Semua Bab Will Bear the Moon: Bab 321 - Bab 324

*Ana*My feet throb with each step, twelve dances already behind me and who knows how many still to come. I press my painted smile wider as Lord Arden finally releases my hand."Please," I say, the muscles in my cheeks aching from hours of practiced pleasantries. "Enjoy the party, Lord Arden."My fingertips tingle unpleasantly as I pull them from his iron grasp, pressing them against the front of my gown before he can snatch them up again. I've endured so many wet kisses tonight that my skin feels coated in a film that makes me want to scrub my hands raw. But an Empress does not flee to the nearest washing basin, no matter how tempting. Duty first. Always duty.Lord Arden finally bows, a wafting smell of old cedar and stale perfume rising as he turns. But not before his pale red eyes travel from my face to the single rebellious curl that has escaped from beneath my crown—that telltale sign of my half-blood status. The familiar look of subtle disdain crosses his face before he retreats

*Pendwick*"Until you return," Pendwick murmured under his breath, but she did not hear him over the crescendo of the strings, the cheerful music mocking him with its brightness. Each note stabbed like tiny daggers as he yet again had to watch her go. It always seemed to happen that way—too late, too slow, too soft.Always out of his reach, running.Pendwick could only watch as Ana reached the silver glass doors. When she pulled them back, a sharp and bitter snap of wind knifed through, sweeping back into the great hall and extinguishing the nearest candles with violent puffs of smoke. The intrusive cold sent her shawl billowing with a melodic click of chains and crown, lifting the veil of perpetual red to reveal the true beauty underneath. Her bundled coils of silver hair—neatly braided and gleaming like moonrays against the black sea—caught the remaining light. The rush of air carried the tang of salt and ice from outside mingled with something sweeter, something uniquely Ana—sandal