"I don't understand," I said, clutching the warm cup of tea between my fingers. I was curled up on the love-seat in the little library, my stocking-toed feet in Andrew's lap. Dawn was creeping up on us, the night having run away in a whirl of laughter and dancing. My feet ached from my heeled slippers and my cheeks were numb from smiling, but I wouldn't have had it any other way.

The tiara still sat atop my head, nestled in among my auburn curls as it had been all evening. Andrew had been true to his word, never once abandoning me throughout the entire ball. I stood dutifully by him as a steady stream of nobles congratulated us, most of them pleased but some of them, like Lord and Lady Winters, scowling. Andrew had little time to spare for his duties, however, for that night he seemed intent upon making up for all the dances I'd missed out on with him during my first Season.

Before I could so much as blink, the ballroom had emptied out as the clock struck three. Anne had long since retired, escorted out by James Amberly, but Thomas had spent the entirety of the ball dancing and flirting with other debutantes. Xavier and Georgina had celebrated with us, leaving only when Georgina's eyes had started to droop closed. Unwilling to sleep for fear I'd wake up and it would all be a dream, I'd convinced the princes to stay up with me as the winter sky brightened outside.

"And here we were thinking you were clever. I think you should request a do-over on your decision, Andy," Thomas said from where he was lounging in a cushy chair, his leg draped over the arm as he drank yet another glass of scotch. How he was still awake, let alone coherent, was beyond me.

"You should be treating your new sister with a little more respect," I said, chucking the lemon from my tea at the younger prince. He arched his neck to look around at me, a grin on his face. But it wasn't as cheeky as I was used to. Something was off.

"Mother found a loophole in the treaty," Andrew said, plucking the lemon from where it had landed on the floor to set it on his empty saucer, "It never specified me by name, only a member of the royal house."

The silence hung heavy between us as Thomas' sudden change from troublemaker to pensively sullen prince clicked into place.

"You're marrying Dulciana," I said, the weight of those words explaining Thomas' lack of spirit and reckless behaviour that night. The younger prince barked a laugh.

"Not if I can help it," he said, swinging his legs around to sit up properly, "Father is forcing one of us to the slaughterhouse and since my two other siblings have turned into a pair of lovesick ninnies, I'm the man for the job. Thankfully the treaty only calls for me to marry one of the many Ardalonian princesses, which means at least I'll have a choice."

"One in six seems to be decent enough odds," Andrew offered.

"I'm a gambling man," Thomas grinned, saluting us with his scotch before he tossed it back.

"Thank you, Thomas," I said, interrupting the crackling fire that had filled the silence growing between the three of us. Thomas smiled at me, his eyes sliding from me to Andrew.

"I couldn't live with myself if I had to watch him marry that donkey of a princess when he's so in love with you," Thomas said, "Besides, now that he's all soppy and in love, perhaps he'll turn soft and finally agree to some of my ideas on how to run the country..."

"I'm sitting right here, you know," Andrew pointed out.

"I know," Thomas grinned, "But you might as well admit that you've turned into a lovesick ninny."

"Jealousy is unbecoming on you, Tom," Andrew replied, earning a chuckle from Thomas, "Though I'll admit that I do so wish I could be there to witness all the havoc you'll wreak in Ardalone."

"Don't worry, I'll be sure to send you full written accounts of all the trouble I stir up," Thomas said, his wicked grin reappearing as he rose, "But I should be catching up on my sleep, especially since I'm to leave soon. Have a good night, lovebirds."

I watched him with troubled eyes as he clapped Andrew on the back, my own prince's face knit with concern.

"They're expecting you so soon?" Andrew asked, watching as Thomas leaned over to wrap my shoulders in a farewell hug.

"I couldn't push Father any farther when I offered myself up in your stead," the younger prince shrugged, "I'm to leave with Dulciana and her entourage, which I'm assuming will be quite soon. But the sooner I leave, the sooner I get to decide whether any of Ardalone's princesses are worth my time and trouble."

Andrew and I simply looked at him before he rolled his eyes.

"I'm not dying," Thomas laughed, "I'll be back before you know it. Though I hope I don't end up a doe-eyed fool in love like the pair of you. Honestly, I'm embarrassed on your behalf, Andy."

"Joke all you want about us," Andrew said, pushing himself to his feet, "But thank you, Thomas."

The younger prince quirked an eyebrow as Andrew hugged him, shooting me a look over Andrew's shoulder.

"Look after this one, will you?" he said, play-punching his brother in the arm, "He's used to having someone mischievous underfoot, so I'm passing that formidable torch to you now, Libby."

"It will be my absolute pleasure to wreak havoc in your stead," I said, inclining my head with mock sincerity. Thomas laughed, turning on his heel and wishing us a good night. Andrew watched him go before he dropped back down onto the love-seat.

