The days passed much slower than Ash would’ve liked. Amidst her usual chores, Ash was often asked to assist her stepsisters with fitting their gowns. Such splendid gossamer fabrics had been stitched and resized to accommodate the girls. On the morning the carriage was supposed to arrive, she put the finishing touches on the dresses while Georgette and Willa wasted time choosing which jewels would pair well with their outfits.

Georgette twirled a gold necklace on her finger.

“This would look perfect with my dress,” she said. “It brings out the golden tresses of fall, wouldn’t you say?”

Willa rolled her eyes as she held a pair of emerald earrings to her lobes. “At least mine bring out my eyes. Add the brooch to match and Luiz’s gaze will remain fixated on me.”

“Says you.”

Georgette clasped the necklace around her neck, fondling the large ruby that rested close to her bosom.

“Besides, Prince Luiz prefers more well-endowed girls.”

Willa scoffed. She pinned in her earrings before turning to Ash. With a tug, the hem was yanked away from her grasp.

“Enough already!” said Willa. “I’ll look indecent if you keep at it.”

Ash let out a heavy sigh. “I was almost done anyway.”

“Good.”

The skirt swayed from side to side, its silver embossing glistened against the sunlight. Every leaflike pattern and design popped out amidst the bright orange, pastel yellows, and cream white. Long sleeves with a light puff stretched from shoulder to wrist, lace trim dotted along the cuff, matching the wide hem. To complete the look, a brilliant green gemstone glistened against a jewel neckline, surrounded by brown and dark green embroidery shaped like twisted branches. A modest ensemble for a ballgown, but it suited Willa well.

Compared to Georgette, who flaunted her assets with a layered wavy skirt, bold reds and oranges interlaced with golden accents and trim, a snug waistline, sweetheart neckline, long transparent sleeves, and excessive amounts of gold and diamonds from head to toe, they were polar opposites on a greed filled spectrum.

If there was one thing the two got right, it was how they coordinated their dresses to match the autumnal colors of the Autumn Kingdom. However, the downside was their reason for why they wanted to stand out.

Prince Luiz planned to use his own birthday ball to find a bride.

One would think they’d be satisfied stealing the title of crown princess from Ash. Being in line for the Winter Kingdom’s throne guaranteed their position as the future ruler over all the Valley of Seasons. But, no, they wanted more.

Always more with these spoiled, pampered twits.

Ash shook the thought away.

Before long, the queen peeked into the room. “Girls, are you ready?”

As she entered the room, Ash almost threw up right then and there. The dress her stepmother wore tore her heart in two.

Soft white faux fur trim along a silvery white gown that wrapped tight around her frame. A regal crystalline cape complemented a white icicle crown engraved with snowflakes that sat upon a nest of raven hair. Delicate crystals that hung off her ears and ornamented her fingers. Ash forced herself to look away, both hands clenched tight at her sides, shaking as she clung the edges of her patchwork fabric.

Head high, Ash. Head high.

“Oh, mother!” Georgette gasped. “You look divine.”

“They suit you so well,” said Willa. “If only father were alive to see you in that.”

The queen nodded, eyes upturned with a small smile. “Yes,” she said. “’tis a shame he isn’t.”

Ash bit down on her bottom lip. For once, she was glad her father wasn’t around to see this. If he knew that her stepmother got her hands on that dress—

She forced herself to take a deep breath, counted to ten, then closed her eyes. There was time to be angry later. As she turned back to them, once again her heart sank.

Lady Rothwell placed both hands on Georgette and Willa’s shoulders, her smile the warmest it’d ever been.

“You two are stunning as well,” she said. “My lovely daughters, you’ll make fine brides.”

It stung to hear those words. Directed at her daughters, but never at Ash. All those years of following her instructions no matter how demeaning they were, hoping to obtain her love. Had she seen the signs sooner, the yearning wouldn’t have lingered for so long.

“Now then, let us make haste,” said the queen. “The carriage just arrived. They’ll only wait on us for so long.”

Georgette and Willa exchanged glances, toothy grins wide with glee.

“I can’t wait to sip on a glass of their fresh apple wine,” said Georgette. “And perhaps a bite of an apricot tartlet as well.”

Willa swooned, hands on her cheeks.

