Several hours later, Halle found herself in the limousine with Prince Joshua, finally leaving Dres Van after two very eventful, crazy weeks. It felt like she was there forever, and yet at the same time, no time at all. Halle looked out the window at Dres Van Manor growing smaller and smaller behind them in the distance, and as she was thinking back on everything that happened, she did feel a little sad.

"What's the matter?"

Halle spun around at being addressed so suddenly, and she was faced directly with Prince Joshua, who was once again dressed in his country's formal white and gold attire.

She was met with his kind stare, and Prince Joshua laughed a little with a genuine smile. "Are you just happy to finally be going home?"

Halle batted her hand as a flustered expression came up on her face. "That's not it at all!" She sighed deeply, frustrated a little as she decided to enjoy teasing him for what would probably be the last time. "It must be Your Highness that is happy I'm going." She smiled bitterly, feeling a little dejected.

"Me? But I..." Prince Joshua's look of amusement was completely slapped off his face as her comment took him by surprise. He turned to look out the window with a saddened look on his face. "What I want doesn't matter."

Halle internally kicked herself for making her last moments with Prince Joshua end on such an awkward moment, and she looked down at what she was wearing. She was dressed in her same dress from the night before, and they were on their way to the party at Nobel Michel Castle.

"Um...thank you so much for this dress." Halle grabbed at the fabric with her fingers, rubbing her fingertips over its soft texture. "Are you sure it is all right for me to keep it?"

It looked really expensive, and Halle was a little worried about keeping such a beautiful dress.

"It's fine." Prince Joshua returned to his typical expressionless self as he dismissed her concern casually. "I ordered it for you. If you say you don't want it, then I would only end up throwing it away."

"What!?" Halle's eyebrows disappeared into her hairline as her jaw practically snapped off. "You'd throw something like this away!?" She reacted automatically, and Prince Joshua looked surprised by her outburst.

"W-what!?" He stared at her with the widest eyes he could fathom, completely caught off guard by that.

"S-sorry..." Halle awkwardly apologized, covering her mouth with her gloved hand. "It would just be such a waste to throw away something so expensive..."

Prince Joshua spoke quietly with a depressed frown on his face. "That is why I asked you to take it..."

...oh, right.

Halle wanted to slap herself for being such an awkward idiot, but instead, she forced a smile and nodded her head. "Then I thank you and receive it gladly."

She was perfectly assertive and confident when she was in court defending a client, but when she was just having normal conversations with people, Halle was just...well, somewhat awkward. Especially around Prince Joshua, for reasons she didn't quite understand herself.

Prince Joshua took one glance at the look on Halle's face and just laughed in amusement. "I had already told you that."

Halle cast her eyes down, and she remembered something as she did so: she still hadn't thanked him for carrying her to her room last night.

"Thank you for everything you did last night." Halle smiled to him awkwardly, and Prince Joshua was frozen in place by the impossibly cute look on her face.

"What do you mean?" Prince Joshua feigned innocence, looking surprised.

Halle grinned wryly, shooting him a sideways glance from where she sat beside him. "I heard it was Your Highness who carried me to my room last night."

Prince Joshua turned to look at Jan accusingly, who just smiled as he stared back at the prince in amusement. "I know nothing about it." Jan casually shook his head. "Did that really happen?"

Prince Joshua cleared his throat and turned back to awkwardly glance at Halle. "Who told you that?"

"Well..." Halle reflected on her conversation with Prince Roberto this morning as she spoke. "It was someone who said they saw you in the corridor." She spoke ambiguously, which only caused Prince Joshua to frown at her.

"They must be mistaken." Prince Joshua continued to deny everything, refusing to admit it even though Halle knew for sure that it was true. "And you shouldn't be blaming me for your sleepwalking."

Halle couldn't even form a response to that in time before a soft chuckle filled the space around both her and the prince.

