Tous les chapitres de : Chapitre 11 - Chapitre 20

The footsteps outside the door turned out to belong to nothing more sinister than Farrow, arms full of freshly pressed gowns. She paused only to give Jade a look that said she already knew what kind of morning it had been.“You’re pale,” Farrow said, setting the gowns down on the bed. “I’m fine.”“Mm.” Farrow didn’t push, which somehow felt worse than if she had. “Eat something. You’ve a full afternoon ahead.”Jade let the moment pass without explaining. She was grateful, for once, that Farrow’s silences knew when to stay quiet.*The kennels sat at the edge of the eastern garden, low stone buildings half-hidden behind a hedge. Jade found them mostly by following the sound of barking. A groundskeeper nodded to her as she approached and kept walking, already back to his work.Two dogs came bounding the moment they saw her — one small and golden, one larger with grey at the muzzle. Both of them wriggling with pure joy that had nothing to do with who she really was.“Biscuit,” Jade said,

Some mornings felt wrong before anyone even spoke.Jade felt it the moment she woke. The palace was too quiet, like everyone was holding their breath, she didn’t know why. She sat by the window with Marigold’s head on her knee and thought, this day is going to be bad.She was right.*Aaron came early. No letter this time. Just that tight look on his face as always, like a man who preferred giving bad news before anyone had a chance to eat.“Your Majesty.” He bowed once. “The southern court has sent word. They no longer wish to wait. They want the announcement made within the fortnight.”Adrian’s jaw tightened at once.“A fortnight,” he said, like he was testing the word.“They’re growing suspicious of the delay. If we push it any further, they’ll start asking questions we can’t afford to answer.”Adrian was quiet for a long moment. When he finally spoke, his voice was flat.“Then we tell her today.”*Farrow’s knock broke the quiet of Jade’s morning.“His Majesty requests your presenc

Somewhere between the third fitting and the hundredth curtsy, Jade had stopped noticing she was pretending. By the second month, she didn’t even think about the way she walked anymore. She crossed the room with her shoulders back and chin up without even noticing it. Vosk sat nearby with her tea and didn’t correct her. That bothered Jade more than any mistake.She stopped by the window and looked at herself in the glass. A small smile was already on her face, she hadn’t even tried to smile. It just came naturally, it was the same smile Vosk had made her practise during her first week. Jade touched her mouth and frowned. When had she started doing that without thinking?“You’re staring,” Vosk said.“I’m thinking.”Jade turned away from the window. She didn’t want to think about it anymore.That evening, Jade sat alone in her room. The fire was almost out. She went over everything in her head.The note, three torn words. No name nor seal. Someone wanted to warn her. Or maybe they wanted

The summons came without warning, delivered by a servant Jade didn't recognize, carrying only four words: The Queen requests you.Jade’s stomach dropped. In two months, Margaret had never called for her directly. They had only met by chance, usually when they happened to be in the same place or in front of the entire household. Margaret had never asked to see her.She found Margaret in her private sitting room, seated by the window with her hands folded neatly in her lap, the posture of a woman bracing herself for a conversation she didn't want to have."You wanted to see me," Jade said carefully as she entered the room properly."Sit."Jade sat down. The silence between them went on for so long that she started counting her heartbeats just to keep herself busy. Finally, Margaret spoke. Her voice came out calm and flat. Jade could tell she had already thought about what she was going to say."There will be a ball," Margaret said. "To formally welcome you back to court. The date has bee

Jade had exactly three seconds of peace before Nessa ruined it.She was deep asleep having the best dream she'd had since arriving at this palace — something involving warm bread, no corsets, and absolutely no one calling her "Your Highness." She smiled through the smile, visible on her face. But it died down when a hand shook her shoulder and dragged her straight back into reality."Your Highness. Your Highness, wake up."Jade groaned, burying her face deeper into the pillow. "Five more minutes.""You don't have five minutes. Mrs. Farrow says the Queen's requested you within the hour, and you know how she reacts about lateness."Jade cracked one eye open quickly searching for the direction of the voice. Nessa stood over the bed, her hands worked quickly. She was already pulling back the curtains, letting the morning light into the room. Jade had never appreciated it so much after a full night’s sleep.Still half-asleep, Jade felt unusually light that morning. She couldn't remember th