Laurel sat in her room and tried to answer the question Sia had asked. She racked her brain for what other skills she had. She was an average dancer. Her skill with the pianoforte was middling for those of her age, and she knew that her governess was not impressed with her progress when it came to her studies. Laurel didn’t try hard to learn. She didn’t have to, because it wasn’t like she could go to university. It wasn’t like she would one day have to work for a living.

  She was a noble, a pretty girl who would one day be the mistress of her own estate, like her mother. Her job would be to maintain the manor and raise her children. Her mother had assured her that Laurel would rise higher than her family, marry into a duchy at the very least. Before the queen arrived, her mother was almost sure that Laurel would be a strong candidate for being chosen as the princess.

  Sia didn’t normally talk back to her. Before, Sia was an occasional shadow who looked up at her admiringly. She was a depressing presence that knew her place. Now, in one day everything had changed. Their father had never said no to anything she wanted before. Laurel had been the envy of other ladies and lords in their region. Even those who were of a higher rank were envious of her parents for having such a beautiful daughter. Fenix didn’t attend the social events, but Laurel made sure to go. The maids dressed her and adorned her for hours. Like a living doll, she sat while they made her pretty, and she stood next to her mother at the events being the perfectly behaved child her mother wanted.

  Laurel had done everything right. She had actually tried when the queen came to visit, and it hadn’t been enough. The queen hadn’t been interested in her conversation in the first place. She’d preferred Sia’s nonsensical prattling about rock gardens over Laurel’s polite conversation. It was the kind of conversation that she had been trained in, the kind that was acceptable and expected among high society.

  She saw it from the queen’s perspective at last. Roses were things people saw every day. Whether they were white or red or yellow, they were present in most gardens. Their ubiquitousness undermined their beauty. Laurel had seen some young girls with the potential to be as pretty as her. Those other girls didn’t spend so much time on their appearance, or they didn’t have access to the kinds of money that Laurel did. But the raw potential was there. Laurel tried to imagine how many other such girls there were like her in the kingdom. Pretty, perfect girls who had each grown up thinking they were the most beautiful.

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

  There had to be dozens in the country, and more in other nations. No wonder the queen had been able to forget her so easily in favor of Sia. Sia’s looks were as common as dirt, but her words were different. She used words like they were weapons, and she spoke of things that Laurel had never cared about. Noblewomen weren’t concerned with things such as economics or policy. Those were the domains of courtiers.

  Her mother came into the room. A maid followed after her with a tray filled with fruits and pastries.

  “Darling, how are you feeling?”

  “Does it really matter, mother?” Laurel asked. “It’s not like I can tell you that I feel terrible, and you can fix things. Father’s made it clear that Ardisia will be the one going to the capital no matter what we say.”

  “Your father will see reason soon enough,” her mother said, patting her head. “Ardisia will fall sick or embarrass herself soon after she gets to the capital, and then he will regret his actions today.”

  Laurel hoped that her mother was right. Ardisia looked and behaved differently, but it was only one day. Even Laurel had days when she didn’t look her best or behave the best. It could be the opposite for Ardisia, one odd day where she shined brightly instead of lurking in the background.

  By the next day or the one after that, Ardisia would fall sick again. She would spend her days in her room, eating bland meals and consuming countless medicines.

  “What if she doesn’t do that?” Laurel asked. “What if she somehow she manages to gain favor there?”

  “Then it will be good for you. She promised your father that she would improve our family’s name in the capital. When we go there after you’ve come of age, you will be able to come and go to the castle easily,” Hedith promised her. “Once she comes of age, I’ll arrange a marriage for her, with whoever will be willing. She won’t be able to cause us any trouble then.”

  Hedith shook her head. “Although with her face and her temper, that will be difficult.”