Jan hadn't been able to control himself any longer, and for once, he didn't hold back as he busted out laughing. A wide smile stretched across his face, and he continued to laugh as Prince Joshua frowned at the sight of him.

"What's so funny, Jan?" Prince Joshua gritted his teeth together angrily as he barked at his butler.

"Nothing..." Jan went tight-lipped and killed his laughter, smiling wickedly as he did so.

Prince Joshua stared at Jan's subtle, sly grin, and he drew his head back a little cautiously. "You are a strange person sometimes..."

Prince Joshua turned his attention to the window once more, and Jan flashed Halle a grin as he mouthed to her the words, "he's not very honest, is he?"

Halle stifled her laughter as she mouth the words, "not at all," back to Jan with an amused grin stretched across her face.

"What are you two whispering about!?" Prince Joshua whipped his head around unnaturally fast, shooting the two accusing glares.

"Nothing." Halle shook her head confidently, then decided to try and use a little of her witness interrogation tricks she used for her job on Prince Joshua and change the subject. Perhaps if she was on lawyer-mode she would have an easier time talking to him? "Prince Joshua... Could I ask you to tell me a bit more about Dres Van?"

Prince Joshua's angry look melted into one that of shock as his purple eyes grew wide. "You want to know more about the kingdom...?"

"Yes." Halle grinned brightly, speaking honestly. "I know everything about Altaria and its laws, but nothing about Dres Van. I want to know as much as I can before I go home."

"I suppose I could..." Prince Joshua's gaze faltered slightly, a little hesitant to respond to her question at first. However, the more he talked, the more enthusiastic he became. Halle could tell he loved his country very much by the look on his face, and by how excited he was just talking about it.

Halle listened to him say something about the traditional snacks that were custom in Dres Van, and her curiosity was piqued. "Is that so...? We have rice balls where I come from."

"Rice balls?" Prince Joshua looked at her curiously. "What are they?"

Halle was baffled that he had never heard of them, and she motioned with her hands the way you made them as she described the snack food. "Well, you make a triangle out of some rice like this..."

"With rice?" Prince Joshua was not convinced as he warily drew his head back away from her. "You are just pulling my leg, aren't you?"

"Not at all!" Halle involuntarily yelled a little, laughing as she exclaimed. "It's an actual food!"

"Haha, all right then..." Prince Joshua's face lit up with a bright, genuine smile as he laughed. "I'll have to try one when I have the chance."

"Please do." Halle grinned victoriously, crossing her arms over her chest.

Prince Joshua looked handsome with his usual dignified expression, but Halle liked his smile the best. She was grateful that their last moments together were enjoyable.

Their limousine grew closer to Nobel Michel Castle, and Halle sensed that the time to say good-bye was nearing as they closed in on their destination.

______________________________________________

Wow, it was just as magnificent as she remembered.

The party at Nobel Michel Castle was already underway when Halle and Prince Joshua arrived, arm in arm as the young prince escorted the lawyer through the ballroom. Almost instantly upon entering the hall they ran into Prince Keith, who was frowning at the two of them.

"I didn't expect to see you here with a commoner, Prince Joshua." Prince Keith's words were laced with sarcasm as he spoke.

Prince Joshua seemed annoyed for a moment before responding brightly with a faint smile. "She is an important guest of mine."

"You had a guest? At Dres Van?" Prince Glenn turned around when he heard that, having the most intensely bewildered look on his face as he locked eyes with Prince Joshua. He laughed a little as he spoke. "That doesn't sound like you."

Prince Joshua screwed up his face at that remark and let go of Halle's hand, turning his head away indifferently. "I don't take any pleasure from it."

Halle stared at Prince Joshua completely awe-struck as she placed the hand he was just holding before over her heart, almost looking a little wounded from his sudden coldness.

"This is as far as I intended to go." Prince Joshua took in a breath to calm himself, crossing his arms over his broad chest. "I don't plan on keeping her as an escort for the rest of the evening."

Halle was too shocked by his sudden cold manner to say anything, but she didn't have to, because a soft voice nearby quickly cut into the conversation.

