The Lost Princess

XXVI

Aaron

"Peter!" I call. He looks at me and keeps power walking away. I eventually pick my pace up to a jog. Peter starts sprinting away and I speed up as well. I go through a shortcut and cut him off.

"Leave me alone Aaron.." Peter says, his voice cracking.

I put my hands on his shoulders, "Peter, what happened?"

Peter looks at me, his gray eyes filled with tears and red, "He was right. I couldn't protect Ashlyn.."

I look at him, "Yes you could. And you did."

He looks up at me, "How?"

"Because every time she saw you, she got hope! She saw you and got stronger!" I boomed.

Peter nodded, "I guess so."

I give him a firm hug, "Besides, he's insane so why are you even bothering yourself?"

Peter laughs and we walk back to the questioning cell. Derek had woken up and was complaining about his broken nose. Peter walked in and he immediately stopped and put on a huge smirk on his face, "Well well, looks like little princey can throw a punch."

Peter looked at the guard, who nodded then lashed Derek. Peter went down at kneeled on the floor. His gray eyes burning into Derek's dark ones. Derek took a deep gulp and immediately looked at the floor.

Peter walked away from him. Derek chuckled, "You'll never be great!" Peter stopped for a second and turned around. The entire place went silent. Peter started walking away before suddenly turning around and backhanding Derek. Derek screamed.

"You will be facing your death penalty tomorrow," Peter booms. All the rest of our men pile out of the dungeon and back upstairs.

Ashlyn
The Next Day

We rode the carriage straight to town. There were guards surrounding all of us. Peter held my hand and gave me a kiss on the forehead, "It's going to be all right, Ashlyn."

I nod and continue to look out the window. The entire townspeople were outside around the square. That was where the guillotine was set up. All the royals were standing on a platform behind the roaring crowd and the elders stood around them. There were about fifty guards patrolling the area.

We get out and are led through the crowd to the platform. Mother, Father, Amelia, Rose, Aaron, and all the other royals were already there. Peter held my hand. Then, I saw them.

Sedrick and Derek were walking down from the road to the castle. Behind them were two guards who whipped them if they became to slow. They climbed up the steps to the guillotine and were brought to their knees. The elders of the council stood up. One of them yelled, "Sir Sedrick of Amster. For the crimes against both your country and ours we have given you the sentence of death!"

Sedrick started sobbing. A guard dragged him to the guillotine and locked his head and body where it should be. Sedrick started crying. The elder shouts, "Any last words?"

Sedrick looks directly at Peter, "Prince Peter, I am so sorry. I am so sorry to you the Royal Family of the Virgin Isles. Especially you Ashlyn." I look up at Peter who nods. I follow him, and nod, too. Sedrick gives a small smile. The operator pulls the rope and the blade falls down at lighting speed. I closed my eyes so I would not see it.

CRACK

Peter tapped me, "It's done. They took away the body."

I open my eyes to see the operator setting up the guillotine. I look over at Peter who's face is red and a single tear falls down his cheek. Sedrick raised Peter and helped him through so much. I guess that's why it hurt to see him die. I take Peter's hand and kiss it. Then, they shove Derek into position and lock him there. 

One of the elders stand up, "Lord Derek of the Pearl River Kingdom. You have done unspeakable crimes against our country, yours, and Amster. Including the murder of Queen Ana of Amster and King Tyson. The kidnapping of our beloved Princess Ashlyn. He attempted to murder our King Edward, Queen Victoria, and Princess Ashlyn. The intentional impregnating of your own daughter by Sir Sedrick, Queen Emerald. You shall have no last words!"

The operator pulls the rope and the blade falls down at lighting speed. I close my eyes again. Even though I hated Derek and he's put me and my family through hell, I couldn't watch him he killed.

CRACK

Peter taps my shoulder. I look up. There's nothing there. Just the bloody blade of the guillotine being reset.

"Peter?"

"Yes dear?"

I sigh, "Are you upset that Sedrick died?"

He nods, "He raised me Ashlyn. He will always have a place in my heart as some sort of father. It's like loosing my father twice."

I nod and give him a kiss on the cheek, "Let's get out of here." He smiles, takes my hand, and we walk to our carriage. When the carriage starts moving, he puts his arm around me and looks out the window. I follow his gaze to my old house. The windows were still broken and the sign for the dressmaker is wobbly.

I shake my head, "It's not your fault."

"I feel responsible Ashlyn. I knew and didn't do anything," he mumbles.

"It was not like you had any opportunity to tell Mother and Father. I am just happy that now I get to be with you," I respond.

He looks at me, his gorgeous eyes looking in mine. I smile at him and he cups my face. Our breathing matches up and we share a kiss. We pull away, then Peter gives me a long kiss on the forehead.

"I love you Ashlyn."

"I love you too Peter," I smile.

He smiles back at me and looks deeply in my eyes. His gray ones sparkle in the sunlight. "Be my queen," he whispers.

"What?" I ask, my eyebrows furrowing in confusion.

Peter takes my hand, "I want to spend the rest of my years looking at your gorgeous face when we wake up. Seeing your bright blue eyes and those dimples when you smile. Hearing that sweet voice and smelling your beautiful scent. I want you to be mine, forever.."

My eyes go wide and fill with tears. Peter puts his hand in his pocket. A couple seconds later, he pulls out a black velvet box. I gasp, my hands going to my mouth. He opens it and sitting there is a beautiful diamond ring with smaller diamonds all over. There was large diamond in the middle and two medium sized diamonds next to it. The actual ring was a rose gold.

"This is the ring that my Father used to propose to my Mother. It's been in the Amster Royal lineage for years.." Peter trails on.

He looks at me, "Say anything please.."

I smile, "Yes. ."

"What?" He responds.

"Yes! Of course I'll marry you!" I exclaim.

His gray eyes fill with tears and he fastens the ring on my finger. He pulls me close and kisses me passionately.

"I love you Ashlyn.."

"I love you too Peter."

Hey guys! I'm sorry that my parts have been a little late or taking a long time for me to update. I'm really trying now. But finally, Ashlyn and Peter get engaged! Some of you might think it's a little early for them, but, I don't think so! So I'll post a pic of the ring in the next part. Anyways, be sure to leave a comment about how you feel about the engagement and any other ideas about the story.

Love you!

- Leslie ❤️