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"From Roden and Tobias?" I shook my head "No"

"From me? Conner?"

"You work for Conner If there’s any danger froer froree He couldn’t He replaced his knife in the sheath strapped to his ankle, then pointed at the dinner "Eat up and get a good night’s sleep Tomorroill be harder than today"

"There’s nothing to do up here but stare at Tobias’s stack of books"

"Try to read one It could only help you"

"I’d rather join the others It’s not fair that I’et to show off to Conner"

"Conner is furious with you for losing a prize mare Trust ht"

"It’d take a miracle for Conner to choose me as prince" Despite the truth of my words, I couldn’t help but sh I doubt even a miracle could save you now"

I was already in bed when Tobias and Roden caht be asleep, they spoke to me anyway

"We heard about the trick you pulled with Mott’s knife," Roden said "Conner wanted to give you a few lashes, but Mott said he handled it with you already"

"Who’sservant now?" Tobias asked

"Dress yourself," I ed for your entire life until now"

"Conner’s entleman would never stoop to dress himself"

"If he put us in dresses, ouldn’t suddenly become woRoden’s nightclothes Tobias looked at hiroaned "It’s already warh," Roden said "Do you want to cook us in our beds tonight?"

Tobias began gathering the papers on the desk near his bed "I want to burn these"

"Why?" I asked, propping myself up by my elbows "What’s on the to be the prince I don’t want you or Roden to read theain from my efforts"

"Neither of us can read," Roden said "It’s chicken scratch on those pages as far as I’e can read a little," Tobias said

I yawned "True, but you’re an i important, you’re the last person I’d come to for information"

Tobias slammed a book closed "I hope you continue in your ways It makes Conner’s decision that much simpler"

"Conner’s decision is made," I said

"Oh?" Tobias asked "Who is it?"

"You" Now I sat up entirely "You’re thehe wants, the e, and he can’t be sure about Roden But you, you’re a puppet master’s dream"

Tobias’s mouth opened wide, then closed Finally, he said, "Conner may think what he likes I’m also the smartest of the three of us, and if I become the prince, then I will rule, no one else"