"Then you won't mind if I take her off your hands?"

Halle turned slightly to see Prince Roberto practically skip over to them, and he came to a stop next to her as he swung an arm over her shoulders.

"Prince Roberto..." Prince Joshua tilted his chin up slightly as he eyed his arm draped over Halle's shoulders, not quite sure how he felt about the prince's usual friendliness.

"Are you sure you wish to part ways now?" Prince Roberto's smile never left his face as he shot Prince Joshua a questioning glance, prodding into the purple-haired prince's thoughts just a little. "She'll be coming home with me after this, you know."

Prince Joshua's face twitched slightly at those words, but all he did was just turn away. "It's fine. I'll leave her in your hands, Prince Roberto."

Halle shook off Prince Roberto's arm and stepped forward, not wanting him to go just yet as she called out to his back. "Prince Joshua!"

Prince Joshua came to a complete halt for a moment, briefly pausing before turning his head over his shoulder to look back at her. "What?"

Halle opened and closed her mouth awkwardly like a fish, losing her nerve to speak up when she looked at those unwavering eyes of his. "Umm... Well, thank you for everything."

Prince Joshua left without a word, and Halle felt almost a little depressed as she watched him go.

"And there he goes..." Prince Roberto sighed, then dramatically whirled his head around to look at both princes Glenn and Keith. "...and all because someone decided it would be fun to tease him."

Prince Glenn and Prince Keith wore identically incredulous looks on their faces.

"Are you trying to say that it is our fault?" Prince Keith drew his head back a little, a little appalled as he quickly got on the defensive.

Prince Glenn frowned a little as he retreated into his thoughts. "I said nothing but the truth..."

"It doesn't bother me, but, for Halle..." Prince Roberto listened to them plead their cases before sighing and turning back to the girl in question. "This is possibly the last party she will be able to attend with Prince Joshua." He appeared to be a little concerned as he looked upon Halle's sad face, and she only smiled back at him in return.

"It's fine, Robbie." Halle waved him off, smiling as she buried her confusing feelings deep within her. "We had a good time in the car on the way here."

"Really?" Prince Roberto's face lit up with a grin at that. "In that case, I'd better show you an even better time tonight!"

And she truly did have an enjoyable evening with Prince Roberto, just as she always did. And, for the rest of the evening, Halle tried to figure out what the confusing feeling of sadness was that had suddenly hitched a ride with her the moment Prince Joshua had left.
______________________________________________

"Robbie, what are you doing!?" Halle pulled Prince Roberto aside into one of the many rooms in the palace, making sure they were alone as she closed the door behind them.

Prince Roberto played innocent as he calmly looked around the room and avoided her angry glare. "Oh, whatever do you mean?"

"You know exactly what I'm talking about." Halle narrowed her eyes at him and crossed her arms. "Stop making everything you say to Prince Joshua sound so suggestive! He's going to get the wrong idea about us!"

Prince Roberto just rolled his eyes. "What, would it really be so bad if he thought we were an item?"

Halle glared at him even harder, growing tense all over. "If you don't be careful about how you act around me, someone is bound to find out that I'm not your friend, and I'm actually your little sister!"

Prince Roberto just sighed, and he crossed the room back over to Halle to pat her head reassuringly. "Come on, Halle, they're bound to find out eventually! We have the same hair color and eyes, for God's sake." He smiled depreciatingly as he looked down at her. "Can't we just tell the other Princes instead of being so secretive about it?"

"No!" Halle instantly slapped his arm, completely furious with his recklessness. "Five years ago when I was banished from Villa Altaria, I was forced to take an oath to never breath a word that the King is my biological father! Doing so would result in a scandal, and who knows what the King would do!"

Prince Roberto sighed, knowing she was completely right. "Ugh... I know, but I just want to show you off to the world!" He suddenly reached out and pinched her cheeks while he wore a bright smile on his face. "You're just so cute, I want to tell everyone that you're my sister!"

