"You really are a terrible person," Sarina muttered to herself, sitting awkwardly at the table. Caleb looked at her with furrowed brows, clearly in question. "You two went out for three years. Does that mean that you've been playing her for a fool for three years?" she asked full of disgust, shaking her head. Everyone looked to Caleb in question who nervously looked down.

"Uhm," he chewed at his bottom lip. "I truly did like her, it's just... recently. When that like turned into love, it became too much," Caleb was trying to save his tailbone.

"So you decided the best course of action was not to tell her how you felt and break up with her, but to cheat on her," Sarina said, accusingly. Caleb felt even tenser and shook his head, not offering any explanation but instead decided to shift the blame.

"It's not as if she didn't keep secrets from me. All this-," he said, throwing his arms wide to indicate to the palace. "-was a total secret to me. She never told me she was a princess," Sarina practically growled.

"She didn't need to. She was a princess to me even before I knew she was the Princess," this silenced Caleb. A sigh emitted from the Queen's throat, everyone looking towards her in question.

"We came here to settle all this, not to make it worse. But I guess this is one case where everyone cannot be friends at the end. This is unsettling. I apologize, but I think it would be for the best if you left," the Queen spoke, looking towards the Adams household. They were a bit shocked at this and felt like they were being kicked out, but agreed initially.

"You are right as always, Your Majesty. We do not belong here. Sorry to waste your time," Miss Adams said while standing up, the other two Adams following her example. They bowed respectfully before quickly leaving, two Royal Guards escorting them. Sarina headed to leave as well when she was interrupted.

"Sarina, was it?" she turned in surprise to see the King had addressed her. She bowed respectively.

"Yes, Your Majesty," she felt nervous and even began wondering if the tone of voice she used was appropriate.

"Join us for dinner," he called over, and Sarina took a deep breath before smiling with a nod. She sat back down and allowed a servant to push in her chair. Satisfied, the Queen began eating again so the rest began to pick at the fish as well. A servant took Melanie's dinner away, cleaning up the spot.

"So how long have you known my daughter? Five years?" the King asked curiously.

"Actually, Your Majesty, I only met her about a month ago," I admitted, gently following the twins' example of how to eat. Cornelius sat next to her and noticed her glances, so he tried to make it more obvious which cutlery he took each time.

"Really? You became friends so quickly? Where did you meet?" he sounded genuinely interested which rose Sarina's spirits. The King noticed how badly Sarina wanted to protect Melanie and felt almost proud knowing that his daughter had someone who would stick up for her like that, even in front of someone like himself and the Queen. His daughter deserved someone who would do that for her.

"At her ballet open class. I kind of back flipped off the roof and almost landed on her," she said sheepishly, chuckling nervously as she hoped that she wouldn't be thrown into prison for almost landing on the Princess. Instead, the twins and King began laughing, the Queen also showing her amusement.

"Of course my daughter wouldn't be able to make friends the normal way," he chuckled amusingly. It made Sarina feel lighter, knowing that she wasn't making a total fool of herself in front of royalty. "So tell me about yourself," Sarina took a deep breath and nodded.

"Of course, Your Majesty. I am already eighteen and graduated last year from High School," Sarina explained, finishing up her fish before the Queen.

"Are you attending any tertiary education institutes?" the Queen inquired, but Sarina shook her no.

"No, Your Majesty. All of my time is currently offered on my gymnastics and I have a job as a waitress to assist my Nationals' fees," she admitted, waiting patiently as the fish was replaced with a tiny bowl with a gourmet salad within. It was the fanciest combination of diced vegetables that she had ever seen.

"Nationals? Is it your first time competing?"

"It would be my fourth," she answered, following Cornelius' example of eating. The conversation kept flowing about Sarina's childhood and her mother, how her grades were and how her gymnastics were improving. When it came to how she came to be within the palace, the twins awkwardly admitted how they kidnapped her. They weren't even surprised.

Dinner ended with the twins leading Sarina back to Melanie's room, seeing as she was lost as soon as exited the dinner hall.

♕♥ ♕♥ ♕

Meanwhile, when Ian had taken me back to my room, I asked that he bring me the remainder of my dinner. I was surrounded by my food, my position comfy on my bed. I was probably stress eating, but I can have a cheat day. My phone buzzed irritably, and I unlocked it with a sigh when I saw that the notification had Caleb's name smacked on it. I open his message, my brows furrowing at his blunt text.

I want to make up.

Why did he even try? After everything that he's done to me, why can't I just be left alone? I typed my answer and replies without hesitation.

I want to break up.

He didn't answer, which was good. I never want to hear another word from him. I was deep into my French dessert when Sarina entered my room. At first I wanted to yell off the ear of whoever dare enter without knocking but I guess I had to make an exception. Had Sarina just spend an entire dinner with my parents? I felt so bad now, knowing that I abandoned her to deal with something like that.

