"I think she's crying,"

"Why would she be crying?"

"I don't know? Did something happening with the Majesties?"

"Could be,"

Two Royal guards were subtly gossiping as they patrolled the palace halls, hearing the crying from within Princess Melanie's room as they passed it.

"Should we tell someone about it?" the one hissed to the other in a whisper.

"Maybe not. She's a teenager, let her cry it out. It makes them feel better,"

"How would you know?"

"My daughter's sixteen. Trust me, I know these things," they left the hallway, turning down another corridor as they continued with their patrol.

I was upset. Utterly and disgustingly upset. I wanted to roll up in a ball and die. The ball part I've got down, my body cocooned under all my blankets. My handmaiden came by earlier and figured I was sick, especially because I was complaining of a headache the last few days. She brought me medicine and extra blankets before leaving me to my own devices, informing my doorway guard of my condition. Did the Royal Guards have medical training?

I sat up from my bed and spotted my reflection in my body mirror. I looked hideous. I had gone to bed with all my ballet clothes still on, including my bun which had fallen out during the night and now there were bobby pins everywhere in my tangled hair. Somewhere during the night I had gotten warm and ripped off my leotard and stockings and threw them across the floor. My handmaiden had taken them to the wash, but it meant that I had no clothes on my body. Fantastic.

I got out from under the blankets, not bothering to cover myself up. My blinds were pulled close and I knew my door guard. He wouldn't dare.

I was nowhere in the mood for dressing, but I preferred it over roaming the halls butt naked. I pulled on undergarments and a plain dress. I did not want to struggle with trousers today. I exited my room with a blanket over my shoulders, the guard passing me a glance before going back to his original position. I had done nothing to fix my hair either nor put on shoes to cover up my blistered feet.

Pointes are a nightmare.

The blanket dragged behind as I walked, curious glances throwing my way as I passed them. I was nowhere in the mood for their opinions or judging. I was a woman on a mission, and I was not going to let my trumpeting head stop me from completing my journey.

Luckily their room was near mine as the night rooms were all grouped together. Once I reached it, I didn't even bother knowing and barged straight in. Just my luck, I had walked in on Bartholomew getting dressed. I had never heard him scream as loudly as he ducked behind a curtain. He was truly a damsel in distress.

"Bloody hell Melanie! I. Am. Naked!" he screeched like a princess, causing my reaction to roll my eyes and close their bedroom door while still inside. Cornelius was already dressed, seated peacefully on his bed as he gently stringed at his violin.

"Listen, I want you to do something for me," I spoke lowly, not wanting the guards outside to catch whiff of my scheme. Curious, Cornelius put down the violin.

"Go on," he urged with narrowed eyes.

"Wait! Can I not get dressed first?!" Bartholomew groaned, still behind the curtain.

"It cannot wait. It is too important," I shook my head.

"Clearly, you look like you were the cat's finding of the day," Bartholomew used his witty conversation to insult me but I had other plans than growing angry. I had received my fair share of being angry the night before, and now I was all about revenge and honour.

"I need to hire your PI," I said sternly, and at this they shared a quick look before returning their gaze to me.

"Who do you need following?" they almost chimed together.

"Caleb," I said with a sneer and questioning eyebrows.

"Why? What had he done?" Cornelius asked, inclining his head to the side. I looked at him seriously.

"I think he's cheating on me,"

"Son of a bitch!"

♕♥ ♕♥ ♕

Madame had cancelled a few days of classes because of her new nephew. I wasn't complaining, I had actually become sick. The court doctor had given me medicine that made me feel better, yes, but a few days it would take to heal. A few days of doing absolutely nothing while the entirety of the palace was worried for me. I don't get sick all that often.

I tried reading, but I couldn't focus. I tried to scroll through forums but I was too bored for that. Utterly and unsatisfactory bored. Just hang me now.

Cornelius and Bartholomew had come to play for me quite often, bringing their violin and keyboard with them. They'd play me Beethoven, Mozart, Bach, and any other thing that came to mind. They were like little professionals, putting their talent on stage in front of a one-man audience. I felt special.

Bartholomew played me Moonlight Sonata while Cornelius went to get himself breakfast and Cornelius played me Vivaldi's Seasons when Bartholomew went; taking turns to look after their disgusting sister. How heart-warming. I absolutely loved them.

Caleb called me Monday to ask if I wanted to go out, but after hearing I was sick he bid me a well resting and hasn't called since. I didn't know what he was up to, but after the PI made his report, I would know.

I felt guilty knowing that I basically employed a stalker. Or, well, the twins did. I just instructed them to do it and they are handling the operation because I would 'compromise' the mission. But I assured myself that it would only be for a week, and then I'd know. Just one week.

And for that week, I was bored out of my mind. I wanted a milkshake. Or a smoothie. I don't care I just wanted one. I also wanted to talk to Sarina, but I had kind of lost her number. I had no contact detail of her.

Suddenly, an ingenious plan hit me.

"Guard!" I called out, and a second later he entered with his head in a bow.

"Your Highness?"

"Please summon Ian!" I ordered and he nodded.

"Right away, Your Highness," he left to conduct my demand, returning a while later with Ian.

"Is something troubling you, Highness?" he asked as he neared my bed. I nodded with a groan.

"Of course there is! There isn't a smoothie in my hand," I said with my broken voice, him laughing at me at my statement.

"I will go get you one, Highness," he turned to leave, but I wasn't finished yet.

"Wait!" he turned to regard me and bowed his head. "Would you please get Sarina's number for me?" smiling, Ian nodded before slipping out of the room. I rested back into the softness of my bed, at ease with myself for the moment. I had a bit of a catnap while waiting for Ian to return and was quite glad when he brought me the cup of pure sugar.

