Chapter 20 Chapter Twenty

The Queen's family only stayed for a few days, while Sven Weiguo's visitors stayed for a full week and appeared on the "Report" to talk about international relations and various efforts to achieve peaceful coexistence between the two countries. I have lived in the palace for a month now, and it feels like I am at home.My body is at home in this climate, the warmth of the palace is heavenly, and every day is like a holiday.September is coming to an end soon, and the nights will get cooler, but it is still much warmer than my house.Moreover, this huge space no longer looks like a maze.The sound of high heels on the marble floor, the clang of crystal glasses, the marching of guards—these all became as familiar as the vibration of the refrigerator or the sound of Gerrard kicking a ball against the wall.

Meals with the king's family and time in the ladies' space are regular items on my schedule, but there's something new in the middle of each day.I will spend a lot of time practicing music, the instruments in the palace are much stronger than those in my home, and their sound quality is better than I imagined.I have to admit, they have spoiled me.And the time in the women's space became more interesting because of the queen's joining.She's been here twice, but hasn't really spoken to anyone, just sits on a nice comfy sofa and watches us read and talk, with her maids standing by.

Generally speaking, everyone is not so tit-for-tat anymore, we are all getting used to each other's existence.Later, when we found out about the group photos that the magazine picked out, I was surprised that I was in the first few places, Mary was the first, followed by Chris, Tallulah and Valleil.After learning the news, Celeste didn't speak to Vallei for several days, but in the end, no one cared about it anymore. Even more likely to create tension is the gossip that comes and goes, who recently dated Maxson, can't resist broadcasting details, and everyone says it like Maxson is going to marry 67 like a wife.Of course, not everyone has so many dates to boast about.

Mary, for example, had dated Maxson a couple of times, so everyone was quite nervous.However, the next few times, she wasn't as excited as she had been on the first date. "America, if I tell you, swear you won't tell anyone," she said when we walked into the garden, and I knew it must be something serious.She waited until we were so far out of the ladies' quarters that even the guards couldn't see her before she spoke. "Of course, Mary. Are you all right?" "Well, I'm fine, I just... want to know your opinion on something." She looked serious.

"What's wrong?" She bit her lip. "It's about Maxson. I don't think we can do it." She looked down. "Why do you think that?" I asked her worriedly. "Well, first of all, I don't... I don't feel anything, you understand? No spark, no induction." "Maxon can be shy sometimes, you need to give him time." It's true, and I'm surprised she doesn't understand it. "No, I mean, I don't think I like him." "Oh." That's totally different, "Have you tried it?" What a stupid question that is.

"Yes! Exhausted! I've been waiting for him to say something, or do something, to make me feel that we have something in common, but this moment never came. I think he is very handsome, but That's not enough for a relationship. I don't even know if he has feelings for me, do you know what he likes?" I thought about it: "Actually, I don't know either. We never talked about what he likes in appearance." "This is another problem! We never chat, he talks to you, but we never seem to have anything to say, we just watch something quietly or play cards together."

The worry on her face grew heavier. "When we are together, sometimes we are silent. We just sit there and don't say anything. Besides, this kind of feeling can't be produced in a day and a half. Maybe you two are slow to warm up." I tried to say something Comforting words, because Mary looked like she was about to cry. "Honestly, America, I feel like I'm here because the people like me. I think what the public thinks is important to him." I'd never thought of it that way, but it sounds plausible.I ignored public opinion before, but Maxson loves his people, so they have a great influence on the election results.

"Not to mention," she said softly, "the feeling between us is so...empty." Then, her tears fell. I sighed and reached out to hug her.I really hope she stays with me, but if she doesn't love Maxson... "Mary, if you don't want to be with Maxson, I think you need to tell him." "Oh no, I don't think I can say that." "You have to say that he doesn't want to marry someone who doesn't love him. If you don't have feelings for him, he needs to know." She shook her head: "I can't offer to leave! I want to stay here, I can't go home...not now. "

At that moment, I wondered if Mary, like me, had a dark secret. Perhaps, she also needed to stay away from someone.The only difference between us is that Maxson knows my situation.I wish she would speak up!I hope I'm not the only one here for such a ridiculous reason. But Mary's tears came and went quickly, and after a few sniffs they were all right.She smoothed the dress on her back, shrugged her shoulders, then turned to face me, with a strong and warm smile on her face, and said, "You know what, I think you are right. I believe it only takes a little more time , things will turn around. I have to go, Ding Ni is waiting for me."

Mary ran back to the palace with small steps.What happened to her just now? Mary avoided me the next day, and avoided me the next day.I deliberately keep a certain distance from her in the women's space. Every time I meet her, I will signal to her, hoping she can trust me, and I will not force her to say what she doesn't want to say. It took four days before she gave me a sad and understanding smile, and I just nodded.Whatever was going on in Mary's mind, I had no choice but not to ask what she didn't want to say. That same day, when I was in the women's space, Maxson came and called me out.I must admit, I did laugh out loud with excitement as I went out and rushed into his arms.

