"I'm sorry, what?" Annalise asked, shocked. She thought her son hated his lessons with Rupert, what could possibly have changed?

Jeffrey sighed, "I don't like the lessons, but Uncle Rupert said that it would prepare me to help rule, he said that if I attend them then soon I can start sitting in on meetings and help make decisions."

Annalise sighed as she placed a hand on her son's shoulder, she knew Rupert was behind his change of heart. She had told Jeffrey he didn't have to attend the lessons, and had made her displeasure of them known, but clearly that wasn't enough to stop Rupert, now he was manipulating her son into attending them.

"I'm not going to forbid you from attending these lessons, since that clearly won't work," Annalise said. "I just want you to be careful, don't take everything your uncle says to heart. I want you to take it with a grain of salt and think critically about what he's saying."

Jeffrey nodded, "I will."

"I want you to be the king you want to be, not the ruler your uncle wants you to be. I want you to do what you think is best," Annalise said.

Jeffrey sighed, "I don't know what that is, mom."

Annalise gave her son a small smile, of course he didn't know, he was only fourteen. She was glad he was eager to learn and lead, but he was still just a kid, he should be enjoying his childhood. "You'll figure that out as you grow up, you're only fourteen, you don't have to have this all figured out now."

"I guess you're right…" Jeffrey trailed off. "It's just, as soon as I turn eighteen, the country's mine. It's a lot of pressure to figure out everything now and to come up with a plan to lead."

"You're right, it is a lot of pressure, but you're going to have advisors and me to help you along the way. You can't be expected to know everything when you first start off, you're bound to make mistakes. What matters is that you learn from them and become an even better ruler," Annalise said. "Does that make sense?"

"Yeah." Jeffrey said as he rubbed his neck.

Annalise smiled, "Just take it one day at a time, don't push yourself too hard. I'm worried that you're biting off more than you can chew."

"I'll do my best, mom," Jeffrey promised.

"Good, and make sure you take care of yourself, I don't want you burning yourself out," Annalise said.

"Mom," Jeffrey complained as she ruffled his hair. "Stop it, I'm not a baby!"

Annalise giggled, "Yes you are, you'll always be my baby." She said as she pulled him close and placed a kiss on his head.

Jeffrey pushed away and immediately fixed his hair. Annalise chuckled to herself as she watched. She wished Jeffrey would be more open and affectionate, but he was a teenage boy, it made sense that he didn't want to be doted on. Though, that wasn't going to stop her.

Jeffrey leaned against the windowsill as he pressed the joint to his lips. Ethan sat on the floor beside him, watching as the teen took a hit. He smirked when Jeffrey started coughing.

"You good?" Ethan asked.

"Shut up," Jeffrey said as he gained control of his breathing.

Ethan chuckled as he held his hand out for the joint, which Jeffrey handed to him, "Are you sure we're not gonna get caught?"

Jeffrey nodded, "I'm sure, my uncle's in some war meeting all afternoon, and my mom has her charity work to do."

"And your brother?" Ethan asked.

Jeffrey shrugged, "I think he's learned to stay out of my room." He recalled their fight earlier and hoped that Callum got the message that he was unwelcomed into Jeffrey's room. His room was the only thing he had control over in his micromanaged life, and he hated when people barged in, especially his family. Sure, his butler had to come in to help him get ready in the morning and the maids came to clean, but they respected his privacy for the most part.

"I wish we could do something normal for once." Ethan complained as he leaned back and rested his head against the wall.

"What? You mean hiding out in my room isn't normal?" Jeffrey joked.

Ethan grinned, "I want to go out with you. Don't get me wrong, I'm happy doing whatever but don't you get tired of being cooped up in the palace all the time?"

Jeffrey shrugged, "Not really, I've never really been outside of the palace, you know except for appearances and events."

"Well, what do you say we go to a music festival? There's one happening Sunday," Ethan suggested.

Jeffrey sat down beside Ethan and drew his knees up to his chest, "I don't know, it's pretty dangerous." He thought of all the rebel activity in the country, and knew that if he was spotted in public he could be attacked.

"Adventures wouldn't be adventures without a little danger," Ethan said as he rested a hand on Jeffrey's thigh. "Besides, we're obviously going to have to disguise you."

Jeffrey smiled, "Obviously."

"Besides, I'll be with you, I'll keep you safe," Ethan said.