Halle frowned as he continued to pinch her cheeks, just glaring at him completely. "Half sister. If I was fully related to you, I would probably die."

Prince Roberto frowned, pouting at that insult. "Ouch... Why must you be so mean to me, Halle?" He reached out and enveloped her in a tight hug, slightly cutting off her air. "All I do is love you!"

"Ack! Can't breathe!" Halle pried his arms off of her throat, pulling herself from Prince Roberto's grasp. "Anyways, Robbie, that is beside the point! We have to keep our relation a secret. No one can know any of this, or it will result in a scandal!" She sighed a little, and she put her hands on the sides of his face. "Robbie, the only thing the world can ever know me as is your friend. That's just how it has to be."

Prince Roberto frowned just like a child as he slumped his shoulders. "I know..."

"And..." Halle shifted her mood once again, suddenly glaring at the Prince. "Stop giving Prince Joshua the wrong idea by being overly flirty!"

Prince Roberto just smirked wickedly at her as a thought popped into his head. "Why not? If he thought you were taken, maybe he'd be more interested in you."

Halle dropped her jaw in shock, and she instantly reached out and smacked Prince Roberto on the arm. "Robbie!"

"Whaaaat?" Prince Roberto feigned innocence, and he grabbed the spot where she smacked him as he laughed. "You do like him, don't you?"

Halle's face flared up bright red as she smacked Prince Roberto once more as a reflex. "Robbie, stop! There's no way I could be with a prince like him!"

"Why not?" Prince Roberto shrugged his shoulders. "I think you two would be a good match. And, you technically are royalty..." He laughed again when Halle smacked his arm once more. "And, I think you do like him, and you're just denying it! If you played the half-royalty card earlier, you wouldn't have had to stay in Dres Van with him for those few weeks and fill out all those papers." Prince Roberto smirked again as he got uncomfortably close to her face.

Halle crossed her arms bitterly as she narrowed her eyes at him. "Robbie, you know I can't just play that card. I have to keep it a secret. I'm no better than any other commoner; I technically have no claim to the throne." She lightly shoved him a little, frowning as she did so. "I was born a commoner, and I was raised a commoner. I am by no means a royal."

"Except that your father is the current King of Altaria."

"ROBBIE, SHUT UP!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I AM ABSOLUTE TRASH. I am SO sorry guys!! I haven't updated this in so long...

(Great way to start an author's note, Serena...)

Sorry sorry sorry!!! I've been working on like...five or six books at a time, and it took me awhile to get back to this one. I'm writing a bunch of voltage inc otome game fanfictions, and they're not just for Be My Princess anymore. I currently have ongoing books published for Metro PD, Kissed by the Baddest Bidder, and My Forged Wedding. I'm also in the process of planning another Be My Princess fanfic, as well as one for Gangsters in Love, After School Affairs, Finally in Love Again, and Love Letter From Thief X.

Yeah, my book docket right now is like...super full.

Anyways, THANK YOU SO MUCH GUYS FOR PUTTING UP WITH MY SHIT. I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH! I'll be updating this more frequently again now that I am out of high school. FOREVER 0-0

...

Oh yeah, probably should talk about what happened in this chapter, right?

Yeahhhhh, Halle is Prince Roberto's half little sister. He's two years older, but has known that she's his half sister for five years now. They have the same father, but Halle's mother was just a commoner, who in a previous chapter was mentioned to be deceased. Halle, in a previous chapter, also makes it clear that her father is not part of her life, and she hates him completely. If you go back and read the book again, every subtle little thing will make so much more sense now XD how she got banished from the palace and that nightmare of her being locked in a cell still has not been explained, so stay tuned to find out the rest of the story!

A lot to take in, I know XD just WAIT! Prince Joshua still has no idea she's half royal, and he still prejudices her for being a commoner XDDDDD I can't stop laughing just thinking about this.

Read, comment, vote, and enjoy!