Chapter 1

I coughed up a mouthful of blood and lay facedown on the ground, barely able to push myself up.

For a moment, something like worry flashed across Mother's face.

But Ilona snuggled into Mother's arms, looking wounded. "Lucia is so good at putting on an act. She must be jealous of me. She doesn't want me to become Queen of the Elves!"

Before Mother could change her mind, Ilona snapped at two sprites. "What are you waiting for? Lock her up so she can think about what she's done!"

I was shoved down into the dark, damp underground cell. Layer after layer of guardian vines twisted across the doorway and sealed it shut.

Forest elves need sunlight, and down in that gloomy cell, the pain grew worse.

It hurt so much. My flesh seemed to be dissolving from the inside out, my body slowly falling apart. It hurt so much...

"Mother, please help me..." I called out weakly. Through the narrow gaps in the vines, all I could see was Mother walking away arm in arm with Ilona, laughing and chatting.

I couldn't hold on any longer. My body hit the ground hard.

I died. But my soul didn't fade away. It drifted up out of the cell.

Mother and Ilona were in the garden, looking at the gown the tailor had just delivered.

The Forest Festival was coming up. On that day, every adult elven woman would wear a beautiful gown, hoping to catch the Elf Prince's eye.

Any girl lucky enough to win the Elf Prince's hand could raise her whole family above everyone else.

Every year around this time, Mother had a dazzling gown made for Ilona, woven from all kinds of flowers.

Meanwhile, I was usually told to wear the plainest green dress.

Mother always said, "You're a few years older than your sister, so you've already had more of our love. You need to let her come first in everything."

My parents really had loved me once. Even when we weren't rich, they gave me the best they could afford.

Father used to carry me on his shoulders to catch butterflies. Mother used to hold me and sing me lullabies.

Even my sister, when she was little, used to sneak me the candy she'd hidden away and couldn't bear to eat herself.

But as Ilona grew up and her health got worse, everything changed.

Just because I was the healthier one, I never came first again.

When Ilona broke Father's treasured vase, Mother blamed me for not watching her closely enough and made me take the fall. I had to stand in the cold spring for three days as punishment.

When the family took Ilona on trips, they left me home alone.

I used my healing power to make plants grow and bear enchanted fruit, but every last piece was used to build up Ilona's strength...

Now Ilona stood in her flower gown, basking in everyone's praise, while I lay dead and alone in a freezing cell.

It was so cold. The kind of cold that sinks into your bones.

I crept up beside Mother. As a soul, I could get as close as I liked, and I greedily tried to soak up a little of her warmth. But then I heard Ilona say, "Mother, I'll go show Lucia my gown and bring her something to eat."

Since when was Ilona ever that kind?

Mother gently stroked Ilona's hair. "You're such a sweet, thoughtful girl, Ilona. Not like your sister. She's always so selfish. She can't even make a wish for you without making a fuss."

That's not true. It's not!

I'd told her before, "Wishing on the lamp always comes at a price." And once, Mother had believed me.

The first time I used the lamp to heal Ilona's wound, I coughed up blood. Mother gathered morning dew herself, sat by my bed, and helped me drink it, her heart aching for me.

But once she learned I could heal myself, she gradually changed.

Money. Power. The more they wanted, the weaker I got. But because my healing magic was so strong, Mother decided I was faking it.

The more I hesitated before making a wish, the more she called me selfish. The weaker I was afterward, the more she accused me of putting on a show.

I smiled bitterly. Mother, now that I'm dead, will you finally believe me?