Jeffrey scratched his head, "I don't think I'll be allowed to go."

"That's why we're sneaking you out of here, my cousins are going too, we'll be in a big group." Ethan said as he gave Jeffrey's thigh a little squeeze. "Don't you want to know what it's like to be normal for once in your life?"

Jeffrey sighed, he did, he was curious to know how others would treat him if he wasn't their prince, and the musical festival did sound like fun.

"It'll just be for the afternoon," Ethan said.

"Fine," Jeffrey relented. "I'll go."

Ethan smiled and kissed Jeffrey, "You won't regret it."

I will once my mom or Uncle Rupert finds out I'm missing, he thought as he took the joint from Ethan. He pressed it against his lips and inhaled, trying to get his impending punishment off of his mind. He knew if he asked he wouldn't be allowed to go, so what was the point of asking? It was time he did something for himself for once.

Annalise handed a piece of paper to one of her ladies in waiting. Then looked up at the door as there was a knock. Annalise smiled to herself, wondering which one of her children needed her. Rupert never disturbed her in the Women's Rom, she assumed it was the usual culprit, Callum. She waited as a maid opened the door, then a moment later approached her.

"It's Lord Regent Rupert, Your Majesty," the maid whispered in her ear.

Annalise sighed, "Send him in."

The maid nodded and walked to the doors of the Women's Room. She swung the doors open and Rupert stepped inside.

"Annalise." He said as he adjusted his suit.

"What is it, Rupert?" Annalise asked.

"I think we need to have a talk about Jeffrey." Rupert said as he sat down across from her.

Annalise took a deep breath and gritted her teeth. What was there to talk? He was already getting his way with him, digging his claws into him and manipulating him. She just hoped her son would be able to see through his manipulations.

"What about my son?" Annalise questioned as she crossed her arms. "He's already come to me asking to continue his lessons, it seems you're dangling a carrot over his head."

"Yes, but I would like your blessing to continue, I need to know that my work with him will go uninterrupted by you," Rupert said.

"If he wishes to take your lessons, I'll hold my tongue, but I will not stop encouraging him to consider other political views, Rupert. In four years, the throne will be his and he will put an end to your madness."

Rupert smiled, as if amused, "My madness? I'm simply teaching him what Darren would have. Your husband was quite conservative and you're quite liberal, how you two ended up together, well, that will always be a mystery. Though I suspect your popularity with the public was a contributing factor."

Annalise narrowed her light brown eyes at Rupert, "And my popularity with the public is why you don't want to cross me, peace is a delicate thing, Rupert. And the public disagrees with a lot of your stances, there are open rebellions across the country, you need to get things under control."

"I have a plan to address the rebels," Rupert said.

"Punitive measures, no doubt," Annalise said.

Rupert gave her a look, "And what would you do?"

"I would address the reasons for their rebellion, the rebels want change, and they grow stronger every single day. It might do you some good to concede to some of their demands," Annalise replied.

"So, your idea is to cave?" Rupert asked with a laugh. "It's a good thing you're not Queen Regent, it's impossible to please everyone, Darren knew that. We must do what's best for the majority of people, the minority can fend for themselves."

"I used to be apart of the minority," Annalise reminded him. She folded her arms across her chest. "I entered Darren's Selection because I wanted to make a change, and through my charity work I have. Jeffrey understands that there needs to be more widespread change in this country. It's time we start putting the lower castes first, in fact, as you know, I believe we should get rid of the castes altogether."

"Typical sentiments of a former seven," Rupert said dismissively.

Annalise raised an eyebrow, "There's no shame in being a seven."

"Then why do you want the castes erased?" Rupert challenged. "They bring structure and order to our society."

"They hold people down for no reason and make it nearly impossible to for people to explore their full potential," Annalise argued.

Rupert sighed, "Perhaps you should read Illéa's journal as well."

"I can assure you I don't need to read his journal to know that the castes are not working, I've had this argument a hundred times with Darren and I do not wish to repeat it with you, if that is all you want you are free to leave."

Rupert scowled as he stood, "Very well, Queen Mother. But Jeffrey will see the error of your ways, one way or another."

With that he left the room and Annalise frowned. That's exactly what she was afraid of, that Rupert would get through to her son and sway him in favour of the castes. All she could do was continue to encourage him to come up with his own ideas and opinions on how he should rule the country.