When I saw him safely to the tower after sundown, I returned guiltily. Aideen didn't even sleep last night because she was so worried for me; she didn't deserve the worry caused by my selfishness, and so didn't Oriana and Annabelle. Not wanting to waste another minute, I opened the door to my room.

The second they turned their heads to see me, all three pairs of eyes widened and the three girls stood up, Oriana rushing to my side.

"What happened?" Her eyes flickered to my face and my cloak. I looked down and saw mud caked on it, the fabric ripped, and the petticoat showing through. It must've been from tripping and chasing Oscar. I stayed silent.

"Come now," Annabelle held my arm and gently guided me to the washstand. Aideen, who stayed silent, diligently dabs at my face with a water-soaked cloth. It burned my sore skin, and I winced.

"I might have dinner in my room tonight," I said. "The other girls will laugh if I go out in such a state."

"Have a good rest, then," Oriana said.

"Eat the tart if you feel like you can stomach it. Oriana and I will tell them you aren't feeling well." Annabelle added. I nodded wearily. They walk out the door while glancing back at me.

When the door closed, Aideen proceeded to let down my hair and unbutton the back of my dress. I was glad for the silence, and the fact that Aideen, unlike Oda, never interrogated me.

"Were they waiting for me this whole time?" I asked. She nodded and opened her mouth to ask a question, but stopped. Instead, she took out my nightgown, and I stepped into it.

"I will get you dinner soon. Should I tell Oda to leave you alone today?" I thought for a moment, then nodded. I didn't want to see Oda. She reminded me too much of the royal family that killed Oscar.

"Thank you." I mustered a weak smile at her before she left.

I blew out the last lamp before laying on my bed, thinking carefully about everything.

If I do win The Dandelion System, Oda would send me and my family away to another kingdom. If that happens, I won't be able to see Prince Otto anymore.

Or Oscar.

Meanwhile, Otto, or Oscar, would not be married off, because it was promised that the victor of the Dandelion System would become his wife. But then again, it was the tradition for princes to marry at eighteen. What if they allowed the second victor of the Dandelion System to become his wife? Then everything we do would be for naught.

More importantly, what will happen then to the kingdom? What will happen to the Royal family? Otto is not made to be a ruler; he is weak and fragile. Even worse would be Oscar. Other than the two princes, they have no other male heirs. Maybe in the end, Queen Sonota would rule. Taraxac has never had a female ruler, but it would certainly be better than Otto or Oscar.

There was also something that bothered me about the Royal family. If they can erase and pretend Oscar never existed, who was to say they won't find a way to lock Oscar if he takes over Otto's body permanently, then tell the public he died?

Also, The Dandelion System is an enigma. Oda said the Queen thought of this system. Is there more to The Dandelion System than what meets the eye?

I didn't want to win anymore. I didn't want to be sent away, and never be able to come back and see Oscar. But then again, I had no guarantee I would win. The Queen and her contestant have a lot more seeds. If the lady she chooses is intelligent, she might be able to rule.

The thought hit me suddenly, and I sat up in bed.

A lot of kings in history were guided through hard times by their wives. Why couldn't Otto, or Oscar's future wife do most of the planning behind the scenes? I'm sure that's what the Queen wants. Her contestant is plain, not outstanding, but most certainly smart. I clutched my chest, which had started to ache.

What about me, then?

But I'm not important. I should gladly sacrifice myself for the kingdom. And Oscar. Even if he takes over Otto's body, if a compromise is made between him and Queen by marrying the winner, he can live his life life he wanted. He didn't love me. No matter what, we can't be together.

If it came down to it, I will betray Oda and let Oscar marry who the Queen wants.

Oscar will finally be able to fulfill his lifelong wish, he would be able to live in Otto's body—live once again.

So maybe, I think as I lay down again, the pain numb now—maybe this is the correct choice.

***

The next morning I woke up to see an extremely mad Oda. She had snuck into my room without waking me up, simply waiting for me to wake up. Aideen was there too, much she didn't say anything.

Oda's hair was a mess; thin white strands were loose from the ribbon that tied them, the black satin ribbon in awkward knots. Her dress was like mine yesterday, ripped and muddy. What a privilege it was, seeing the princess like this.

"I found Otto this morning, curled up under a tree. Crying! He was lost, cold, and afraid! It must be a plan of that monster's. Why, Karina, why didn't you convince him to come back?" she screeched, forgetting the she was suppose in the dorms. It was nearly noon though, and I doubted anyone was still in their dorms.

As Aideen helped me get dressed, Oda told me what happened. Apparently after Oda found Otto she and stayed with him until he was asleep, in the dark and damp tower, she came to my dorm to berate me after hearing from Aideen that I didn't leave my dorm at all.

I had skipped breakfast along with yesterday's dinner. I wasn't the only one though, Oda spent the whole night looking for Otto, thus her crazed appearance.

"And your eyes are red—were you crying?" she noticed and asked.

"I'm not feeling well," I said plainly, and stood up from my bed, making her take a step back. I walked towards the window, looking out into the garden and the forest where I was with Oscar yesterday.

"Oda."

"Yes?"

"Which contestants are most likely the Queen's pawn?"

"I'm glad you asked," she said in a voice that doesn't sound glad at all. "I've done a lot of research with my henchmen. The most likely contestants are—" she pause, "they are just our suspicions, I have no proof, remember. After eliminating the two highest classes, and some of the girls who made a show at the dinner with Otto, we have three likely choices. First is a Middle Class contestant, Priscilla Winter. According to people she is aloof but has managed to join the social circle of the most popular ladies, like Garnett Valliere and Lorna Heathcote-Stone."

I remembered a Priscilla, but I couldn't remember how she looked like and I knew I never interacted with her.

"Second is a Lower Class contestant, Aubree Rolfe. She is incredibly unnoticeable, I don't even recall her, but rumors have it that she's polite and nice. Then there's a Viola Raphael, a Lower Contestant, who used to be wealthy until her father got into debts."

I knew Viola Raphael.

"I know her," I said. "Do you have any other information on her?"

"Yes. The most suspicious thing is that before they got into debt, she was studying to work as a Royal advisor." Royal advisor. If that was true, then it was likely, as the Queen might want someone to rule over Taraxac for her.

"Our last suspect is Tristesse Roncesvalles."

I stiffened. The solemn and weeping girl who was alone? Her, as the Queen's favorable contestant? Oda felt my suspicion.

"Yes, she may be from the Upper Class, but she was born in Berennis, which may be hard for people to accept. In the Dandelion System though, it doesn't matter, which might be why it was created by Mother in the first place."

I turned to face her, looking straight into her eyes. Such an action was unusually bold of me, but I couldn't help it. Something about her manner—Tristesse's—told me she wasn't cruel. She was sad. Almost indifferent to everything.

"I'm going to look for Tristesse, if you don't mind."

"That would be helpful," Oda answered. "Do investigate, that way you can finally be of some help. I'll go and gather seeds again." I glared at her. Aideen looked befuddled at the tension between us.

Gritting my teeth, I turned and opened the door, slamming it behind me. Then it opened again with Aideen coming after me.

"Lady Karina, why did you suddenly want to do this?" she inquired, trotting to catch up with me.

"I didn't want to stay in the same room with Oda," I muttered. I cleared my throat when Aideen cocked her head in confusion.

"Nevermind. I'll go see Otto. I must apologize too."