“I, for one, look forward to their petite fours drizzled in butterscotch. The smooth, decadent chocolate, oh, how it melts in the mouth!” Her giggles intensified. “And let’s not forget their hazelnut scones dusted with pumpkin spice and powdered sugar.”

“Maple tea,” Ash murmured. “… served with savory bruschetta…”

Her mumbling must’ve been louder than usual as all eyes turned to her, going cold in an instant.

Willa scoffed, arms folded over her chest. “What would you know?” she asked. “As if you’ve ever been to the Autumn Kingdom before.”

“Yeah,” said Georgette. “Just because our kingdoms are allies doesn’t mean you know everything.”

Ash pushed back a snicker. If they knew how often she used to visit the Autumn Kingdom, a land abundant with bountiful harvests where its painted leaves fell year round that the Winter Kingdom ever dreamed of having for themselves, and what she knew of their precious ‘crown prince’, they’d lose their minds. But those experiences remained with her, locked deep in her heart where no one could see.

She straightened her back, eyes narrowed at her stepfamily.

“I know enough to know that Prince Luiz is a poor choice of heir,” she said. “With a reputation like his, marrying him would bring ruin upon both kingdoms.”

Her gaze held firm.

“Is that what you want? For the kingdom? Yourselves?”

Willa seethed. “How dare you speak to us this way! Have you no shame?”

Silence. Not a word was spoken, only the wind battering against the windows, snow swirling as it picked up in a harsh whistle.

Ash stood firm, head held high while wringing her hands together.

An audible growl reverberated in Willa’s throat.

“Apologize at once!”

A fan raised before her. It remained closed, a few diamonds peeked through the folds. The call for quiet an unspoken rule for all as Willa took a step back.

The queen drew in a breath. Each tap of fan against palm fell in a slow, deliberate tandem with her feet, walking step by step until she stood before Ash. The tapping stopped, all went quiet once more.

“Listen well, you willful brat,” said Lady Rothwell. “All these years I have fed you, clothed you, and given you more than enough time to rectify your uncouth behavior.”

The fan tapped against Lady Rothwell’s palm once more.

“Clearly, you need more discipline.”

She pointed the tip at the former princess.

“So make sure the palace is spick and span by the time we return. Sweep the halls, clean out the hearth, wash our clothes–”

“I’m aware of what must be done and when,” Ash’s glare fixated on the queen. “Your Majesty.”

A sharp swipe cracked in the air, echoing through the room. Willa and Georgette flinched in unison.

Ash, dumbfounded, reached up until her fingertips brushed along the fresh reddened skin of her cheek. It stung. Bitter copper glazed over her tongue— a sign something had been bitten. Her head turned slow, eyeing her stepmother’s belligerent hand.

The queen was livid, fan held tight at her side while her free hand drew back. She shook it once as if it’d been dirtied.

“I was right all along. You’re not worthy of being a princess.” The fan unfurled, fluttering an inch below the eyes. “A loathsome, arrogant wench is nothing short of a disgrace to her parents’ legacy.”

Her eyes softened, though not with the warmth or kindness she reserved for her daughters. No, it was that venomous gaze— a serpent mocking its prey.

“What will it take for you to finally act like royalty?”

There wasn’t anything Ash could do but lower her head.

Lady Rothwell turned on her heel.

“The palace better be spotless by the time we return. Perhaps then, you’ll have thought about what you’ve done.”

She cleared her throat, smiling over her daughters.

“Come along, darlings. We must not waste the day.”

Their footsteps were the last Ash heard of them. Out the door, down the stairs, and toward the carriage until the last hoofbeat of its horses could no longer be heard. She stood in the now empty room, alone, nursing her cheek with one hand.

She thought she was strong enough to look that woman in the eye. Even now, it was difficult to raise her head to her.

However, a small smile curled upon her lips as she exhaled. She wasn’t fazed. Not one bit. It may not have been a full victory, but Ash did accomplish one thing.

She stood up to them. After so many years suffering through their torment, she finally stood up to them. It was worth the pain in a way.

This was nothing.

No regrets would be left behind. Her resolve was clear. Ash raised her head, hands clenched into tight fists.

If there was a time to act, this was it.

☙ ♡ ❧