Admissions and Secret Plans

When Charles and Katherine made it to where Max was waiting for them, the guard held out his hand that was holding a white t-shirt.

Charles grabbed the shirt and pulled it over his head as he said, "Thanks."

Katherine's forehead wrinkled in confusion and she told Charles, "I don't remember him having that when we came down here earlier."

"He keeps them stored in the back of the golf cart for me. He knows my routine almost better than I do," Charles replied with a laugh as he adjusted the shirt on himself.

"Do all the guards know your schedule here?" she asked him in shock as they walked over to the golf cart where Max had gone to. He and the driver were waiting for the royals and chatting.

Nearly no one back in Helios knew Katherine's schedule apart from Jasper, Eric, and maybe some of the guards. Not even her own parents knew where to find her half of the time.

She could not imagine if everyone knew her business at all times. It certainly would make sneaking around with Jasper that much more difficult.

"I doubt it, but Max is my personal guard so it makes sense that he's memorized my daily life," Charles casually replied.

Katherine whipped her head to look at Charles and asked, "Max is usually your guard? Then why has he been with me?"

Charles stole a glance towards her as they got into the back of the golf cart together. He seemed reserved all of a sudden.

"Yes, he's my guard, but I wanted him to be with you while you're here because there's no one I trust more to keep you safe," Charles told her as they sat down.

"Oh," Katherine started as she looked forward and held on as the golf cart started to move. "You didn't have to do that for me." She was shocked at the admission from Charles.

Next to her, Charles shrugged as he looked over at her again. "If I can't be with you myself all of the time, he's the only other person I would trust leaving you with."

Katherine was taken aback by how much Charles always seemed to look after her. He showed time and time again how selfless he was.

He was going to be a far better ruler than she would ever be. She was really starting to admire his huge heart.

"Thank you," she told him with earnestness as she met his gaze.

Charles smiled at Katherine as he continued to hold eye contact with her.

His chocolate eyes were mesmerizing, and Katherine felt herself getting lost in them. There was just something about him that made her feel so secure. If anything, she knew that he would always be looking out for her.

There were definitely worse men she could have been forced to marry.

The thought whipped her back to reality, and her heart dropped to her stomach. She tore her eyes away and looked forward.

She still needed to call Jasper and tell him about the marriage before he heard the announcement that would be broadcast. She refused to let him find out about it at the same time as everyone else.

For all he knew, she would be coming home in a few days for them to run away together. Now, she was going to break his heart all over again.

And not only his heart would be broken. All she wanted was to be with him and her mom, safe and happy.

The only way she could get her mom back safely was to go along with Marcus's plan. She had to put her mom first, even if it made it more difficult for her and Jasper to be together.

But, Katherine thought to herself, maybe if she spoke to Charles about what their marriage would entail in private when no one was looking, she could convince him of some sort of arrangement.

After all, they were becoming fast friends, and she did feel like she could trust him more than she could trust practically anyone. Maybe they could come up with some agreement where they could come together in public to put on the show of a happy couple, but they could have romantic lives that did not include each other in private.

It was something monarchies in the past did all of the time. Kings and Queens had their spouses to keep up appearances and create alliances, and then they had their not so secret lovers that helped them lead happy lives. Surely she and Charles could do the same.

Katherine could have Jasper, and Charles could have whoever he wants. Not that Katherine had ever seen or heard about Charles having a significant other, but then again, Katherine was confident that no one thought that she had someone romantic in her life either.

Now she just had to find a way to approach the subject with him when the timing was right.

"Is everything alright?" she heard Charles ask next to her.

"I'm just a little nauseous. The bouncing of the golf cart isn't good on an empty stomach," she lied as she forced a small smile.

"It's a good thing that food will be waiting for us then," he said with a small chuckle.

Katherine nodded but still had their marriage on her mind. Once they made the announcement to all of Titanus, there would be no going back. She would have to marry Charles in order to keep her crown and her life.

She just hoped that she could keep Jasper throughout the process. She still couldn't bear the thought of losing him.

The golf cart made it to the top of the hill where the castle was perched, and Charles jumped out before he held out a hand to help Katherine out.

Once her feet made it to the ground, she loosened her grip to let go, but Charles continued to hold onto her hand. She looked down at their hands and swallowed hard. Even something small like holding the hand of someone she considered a friend made her feel guilty for Jasper.

Well, a friend she was going to marry.

Today was going to be a long day.