I take a breath. All my sisters watch me with gaping jaws, but Father… Father glares in a way that could melt the sun.
Instead of addressing me, he turns to the entire line.
“Perhaps I did not make myself clear when I announced Prince Hugo was on his way,” Father speaks sharply. “The prince and I have come to an arrangement where I am to allow him to choose one of you to be his new bride. You will have no choice in the matter, and whoever Prince Hugo picks shall be married to him by the end of the season. I would encourage you all to be the gracious and open-minded princesses I have raised you to be.”
He meets my eyes, his gaze fierce enough to make my stomach drop. “Do not disappoint me again.”
My breath stills. This can’t be happening. Beside me, a few of my sisters swipe away tears.
For a brief moment, I consider reaching for Blossom’s hand and herding the rest of the girls out of here, but I cast the thought aside – I wouldn’t want any of them to be punished.
Clearly unbothered, Hugo slaps a hand down onto Father’s shoulder. “You mustn’t be so harsh on them, Sol,” he chuckles. “Besides, I do tend to prefer the outspoken ones. It’s always more fun when they put up a good fight. Though, nothing a good beating can’t fix when it gets too much, eh?”
“Father—” I cry out, but Blossom yanks me back in line before I can speak another word.
“Just be quiet,” she hisses, pulling me close. “There’s no point in arguing now. Let me speak with him this afternoon. You know how much he likes me. I can get through to him. I can convince him to get Hugo out of here.”
I nod, meeting her glossy eyes. As much as I hate it, she’s probably right. We have to be sensible about this. For now, I’ll bite my tongue and later… Later, Blossom will fix this.
Swallowing, I return to my place and keep my gaze fixed forward while Father laughs along with Hugo further down the line.
“Ah, this one…” Hugo purrs, “this one is perfect. What is your name, dear?”
My knees almost buckle when I hear a quiet voice reply.
“Liliana,” our youngest sister says. Whipping around, I catch the foul prince looming over her as she shudders. He watches her hungrily, like she’s a freshly cooked steak and he hasn’t eaten in months. It takes everything within me not to charge down the line and throw myself between them.
Not her. My breath quickens. Father will put a stop to this – he loves Liliana. He loves us all.
Calm down.
Calm down.
Calm down.
Blossom grips my hand so tightly it stings.
“I’m afraid Liliana is a little young to be married. At fourteen, she is still yet to complete her studies,” Father says sternly. He reaches for Prince Hugo and ushers him back up the line – most importantly, away from the younger girls.
Air whooshes out of my throat. I never should’ve doubted him. Father loves us all. Of course he does.
“Oh, forgive me,” Hugo sneers. “I did not realise how young the little angel was.” He holds up his hands innocently, but then I notice something strange. A flash of red glows in his eyes. It was brief, flashing only for a second, but I definitely saw it – like someone whipping a red ribbon over his face.
My head tilts. I glance at the other girls, but no one else seems to have noticed it.
“Show me Heather again,” Hugo demands, dismissing Father when he attempts to lead him back towards Blossom and Camellia.
My eyes squeeze shut, then I look again at the prince. But now there’s definitely no red in his eyes – only a dull, yellowy-brown as he leers over Heather, Father’s eighth daughter.
I must be tired. Or stressed. Or both. Probably both.
I shake my head with a sigh.
Blossom will talk to him, and then we’ll all laugh about this tonight as we dance in our garden. Everything will be as it was and should be. With no more disgusting princes, and no more bizarre red flashes in anyone’s eyes.
“This is hopeless,” Blossom says, throwing down her arms. “He won’t listen to me, and I tried every trick I know. Even shed a few tears, but he didn’t care. Someone is going to have to marry him.”
Outside, the sun has long since set, and all twelve of us are crammed into my burgundy-walled bedchamber. A few girls are spread across the bed while the rest of us sit on my rug or on my velvet chaise longue, each dressed in matching lacy white nightgowns.
