Prologue
Once upon a time, there was a beautiful and peaceful land called Athysia. King Gabriel and Queen Mari ruled it fairly as equals. Though their world wasn’t perfect, they did their best to provide prosperity for their people. But in their attempt to be the best rulers possible, they didn’t realize the immense pressure they put on their eldest son, Aeden.
Aeden knew his duties all too well, but he hated the fame and responsibilities that came with his title. Even though he knew from a young age that being the crown prince meant he would be the next king, every moment felt like time was running out. Aeden would need to pick a bride before he came of age and took his place as king, but every girl who threw herself at him only wanted him for his position. All he desired was to live his life freely and make his own choices—but he knew such notions were impossible for royalty.
Within this land lived a merchant father and his daughter. Jonathan and Ella traveled the world together, and every time they returned to Athysia, Ella would tell her friends about her adventures across the continent. Little did she know that these adventures would soon come to an end.
One day, Jonathan decided to marry his childhood sweetheart, Iris. She was recently widowed—a turn of good fortune for herself and her two daughters, Anna and Brie. Her recently deceased husband had been a wicked man who relished the pain he inflicted upon all under his power. Of the sisters, Anna suffered the most as she always tried to protect her younger sister.
All three girls would struggle in their own ways with the new family dynamics to come. Iris’ noble title would throw Ella into an unfamiliar world of nobility and extravagance, leading to changes that nobody could have predicted. It is on the cusp of this change that our story begins…
Chapter One
Iris
Iris knew what all the gossips were saying. But it didn’t matter, not really. It’s true, she should still be in mourning over her late husband. But nobody who really knew the man mourned his passing. Besides, she had never wanted to marry that monster, even before she knew his true character. His untimely death was a blessing from the Goddess, one that she would not squander.
She could have been the one who died. It nearly had been her death instead of his. While she could not entirely regret her first marriage, because she loved her daughters, they were the only good that came from that experience.
Although she had not outright mentioned her intentions to her daughters or anyone else within her social circle, she had not exactly been discrete either. They planned to hold a small wedding with only family and friends in attendance—such a drastic difference from her first wedding. The best part, the most important detail, was that this time she would marry the man who had always held her heart.
Iris needed to break the news to her daughters, though they may have already heard something through the gossip vine. Soon, Jonathan would return from his latest business trip, bringing his own daughter with him. After introductions and a little more planning, they would all be a happy family.
Her heart nearly burst with a feeling of joy that could not be contained even if she tried. Iris only wished she could erase the status that came like baggage with her first marriage. She worried about Ella’s ability to adapt to the imminent changes. Iris was determined to ease Ella’s transition as much as possible. Despite not having met the girl yet, Iris already loved her. Jonathan frequently spoke of her with pride. Even without his praise, Iris knew it was impossible not to love someone who was part of her Jonathan.
Her first marriage had been a heavy burden she never wanted, chaining her in many ways. With her upcoming marriage in sight, Iris felt so free that she soared. Iris vowed she would help Ella adapt to the status that Iris’ happiness would unfortunately impose upon her. Iris would do everything in her power to prevent, or at least minimize, any chances of Ella experiencing the same trapped feeling that she had suffered. She was also slightly worried about how her own daughters would react to their new family members, but she brushed it off as prewedding jitters. With her happy ending in sight, she knew nothing could possibly go wrong.
Arabella
Ella barely made it upstairs to her room when she heard the knock at the front door. Curious and hopeful, she quickly descended, beating the servants to the door.
“Jenna!” Ella smiled as she warmly greeted her friend. She opened the door wide to let her in and immediately enveloped her in a quick embrace. “How did you know I was back? We just arrived moments ago.”
Jenna grinned, running her fingers through her long ebony hair as Ella shut the door. “I saw your cart pass from the mill’s window. Your visits home are always so short, and I never know when you’ll leave Athysia. I wanted to make the most of it.”
Ella bit her lip, debating internally how much of her news to share with her friend. Jenna caught the gesture and her smile transformed to a look of concern. “What’s wrong?”
“It’s nothing.” Ella was indecisive as she started back up toward her room with Jenna on her heels. She didn’t want to burden her friend with her own petty worries.
