During the week I was able to get out to the lake more with the help of Philip because he would tell everyone we were going on a ride and he would let me go to the lake while he went off riding. After an hour or two he would met up with me and we would ride back to the castle together. Between seeing the lake and my lessons I was a busy person. I never realized how much went into ruling a country and I was always hoping that I wouldn't screw up when it came to be our time. The more time I was spending with Philip and getting to know him, the more I was beginning to think I was falling in love with him. I had never felt this way about someone before and it was all new and exciting to me. I was still upset that Elizabeth and I still weren't talking but I was hoping over this last month she would have been able to move on and we would be able to be friends again but I didn't see that happening. Philip and I had just arrived back to the stables when I snapped out of my thoughts, it was nice to get out and be able to enjoy my favorite place but also to share a little of it with him too.

"Lily thank you for going on a ride with me."

He helped me off Freedom and we handed over our reigns to the stable boy. He led me back up to the house and I was hoping we weren't late. I didn't like to keep Catherine waiting because I was really enjoying the lessons I was taking with her and everything that she was teaching me. I still didn't feel like I would ever be prepared to help Philip.

"Good Morning Catherine."

"Good Morning Lily. I am sorry to inform that Elizabeth will not be joining us today."

Elizabeth had been coming less and less and I was sure she was mad at me still and it was starting to worry me because we had never gone this long without talking to each other. I wanted to know what was going on in her life and to be able for us to talk and tell each other everything that was happening with us. I never knew how much I would end up missing having her in my day to day life.

"Philip your father was looking for you. Plus it is time for you to leave us to get our work done."

She gave her son a smile and Philip gave a nodded and headed out of the drawing room. During my lessons I was learning how to project my ideas without making it seem like they were my ideas. This was one I took a lot of interest in because I knew it would be the one I would use the most. How I would go about preparing the many parties that would take place and how to finance different events. I loved everything I was learning because these were things that I would use through my time here.

"Now Lily today I want to pick up on learning different War Language and how each troop is displayed differently."

I just nodded because this was the one thing I didn't fully like about the future position. I didn't want to fully understand when it came to sending someone to a life or death situation. Catherine went on to talk about how each troop had different leaders and how they were stationed in different parts of the Countries land to keep certain parts more guarded than others. Then we did have the ships too and I was trying to pay close attention to it all but I was hoping this would be one part I would never need to help in.

"That is all for today Lily. I am hoping that Elizabeth will be back tomorrow to join us again."

I just nodded because I didn't know what to say, I had no idea that Elizabeth wasn't even here. I must be a horrible friend that I didn't even notice that she hadn't been here. Catherine stood up and I did the same. We both curtsied to each other and she made her way out of the room. As soon as Catherine was out of the room it was like Philip knew and he was always walking in when the lesson . I looked at the door for a few seconds and realized he wasn't coming and figured he must still be with his father.

I left the room and started to head to the place I was getting use to calling my room. As I passed by the servants I would still say hi to a few but I didn't bother with most of them. Many of them had just stopped acting like I was around and I wasn't going to let how people felt or what they said to or about me stop me from enjoying my time here. I made it into the room and sat down at the seat next to the window and took out the cross stitch I was working on.

It was after a few hours of working on the cross stitch that I heard the trumpets signifying that someone of royalty was approaching. I made my way out of my room and down to the main door. It was when I started to walk outside that I noticed Philip was next to his mother and father. I still wasn't sure about where I stood when it came to these things yet. I stood behind the Royal family with the rest of the court. The carriage came to a stop at the walkway and the door opened and the footman helped the Princess out of the carriage. Elizabeth was home again. I wondered if she was going to talk to me at all. She made her way down the walkway towards her family. She stopped when she was in front of her parents.

"Elizabeth welcome home. I hope your journey to King Edwards land was enjoyable."

Her mother gave her a hug and everyone could tell that the King was waiting to see how the trip went. Now I know why she was gone for so long. She was being paired up with King Edwards son and I couldn't imagine being the pawn in a political agenda.

"It was an enjoyable time. The country side is beautiful this time of year."

Being her friend for sometime I could tell there was more she wanted to say but she didn't because of everyone being around listening. The King turned around to head back into the castle and once he started to head in the rest of his family followed. I bowed when they walked by. It was strange to be on the inside but still at the same time be on the outside. Philip and Elizabeth were walking next to each other behind their parents.

"Brother, you will have to tell me about your time with Lily. Has everyone really gone back to normal? Where is she now?"

I hide back into the crowd so that they wouldn't be able to see me. I wanted to have a conversation with her but right now was not the time. I didn't know what she would do and she was one to create a scene in public and now was not the time.

