After a stop at my rooms, a confused Elizabeth, and what seemed like hundreds of turns later, Alecks knocked at a door. It grated open, and Alecks spoke.

"Christine! How wonderful to see you again! This is the contestant Alyss Rikkone, here to see the Lady Macrantobi. If she has an undoing room, might we use it?"

"Alecks," stated Christine, unimpressed. Then, presumably, she looked at me. She drew breath sharply and paused.

"Come in, Alyss." Was there a hint of sarcasm in her voice?

"Thank you, miss. I appreciate this – it's obviously late to be calling on others, and I'm sure its frustrating to interrupt whatever it is you were doing to assist us. We'll try to be out of your way as soon as possible."

The lady-in-waiting was taken aback. "Nobles do not talk to serving people!"

"Would you prefer I stop?" I asked her innocently.

She paused. "Milady will see you shortly. If you need anything, ring this bell, and I will help you. The candle on the table there will make this room an undoing room. Matchsticks are beside it in a well."

Interesting. The Lady didn't strike me as one strict on protocol, but evidently, her servants could get punished for conversing with one above their station. Otherwise Christine would have no trouble talking to me, and behave as Elizabeth did.

The Lady entered shortly, and I told Alecks to light the candle. Lady Macrantobi remained silent, waiting for me to speak.

"I suppose you'd like an explanation, then," I told her, as I lost feeling in my legs and began removing the blindfold. "Indeed, I am the lost princess, Elan. Or at least I think I am."

I opened my eyes and watched the brunette forty-something woman. "You aren't blind?"

"My legs were burnt beyond repair in Darkside of Marchland. In order to participate in the Competition, I had a mage blind me so I might walk as normal."

"He switched the core, didn't he?" she said, her face revealing no emotion.

"Yes. You are familiar with the true purposes of the Competition?"

"Of course; I'm no idiot."

"Then you understand why this must be kept secret. Were anyone to know of my existence, I would be Eliminated. That cannot happen. Alecks, would you excuse us?" He nodded and left the room.

"Why can't it happen? Explain yourself, Elan. You're getting dangerously close to treason."

Elan again.

"I know that. What I want to tell you is entirely treasonous. But tell me. Would it be bad if someone else was on the throne?"

I explained the plan to her, and she beckoned for Christine. "Bring us some tea," she said. "I'd like Alyss to try some of my spices."

I smiled. She had returned to her normal self.

"Look, Alyss. I agree with you. Your mother has been a poor ruler, and has yet to tell the public that West Ponthor has begun invasions up north-"

"You cannot be serious," I said, suddenly gripping the chair I sat in like death itself.

"I'm afraid I am. And your mother has been so focused on building this absurd palace to bother constructing a military. Unless something is done – and fast – Freemartin will be a part of the Ponthor Empire. But I digress. I will support you in your reign and vote for you when the time comes. You are an intelligent girl, Elan, and I'm sorry for this."

"Sorry for what?" I asked her, taking a sip of the tea and marveling at its exquisite taste. "Your tea is fantastic, milady."
"It would be better without the poison," she sighed.

I laughed. "Very funny. I am serious, however. It's incredible."

"I am serious as well. Your mother paid me to poison you if you admitted you were Elan. I liked you, and it's a shame you have to die. You would have been a much better queen than Onovi."

I spluttered, enraged, and threw the tea across the room, but I felt my vision getting hazy. "Then why? Did you not just agree with me? Did you not just pledge me your support?"

"Do you really think treason is that easy? I'd rather be a West Ponthorian citizen with full rights and property to my name than support a civil war during invasion." I gagged, the poison starting to set in. "I'm sorry, Elan Kysrikos, but your mother knows best."

"Alecks!" I screamed. Then everything went black.

…