I guess the prince was curious enough to ask for an audience with the Queen and King during dinner. The Queen didn’t even have to think about it much as she agreed to a meeting with all the advisors present for the next day.

It was enough time for me to prepare the princess for whatever situation she might face when we would discuss her becoming somewhat of a representative for the Queen. This time I was going to identify all the directions in which the matter could go in and make preparations for each one. This time I wasn’t going to let the princess face any kind of criticism from anyone.

“What are you thinking about?” I heard the princess and immediately looked over to her. We were walking to her chambers since she had finished dinner before the other royals. “I was thinking of the various routes tomorrow’s discussion could take, your High--”

“Isabella.”

Feeling my cheeks heat up from her unserious glare, I bowed my head and corrected myself. “Isabella.”

“Hm, good.” She smiled as if she had achieved something of value as we reached her room. Looking at the door, I waited for the princess to enter through it, but the princess remained in her place. “There’s something I’ve been wondering for a while now.”

I frowned when the princess turned to me with a serious expression. But whatever it was that she wanted to discuss with me, was interrupted when I heard my name being called from behind.

“Elena!” The familiar voice had me turning to watch Oanez walking over to us with a smile. But as soon as he saw the princess, his smile morphed into a serious expression as he bowed his head coming to stand before us. “Your highness.”

The princess narrowed her eyes at the man, and I frowned at the clear hostility in her eyes. Now, why was she being that way with him? My question remained unanswered as the princess ignored the man’s address and turned to me. “You can go and have dinner. And remember to come to my chambers right after.”

With just that said, the princess turned around and entered her room without even a glance in Oanez’s direction. Her behavior confused me, as well as Oanez, who raised his head to peek at her room door after she closed it with a subtle yet distinct slam. “Did – did I happen to do something wrong?”

“I don’t...think so.” He looked as confused as me as we stared at the princess’ door for a while before he shook his head. “Come on, let’s get something to eat and then discuss our strategies for tomorrow.” It was a solid idea as I nodded my head, and we walked back to the dining hall.

It was the usual routine to have our own dinner after the royal family since the advisors would all be dismissed after that. Most times, Oanez and I would get our plates of food from the kitchen directly and go to eat in the castle garden. But as we walked inside the hall, all the other advisors were sitting at the smaller table which was supposed to be for us.

I glanced at Oanez, who rolled his eyes as we both walked over to the table.

Melvin was the first one to notice us as he smiled widely and waved at us. “We thought of having one meal with the two young ones.” Oanez narrowed his eyes at the other’s aloof tone. I could already tell what had motivated them to find us there.

There wasn’t any food on the table yet which was enough reason for them to start a discussion about anything.  However, I wasn’t the only one to see through their friendly facade.

“You want to know what we want to talk to the Queen about tomorrow.” I watched as Oanez went to sit beside Ulgrim, pushing out the seat beside his for me. Following suit, I observed all their reactions since there was no hostility there. But there was something else.

“We want to know your plans so we can work on our own strategies.” My father folded his arms, and I frowned at his words. Oanez snorted before leaning back and imitating his posture. “We will propose the Queen to appoint a representative for Naja who can vouch for Naja to all the other Kingdoms, and also for when the Geraldian Queens come to visit.”

My eyes widened in surprise as I glanced at the man beside me. Why would he tell them what we had planned to do?! But while I was confused in my own head, Oanez leaned forward and looked over to my father and Graham, who were both sitting across from us. “Who do you propose would be a better fit for that position?”

“Of course, the heir to the throne.” I frowned as my own father’s answer disturbed me. He was smarter than this. But while Graham nodded his head in agreement, there was someone else who had a differing opinion. “I believe the princess would be better in these matters.”

Oanez and I turned to Melvin, who looked the most relaxed as he was half-laying in his chair. He had a grin on his face as he sat up properly. “Think about it, she’s a dark horse!” Ulgrim coughed in warning, but Melvin had no fear whatsoever. He was the most loved advisor to the Queen, and he took complete advantage of that. “Just think about it! She has no claim to the throne and she’s unfavored by the Queen, and yet she has a way with words and charming people.” I agreed with his opinion, but his next words had warning bells going off in my head. “Besides, if she is granted this position and she fails to have a fruitful outcome, the Queen will get rid of her without a second opinion. We can consider this as hitting two birds with a single stone!” I frowned visibly and Melvin saw through me. “But you’ve done remarkably well for the little time you’ve been assigned to her!” His finishing laughter disturbed me as Ulgrim coughed once again, this time receiving silence from Melvin, who shrugged his shoulders and resumed his previous position.

“What do you think on this matter, Ulgrim?” I turned to Oanez, who addressed the older man. Ulgrim was a careful man, but he was a more careful advisor. His thoughts were never written on his face, and his advice was always sound and thought through.

He remained silent, which was his answer to Oanez’s question.

“You have advised the princess on making several wrong decisions.” My father’s voice had me turning to him as he stared straight at me. “Bringing her into any political matters is a direct mistake on your part. She understands nothing of the Kingdom’s economic situation or even regarding the Geraldian issue.”

Even with the rage burning inside me, I refused to let them know of how much I had relayed to the princess regarding all of these matters. At least to the best of my knowledge. But even if she didn’t know about any of these issues completely, we shouldn’t dismiss her just because she isn’t the heir.

“You can teach a man how to fish, but only if he shows motivation in learning how. I believe the princess has shown her worth through her own actions and decisions. And as I’ve learned from you and the other capable advisors here – we are supposed to be voices of reason, not the voices of decisions.”

Oanez’s laughter surprised me as I jumped in my seat beside him. “You cannot even fight with that reasoning, Eli!” I didn’t know how to react as Oanez wrapped a friendly arm around my shoulders, while addressing my father. His face held a darkness which terrified me for a moment, but Melvin’s voice turned all our attention to him. “We can discuss matters further with food. I’m famished!” Graham nodded his head awkwardly as he glanced at his brother.

“I have nothing more to discuss.” I watched my father stand up from his chair. His eyes held mine for a moment before he turned away and left the table. I could only see his retreating back exiting the dining hall.

On other times, I would have remained as the obedient apprentice and daughter for him, but now that I had been given an opportunity to become more than that – I was going to grasp it tightly and make the most of it.

Graham waved to a maid near the kitchen door, and she quickly went into the kitchen. She emerged a few moments later, followed by two more maids who carried trays of dishes.

“All hail the Queen who allows us this luxury.” Graham muttered as the food was brought to our table and presented to us with respect. Melvin snorted as the maids left. “Ever the groveler, brother.”

Graham turned to glare at his brother and soon their bickering was the only discussion at the table. Oanez and Ulgrim quietly began eating but I had lost my appetite as my eyes turned from one man to another, before settling on the empty chair which was occupied by my father only moments before.

Even when I knew my father’s warning was based more on his own doubts regarding my position as the princess’ advisor – I still believed his words were not unfounded. While Oanez and I were only thinking of the good that could come from the princess becoming the Queen’s representative, we hadn’t discussed what could happen if it all went wrong.

Melvin knew the Queen’s mentality better than any of us except for Ulgrim, and his words rang in my ears clearly.

“If she is granted this position and she fails to have a fruitful outcome, the Queen will get rid of her without a second opinion.”

The Queen had all the authority to do such a thing, and the prince had all the motive to make sure it happened.