I sipped my tea, watching him as he stared into the fire, the room turning a murky grey as the pre-dawn light leaked through the curtains. I nestled my feet into his lap again, his hand automatically closing around my foot as he traced distracted circles on it with his thumb.

"I know it's not kind to say, but I'm happy it's him and not you," I said finally. A ghost of a smile flitted across Andrew's face, but he kept staring into the fire.

"As selfish as it is, I agree. But I'm still worried for him. Ardalone is..." he trailed off, shaking his head, "They're many things, but understanding is not one of them. He won't be welcomed with open arms, not when I was supposed to be the one marrying Dulciana."

"If anyone can handle that, it's Thomas," I said, hoping I sounded as reassuring as I meant to be. But I had no idea what Ardalone was like, other than that its princess was a spoiled brat. Andrew heaved a sigh, looking over at me.

"He's used to having someone watch his back, but we don't have many friends in Ardalone," he said, "And I don't trust him not to get all tangled up in their politics. Knowing Thomas, he'd consider it a great joke if a foreign prince helped incite the rebellion our advisors say is coming."

"He's not stupid, Andrew," I said, "He won't get himself in over his head. And even if he does, he's a prince of Pretania, not a common rebel. They wouldn't do much more than ship him home, would they?"

Andrew made a noncommittal sound as he sipped his tea, his eyes slipping away from me and back to the fire. I set my tea down, leaning over peer up into his face.

"Come back to me, we were having such fun," I said, tracing his cheekbone with my fingers. My touch seemed to tear him from his thoughts, those green eyes softening as they looked over at me. He caught my hand, his gaze dropping to my bare fourth finger and I froze.

"Andrew..." I began, knowing it was now or never to tell him about the ring. He shushed me as he set down his tea to free his other hand and dig something out of his pocket.

"I was wondering why Mother sent this along to my room with the tiara tonight," Andrew said, contemplating the diamond and sapphire engagement ring I'd abandoned in the queen's solar. I bit my lip, wondering how I would explain myself when he looked up at me again, amusement dancing in his eyes.

"Apparently she found it in her solar today," he said, "Adelaide of all people was the one to give it back to her."

I couldn't help but snort, wondering whether Adelaide knew the significance of the ring she'd probably accidentally sat upon.

"I'll have you know that I won't take it lightly if you lose it again," Andrew said, the corner of his mouth tilting up into that lopsided smile I loved so dearly.

"I'm sorry," I breathed, "I just...I couldn't bear the thought of keeping it if-"

He silenced me with a kiss.

"I know," he said, "But that won't ever happen, so now I'd very much like for you to wear my ring again."

My heart soared in my chest, my hand still in his as he shifted from the love-seat to kneel before me, the pink dawn light flooding the little library.

"What better place to finish what we started than here, where I first fell in love with you," he said, smiling up at me. My hand was trembling as he slid the ring into place yet again and this time I knew it wouldn't be leaving my finger, no matter what the future held.

"Libby, my love, will you-"

"Yes," I said, throwing myself into his arms, the pair of us laughing as we tumbled onto the plush rug, kissing as the sun rose on a new era.

~*~*~

Thomas left us three days later, boarding an Ardalonian ship with Dulciana and her retinue. To his credit, he appeared to be more excited than nervous, but that didn't stop Andrew from worrying about him. He promised to write, telling Andrew that we ought to start a betting pool over which of the six Ardalonian princesses he would pick. We'd pored over the Ardalonian family tree the night before, studying the names next to Dulciana's. Princess Anne was convinced he'd warm up to Dulciana eventually, while Andrew suspected he'd fall for Ana-Cristina, the sister who was rumoured to be the most beautiful of them all. I bet my money on Prince Frederico's twin, if only because there was so little known about her. Thomas laughed at all of us, but I didn't miss the way his calculating eyes kept returning to that family tree.

Anne and James quietly courted while the Winter Season wound down. When i asked Andrew whether they would get married any time soon, he assured me that James knew what he was doing. Anne was still young and I supposed he was right that there was no rush, despite the lovestruck look on the princess' face whenever Lord Amberly entered a room. As the holidays approached, more engagements were announced and more debutantes left to get married. Oliver Pendleton shocked us all by proposing to Sarah Thornbury and Sarah surprised us by saying yes.

In a most notable scandal, the Mayfair family accused Dorian Fletcher of indecent conduct with Ashley, trapping the two of them into an arranged marriage in an attempt to save face. Georgina, who was still very much a debutante and therefore much closer to the gossip mill than I was, assured me that it was a strategic move on the part of the Mayfairs. After Ashley's spectacle during Andrew's announcement of his top three, her good name was ruined as the court whispered about her instability and desperation for a crown. No doubt the Mayfairs seized the opportunity to wed their conniving daughter to the heir of a rich and powerful family, regardless of how despicable a man he was.

