Mia started heading back to her room.

She was still thinking about Anne leaving with Gain. Ooh, this is just Anne getting back at me for all the times I made her worry! She's just going on a little adventure. Not just an adventure, but an adventure with a handsome prince. I should be happy for her!

—I should be happy for her? I have a handsome prince waiting for me!

I should be happy for me!—Abel!

In all of her concern about Anne, Mia had completely forgotten about Abel! And the kiss—how could I forget about the kiss?

Mia made a quick turn and began sprinting to Abel's room.

After a minute or so of running, Mia stopped.

What am I doing? This is not a race. I love Abel, and he loves me. Today, tomorrow, twenty years from now. He will be there when I get there. He will be there for me. He will always be there for me.

Mia decided to catch her breath and take a more adult leisurely pace to Abel's room—and she kept that slow pace for a good thirty seconds before her mind began to wander again.

But, what if I get struck by lightning?

(Lightning?)

If I get hit by lightning and die, there will never be a follow-up for the best kiss ever—and I just can't do that to Abel.

Without wasting time to consider the science behind getting hit by lightning while traversing the stone hallways of a castle on a sunny day, Mia decided to pick up the pace again—but this time employing a much more princess-like very-fast walk.

Finally, she saw it,

There it is, Abel's room.

The door was partially open. All she had to do was go inside.

Mia wasn't sure about what was going to happen next. But, she was sure about who she wanted to be with when it did happen, and that person was on the other side of that door.

Mia slowly walked until she stood just a half step outside of Abel's door, and in an uncharacteristically timid voice, announced herself, "Umm, Abel? I'm here."

"Yes, Mia, please come in."

Mia had never been in Abel's bedroom before, and certainly had never been alone with Abel in his bedroom. Anne was Mia's right hand and confidant, but she also was her chaperone—but Anne was with Gain— so Mia would be really alone—in Abel's bedroom. She walked inside and softly closed the door. She looked around with a fake casualness. It seemed pretty spartan for the room of a prince—just two chairs, a desk, an armoire, and —a bed—Abel's bed.

"Thank you for coming. Did you tell anyone where you would be?"

Mia looked bashfully to the side, "You said not to..."

"Good. Clarissa has told everyone that she is taking you to town. So no one knows you are here."

"No one knows..."

"Do you trust me?"

"Yes."

"Good."

Abel took Mia by the hand and guided her past the chairs, past the desk, past the bed, to the... armoire?

"Mia, please get inside."

"Abel, I am not sure what you want to do, but wouldn't it be more comfortable on th..."

"Whatever happens, please trust me, Mia. Now get inside. Listen, but don't speak."

"You want me to stay inside—by myself?"

"He will be here soon. Now shhhh!"

"He? He who?"

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"Shhhh!"

Abel shut the armoire doors.Mia waited and listened.

"Abel, I got your note."

"Father."

"So, I guess you figured it was time to finish our discussion..."

"Yes, I thought that after the show we put on for the Princess, a real discussion about the future of the Kingdom was overdue."

"Ha! I expected as much from the son that truly understands what it takes to rule. Where is the princess now?"

"I sent her into town with Clarissa."

"You sent your brother out on a pointless mission, and even found a use for that stupid girl. Marvelous! Even when your brother was not broken, he was never capable of such brilliance."

"So, I am to be the next heir..."

"Of course! You bested that worthless bother of yours with the sword, and proven yourself to be a match to Sunkland's Genius Prince— you are the only one worthy of consideration."

"What of Gain?"

"What of Gain?" The King repeated dismissively. "Does it matter? He's a broken man—if you can call him a man at all."

"But, you have always supported him..."

"No, I never supported him. I just gave him an opportunity to claim title to the throne—same as you—and you won."

"And, what if he doesn't care for the new arrangement?"

"If you think he will be a problem, just dispose of him."

"Dispose of him?"

"We are men of action, Abel. Sentimentality is weakness. I was not born an only child, nor was I born the oldest, but by my eighteenth year I was the only heir to the throne."

"So, how should I do it?"

