First things first. I needed to get the expenses of the house under control.

I wanted to be thoughtful about how I dressed, trying to project an air of maturity and competence. It was important that I convince my father that I was capable of taking care of the duchy's finances.

Looking through my wardrobe, however, it was difficult to find anything worth wearing. I sighed loudly as I flipped through different gowns. Not only were many of them far too fancy for simple daily use, I knew the customization of the gowns must have been horrendously expensive. The construction of most of the them weren't even very well done...

_____________________________________

"Is that really your best?" the older seamstress who had taken me in shook her head disapprovingly.

I held up my work, examining it. "It looks fine!" My heart sank as she took it in her hands, inverting it to look at the seams.

"You were careless. Here, and here, your stitches are too far apart, as well as crooked. The gown will wear out and tear much faster."

"I'll redo it." I took it back, holding back tears.

"I can only give you so many chances, girl."

_____________________________________

"Miss?" Angela, my personal maid stepped in, obviously surprised to see me awake.

I had my own small moment of shock. The last time I had seen Angela, she had gone to work for Ronan's new fiancé. I had felt betrayed at the time. Of course, that was before I learned the harsh realities of unemployment. I silently decided to not hold her defection to my replacement against her.

"Good morning, Angela." I smiled at her, trying desperately to remember how we used to speak together. "I was just choosing a dress for this morning."

"I have an outfit already chosen." Returning my smile, she gestured to the gown in her arms. I stepped back, unable to completely hide my discomfort at her expression.

Her smile was forced.

Had it always been like this? The last time I had been fifteen; I had taken people's words and expressions at face value, never suspecting deceit. But now, it was all too obvious that she wasn't happy to be here.

Relax. It's just her job. She doesn't have to be overjoyed to be up this early dressing the daughter of a duke. Don't take it personally. Reminding myself silently, I tried to keep my smile natural looking and in place.

... At least until I saw the gown she was holding.

"What is that?" My voice cracked as I stared in horror at the pink-laced monstrosity. A voluminous ballgown, with light delicate pink lace mixed in with bright yellow and green frills, the dress seemed designed to distress and terrify.

"Your new dress, miss." Angela's smile was even more forced now. "It's the latest fashion!" She held out the dress towards me, and unconsciously I stepped further away.

"Umm... I think I'll just go with the plain grey satin." I picked up the dress I had found in my earlier search. It was a serviceable gown, well constructed. It was not elaborate or beautiful, but at least it didn't make me want to gouge my own eyes out like the other.

"But, that's so... simple! What if his Highness stops by?" Angela looked horrified at the concept.

Of course her concern is Prince Ronan. I guess he is my fiancé.... at least for now. I shook my head.

"I'd wear that pink monstrosity if it would scare him off." Muttering under my breath, I continued to hold the grey dress.

"I think he would appreciate me not being overly extravagant in my daily life."

I barely managed to get the words out with a straight face. As if that pompous piece of waste would even notice what dress I wear!

Multiple different expressions flashed across Angela's face. She seemed... angry. Did it really matter that much to her what I wore? She had to realize that the dress she wanted me to wear would not be flattering...

"Then I'll help you get changed, Miss." She seemed to shake herself slightly, offering to assist me with a bright smile. As if that brief flash of rage I saw had never happened.

Stop being so suspicious. Not everyone's out to harm you. Trying to convince myself, I let her help me dress. The movements were foreign to me after years on the street, but I made it through without too many errors.

"Will you be seeing Lady Edith today?" Angela asked, breaking the long silence between us.

I paused, unable to hide my momentary shock at the name.

_____________________________________

"I'm sorry Lenora, but I love him." Edith cried, wiping her eyes prettily as I stared silently in shock. "I couldn't say no!"

"... He was engaged to me." I could barely get the words out. "How could you agree to marry him, have him cast me aside?!"

"But, you forgive me, right?" Her eyes were dry, she smiled at me, the expression making me feel a moment of unease. "After all, we're best friends!"

_____________________________________

"No, I have other things to do today." Like convince my father to hand over control of the duchy's finances.

"But you spend every day with her! Miss, are you and the young lady fighting?" Angela's panicked question only made me smile.

"Believe me, there is nothing that she wants that I wouldn't give her cheerfully." I laughed, the sound more bitter than I expected. "We have nothing left to fight over. "

And with that, I left the room, leaving Angela behind.

Edith could have the prince. I wouldn't stand in her way this time around.

I had more important things to worry about this time. My father, my mother, the duchy... everything I loved would have a different ending this time.

I would change my life.

No matter what.

_____________________________________

As I walked towards my father's study, I rehearsed what I needed to say in my head.

Everything had to be perfect.

My father, the Duke of Armeny, was not a complicated man. He took what was given to him, and assumed if he did the same as his father and grandfather before him did, that the world would stay the same. Trusting, naive, he thought everyone had their place... and that mine was on the throne next to Prince Ronan. I often wondered if he had ever considered me anything more than a commodity to the family. We had not been very friendly in my first life.

Given what I was about to do, I doubted we would be very friendly in this one either.

I arrived, standing outside the door to his study, taking a few deep breaths to steady myself.

