I struggled with myself as I made my way down to the library, the giddy debutantes streaming down alongside me on their way to the stables. I was being punished by being excluded, but if I defied the queen again, I'd surely be forced to endure something far worse than a day spent in a library. Unwilling to find out exactly what lengths she'd go to in order to ensure my malleability, I forced down my disappointment and installed myself at a table in the dusty library.

The head librarian was just as much of a fool as Xavier had said. I had to produce the queen's list before he even so much as allowed me to sit down. When it took him the better part of a half hour to lug out the tomes I required, I wondered aloud whether he was deliberately sabotaging me. I forced myself to look on the bright side, which was the single slanting beam of sunlight that fell onto the table, as much a reminder of the day I was missing out on as a comfort that at least I hadn't been sent to the more dungeonous bowels of the library.

I read and read and wrote and wrote until I was about to go cross-eyed from the convoluted legal text. After the second item on the list, I realized that the queen was asking me to look up a history of military treaties and accords to summarize the terms. Eventually, I stretched my arms out and twisted my aching back, wondering how my brother could find researching in libraries to be anything more than mind-numbing, time-consuming tedium.

When the clocktower chimed three, I gave a little yelp when I realized I was not yet even halfway through the list. I hastened my pace as the sun sank, the golden pool of light slipping from the table to the floor. It was only when I could barely see my own writing that I struggled with the provided candle and flint-box. It was a race against the clock now if I wanted to attend that evening's ball and I had every intention of telling Andrew exactly what his mother had put me up to as a punishment for our kiss.

I'll admit that my last three summaries were hasty and that I'd skimmed the better part of the official documents, but when the clock chimed seven I knew I had to leave. I gathered up my papers, snuffing the candle and hurrying as fast as my feet could take me back to my suite. Unsurprisingly, Millie was hovering, clearly sent to prevent me from preparing for the ball unless I turned over my summaries. She gave no more than a quick glance at them before she nodded, allowing Brenna and Elspeth to sweep me into a hurried toilette. As per usual, the queen's maid had already chosen my dress, a vibrant, cardinal red silk concoction with strict instructions to pull my hair back and adorn me with diamonds, not rubies.

I didn't much care what I wore, my eyes flicking to the grandfather clock in the corner as the time ran away. I could hear the other debutantes leaving their suites before Brenna had even started on my hair. Gone was my goal to be prepared for the beginning of the ball, but I insisted my maids hurry up so I would at least be present to secure Andrew's first dance. After forcing down my bitter disappointment the entire day, I didn't think I could face watching him grant my dance to someone else.

Brenna was still attempting to push extra pins into my hair when I declared myself ready enough to leave. She followed me down the hallway, adjusting my dress and jewels as we went until she finally left me alone near the entrance hall. The music was already playing as I hurried down the staircase, heedless of the stares I was getting from the arriving nobles. I barged into the ballroom, my lungs exhaling a breath I hadn't known I'd been holding when I noticed the empty thrones.

Now that my urgency had abated, I took stock of the room. It was far busier than usual, this ball open once again to more than just the Season's participants. My stomach gave a hungry growl as my eyes landed on the buffet table, my lunch forgotten as I'd toiled away in the library. I'd barely taken three steps in the direction of the food when I was accosted.

"I heard Ella came to speak to you," Annabelle said, putting herself in my path. She had a rueful, apologetic smile on her face, but I felt my hackles rise nonetheless.

"She was quite upset," I said, "If you're here to further press her case, I'll repeat what-"

"Oh heavens no!" Annabelle said, aghast, "If she can't hold on to a man who was that close to a proposal then it's not our place to step in."

I stared at her, frowning.

"She said-" I began, but once again my cousin cut me off.

"She probably said a great many things," Annabelle sighed, "But like you mentioned, she was quite upset. She'll calm down eventually and I'm sure she'll apologize for calling you names."

"She wasn't the only one calling me names, apparently," I said evenly, watching for my cousin's reaction. Predictably, for the briefest of moments her lips flattened into a line before she remembered herself and rolled her eyes with a grin.

"What, do you mean Ashley? Because it's no secret she-" Annabelle started, reaching to link her arm with mine before I pulled away from her

"No, I meant you. Ella said you considered me a traitor and a social climber," I said, my temper spiking thanks to my day of mounting frustration.

"Don't be silly!" Annabelle scoffed, "You're my cousin who's clearly one of the prince's favourites! Why would I call you names when you're my greatest chance at securing a place of prestige for myself?"

I'd opened my mouth to spew something angry and hurtful about Annabelle being the real social climber, but thankfully my words were cut off as the royal fanfare announced the arrival of the monarchs and their children. I left Annabelle in my wake as I made my way towards the dance floor, grinding my teeth despite the smile I'd fixed into place as I looked up towards the thrones.

Seeing Andrew's special smile was enough to push the day's frustrations to the back of my mind. He followed Thomas and Anne down the stairs, bowing before me as I curtseyed.

"Red is a lovely colour on you," he said, "I missed you today, are you feeling well?"

"I'd be feeling better if your mother hadn't banished me to the library," I said as the rest of the dancers secured partners.

"The library?" he repeated, his eyebrows hopping in surprise.