“I know you better than that, Ella. What’s bothering you?” Jenna pressed as worry shined in her eyes.
Ella kept quiet until they were both inside her room with the door closed. She sighed and sank into her bed. “You’ll see much more of me.” Ella stated with a forced smile, avoiding the issue.
“But that isn’t the problem.” Jenna stated, leaving the obvious question hanging in the air and making herself at home on Ella’s bed.
“No.” She bit her lip, still uncertain, and fidgeted with her hair. Finally, she sighed and blurted, “Father’s getting married and I won’t be traveling with him anymore. I’ll have a stranger as a stepmother, and he will leave me in her care when he travels. Have you ever heard of a stepmother who wasn’t cruel?” Ella stared into Jenna’s deep brown eyes, searching for the answers to all her questions, spoken and unspoken. She’d agonized over this ever since her father had told her—not that she said anything to him. She couldn’t bring herself to spoil his excitement.
“No, but all I’ve heard are stories. I’ve never met anyone with a stepmother before. I’d love to have a mother, even a stepmother.” Jenna responded calmly and with a hint of envy, grasping Ella’s hand. “But you can always come to my house if you need to get away.” They both knew this was an empty offer. Jenna’s father was not the kind of person anyone wanted to be around.
“Thanks.” Ella allowed her good cheer to renew as she squeezed Jenna’s hand. “Perhaps it won’t be so bad after all. I’ll gain two sisters as well.”
“Of course it’ll be fine.” Jenna said matter-of-factly before she quickly changed the topic. “Now, you simply must tell me everything about your latest trip.”
Ella spent most of the solar catching up with her oldest friend. By the time Jenna left, Ella felt much better. Not quite hopeful, but at least a little less intimidated by the upcoming changes.
The next solar, Ella woke to her father knocking on her door. “Ella, time to get up. They’re here.” His voice oozed with excitement, but Ella couldn’t summon the same emotion. Instead, she felt a bit nauseous. Her fears rose to the forefront of her mind once again.
Ella dressed swiftly, yet carefully, as she donned her best dress. She knew it wouldn’t compare to the clothes worn by those she was meeting, but it would have to do. She brushed out her hair and left it flowing loosely down her back before she went downstairs.
Ella found them sitting in the family room. She quietly observed them for a moment before they noticed her. She saw her father beaming, deep in conversation with a woman who looked too beautiful to be nice. Ella knew this must be the woman who would become her stepmother. The woman’s olive-toned skin matched perfectly with the dark brown tresses in an ornately braided crown on her head. Ella guessed her hair reached at least the mid-back when it wasn’t styled. Her dress was just as fancy as Ella would expect for her high station. Why her father would want to marry into nobility was beyond Ella. Although her father’s face was turned in Ella’s direction, he was so absorbed in this woman that he hadn’t noticed Ella yet. But she ignored the small pang his lack of notice made her feel. She knew it was petty and uncalled for. Her father deserved happiness and Ella couldn’t remain his whole world.
This change in Ella's father baffled her. He seemed much happier ever since he began courting Iris than she’d ever seen him before, not that Ella had ever known him to be truly unhappy. While she had no memories of her birth mother, she would hazard to guess that he was happier with Iris than he’d been with his first wife. Yet, that notion was absurd. Based on the stories, he’d loved her mother too. But his evident joy clearly suggested that he was in love with his betrothed. Ella knew that kind of emotion never comes from the first meeting; it must be built upon throughout the annuals. So she wondered, but never asked, if her father and Iris had known each other previously.
Ella redirected her attention toward the two girls in the room who sat primly as they held their own hushed conversation. They were both just as elaborately dressed as their mother. The older one had a skin tone that matched their mother’s and the younger girl’s skin was closer to how Ella’s skin would look if she stayed out of the sun. Both girls had identical golden locks in an intricate half-up, half-down hairdo with waves flowing a few inches past their shoulders. They were both much prettier than Ella could ever hope to be. Not that she was vain enough to care. The girl who most resembled their mother kept casting hostile glances toward the unaware adults. Ella imagined blue fire burning within the girl’s eyes. The other girl seemed to be attempting to soothe the older girl’s frustrations. The cozy furnishings seemed quaint compared to the finery worn by the newcomers, suggesting Ella’s home was nothing compared to what they must be used to.