"Quietly. As tempting as it may be to finish him with your own sword, I doubt it would be something your Princess would understand. We can't afford to offend her sensibilities. Not yet, anyway. Poison can be trickier than you might think. Hiring an assassin is probably best—as long as you get a professional, it's remarkably efficient."

"And, Clarissa?"

"Oh, just let her play with her reforms long enough for you to wed and bed your Princess. Once we have obtained our objectives, we will shut her down, one way or another. She has had a tiny taste of power, so she probably useless as a servant now—power is intoxicating, even for a woman. Marry her off, throw her away, it probably doesn't matter."

"But what of her farming reforms? It looks like they might be successful."

"Really? Honestly, I haven't been paying much attention. I figure the girl must be too stupid to accomplish anything of real value. But if you want to keep the reforms, it might be better to just kill the girl. Success should belong to the King and his heir. We don't want to confuse the people as to who the leader of the Kingdom is. That is why I keep the Council so weak—there is not a leader among them—they exist to confirm the brilliance of my decisions. The only thing we have to worry about is the army. But, as long as we keep the soldiers fed, and the generals rich, there will be very little trouble there."

"And, Princess Mia, what is the best play there?"

"She has been all but declared as the next ruler of The Empire. So, whoever she marries will hold the real power—and that will be you. That idiot Emperor should have found himself a male heir—the people will always expect a male ruler."

"The Princess has the support of her people—she may be harder to control than you expect."

"If she can't be controlled, then I am sure an unfortunate tragedy will fall upon her at some point... Show a sad face for the masses and consolidate control. You've seen how it's done here."

"Yes, I have seen how it is done in Remno.... Do you understand now, Princess?"

"Princess?"

Mia emerged from the armoire.

"Yes, I understand."

Yes, Mia understood. Mia understood that she had been fooled by a psychopath. She also understood that because of said psychopath she was not going to get a follow-up to the best-kiss-ever anytime soon. Mia was a very unhappy Princess, and the unhappiness bubbled through every pore of her body, every fiber of being. Anyone who would have seen her at that moment would have had no doubt that the eyes were the window to the soul, because Mia's eyes burnt with a fury that belied her tiny frame and instilled fear into the monster that stood before her.

The monster wanted to approach the Princess, but his legs would not move. So, he spoke from where he stood, "Princess Mia, don't believe any of what you just heard. It was just talk between men. Sometimes we say these sort of things. None of it was real. We can still negotiate for the wheat. Without it..."

Mia answered coldly, "There will be no negotiation..."

"You can't do this!" The King turned towards his son, "Abel, tell her the people will starve!"

"As I was saying there will be no negotiation. There have already been arrangements for the people of Remno to receive their wheat."

"I will receive the wheat?"

"Yes, the people shall receive their wheat. I would have thought Abel would have said something. Arrangements have already been made."

"So, you do understand..."

"Yes, I understand—I understand that you disgust me as a ruler, as a father, and a human being. But this little show changes nothing. Tearmoon will not use food as a weapon, and I still love your son. So, Remno will not starve. Though, I honestly believe that if Remno were to continue Clarissa's agriculture reforms, Remno will be feeding itself within the year—even if the cool weather persists. You really should have been paying attention—your daughter is quite brilliant. But, if you must dispose of her, she is welcome in Tearmoon. I consider her a friend, and would welcome her as an advisor—if that would please her."

"Certainly. I am impressed that the Princess can separate personal feelings from the actions that are required as ruler." She is a fool...

"Oh, I seriously doubt that you are impressed at all. At any rate, as soon as I complete our business in the east, I will return home—Remno shall receive the wheat."

Abel turned towards the King, "Father, it appears my tenure as Heir Apparent was a short one. I suspect, that Gain will be happy to assume that role. As for me, it is probably best for Remno and Tearmoon that I renounce my title as Prince and sever my ties to The Kingdom. It will clean up succession to Remno's throne, and you have proven that having any marital ties between Remno and Tearmoon is just too dangerous."

"I understand."

"So, if we are done here. The Princess and I will retrieve Prince Gain and Miss Anne from the east. I am sure he will be pleased to hear that he will once again be heir to the throne."