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He had information about my biological mother? I needed to hear what he had to say about her. I didn't know anything else other than what he'd told me the first day we met. I was curious.

Besides, we also needed to talk about the betrothal. I was upset that Ashton had left out the very important detail of him inheriting the throne. I didn't want to be a princess, much less the queen.

"I'm going to speak with the king," I said, pulling my hand from his hold.

"But-"

"I have questions, Ashton," I sighed. "And you're not being honest with me."

"And you think he will be?"

"Yes."

I walked away from him. The queen followed beside me. I entered the spacious office and sat down across from his desk. Ashton stormed into the room a moment later.

"You said you had some questions," the king said. "I'll answer them."

"Thank you," I smiled. "I'm still a bit confused about the betrothal," I started hesitantly. "I would become the princess?"

"Yes," the king answered. "For now."

"For now?"

"After Ashton is crowned, you will rule by his side as a queen."

"Yeah... I'm not too sure about that," I admitted.

"Oh?" he asked, completely unfazed.

"I respect the monarchy and I'm honored that you would consider me to fill such a large role, but I really don't think I'm the best option. I'm not royalty, I wouldn't fit in."

"We will make sure you have all the training that you need," the queen smiled. "I know you can do this."

"But I have a choice?" I asked hesitantly.

"You're already betrothed," the king stated.

"But I don't remember any of it," I pressed. "And I think Ashton will be a great king if he married someone he loved."

The king rested his chin on his hands as he studied me. "Love?"

Ashton rolled his eyes. "It's obvious that she doesn't want to do this. Stop forcing this on her."

"Stay out of this," the king ordered. "You do not have a choice."

"But don't I?" I asked again.

I had broken the silence between me and my parents last night. I needed to know if I could get out of the arranged marriage. My dad was the best person to ask, since he knew about all the customs and traditions of Crysauralia. I'd asked him about breaking off betrothals as casually and hypothetically as I could.

He had explained to me that if someone from another kingdom was involved in the betrothal, then that person was eligible to break the betrothal with permission from the government of their kingdom.

Technically, I was a dual citizen. My mother was not from this kingdom. I was born in Meryllia and had signed the contract as a Meryllian. Therefore, I could break the agreement. The question was, would the Meryllian government let me?

"I do have a choice," I repeated, and this time the king understood what I was trying to say.

"You're a smart girl," he chuckled. "Yes, you do have a choice."

I glanced at Ashton, who surprisingly didn't look surprised. Did he already know that?

"The Kingdom of Meryllia will not agree to that," he said, glaring at the king. "The treaty is far too important to them."

"It's worth a try," I protested.

"He is correct," the king said.

My heart sank.

"But you do have a choice. I'll give you a choice."

"You will?" I asked surprised.

Ashton straightened up at this news. He glanced at his mother.

"What do you mean?" he asked.

"Elizabeth will decide what she wants to do."

That sounded too good to be true. There had to be a catch.

"So I can choose to end the betrothal without consulting the Meryllian government?"

"Yes."

"Is that even legal?"

The king laughed, clearly amused by my reaction. "I'm offering you an alternate solution. It will have no negative consequences for you. My only request is that you remain as Ashton's betrothed for a few more months. That includes a few mandatory dates."

I considered this. I didn't know if I could trust that agreement. I looked over at Ashton, who had grown quiet. His eyes had gotten a lot colder.

"So that's what you're doing," he said; his voice was arctic.

"I'm making this deal with Elizabeth," the king answered. "Please be quiet."

"And if I have children in the future... they won't be bound to the contract?"

"No. I would nullify the contract. You two were supposed to marry, but it's probably time to put that behind us, yes? The betrothal will have to suffice."

I glanced at the queen. She seemed to ponder the matter with a frown.

"And how will it benefit you?" I asked. There had to be something in it for him.

"You two will do what I want."

I frowned. "Your majesty, you said I had a choice."

"You do. But the outcome will remain the same."

"I highly doubt that."

He smiled. "I also have some good news for you. This will be a reward for going on these dates with Ashton."

Ashton didn't argue about the date this time. His eyes were cold and resigned.

