So after the long wait, finally a new chapter is here! I'm going to go through and change the earlier chapters, editing them and such, so please look out for that! I've already edited the first 10 I think and I'll do the rest eventually. However, I'm hoping that since I finally finished this chapter, I'll be able to write new ones a lot quicker! I hope you all enjoy this and I'm sorry about the long hiatus.

Everything that happened over the next few days felt like a blur to Arianna. Mary was able to talk Lola out of stopping her pregnancy and brought her back safely. No one else had heard a thing from Bash and he had not come to see Arianna since he had
come to her. However, all these things had to be pushed out of her mind as First Light was tonight and currently, she was trudging through the thick snow with Lola and Mary, trying to help Mary convince Lola to go.

"What do you mean you're not going?" Mary exclaimed once Lola announced that she wasn't going.

"How can I attend a feast when I can barely look at food?" Lola argued.

"First Light isn't about food. It's about men, suitors. If a man offers a woman a candle, it shows his intentions to court her and if she accepts—"

"She lights it in her window." Lola finished. "I know. And I know I have to find a husband before anyone realizes I'm pregnant. Francis or my future husband. I don't want to become a future king's property just because I made a mistake.
An enormous mistake, I am aware."

"If a quick marriage is the solution for your problems, you must make the most of tonight." Arianna pointed out, resting a hand on Lola's arm.

"I even have a suitor for you to meet." Marry added.

"Who?" Lola and Arianna asked at the same time.

When the girls gave Arianna a curious look, she merely shrugged her shoulders as her cheeks tinted pink.

"He's a count that Francis and I met on our travels. His name is Phillip Nardeen." Mary explained.

"What's he like?" Lola inquired.

"He's a man of age to wed." Mary said.

Arianna gave Mary a look, elbowing her slightly as to indicate to explain the man further and in a better light.

"But he also seems charming, and well read and kind. But please, you must understand that it might take some time for your feelings to grow." Mary added in, trying to press the urgency of the whole situation.

"After our marriage. That's if I'm lucky enough to have him feel anything for me." Lola sighed, saying the last part with sadness in her voice.

"He'd be the lucky one." Arianna chimed in, trying to make Lola feel better. "Pregnant or not, you have the ability to make any man fall at your feet! You just need the right attitude."

Lola half smiled, grateful that Arianna was trying so hard to make her feel better. The three girls slowly made their way back to the castle, silence falling around them. Arianna felt bad for Lola, wishing she could help her. Then an idea dawned on her.
Maybe she could help Lola! She did know and eligible bachelor who happened to be at French Court. She would just have to see if the man would be interested in this.

Saying goodbye to the girls, Arianna set off in search of Blazhe, hoping her idea would become reality and it wasn't just a hopeless endeavor. Searching the castle, Arianna finally found Blazhe in the library, why she didn't start there she didn't know.

"Blazhe, there you are!" Arianna exclaimed, moving to sit at the table Blazhe was at.

"Aria. Always a pleasure to see you." Blazhe greeted with a smile. "Oh no. You have that look on your face. What are you planning?"

Arianna feigned innocence. "I have no idea what you are talking about but,"

"Here it comes..." Blazhe muttered.

"Are you going to attend First Light tonight?" Arianna asked, not phased by Blazhe's comment.

"Why do you ask?" Blazhe asked hesitantly, still eying Arianna carefully.

"Well, you know Lola." Arianna began, trying to figure out how to word this properly.

Blazhe laughed at Arianna's statement. "Yes, Aria, I know Lola. Now what are you getting at?"

"What do you think of her?" Arianna asked, watching Blazhe as he replied.

"She's a kind and lovely woman. Why are you asking, Aria? Really?" Blazhe replied, knowing she had a secret agenda.

"Well, I was thinking you two would make a good couple! So I think you should go to First Light and get to know her a little better." Arianna finally revealed, hoping Blazhe would say yes.

"Aria," Blazhe started. "I don't know about this."

"Oh come on!" Arianna insisted. "I know you're father wants you to marry, and I honestly think she'd be good for you. It wouldn't hurt to try. Since you're not finding anyone in Bulgaria, might as well try your luck here! Plus, she's not a peasant or
anything so it wouldn't be a disgrace if you did like her and..."

"Alright, alright!" Blazhe laughed, giving in to Arianna's persistence. "I'll go, mostly so you'll just stop talking."

"Oh thank you!" Arianna leapt up and hugged Blazhe. "You won't regret it, I promise. Just if she acts weird, don't question it, okay? I'll see you tonight!"

Arianna quickly left the library before Blazhe had a chance to question what Arianna meant. She felt bad for not telling him about Lola being pregnant but it wasn't her secret to tell. Besides, if it didn't work out, then she wouldn't have to worry about
him finding out.

Needing to keep up appearances, Arianna and Daymen arrived at First Light together, even though just being near him made Arianna's blood boil. Spotting Mary and Francis, Arianna suggested they go and be polite to the couple. Rolling his eyes and muttering
some reply, Daymen and Arianna made their way to the two.

"Aria!" Francis greeted, hugging her. "Daymen."

"Your Grace." Daymen said with a hint of sarcasm in his voice. "Thank you for allowing my brother and I to stay here."

"You should actually be thanking my father. He's the one who agreed upon it. I am just glad that Arianna is safe and I intend to make sure she stay that way." Francis replied, not even trying to hide the fact that he didn't want Daymen here.

Mary told Francis about how much Arianna did not want to be engaged to him and how horrible of a man he was. Thankfully, Francis didn't know about what he really did to Arianna's family or else Francis would've probably killed him by now.

