“You know the dress with the feathers? The one I used when eating dinner with Lord Eldarion and his family?” I ask, and questions form in Mother Brown’s eyes. “I want to wear it to the ball today.”
Her smile dies down from my request, and she replaces it with a frown. “Are you sure, Celeste? It will greatly offend several of the prospects.”
“I’m sure. Those old men will not treat me any better if I’m nice to them. It does not matter, but wearing this dress before the entire court will send everyone a message. High Prince Terra and the first four prospects will understand they are not good enough for me. Lord Eldarion will know he made a big mistake by rejecting me and that I could have been his if he had accepted me as I am.”
My breath hitches at the mention of Eldar. I need to stay str
