*Aloria*
The Prince's gaze slices through the air like a blade, and I can feel the weight of his scrutiny pressing against my skin. The moment stretches, and I wonder if I should bow my head, hide from the storm brewing in his cold blue eyes. But just as I gather my courage to break the silence, my mother’s voice cuts through the haze.
“Remove the cape, Aloria,” she commands, her tone leaving no room for argument. “We must not create a scene.”
A surge of indignation rushes through me. This is not just a dress; this is my dignity laid bare before a crowd that awaits my every move like vultures circling a fallen creature. Yet, the cape feels heavier than my mother’s expectations. I hesitate, my fingers trembling as they trace the fabric’s edge, but the weight of her command compels me. Wi