Beyond the girls, Ella could see a tree in the yard. Most of the leaves were already red, an indication of the early autumn season. A carriage passed on the lazy cobblestone road, its passengers oblivious to Ella’s inner turmoil. Ella felt her life was now like the change in season, progressing toward a darker, colder time.
Ella summoned her courage and entered the room. All sound ceased as her presence became known. Her father rose, beaming at her. “There you are, Ella!” He gestured for her to come over. Turning toward the others, he sounded giddy as he continued. “May I present my daughter, Arabella.” Turning back toward her, he continued the introductions, gesturing and beaming as he went. “Ella, this is Iris and her daughters, Eireanna and Gabriella. I believe Eireanna is two annuals your senior and Gabriella is a mere annual behind you in age.”
“Pleased to meet you.” Ella managed with a half-hearted smile. The glare from the hostile girl, the one her father had pointed out as Eireanna, was even more unnerving now that it was directed at her.
Iris gave Ella a bright smile that made her eyes sparkle as she greeted Ella warmly. “Arabella, your father has told me so much about you. I’m so glad to finally meet you.”
“Please, call me Ella.” Ella smiled wider now. She could not help but respond in kind to Iris. Her soon-to-be stepmother already seemed much different than Ella had expected. She was like a breath of fresh air, and her kindness and affection were readily apparent. Ella already felt that her fears of a stepmother were completely unfounded.
Ella noticed Gabriella casting nervous glances between Eireanna and Ella. Eireanna just kept a hostile stare on Ella, apparently unaware of her sister’s indecision. Ella could not tell if Iris noticed the tension or not. When Iris turned towards her girls, they responded the way Ella imagined they acted in court.
“A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Arabella.” They echoed, rising gracefully and dipping into elegant curtsies. Eireanna’s glare smoothed over into a frosty smile.
“Just Ella,” she insisted, smiling.
“Ella, I prefer Brie,” Gabriella stated shyly. Eireanna didn’t speak as her chilly smile twitched with what Ella thought was irritation, her eyes holding no welcome. This caused Ella’s already weak smile to falter.
“Ella, how about you show Gabriella and Eireanna their new rooms? I’m sure the three of you would enjoy the privacy to become better acquainted,” her father asked, seemingly ignorant of the hostility.
“Of course, Father,” Ella responded dutifully as she turned toward the stairs without checking to see if the other girls followed. Ella opened the first of their two rooms before she turned back to see that, yes, they were indeed trailing gracefully behind her. She wondered if they had a magic charm that gave them that skill. Surely it would be impossible for her to imitate their flawless posture and gait. Not that she wanted to put in the necessary effort to try.
Brie seemed happy enough with her sister’s room. It was decorated specifically for the eldest sister in various yellows and oranges. Like all the bedrooms, it had what Ella considered a large bed with a sturdy wood frame and a matching dresser and armoire set. This room even had a gilded full-length mirror and a vanity. Frilly curtains lined the windows and decorations adorned the walls. Eireanna simply scowled before she eventually commented in a scathing tone. “I suppose it will have to do. Though it is quite the downgrade from our usual accommodations.”
“But Anna, you hated—” Brie cut herself off abruptly as Anna turned her scowl upon her sister. Ella was curious about the exchange but chose to refrain from commenting. It wasn’t her business, and she didn’t need any more animosity than she already received. Instead, she wordlessly began walking, leading them to the second room.
“Father directed the servants to decorate based upon what he knew of you both, but you may always switch rooms or redecorate if you wish,” Ella explained as she opened the second door without looking at the two girls. Instead, she stared at the walls decorated in lush greens. Aside from the color schemes, this room was nearly identical to the first.
“It’s lovely. I am sure Anna will be happy with her room once she gets used to it. It truly does suit her much better than her previous room,” Brie said in barely more than a whisper. Ella turned toward her and realized that Anna hadn’t followed. Brie continued to talk shyly. “I am sure she will warm up to you too, Ella. Eventually. Anna is just protective, and her life has not been easy.”
“But I’m no threat to anyone.” Ella felt confused.