Noticing the tension between the men, Mary took it upon herself to intervene. "Daymen, how are you enjoying French Court?"

Arianna stopped paying attention to the conversation, knowing that Daymen wouldn't let her speak unless he spoke to her. Grabbing a glass of wine from the tray that passed, Arianna glanced around the room trying to find Blazhe, hoping he would still come.
Instead of seeing Lola with Blazhe, Arianna saw her with whom she was assuming was the suitor Mary choose for her.

"Is that Lola with Phillip Nardeen?" Francis asked, noticing the same thing Arianna was.

"It is. I invited him to court." Mary explained to Francis as he continued to watch the two. "He looks very happy to be here, very interested. I thought he might make a good suitor for her."

"Not the man I would have picked for her." Francis stated, causing both Mary and Arianna to give him a confused look. "Let's dance, shall we?"

Mary and Francis took to the dance floor, leaving Arianna and Daymen alone. Arianna finished the glass of wine she had and traded her now empty cup for a full one as a servant came by. Daymen hadn't said anything else, which Arianna was thankful for,
but she wondered how long they had to stay here.

"How much longer are we going to be here?" Arianna asked, trying to keep her tone light and sweet.

"As long as I say." Daymen's words had venom dripping from them. "Remember, you are mine and I may do with you what I please. Don't forget that, girl."

"I may be yours for the time being but you will not do with me what you wish. I still have a say in what happens to myself. I am a queen after all." Arianna replied, not bothering to try and keep up the facade between them.

Daymen turned to face Arianna, grabbing her shoulder in the process. "Listen to me, and listen carefully. I still have unfinished business with you and even though I intend to complete if after we're married, for now, I still own you and you will do as
I say. Is that clear?"

Arianna tried not to show the amount of pain she was in from the vice grip Daymen had on her shoulder, but she knew there would be a mark there later. Nodding curtly, she pulled herself out of Daymen's grip and turned away from him.

"I'm sorry, but it seems I'm starting to feel a bit ill. I think I'll retire for the night. So if you'll excuse me." Arianna brushed past Daymen, not bothering to wait for an answer.

Morning came far too quickly for Arianna. After leaving Daymen last night, she went to her room and hid away as she cried herself to sleep. She hated feeling that weak but what he said, it had made her hate the life she had and that she couldn't do anything
to change it. Getting dressed and trying to put last night out of her mind, Arianna went to Lola's room, curious if Blazhe had actually tried to get to know her last night or not.

Arianna was about to knock on Lola's door when she heard Mary's voice from inside and by the sound of it, they weren't getting along. Instead of waiting, Arianna let herself in, interrupting their argument.

"I am a liar to my husband!" Mary exclaimed, "To my husband. And if the truth comes out and he loses faith in me for it, I will resent you."

"Is everything alright?" Arianna asked, noticing that Mary hadn't even heard her come in.

"Yes, everything is alright, Aria. Mary and I are just trying to figure out what to do." Lola explained. "Mary, it won't come out. Ever. I will take this secret to my grave."

"You have to marry Phillip Nardeen." Mary told Lola as she stopped her pacing. "It's the only solution. You both have secrets to hide."

"What secrets does he have?" Arianna was confused by what Mary could possibly mean.

"Francis told me that the count prefers men in his bed." Mary answered, not even bothering to try to sound sympathetic.

"He prefers men?" Arianna was shocked by this but Lola didn't seem as surprised.

"Ah. So that's what he meant by 'amusing companions.' It's all for his inheritance. He'd never be a true husband." Lola sounded heartbroken.

"Well," Arianna cut in, "I was coming to talk to Lola about another possible option. Did you get a chance to talk to anyone else last night?"

"Well, yes, Blazhe and I did have a lovely conversation before Phillip introduced himself." Lola told them, causing Mary to look shocked and Arianna to smile with delight.

"Oh, good! He did show!" Arianna let out with a breath.

"What are you planning?" Mary asked Arianna, confused by the whole ordeal.

"I was thinking about maybe Lola and Blazhe getting together." Arianna explained to Mary.

"What?!" Lola and Mary both questioned at the same time.

"Don't you look at me like that!" Arianna scolded the two girls. "Blazhe is nothing like Daymen. He's sweet and a gentlemen and he's handsome. Besides, you two clearly get along and I think you two could come to like each other."

"Either way!" Mary interrupted. "Does that really matter, as long as it solves your problems? Keeps you from being shamed?"

"I'd be living a lie forever with no chance of happiness if I do that." Lola countered, hurt that Mary didn't care about her feelings.

"Well, maybe you've had your chance." Mary snapped at Lola, all while Arianna just looked at the two, unsure of what to say.

"What does that mean?" Lola questioned, not sure where Mary was going with this.

"It means that you made a mistake, and now you have to fix it before it destroys my marriage. If Philipe Nardeen asks you to marry him, you will accept. Or I will tell Francis the truth myself." Mary's words were cold as she left Arianna and Lola standing
there speechless.

"Don't worry, Lola." Arianna moved and put her arm around Lola's shoulders. "We'll figure this out together. You all promised to try and help me out of my awful engagement and now it's my turn. I promise you that you don't have to marry Phillip if you
don't want to. Just give Blazhe a chance. If that doesn't work, we'll find someone who you can love."

Lola smiled at Arianna but didn't look completely convinced. It was now Arianna's mission to make sure no one else she cared about was going to be stuck in a loveless marriage. She knew how hard it was and she wasn't going to let anyone else suffer through
that. Especially someone as sweet as Lola. Arianna would find a way, somehow. She had to. If she couldn't find a way for Lola, how could she have any hope for herself?