Page 163 of Blood of the Fairest

“Loudly proclaim that they are a creep who didn’t have permission to touch me, and remind them that people will get…b-beheaded for touching royals without permission,” she recites, though that last part makes her grimace.

“And?”

“And knee them hard between the legs if they try to touch me again, then go find you.”

“You nailed it. But again, you’re getting knife lessons soon, since pepper spray sadly isn’t a thing here,” I sigh. “Okay, go have fun.”

Snow White flashes one more bright smile at me before taking Ingrid’s hand to lead her away. The girls chatter with excitement as they weave through the crowd toward the treats.

Although the ballroom is now filled with people, everyone still gives me plenty of space. The Isenmerian guards have retreated to stand alert with other guards at the edge of the room.

Anika is still beside me, taking in the grandeur. I’m also pretty sure Eris is still hanging out in my reflective mask.

But already, my eyes are skimming the crowd of ostentatious people chatting happily. Everyone seems excited to be here. A few are still casting looks at me and whispering behind their gloves, but I’m not invested enough in Rhinestone’s reputation in Aurefeld to care much.

I’m too busy wondering how the hell I’m going to recognize Cinderella.

In the old fairy tales I grew up reading, Cinderella waits until her stepmother and stepsisters have finished bullying her before they head off to the festival. Then she goes to the hazel tree watered by her own tears at her mother’s grave and asks it for gold and silver. The bird in the tree throws down a gold-and-silver dress and gold-and-silver embroidered slippers, which she puts on before rushing to the festival, too.

I’m assuming that means she’ll be wearing gold and silver in this twisted fairytale world…but holy shit, there are already a lot of gowns here that match that description.

Should I just wait by the door for her to arrive fashionably late?

I start to turn to retrace my steps through the chattering crowd, but I blink when Anika steps to one side to keep me in front of her.

“Wait,” she mutters. “He’s about to look over here, and suddenly I feel like this mask is not enough.”

I realize that the dais is no longer empty. Prince Leif stands there now in another excellent cape suit, scanning the crowd with obvious intent. He has a mask on, but the crown is a giveaway.

“Whatever happened to I won’t shun him?” I laugh, stepping aside again so she has no human shield.

“That was before I saw him,” Anika huffs, fanning herself with her hand. “You didn’t mention he looks like that now. Crones, he got tall and…”

“Gorgeous,” I supply. “He’s gorgeous, you’re gorgeous, so go be fucking gorgeous together.”

She looks dubious—but sure enough, the mask was not enough to disguise Anika’s distinctive beauty, because Prince Leif seems to have spotted her. He’s already descending the stairs, offering tight smiles and quick replies to the many nobles and ballroom-goers who try to get his attention as he makes a beeline through the crowd toward us.

Before he reaches us, a hush falls over the entire ballroom as King Roderik and Queen Gisela finally step out onto the dais from a side door. Another man is with them. He’s wearing a gold masquerade mask that obscures most of his face and is dressed in a white cape suit just as ornate as Prince Leif’s.

“There he is. Future Mr. Cinderella,” I mutter to myself.

“Future who?” Eris asks from my mask, startling me.

Since I can’t see him, I’ll just have to treat this like we’re on a Bluetooth call until I take off this mask.

“Never mind,” I tell him.

I shut up quickly when Anika shoots me a look like she’s wondering who the fuck I’m talking to.

Since I may not be able to recognize Cinderella, maybe I should just shadow Aurefeld’s second prince. He’s supposed to fall head over heels and spend the whole night dancing with her, so all I have to do is tag along and wait for the right moment to ask for a second of her time.

King Roderik waits until the ballroom gets a little quieter before he greets everyone in a booming voice.

“Honored guests, welcome. We begin this festival with a performance unlike any you may have seen before. With my blessing and the explicit permission of the Church of Thirteen Lights, please enjoy a magical performance by the famed Pied Piper himself.”

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Verena