Brie laughed softly. “I know that, but Anna has spent her life protecting me. That I no longer need protection doesn’t seem to matter at this point.” Brie turned away in embarrassment. Ella assumed Brie had probably said more than she’d meant to.
Awkwardly, Ella tried to find a way out. “Well…I could show you the rest of the house. Or if you prefer, I could go while you get better acquainted with your room.”
“I am rather tired. Perhaps I will take you up on your offer another time,” Brie stated softly, barely audible. That was all Ella needed to make a hasty retreat to her own room. Brie seemed nice, but Ella was disappointed that she didn’t feel the instant closeness she’d hoped to have with a sister. Anna was another matter entirely.
The wedding was held less than two weeks after Ella met her soon-to-be-stepfamily, and all three young girls were part of the ceremony. Ella was glad she knew most of the guests. With Iris’ social status, she’d expected a large wedding.
Ella never could have dreamed of the true nature of her stepmother. Iris was everything Ella could hope for. Not only was she kind and affectionate, she loved the outdoors as much as Ella. And despite the fact that her position often required her to wear formal clothes, Iris privately admitted to Ella that she too preferred simpler clothes. Ella quickly came to adore her stepmother. Brie was the nicest girl Ella had ever met, yet she was extremely shy and let her oldest sister speak for her more often than not. Eireanna, on the other hand, was extroverted and more than happy to speak her mind. Usually, that involved unpleasant remarks directed at Ella.
They all went out to Iris’ estate in the zarra a few times out of necessity. The grounds were massive, complete with an overwhelming mansion and stunning gardens. Although the interior decorations seemed more gaudy than fancy to Ella. But despite the overall impressiveness of the place, none of her family seemed happy there. Eireanna scowled even more than usual. Her father seemed sad. Even Brie and Iris took on an unhappy and nervous air, as if ghosts were haunting their steps. Even the servants here seemed off, though Ella couldn’t place why she felt that way. If not for her family’s reaction, Ella may have enjoyed exploring. The house alone was much bigger than their large manor house in town. Rather than investigate, she stuck close to their group and felt relief when they left.
The biggest downside to her new, bigger family was that she wouldn’t travel with her father on his business trips anymore. He claimed this would have happened sooner or later regardless of whether he married or not. Based on his assertions, Ella was getting too old to travel consistently and she needed more stability. Ella disagreed, but her opinion wouldn’t sway him.
Anna initially seemed set on disliking both Ella and her father, but she quickly warmed up to the father. The same couldn’t be said of Ella. The more Ella bonded with Iris, the more Anna’s resentment of Ella seemed to grow. Ella didn’t understand it; she had no problem with her father and stepsisters bonding. They were family now, after all. Despite the tension between her and Anna, Ella found her fears to be mostly unfounded. Her stepfamily was worth having, especially Iris. The benefits definitely outweighed the disadvantages. However, Ella soon found that there were some things to worry about that she never could’ve imagined.
“Dance lessons?” Ella exclaimed in horror with a shudder. “Why do I need dance lessons?” She picked at the soft cream-colored fabric of the fancy dress distastefully, leaving it in its package. She liked dancing well enough in the village, or when among the commoners in foreign lands, but this was a different matter entirely.
“Because, you dolt! We are part of the nobility, and you need to not embarrass your family. However much I would prefer to have no claim of connections to you, it cannot be helped.” Anna nastily jumped in, sneering at her and lifting her chin in emphasis.
“Eireanna!” Iris admonished in a sharp, disappointed tone, quickly shooting Anna a pointed look. Softening her voice and features, Iris turned back and addressed Ella’s question. “Anna is correct about the requirements of nobility, though her delivery leaves much to be desired. In your previous station, you could have attended royal functions if you had desired to. Everyone, regardless of their station, is always welcome to come. In practice, however, it is rare for anyone outside of the nobility to show up. However, through your father’s marriage to me,” she sighed before continuing, “you are now required to attend most royal functions, and these requirements only increase as you age. There are very few excuses that are considered acceptable for missing a royal function, and unfortunately you qualify for none of them.”
Ella didn’t understand how one marriage could change all the expectations placed upon her. Losing the freedom to travel with her father was difficult enough to handle, but going to some boring royal parties and learning to dance for them were not things Ella was willing to do.
