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“My sword isn’t even white,” said Lynnette.

The Queen chortled. “Would you like me to force them to change the name via royal decree?”

“That would be amusing, but I suppose not.”

The Queen took a moment before asking her next question. “What is your opinion of Hector?”

“My opinion? Your Highness, what do you mean?”

“I am merely curious what you think of him. You have spent more time in his company than I have.”

“Well, I think we are lucky to have him on our side.”

“A banal answer.”

“I’m not sure what sort of answer you’re looking for...”

“Tell me something I do not already know about him.”

“Um... I doubt I know any more than you do.”

“As I recall, you spent an entire week alone with him in an underground bunker. Are you saying you learned nothing else about him in that time?”

“When we weren’t training together, he mostly kept to himself. He’s not exactly the most talkative person.”

Helen exhaled a breath. “And neither are you, it would seem.”

Lynnette just returned a flat expression.

A beat of silence passed as the Queen observed her. “Do you have a boyfriend?”

Lynnette pursed her lips together on one side. She was no longer uncertain where Her Highness was going with this conversation. Momentarily, she wondered if stabbing the Queen would still be considered treason as long as she knew the woman couldn’t die from it.

“Lynnette, please stop looking at me like that. It is a harmless question.”

“You are usually more subtle than this, Your Highness.”

“I would rather not have to play word games with you as well.”

She sighed. “...I do not have a boyfriend.”

“Ah. Girlfriend?”

“No, ma’am.”

“I see.”

She could practically see the gears turning in the Queen’s head. “Hector is a bit young for me, don’t you think?”

“Oh, are we talking about Hector again?”

“Your Highness, please.”

The Queen laughed. “He is sixteen, yes? And as I recall, you are nineteen? Hmm, I suppose you have a point. Three years makes a big difference at your age.”