The break in the music after the crescendo provided a moment of echoing silence, and I felt Katrina’s hand tremble on my arm as she shrunk against my side. I raised my other hand to cover hers, dragging my eyes away from the wide eyes of the crowd to look at my sister’s terrified face.

“You’ll be okay,” I reassured her softly as the music began again, the musicians recognizing the need to cover the awkward moment.

Kat’s wide, misty gaze met mine, her painted lips parted on panting breaths. “I can’t do this,” she whispered, and I felt her try to pull back.

Pressing my lips together to keep a calm expression, I tightened my hold on her, dragging her forward onto the marble floor of the ballroom.

“You can,” I insisted, my gaze raking over the crowd to find my father standing at the top of a staircase that led into the private rooms where official conversations would take place.

His sharp eyes were a heavy weight on me as I mercilessly pulled Kat forward, her weighty skirts shifting against my leg as she stumbled slightly in her heels. Her breath came on a sobbing hitch as the crowd parted before us, allowing us to walk forward until we stood at the bottom of the stairs.

The music grew softer as I swept into a low bow, dragging my sister with me into a curtsy as she’d already been tightly gripping her skirt. We remained there, the picture of obedient noble children offering respect to their lord.

My father stepped to the edge of the landing, raising his hands, and the music fell silent along with the crowd. There wasn’t even a whisper as my father slowly descended the steps to stand in front of us, and I was watching through my lashes as he gestured for us to rise.

“What a glorious occasion to welcome my children into adulthood,” he said, his voice ringing with a pride I had noticed absent since our return from Ardeya.

I stood straight, squaring my shoulders, and felt Katrina’s fingers dig into my arm as our father stepped forward to meet us.

Panic and fear flashed across her face as he inserted himself between us, breaking her hold on me; in an instant, she looked lost and shaken as she looked up at our father with wide eyes. He put an arm around her waist to pull her affectionately close, his other hand patting my shoulder.

“I am pleased to announce that both of my children have done exceedingly well to this point, and I am very proud to welcome them into the ranks of the nobility. My son, Markus, has been a good study and hard worker, and I am sure he will be a worthy asset to any who wish to support him.” My father’s cool tone caused a faint ripple through the crowd, a realization that his words spoke of a much deeper problem.

It took every ounce of my strength to keep my hands relaxed at my side and a calm smile on my face. He had just told most of Elais’ powerful nobles that I had nothing to my name. I was only a good student, efficient, and motivated. And I had no place in the Eliseo household.

Slowly, the eyes of the noble shifted from the one rumored to be the prodigious son standing tall and confident to the shrinking and shivering young woman who looked small and out of place in her formal dress.

My father seemed to feel the tension, giving Kat a slight squeeze before he raised his voice again.

“And my daughter, Katrina, is the pride of our household. Clever and free-spirited, she has the exemplary traits of an Eliseo lady, as she bonded with a young golden dragon during this year’s visit to Nuzyn’s dragon nest.”

His words spurred another whisper, and I felt my fingers twitch as several attentive nobles looked at my hands with their brows furrowed.

“It may not be what many expected, as it is tradition for the son to inherit in the case of twins, but I have been forced to make a difficult decision for the good of my family.” My father paused, seeming well aware of the growing tide of murmurs traveling between the nobles. “It is my great pleasure to announce tonight that I will be succeeded as family head by my daughter, and Lady Katrina Eliseo will be the next master of Adeyl.”

There was a beat of shocked silence, and I was the first to clap my hands, holding my breath to maintain my smile as I started the applause in honor of my sister’s title. Glancing over the crowd, I could see the nobles beginning to gather; they were no doubt already making new plans, thinking of ways to win over my sister.

No doubt they thought she would be easier to sway, a young woman they had heard so little of that she must be unremarkable. My stomach twisted violently, knowing they would see her in such a way—as easy prey.

