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My muscles were cramping in the tight space. Out of all the secret passages I have explored within the stone walls of my home, this one was the most confined. I've had to change position a few times for even a little bit of comfort. That task in and of itself was hard to accomplish. Nevertheless, no matter how uncomfortable the tight space was, its location was crucial. Its terminal point is behind huge tapestries hanging on the walls of the council room.

The council room was where important meetings were held, where matters of state were discussed, and laws were passed. To be able to look down into the room, I had to sit up on my knees, but the ceiling was not high enough to even sit straight up. Changing position once more, I laid down flat on my stomach to stretch my legs.

I tried to crawl up here as soon as I spotted the Maruvian ambassador's company coming through the castle gates. Now I just had to wait for them to convene in the council room. It feels like I have been here forever.

Finally, the sound of the door opening vibrated through the walls! I praised the Divines silently as I sat up to peer down. My father walked in along with his Crimson Guard escort followed by the Crown Princess Ruby and a very short man with a long gray braid running down his back.

His Maruvian clothing was strange to me. I was not expecting the chainmail of a swordsmen or armor of a knight, but perhaps the robes of a mage or more likely the puffy sleeves of an aristocrat. He did not resemble anybody in our kingdom. He wore a high collar tucked underneath a sleek coat that had shiny buttons matching the coat's trimmings. The coat seemed to be cut short in the front but was long and tapered to two points in the back. He offered his hand to Ruby to ease her into her chair at the table. His hands, I noticed, were covered by pristine white gloves. I snickered at the thought of a man wearing such pretty gloves. Was it a mistake? Did he put on his wife's gloves by accident or is it truly their fashion?

"His Eminence sends his warmest regards. It is terribly dreadful that this ordeal has cast such a negative light on the long-standing trust between our two kingdoms. Please trust us to get to the bottom of this straight away." The ambassador's voice had a cadence that made me think he thought of himself as indispensable.

"Yes, putting this whole ordeal behind us will put all minds at ease, I'm sure," Father said, "The nature of this attack was quite strange. As you are aware, our kingdom is known for its magical properties. My knights are no strangers to the unexpected. But this was like nothing they've ever faced."

"Indeed," The ambassador sniffed, "His majesty has graciously bestowed me the honor of leading the investigation into this matter. I will happily escort the prisoner back to Maru where he will be processed and trialed according to our laws."

"The boy is our prisoner. He attacked Alderias's lands of his own accord, under no higher orders. His actions, therefore, will be judged by my justice system." My father spoke firmly. He paused and seemed to emphasize the point that Tallis was implicated of acting alone. This was not lost on me so I'm sure it was not lost on the Maruvian Ambassador either.

"I must insist, Your Highness. My instruction was to bring the boy back to face his charges."

"And you may fulfill your civic duty after our own investigations are concluded."

"What are his charges in Maru exactly?" Ruby asked.

The ambassador was a polished speaker and no doubt had experience in negotiating terms. He was quick on his feet.

"Why ... attacking our allies, of course, Princess."

"We still have jurisdiction as we are the ones he allegedly attacked."

The ambassador raised a thin eyebrow at that but continued unhindered. "As that may be, he is also guilty of defying direct orders from his superior and stealing Maruvian property. And he is a citizen of Maru, so he should be punished by Maruvian laws."

"I respectfully disagree. But we can allow him to return with you to face those minor offenses after he has faced the consequences of his attack on Alderias," my father said with a finality in his voice that signaled the end of that.

I shifted uncomfortably in my hiding spot, my body aching.

The ambassador bowed in compliance. "As you wish but may I then beg for leniency on his behalf?"

"Under what pretenses?"

"Character, Sire. By all accounts of those who have worked in the guild alongside him, the boy is normally quite amiable and bears no ill will towards you or your kingdom. Furthermore, for one so young, he has a brilliant mind. It would be a waste. I'm sure your investigation will show that his attack was unintentional."

Didn't this guy just say he was being charged with attacking their allies? Now he is defending him?

"We will consider your testimony and plead in the investigation." Father nodded over at Sir Arthur who stood off to the side. "On to another matter of great import, you say he stole 'property'. I can only assume you mean the flying contraption. Nazam the Great has already confirmed its origins to be of Maru."

If this news caught the ambassador by surprise, he did not show it. "Your sorcerer is right in his estimates, Your Grace."

"Yet we had no reports of this kind of advancement in Maruvian technology."

