It was a little alarming how easily Lili took to her new name. Sure, it was her mother’s name and somehow “Little Aurora” was exactly what she was always groomed to be, but Lili almost hoped she’d chafe at carrying an identity not her own. That claiming anything other than who she actually was would be cheating.

And yet.

Duplicity, thy name was Lilinova.

“Lil Aurora” sat quietly during the hour that the Duke and Amedeo argued over her. And while her fate—maybe even her life—was at stake, she couldn’t bring herself to interrupt. Or even panic any more than she already had. Something had broken. A shackle of uselessness and court propriety that left in its wake…just Lili.

Lilinova’s father had used words like “princess” and “my daughter” and “proper” to speak about her. And somehow, being referred to as “that musician” and “musical witch” and “suspicious wandering Tresterville spy” by her Neilsland captors seemed preferable. More accurate, maybe, given how she’d ended up in her current predicament.

At one point, she risked asking if they wanted a song, since she was supposed to “help people” and she couldn’t see any way to do that other than music.

She was told by the bitterly unhappy Amedeo that if they wanted a song they would want a Neilsland song.

“And do you know any of those?” he asked, giving the Duke a pointed look.

Lili, recognizing a losing situation when she saw one, stayed silent.

“The Tresterville spy doesn’t know any Neilsland songs? I am astonished.” Amedeo gestured to Lili with an extremely prejudiced wave of his whole arm.

“I am a quick study,” Lili snapped, clocking Amedeo as an immediate and extremely dangerous enemy. “I can learn Neilsland’s songs—and I’ll enjoy it. I have every desire to help people!”

Though the Duke’s expression didn’t change, he gestured to Lili with the same full-armed movement Amedeo had, though with a much more favorable line to his eyebrows.

“She’ll learn. She seems like a smart enough girl.” He tilted his head at Amedeo. “And you saw her. You know what she’s capable of.”

Lili felt a small jolt of pride that he had enjoyed her song so much that he was willing to risk the integrity of their security to hear her again. She risked a small smile at the Duke, just to get some points in.

“A creepy song,” Amedeo scoffed, ruining it. Lili resolved to hate him even more. “No matter how skilled she might be, I don’t see how bringing another person full of doom and gloom will help us at all. You have enough of that for everyone—”

“You will watch your tongue.”

Amedeo seemed to have hit a nerve. The Duke pulled himself up to his full height to glare at his second in command.

Lili had seen her father warn off his men in the past, and they had cringed and cowered away from him. Some had prostrated themselves before him and begged for forgiveness.

Amedeo bowed with an actual air of sincerity, quietly apologizing.

Very strange.

The men, Lili noticed, were pretending not to listen to what was clearly a spat between leaders. They hardly seemed surprised by the outbursts.

Lili thought hard about what their lack of reaction could mean about the Duke and his character. About how he worked with his second in command, and maybe how he related to his men as a whole. They were used to this kind of fight...

Which meant internal conflict!

Internal conflict was a weakness!

Lilinova, Princess of Tresterville, needed to exploit this to save her kingdom.

She’d have to pick a side in these internal conflicts. And Amedeo’s side was out of the question.

Lili had to ingratiate herself to the Duke, as hateful as it would be. She knew, instinctively perhaps, that though he was her mortal enemy, as long as he didn’t know what she was, he was also her best hope for survival.

Speaking of, she could make this work! She’d stall him for three days, not die, and Tresterville would be saved! Destiny would be averted. Easy.

But she needed to be his “ally.” She’d play the friendly minstrel, find a dissident in the Duke’s men and then…and then…

What, kill him?

Amedeo shook his head at the Duke.

“My Lord.” He gestured to Lili again, though much more sedately and with significantly less apparent disdain. “She can have no good intentions.”

Lili glowered at him.

Loudly.

“I’ve shown you no discourtesy,” she began, keeping her tone even, “I only ask to be treated fairly. Something I hope would be the preferred act of a gentleman!”

“Say what you mean.” Amedeo was determined to take everything she said personally. Which was fair. She meant it as an insult!

“I mean, sir, that your Duke has kidnapped me, and intends to do what?”

She looked between the Duke and Amedeo, the former considering her question seriously, brows furrowed, shoulders straight, and the latter with closed fists and antagonistic eyes, and who hadn’t heard her words at all.

She was familiar with the way her words went right through Amedeo without registering.

She was less familiar with the way the Duke looked at her, acknowledging the validity of her question and the concern she clearly felt

“What do you intend to do with me?” She let her sincerity out in her tone, looking at him directly.

Amedeo was already moving to offer his snide response when the Duke smoothly cut him off.

“Miss Aurora: I’m taking you home.”