On the night of the Second Ball, Charlotte helped me add the finishing touches to my costume.

My sheer butterfly wings hung close to my shoulders, not extending too far, just enough to show. My hair was up and mostly hidden under a sea of brightly colored flowers. My mask covered most of my face.

leaving only my mouth and chin exposed.

Looking in the mirror, I barely recognized myself. I doubted anyone else would either. Despite what he

said, I even had my doubts about Nicholas.

Charlotte handed me my gloves one by one as I slid them on.

“Tonight, you can be anyone,” she said.

No one would know me. No one would know that I’m the outsider tonight. I would simply be part of the

group.

I nodded, unsure what to say. I didn’t know how that made me feel. I wasn’t ashamed of who I was, but I

had always wondered what it would feel like to belon

I finished getting ready, Elva, in her wolf costume, ran circles

at Mark, who both pretended to

dapper tonight, wearing a crisp tuxedo with Prince Nicholas’s

ball himself, alongside the

we didn’t know each other. If we spent

ballroom would be able to guess my identity simply from Elva’s

hurt me to have

an eye on her myself. If she needed me, I would be there in an instant, rules of

damned.

seem to mind so much. She hugged me

Mommy.” Then

laughed too, just a little. “If you

patted my arm, like I had done

alright.”

right of course. She was in very good hands, and I didn’t need to

about myself. I had no idea

nanny went down to the ballroom first. After waiting a

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