Eveline stared at the necklace lying in her palm.
Its chain was tangled, dulled by dust and blood. She let out a hollow laugh.
"What a joke," she muttered.
She crouched down, carefully gathering the broken shards scattered across the floor. Her hands shook. One sharp edge slipped.
"Ow.."
Blood welled at her fingertip. Without thinking, she brought it to her lips, sucking gently until the sting faded. A knock sounded. "Go away," she didn't want to talk with anyone.
The door opened anyway. Madam Rubin stepped in.
Her sharp eyes swept over the wrecked room, her lips curling in distaste. "It's been a long time since I've seen you destroy your own space," she said coolly. "Must feel good, finally venting."
Eveline snorted softly. "You're here again." She looked up, eyes cold.
"Did you come to bless my marriage, Mother? As a dutiful figure of affection?"
Her sarcasm was sharp enough to cut. Rubin smiled thinly and moved deeper into the room, settling into a chair, she gave out an air of elegance.
"I'm proud of you," she said. "You've done well infiltrating the palace. You've survived three vipers and secured yourself a stable position." Eveline's jaw tightened.
"The princess has arrived," Rubin continued lightly. "You can finally begin plotting your revenge. Why stop there? Kill the king while you're at it."
Eveline stood.
"You know what I'm grateful for?" she said quietly. "You gave me bread when I was starving. Clothes when I had nothing. You gave me something that looked like a home." She met Rubin's eyes.
"But with all due respect, you are a fucking bitch."
Rubin's smile vanished.
"Revenge buried you and me in the past," Eveline went on, voice trembling but firm. "It's time to move on, if you can't do that, then leave. Don't ruin what little life I have left."
Smack... The sound echoed. Eveline's head snapped to the side. Her cheek burned as she stumbled back.
Rubin rose, fury blazing across her face. "You ungrateful little wretch," she spat. "After everything I did for you?"
Her voice rose, sharp and venomous. "You want a mother? I can't give you that. The woman who would have been your mother was murdered by the royal family, and now you're afraid."
Eveline's breath hitched.
"You slaughtered masters and mistresses without blinking," Rubin continued coldly. "You were thrilled. And now that the truth stands in front of you, you want to back out?"
She scoffed. "I thought you were better than this.. Pathetic coward."
The door slammed shut behind her. Eveline's legs gave out.
She slid to the floor, trembling. Another knock followed.
"Please," she whispered hoarsely. "Just leave me alone."
"My lady," a servant said from outside, hesitant. "Her Majesty requests your presence at a family dinner." The room smelled faintly of blood and dust. Her cheek still burned where the slap had landed, a sharp reminder that no matter how far she ran, the past could still reach her.
She pressed her palm to the spot, breathing slowly. Don't cry.
Madame Rubin always told her, "crying was a luxury, one despicablepeoplelike them can never afford. "
She rose unsteadily and began cleaning again, methodical, almost numb. All the shards were picked by her, blood flowed from her fingers but she couldn't care less.
Her finger throbbed where she had cut it earlier. The blood had dried now, dark against her skin.
She finished just as the sun dipped lower, shadows stretching long across the chamber walls.
For a brief moment, she lay on the bed, staring at the canopy above, wondering how she had gone from a nameless survivor to the center of the palace's gaze in less than a moon's cycle.
Then came the knock, again.
Her jaw tightened. She was really tired of hearing knocks today.
Lily entered, her face carefully blank, eyes avoiding Eveline's. "My lady," she said stiffly, "Her Majesty requires your presence in the ballroom. Immediately." Eveline sat up. Of course. No time to breathe. No time to heal.
She rose and allowed Lily to dress her, the silen between them heavy and uncomfortable. The gown was fine, too fine. Soft fabric, intricate stitching, the kind meant to remind its wearer who owned her now.
As Lily adjusted the clasp, Eveline spoke quietly.
"I shouldn't have shouted at you this morning." Lily's hands stilled for half a second before resuming.
"I am a servant," she replied softly. "My feelings are not required."
That hurt more than Eveline expected, she muttered slightly,"I'm still sorry, you didn't deserve it."