Noticing the mutinous look on Ella’s face, Iris changed tactics with a small smile. “I was reluctant to learn as well, though my situation was quite different, but it’s not all bad. The royal family provides some impressive entertainment and exquisite food at their functions. But I believe the part you would enjoy the most is the way you can apply dancing skills to other areas.” Iris waited with a small patient smile as Ella thought about her words.
Ella considered Iris’ words for a moment before she took the bait. Her curiosity was piqued despite her aversion to the lessons. “What skills do you mean? How can I apply them?”
“Well, the grace and agility required for dancing can also be useful in climbing trees. Or even jumping from one tree to the next if you excel. It can make it easier for you to sneak around in a forest, as you’ll have more awareness of where you place your feet. The perseverance alone can span just about any area of life. And if you ever take an interest in sword fighting or other forms of combat, while I cannot say for certain, I believe the skills involved are quite similar. Though I never studied it myself.” Iris smiled slyly at her.
“Mother!” Anna complained, horrified. “How could you encourage her to pursue such barbaric pastimes? Most noble men do not even take on fighting. That is a pastime for the guards!” Anna wore an exaggerated expression of disgust and shock.
“Hush, Anna. We cannot expect Ella to give up everything she knows and enjoys just because she is now stuck with a title. My situation was much different than hers, and I will make sure she does not suffer needlessly from this transition,” Iris admonished her gently yet firmly.
Anna didn’t respond. Ella didn’t comment on it, but she thought the look on Anna’s face demonstrated how much Anna disagreed with Iris’ statement.
“All right. I’ll try to take these dance lessons,” Ella reluctantly agreed. “But do I really need to wear such a fancy dress? And these shoes?”
Anna laughed scornfully as she pointed at the dress. “That is not fancy. That is casual. We only really dress up for bigger events, most of which we are too young to be invited to.” Her voice turned wistful at the end.
Iris silenced Anna with a look and responded. “Yes, you will need to wear that dress, the shoes, and similar ensembles. Though the specifics of what you should wear will change, there are certain aspects that will not change. It all reflects your station. You could wear something more comfortable, in theory, but it would not do you any favors in court.”
Ella silently changed into the dress just before the instructor arrived. Throughout the lesson, she had to repeatedly remind herself of the perks that Iris had mentioned to distract herself from how much she loathed it.
When Ella was also forced to take lessons in court etiquette and manners later that solar, she decided to refrain from complaint despite her lack of noting anything useful in them. She thought to herself that she didn’t need Iris to tell her what use it could be because she was determined to figure it out herself later. She wanted to make Iris proud of her, and she didn’t need another reason for Anna to demonstrate her disdain.
The following solars were much the same—more irritating lessons without much clarity on their usefulness.
Before long, her father was needed on a business trip. Of course, this was his previous argument for remarrying. Ella needed the stability of a home and a mother, not the uncertainty of travel or the dubious care of a servant. After meeting Iris and watching her father’s behavior around her, Ella suspected his reasons were not as clear as he had previously stated. He would not be this happy with just any wife. At this point, Ella was thrilled he’d picked Iris, even with the lessons in nobility and the constant hostility stemming from Anna.
So it happened that her first attendance at a royal function occurred without the presence of her father.
Before leaving, he addressed his family. “My Ella, that dress looks so pretty on you. It really brings out the blue in your eyes.” He hugged her.
“Thank you, Father.” She beamed at him, swallowing her distaste for the dress along with her nerves. “I’ll miss you.”
“And I you.” Turning toward Anna and Brie, he affectionately commented on their dresses as well before finally coming to Iris.
“Take care of them for me, my love,” her father said to Iris.
“Of course, Jonathan. They are all dear to me too. I will miss you terribly,” Iris responded, her voice wavering.
Her father sweetly kissed Iris, lingering a little longer than usual. It was sort of cute, even if the sappiness made her squirm a little. He then addressed them all. “So, what should I bring back for all of you?”
Anna and Brie chimed in eagerly with all sorts of jewelry and clothing, and Ella could hardly keep up with their animated requests. Her father chuckled and claimed that he’d see what he could do.
