Sean got back to his room and grabbed his suitcase. He wasted no time but to start packing for his trip back to Ireland. He'd been so focused on everything around him that he had forgotten about the manila folder he stole from Mark's room. It didn't take him long to pack therefore as soon as he was done, he pulled the suitcase handle up and grabbed his carry on where he left his room. It didn't matter if he tried to crash the Christmas charity ball nothing was going to change the fact that he was nothing more than a commoner and should have stuck with working at his father's restaurant. He assumed that Maeline was going to be happy without him, Sean left the castle and climbed into the limo while the driver had placed his suitcase into the trunk. Once the limo driver got into the driver's seat, he leaned forward ready to give the man directions.

"Wait!" a voice called from behind him. He rolled down the window to see Maeline running to him. "Sean! Where are you going?"

"Home," Sean said. "It's clear that you don't want me here, and Mark would only make things worse so I'm sorry your highness, but I can't take much more of this."

"Adam told me what happened," Maeline said. "Sean whatever you heard, please know that I only said those things to get Mark and his brother off my back."

"Sorry Maeline," Sean said and turned to the limo driver. "To the train station please, and step on it," spoke Sean as he moved his green bangs out of his face and placed his winter hat on his head. "I hope you have a wonderful Christmas Princess."

Sean rolled up the window as the limo driver pulled out.

"Yes sir," says the limo driver as he pushed on the gas and eventually the driver was off heading toward the train station, from there, Sean was going to take the train to the airport and fly back to Ireland. Sean stared out the window watching Lancaster castle disappear in the distance. No way was he coming back here, sure Maeline may have tried to welcome him but Mark on the other hand he hated Sean. That was fine with him, who cared about what he thought, all he knew was that his feelings for Maeline were genuine and he wished that Maeline had felt the same.

Days later, Mark and his family were going through preparations for the charity ball. Mark hadn't seen Sean in a while since their last stand off a few days ago. He thought that maybe Sean changed his mind and decided to keep away from the party altogether.

"I haven't seen that McLoughlin kid," says Tom. "Are you sure he's still in the castle?"

"Probably in his room sulking or something," responds Mark. "But your right, I haven't seen him either."

"I'm sure he's busy doing some commoner stuff." laughed Tom.

Mark smirked. After Maeline admitted her feelings, Mark felt better about himself. Especially now that Sean would be out of the way.

It was a day before Christmas Eve and the Charity ball and Sean was back in Ireland. He'd been working at his father's restaurant not willing to even think about Maeline. But he'd been going through his suitcase when a manila folder fell out. Sean glanced at it and picked up the folder. His heart pounded as he had forgotten all about the folder and Mark's plan. Sean stared at the folder, as if it were going to jump out at him.

"Should I open it?" he thought to himself, Sean picked up the folder and flipped it over. On the front it said: for Maeline's eyes only. Surprised, Sean opened the folder only to find a single piece of parchment.

The Letter

At his death bed, king Armand requested that everything including Lancaster Castle belong to his daughter Maeline Ebony and anyone whom she married. If King Armond remained alive, then Maeline would remain the sole heir to his fortune. Being one of the most beautiful princesses I had ever laid eyes upon. Hearing about the fortune only pushed me to get closer to her. I wanted... no... need to marry Maeline but her father doesn't like me. He believed that I would only go after her fortune and leave her in pieces at the doors of Lancaster Castle. So, I created a plan, a plan that would most surely make me king of the castle.

I dressed in a servants attire and made my way to the king's chambers; going in my royal attire was the worst option I could think of. The king would never allow me in his chambers especially not when I want to marry his daughter. So, I brought a platter of food and some tea offering him something to drink. Stupid King. He let me in. And didn't even realize that it was me. So When the king was not looking, I pulled out a vial of poison. It had a skull and cross bones on it, the vial was full of hemlock. A poisonous plant that kills almost instantly. I tipped the poison over his tea and allowed for enough poison to fall in. I put the lid back on and placed it in my pocket. This time I made sure set his tea on his side table. I watched as the king picked up his teacup and drank from it. I waited to see if the poison would affect him. I'd been right, he began coughing and he eventually started to have a hard time to breathe.