"I'm not sure where she is. I usually meet her after lessons but today I was held up by father and I haven't seen her since this morning."

They continued inside and soon the rest of court made their way into the castle. I made my way up the stairs and through the halls to get to my room before Philip or Elizabeth came up there. I wasn't sure if she would come at all but a part of me was hoping. I had missed my friend and knowing she may be married soon made me a little sad on the inside. I couldn't imagine this castle without her in it.I could hear the voices on the outside of my door and before the person knocked I went to the door and opened it.

"Come in."

"See I told you she was still here. I haven't chased her away yet."

It was Philip but I was trying to figure out who he was talking too because he was still standing in the hall with the other person. He turned away from who it was and made his way over to me.

"Which makes me wonder why I didn't see you when Elizabeth arrived?"

"I was there. I was just behind you with the rest of the nobles. I didn't want to assume that I should stand with your family. Nothing is official yet."

"You still don't fully trust me yet?"

I could see a little hurt in his eyes but no I didn't fully trust him. If I wanted too I could leave and go back to Adam. I was sure Adam was my way back home. I just wish I knew for sure that he was the key. I walked back over to the window seat as Philip came into the room a little.

"I trust you but when I start to let myself go I can't help but to think of you pulling a mean trick or saying something about me. I guess I am just waiting for the gotcha to come."

Now he was looking at me strangely and it took me a second to realize that it was because no one here uses the word gotcha. I wasn't going to bring attention to it. I was just hoping that he would forget about it.

"Lily I will continue to show that I am true in what I say and that I have chosen you to be with."

I got off the bench by the window and moved closer to Philip. I remembered he was talking to someone before he was questioning me. That person still hadn't come into the room and I wasn't sure if they were still outside the door listening to us have this conversation.

"Who else was with you? I heard you talking with someone."

"It is Elizabeth. She is afraid that you are still mad at her. Will you just come in already?"

He pushed the door open the rest of the way to show Elizabeth standing in the hall way. We both just stared at each other. It was like she was afraid to say anything and I didn't know what to say. It was going to take Philip being in the middle of this to be able to get the two of us back on the same page.

"Are you two going to talk?"

Philip was just looking at both of us. I just shook my head and tried to not laugh too much. He wouldn't understand how it felt to be around someone that you weren't sure if you were still mad at or not. I know that we were making this more complicated then it needed to be but neither one of us wanted to give in first.

"Good Evening Elizabeth."

"You know not to treat me so formal. We fixed that the first week we met. We are friends."

There I got her to break the silence. She knew how to push my buttons and I knew how to push hers. It was as nothing happened and we moved towards each other and wrapped each other in a hug.

"I am sorry that we got into a fight."

"No I am sorry that I made it sound like something happened when Adam came to visit."

That still hurt when she brought that up. I knew she only said it to make me look bad and to hurt me but it hurt a lot more than just me.

"How was your trip? I am still slightly mad that you never told me you were leaving. We have never done that before."

"I know but I hadn't seen you leave your room and I was sure you were still mad at me. When my parents told me I was leaving I just went and packed my belongings and left the next day."

"The trip was pleasant. I am not fond of the prince. He has an ego too much like my brothers. I am sure with time that ego will become less."

"I believe that is my queue to leave here and leave you two to talk on your own."

"Good bye Philip."

"Do you believe this will be the arrangement that your parents set for you?"

"I am hoping not. If it was then we would be married soon and I would have to leave here and would feel the pressure of producing a male heir to the throne. I am sure that is why you are holding back getting any feelings for my brother."

I never really thought about it before but if I did find the love that Philip was talking about then we would be married within that month and as soon as I became his wife I would feel the pressure of producing an heir to the throne and I wasn't sure I was ready for that yet. This was more pressure than I was willing to take on right now or at least that is how it felt right now. I knew I would need to talk to Philip at some point about this.

"I don't really know how I feel about Philip. Do I even fully understand what love is to know if I feel it? I just don't want to say yes to him and then in a few years find out nothing has really changed."

"Trust me, my brother has changed whether it is for now or forever it is a change that has been made because of you I know that much. Seeing you at the ball did something to him."

"Elizabeth that is it! We need to throw a ball. I want to see if I can trigger what happened that night again. Maybe then I will have all the answers I need."

"Lily you know I am always looking for a way to throw a ball. I will go talk with my father. I am sure he will say yes."

She got off the couch and made her way out of the room. I knew that once I had the idea in her head that it would take no time to see it in action. The castle would be throwing a ball in no time and that will hopefully be the moment I needed to sort everything out.