't know what was bothering Eliza, but she thought a spellbinding view would get her mind off of something.

"The full moon is tonight?"

"Yes, can't you tell what day it is?"

Eliza then started to recall telling Alexander to meet her before the palace gates. But that was when I was pretending to be Angelica. I'm not fit to be his bride to begin with anyway... She's beautiful, popular, and headstrong. Look at me...I act like a child who is too stubborn to like acknowledge people's concerns for me....

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

In the princess' quarters

Angelica was wearing her velvet gown with ruby earrings alined with gold. Angelica decided to apply lipstick to compliment her dark hair and smooth skin. Angelica has been smiling because she was finally going to have a lecture with Alexander herself.

"Your Grace! You're as wondrous as a fairy descending upon us! Let alone Alexander Hamilton, what man wouldn't fall for your graces?" Eunice complimented her beauty.

However, instead of being delighted, Angelica remembered that Alexander has been spending more time with Eliza whom he believed was the princess of England. She hated thinking about it to her fullest, she even didn't know how scary her glare was.

"I...wasn't implying anything...J-just that...the lectures have been terminated just as you wished, and all you need to wait for is your wedding...so I'm happy for you," Eunice assured her princess.

"He doesn't know who I am...He doesn't know my face..."

"But the moment he sees you, he will forget Lady Elizabeth ever existed. How could she dare compare with you?! You may be rest assured," Eunice reassured her once more with a smile.

That's right. It's over. The pretense is. . . .

Eunice's encouraging words made Angelica smile and admire her reflection for a while.

"But, Your Grace? Lady Elizabeth will go back to the institute. So what if she meets him?"

"Would she renege on her promise?" Angelica smiled, showing her doubt that Eliza would do anything she could to not make her upset. She knew how much Eliza respects her. But deep down, she also knew how different she was from Eliza. Eliza was a tomboy all her life in the inside, and that must have brightened Alexander's world around him. Angelica fixed parts of her braided hair to look nice for Alexander.

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

At the brothel

Alexander was waiting for Eliza since the entrance was where they would usually encouter in awkward ways. He could not wait to see her smile again. Not even the ladies of the brothel who set the table for him stopped him from waiting for the girl who brightened his world.

"We already set your table, so why are you not coming in?" one of the ladies asked him.

Alexander looked to the other side, but Eliza wasn't there. The lady followed the direction of where he was looking at, and frowned.

"Are you waiting for someone?!" she asked like a spoiled child. Alexander did not reply and kept looking side to side.

"And who would that be? A woman, I bet?""Someone who will not and should not come..." Alexander finally answered mysteriously. "And why would you wait for someone who isn't even coming?! Honestly, you're not making any sense!"

All he could think about was her. Afterwards, the lady went back in, frustrated of how weird the lord was being.

Alexander looked back at how upset she was, but that didn't bother him from waiting for Eliza.

He looked side by side once, then twice, and stopped and continued to wait. After a while, he thought doing the search again, until he recognized the face of someone whom he has been waiting to see all day. She was beautifully dressed in teal blue and white, and she was wearing a petticoat.

It was Eliza, or well "Princess Angelica".

He eagerly walked towards her to see her smile at him, but all he saw was a depressed look. He furrowed his eyes, realizing that something was wrong. She was not her happy self. When Eliza raised her head, her eyes seemed woeful.

Alexander then began to think for a while of what could've gone wrong. Then, he started to think it had to do with her feeling sorry for her attitude when being attacked by the rogues the other day.

Eliza pov

"Did you not risk your life because of those rogues? And despite facing such peril, how can you continue to leave the palace?" Alexander questioned my actions, like he always would.

I knew that what he didn't know was that I was not who he thought I was. I felt as though I was almost going to cry. I didn't listen to what he was saying. Whenever she looked at him, all I could think of was him marrying Angelica, living a happy life afterwards, then having children of their own, and growing old together....u get the gist.

"You said you'd teach me how to ride..." I reminded him.

"When did I ever make any such promise? You alone proposed to meet today before, and I said nothing," Alexander reminded me.

This hurt my heart. Now I had so many questions.

"Were you not waiting for me then?"

"Wait for you? I merely wanted to ascertain whether you'd once again venture out" Alexander answered with confidence.

"I was just worried you would be endlessly awaiting my arrival..." I averted her eye contact from Alexander's face to the ground. I was trying to hide her tears from pouring out. I began to think that all the time we spent together, and in my current perspective it seemed that he did not think he was close to her than I thought. I guess all this was just my imagination. Well of course he'd feel that way because he's a playboy...and playboys don't feel. And he's going off to marry my cousin whom I respect like a sister. Well I don't blame him, because I made up everything. I faked my identity and that was wrong of me. . . I realize that now.

"I will take my leave, then," I say softly, trying to keep my voice even, but it trembles anyway. Trying to hide my sniffles at the lowest sound as possible for him not to hear. I guessed looking at him just makes my body involuntarily want to pour out my feelings.

I decided to take my leave.

"So the only reason you left the palace...was out of concern for me? Is it what you're implying," Alexander was curious. I stopped in my tracks and then realized that he must've thought of it that way. I didn't talk back.

3rd pov

Alexander was blushing when her face was implying "yes i was" . He decided to make up for it. Anything to see her smile again.

"Since we cannot ride, let us at least ake a saunter around the market?" Alexander suggested with a slight smile and blushing cheeks. Eliza could not help but smile back. His smile was like her smile; whenever he smiled, she would copy.