I came to dinner, and my mouth was basically a flood of saliva. Lavish, juicy food adorned the table, a buffet meant for royalty.

Oh, wait. It was? I totally didn't expect that.

Kaelin grinned at me, her hair still down. Everyone else's was up, except for Raven, who's hair is too short, and Chelsea, who probably ordered her maids to leave it alone.

"Don't your maids put your hair up?" I asked, sitting next to her. I combed my fingers through my own hairstyle, two braids intertwining at the top and a small ponytail coming down from it.

She shook her head, scooping some chicken onto her plate. "They try, but they say I look better with it down." She handed the chicken plate to me, which I gladly accepted. If I could, I would eat everything on this table, and still have room for dessert. "I guess Prince Oliver likes a more laid-back-looking girl."

I shrugged and added some mashed potatoes to my dinner. People in America would kill to be in this very position, dining beside the royalty and chowing down delicious food without having to catch it themselves.

Eventually, the prince tapped a spoon against a glass to get our attention. He stood up and glanced at Clarissa, who smiled sweetly at him. I rolled my eyes as he began, "Welcome, citizens, to Europe, home of the Royals. We are gathered here to continue a tradition so important and ancient, which is called the Appointment. Each one of you is supposed to report for your status, to see if we should interfere with anything, make something more challenging, or to help make something better."

Oh, really? They haven't done squat to America. 

He nodded at Clare. "Ms. Clarissa, please start."

She flipped her hair and smacked her rosy lips. "Europe is doing fabulous. Everyone is treated equally, the crime rate is low, and kids are getting education and jobs. However, girls aren't getting married to the boys they want." She peered up at him through her lashes, hands clasped together.

Wasn't she a card. Prince Oliver's cheeks colored slightly before turning to Chelsea. He kept his face the same when he looked at her, but I knew there was something more. How could you not notice her blue dress code?

He went through the rotation (everything's fine, people getting what they want, blah, blah, blah) before he finally reached Kaelin. 

She dipped her head and nearly whispered, "Everyone is doing good, sir. Crops are coming in well, people are obeying the law, and children are growing up to be smart and strong."

I gaped at her. Was she seriously lying? This is a serious matter, and she goes off and becomes a puppet on a string?

I stood up and slammed my hands on the table. "She's lying!" I shouted. Everyone stared at me, even Kaelin. She also looked extremely terrified.

I glared at the prince with all of the burning, blood-boiling anger I've kept bottled up inside of me for my whole life. I am cracking, and soon I will shatter. "Do you really want to know how we are doing? Well, for starters, everyone is starving! We work our butts off day after day, only to get the smallest portion of food God has ever seen delivered to our homes. For a whole family, at that!

"Your very own guards are killing people just because they can, even if it is for an unjust reason! They are straight up murdering their own kind, and just for what? Sick entertainment?" Tears pooled at the edges of my eyes. I can almost imagine the disappointment in my mother's eyes when I come home early, or never come home at all. I knew she shouldn't have gone, she would say. Her mouth is a weapon all on its own.

I continued, "We don't have electricity, or education, or freedom to do anything. We get our news by mail, and we can't even use the paper for anything useful! Well, here's what I think about your dumb royal family." I stuck my tongue out, turned my back, and marched to my room. The food I ate seemed to turn to rock in my stomach.

I could still hear Clare sneer about me, though. "She's no better than a wild animal. How come I have to see her every day?"

"Don't worry. I'll console her." The prince. I hoped I imagined it, because his mere presence would do the exact opposite.

I threw myself on my bed and glowered up at the ceiling. Out of tons of teenage girls, I had to go here. I had to go and suffer in what should be the best time of my life.

My door creaked open. "November, it's me." Oliver. Of course he had to come and see me. He's probably gonna kick me out.

I rolled on my side, facing away from him. "I know I'm gonna get the boot," I grumbled. "So please leave me alone."

The edge of the bed sagged with his weight. "You aren't going to get kicked out, November," he murmured. "I honestly liked how you told the truth. You should apologize to Miss Kaelin, though. I think she's quite shaken by your outburst."

I rolled over to face him. "Why should I take advice from you?" I snapped.

He leaned closer to me. "Don't be like that now," he begged. "I'm trying to act nice toward you. Why can't you just accept it and return it?"

I sighed, and pretended to think about it. "Hmm, let's see. Considering I hate you and everyone who came before you, suddenly not hating you is about impossible."

He chuckled, for some reason. Apparently he likes being insulted. "Trust me, If I was in your place, I would be the same. Well, goodnight November. I'll see you tomorrow." He walked out of the room and shut the door behind him, leaving me by myself. The room seemed lonelier without him there. I liked trash-talking Prince Oliver, I guess. I smiled to myself. That was something I could get used to.

Ena, Cecil, and Vunia hustled into my room again. "Time for bed, November!"

They washed all the makeup off my face, put down my hair, and put me into a flowing nightgown. "Sweet dreams, dear," Cecil whispered as she tucked me into the cozy bed, and turned the lights off before leaving.

I closed my eyes and succumbed to sleep.

Day two of royal torture.

Ena, Cecil, and Vunia came and gussied me up before beginning to lead me down to breakfast. My fingers twitched, chills snaked down my back, because one question was in the back of my mind.

Will I be sent home for what happened at dinner? Well, I guess I have to just keep my head high, whatever happens.