Chapter Five
Etta tried out a smile. One that didn’t look fake. It stretched her face unnaturally, but the family didn’t seem to notice as they waved to her excitedly. A little girl with angelic rosy cheeks ran toward her. “You’re the queen,” she said.
Etta smiled again but this time it wasn’t so forced as she nodded.
“You have hair like mine.” The girl grinned, pulling on her own blonde locks. The sun caught in the strands making them glow golden.
Etta touched the end of her braid. Not so long ago, she’d had to cut it off, and it hadn’t seemed important.
“Sasha!” A petite woman ran up. “Come here.” She curtsied quickly. “I’m sorry, your Majesty.”
She scurried away, pulling the girl alongside her. Etta watched after them, wishing she’d said something. The people who’d returned to Bel
