Anastasia smiles politely when the waiter pulls out her chair. "Thank you." She sits down on the wooden chair. The man’s face flashes with a strange look before he turns neutral once more, nodding and walking away. I noticed it. And it seems, so did Anastasia. Anastasia turns to me and frowns, "Do I have something on my face?" She touches her face.

"No, Your Highness. You smiled and said thank you. That is not common in Kaso."

"Oh," Anastasia looks back at the table as the food is being set. "Right."

I exhale quietly and swallow. I fiddle with the blue tablecloth, I rub the silk fabric with my thumb, causing friction.

Funny how last time I was here I was escaping this crooked kingdom and now I’m here with the princess I serve to help her declare a war.

Anastasia cried that night I told her about the horrors I have seen and lived through when I lived here.

My fingers move down the glistening fabric to feel the cotton patterns that goes along the edges of the cloth.

Funny how they are able to afford silk_ tableclothes _but not water for the concentration camps.

"Tablecloth’s nice," the princess mutters.

"Why thank you," Princess Athena walks over to the small circle table suddenly, her blue silk gown following her. She definitely like the colour of blue.

Princess Athena invited us to a tea party for just the three of us. It’s suspicious. I know her enough to know that she has some sort of ulterior motive here.

My grip tightens around the hidden dagger in my trouser pocket. I tug on my collar. I have never worn a suit before. I never want to wear one again.

Princess Athena chuckles softly, it sends chills down my spine. "Amadi, are you quite alright there? You’re fidgeting quite a bit and you’re holding on to dagger of yours a bit tight there."

My eyes snap up to her. How did she-?

"You want me to take that off for you?"

My grip tightens even more. "I’m okay, thanks. It’s a _comfort_."

‘Thena’s smile is strained. "Okay. Shall we get started then?"

Anastasia nods, still smiling too brightly for this side of the world. "Yes."

Athena smiles, this time it really does meet her eyes. She takes off the cover of the plate.

Inside is a severed head.

A child’s head.

My eyes widen but I don’t move.

Anastasia on the other hand, screams.

The young child’s thick black hair has two plays. She has a cut so deep on her nose, you can see the bone. The girl has a large burn scar on her right cheek, I think it would be safe to assume that if they brunt it for any longer, her face would practically melt off.

Anastasia gets up and runs off back into the castle.

"Your Highness!" I stand up. "Wait!" I sigh as I watch her run. I turn to Athena sharply. "What is wrong with you?"

Athena scoffs, "She wants to declare a war against my kingdom but can’t handle a severed head?"

I tense. "How did you-?"

"Oh please, Amadi. Why else would you come back to the very kingdom you escaped from? You almost killed me to leave."

"I wish I did."

Her lips part slightly before her face hardens. "I am doing this to protect my kingdom."

She shoves past me.