I got back to the castle with a few hours to spare. My dress was hanging on the hook. I started getting ready and that took a while. The hair and makeup people rushed in and back out. My stomach growled. Was I hungry or were those nerves? It could be both. I was about to make a life changing decision tonight. Well the decision had already been made I just had to follow through with it.

       Thoughts of Andy filtered through my head. I sighed opening the door. My mom was about to knock. "Oh good heavens you scared me!" I said placing a hand on my heaving chest. "Sorry, I wanted to know if I could escort you to the ball and pick your brain at the same time." I smiled. "Sure thing." "So you're going through with it? Picking Daniel?" She asked. I nodded. "He's nice and I'd feel comfortable with him." She nodded. "Okay, I'm sure Cathryn will handle the invites.  She said. "Yes, she is going to get with Charles." "So we haven't really talked about this much. But since you're choosing a husband I guess this means you'll be staying on?" She asked.

       I nodded my head again. "Is that okay with you? I mean you'll have to leave your job and everything." She grinned. "To be honest, I always knew you could do this. I already had movers take everything out of the house and pack it up. It should be here in a few weeks. The house is on the market and the relator thinks she knows a potential buyer. The decorators are coming next week to discuss the renovations to your new room. Your grandparents have already got things set up at the vacation home and have started moving out." I took the steps down to the ball room very carefully because this was a lot to take in. "It's all happening so quickly." "It is, your father and I will start looking at houses close by next week. I wanna be near my grand babies."

       Then it hit me again. I would be expected to have babies with Daniel. Could I do that? I mean he was cute so I guess I could. But for some reason I couldn't stop thinking of our babies looking like Andy. I shook my head. That dream is dead and gone and the sooner I get used to it the better off I'll be. All this thinking about a boy I couldn't have was torture anyways. We reached the ball room. "You've got this. You look beautiful. Good luck. Let me know how it works out." She said. I nodded. "Will do. See you in there." She turned to meet my dad coming down the hallway. I walked in.

       As soon as I entered the room a guy walked up to me. He kind of looked like Gaston from Beauty and the Beast for some reason. "Excuse me. I am Lord Bartley from Eastwick. If I may just have a moment of your time." He pulled a piece of paper from his pocket. "I have made a small list of reasons I would make a great King. If I may?" He flapped the paper out and it rolled all the way to the floor. I held a hand up. "That's not necessary. I'd like the reasons you'd be a good husband as well. This title isn't about you. It's about me. If you please. I've already made my decision. I'm sorry." "Well I...yes...of course. I'll be taking my leave now." He turned to go, looking confused. As if no girl had ever turned him down before. Sorry Gaston, not interested but might I introduce you to Morgan. I'm sure you'll get along just fine.

       I scanned the room. Morgan and Vanessa were looking my way and talking quietly. Did they know what I was just thinking? No of course not don't be silly. Morgan raised an eyebrow. Still gonna be the next Queen ladies. Then my eyes landed on Daniel. I gave a half wave and smile. He got my eyes and nodded back. I walked over to him. "Could we go outside for a minute?" I asked nodding towards the door.

       "Sure thing. Are you okay? You look upset." He said. "Not really but I'm doing what I need to do so it doesn't matter." Once we were sitting on the bench under the gazebo I took a deep breath filling him in on my week. "Man Mackenzie I hate that. I'm sorry you can't marry him." "It's alright, they are right. I mean even you said it the first week. Having a Royal by my side will help me. So I'd like to know if you would do it. Agree to marry me I mean. I know you don't care about being King and I know it's more pressure but..." "Think nothing of it. I am here for you. We have become good friends. I'd be happy to do that for you." "Thank you, and I am sorry for taking away your chance at love."

       "Nothing to apologize for. I think one day you and I will grow love each other. And at the very least I like you and you like me as friends so as long as we keep in mind we are doing what's best for the country I think it'll all work out." He said. I nodded. I hopped he was right. I'd think about the babies at a later date. Much later. "You can tell your family and stuff and we'll make an official announcement in two weeks." "Great, I'll get an engagement ring from my Grandmother." "Sounds good. Ready to go back in?" I asked. He nodded holding his hand out to me. I grabbed it and we walked back into the ball room.

       It was almost time for dinner. Morgan walked up. "Hi Daniel. I was just going to give you one more chance to dance with me. I mean when I become Queen it'll make my decision to choose you much easier." "No thanks. Mackenzie here is going to be Queen." He said. I know he really wanted to tell her we were going to marry but he didn't out of respect for me. "You what? Ew how could you do this to my Country? You are such a disgrace." "It's your Grace." I corrected to be funny. But she didn't laugh.  "Just get away from me. I think ugliness is contagious. "As long as snob isn't." I said to her retreating back. "I really don't like her." I confirmed. "Me either." Daniel said shrugging. "Wanna dance?" He asked. "I'd be honored."