"Highness, the miss Miller was a bit hysterical when she found out you are sick but are assured her you're well becoming. Here is what you ordered," Ian said upon returning, placing a napkin and a smoothie at my bedside table before making a silent exit. I entered the number written on the napkin into my phone whilst drinking the smoothie, my everything wrapped in blankets. My hair was tangled, my nose red and my throat a warzone. After typing it in, I made myself comfortable by placing pillows behind me before calling the number. I knew she had work, but I wasn't in the mood of caring. Still, she answered.

"Alice?" she immediately screeched into my ear. "Aren't you supposed to be dying?"

"How did you know it was me?" I immediately inquired, my voice cracking.

"I just gave my number to a total stranger, but because he knew you're favourite, I was inclined to believe him. So I assumed if I got a call, it would be from you. See? Educated guess," I rolled my eyes, but then remembered that she couldn't see it.

"I'm bored," I stated rather simply.

"Well obviously. Everyone is bored when their sick," she said rather bluntly.

"Tell me something,"

"Alright. So this week you missed out on a special at the café. Don't worry though, it was only coffee. I'll definitely tell you when we have a milkshake or smoothie special. You'd probably be first in the row. Oh, by the way, almost got fired. But that was my fault for skipping out on word and because you didn't pay. But I sorted it out, don't worry. What else... at my gym we've been practising a lot for the Royal Variety Performance and we've got this new girl, Parker, she's only seven. She's a flyer, meaning that we throw her around in the air. It's super scary and she almost got hurt a few times. We got the jiff now though. What else, what else..."

"What are you going to where?" I cut in.

"To the Performance? I don't know, we were measured for leotards but I don't know the design. We don't get to decide that," which, in my opinion, was unfair. "So how's that family crisis going?"

"Calmed down, most definitely. My brothers also calmed down and they play me music when I feel down," I answered, comfy in my bed.

"What kind?"

"Piano and violin,"

"That's cool. I can play the guitar if your little bro's ever want to team up. We can form a band. We'll call ourselves: 'Save Alice' as to honour our beginning with your sickness. Can you play an instrument?" she asked me, but I was too busy giggling to answer immediately.

"Yeah I can play the harp,"

"What really? That's so cool. Why the harp?"

"I don't know. It was different," actually, my mother had wanted me to play the piano or the violin and I refused. My brothers now got stuck with that, which was probably my vault. But they told me they loved their music, so I never said anything.

"Ooh I have something to tell you. Your jerk of a boyfriend came in today and asked me to be his model. The nerve of him. Speaking of which, have you done anything about him yet?" at her question, I sighed. Of course she would ask that.

"I don't want to talk about it," I answered, truthfully.

"That's fine. Oh! Molly told me something interesting yesterday and ..."

♕♥ ♕♥ ♕

I was getting ready to go to ballet the Monday after my sick week, my body still weak but quickly catching up to being healed. I would still not be able to deliver my full potential but at least I get to go out again. A knock interrupted my thoughts and I subconsciously cursed this palace and this life. There were so many interruptions.

"Enter," I called and was surprised to see Cornelius enter. He silently close the door before speed walking towards me. I was bewildered. "What are you doing here?" he came right at my side before leaning towards my ear.

"Your door guard has good ears. Anyway, the PI got back to us and nothing's out of the ordinary. He balances college, his job, ballet and family time like he was a juggler. Clearly he's permanently tense but that's a given. Nothing was strange with him. I don't think he's cheating on you," I don't know if those were the words I wanted to hear or not but I was sort of disappointed. I could not understand why. Of course I am eccentric that my boyfriend wasn't cheating me, but now I feel guilty ever doubting him. Is he even worth me if I have the capability of questioning him after three years of us together?

Cornelius excused himself while I prepared for the day; preparing to see him at the ballet and knowing that I had accused him. I am a bad girlfriend.

Meanwhile, Cornelius entered his shared room where Bartholomew was throwing a tennis ball from his bed as he waited for his older brother to return. Once he came back, he did not bother to catch the ball again and it nearly hit his forehead before rolling off the bed and into oblivion. Instantly, Bartholomew climbed over to the edge of his bed and looked at his brother's stiff posture as he entered.

"And?" Bartholomew asked in almost a hopeless voice, expecting bad news. Cornelius shook his head in denial.

"I told her," at this, Bartholomew sighed heavily. "But I didn't tell her the truth," he admitted.

"What?!" in one second Bartholomew was at Cornelius' side, shaking his body hysterically. "What? I know this is bad but lying to her is not going to make it any better! Now she's going to go running back to that jerk who doesn't respect her. I mean, you saw those photos. He's sleeping with another woman!" at remembrance of the photos, Cornelius cringed.

"At least we can be thankful Melanie never slept with the guy. That would be even worse," the slyest twin sighed and nodded in agreement.

"But she's being cheated on! We have to tell her," Cornelius bit his lip and turned away, embarrassed.

"I couldn't tell her the truth. She's going to be so heartbroken," Bartholomew knew the intensive problem of what Caleb had caused. He made a girl, and not just any girl, a Princess fall in love with him and now he's cheating with someone else. Had he no respect for Melanie? What was his reasons?

Had he grown tired of her? Did her beautiful dancing and her happy moments and her calming nature and her melodic voice, her angelic hair, her magnificently worldwide eyes bore him? Was it because she never wanted to go further sexually?

Was it because she never seemed open about herself? Because she never told her about her parents or her family? Was she not enough?

Was she not worth it?

"Alright. I'll tell her when she gets back from ballet," at that, both twins could agree.

♕♥ ♕♥ ♕

The next chapter is the long, mid-finale; so prepare emotionally.