“Ryoko?”

I kept my eyes closed as she pulled at my hair, not wanting to see my reflection. “Yes, Gwen?”

“I know you want to visit Caenum.”

“And you’re going to tell me that I’m never going to leave Lucernas.”

“No,” she sighed. “I’m telling you this because I know how to get you there. Listen very carefully, because this is dangerous…”

“Wait-“

“Visit General Eliso’s quarters as soon as you can, when he’s not there.”

I swallowed. “Why don’t you?”

“I have to prepare the proper escape plan, Princess. And Rhi is already on for dealing with your parents, so - yes, she’s coming with us.”

I hated Rhiannon Baswick just as much as I liked Gwendolen, her younger sister. Rhiannon was a lot more of a ‘do this, do that, look at your damn reflection’ maid than Gwen was.

“Why?”

“Well… who else would be able to drug your parents?”

“She’d never!”

“Hold still, Ryoko. You’d be surprised, really, what people can do. And besides, if I run off with you, she’d be killed. You don’t want her dead, right?”

When I peeked at the mirror, her expression bore one of those knowing smiles I despise.

“Ugh! Fine. But this is only because she’s your sister, and you’re like, my only friend!”

“Well… Iskra’s helping because of Rhi, and she also wants letters. So keep that in mind.”

“This is going to be the worst trip ever.”

“Hey, you’ll have someone your age! D’you know about that missing Caenan princess?”

“Nori Ravifort?

“Yeah. We’re taking her home.”

And somehow, that made it feel so much worse.