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was situated straight ahead for the royal family. She walked toward it, passing between the other two tables where nobles and courtiers sat watching her.
    After taking her seat, she saw Neco and Ellie sitting nearby, their heads bent together in quiet conversation. Ellie kept glancing her way, and Allyssa knew they were talking about her. Perhaps they were discussing her speech today, or Prince Zek’s proposal.
    A small group of musicians played a simple melody, setting a joyful atmosphere. The tables were lined with large vases filled with fragrant flowers. While everything appeared perfect, hardly anyone in the room was talking and everyone kept glancing furtively at her.
    Allyssa clasped her hands together on her lap, forcing a pleasant smile on her face. Something was wrong. If her parents didn’t arrive soon, she’d leave to find them and demand to know what was going on. Right when she was about to stand, the guards stationed near the doors announced the empress and emperor. Rema and Darmik entered, arms joined together as they walked toward Allyssa. Once her parents were seated, the food was brought out and conversation resumed.
    “I hear you did a decent job addressing the citizens,” Darmik commented as he took a bite of his potatoes.
    She noticed the way he said decent and not good. Since people were around, she couldn’t roll her eyes or make a snarky comment, so she simply replied, “Thank you, Father. Your approval and kindness is astounding.”
    The corners of his mouth lifted as he fought a smile. Allyssa took a sip of her wine, trying to catch bits of the conversations going on in the room.
    “We need to talk,” Darmik said, taking another bite of potatoes. “I just can’t decide if I should discuss the matter with you when there are people around, or when we’re alone.” He chuckled.
    Allyssa clenched her fork. She’d only thrown a fit in public once, and she had been five at the time. The king and queen from Dromien had been visiting with their eight-year-old son. When no one was listening, he’d called her a skinny, ugly runt. So Allyssa punched him in the stomach and started yelling at him.
    “I believe you’ve just made the decision for me,” he said. “When we’re alone then, since you have difficulty … controlling yourself.” He lifted his goblet and took a drink, signaling for her to keep her mouth shut on the matter.
    Allyssa peered around Darmik to her mother. Rema didn’t say anything. Instead, she sat there, moving her food around her plate and barely eating. Darmik reached over and patted Rema’s leg, comforting her. Allyssa wanted to demand to know why her mother was upset. Was it because of the situation with Russek? Or was something else bothering her? And what did Darmik wish to discuss with Allyssa? But she couldn’t make such demands. It wasn’t the time or place to behave in such a way. Contrary to what her father had said, she could control herself. He had no idea how much control she was exhibiting right now. Sitting there, she ate her food while making boring, unimportant conversation. She wanted to scream.
    When dinner was over, Darmik and Rema glided out of the Great Hall with Allyssa behind them. They usually retired to the Royal Chambers, which consisted of the family’s private sitting room and bedchambers. However, Allyssa needed to cool off before she faced her father for whatever it was he wanted to discuss. She decided to go to the library until her temper was reigned in. Besides, her tutor had requested she read a book on the history of Fren.
    The entrance to the library was on the lower level at the east end of the castle. After parting ways with her parents, she headed in that direction with her guards trailing close behind. Given the late hour, most of the servants should be gone for the night, but as she went along the hallway, she encountered a dozen or so dusting the furniture, straightening the tapestries, and scrubbing the stone