Semua Bab Reign Evermore: Once Upon A Lottery: Bab 11 - Bab 18

The palace felt impossibly vast in the late afternoon light, corridors stretching in endless lines of polished marble and gilded arches. Everleigh moved carefully through them, her footsteps soft but deliberate, each echo a reminder that she was alone now. The first cut had left her reeling, but it also made something painfully clear: she could not rely on anyone but herself. Rowan was nowhere to be seen, and the comfort of his presence was only a memory.She clutched the edges of her dress as she walked, her mind replaying the faces of those dismissed. Half of the girls gone, tears and whispers lingering in the hall like a bitter perfume. The thought of the smaller second cut looming over them tightened her chest. Every misstep mattered. Every glance, every word, every small imperfection could mark her for dismissal.As she rounded a corner, she caught sight of Krystal, standing near the far end of the hall, her posture flawless, her expression carefully neutral. The other girls whis

The dining hall of the Academy was grand enough to make even the proudest noble pause. Long polished tables gleamed beneath the golden chandeliers. The air smelled faintly of honeyed bread, spiced meats, and roasted vegetables—aromas that tugged painfully at the stomachs of those who had grown up hungry. Everleigh lingered at the back of the procession of girls as they entered, her eyes wide at the sheer abundance.It was almost cruel. She could still remember nights of gnawing hunger when her mother and she had shared a crust of bread so hard it cracked between her teeth. And now—now the tables were weighed down with dishes she’d only seen in storybooks.Roasted pheasants, their skins golden and glistening. Thick loaves of honey bread, sliced and steaming. A rich stew bubbling in a cauldron near the head table, thick with chunks of venison and root vegetables. Silver goblets filled with watered wine and crystal pitchers that caught the candlelight.Around her, murmurs rose from the g

The dining hall buzzed with subdued chatter as the girls gathered for supper. Everleigh moved carefully through the rows of long tables, balancing her tray with the simple meal that had been prepared for them. Compared to the modest fare she had been used to, this was luxurious—but far less than the rich, elaborate meals that Krystal and the other noble-born girls had grown accustomed to. Everleigh’s hand tightened around the edge of the tray as she caught Krystal complaining about the portions again, her voice shrill and dripping with disdain.Everleigh didn’t respond; she had learned already that words in the heat of irritation only gave the noble girls power. Instead, she focused on her meal, savoring each bite quietly, and allowed the room to hum around her as she finished. She noticed other girls sneaking glances at her, whispering to one another, and for a moment, a pang of unease stirred within her. But she reminded herself that she had survived worse attention at the lottery a

Everleigh awoke to the soft golden light spilling through the tall windows of her room. The morning air carried a faint chill, and she shivered lightly as she swung her legs over the edge of the bed. The dream from the night before clung stubbornly to her mind, like mist refusing to lift. Masked dances, explosions, Krystal’s mocking laughter, Rowan’s pained gaze—they haunted her still.She rose slowly, her bare feet brushing against the cool stone floor. Today, like every day at the Academy, she would wear the assigned white dress—a gown identical to those worn by every other girl. The long, flowing sleeves brushed her wrists, the high neckline pressed gently against her collarbone, and the bodice was simple, unadorned, leaving little room for personal expression. Yet, as she smoothed the fabric over her shoulders, she reminded herself that poise and grace could speak where fabric could not.Her hair fell freely over her shoulders, unadorned and natural. She brushed it carefully, mind