Xavier continued his studies at the Royal Conservatory, sponsored now by me and part of the embarrassing allowance granted to me by the royal treasury. Every time I visited him, which was often, I brought along ring sketches from the royal jewellers. Every time I showed him, he changed the subject with pink cheeks. It had taken him far too long to gather up the courage to speak to Georgina's father for permission to court her and my dread grew daily that he'd wait years before he'd be brave enough to propose. But Georgina seemed happy enough to wait, biding her time among the debutantes and sneaking off for walks through the Royal Conservatory's arboretum with Xavier.

Ella remained a pest, hounding James at every turn until he finally outright told her that he wasn't going to marry her. According to Georgina, Ella threw a fit worthy of a tyrant that day, her screams echoing throughout the entire debutantes' wing. It wasn't long after that she was summoned home by her humiliated parents. Annabelle remained at the palace, pursuing anyone with money or a title. She attempted to make nice to me, but I had no patience for her antics and never accepted her invitations to tea.

My own parents made valiant efforts to see me once they learned of my engagement as well, but I refused to see them every time they came calling. They were desperate enough to show up unannounced at the Royal Conservatory in an attempt to rally Xavier to their cause, but he had even less patience for them than I did. We both received multiple summons to the Highcastle house and we both agreed to ignore them.

Even Edward and Edith stepped in, the both of them as sweet as honey when they cornered me at a midwinter ball. Edward prattled on about some investment opportunity I should consider, while Edith simpered and dimpled as she wondered aloud whether I had any vacancies she could fill as a lady-in-waiting. Thankfully Andrew wasn't far and was able to dispatch them with a few well-chosen icy words when my own glares and heated words didn't seem to be enough. I considered snubbing the lot of them by refusing to invite them to the wedding, but Andrew's mother very successfully convinced me not to be so petty.

I resumed daily lessons with the queen, but this time they were less of a test and more of an education. She was far more patient with me, teaching me how to calm my temper and logic my way through difficult decisions. I didn't dread my time with her, but rather began to look forward to it as she quietly filled the position of female role model my own mother had so miserably neglected to occupy.

The queen turned out to be my greatest ally against the king's continued displeasure. She assured me he would thaw out eventually, but he still openly ignored me until I learned to stop attempting to converse with him. Andrew exchanged heated words with him more than a few times, but it was clear that King Graham would only come around when he decided to. I did my best to behave whenever he was around to prove to him that while I wasn't a lifelong-groomed debutante, I would make a good queen. I took on the tasks the queen assigned to me with far fewer grumbles, determined to turn over a new leaf and embrace rather than complain about what palace life held for me.

While I took little pleasure in planning seating arrangements for state dinners and selecting china patterns, it was a small price to pay for everything I had gained. I'd been moved into my very own suite of rooms in the old palace, near the royal apartments, and both Brenna and Elspeth were thrilled that I had insisted on keeping them on as I transitioned from debutante to soon-to-be princess. The queen attempted to saddle me with Millie, but we negotiated that the mean old maid would only assist on special occasions.

Unbeknownst to anyone, I resumed sneaking down to visit Audra, who had been moved to a larger workshop when I insisted on her and her alone as my designated seamstress. She and I worked on plans for my wedding gown, clandestinely sketching and ordering samples of fabric. As much as the queen was less of a tyrant now, I wanted the gown I wore down the aisle to be something that I chose, not something that someone else had chosen for me, so Audra and I kept our plans a secret. There was no great rush for the dress, though, as Andrew had made it clear that he wanted Thomas present as his best man. I could have insisted we move forward with the wedding despite the younger prince's absence, but after all Thomas had done on our behalf, it didn't seem right not to have him standing up with us on our big day.

So I spent my days at the palace, biding my time and easing into a new life. Andrew had me accompany him every time he went out to visit the city or neighbouring villages, though unfortunately I never had the chance to smith any more nails. We finally ate our dinner at the inn in Harridon and it was just as wonderful as he had promised. While I was free to roam the grounds or ride Juniper whenever I pleased, I found I much preferred spending quiet time with my prince in his study as he pored over the kingdom's problems. He often asked me for advice, despite my lack of qualifications, and always had time to lend an ear to my own troubles, though there were fewer of them now that I had the freedom to do as I pleased and go where I wished during my spare time.

And so we lived. Perhaps not always happily, but always very much in love, forever after.

THE END

**A/N: Well, there you have it readers! Now that we've reached the end, I was hoping you could take a moment of your time to give me some honest feedback about the story. I'm about to go into editing mode for The Season and The Debutante, so any critiques are helpful. How was the plot pacing? Were there too many twists and turns? Too few? Were the characters believable? Did the world feel real enough? Was the ending satisfying or were there more questions you wanted answered? 

I'm eternally grateful for your help and who knows, maybe one day you'll see these stories on a real-live bookshelf somewhere :)

Wishing you all a wonderful rest of your day,

Kate

xox