The rest of the day, I felt the overbearing weight of the stress of my knowledge weighing down on me. Around every open door, I expected Renatus to jump out use his magic on me. I was suspicious of everything, continually reaching towards or walking close enough to objects to see if I could sense the magic within them. I focused on every word I heard, wondering if it was more clues as to the mystery that was unfurling around me. Long story short, I was a wreck.

My language lesson ended early because nothing the instructor said ever actually made it in my head. We were both frustrated with my poor performance but knew I wasn't in the mindset to actually get anything done today. I retired to my room and found myself doodling absentmindedly, trying to distract myself from my roiling thoughts.

A knock on my door alerted me to Soren's entrance, and Gerard welcomed him into my room. "Amberleigh! Good news, you have been invited to dinner with the Council."

I tried to ignore the pang of anxiety that ran through my body and put a fake smile on my face. "Wonderful, I shall have Leda help me prepare immediately."

"This will be a perfect opportunity to practice your etiquette lessons and to learn from those around you. As a queen, your diplomatic activities and conversations with allies are imperative. Try to learn as much as you can."

"Will do, thank you for informing me, Soren."

As the doors closed behind him, I felt myself sag against the chair I was sitting in. Dinner with the Council? Today of all days? I was too on edge to handle this. "Gerard, how do I sit through an entire dinner and pretend like everything is fine?" I hissed.

"Try to treat it like a mission. Your objective is to be silent and collect information. Some of the things you hear may help us figure out this mystery."

I put a hand to my head where a headache was beginning to form. "I guess."

Leda dressed me in a pale lavender tulle dress similar to the fashions I had tried on before the ball, and soon I was sent off to one of the most critical moments of my life. Any slip up at the council dinner could be my death. The danger is still imminent within the palace, and with Renatus as a new lead, I had to be on my best "clueless" behavior.

The dining room used for the council meeting was at the opposite end of the palace. I had never been in the far-left wing, and as we walked, the traditional white stone used in the architecture began to transition to much rougher, dark grey stone. The air was cooler, damper, and older. It was clear to me that this section of the palace was much older than the rest.

As the door opened to the large dining room, my eyes widened in surprise. It was the room from the painting. The large round table was now covered in food, but there was no mistaking its resemblance to the foreign memory.

Many of the council members were already seated when I arrived on Soren's arm. He directed me to the seat to the right of Luciana and helped me into my chair before disappearing. The servants too went once they filled our plates, and soon the only non-council members left were Renatus and me. He stood against the wall behind Heinrich and Luciana. No slip-ups, act normal. I chanted to myself.

As I ate, I tried to hide the nervous shake to my hand. Conversations went around and around as the representatives from the different nations discussed seemingly meaningless chatter. For such an important meeting like that of a Unified Nations Council dinner, I was surprised at their discussions of court drama and royal inconveniences. It wasn't until dinner was complete that the real talks began.

"Rebel activity has been rising within Breeze, what say you?" Radburn addressed the group.

"We have also had an increase in rebel activity. They are targeting Ithican school supplies as they cross the border into Gelida," Sabah informed, Walcott merely slammed his massive paw on the table and growled.

"Aye, we too have had increasing rebel incidences. The most recent was a small fringe village close to both the Wastelands and the Ithican border. The village faced serious damage, although a large number of lost Fauns and Satyrs were recovered. We presume them to have been stolen from their Glades into the underground slave trade," Vicente said.

A burning hatred was shining in Canaan's eyes at the mention of his people's slavery. "I am tired of my people perpetually being victimized just because they are smaller and traditionally non-violent. Something must be done about the slave trade, it has only gotten worse."

Hadn't Soren told me that the underground slave trade had been permanently disbanded?

"Yes, that is an issue, but significant effort has been focused on the policing of the illegal industry for many years. We will table the discussion later, for now, we are discussing rebel activity," King Heinrich said simply. Canaan still looked like he had much more to say but clenched his fists and bit his tongue, knowing he had to show reverence to the King of Erivale.

"A strong message to be sent to all the cities, towns, and villages reminding citizens that to be a rebel is to commit treason against Erivale should help to squash the activity," Queen Luciana said. With the ringing of her voice in the stone room, I remembered that Soren had said her magic affinity was influence and persuasion. I wondered if she was using it now, but none of the other council members seemed like they approved of her idea.

"We have tried that before, a heavier hand needs to be used," Sabah said.

"I agree with Queen Sabah," Dacey said, "We need to show the people the consequences. Make an example out of them."

