The gossip about the foolish peasant girl that approached the prince in an out of style wedding gown had spread far and wide by the time I returned home. I knew there had been whispers of it in the kingdom, but my hope had been it would die down by the end of the holidays, once people had more interesting things to talk about.

But it hadn’t.

If anything, it had gotten much worse, as had my anger over the situation.

The locals, to their credit, made sure I never heard any of them talking about it, but it was now a well known joke and any word of it only made me more determined to carry out my entirely foolish plan.

Dressing up in disguise to beat up a drunk prince on his birthday would very likely cost me greatly if my identity was to be discovered, so it wasn’t something I could rush into.

I would plan my attack very carefully so – when it was over – I could easily disappear and return to my normal life, free from repercussions.

And I would admit to no one but myself that I found the planning all very exciting.

I felt useless when it came to Anna and her state. She was still mostly unresponsive, doing very little but eating the treats the baker brought over for her, brought straight to her fresh from the oven three times a day. She could not rise out of bed, barely lift her head. Everything was done for her by her mother and sister.

After a month’s time, Anna was finally able to come out of her room, but the Anna that came home from Pinedale was not the one that reappeared from he mother’s room.

She was no longer abrasive and haughty, her spirit seemingly broken by the prince and her childish behavior the biggest casualty. It pained me to see her so quite, but I was very happy to see that she seemed genuinely happy to see Lenard, our baker, appreciative of the efforts he made into bringing her food several times a day, everyday. She spent all of her free time with him now, going over to sit with him in his bakery while he worked and inviting Mildred over to have tea with her friends when they read their gossip and games pamphlets. Mildred was a bit lost in it all since she was far behind the gossip, but Anna made a valiant effort to get her caught up, making sure Mildred was kept in the conversations and helped in the pamphlet’s games.

I think the change was genuine.

I wish it hadn’t had to been caused by such a terrible dressing down, one that those outside our town were still taking much delight in, but I was glad to see it, especially now that she was starting to regain her normal cheerfulness, bit by bit.

But if anything, seeing her as she was only fueled my determination to strike down the prince.

Just once.

That was all I needed to have my fill, I think – one hard punishment so he knew that he couldn’t go and break down girls for his own enjoyments.

As I worked on my costume for the Prince’s ball, it became apparent to my sisters and stepmother that it wasn’t for any other gentleman besides myself, and that brought on a conversation I had been hoping to avoid.

I explained that all my customers were women, and the few of them that were attending the ball would be wearing gowns, and though they carried my name, it didn’t truly show the extent of my skills or capability. By taking the invite sent over by my cousin, I said I would be showing an outfit for a man in the hopes that it would draw more customers.

Celia was predictable tearful that she wasn’t going to go as my date, sobbing hysterically into her mother’s arms while I explained this would not be a social call for me, but one purely of business.

Still, she was miserable and she sulked for days, often coming to sit in my backroom while I worked to cry on my shoulder dramatically. She didn’t plea for me to take her with me, knowing I would brush her off, but she wanted me to be made very clearly aware how upset she was over my decision. I don’t think I went a single day without the shoulders – both! - of my shirt soaked from her tears.

I mostly ignored her while I worked, only pausing when she fully wrapped her arms around my neck and hung from it, cutting off my air as she sobbed loudly. I’d comfort her then, make her tea, and have her mother come in and guide her away so I could return to my work.

Anna did not seem much interested in my going to the Prince’s ball.

Instead, Anna was trying to sew Mildred a dress for a ball Alan’s mother was throwing in honor of the prince. She usually sat on the floor where I was sitting as she worked, holding up her own work so I could see and tell her what she was doing wrong – what she needed to undo, sew again. Mildred would come and help when she could, but mostly it was just me and Anna in my workshop, Celia there as well to sob on my shoulder.

The gown Anna sewed wasn’t all that bad, actually. It was very stylish – exactly like the pictures in their pamphlets, but I think ultimately Alan’s mother would appreciate that more.

I was actually quite proud of Anna.

When the night of the ball arrived, stepmother decided to celebrate by opening a nice bottle of wine and I was very grateful when she let Celia have half a glass, who predictably fell asleep and stayed asleep while I prepared for the ball.

Downstairs stepmother and Anna were helping Mildred prepare for her own ball. I came downstairs to do last minute alterations and help Mildred into the carriage Alan arranged for her, all of us surprised to see Alan had come himself to pick her up and accompany her on the long ride there. The greetings were short though, as the ride was long and they needed to leave quickly to make it to his mother’s ball in time. They would stay until roughly three in the morning, and then he would accompany Mildred back here before returning in his carriage home.

It was a very big journey for him with his health, but he was determined and I felt a great sense of pride for him as well.

We – and half the town – saw them off before Mildred’s mother and brother bought over treats for us, Celia waking up to come down and sit on her mother’s lap while she stuffed her face, allowing me to slip off to take the horse the baker had gone and fetched for me. Before I left, I confessed my plans to the baker and he wished me luck, and confirmed he would watch my stepmother and sisters in case things went sideways for me.

I thanked him, and then I was off to punish my sister’s prince charming.