“Regardless of who is set to inherit the family name, we have gathered here today to celebrate both of my children,” my father said, raising his voice above the growing conversations, calling the nobles temporarily back to attention. “And it is with the blessing of the royal family of Elais that I present them to you no longer as children but as peers seeking to better the realm.”

Another round of applause was colored by eager anticipation, gazes suddenly searching the crowd. The crown prince was not on the ballroom floor. However, the doors my father had been standing in front of before our arrival opened to signal his appearance.

The proud nobles folded like a wave, their intrigued expressions replaced by deference as they bowed and curtsied to the man who was the sole heir to the throne.

A faint smirk pulled at his lips as Tristain Rollheiser strode forward to the edge of the stairs. He had strong features and deep blue eyes that were always cold, no matter what expression he forced on his face.

Tristain looked like a storybook prince, tall and slim with a thick shock of golden blonde hair; his waistcoat was a soft, pale gold with dark accents along the cuffs and collar, a crisp charcoal gray shirt and vest beneath bringing out the warmth in his skin.

The sword belted at his waist was ceremonial, the golden pommel forged in the shape of a roaring lion, the symbol of the royal family.

The man I recognized as the captain of the royal guard stood just behind him, always in the crown prince’s shadow. Dressed in white and gold, it made the dusky blonde of his hair look darker against his fair skin.

Though I couldn’t see as he stood behind Tristain, I remembered his eyes were a shockingly beautiful blue. If it weren’t for his elven heritage, it would have been hard for even the crown prince to overshadow him, but Elais had different standards than Adeyl, and none would dare to consort with the man, no matter his position.

My heart sank as Tristain reclaimed my attention. He slowly walked down the steps, seeming all too pleased to command the attention of the entire room. His sapphire gaze fixed on me for a brief moment, and my teeth ached from the pressure of clenching my jaw as Tristain gave me a look of arrogant disdain.

He didn’t even bother to greet me, offering his hand to my sister as he gave a slight bow. There was a faint gasp from the crowd at the sign of deference, Tristain looking up through golden lashes to give my sister a charming smile.

“It’s a pleasure to formally meet you, Lady Eliseo,” he said, his voice carrying through the quiet room.

Kat glanced at me, her breath coming in gulps of air as she tried to remain calm in front of the crown prince. Slowly, she extended her hand, and I was relieved to see her fingers were no longer trembling as they brushed Tristain’s palm.

He captured her hand before she could pull back, and rage struck through me as I watched him press his lips against my sister’s hand. My hands finally clenched into fists as I could no longer restrain my anger and discomfort.

Tristain looked amused and briefly glanced at me again before releasing my sister. My father stood at her side, a faint grimace on his face that quickly disappeared as Tristain turned to him.

“Thank you for inviting me,” the crown prince said, his deep voice smooth and rich. “It’s an honor to bear witness to this celebration for your children.”

Nodding, my father stepped away from Kat, leaving her standing alone in front of the crown prince as he offered his hand again.

“Would you spare a moment of your time for me, my lady? And perhaps a spot on your dance card?” His brow furrowed when Kat’s gaze immediately shifted to me, a frown pulling at the edges of his lips. He snatched up my sister’s hand, drawing her away from me, a movement none of us could protest with so many eyes on us.

“I think you’ll be fine without your brother for a night. After all, you’ll have to get used to life without him since he’ll have to leave the household.”

His words were like a knife twisting into my chest, and his gloating expression said he enjoyed my pain as I turned my face away from him. Kat reached for me, but I stepped away from her extended hand, keenly aware of the attention on our every move.

“You’re right, of course,” I murmured, teeth gritted as I dared to look at my sister for only a brief moment. “You’ll do fine, Katrina. I’ll see you later, save a dance for me.”

It was the last thing I could give her, a promise to give her a moment of respite; then I was forced to watch as Tristain whisked her away from me, every eye in the room watching the crown prince give a dazzling smile to the young, innocent Eliseo heir.

It curdled my blood, but there was nothing I could do but watch as my sister was swept into a world I had always thought would be mine instead.