"Violence is not always the answer, a well-formed speech can do just as much damage." This time I felt a faint tingling reverberate away from Luciana. She was trying to use magic to persuade them. Those closest to her: Walcott, Sabah, Radburn, and Nenet blinked confused and slowly nodded their heads, considering her words. Realizing I was one of the people that would have been influenced, I bobbed my head slightly, attempting to blend in.

King Heinrich placed a hand on Luciana's arm, and suddenly the tingles stopped. Those that had been influenced had clear eyes once more. "As much as I would prefer the peaceful approach. I think it may be time to push back."

Discussion on the proper way to fight back against the rebels overtook the room, and I was lost in the cacophony. There were talks of public hangings and executions, reinforced border patrols and security, and even a more direct attack. Intelligence from Ithican soldiers informed them that there may be a rebel headquarter or compound to the northeast – somewhere amongst Silva and Fjell. Dacey and Vada promised their support to send soldiers scouting the land to try to lock down a specific location.

The new plan was that any rebels caught would be brought to Himmelsk to be publicly hung before the citizens. It was to be a message to all that treason was punishable by death. Once the location of the rebel hideout was found, a collection of the Erivale army will enact a sneak attack and destroy their base. The resistance would be crushed once and for all.

Talk of war were new to me, a war, in general, was new to me. I had never grown up in a war-stricken country, and none of my family members served in the military. I wasn't much for conflict either, I could barely ask a waiter for extra ketchup. To so casually throw around the idea of ending people's lives, as those did before me, I thought they were barbaric. The Great War and the deaths incurred was one thing. It seemed justified to defeat an evil sorcerer and his monstrous magical creations but to kill off former citizens of Erivale for standing up for what they believe in and for disrupting education supplies was quite different.

Once the rebel activity response was decided, I expected the conversation to turn back to Canaan and the underground slave trade. Instead, Heinrich and Luciana began to talk about the educational reforms. It was somewhat of a repeat of the conversation from breakfast yesterday.

"Has everyone had a chance to review the list of government-approved magical texts to be taught within the educational programs?" Heinrich asked.

"It is hardly a list at all." Saba scoffed. "There is nothing to this list, they are barely learning magic anymore – only the history of magic."

"History is imperative. It reminds us why controlling our magical abilities is important. We cannot have another Samael of Trinity rise up," Luciana said; another wash of her magic spread outwards. This time it didn't seem as effective.

"But without any magical education, our people are defenseless," Saba argued.

"Our people are at even more of a disadvantage without learning proper magic," Canaan interjected.

"And many of the magics banned are traditional elements of the Syreni. Our underwater cities do not function without magic. How can we continue to grow and build and protect, as Saba said, without it? I vote no."

A collection of agreements to also vote no rung out around the table, and a dark look overtook Heinrich's face. "The list was not up for a vote. As the rulers of Erivale, we have made it a decree. You will follow."

Anger flashed in their eyes, but before they could challenge the claim, I felt a spark of magic behind me, and my shoulders tensed. Renatus. I stayed still trying to ignore my growing unease and then fear as a faint red glow spread around the room and a hazy cloud collected over the table. I could feel the sharp crackle of an abundance of strong magic against my skin. The Council members immediately relaxed.

"Do you approve of the list?" Luciana said with a confident smirk.

The Council members all chorused back dazed agreements. Even I suddenly felt a sudden acceptance towards the decree, but it was faint, and I pushed those thoughts away. Luciana's eyes slid to me, and I hoped she couldn't see the nervous sweat on my temple. I was supposed to be under Renatus's spell too. Forcing my eyes to stare at nothing in particular, I tried to make my face seem blank and dazed just as the rest of the Council members did.

The magic hovering above the table began to dissipate, and the Council members snapped out of their daze, but they were still happy with the new education reform, unlike how they felt mere minutes prior.

Dinner was concluded without even a thought about Canaan, and his trouble with the underground slave trade, and the Council members retreated to their rooms likely to travel tomorrow back to their home countries. I stood to leave as well but was called again by Luciana. I was beginning to feel nauseous by the stress I had endured sitting through the entire dinner, and the energy exerted to hide my fear.

"Yes?"

"What did you think of the meeting?"

"It was fascinating to listen in on such important political discussions." I gulped, trying to clear any hint of suspicion in my voice before speaking again. "It's nice to see the Council so unified on decisions. Everyone seems to agree, and there is little conflict."

A satisfied smile covered Luciana's lips. "Yes, yes, it is. Erivale cannot continue to exist in peace without the complete agreement of the Unified Council."

Wishing my parents goodnight, I left the room with the feeling of Luciana, Heinrich, and Renatus's eyes on my every move.