"The technology itself was just in its beginning phases of development. Not worthy of a report."

An operational airship is a beginning phase?

From the faces in the room, I was not the only one skeptical.

"Tallis Grey was lucky the contrap--" The ambassador started.

"Airship was the term used," Ruby interjected.

The Maruvian was finally looking a little put off and cleared his throat.

My father sighed. "I think that's enough formal talks for now, Edmund. It has been a long time since you've visited. We have prepared a room for you we hope you will find suitable. Dinner will be served soon, and we would love to have you eat with my family and I."

As if my thought was spoken out loud, the ambassador asked, "And the boy?"

"We will bring him up from the dungeons in the morning so you can see him for yourself. Perhaps your presence will calm him, and you can even persuade him that speaking to us would be in his best interests."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

~~♡~~

I tapped my fingers and internally groaned at my misfortune. Mildred cleared her throat and I stopped and looked down at the book I was "reading" once more.

It would be just my luck that the morning Tallis Grey was to be brought up would be the morning Mildred dragged me out of bed and insisted my lessons start up again today. Then again, I had no idea where the ambassador was to meet with the prisoner. My attempts at bribery and veiled threats failed to loosen the guard's lips. Well, they laughed if that counts as 'loosening lips'.

I sighed and figured it was about time to flip the page.

I went over yesterday's conversation in my head as the words on the page jumbled into a mess of letters. From what I could tell, Tallis Grey had a good chance of getting out of this. But there was some tension in the second half of their discussion I did not understand.

"Oh! Mildred!"

"You should address me as Professor Dumonte, Princess," she corrected.

"We're closer than that, Mildred."

"No, we are not," she replied dryly.

I shook my head. "We will circle back to that. I was wondering about something."

"If it has nothing to do with the 'Legacy of King Ricard and the Great War', I don't want to hear it."

"With wh--"

Mildred's eyebrows lifted and I glanced down at the book seeing the words 'King Ricard' jump into focus.

"Oh! No. That isn't--"

"Read your book, Princess. Your report is due in just two days. And you still need to read another book on the subject matter to cite another source."

"Another? That is not fair!"

"Shouldn't be a problem for you. You are already halfway through that one. Look at what you can accomplish when you put your mind to it."

Perhaps I should actually start reading it.

"Please Mil-- uh, Professor Dumonte... I can't concentrate with this question rattling in my head. And you would know the answer, no doubt."

"Very well.... what is your question?"

"Maruvian technology has to be reported to us?"

"Yes... was that your question?"

"Well maybe... but why?"

"Coincidentally, Princess... if you read the book about the aftermath of the Great War or listened during lectures, you would know."

"Well, I don't. Please tell me."

Closing her eyes and pinching the bridge of her nose, Mildred began, "In summary, in conclusion of the Great War, all the kingdoms under the Belle signed a peace accords to assure there would be no further hostilities. It became a check and balance system to prevent war and the casualties that came with it. Every kingdom must submit an annual report of any advancing technologies or accumulating military strength."

"Can't you just lie on a report?"

"To lie would be a strict violation of the accords."

"But how would you know if you've been lied to?"

"Truth has a way of coming out, Princess. You will never get away with lying very long."

That sounded like a warning...I lowered my gaze to my book.

"Are the Maruvians lying then?"

"That's... not your concern. It seems you are at a stopping point with your reading. Retrieve your quill and ink well. We need to get into your arithmetic lesson."

I am going to have to make up my make-up class...

~~♡~~

Stacking my books onto my chest at the foot of my bed, I turned to find my spyglass. I was fairly sure I saw it on the window seat this morning. I heard a thud as my tower of books no doubt fell.

I was about to pick them up but then I found my spyglass between the cushions. This will come in handy. I most often need it when I do not have it on me. It was a small gold and bronze scope that could be used to see things far away. It was by far my favorite possession. I just can't let Nazam see me with it or I may have to give it back.

I extended it to peer out the window when I saw Rose and Prince Demetrius. They were shooting arrows in the courtyard. She had just shot and he immediately snatched it out of her hands and proceeded to nook his own arrow.

Oh, he is going to get it now! Send him back to his frozen land crying, Rose!

Instead, she took a step back and gave a soft smile. As he prepared his shot he looked back at her. I couldn't see his face from this angle, but I could see her. She tucked her hair behind her ear. He shot his arrow still not looking at his target and to my dismay, he made a bullseye.

