ora

e been part of my birth mother Adeline's dowry, a place she had cherished deeply throughout her life. After Genevieve seized control of the family's assets and power, she renamed the

ff of servants that came with the property,

ce ringing with an authority that s

spotted a heavy mallet left by a groundskeeper near the gate. I p

ed it squarely in the center. The wood splintered with a loud crack. Wood chips flew throu

reathing even. I turned to

e: the Gilded Pavilion. Have every iris motif

crystal vial containing a shimmering, iridescent liquid. It was a Seven-Bloom Elixir, a legendary healing potion I had earned from a mysterious

days, a quiet, unassuming woman named Elara, with strict i

spewing from another source. Corinne, still smarting from her publi

's chaise lounge, her hands on her hips. "If you had been a better mother, if you had

kindness. Adeline, weakened by years of Genevieve's poison, could only stare, her f

ard, her face flushed with anger.

of her head. She would not allow a se

behind her. Adeline was left in the echoing silence, her eyes filled with a deep, weary

gift. The note attached was simple: "For you, my dearest Aunt. Ple

om, a stark contrast to the cloying, sweet smell of the poison that usual

arity and value of such an elixir. Tears welled

wn eyes wet. "Miss Aurora... she car

otion. The contrast was brutal and stark. The cruelty of the girl she called daughter, and the profound, life-sav

manor, Corinne was weep

. Her eyes, however, held a cold, calculating glint. "Don't cry o

ont's birthday gala is next week. That is where true power is broke

d, her eyes lighting u

ing on her lips. "Evan Kowalski is a boor and his family is beneath you now. Perhaps it is time your

designed to shackle me to a dishon

s, a naive girl distraught by the heavy price of a name. They had no idea I was a