"But first, let me give you some information about yourself. Your full name is Elizabeth Danielle Seymour and your birthday is December 31st."

"Seymour? And my birthday is not in April?"

"No, that was the date assigned to you by your adoptive parents."

I shuddered to think that it might have been Liv's.

"Seymour was your mother's surname. The sister might have known, but your mother refused to say who the father was. Maybe you can ask her yourself."

I looked at the king in shock. Was that supposed to be some kind of joke?

"My reward for you going out with Ashton is to see her."

I wasn't alone in the surprise that completely overwhelmed me. The queen and Ashton had both stood up at that information. My heartbeat intensified.

"How? What?" I gasped.

"I've received information that she is alive and has been hiding in another kingdom. Apparently, the person who had been driving the car at the time of the accident was not your mother."

I was dumbfounded. That was a lot for me to take in. My mother was alive?

"That is wonderful," the queen smiled at me. "Oh, I am happy for you, Elizabeth!"

"How could you make a mistake like that?" Ashton hissed. "Or were you just waiting on the perfect time to make that big reveal?"

"Everything I do is for Elizabeth's sake," the king said. "A few dates won't hurt."

He turned to me expectantly. "Will you do it?"

"I will," I decided, looking at the king and queen.

She clasped her hands together, "That is fantastic!"

Ashton and the king were having some sort of stare down. Maybe they were talking to each other through their mind link. The intensity of Ashton's glare looked more like yelling.

I plastered on a smile and touched his arm. "I said I'll do it, Ashton."

He didn't even flinch. I tugged at his arm. "Please stop."

He broke his glare and looked down at me. I guess I looked more worried than I felt because his eyes cooled down a little.

"Do not mind them," the queen sighed. "They just hate losing to each other."

"I don't lose," the king declared calmly. "Elizabeth, don't force yourself to go through with this if you don't want to."

"No, I want to. I'll do it." This meant a lot to me.

I glanced at Ashton, and he was looking much calmer, although he wouldn't look at the king. I then realized that I was rubbing his arm to calm him down. I guess it worked. I could feel tingles along my palm where I touched him.

I cleared my throat and dropped my hand. Ashton looked down at me and his expression softened.

"Let's go," he said quietly and took my hand in his.

It felt so nice to hold his hand, but I was inhibited from enjoying the moment by the constant reminder that he had a girlfriend. I would hate it if I was in Nicole's position and Ashton did things like this so casually.

I said my goodbyes to his parents and followed him down the stairs quietly.

"Be safe," Kevin cautioned as Ashton sped off.

"Can you slow down a little?" I asked, but he didn't seem to hear me. His eyes were angrily focused on the road.

"Ashton, slow down please."

I was starting to feel nauseous. It had taken him less than two minutes to get to the main road from the palace grounds. It usually took at least ten minutes, even when I had driven with him the first time.

Either we were going to crash or I was going to throw up. Or maybe both. I was feeling queasy from the sudden announcement his dad had made and the fast driving.

"Ash-"

I had to clamp a hand over my mouth. I really felt like I would throw up if I talked anymore.

Ashton glanced over at me and a worried expression crossed his face.

"Are you okay?" he asked after slowing down considerably.

I nodded and took a few sips of water.

"I'm sorry... about earlier," he mumbled.

I looked over at him. Ashton was apologizing? I was feeling too sick to make a joke about it. I just nodded again.

After a few minutes, I started to feel like I was coming back to life. I could breathe normally and the queasiness stopped.

Ashton kept tossing some worried looks over at me. "Do you want to go to the doctor?" he asked.

"No, I'm feeling better now. What is it with you and speed?" I groaned "I think you left my stomach back at the house."

Ashton forced a smile. I guess whatever he had spoken to his dad about wasn't too good.

"Do you want to talk about it?" I asked after a moment.

He sighed, and then looked over to me with a tired smile. "He was just being controlling, the usual. I lost to him again."

He lapsed into silence until we arrived at my house. I undid my seatbelt and was about to get out, when I paused. "Remember to tell Nicole about this," I said, giving him a serious look.

He nodded and I smiled and got out.

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