"You can do this, you can do this." I muttered under my breath, trying to bolter my confidence.

"Shall I announce you, Miss?" A calm voice spoke out behind me.

Shocked, I let out a very quiet shriek and turned around to see Hallers, our family's head butler. He was a cold, capable man. I had never seen him fumble, stutter or even hesitate to complete any task given to him. He was actually the exact opposite of my cheerful, friendly but incompetent father. In my former lifetime, when the family fell to ruin, he was quickly hired by the royal palace, and worked for the king as a head butler. He seemed at the time almost... relieved ... to be free of us.

I needed to keep him in the family this time. His talents would be useful.

I nodded to him. "Please do. Also I would appreciate if you would stick around, it may be useful to have your input."

Hallers raised an eyebrow at my words, but otherwise did not comment. He knocked on the door, entered and announced me.

As I walked in, my father stood up to welcome me with a bright smile on his face. "What brings you here today, dear?"

I was about to answer, but stopped dead in my tracks, looking around in horror. The room, no matter how you looked at it, was a disaster. Piles of papers were stacked everywhere, haphazardly placed on every available surface. I recognized the account ledgers, thick green books, at the bottom of a pile, covered in dust. Several bills worth thousands of crowns were partially crumpled up and thrown in a corner.

I thought I had understood the depths of my father's incompetence.

I had been much too optimistic. I glanced around the room, wanting to curl up in a ball, sobbing. Put the family back on track for financial stability? I would be lucky to simply figure out how much money we had and how much we owed!

"Dear?" My father was concerned; I had been silent too long. I took several deep breaths, rubbing my forehead as a headache started to form.

"Father, I have concerns about the financial status of our family."

"..." He was shocked, definitely. He had probably thought I was here to ask for a new dress or accessory. A bright grin broke out on his face as he chuckled. "You don't need to worry about that, sweetheart. We're doing just fine."

__________________________________

My father, depressed and defeated, knelt in on the street in front of our home... the house we had been evicted from, tears running down his face. He never spoke another word to either my mother or me. He was...broken.

__________________________________

I shook my head, trying to forget the empty look in my father's eyes on that day.

"No, we're not." I sighed. "You are not collecting even close to the appropriate amount in taxes. This would be fine if the people were keeping the money, but more than likely our tax collectors and local government officials are just pocketing the extra. The people still pay the price and only the corrupt see the benefit. We have no private income, other the land we lease to farmers, and even that is lost before we see it due to corruption within the staff."

"My men would never...!" My father sputtered, "They're good and honest men!"

I picked up one of the crumpled bill papers off the ground, smoothed it out and held it out in front of him. "We have too much debt with too many merchants and stores. What would you do if they called in what we owe them now? It would ruin our family."

"..." Again there was surprised silence. I noticed Hallers had a slight smile of approval on his face, which was reassuring. Father cleared his throat uncomfortably.

"Even if we have... a few debts... you are the future queen of this country. I'm sure..."

I interrupted him. "We cannot hang our family's survival on an engagement with a temperamental child..."

"Lenora! You cannot speak that way about His Royal Highness!"

I ignored his interjected complaint. "What will we do if the royal family changes their mind? What will we tell those we owe money to then? No. We need to sort out our financial problems now."

"But..." He was shaking his head, his hands gripping the edges of his desk so tightly his knuckles had turned white. I needed another tactic.

"Father, don't you want me to be prepared in my role as future queen?" Confused by my apparent change in topic, he relaxed, letting go of the desk.

"Of course dear, but I don't see what that has to do with..."

"You know that the Queen keeps watch over the Royal Families personal accounts. She has been teaching me to do the same." Only a partial lie, she did look over household expenses to ensure the staff was doing their job. It was a lot less work intensive than actually managing accounts.

"I need to improve and the only way I can is by practicing. So please hand over the bills and ledgers."

The Duke of Armeny did not look convinced. "I really don't think this is appropriate for a young girl..."

"Don't you want me to be a good wife to Prince Ronan?" The wheedling tone I used, as well as the words I said, unsettled my stomach, but I pushed forward, silently convincing myself it was for the greater good. "I have to work as hard as I can if I'm to be the best fiancé and future Queen that I can."

"..." It was working, I could tell by the look on his face. His opposition to change was being overcome by his desire to see me fulfill his plan to marry our family to the throne. He just needed a little more convincing...

"Are you quite sure?"

"Hand over the account ledgers!" I kept my voice stern. He jumped, and automatically reached out towards the green, tattered books, handing them to me.

"Dearest..." Father started to object, but by then it was too late, I had taken the ledgers. I clutched them tightly, sneezing as a cloud of dust enveloped me.

"Don't worry so much! I will look over all our accounts and help our family get back on the right path." I turned towards Hallers. "Could you set me up a desk in a nearby room? Please move all the related financial records that are here as well." Glancing around at the crumpled papers piled on the floor and wincing, I added. "Take what time you need."

Hallers was smiling widely. "My pleasure, Miss. It will be done within the hour."

"Wait... I ..." Father tried one more time, but before he could object fully, with a cheerful wave and a "Thanks!" I left the room.

Only to run into the last person I wanted to see.

Prince Ronan, my fiancé.