Prince, Cinderella Forsakes You novel · Chapter 20 of 32

Chapter 20: The Second Half

The whole ballroom turned to look at her.

The gown was my mother's. I'd have known it in the dark.

Silver silk the color of frost, with tiny glass beads stitched down the bodice.

My mother had worn it at her own wedding. I'd worn it once, for one night, and run home barefoot in it.

Ottilie had had it taken in at the waist. I could see the new stitches from across the room.

She came down the last stair and smiled at the court.

"Your Majesty," she said. "Florian, darling. I couldn't let you face your own ball without your bride."

Nobody answered her.

The musicians had stopped tuning.

Florian pushed the fur rug off his knees. It took him two tries to stand.

His captain reached for his arm. He shook it off.

"Your foot," Florian said.

"I fell," Ottilie said at once. "On the stairs at home. The night after the masquerade. I didn't want to worry you."

Cassian, beside me, said quietly, "That rang."

The courtiers nearest us heard it. The murmur went out across the room.

Ottilie's smile held.

"I'm not going to quarrel with your pet," she said. "Not tonight."

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