"Dustin, you're not joking, are you?" Grace frowned slightly.

His answer had caught her completely off guard, leaving her momentarily speechless.

"How could I joke about something like this?" Dustin smiled faintly.

He went on, "Your brothers are hopeless. They can't shoulder this burden, but you're different. You've got both brains and strength, courage and vision. And you actually care about the people. If you took the throne, you could lead Dragonmarsh to greatness."

"Don't be ridiculous." Grace shook her head. "I'm merely a woman. How could I be fit to rule a nation?"

"What's wrong with being a woman? What makes it impossible?" Dustin countered.

He continued eloquently, "Looking back over a thousand years, wasn't there a woman who became ruler? People still speak of her with admiration to this day."

"That's different." She shook her head again.

"Don't worry about whether it's possible—just tell me if you want it. If you do, I'll help you make it happen. I believe under you