       We moved around the dance floor. I noticed my mom looking at me. She didn't look as happy as I thought she would though. It was really terrible. And I already knew why. For the same reason I wasn't as happy as I should be. I know it was a hard decision on her to marry my dad. She was asking him to give up his title and his country and it meant that his parents had to keep on serving until I was old enough. It was a lot of pressure. But I had already decided I was going to do it. I had chosen my king and once we told everyone the real fun began. We'd start planning the wedding and save the dates would go out and wow holly heck it was a lot. I mean what girl didn't picture her dream wedding? Even down to the groom and I wasn't getting that so I guess i would just have to do my best and make it work.

       The dinner bell rang and we headed into the dining room. I was glad I had made a decision. These weekly balls will stop. I sat next to Daniel. "So your brother is going to be king?" I asked. "Yes." "Who is he marrying?" I asked. "Oh, no one yet." "And he doesn't have to do these...annoying balls?" I asked lowering my voice on the last line. "Well he will eventually, or look into matchmaking." "Woah is that a thing?" I asked as the first course was brought out. "Yea, you have to answer a ton of questions about your style of ruling the country and everything. So you not only get a good wife you get a good Queen to." "Wow that is something I did not expect." I said taking a bite of my food.

      "Yea, he's not big on all this stuff he just wants to get in a roll up his sleeves as king and if he marries he marries." "Well how rude. I tried to say that and everybody went mental on me. Like Mac you have to get married." He started laughing. "That's funny to you?" I asked. "No it's just, I forget sometimes you didn't grow up in this life style and to hear you talk sometimes, and that accent. It's just different." He shrugged. "Oh, yea I guess you can take the girl out of the south but you can't take the south out of the girl...or something like that." We had mostly finished the first course. "Do you not want to marry?" He asked. "No, i mean yes. It's to late to back out now. And it's really fine. I've met just about everybody and you really are the best choice and it'll help to have someone by my side. Being Queen terrifies me, maybe it's because it wasn't something I expected but it's a lot." I said.

       "I don't blame you. If somebody came and stripped my title I don't know what I'd do. Maybe join in public relations? I don't know that's the only job my skills would carry over i guess." He said thoughtfully. I noticed the queen had stopped eating so I sat my fork down. The plates were removed and the second course was brought out. Dinner went along as usual. Daniel and I chose to sit by one another so we could keep getting to know each other. Because really who marries a guy they don't know that well? Me....it's me. Somebody shoot me now.

       Dessert was delicious and chocolatey. So I ate fast. I didn't want them to take my plate before we got done. Then we were supposed to go out and dance more. Like yo I just down a chocolate dream and now you want me to dance? Maybe can I just go take a nap or something? "Is there chocolate on me?" I asked looking around my clothes and touching my face. "No, why? You saving some for later?" He asked. I laughed. "I wish. But I just don't wanna do anything stupid ya know?" "Don't feel bad, the first ball they let me attend i got busted licking the ice sculpture of my dad. But it was delicious." He shrugged. I laughed. "That's funny, and I feel better." I said. "Good." He grinned. The ball wined down and I headed up to my room. After I was in my comfy pjs i called the girls.

       Cam was looking frazzled. "Are you okay?" I asked. "No, not really the college says they are missing a crucial form and I can't find it. I've been calling the administration office all day and they were out. I mean I get it's summer but hello people do go to college during the summer." She let out a heavy sigh. "Whatever, tomorrow is another day. How did the ball go?" She asked. "Fine, I talked to Daniel and he agreed to marry me." "Why don't you sound happier about that?" Sadie asked. "Because I can't stop thinking about Andy. This is stupid. And I can't even tell him why I can't date him." "Why? Is there like some rule against that?" Cam asked. "No, I just know he'd freak. And I mean I know i look really different at the skate park than I do at the palace. But he's going to find out. And when he's see's I'm engaged. I just feel like crying." I said. "Don't do that, look don't you think he'd rather hear it from you?" Sadie asked. "I don't know, but let me be clear. I can't do it. It would break my heart and his." I said.

       "Oh boy you are really in a pickle." Said Cam. "You said it. How's your lifeguard Sadie?" Sadie turned bright red. "Good, he's going to meet my parents when they come to pick me up. I'm kind of nervous. I've never liked anybody this much." "You're too cute!" I gushed. "yea yea, still no doctor Cam?" "Nope and Mac here promised a kiss in a closet and she's over there looking all regal and dancing with lot's of cute boys with culture. What has my life become?" She asked flopping onto her bed. "You're so dramatic, I'm thinking of a few guys I can hook you up with now." "Good, say got any closets around the castle?" We all burst out laughing. "Thanks for making me feel better." I said sighing. "It's our job." Said Sadie. "I'm glad. It's why you guys are the best." We talked a bit longer and hung up and I headed to sleep.