"So, as we've already decided, Swan will be the one going into the tunnel," Lillae pronounced, folding her hands neatly in her lap. She sat on the edge of my bed, her voluminous skirt spread out around her so as to prevent anyone else from sitting there. Zaliana, Nemesis, and I sat cross-legged on the floor in front of her as we discussed our plans for that evening. 

"Why?" Nemesis questioned. 

Oh no. I had forgotten to explain to her that I wasn't an equal member of this team- that I had been coerced into this stupid mission basically as someone to blame in case we got caught. I decided to answer Nemesis' question before Lillae said something that would significantly damage her opinion of me. 

"If we get caught, they're planning to blame it all on me. Why else would they invite the filthy half-breed?" I said sarcastically. 

"I see," Nemesis nodded, wisely choosing not to engage in an argument. "So, does Your Highness have a plan for how we are to get past the guards?" 

"I'll hide in the bushes and pilot the camera drone, Zali will distract the guards, and Swan will explore the tunnel. You can join whichever one of us you'd like." 

Of course Lillae assigned herself the lowest-risk job. I looked over at Nemesis, slightly apprehensive of her choice. She was my first friend ever, and if she were caught doing something illegal, there was a chance that my parents would try to keep me away from her. I hope she doesn't choose to go with me...

Nemesis didn't seem to think very hard about this- it was as if she was already certain of her contribution to our mission. "I think I'd like to go with Swan. She could certainly use a hand, seeing as hers is the most crucial role in this...er...investigation. Actually, I wonder why that is so, when Your Highness and Your Excellency are the ones who initiated it." She pertly cocked her head to the side, her smile mirroring the passive-aggressive tone of her comment. 

Lillae's cheeks flushed red before a scowl crossed her face. I could see the hatred boiling in her eyes and began to worry for Nemesis; the crown princess of Lessaenes had never been stood up to before, much by a mere Kilaenaian in such an eloquent manner. 

"That is not a matter of your concern," she sniffed, glaring at Nemesis in a way that seemed to spell out 'I'll get you later'. 

"Your Highness? Princess Swan-Rose?" I rose, compelled by habit, to answer my door at the sound of two sharp knocks. 

"Yes?" Opening the door, I was greeted by the sight of a Rhenan maid dressed in a simple blue and white dress. She was about to speak, but paused when she looked past me to see Lillae, Zaliana, and Nemesis who now all stood in a row in front of my bed. "Ah, so this is where you've all been! The King and Queen are calling you to supper." Looking around tentatively, she added, "I know it's not my place to advise Your Highness, but I strongly suggest that you hurry. With all the Academy Murder madness in the air, everyone here is very concerned about the safety of Lessaenes' most important children." 

"Yes, of course. Let them know that we'll be down in a few minutes," I smiled, closing the door. 

"Supper? Downstairs?" Lillae looked horrified. She clutched her face with both hands before fiddling anxiously with her deep green skirt. "But I've been wearing this dress since we got back from school! And you told her we'd be down in a few minutes, you useless little stickbag! You selfish little piece of half-Rhenan scum didn't bother to account for the time it would take me to change! Now I must embarrass myself by appearing as I am in front of everyone all because of you!" she screamed, hurling her pearl-encrusted handbag in my general direction. Confused as to what I was supposed to do, I caught it, placing it discreetly on my dresser. 

"Oh, Zali, you must sit in front of me- hide me- do something!" the hysterical princess, seeming to forget that Nemesis and I were in the room, grabbed Zaliana's shoulder pleadingly with both hands. The Scientist heiress only patted her back in an awkward attempt to comfort her. 

"Let's remove ourselves from the situation before it gets worse." Nemesis' words were soft but punctuated in my ear. I gladly complied, slipping out the door with the wily Kilaenaian following close behind me. After descending a few flights of richly carpeted stairs, we finally reached the first landing, from which we had a magnificent view of the Great Hall below us. I heard Nemesis' pace slacken behind me as she shifted to my left, resting her arms on the metal banister as she looked over it, wide-eyed, at the Hall before her. 

"All my life, I've dreamed of seeing this place with my own eyes." Her usually bitingly rational tone shifted to an unusually dreamy one as she carefully appraised the ornate silver chandelier that floated in front of us, suspended by Aura, and the magnificent rectangular dining table of dark Rhenan wood set below it. "It's just as she described it- perfect." 

I looked over at her, an expression of mild concern on my face. Yes, the palace was quite beautiful, but I hadn't expected such a reaction from someone as calculated and unemotional as Nemesis. "Just as who described it?" 

"Oh, my grandmother. She used to spend a lot of time here. She worked for the government a long time ago- during Iceheart times," Nemesis smiled wistfully. 

"It must've been even more impressive back then," I laughed. "At least from what my mom says, the Icehearts were really into interior decoration."

"So I heard," Nemesis nodded before stepping in front of me and proceeding to descend the last curve of the long, winding staircase. "So I heard."