ay

lias meant

ira

fec

t lon

cause she had spent years growi

un. Its petals were already browning. Its leaves curled inward. Its roots had b

shed a wilted petal between her finger

r did not

ever

he settled in

matter how much sunlight they received. No

eners said it was a curse. The other Ronas called

accepted i

t and carried the watering

cage awaite

King Valir's kingdom. Visitors often descri

w it for what

ris

yal palace. Exotic flowers bloomed beneath crystal ceilings. Marble pathways

g appeare

ing was

hers resembled miniature mansions. A few even had private courtyards. Luxury disguised the

Immediately, sweet floral scents overwhelmed her senses. Dozens

heir abilities. Some sat beside fountai

they looked li

knew

ses cou

neath it lay faded chain marks. White scars against pale skin. Old reminders of fa

er to hide. The scars on the ba

one could easily see it. A bruise on the face ruine

made her st

pass a group of Ronas sitting near a marble

oo

ther than intended. "Th

looked sympathetic. Others

. Years of practi

urvived this time." Th

et they

g survi

even

round of

ept wa

. But responding had never changed anyt

Celeste. The most beautiful among them. Her flowers bloomed brighter tha

he merely looked at Maya with a face that s

uld say more. The conservatory eventually opened i

e here. Dying plants we

er wa

one wall. Anything considered beyond saving was du

ed b

en s

Rona's value is in creating beautiful plants, which are mostly flowers. A Rona's value is becoming a decoration

ed in black spots. Most gardeners would remove it soon. M

uld probably

oesn't deserve this, she thought

Maya looked up. The sound came again.

l branches when a tiny bird stared back. One w

ds. The bird hesitated. But mom

u are," s

chirped

whether flowers died around her. They didn't care about auctions. Or beauty.

ooden shed hidden behind the gardens.

ering doves. A fox cub missing part of a

palace servants pretended not to notice. Most of them liked May

nto an empty nest. The creat

he bird nuzzled her finger. A tiny gest

re rare. She cherish

upting Maya's peaceful moment with her animals. She str

nc

the shed behind. If the overseers caught her missing lun

held whips, knives, and ropes –they had the authority to punish and instill cruelty to every Rona as they deemed fit. Most of them distanced themselves from the Ronas, because Valir would kill an overseer that dares touch his Ronas on the spot. Even laying their eyes on the Ronas could cost them their eyes. But sometim

. Excellent clothing. As long as they remaine

Several conversations continued aroun

ria

rday," said Bella, a Rona sp

about Serena," A

Celeste." Ma

Bella rolled her eyes, obviousl

er fol

y. "I hope a prince chooses

eve that?" Sere

y n

er being Valir's favorite, she was always the one grounding all the Ronas from unrealistic dreams. It mad

. The uncomfortable trut

it. Few dare

ot courted. They

rin

ki

du

thy me

r coul

was

to understand. Some girls left smiling, certain their future husban

ing their names might attract the same fate –though, it

She blinked in surprise when he

astries. He

g away. Maya smiled to thank her. Tiny acts of kind

eti

sed much like eve

Tending injured anima

self back beside the dying camellia bush. The petals had worsened. Several blo

ply understood what it meant to be unwan

e familiar warmth of her magic stirred beneath he

lilies. Moon orchids. Entire gardens bloomed at their command and fl

the other Ronas. Perhaps because all of her

ok

on

, she

d. For one glorious second,

d. The stem collapsed. The flower di

hand. Her chest ti

he whispered t

enly fell acr

looke

just beautiful sadness painted on Celeste's face. "It''s just m

ly regained composure. "I don't

She simply crouched next to Maya, looking at

er like you do," she whispered, "p

for punishment by the overseers. She quickly look around them, makin

are watching the other Ronas at the garden.

aya glared

ks." Her eyes darkened. They glistened with tears. "But really, being favored by Valir is just like this whittered White Camellia. I

Maya in the eye. "I never once

light. Because her spotlight came with dripping invisible wounds and a bleeding heart. She knew best how Celeste had been force

sed with the power to grow flowers, not to wither them. C

aid in a low voice, "You should

a never spoke more than necessary to humans, especially t

y summoned by Valir for a 'private' event while Maya remained beside the camellias. She pitied

ewhere beyond the palace walls, wolves howled.

eel like. What would life feel like without the gilded cage, without

Fresh ai

uctions. No ch

y lasted o

d quickly. Real

ces echoed through the conservatory. Servants hurried

fro

platform overlooking the gardens. Every Ron

oo br

n, ladies

, conversat

auction will take

ome girls squealed with delight. Others clasped their hands togeth

her stom

ag

er continu

erous kingdoms have alrea

More anticipati

eive the honor of taking home

upted in mix

tood f

ined crowns. Castles. Hands

agined

ally raised his

evaluations beg

ective

new what t

ested. Beauty assess

htened around her sleeves. Aroun

thl

choed insi

. Worthless magic

ismissed them

Only Maya remained where she

r petals at her feet. One detached

it

ag

uti

ady

ould not explain, unease settled deep inside her chest. As though the

e towering above the conservatory. Its gold

No different

tal crumbled

ding sense that something was happening. And somewhere bey