"Your dad is amazing!" was the first thing she said to me, which made a little more than sceptical about how the dinner went. "And your mother too! She was like 'ooh you guys are putting me off my grove, be gone' and then Caleb and his family were forced to leave. But then I was kind of alone with them and they kept asking me about gymnastics, and my job and my childhood and it was a little bit weird," she said, heading over towards me with exaggerated arm movements. I was genuinely surprised that she has enjoyed a dinner with my family. My family?

"I'm so sorry for leaving you to deal with all of that," I apologized, the guilt already creeping up my throat. Sarina just waved it off, kicking off her stilettoes before coming up to my bed where she took a seat next to me.

"Don't even think about it. I had fun. Sure it was a little stressful at first and I was very nervous, and sure the Queen still imitates me so much but I guess it's because she has to be since the Queen is the ruler in our country. But that kind of makes it even scarier," she said, lifting her dress until she could fold her legs under her.

"What is?" I asked, putting away my phone and placing my dessert plate on my bedside table.

"That you'll be placed in that position. That you're going to be Queen. I'm sorry but I can't see it. I can't imagine you having to be that scary or having to rule a country. It's so strict but you're so carefree. You've still got so much potential and I just can't see that being supressed by a throne," Sarina said, a little embarrassed for speaking her mind so openly and looked down at her hands. I sighed at her words, because I knew it was true. I tried not to think about it too much because I knew that whatever fun I was having now, I wasn't going to have any more. I already told my father that I would start taking my position more seriously, but I didn't want to.

What was the point anyway?

"I am trying to savour my time, but it won't be long. Now that everyone knows who I am, I can't just go out anymore. Now I'm going to be judged by my every action, but I was raised to handle it," I admitted, shaking my head as I cast my gaze over to my window.

"I refuse to believe that. Just because you're the Princess, doesn't mean you don't get to have fun. On the contrary, I believe you should have even more fun," Sarina said, leaning over so that she laid on her stomach next to me. I didn't look down at her. I shook my head.

"How are you so... sympathetic? I had expected you to pity me or be intimidated," I said softly, my mind racing a bit.

"Really? Don't you know anything about me? Sure you're my Princess, but you're also my friend who I had respect for from the very beginning. Besides, I knew you were special. Otherwise I wouldn't have sought you out like I had," I frowned in confusion, turning my head back towards her.

"What do you mean?" she shrugged her shoulders, lying her head down.

"I saw you at the café and I wanted to meet you, so Molly found out about your class for me and I went to see you," Sarina admitted, her head turned from me.

"Why did you want to meet me?" I asked, leaning over so that I could look at her face. She refused to look up at me.

"You were... different. You weren't like the others. You looked so happy, but not the loud kind of happy. You seemed as if there genuinely wasn't anything wrong with your life and I wanted to meet someone who lived like that. Without a care in the world. You looked so comfortable in your own body, and you were a ballerina with purple hair. It was almost... how do I put it? Authentic? Gentle and perfect," she answered softly, feeling out of place with herself and where she was. I was hesitant to answer her, because I didn't expect any of this. Was this how she felt?

"You must've been disappointed when you met me," I spoke, chewing on my inner cheek as I fell onto my back, staring up at the ceiling. Suddenly her head turned to mine, her gaze burning into my skull. But this was different than the time at the café.

"On the contrary, you were everything and more. Even with everything you're dealing with, you still made the best out of life. I admired you, and I still do," I turned to face her, our eyes meeting. Her eyes were so full of confidence, so determined to bring forth the thoughts she had. Her opinions, how she felt. Mine probably looked shocked and fragile. She smiled, and I couldn't help but return her honest gesture. My chest started to feel tighter and I could hear my heartbeat in my head, but it made no sense to me. I had never felt this way before. Even when Caleb and I had cuddled, I had only experiences a sense of clarity and the fluttering in my insides. This was something totally different.

Why did this one girl make me feel like this?

"Can I kiss you?" my eyes widened, by face contorting to one of surprise. My heartbeat took over my body and I couldn't think straight anymore. What had she just asked? My breathing stopped as she leaned over to me and I shut my eyes tightly on instinct. What was happening?

I felt her soft lips against my forehead and I felt relieved, but at the same time I was disappointed. I opened my eyes to regard her, the smile she gave me one of utter glee. There was no trouble in her actions.

"It doesn't matter where you're going to end up in your life, listen to what I have to say. Even if I have to break in, I am going to be by your side to help you through all of this. You've dealt with this all on your lonesome, and that has to change now. You need someone in your life," and just like that, I discovered someone who I cherished more than even myself. She was strong and confident and so sure of herself.

She is more suitable to be Queen than even I am.