I spun around and glared into Prince Oliver's eyes. "I can do whatever the heck I want!" I spat at him. "Got a problem with it?"

He regarded me calmly, crossing his arms and meeting my glare. "Yes, I do," he answered smoothly. "So I came to accompany you."

"Accompany me?" Like that's gonna happen. I stood up and began to walk away. "I don't need your company," I muttered. "Just leave me alone."

"I can't do that." He glided up to me, graceful as a dancer. "Where are we going, miss...?"

"November," I finished for him, exhausted. "Just call me November. Please."

He smirked at me, combing his dark brown hair back. "Finally seeing who you're talking to?"

I huffed and glanced away. "Oh, I see you way more often than I like."

"Really? I never thought I'd see the day," he replied dryly.

I flicked my eyes toward him, feeling irritation prickle my body. "Not all girls are head over heels for you," I informed him. "Kaelin has a boyfriend. She doesn't make big heart-eyes at you, either."

"At least she isn't in danger of getting her head on a chopping block," Prince Oliver argued.

I laughed. "Do you think I care if I die?" I paused, then went on, "Do you seriously kill people on chopping blocks? That tradition is so old."

He stayed silent, fighting back a smile. I could see it in his eyes, that it was funny to him. I focused back to what was in front of me. "You don't have to hide your smile. Being a prince doesn't mean having no fun."

"Sometimes it seems that way." He sighed, raking a hand through his hair again.

I shrugged and walked on. "I'm going back inside, now that you ruined my free time."

"You have to go into etiquette training in five, anyway." I gasped, and the prince nodded.

"Christ," I murmured, my energy seeping out of me, leaving me into a tired, empty shell.

"Yeah, I don't envy you." Prince Oliver held open the door for me, watching me as I entered the cool, bright palace. "I remember my etiquette training. It wasn't fun."

"I thought you were supposed to tell girls positive things," I retorted as I loped up the stairs. He followed, like an eager dog looking for treats.

"I thought girls were supposed to respect their princes," he shot back at me. I gave him a sickly sweet smile.

"Aren't you a tough nut to crack?"

He flashed me the same smile. "I could say the same for you."

I opened my door and stepped inside. "See you around, Your Bossiness." I slammed the door and leaned against it, my cheeks flaming. Why couldn't he leave me alone? He probably was repulsed by my status, forced to walk with me on a bet.

I sighed. He thought he was so clever. Well, wait until he saw who he was messing with.

A knock sounded on my door, and I opened it to see Kaelin and a girl stand outside. "Hello, Ember," my friend greeted, giving me a half-wave. "This is my maid, Grace. None of your maids are around, so she's going to lead us to where our lessons are going to take place."

"Cool." I studied Grace. She was small and petite, with her hair twisted in dreadlocks. Her skin was the color of cocoa beans, and she wore a red dress that puffed out around her knees. She looked way different than tattoo-crazy Vunia, let me tell you that. "Where are my maids?" I queried as an afterthought.

"They didn't see you inside your room, so they left," Grace explained. "They told me to escort you and Miss Kaelin to the dining room."

I saw a flicker of frustration cross Kaelin's pale face. I think she hates being called 'miss,' too.

"I was out in the garden," I stated as we began trotting down the stairs. "I ran into Prince Oliver, too. Desperate guy wouldn't leave me alone."

I meant it as a joke, but Kaelin seemed to take it seriously. "He's not engaged yet," she countered. "He may be looking for a wife."

I snorted. "He must be insane, then, to consider making a Foodie his wife."

"Maybe he sees past your moodiness," she replied. "You are a good friend, after all."

"I'm just saying, I don't know why he isn't running after the Royals," I explained. "Never once has a person of royalty married a Foodie."

She smiled at me. "Maybe this will be the first time in history."

I don't know how we talked about the prince and me being married from just one conversation between us, but oh well. Perhaps she's a hopeless romantic. It's not like I would even consider marrying the prince. Let her have her daydreams...

Grace led us to the dining room before venturing down a hallway to a door. She curtsied, and murmured, "Your lessons will take place here. Have a good time." She then scurried away like a mouse running from a cat.

I pulled open the door, ready to get it over with. Only Raven was there, studying herself in a pocket mirror. Her short black hair was curled, and flowers bloomed on the top of her head. She spotted us, smiled, and snapped the mirror shut.

"I look beautiful, don't I?" she asked, doing a little twirl. "My maids are pretty skilled for showing my good side off. My good side shows off even when they aren't dressing me up, really!"

I rolled my eyes and sat at a desk. "Why are we doing etiquette training when we are only here to report and stay for five days?" I grumbled.

"The prince is looking for a wife, so we are taught the ways of the royal in case one of us gets picked," Raven answered.

Chelsea then entered the room, looking sullen. Her hair was dyed varying shades of blue, light on the top of her head and dark near the bottom. Blue lipstick painted her lips, and sparkling cyan eye shadow decorated her face. I think blue eye contacts were placed in front of her naturally green eyes, and she was wearing a floor-length baby blue dress.

She fiddled with one of her diamond earrings, fidgeting under our stares. "What happened to you?" Raven finally blurted out.

Chelsea glared at her. "The prince's favorite color is blue."

I burst out laughing. I couldn't help it, because seeing her that blue was just so funny! She was going to ruin the color blue for Prince Oliver forever, because her maids didn't understand the line between flirtation and downright creepiness. They might as well have painted her skin blue, because that was the only thing that wasn't! She could be the royal space alien, reporting for duty!

She glared at me as my laughing bout settled down. "Hey, you look great," I tried to compliment her, but it obviously wasn't serious.

The Royal avoided my eyes. "I hate them so much," she muttered.

Clare entered next, and she plopped down beside Chelsea without even looking in Kaelin's or my direction. "Oooh, you look so pretty!" she gushed to her. "The prince will love you in that. I wish I had your maids, because mine are uptight and think they know the correct fashion choice for me." She fluffed up a bit of her skirt. "I mean, pink? How typical."

Finally, Katherine flew in the room in a cloud of sweet-smelling perfume. "Sorry I'm almost late!" she gasped, sitting next to Raven. She wore a yellow dress and had her ginger hair up in a French braid. "I'm not late though, right?"

"No, you aren't," Raven assured her. "Who's the teacher, anyway? Shouldn't they be here already?"

"Hellooo, students!" A woman bustled through the door, wearing a red sari and decorative feathers in her hair. I think she was Indian, but I can't be too sure. "Today we will learn how to curtsy and how to respect the royalty in general. Now, my lovelies, let me set this straight."

I shared a glance with Kaelin. What things needed to be set straight in an etiquette class?

"These hours will be grueling, and they will hurt and may be the most miserable times of your lives. But I will not relent, and I will make sure you do everything perfectly as if you were part of the royal family yourself! Are we clear?" The woman leaned towards us, eyes blazing. I'm not sure learning how to stand straight will compare with dozens of hours of farm work, but let her believe her lies.

"You will address me as Mrs. Kumar, and the lessons shall begin!" She snapped her fingers, making it official.

I was wrong. I would gladly work on the farm compared to these dumb lessons.

It was uncomfortable, but my worked body probably handled it better than the squishy Royals. They have no need to work, because us Foodies send our food and resources to them, so they don't need to do it themselves.

Entertainers are sort of in the middle. They still work for the Royals, but they only need to do jobs in the arts to make sure the royal family and their court members don't get bored. There are limited options, and they need to work, but I would totally give up farming for a life in Asia.

Anyway, dinner is in ten minutes, so at least I can eat soon.

I wonder what I'll say when it's time to report.