I sit on my bed, my sketchbook open, my pencil moving in no particular way, thinking about what I did. 

“I shouldn’t have lashed out like that,” I think to myself, the pencil pressing deeper into the paper. “But it doesn’t really matter, he was being a dick. I had every right to say what I did.” I start to sketch in my sketchbook to get my mind off of it, then I hear a knock on my door. 

“Hey Elizabeth? It’s me,” My sister opens my door and closes it behind her. “Can we talk?” 

I roll my eyes, “Sure, not like you’re giving me much of a choice.” 

She sighs and sits down on my bed, “What you did wasn’t cool.” 

“Really? What I did wasn’t cool? I think you got the wrong bitch,” I say defensively.

“Yes, what you did wasn’t cool because it went against everything I told you!” 

“Well what you told me was bullshit! I shouldn’t have to listen to those fucking rules just to seem ‘ladylike’! It's bullshit Evelyn! Xavier’s bullshit, this whole marriage is bullshit!” I say, finally letting my anger take a hold of me. “I’m done, pretending like I give a fuck and being the perfect princess. I’m not you. I’ll never be you. I’ll never be good enough for dad, for the kingdom, for anyone. The only reason dad agreed to this engagement was because I was getting too rebellious and dad wanted to ‘fix’ me. Well it’s not going to work. It never has and it never will. I have been acting like I know what I’m doing, like I care, like I want to be here, for my entire life. And for the past 18 years I have gone along with it. But it’s over. It ends now. That was the final straw. I’m done with people treating me like they can just walk over me and use me however they want.” 

Evelyn looks at me, her voice quiet, “I’ve never treated you like that, have I?” 

She looks worried, I don’t know how to respond. I know I should, but I just don’t know how. “I-No, you haven’t. It’s just-ugh,” I slump down on my bed. “Why can’t things go back to normal? Like, how they were before mom died,” 

Evelyn sighs, “Because life isn’t that simple, Eliza. We have responsibilities, we aren’t little kids anymore,” She lays down beside me on my bed. 

“I wish we were. I wish we could go back, just for a day,” I put my head on her shoulder.

“Me too,” we sit in silence for a while, just enjoying each other's company.  

“Oh Eliza? I have a question,” Evelyn says.

“Yeah?” I respond, curious. 

“Why did you get so mad—or why did you finally snap—after Xavier called your friend that slur.” 

“There are two ways that I could answer this question,” I think to myself. “The smart way, and the gay way.” 

“Because he has no right speaking about my friends that way. Also, he was being shitty the entire time, I needed to call him out for it,” I chose the smart way. 

“You’ll know the truth eventually, I promise,” I think to myself. 

“Oh ok, that makes sense,” Evelyn starts to pet Poe

For the next few hours we just lay on my bed, chatting about random things or not talking at all. It’s nice having these moments with my sister. We may not always agree with each other but I still love her. If she was as educated and less blind as me, we might get along better. And even if she is, she’s just choosing to live in her bubble of ignorance. 

~~~~~~~~***~~~~~~~~~

After me and Evelyn’s hang out, my dad calls me into his office. I know I’m fucked. This is not going to end well, not in the slightest. I walk down the hallway to my dad’s office, stopping at the door when I get there. I knock on the door.

“Come in,” my dad calls from inside the room. 

I take a deep breath and open the door, “Hey dad. You wanted to see me?” 

He nods, “Yes, yes I did. I would like to talk about your behavior at lunch today. 

“Oh no.”

“It was completely uncalled for! You have no right to speak to him—or any man—that way! He’s above you, respect him,” 

I stare at my father, dumbfounded, “So you’re telling me, because I’m a female, I have to respect every man, even if he doesn’t respect me?” 

He sighs, “Elizabeth, don’t be foolish. You know the answer to that question.”

“I really don't, care to enlighten me?” 

“Your engagement with Xavier is important. Our kingdom isn't really in the position to be embarrassing ourselves because of your foolish behavior.” 

I gape at him, “Maybe if you get your shit together, we wouldn’t be in this situation. Maybe, if you were busy controlling your kingdom instead of me you wouldn’t be having this problem. Don’t take your control-freak nature to control me, instead control the 5,000 people here you have.” 

He looks angrily at me, “Get out of my office. We are done with this conversation. I’m done with you. I don’t wanna see your face again today.” 

I get up with a smirk on my face and leave. I head down to the training fields where I knew Hunter, Charlie, and Emma would be, hoping to get my mind off of…everything. 

When I get to the training fields, I immediately spot them. Emma is reading by a tree and Charlie and Hunter are sword fighting. Emma is the first to notice me and waves me over. I walk over to where they sit. 

“What up, guys.” I say, sitting down next to Emma. 

“Oh hey!” Hunter says, blocking a strike from Charlie. “Oh shit! Babe, stop being better than me. It's unfair!” He whines as Charlie knocks him down. 

Charlie laughs, “Nah, I like kicking your ass.” 

Hunter groans, “Unfair!” 

Charlie smiles and kisses Hunter, “It’s perfectly fair, Hunny.” 

Hunter blushes and smiles, “Shut up, Dork>

“Both of you, shut up. You’re making me feel more single than ever,” I say, leaning against the tree. 

“Oh wow, are you just like, homophobic or something,” Hunter asks, wrapping his arms around Charlie’s neck. 

“I’m literally gay,” I respond. 

“Yeah, yeah.” 

Emma and Charlie laugh. 

Charlie sits on the ground, Hunter flopping in his lap. 

“I’m bored! We should go into town," he says. 

“I really can’t. I’m like the princess,” I retort. 

“Like I give a shit. Just disguise yourself!”

“Wow, for once Hunter you actually have a decent idea!” 

Hunter smiles, then realizes, “Hey!” 

I laugh, “So are we going?” 

Charlie and Emma nod, “Yeah I’m down, my mom’s busy anyways with dinner and shit.” Charlie says, getting up. “Let's get dressed and head into town.” 

After we all get ready—and I look less recognizable—we start our journey into town. 

As the night goes on I forget about stupid marriages and kingdom worries. I’m getting drunk off my ass with people who actually care about me. That’s sometimes worth all the pain.