She wasn't so bad at dancing once I'd taught her the steps after all. I had eventually let her go back to her suite, by stayed behind in my study for a long time. I may have stayed in there all night had Tristan not come and found me. Over dinner I ranted about my father's conduct whilst my friend listened on politely, never once contradicting me. It angered me eventually, his complete lack of opinion or input, and we parted on bad terms.

The next morning, breakfast was in the dining hall with all the Debutantes. Tristan sat at a table with five, I sat with the other five. Fana was sitting on the top table with mother and father; father smiled at him often. The ladies on my table were talking about the bombing and I had to manually disengage my ears from their conversation, lest I get riled up again. I just wanted conversation which didn't concern the imminent threat to our country.

"I hear we're going riding this morning." Cecily spoke quietly from beside me, whilst Amber, Serena and Eloise listened intently to Angel's gossiping.

I nodded faintly, then felt obliged to make just a little conversation. "Do you enjoy riding?"

"Yes quite." She returned amiably. "My grandmother was apparently the champion rider of her time, rather the black sheep of the family."

I raised an eyebrow, not remembering any riders by the name of Affer. "Who was she?"

Cecily leaned just a fraction closer, to increase the supposed drama and consequently my amusement. "Georgina Harker."

My eyebrows both shot up higher then. "Georgina Harker? Wasn't she something of a-" I dropped my voice, "a harlot? Half naked stunts and the like?" I stared wide eyed at her, desperately hoping the rest of the table wouldn't notice.

Cecily opened out her fan and wafted it gently. "She had a little more style than just that I'm told. Apparently she was excellent with a sword."

"I bet she was." I chuckled to myself, then tried to laugh quieter when Cecily gave my arm a whack.

"I mean in her earlier days, she was a duelist for a while, took it up on horseback too. Before she dropped her sword... and her clothes." Cecily sniggered a little too and unhappily drew the attention of the other girls back to us.

Angel scoffed at me. "How can you possibly laugh at a time like this, Gavrila? When you yourself were there on that fateful night?" I noticed that her hand was being clasped by Serena, who looked on intently.

I fought from rolling my eyes. "I'm sorry that you're so distressed, Angel. The truth of the matter is that whilst scary and unexpected, that situation is now under control and we are safe." Well it was a lie but I was not keen to share the truth with them even if I did know it. "The best we can do is sympathise with those who were injured or killed as a result, and then get on with our daily habits."

Angel and Serena looked at me, disgusted, then Amber and Eloise joined in when they noticed. Angel was about to speak again when the monarchs stood up and began to leave.

I barely waited two seconds after being excused to rush over to Tristan, and walk out with him.

"I'm so sorry about last night." I murmured once the Debutantes had begun to filter away from us.

Tristan shook his head, looking tiredly at me. "You need to pick your battles, Ganechka. You're trying to focus on too many things at once, and you seem to be failing at all of them."

I shrugged, following him as we headed to his rooms. "I am trying. I'm trying to focus just on the season for now, then think about the war later, but when things like that happen..."

Tristan shrugged then.

We carried on in silence for quite a while, before I felt obliged to fill it again.

"I am really trying with this season you know. Evie is the one I want, I'm trying to shape her into what she needs to be."

Tristan stopped abruptly. "Are you sure you should be persuing her if she's not already what she needs to be? I'm not sure women take kindly to being changed." He started walking again then, giving me no time to dwell on what he'd said. "Another ball tonight, will your sweetheart collapse on us again? That was awfully exciting last time." Tristan muttered as we neared his room.

I grinned to his back. "Probably not. She really was rather good once I'd taught her the steps last night. I'm actually rather looking forward to it."

Tristan turned and we shared a smile. "Little Ganechka, you are a silly fool." He teased. I laughed and shook his hand in parting.

The short walk back to my own suite was plagued with thoughts over what Tristan had said. Was it indeed wrong for me to teach her the things she should know? It isn't surely, they're just what she'll have to do when she's Queen. I pushed open my door and noticed immediately a large envelope on my desk. Having satisfied Ib, I made my way towards it warily, not hugely wanting more work to do today, but willing to do it if it got me out of the ride.

I took the penknife out from the drawer and slit open the envelope, pulling out, to my dismay, another set of death certificates. They were both green and black.

I read through them as I signed them, and the third one caught my eye. Harry Kail. No. No way. Harry was 47th. He was my friend. The one after him too brought genuine tears to my eyes. Thomas Angelus. Also 47th.

"Barley." I shouted for my valet, who materialised from my room, my riding clothes over his arm. "When did these arrive? By whom?" I held up Tommy's sheet, having hastily brushed some of the tears from my eyes, being able to do nothing to blot the despair.

"Farall, your Highness." Barley nodded sympathetically, he knew how much I hated signing these. "About five minutes ago."

I shook my head and looked back down at the pile. This was Gringle field they fell on. It was my idea to send them out alone. Father was right - this would stay on my conscience forever. I forged my face into that placidity I so disliked and turned over the next sheet, a black one.

Where there had been upset in my stomach before, there now opened a pit of dread.

This goes to the family of
Nicholas Bence
To thank him for his valient service, having fallen in battle at
Gringle field
On
6/11/56