"Duchess Tanya, you're saying that there aren't enough men to fight, so the army draft should be raised?" Gavril asked Tanya.

Our debates on the Report were tests, and we knew it. Even though Edward didn't have a timeline, the public was aching for the field to narrow; and I sensed the king, queen, and their advisers were, too. If we wanted to stay, we had to perform, whenever and wherever they said. I was glad I'd made it through that awful report about the soldiers. I remembered some of the statistics, so I stood a decent chance of making a good impression tonight.

"The war in New Asia has been going on for years," Tanya said. "We need more men to help win the war."

"I disagree,"

"You have no right to voice your opinions!"

I shot her a glare and continued. "Twos can pay their way out of the draft. You don't know how heartbreaking it is when your son, best friend, brother, cousin, nephew or someone close to you is drafted. I know several mothers, wives and sisters who have been drafted. They fear for the mens' lives. Families torn apart, men sent to possibly be killed...The reason lower castes have large family is so that they can make more money."

"Then what do you suppose we do? Let the war continue?"

I shook my head. "We can make it voluntary."

"Yes. I'm sure there would need to be certain requirements, but perhaps we'd get more out of an army of men who wanted to be soldiers as opposed to boys who were only doing what it took to stay alive and get back to the life they left behind. We would only draft men if our numbers were too low."

"That's a good idea," Angela chimed in. "Then we'd also be sending out new soldiers every month or two as people sign up. It might be invigorating to the men who've been serving a while."

"I agree," Alice added.

"Ali," Prince Ben greeted, hugging his younger sister.

"Your highness," I dipped into a curtsy.

He nodded his acknowledgment. "And have you been keeping my sister safe?"

"Yes, your highness."

"BELLA!" A familiar voice screamed.

I turned around to see my younger sister running to me. She looked happy to see me.

"Hey," I said as she hugged me. Emmett came over and gave me a bear hug. I was used to seeing him in uniform, so it was weird seeing him not in one

"How have you been?" He asked.

"Good. I like it here, but it's not home."

"Mr. and Mrs. Swan, Emmett, Bree. I have heard so much about you." Edward said, coming over to us.

"Your highness." Mom curtsied properly, having lots of practice. She's the Queen's personal maid.

"Please, don't curtsy. And you can call me Edward, no 'prince' or 'your highness'." He smiled at them. He was being friendly with him, and I sensed he was trying to get them to like him.