LYDIA'S POV

　　"It doesn't matter that you have royal blood. None of us can deny that you just insulted a noble, and that will not be tolerated here," declared one of the nobles, his voice dripping with disdain. "First, you need to learn to respect others. Only then will we involve you in this meeting, or there will be no meeting."

　　I looked at him, bored and unimpressed. "Respect is earned. If you can't respect me, then why should I respect you?" I countered, my voice steady and unwavering.

　　As expected, they all turned against me. I caught Jason smirking in the corner, and it enraged me to no end. My hands clenched into fists at my sides, but I kept my voice calm.

　　"Then let's end this meeting," I declared, my tone cutting through the murmur of dissent. "Because there will be no meeting until you learn to accept that the tides are changing. The sooner you all accept that I am here to stay, the better it will be. Just by removing my chair from the meeting, you cannot stop me from acquiring what's mine."

　　I hoped, secretly and fervently, that they would give up this argument and accept me as part of the meeting. But their patriarchal mindset refused to budge. They clung to their outdated beliefs, their faces hard with defiance.

　　One of the elders stood up, his face flushed with anger. "You speak of respect, yet you offer none. You demand a place at this table, yet you insult and belittle us. This is not how a leader behaves."

　　"And how should a leader behave?" I retorted, my eyes narrowing. "By allowing themselves to be trampled on? By accepting disrespect and humiliation? No. A leader stands up for themselves and their people. A leader fights for what is rightfully theirs."

　　"Then let's end this meeting right here, because I refuse to discuss national affairs with a girl like you who can't respect us," Christos, our finance minister, declared as he stood up from his seat. Other ministers quickly followed his lead, their faces twisted in indignation.

　　"I know that Jason removed your chair from the meeting, but that didn't mean you should hurt him," Nikolas, another minister, added, shaking his head in disappointment.

　　I simply shrugged, unfazed by their remarks. "First learn to speak and raise your voice for what's right and what's wrong, and then I might consider taking your advice," I shot back, my voice steady. Once again, I rendered them speechless. They knew they were in the wrong, but their stubborn and conspiring nature prevented them from standing with me.

　　But I didn't care anymore.

　　One by one, they muttered something under their breath and left the room, refusing to discuss the national issues we were here for. It was clear that their own egos were more important than the kingdom's welfare. But I was glad that I had stopped their meeting.

　　Evan and Brandon remained by my side, watching the ministers leave with expressions of mixed frustration and admiration. "You did well, Lydia," Evan said quietly. "You stood your ground."

　　I sighed, the weight of the situation settling heavily on my shoulders. "Respect or not, this isn't over. They'll keep pushing back. But I won't back down. This kingdom needs real leadership, and I intend to provide it."

　　As we left the empty meeting room, I glanced back at the chairs and the abandoned table. This was just the beginning. There was still much work to be done, and many battles to be fought. But I was ready for whatever came next.

　　I hadn't planned for this confrontation, but one thing was clear: I wouldn't let any meeting proceed without my inclusion. I needed to make my place here by hook or by crook. They couldn't continue to push me around however they wanted. We were all bound by the laws, and even if they didn't accept me, they would have to follow those laws. According to those laws, I had done nothing wrong.

　　The meeting was canceled simply because of their own egos, and for that, I was glad. I couldn't allow them to unite against me. Their unity would be my downfall.

　　Evan and Brandon flanked me as we walked through the corridors of the palace. "What's our next move?" Evan asked, his voice low and thoughtful.

　　"We need to gather our allies," I replied, my mind racing with possibilities. "We can't let them dictate the terms. If they want to play dirty, we'll show them that we're not afraid to fight back."

　　As I was able to achieves my goal of disrupting the meeting, a rush of triumph surges through my veins. My heart pounding with the thrill of my success, and heads towards the door, but just as I reach the exit, I feel a firm hand clamp down on my shoulder. Startled, I spin around to find myself face-to-face with Oleg. His eyes, usually so calm and composed, are now dark and piercing, filled with an intensity that sends a shiver down my spine.

　　"Lydia," he says, his voice low and dangerous. "You're not going anywhere."