CHAPTER 5

For the most part, the night was less stressful than Romaine assumed it would be… up until she heard her aunt Alba’s shrill cackle across the room. Not her… All her positive vibes shattered with the noise.

“Romy! Darling! Where is my beautiful, amazing niece?”

Cringing as she brushed her hair from her face, Romaine collected herself before answering. When she turned, she grinned and held out her arms to embrace her aunt.

“Aunt Alba, I’m so glad you joined the party... We were worried you would be too busy and would not be able to make it.”

“Too busy to come to the Royal Ball and celebrate my beloved niece? Never,” Alba crowed, holding Romaine’s face a bit too tightly in her hands. “Darling, you look more like your mother every day.”

“Just the other day, Father said the same thing,” Romaine replied, waiting impatiently for her to let go.

Since she was a child, romaine always hated the way her aunt would squeeze her face. When Alba did let go, Romaine force