I knew that the poison would take forever to kill him, so I had to take matters into my own hands and brought out my dagger. I walked toward the king whose eyes glazed over. He knew that I was betraying him, but it was all for a good cause, right? I stabbed the king in the chest straight through the heart, he was dead instantly. However, I couldn't leave the evidence behind not if the authorities knew who I was. I took the knife from the king's corpse and cleaned it off with the servant shirt, I made sure not to leave any fingerprints and wore gloves while I committed this crime. I walked into one of the closets where I changed out of the servant outfit and into my formal attire. Pulling one of the shelves down I had snuck out through the secret passageway.

I got back to my room just in time to watch the authorities arrest one of the servants, my plan had worked. Of course, while I had committed that crime a thought appeared in my head. Another plan, I couldn't take the fortune for myself, not while Maeline was alive. I want that throne and the fortune, which meant I had to kill Maeline. The date is set, Christmas eve during the charity ball Maeline and I will be betrothed, and we will get married, but once the marriage happens, I will give her a poisoned ring it will enter her veins and kill her.

Sean's heart stopped, it wasn't Mark's love for Maeline that made him want to marry her, it was as a matter of fact strictly for the money alone. What could he do? Mark was nothing more than a duke that literally only loved her for the money. But it didn't make sense wouldn't he have the money why did he want her fortune? Unless he wasn't a duke after all...

So far Maeline only believed that I was a duke. Let's just say that my family and I are nothing more than thieves. We only want one thing and that was money. So, it all rides on me to get Maeline to say yes. If not, then we would lose everything. But lately, my plan has not been going the way I expected... Maeline invited a commoner to stay during the entire month of December. But every time I try to get closer to her, she pushes me away because of Sean McLoughlin! Ever since he arrived to Lancaster, he'd been nothing but trouble and the closer he got to know the castle and the people inside it the more of a threat he was. Especially if he knew what I was doing. I tried not to pay attention to it, that is until I entered the ballroom and discovered Maeline and Sean almost kiss. I tried everything to get rid of him, but nothing seems to work. If I had to get rid of Sean, then I would even if it means killing him. He had to learn his place and his place did not belong amongst the royals.

~Mark

"That son of a bitch!" exclaimed Sean. "I knew something was up with him!" Sean folded the paper back up and stuffed it in his back pocket. Mark had one thing right about him, he wasn't a royal, but he didn't care if Maeline loved him. It was time for Mark to get a piece of his mind. Sean looked at his phone and saw that it was close to eight which meant he needed to get back to Lancaster and warn Maeline. If Sean's hunch was correct, then tonight Mark was going to propose. It was Sean's chance to stop Mark and save Maeline and he wasn't going to let his enemies get in the way.

Sean ran to the train station in Ireland and bought a train ticket to the airport. He bought a plane ticket. Sean had to figure out how to get to Maeline and tell her the truth without risking discovery by Mark. Before boarding his plane, Sean called Adam.

"Hello? This is Adam, how can I help you?" he asked.

"Adam, it's Sean." he responded.

" Sean! Maeline has been worried about you," he said. "Where are you?"

"I'm on a plane heading back to England," says Sean. "There's a situation and I think that Maeline might be in danger."

"What?!" exclaims Adam. "Sean! What are you talking about?"

"Don't worry about it, but right now, I need you to get me a suit for the Christmas ball," answers Sean. "As fast as you can!"

"You got it Sean, I'll send the limo to you once you land," without another word, Sean and Adam hung up. Sean stared out at the sky as he was glad, he was heading back to England; he wasn't just going to meetup with the limo driver he was going to come face to face with Mark and Maeline. Sean did not care; he had had enough standing in the shadows and fearing everything. His parents raised him better than that and if it came down to it, he would stop a plan from unfolding.