LIORA’S POV
I stiffened at Elora’s question, but she wasn’t finished.
“You think I’m being kind by allowing you to submit wardrobe requests?” She laughed, the sound light and mocking. “How sweet. And how utterly naive.”
“I don’t understand what you mean…”
“No, you never mean to know anything. You just bumble through the palace making mistakes and somehow survive through sheer dumb luck.” She set down her embroidery and stood. “Show me your curtsy again.”
I dropped into the formal curtsy Lady Maelis had drilled into me.
Elora circled me slowly. “Your posture is still wrong. Your neck isn’t angled properly. And you’re holding the position too stiffly.” She sniffed dismissively. “Are you learning anything in those etiquette lessons? Or are you simply wasting everyone’s time?”
“I’m tryi
