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Chapter 2

The Noblemen started down at me. Along with Father. Sheesh, you'd think a group of well mannered nobles wouldn't act so childish. 

Fine. If this is the way they wanted to act, then I'll be taking things from here, thank you very much. 

"Father. Councilmen," I greeted the nobles with the most polite voice I could muster, and bowed as low as I could, which was hard to do in this dress. "What are we dealing with today, good sirs? I'd be happy to help in anyway I can." 

"Food shortages," father coldly regards me with a discreet nod of his head. Good. He knows what I'm doing.  

"Oh. Well, what ever will we do? Can we call in grain or wheat from our allies?" 

"Bah! It's not like Silvera will agree to our terms. King Richardson will never agree. And we don't want to lose an ally before they even decide if they want to be our ally or not!" Sir Dereck argues. Ugh. Sir Dereck Maximus. The Duke. Lord over the province a few hours away from here. He hates that my father got to be the Grand Duke instead of him. Well, good. Because I hate him too. If only I were to be Grand Duke. I would get rid of him the second he tried to speak to me. Alas, that skirt chaser brother of mine will be getting that title before me. 

"Well-" 

"Hold your tongue, girl. I don't even know who allowed you in here. Your father is out of his mind, I tell you!" Sir Dereck snickers, earning a few dark chuckles from around the room. 

What? 

He dare say that about me? So what if I'm a woman? All I want is some form of freedom. Even if it means I must speak out of turn, or heck, destroy this whole game while I'm at it! The real world will teach you a few things! 

Out of the corner of my eye, I swear I saw father giving Dereck the death stare. Heh. Serves him right. For silencing me, and for insulting my father, the Grand Duke, of all people. Something in the look in my fathers eyes is telling something big is about to go down. 

"Take my daughter away from here," my fathers eyes flash between me, Sir Dereck, and the captain of the knights, Keith. 

Keith. My only real friend in this dump. The only one who knows that it's like to be free! Surely he must be willing to side with me! 

"Will do, Sir," Keith responds and leads me out of the room. 

"Keith! I demand to go back in there! Let me go!" I shove away from him. Clearly I was wrong. After all, disobeying my father would get him in so serious trouble. 

"Sorry El. Can't. Direct orders from your father. You know just as well as anyone what happens to people who disobey the Grand Duke. 

"You mean what's about to happen to Dereck. Which is why I demand to go back in!"

"No! El, your father has sent you away for a good reason. If you were to go back him there, you'd beat the man to death. Heh. And that comes from first hand experience," Keith's stern demeanor changes with a cocky smile.  

d*mnit. He's right. 

"Why must you be my best friend," I sigh. 

"Because I'm the only one smart enough to know when you are about to go kill someone."

"Ha! Okay, fine," I joke, "but please, inform me of what happens later. Please. For me?" I flash a puppy dog smile at him. 

"Ugh, fine. Just this once. Only because you're my best friend. Totally not because I can't ever resist that face of yours." I swear I saw him smile again.