"Declan, stop pacing," I sat in my room reviewing paperwork as my boyfriend, lieutenant Declan Winchester, wore a hole in my floor. "Have you talked to your father yet?" Declan shook his head, sighing.

"He's still in the field training. My brother says he will call me when dad comes back." Declan and Peter's father was General Winchester. After my father's break in judgment to demote Declan and send him to New China, we were scrapping for anything to keep him here with me. However, that would mean that my father couldn't marry me off to another diplomatic. Like Lord Rob. A shudder ran through my body.

"Who are they replacing you with?" I placed my pen down and took a sip of my tea as Declan sat next to me.

"Some old guy they brought in." Rumor has it that he would be arriving tomorrow as my new personal guard. I wasn't happy about that. It was nice to have Declan next to me for my day, protecting me. I trusted him to no end. "Jack says that he's a good man. Boring though. Very straight laced." I nodded and rubbed my eyes. Mother had been giving me more assignments in preparation of the Italian delegates coming to the palace. I was glad for the work, but I was exhausted. Elsie knocked on my door before allowing herself in.

"Milady, your mother wants you in the women's room for tea with the Elite." The Elite. At least Maxon had narrowed it down. I could care less for most of them. But America, she was the rebel's choice. She was mine as well. She cared about her people and country. A bit of a loose cannon though. I didn't hate Marlee or Kriss. But that was the extent of that. Celeste was rude and sabotaged everyone to make herself look good. She had put glass in shoes, beat her maids, and gotten one girl expelled for starting a fight in which she instigated. She might have been the choice of the twos and threes of Illea, but nobody bothered to interview the growing number of the lower castes. Declan kissed my hand sending butterflies and a blush around my body before I walked into the women's room smiling.

"Catalina, I'm glad to see you taking a break." My mother, the queen, smiled at me and poured me tea as I sat next to her, flattening my skirts out.

"I'm glad for your offer." I was becoming fonder of the girls now that there wasn't so many of them. I took a large lump of sugar and stirred it into my glass as the girls asked about mother's wedding.

"No, no." My mother laughed at Natalie's question. "I only had three bride's maids, though Clarkson's mother suggested I had more. I just wanted my sisters and my best friend, who coincidentally, I'd met during my selection." I adored my mother. She was the epitome of grace and strength. She'd adopted me after months of miscarriages before and after Maxon's birth. That didn't stop any rebellions though.

"What about you, Catalina? What do you want for your wedding?" Marlee asked me. I bit my lip.

"I don't really know. It depends on who I will be marrying, I guess." My mother took my hand with a sad smile on her lips. She wanted me to find joy as she did. I had, but now he would be sent to his death in New Asia. "If I marry Lieutenant Winchester, then I would want a smaller wedding. But, if I am married off to an ally, then it would have to be big and public. Don't want to exclude anyone and make enemies." I laughed a little to lighten up the mood. The other girls laughed lightly except America and Marlee. Marlee just twitched her lips into a smile. Mary walked into the room and made a beeline for me. I knit my eyebrows together as she handed me a slip with phone written on it. I closed the note and excused myself from the room. Declan was gone from the hall as I took off my heels and sprinted downstairs to the library. Declan was in a heated conversation with whoever was on the other end as I dropped my heels and sat down on the desk.

"Peter, shut up. No. I know that this is dangerous. I already told you about my orders." Declan rolled his eyes and smirked. "Thanks, Pete. I know. Now, shut up and give me dad. The Princess is right next to me. Love you too. Bye." Declan shook his head and handed me the phone. I pressed my lips together as I slid off the desk and begun to pace.

"Hello?" An older man's voice spoke.

"General Winchester? This is Princess Catalina. Have you been made aware of the situation at hand?"

"Last I heard about you is that you were dating my son. Made quite a ruckus, we even caught wind of it in the field." I couldn't help but nod. "Can't imagine your father is too happy about that, Princess." I laughed quietly.

"He isn't. He was so upset he demoted Declan and changed his orders to New China."

"New China? The King can't do that. It's not within his powers." I nodded again.

"I know. That's why I need you and the other generals to help me with this. We need to check the King before he gets too power hungry. General," I dropped my voice to be softer. "We both know that to send your son overseas is absolute death. I don't want that and neither do you." The General was silent for a second before speaking.

"Is Declan there with you now?" I confirmed. "Put him on the phone so we can speak privately." I handed Declan the phone and smiled before walking outside the library. I paced on the floor.

Ten minutes passed.

Then fifteen. I sat on the ground, panic beginning to build. If we couldn't get the generals to team up, then we were screwed.

Five more minutes passed before Declan came out and smiled at me.

"They'll be here in a few weeks." I squealed and enveloped Declan in a hug, him lifting me up in the air and spinning me around. Thank goodness. They had chosen to support us. Declan put me down and sobered up. My smile wavered.

"What's wrong."

"Maybe it's best if we don't talk here."