"Treaties and military accords," I said, as he swept me into the dance. His eyes flickered towards the thrones, his mouth pressed into a hard line.

"Indeed," was all he said, until he swallowed and his face relaxed, his eyes landing on mine once again.

"Then it seems we'll have to take a ride to make up for what you missed out on today," he said.

"Is that all?" I asked peevishly. I hadn't realized that I'd been holding out hope that he'd leap to my defense and promise to confront his mother on my behalf.

"Don't make me kiss you again," he said, his eyes lingering on my lips. It was enough to distract me, my cheeks heating at remembering the night before.

"As I recall, I was the one doing the kissing," I said, still pouting.

"Well if my mother insists on punishing you for kissing me, we'll have to be a little more secretive, won't we?" he said, shooting a quick glance in the direction of the little library. But instead of feel the thrill of desire at his words, my mouth turned down into a scowl.

"I thought we were done with secrets," I said. Andrew blinked at my tone and ran his eyes over my face.

"What's wrong, Libby?" he asked eventually, the two of us moving mechanically through the steps of the dance.

"I spent the day in the library when the rest of the palace was out on a ride," I said, aware that I was turning into a petulant toddler but powerless to stop the bitterness from seeping through my thoughts. Andrew kept watching my face, his brow ever so slightly furrowed in dismay.

"Are you quite sure that's all?" he pressed gently.

"What, that's not enough? Shall I go on?" I snapped. His head reeled back ever so slightly and I shook my head to clear it. It wasn't fair for me to take my temper out on him, but he wasn't doing anything to help me feel better besides promise things I knew would simply anger the queen more. And the more time went on, the more I discovered that I was the only one suffering under her brutal thumb.

"I can't disappear just yet, but as soon as I can you and I are going to sit down and talk," Andrew said firmly, "Because clearly there is something on your mind that you're not sharing with me."

I stared moodily over his shoulder, the rest of the dance passing us by in silence before he took a step back to bow to me. He captured my hand, pressing his lips to it as he looked up at me.

"Please try to enjoy yourself, I'll find you soon," he said in parting. I stood where he'd left me, watching him go with a mixture of despair and anger. I hated parting ways like this, especially since I knew it was all because of the queen. If she wasn't so darned meddlesome, I'd have enjoyed my first dance with Andrew and I wouldn't be seething inside to see him bow before Dulciana. Annoyingly, the foreign princess was also in red, her own dress far more spectacular than my own.

"It doesn't do to pout on the dance floor," Dorian Fletcher drawled, sidestepping into the vacant spot Andrew had left before me. I took a reflexive step away from him, treading onto the foot of someone approaching behind.

"Forgive me, my lady, but the queen wishes a word," the page said, gallantly ignoring the fact I'd accidentally jammed the heel of my slipper onto his foot.

"The queen, hmm?" Dorian said, lifting an eyebrow. I glanced up to the dais and found a pair of blue eyes watching me.

"Clearly I'm far too busy and important to dance with the likes of you," I said, gathering my skirts to flounce after the page. As I took the steps up to the thrones, I forced up my best impression of the unshakeable Adelaide Winters. The queen was chatting with a trio of her ladies in waiting, arrayed on low stools around her. She watched me as I approached, a pleasant smile on her face as she gestured for me to draw nearer. The ladies in waiting politely continued their conversation as I knelt next to the queen.

"Your work was lackluster at best," she whispered, her pleasant expression never wavering despite the ice in her eyes.

"Lackluster..." I repeated, schooling my breathing. Her smile broadened into something dangerous.

"I expect a better draft by morning," she said through her smile, "So I would recommend you return to the library at once, unless you plan on disappointing me."

I held her stare as the floodgates in my mind burst.

The queen was still staring at me as I vainly attempted to quell the tempest in my head. My capacity for civility had vanished, drowned by the hatred that rolled over me in waves as I faced off against Andrew's mother.

"I fail to see any path forward which doesn't disappoint you," I said, my tone clipped as I fought to maintain what little restraint I had left, "And since I don't consider you someone who grants forgiveness easily, I won't bother asking for it."

When I turned to go, she snagged my arm in a bruising grip.

"You defied me once and paid a very small price, girl," she said through her teeth, "I would advise you to consider your choice carefully. If there is no summary on my desk by breakfast time tomorrow, the price you will pay will be far steeper than last time."

"Is this how you negotiate with your advisors? Because perhaps they'll be more willing to bend under your threats," I said, pulling my arm from her grasp. Her eyes widened, the shock of my words enough to loosen her grip so I could escape.

I dashed down the steps to the dance floor as quickly as my skirts would allow, my heart hammering so fast I could hardly breathe in my corset. I had no intention of returning to the library. I was through with bowing to the queen's ridiculous requests, regardless of the price she'd demand I pay. I was through with her bullying, with her attempts to shape me into the Adelaide Winters version of myself, so I set off to find the one person who could tear her off my back.

My blood boiled when I spotted Adelaide hovering near where Andrew was dancing, clearly waiting to ambush him for his next dance. Dulciana, meanwhile, was simpering up at him as Andrew chatted with her through their dance. Deciding that I needed food and I needed it fast, I whirled and stormed towards the buffet table, only to run slam into the formal jacket I'd only recently escaped.