Dinner with the royals was super awkward. Especially to Mark. It didn't make things any easier. Always staring at him like he was going to do something. Mark had this angry expression. One that made Sean shake in his shoes. Mark made things ten times worse and Sean knew that the duke hated him, Sean thought back to the guest room when Mark actually attempted to kill him. Princess Maeline, however, made him feel great and anytime that she looked at him, he couldn't help but turn bright red. Sean looked at the princess then back at Mark who seemed to grip the fork like a weapon.

"So," Maeline Said, breaking the silence. "Sean, how do you like Lancaster Castle?" 

"It's beautiful," Sean responded. "You have a nice place."

"Thank you," Maeline glanced at Mark and smirked. "See Mark, he's a nice and polite person," she continued narrowing her eyes. "You could learn a few things from him."

"I don't need some peasant teaching me a lesson." Mark growled. Stabbing his porkchop as if he was going to kill it. Maeline sighed, touching the bridge of her nose. She turned back to Sean suddenly, a strange and warming feeling began to spread throughout her body.

Sean was too busy enjoying his meal to even notice that Maeline was staring at him. He cleared his throat and placed his cup on the table.

"I'm sorry to be rude," Says Sean. "But I noticed that there aren't that many Christmas decorations. When would they be put up?"

"Christmas?" Mark responded, laughing. "I don't know how things are done in your country, but here, we quit decorating the castle years ago."

Sean paused, hesitating. He looked over at Maeline who suddenly found her plate way more interesting. 

"If you don't mind me asking," Sean said. "Why is that?" 

"My father," Maeline said. "He passed away on Christmas day, now it hurts to even look at a Christmas tree," Maeline grabbed her towel and dabbed at her lips. "Excuse me."

"Oh, i'm so sorry," Sean apologized. "Don't you think it's best to let his memory live on?" 

"Well..." Said Maeline. "It has occurred to me often," Maeline stayed silent but quickly got up and took off out of the dining room.

"Good going dumbass," Mark glared. "You did it now." Mark got up from the table and stormed out.

Saddened, Sean wished he hadn't said what he said to Maeline, she was a very sweet girl but noticing that he had upset her. He pushed his plate forward and ran out of the dining room. This time he was going to search for Maeline, he took off out of the castle and began searching the castle grounds. It was hard considering the castle grounds were covered in white powder. He worried that maybe Maeline had gone a bit too far in which case, he was the cause for her to be upset. He ran around the corner of the castle to find a garden, dead plants lined the beams to the entrance, Sean made his way through the garden until he came across a Gazebo.

Unlike the garden, the Gazebo was left untouched on the inside. Sitting on the bench, he saw Maeline dressed in a long red coat and brown boots. Her hood was up, so she'd been hidden from him. Sean sighed and made his way over to her stepping into the Gazebo he sat down next to her.

"I'm sorry that I mentioned your father," Sean said. "Or Christmas."

"It's alright," Maeline said, wiping away a tear so it wouldn't freeze. "You didn't know. It's just, I can't put up the Christmas decorations or get a tree because it all reminds me of my father and ever since he died on Christmas Day, i've been hesitant to even be near the Christmas decorations."

"I know it sucks," Sean said. "This may not make you feel any better, but why don't you give  it a chance?" Maeline stayed quiet. She thought about it, suddenly, a smile appeared. Sean had bee right, she couldn't stop thinking about her father. She remembered what her father had said to her. That no matter what, he would want her to carry on with the Christmas tradition.

Markwalked out into the garden and made his way to the Gazebo; he arrived just as Sean suggested and Maeline seemed to be considering it.

"That's a bad idea, Sean," Said Mark entering the Gazebo. If Maeline redecorated for Christmas, then she'd discover something that was hidden all those years ago. Sean was going to become a threat. And he needed to be stopped. "Something could---"

"That's a great idea!" Maeline exclaimed, cutting Mark off. "We can go into town tomorrow first thing! I would love to show you the town, there's a Christmas tree shop not too far from the square."

