A FEW DAYS EARLIER
Emma's stony face stares back at mine and only years of being beside her inform me that her blank expression is in fact, disbelief.
"What, you don't believe me?" I giggle.
She resolutely shakes her head.
"Well, I can promise you that there will probably be more than one attempt on my life at the hunting competition. In fact, I'll bet one year's salary on it," I say without a single doubt. "But do you want to know something interesting?"
"..."
"Of course, you do," I continue despite Emma not saying anything. "None of these assassination attempts will be successful."
"Then why do you call them assassination attempts, your highness?"
