"As King Edward said, I am here to teach you of the new order. This new order is based on Mysteria's old rule, before Queen Clarissa changed the laws. Back then, women where not able to be in positions of power. It was only because she was the only child her parents had before they died that Queen Clarissa was able to reach the throne. Otherwise, the King and Queen of that time would have had to try until they produced an acceptable heir. Once she turned 21, Queen Clarissa was able to take her place as the reigning monarch of Mysteria. She soon began to change the kingdoms laws, working for gender equality and rights for women. She has also made Mysteria a kingdom where all people were accepted, no matter how they identified. These ideals have poisoned our kingdom, getting rid of all sacred and traditional rules. King Edward is working to restore those traditional views." 

"We already know all of this," I said from my corner. 

"I am aware. I was just giving the background information," said Mannox. "And remember princess. You are to follow my rules. Your insolence will not go unpunished. Don't interrupt my lesson again."

I crossed my arms and continued to glare at Mannox. It had only been a few minutes since Edward has left the cell, and I could already see why my brother had chosen this man to teach Tracy. His views so clearly aligned with Edward's. Tracy, however, wasn't having it. Despite looking at Mannox and remaining quiet as he was speaking, I could tell she was ignoring him. Her eyes were glassy and unfocused. Mannox, however, seemed to think she was paying attention. 

"During the course of our lessons, I will cover Queen Clarissa's rule and why it was detrimental to Mysteria's society and traditional laws, Queen Clarissa's new laws and how they went against tradition, and how King Edwards rule will restore the proper balance of Mysteria and improve society as a whole. We will also be covering why men are the superior sex."

"This is ridiculous!" I stood up from the mattress and walked towards Mannox. "These lessons are obviously from the same traditional point of view that put Edward on the throne! And it's all wrong! Queen Clarissa was one of the best rulers that Mysteria has ever had, and her rule and reforms brought prosperity to the kingdom. She made Mysteria a place of equality and opportunity for all! Your attempts to brainwash us with your lies will not work!"

"Princess Josephine!" Mannox spat. "I will not condone this behavior! You are to listen to my lessons and not interrupt! Queen Clarissa's rule went against centuries of tradition, completely disrespecting our culture as a whole! She was the worst ruler to ever sit on the throne, wreaking havoc on Mysteria. It's this precise reason that women should not be on a throne! They have no respect for tradition and are incapable of properly running a kingdom. Luckily King Edward was able to save this kingdom before it got destroyed by people like you." 

Mannox stepped closer to me and raised his hand. Slap. The sound of his hand meeting my face echoed around the dungeon. Several of the prisoners watching the scene gasped. I stumbled back, touching my cheek. I could feel the stinging sensation from where Mannox had struck me. Tracy looked upon the scene in complete disbelief, her hand raised over her mouth. I stumbled back, my back meeting the wall. 

Mannox looked at me. I could see the satisfaction on his face. 

"I assure you princess. Another word from you will lead to worse. Don't dare disrespect me again." 

I could feel tears of angers stinging my eyes. No. You will not cry. You will not cry. I repeated the mantra over and over in my head, determined not to give Mannox the satisfaction. Tracy met my eyes, glassy from the tears she was holding back. I nodded at her, indicating that I was ok. 

Mannox continued his teachings but I wasn't listening anymore. I had to get us out of this. If it happened to me it could happen to Tracy. I knew I couldn't let her get hurt, no matter what. I couldn't let my people get hurt. For weeks now I had to stand back and watch as more and more citizens got thrown into cells, getting struck by the guards whips. My people where suffering. They needed me. And I had to find out a way to help them. 

The rest of the lesson consisted of Mannox's continued lectures. I wasn't listening anymore. All I could think of was the suffering that my people would have to go through if Edward remained king. I could feel the stared of the other people in the dungeon, trying to catch my eye. I met their gazes, seeing the desperation in their eyes. They looked just like Tracy and I. Tired. Hungry. In here, status didn't matter. Royal blood didn't matter. We where all equals here. We where all the oppressed, the prisoners of an unjust system we didn't want any part of. We where all the same. And we all wanted to escape. It was either that or waste away. It was the first time I really looked at the fellow prisoners. Besides the pale faces and thinning figures we all shared, they had scars. Slashes from the whipping they had received. Angry tears threatened to spill over once more. My people where being hurt. Punished for wanting the rights that they deserved. I knew that it wouldn't be long before Tracy and I held the same scars. We needed to get out of this. 

Mannox's lesson continued for another hour but I still wasn't paying attention. I was trying to think of way get out of here. We couldn't revolt. Edward's followers vastly outnumbered us. We would end up right where we started, or worse. We needed to do it discreetly. But how? I waved the thoughts away. That's not happening. The best we could do at this point was be complicit. 

These thoughts occupied my head for the remainder of the lesson. Tracy got up from where she had moved to sit for the lesson and came to sit next to me. 

"Are you okay?" she whispered, making sure the guards couldn't hear her. I nodded. 

"I'm okay," I whispered back. "He didn't hurt me that bad."

Tracy gave me a hug, burying her face in my shoulder. "I hate him," she said quietly. "I hate that he hurt you. I hate what he said. I hate Edward. I hate everything."

"I know. But we can't do anything about it right now. We're stuck. And I don't want you to get hurt."

Tracy sniffled. She raised her face to wipe her tears. "We'll get out of here eventually, right?" 

"I don't know. We might be here for the rest of our lives. But hopefully, you won't be. Just do what Edward and Mannox say, and you'll get out of here."

"But what about you?"

I took Tracy's hand in my own, giving it a gentle squeeze. 

"I don't think there's much hope for me."