"Maeline," spoke Mark. "Are you sure about this?" He narrowed his eyes.

"Of course I'm sure Mark," she said. "I think it's time we bring cheer back into this castle."

"Well, this was a great talk," Said Sean as he bowed to the princess and the duke. "But I should go and get ready for bed," he continued. "After all, tomorrow is a big day," Sean started walking out of the Gazebo however, as he made his way back to the castle, Mark inconspicuously stuck out his foot causing Sean to fall into the cold snow. Maeline gasped and ran over to him, helping Sean up.

"Sean?! Are you okay?!" she asked. Mark frowned, the princess had barely talked to Sean and now she was falling head over heels for him.

"I'm fine," responds Sean, he wiped the snow off his clothes. Maeline placed her coat over his shoulders to warm him.

"I'm sorry, my foot was in the way," says Mark sarcastically. "I should have moved it, that was my bad."

"Let's get you back inside Sean," Maeline said. Glaring daggers at Mark. "We can leave Mark be since he wants to play in the snow."

"Thank you," Sean smiled and walked away. Maeline despised Mark even more considering he'd been out to get Sean since he arrived on Castle grounds. All Maeline wanted to do was give Sean a great Christmas. But she couldn't even do that not while Mark was too busy bullying him.

"I'm sorry that Mark treated you like that," Maeline said. "I don't understand what's gotten into him, it seems like since you've been here, Mark has been getting hostile."

"Maeline it's alright." Sean responded as they entered the warm confines of the castle.

"Do you think you can get to your room? I need to talk to Mark and give him a piece of my mind." Maeline questioned. Sean nodded and walked away toward his bedroom. Maeline huffed and turned around. She stormed back outside and toward the Gazebo where Mark still stood. He looked angry, but Maeline didn't care. She needed to give him a piece of her mind and the only way for her to do that was to jump on him for what he did.

"Mark Edward Fischbach!" Maeline exclaimed. Mark flinched and approached her. "What the hell were you thinking?!"

"What was I thinking?" Mark growled. A vein popped out on his forehead. "How much longer are you going to let this go on?!"

"Mark, you tripped him!" Maeline yelled. "I saw you! That is no way to treat your guests!"

Mark was tired of hearing her do nothing but jabber on and on about what he had done. What else was he supposed to do? Maeline was starting to fall for him, and she barely even knew who Sean was. Him on the other hand, He'd been trying to get Maeline to fall for him but no matter what he did, she seemed to have pushed away. Now here she was yelling at him because he was trying to protect her.

"I don't know what you're talking about." Mark denied every claim.

"You know exactly what I was talking about," Maeline said. "Now you better behave otherwise I'll have you thrown out of this castle!"

Maeline turned swiftly on her heels and stormed back into the castle leaving Mark alone. Taking a few deep breaths, Mark made his way back into the castle.

The next day, Mark stood in the window that overlooked the property entrance. Maeline and Sean were getting ready to go into town to pick a Christmas Tree, Mark despised Sean everyday he was there. Sean was beginning to become a pest, and he was ready to get rid of him one way or the other. The peasant needed to learn his place and that neither of them were a match. As he was watching from the window, his door opened, and Andrew entered his chambers.

"Sire?" Andrew said. "Everything okay?"

"No it's not, Andrew," Mark said. "Sean is beginning to get on my last nerves, and he has been getting in the way of my love." He continued. "I need your help."

"What is it you need sire?" Andrew asked.

"Can you send one of your best snipers into town and take out that McLoughlin kid," Mark ordered. "If he tries to bring Christmas back, then my true intentions would be revealed."

"Yes, your highness," Andrew bowed and left.

Mark continued to watch from the castle, while Maeline and Sean climbed into the car. The black car left the castle grounds and disappeared around the bend heading toward town.

"We'll see how long you'll last Sean William McLoughlin." Mark stepped away from the castle and made his way out of his room. He hoped that this time Mark would finally have Maeline to himself.