"Hey Rose! How are y--" Olive came in our room and as soon as she tried to traverse across the room, her foot tripped over my books.

I held in my groan.

It's not her fault. Queen Rosemary's words came to me.

I stomped twice, spun around in a circle and held my breathe for 5 seconds to ward off the mischief.

"Hey Olive." I helped her up. "No, it's not Rose. It is Sienna."

"Oh... sorry. You look so alike from a distance."

"Not really but sure. I wish I was Rose's twin."

"Having a twin is not all it is cracked up to be."

"What do you mean?"

"There is always a comparison... and there is always a loser. And Jade suffers for my shortcomings."

I remembered how Jade proclaimed during dinner how she is not a nursemaid after Father tasked her with watching her clumsy twin. I looked at meek Olive. Sitting on her bed with her hands clasped together in her lap and shoulders hunched over, she looked so fragile.

I did not know what to say. I was terrible at comforting people. I always ended up stumbling over the right words to brighten someone's mood. But that didn't prevent me from trying. Sitting down next to her and taking her hands in mine, I cleared my throat.

"You're not Jade. You will never be Jade. I could never be Jade. You are you for a reason. No one else can do it better. Jade cannot be you."

"Why would she want to be?"

"You're pretty... and..." I stopped short realizing my error almost tasting the slipper I just put in my mouth. Why would Jade care how pretty Olive is given that they have identical faces? Think of something else quick, I urged my brain.

"Enna, I know what you're trying to do but it's okay. I get it."

Feeling bad but relieved, I promptly changed the topic. "Where is Jade anyway?"

"She wanted to play feather ball with the smallfolk in town. I was watching but I couldn't really tell what was going on so I told her I'd head back to the room."

"I'll play a game with you!"

"I am horrible at games, Enna. It is alright. I'll just take a nap."

"No, I didn't mean like a sport game! We can play dominoes."

It took a little convincing and me taking out the little wood pieces for Olive to agree, but she did. And after the first simple set up, we arranged more complex set ups. We used our beds, books, and our other sisters' domino sets to expand our operation.

Olive was laughing and having fun. Maybe I am not the best at comforting but not terrible perhaps.

~~♡~~

That night, I took all the blame for the abandoned domino pieces scattered across the room and was thoroughly reprimanded by a vexed Ruby. I nodded and apologized most sincerely, if anything just to get her to lay off me about it. I wanted to ask her if there's any word of how the talks between the ambassador and prisoner. But even if she knew, she wouldn't be likely to confide in me. I brushed my hair at my vanity as all my sisters readied themselves for bed. I studied Rose. She looked different in some way but I couldn't put my finger on it.

"Rose?"

"Yes?" She paused in tying her cover up.

I lost my thoughts or perhaps I had nothing to say. "Never mind."

"Enna, we need to talk."

"I think I know. You love Demetrius."

"Well, I don't know that yet--"

"You were flirting."

"That is not--"

"You let him take your bow and arrow. And you tucked your hair behind your ear. You've only done that with Prince Jareth when he compliments your dress."

"You're a pesky little sister, you know that?"

"What else do you need to tell me?" I braced myself. I felt there was something. News I wasn't going to like.

"Demetrius wants me to spend the last few moons of our engagement in his country."

"You're agreeing to the marriage?"

"He said after some internal matters are dealt with, he will take me on a honeymoon trip around the world. Anywhere I want to go." Her hushed voice could not contain her excitement.

I felt myself grin. "Divinity! That's so great! But ... you think he means it?"

"From what I can tell, he isn't a liar. He is so wonderful, Sienna. I wish you had more of a chance to get to know him better before we left."

"Wait, you're leaving with him?" I had noticed the Eldairian servants seemed to be packing these past couple of days.

"Yes, he is ready to be wed and wants an heir. And I am more than ready to see the world. It is all I ever wanted.... please be happy for me, Enna."

"But... I ... will miss you." My voice cracked slightly, and tears readily spilled out on my eyes. I wiped at them and looked around the room. The sisters were all turned away engaged in their own conversations. But I saw Ruby and Saffron had turned their heads quickly, so I knew Rose must have already told the older sisters, at least.

Rose clasped her hands on my shoulders. "Please don't cry, Enna. I am going to ask Father if a few sisters may accompany me to Eldair. You included."

I sniffed and a new hope blossomed in my soul. "Really?"

She hugged me. "Really really."

I laughed through my tears, "Why didn't you start with that?"