I wake to the sound of the shower running. I stretch my arms and reach for my phone. It displays the lock screen which is a picture of me and William that we took at the amusement park two days ago. I'm about to set it back down when it starts to vibrate in my hand.

It's mom calling. I haven't talked to her since we got back. I press answer.

"Hey mom!"

"Hey Cassy! How are you?"

"I'm good. How've you been?"

"Still shining." She replies making me smile.

"I'm really sorry, I should've called you once we got back but it's been so busy that I completely forgot to do so."

"That's no problem. I'm your mother you don't have to apologize." After a pause she adds. "Actually, I was hoping that you and William could have dinner with me. I mean, we've had one dinner at the palace but never here."

"Oh! Yeah, right. When did you have in mind?" I ask her.

"Tomorrow night." She tells me.

"Perfect! I'll tell William." I say.

"Alright then. See you tomorrow." She says.

"See you." I'm about to end the call when I hold it back and up. "Mom?"

"Hmmm?" She answers.

"Thank you for thinking of this." I whisper.

"Anything for Princess Cassandra." This makes me laugh as I get out of bed, ending the call.

At the same moment the door opens and William steps out. He's dressed in a dress shirt and pants but he's not wearing a coat yet. His hair's still wet from the shower. He starts putting on his tie as I go stand behind him so he can see my reflection in the mirror.

"Mom just called."

"What did she say?" He asks, looking at me in the mirror.

"She invited us to dinner tomorrow night." I reply.

"Tomorrow night?" He asks and I nod my head in reply. "Yeah."

"I can't." He says walking away to get his coat.

"But, why not? I haven't seen her in such a long while!" I protest.

"Then you go ahead. I have this meeting and a dinner after that. I'm sorry but I can't cancel because this is important." He puts on his coat.

"Come on, I know that the meeting might be important but it's the first time she's invited us and you're backing out already?" I ask, shaking my head.

"I'm not backing out. I would love to go but I'm busy and can't make it." He simply states.

I sigh. "Attend the meeting but can't you skip the dinner?"

"No! I can't just leave after the meeting and skip dinner that's inappropriate." He replies.

This makes me angry. "So, you get me to put up with an aunt who you don't even like for two whole days but you can't spare one evening for my mother. Nice!"

He spins back to face me and points a finger at me. "She is my aunt."

"And she is my mother!"

He runs a hand through his hair. "Don't start this argument because I've given you my answer." He starts to leave but stops at the door. "You can go if you want, apologize on my part."

Without a second glance at me he leaves the room. I sit down on the bed as tears trickle down my face. He's never been angry with me before and I never thought that I'd get to see this side of his over something as small as a dinner.

I run a hand through my hair and pick up my phone. I type in a message to mom.

William can't make it tomorrow night. He's really sorry that he can't. I'll be there. See you tomorrow evening.

I set down the phone next to me and take deep breaths to calm myself down. Once I've got my breathing back under control I take a shower and get changed.

After this I go downstairs for breakfast. By the time I get there William has already left and so has his father. I take my seat and a butler servers me the food. I've only taken a few bites when Helen appears and sits down across from me.

"Good morning." She says cheerfully.

"Morning." I mumble as I take a sip of my water.

I look up to find Helen looking at me. "Are you alright?"

I nod my head. "Yeah."

"I've never seen you so down before." She comments resting her elbows on the table and leaning forward.

"I'm fine, really." I reassure her.

"Okay. Then can I ask you something?"

"Sure." I reply.

"Could I get tomorrow off?" She asks.

"Of course. But why so sudden?" I ask setting down my glass.

"I need to visit a couple of relatives." She replies looking down at her hands. Seeing her like this gives me the feeling that she's not telling the truth but I just let it go.

"Yeah, sure you can take the day off." I tell her.

Her face brightens up. "Thank you."

"You deserve a break once in a while." I say making her smile.

She gets up from her chair saying. "I'm going up to my office. Once you finish, come there and then we'll resume work."

I nod at this as she leaves the room. But the moment she leaves this morning's events come rushing back to me. I was so happy when I found out that I'd be seeing mom but then just hearing Will sound so angry with me took away all the joy.

I'm debating on calling mom and cancelling when someone clears their throat making me snap out of it.

"You seem lost in thought." Anna says.

"I am." I tell her.

"Anything I can help with?" She asks.

"No one can help except myself." I reply.

"Alright, I'll just leave you to it. I came to give you the expenses for the dinner that night for the guests." She pushes a file towards me.

"I'm done with budgets and expenses." I groan making her laugh.

As she turns to leave, a sudden thought strikes me. "Anna! How did your date go?"

"Huh?... Oh!" She says as she understands what I mean.

"It was nice. We're definitely getting somewhere." She says.

"That's good." I smile at her which she returns and then leaves.

I sigh as I think of all the people that I made happy. Ella, I made her day by noticing her. I helped Anna get into a relationship that is getting stronger every day. Helen got the day off to visit her relatives, like she said.

But William...

I'm really sorry about the late update but I had some things going on.

I want to make a playlist for this book. If any of you have a song in mind that fits anything that has happened in this book or the royal and the housemaid then please do comment the name and I'll add a chapter at the end of the book with a list of the songs and the names of the people who suggested it. So, please do contribute! :)

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