Ariadne's POV

"I'm so sorry," I said. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine," he said and I smiled, recognizing Peter's voice; but my smile vanished when I saw the defeated look in his eye.

"Are you sure?" I asked concerned.

He nodded then turned to face the door.

"You're not leaving are you?"

"I don't see a reason to stay," he said.

"You could stay to keep me company. I have something I have to tell you," I said hoping he would help with El's problem.

"I've already heard the news, congratulations."

I looked at him confused as he now faced me. "Did my father tell you?"

He nodded. "Do you think you can help me then?" I asked.

"I'm afraid you'll have to find another escort."

I looked at him confused. "What are you talking about? Do you mean escorting the boy out of the castle?"

"Did you just call him a boy? And why would you want him escorted out of the castle?"

I smiled, thinking it was one of Peter's jokes. "Well, he's not exactly high ranking-"

Someone tapped me on the shoulder and I turned around to see one of my father's scribes. "The King would like you to go to his study."

"Alright, I'll be there," I said then turned to Peter. "I'll be back, don't go anywhere."

"As you wish," he said with a bow.

I curtsied then followed the scribe to my father's study. Had he forgotten to tell me something the last time I was here? Was it so important that it needed to be said in the middle of El's ball?

"You wanted me?" I asked once we were inside the large room.

"Yes," he said and indicated for me to sit down. "You may leave us, Cornelius," he said and the scribe bowed then left, closing the door behind him.

"Why did you want to see me?" I asked. "Could you have waited until the ball was over?"

"It's not over yet?" He said. "Oh well, I was just too excited. And besides, you won't be needing balls anymore."

"What do you mean?" I asked cautiously, confused that my father was both excited and said I didn't need to dance. Wait-

"You're engaged," he said, but as with everything father said, it felt more like a demand.

I stared at him in shock. "What do you mean?" I asked. "No one has even proposed-"

"Not yet, but he had to get my permission first, seeing as how he can't do so without it; I being your father as well as the King."

"Who?" I asked thinking of Peter, the last man to speak to my father. But no, he would have been happy not so... Oh, that's what he must have been talking about!

"Who asked for your hand in marriage?" he asked and I nodded. "He wanted to surprise you."

"Father," I said desperately. "Please tell me."

He sighed, looking at the piles of paper on his desk. "Alright. It's the dashing young prince who has won your affections."

I felt confused. Yes, he was nice and charming, but we barely knew each other. "Prince... Wilson?"

"The wedding will be a few months after he proposes, after your coronation as well of course. Dear, are you alright? You look ill."

"I'm fine," I said standing up. "I just need some time to think about it." I felt my head spinning with my limited future possibilities.

"Very well," my father said. "You may go."

I walked to the door, and once I was passed that I ran as fast as I could to the front doors. Trying to reach them before the tears came. I barely made it, the second the doors flew open, my vision blurred and I tripped down the stairs, feeling myself falling towards the walkway. I closed my eyes and felt a scream leave my lips as I waited for the sting of skin against stone, and was caught off guard when I found myself in a strong, yet gentle grip, "I see you've finally fallen for me," a familiar voice teased and I opened my eyes, turning to see tousled brown hair and chocolate brown eyes that looked worried and angry once he saw the tear stains on my cheeks.

"What happened?" He asked.

"I'm... just a little overwhelmed with how little say I have in my future," I tried to explain and Peter somehow understood, looking surprised.

"You mean your engagement?" He asked and I nodded. "You... you didn't know?"

I shook my head and sniffed.

Peter looked at me apologetically and pulled me into a hug, bringing back the safe feeling I had felt the last time we hugged.

"Do you want to marry him?" he whispered in my ear.

"No... I don't know. I barely know him. He is a prince and handsome, and he seems respectable but I hate rushing into important things."

Peter pulled me in closer and I closed my eyes, breathing in the sweet scent of baked bread.

"Do you need any help?" A voice called from the top of the stairs.

I turned to see Prince Wilson rapidly descending towards us until his gaze met my tear-streaked one.

"Goodness me, what happened?"

I turned away to make myself look more presentable – he was a prince after all. In the process of turning, I saw Peter glaring up at the Prince and I hurriedly finished the process and stood up.

"Nothing," I said quietly then found my voice again, thinking of a reasonable excuse that would have the prince catching me in the arms of a... peasant. "I just... fell, and hurt my knee. And this kind fellow caught me before the rest of me got injured."

He gasped. "My dear! That is quite terrible indeed. Here, let me help get you to an infirmary."

"That would be most kind of you," I replied, knowing that I needed to go through with my made up story.

"Are you sure you'll be alright, I can assist as well," Peter said.

As much as I wanted his company, I felt it would be too awkward or Peter might punch the prince in the mouth if they were together for too long.

"That's alright, I think I can manage," I replied. "Thank you for catching me, I do not want to know what would have happened if you were not there to help."

He bowed in return. "I hope I can always be there to assist you, Princess Ariadne."

"Here, Princess, allow me to help you," Prince Wilson said, interrupting my thoughts about Peter's last comment. Could it be possible that he... No, it didn't seem likely.

I turned, and with the help of Prince Wilson supporting my right side, we made it back up the stairs and to the infirmary, where the maid couldn't figure out why it hurt, but assumed it would be better by morning.

Oh my! What do you think of the engagement??

Team Peter or Team Prince Wilson????