Once her daughters quieted, Iris softly asked him, “Where are you going?”
“No farther than Hadrovae.” He gazed lovingly at his wife.
“They have some of the sweetest berries there. I would very much enjoy some of those,” Iris replied with a gentle smile.
“Hadrovian berries? But they grow like weeds there. They would be all too easy to gather. Are you sure that’s all you want?” His voice and face showed his surprise and skepticism.
“Of course, dear.”
“Very well,” he responded, sounding unconvinced, before turning to Ella. “And you, Ella? You have been so silent over here.”
“I only want you to come back home to us, Father,” she replied quietly, trying not to cry. Though he had gone on trips without her before, she was used to joining him. She’d only ever been left behind before when he traveled to Sebral. And this was the first trip since everything changed. She needed him, but she also recognized the importance of his work. She further realized that it would be impractical for all of them to join him, assuming that anyone else even wanted to go. Ella was willing to bet that Iris would happily come, but she doubted Brie or Anna would take well to traveling.
“That’s no answer, Ella! There must be something you want,” he coaxed gently.
“No, Father. I only want my family together and safe. I wish for nothing more,” she stubbornly insisted while she attempted to maintain a brave face.
Chuckling, he hugged them each in turn, said goodbye, and then left them to finish preparing for their event. Ella’s insides squirmed with nerves as her father walked out the door and the girls resumed their preparations.
Chapter Two
Arabella
She felt far from ready, but what choice did she have? Iris helped her prepare, so she knew that she looked better than acceptable. Well, almost. She doubted her mousy brown hair could ever pass for acceptable among all the stuffy nobles. Hairstyle trends changed every time Ella saw the nobles, but it had always been flashy, gorgeous, and extravagant. Ella didn’t think her hair could ever reach such a high standard. But it was as good as it would ever be. Ella had to resist the temptation to touch her hair to determine if it even belonged to her still.
Despite Iris’ best efforts, Ella was still scared. She knew none of these people. She didn’t really want to. Sure, the townspeople were allowed to attend these functions. But nobody actually did—not really. She’d even asked Jenna to come with her, but her friend adamantly refused. Of course, Ella had never been to one before. But now, she was required to go, all because Iris was part of the nobility, making her father and her a part of it by extension. Father’s business trip gave him an excuse to be absent, but she had no excuses. If she didn’t love Iris, she would outright refuse to go. Just like she wanted to refuse all the lessons. If not for her affection, she would make them drag her kicking and screaming, then run the second she had the chance. But since she did care, she went as willingly as she could muster.
They traveled by carriage, passing along the cobblestone road through the multitude of assorted homes with their gardens and trees, out into the flower-strewn, softly rolling hills of the country. Anna complained it was a waste of time when they could get there faster by portal, but Iris insisted that Ella’s first view of the palace should be by carriage ride; it would give her a better vantage. Ella would never voice it, but she thought, in this case, she preferred Anna’s method. At least that would give her less time to wait and stress over the awful scenes her imagination could conjure about the upcoming event. And growing up as a merchant’s daughter, she had much more experience with carriage rides than portal trips. Portals were never made for travel between countries, so they mostly traveled by carriage. Even if she’d never been in a carriage quite this elaborate, riding in a carriage was nothing new or exciting. If anything, it only made her think about how much she wished she were traveling with her father right now.
Staring out the window, Ella could just make out the forest in the distance to the east. She imagined traveling with her father under those ancient trees, the bulk of which belonged to Asprye, for weeks until crossing into Hadrovae. She wished to run through the open Hadrovian fields and hide in the tall grasses while her father plied his trade. Instead, she was on the way to an event she dreaded. Lonely trees appeared on the hillside, breaking up the monotony of grass and flowers. She couldn’t see it, but she knew the ocean lay on the western border of Athysia.
Ella’s first impression of the palace was its shear enormity. The outer stone walls came into view first with only the tallest spires of the actual palace peeking out above them. As they drew closer, Ella could make out the gleaming marble on the upper levels of the palace. It looks like ten of Iris’ mansion could fit in there with room to spare. The impressive structure was intimidating, and the people she knew she would soon need to interact with were even more so. She squirmed in her seat, trying to quell her anxiety.
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