"Maxson!" I took a deep breath and fell into his embrace.When I pulled back, he looked a little overwhelmed.And I know the reason, when we came out of Sven Weiguo's reception area that day, I confessed that I didn't know how to deal with my emotions, and asked him not to kiss me again until I figured it out.You could tell he was a little hurt, but he nodded in acceptance.The feeling that he acted like a boyfriend and wasn't was just so inexplicable. After Camille, Michaela and Lana were sent home, there were twenty-two other girls here.Camille and Lana were simply not competitive, and they didn't attract any attention when they left.And at the breakfast two days later, Mikaela burst into tears, it turned out that she was homesick.Maxson escorted her from the restaurant, patting her on the shoulder to reassure her.He didn't seem to have thought about the girls leaving, preferring to focus on those who stayed behind, which included me.But he and I both knew that he would be foolish to place his heart entirely on me when I hadn't figured out who my own was. "How are you today?" He took a step back. "Of course. What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be working?" "The chairman of the infrastructure committee is sick, so the meeting was rescheduled, and I am completely free this afternoon." His eyes lit up. "Do you want to do something?" He held out an arm for me to support. "Everything is good! There are so many places in the palace that I haven't been to. There are horses here, and there are movie theaters. You haven't taken me there yet." "Let's go then, I need to do something relaxing. What's your favorite movie?" He led me to the stairs, which should be the entrance to the basement. "Honestly, I don't know. I haven't had a chance to watch the movies, but I like romance novels, and comedies!" "You mean romantic?" He deliberately raised his eyebrows and asked me maliciously, and I naturally laughed out loud. We turned a corner and we talked as we walked.As we approached a group of guards, they stepped aside and saluted us.There must have been a dozen guards in this hallway, and by now I was familiar with their presence, and no amount of them would distract me from the excitement of going to play with Maxson. What really stopped me was the sound of someone gasping as I passed.Maxson and I turned around at the same time. Standing there was Aspen. I gasped too. I had heard about conscription being mentioned at the Palace a few weeks ago, and I did think of Aspen at the time, but as I was on my way to Sylvia's class, I didn't have time to think about it. Looking at it this way, he was still chosen, and there are so many places to go... Maxson noticed: "America, do you know this young man?" It has been a month since I saw Aspen last time, but this is still the person I have been thinking about for several years, and he still appears in my dreams now, no matter where I am, I can recognize him immediately come out with him.Now he looks stronger, seems to have finally eaten, and also got a lot of training.His messy curly hair was cropped so short that it was basically cropped; also, I was used to him wearing tattered second-hand clothes, but now he was wearing a well-fitting and sharp guard uniform. Familiar and unfamiliar at the same time, the elements around him seemed to be mistaken, but those eyes... were still Aspen's eyes. My eyes fell on the name tag on his uniform: Constable Ledger. All this happened within a second. I pretended to be calm, and no one would know that my heart was turned upside down—it was a miracle.I wanted to touch him, kiss him, curse him, order him out of my sanctuary.I want to turn into a wisp of green smoke and disappear immediately, but I am actually here. None of this makes sense. I cleared my throat. "Yes, Constable Ledger is from the Carolinas, my hometown." I smiled at Maxson. Aspen must have heard the laughter before we turned, and must have noticed my hand on the prince's arm.He can think as he pleases. Maxon was very happy for me: "Oh, what a coincidence! Welcome, Ledger. You must be very happy to see the girl representing your province again." Maxson held out his hand, and Aspen shook his hand . Aspen said blankly: "Yes, Your Highness, very happy." what does that mean? "I believe you also support her as Faye Wong." Maxon winked at me. "Of course, Your Highness." Aspen lowered his head. What does this mean? "Very good. Since America is your fellow countryman, I can't think of a better candidate to protect her in the palace. I will personally arrange you into her list of guards on duty. The girl from your hometown is unwilling to stay at night The maid is in the room, I told her..." Maxson shook his head at me. Aspen finally relaxed a little: "I'm not surprised by this, Your Highness." Maxson smiled: "Okay, I believe you must be very busy, so we won't bother you. Good day, everyone." After nodding hurriedly to everyone, Maxson dragged me away. It took all my strength not to look back. In the darkness of the cinema, I kept wondering what to do.The night I told Maxon about Aspen, he said he would have no tolerance for anyone who treated me lightly.If I told Maxon that the man he had just sent to protect me was the one he despised, would he find a reason to punish him?I don't want to tell him.Because I told the story of my own starvation, he set up a nationwide support system and who knows what else he would do. So, I can't tell him, and I won't tell him, because no matter how angry I am, I love Aspen after all, so I can't watch him get hurt. So, should I leave?This feeling of bewilderment confuses me.I could hide from Aspen and not look at his face--how tortured it would be to see that face every day and know it wasn't mine anymore.But if I leave, I also leave Maxson.Now, Maxson is my closest friend, and probably more than just a friend.I couldn't just go, and how could I explain why I wanted to go without telling him that Aspen was here? And my family, maybe they got a smaller check, but at least they got the money.Xiaomei wrote that Dad promised them that this year's Christmas will be the best.But I'm pretty sure the subtext of that statement is that future Christmases may never be as good as this one.If I leave, who can say for sure what my passing fame will do to the family?We now need to save as much money as possible. "You don't like this one, do you?" McKesson asked me nearly two hours later. "Ok?" "Movies. You never laughed or reacted." "Oh." I tried to think back, trying to find a favorite scene, but I couldn't remember anything, "I think I'm not in a good state today, I wasted your afternoon, I'm really sorry." "Stupid." Maxson waved his hand to calm my low mood, "I just like your company, but maybe you should take a rest before dinner, your face looks very pale." I nodded.I want to go back to my room and never come out again.