Chapter 8
Her fingers were clenched so tightly around her skirt that they were white as bone.
But no one noticed.
Father was still staring at me.
He said, "For this party, we've brought in the best etiquette teacher in the Royal Capital.
"Your mother has had dresses and jewelry prepared for you.
"Your brothers are even planning to introduce you to all their friends at the party."
I listened in a daze.
A dress?
Jewelry?
I'd never even seen any before.
"But look at yourself!" Father snapped.
Father suddenly pointed at the old dress I was wearing.
He shouted, "You've been back for almost a year!
"And you're still like this!
"Still wearing those ragged lowborn clothes!
"Your hair's as messy as a beggar's!
"The etiquette teacher says you've skipped lesson after lesson!
"What exactly are you trying to do?"
His voice rose, growing louder and louder. "Is this how you want everyone to see you?
"Are you trying to tell the entire Royal Capital that I wouldn't even give my own daughter a single dress?"
My lips trembled.
"I don't have any clothes," I whispered.
The hall went dead silent.
Father stared at me as I'd started speaking nonsense.
"What did you say?" he demanded.
I sobbed, "I really don't have any.
"No one ever gave me a dress.
"No one ever told me when I was supposed to attend etiquette lessons!
"I didn't even know there was going to be a welcome banquet."
Rosalind suddenly burst into tears.
"Father, please don't blame Elara," she pleaded.
She hurried over to me, her eyes full of concern.
She said, "She's spent her whole life outside. She's probably used to living freely.
"It's only natural she doesn't like etiquette classes or those fancy dresses noble girls wear."
I whipped my head around to look at her.
I shouted, "No!
"It's not that I don't like them!
"I've never even seen any of those things!"
But Rosalind ignored me completely.
She turned to Mother, her voice even gentler.
Rosalind said, "Mother, Elara hasn't adjusted yet.
"Let's give her a little more time.
"From now on, I'll go to class with her every day.
"I can even give her all my dresses.
"As long as Elara is willing to learn."
But the more Rosalind spoke up for me, the more disappointed my mother looked.
Mother said, "Look at your sister.
"Even now, she's still standing up for you.
"And you?
"You tried to have her kidnapped, you slandered her, and even now you keep lying!"
I shook my head frantically.
I shouted, "I didn't kidnap her!
"I never skipped any classes!
"No one ever told me when I was supposed to go to class!
"And no one ever gave me any clothes!"
Cedric snorted, his expression icy.
He snapped, "Enough.
"How long are you going to keep up this act?"
"The etiquette teacher said you were constantly absent.
"And now you're claiming nobody ever told you when to go?
"Are you saying everyone in the manor is lying to you?"
I opened my mouth to speak.
I wanted to say yes.
Someone really had been lying to me.
But I couldn't bring myself to say Rosalind's name again.
I already knew how this would end.
If I even opened my mouth, they'd say I was jealous of her, all over again.
Father's face grew even darker when he saw me stay silent.
He demanded, "Say something.
"Aren't you always so good at arguing back?
"So why are you suddenly quiet now?"
I looked down.
I whispered, "I don't even know how to prove it.
"Because none of it ever happened."
The hall went dead silent for a moment.
Then Cedric let out a humorless laugh.
He sneered, "Listen to her.
"You still won't own up, huh?"
Adrian finally spoke up. "Elara, if it were only one person accusing you, maybe it could be a misunderstanding.
"But now everyone says you're the problem.
"The etiquette teacher says you're lazy.
"The servants say you have a strange temper.
"Rosalind has never said a bad word about you—she's always the one standing up for you.
"Have you ever thought that maybe the problem is actually you?"
I stared at him.
My heart went cold.
So that's how it was.
When everyone told the same lie, the truth became the lie.
As that realization sank in, tears slipped down my cheeks before I could stop them.
So in the end, I never got anything at all.
But in their eyes, I'd already been given far too much.
I didn't have any clothes.
But everyone thinks I'm being picky.
I'd never been taught proper etiquette.
But everyone thinks I'm lazy.
I didn't even know there was going to be a welcome banquet.
But everyone thinks I'm ungrateful.