"The king and queen requests your presence in the conference room in ten minutes."

I rose from my bed and dressed appropriately. Whatever the occasion would be, they just have to deal with my current face.

I went to my chambers the moment I arrived from the long flight. Not bothering to change my clothes, I threw myself on the bed as the memories of the past month swirled in my head.

I know my father would be furious at what had transpired when he and my mother were gone. I probably deserve whatever punishment they will give, but the one thing that will probably hurt me most would be the disappointment in both my parents' eyes.

But instead of remaining to think about the pain of looking through the disappointed eyes of my parents, my mind drifted to Nate. And for the rest of the night, my mind only thought of him.

I opened my heart to him the moment I saw the sincerity in his eyes.

Was I wrong about in reading his eyes?

Apparently, yes.

Did I make a wrong in opening my heart to him?

He lied, so yes.

But, despite the fact that everything was just probably part of the charade, I can't deny that I enjoyed every moment I had. I will not deny that deny that I loved every moment we had. I loved every second I had... with him.

Are these the reasons why everything hurt so much?

Was it because I was honest with everything, and he's just pretending?

Was it because the smiles, laughs, stories, and conversations I gave with him were real, but his were apparently all lies?

Does the pain in my heart hurt so much because I was nothing but a pawn to both Nate and my father?

Did I expect too much?

Is being free too much to ask?

Those were the questions that accompanied the memories of the past month. I let those memories play in my head as I let the tears flow freely from my eyes. And then, a gasp escaped me, followed by a sob as a painful thought struck me.

Do those adventures we had meant nothing to him?

Not knowing what he really thought hurts so much because everything we did and had meant so much more to me than I thought it would.

Was I really just a pawn to expand his business?

Is he thinking about me right now?

Will I even cross his mind after all this?

I wasn't tossing and turning all night. I didn't try to sleep at all, last night. All I did was spend the rest of the night reminiscing about the past month I've known Nathaniel Westwood and how every moment with him seemed perfect.

Sigh.

Looking at the reflection of myself in the mirror, I realized why everything seemed perfect with him.

It was never real in the first place.

*****

"What the hell are you doing here?" I asked as I tackled Jessica into a hug.

Although, I am glad that with Jessica being here she can be my shoulder, there is also a bit of apprehension in me knowing that her presence also means something entirely. We haven't had any communication since I was in New Zealand, so I have no idea on her whereabouts.

"Well, first of all, despite our current situation, I am very glad to see you. And to answer your question, I am here because our fathers found out about your secret, and my involvement."

I should have known. Of course I am not the only one. Jess and my brothers helped me out a lot. I should have known that with my secret being known, they will be tangled with my troubles as well.

I feel guilty all of a sudden. Here I was thinking if Nate would even remember me, wallowing in my own misery, while my brothers are probably dying from the scolding they might have already received from both our parents.

I sighed and was about to walk towards the conference room when Jessica pulled my wrist.

"Someone's in there," she said.

"I know. My brothers are probably mentally begging me to come save them from..."

"Your brothers are not there. They have been reprimanded severely like they would a seven-year-old kid."

I frowned. "But my parents are already there, right?"

"Yes. Your parents are there, and so do mine."

I'm confused. "If they are already there, what are we waiting for?"

"Someone's in there with them."

"Who?"

But before she could answer, the doors burst opened. Alexander came out, seething, with a whirlwind of blonde hair trailing behind, who I realized was Alexandra Vera Karlsson.

They were too busy with their actions to even notice us standing in the hallway. Alexander looking as though he was ready to kill and; Alexandra trying make him slow down.

After a few seconds, I looked back at Jessica who only shrugged and said, "that's not all."

"What do you mean?" I asked.

And as if on cue, a very confused but smiling Mark Jones came out of the conference room. Unlike the first two people who came out of the room, Mark Jones noticed us standing in the hallway, and gave a little wave of acknowledgment, which confused me even more.

What the hell is happening?

"Come on," Jessica said as she led me in the room.

When we finally entered the conference room, I took in the current positions of the occupants. Both my father and Jessica's were discussing something near the windows, a glass of scotch in each of their hands while our mothers are seated, silently speaking in hushed tones.

When the doors clicked shut, all eyes turned to me. My mother rose from her seat, and I braced myself to the slap I was expecting. Instead, I was enveloped in a hug that was only reserved for tearful moments.

"Oh my darling daughter," my mother said as she hugged me even tighter. I relaxed as her love coursed through my veins.

She's not mad?

"Oh honey, I am not mad," she said as if reading my mind. "I just missed you. And I am glad that you have arrived back home in one piece."

I looked at my dad as he stared at us.

"Welcome home, Princess."

I cried the moment my father opened his arms for me. I felt my father kiss my temple as I sobbed into him like the little girl I used to be.

When I finally forced down my sobs, I looked into the eyes of my father before looking at my mother's.

"I don't understand. Why aren't you both mad at me?"

My parents looked at each other before looking back at me. My mother took my hand and made me sit on one of the living chairs.

"Laura, you have grown into a fine young lady. And you have proven yourself countless of times. We will never be mad at you for such desperate actions."

My jaw dropped. I whipped my head to look at Jessica who seemed to be sandwiched between her parents. She shrugged and gave me an encouraging nod.

"But of course," my mother said. "Your father and I are just a little disappointed with the thought of keeping us in the dark with this plan. And the fact that you decided to ditch your bodyguards and risk your life to the unknown made us a little bit ticked off. No matter how desperate you are, you should have confided in me or in your father about your plans. You should have told us that you wanted to see the world before officially ruling a country."

"Why would I?" I asked, not masking the little anger that slowly crawls back to my mind. "Would you have let me if I told you?"

"Yes," my parents said simultaneously.

I huffed.

"Knowing that you are your mother's daughter, I know I can never stop you from doing things in your own ways."

"What do you mean?" The question is directed at my father but my eyes are focused on my mother.

"I am quite the rebel when I was at your age," she answered. "But that will be told some other time."

"All we're trying to say is that we could have let you go, knowing that you would likely stay with Jessica, and with the same process your brothers took, you could never be detected. You wouldn't even have to lie to us or hide everything from the palace."

"Wait, how did you know about Jessica? Since when have you known about me?"

I heard Uncle Vince cleared his throat across the table. "I'll answer that one. Your father and I know about Jessica the moment her mother learned about this. She can't lie. You both should've known that."

"And to answer your second question," my father said. "I've known about your secret the moment your mother felt something in the pit of her stomach. And your stuttering brothers only proved my speculation."

I took it all in. And then another question struck me again.

"What's up with Alexander, Alexandra, and Mark Jones?"

My father and Uncle Vince looked at each other before nodding.

"You don't really need to know this but because they involved you in a scheme, I'll tell you."