I arrived to dinner in the one plain black dress Lorna allowed me to wear for basically any occasion that did not include my chores or market visits. It was shapeless and adorned by nothing; a statement dress meant to suggest my low standing in the house. I didn't care about clothes, however, and as I entered the dining room I couldn't help but laugh a little inside at the dressy show Didi and Anna always put on for such arbitrary occasions; they wore matching floor-length dresses—one in a sea foam green color, the other in a shiny gold. Dyed feathers stuck out of their dresses at random angles and covered their shoulders, wrapping down their sleeves and cuffs. Though my step sisters were twins, they were only alike in their sneering bad attitudes and indulgent lifestyles. Didi was a towering, dark haired girl of seventeen whose smile always seemed painful and forced. Her lips would otherwise stay pinched together as her beady eyes set above her jutting cheekbones constantly picked me apart. Anna had a round face and a full figure, her curly blonde mane was always tangled in ribbons of every color, and she was the more child-like of the two, her demands often turning into fits of screaming and tears. The first time I had met them, I was six. Nothing had changed between us since then, to summarize it all.

"Mary," Anna chirped, "how does your garden grow?"

I ignored the quip and found my usual seat at the far end of the table, opposite Lorna who was flanked on each side by the sisters.

Lorna cleared her throat gratuitously, "Now girls, we have many things to discuss—but first, let's entertain a moment of silent for our lost caregiver, Frances. May he rest in peace."

The three of them closed their eyes and fell silent. Why Lorna chose to honor my father this way after years of abusing me, I could not truly fathom. These moments were always quite uncomfortable.

"Now," she continued, her eyes alight with news, "we are going to have two new dresses made for you, girls, for a very special happening is to occur in just two days!"

My stomach secretly flopped at her words, but any change of expression on my face was disregarded as Didi and Anna clapped their hands in delight, "What is it, mother?" Didi exclaimed.

Just then, one of the servants rolled in a tray of food and began setting the plates on the table.

"A ball!" Lorna gushed in an uncharacteristic way, "a ball just for you! If you attend, you will dance with Prince Stefan!"

Here, Didi groaned audibly, "Mother! I know all about this ball, and it is impossible! The guests have already been chosen, years and years ago! The Duchess Margaret was telling me all about it last week—the rotten woman, knowing fully of my disadvantage!"

Lorna's eyes flashed, "Listen to me," her voice was sharp, "neither of you are at a disadvantage, for we have friends in high places and your presence at the ball is not only welcome, but much anticipated!"

Anna laughed cacaphonously, "Such cunning, mama! Who was it?"

Lorna's smile was devilish, "It was Lord Terrowin, distant cousin of the King's. We've stricken up a deal, of sorts. He's been quite a friend."

Something of that statement made me shudder. And then their eyes fell on me.

"As for you," Lorna quipped, her bony finger cringing in my direction, "you will stay as far away as possible from the castle that evening," she stuffed an olive in her mouth and sucked loudly, her gleaming eyes regarding me with distrust.

Her words made my stomach hot, "If I get an invitation to go to the ball, surely I'm entitled by the law." My words were calm as I tried to sound indifferent. There was no way she could find out about my invitation, my ticket to freedom.

Didi and Anna snickered to each other; I set my eyes determinedly on my step mother.

"You have no business being there," she said curtly, "especially without an invitation." Her eyes regarded me with scrutiny, watching me closely.

I remained expressionless, though my heart was racing.

"I am surprised we haven't received an invitation for her yet," Didi piped in, "what with her father being one of the wealthiest men in the kingdom—maybe they've forgotten about her, since he's gone now."

"Poor Mary!" Anna wailed ironically.

Didi cackled at the joke, and joined in to create a chorus of mockery. I helped myself to some beef and carrots and kept my eyes on my plate as they teased.

"Enough," Lorna barked, "let's not lose sight of what is important here," she turned to the girls, clearing her throat again, "should the Prince dance with you and like what he sees, you will be invited back to the castle for the next ball—only, as a special guest. He can only pick one girl, you know, and surely there will be at least a hundred."

The girls fell silent and wide eyed. Images of them rolling in royal money streamed through my mind offensively. Something told me, in my heart, that they could only reach that status through dishonest means. No prince in his right mind would willingly choose either Didi or Anna to make his bride.

"You will need dresses," Lorna continued, "the best that can be made. By now, I'm sure, Fanta the Dressmaker is probably up to her ears in orders—so I've reached out to Lord Terrowin to put in an order with a dressmaker in his country, and I've heard her tastes run rather extravagantly, but at the height of fashion. She will be arriving tomorrow afternoon to take your measurements. She is quick, and can have them ready almost overnight, which is what we need."

"Oh, mother!" Anna exclaimed, clapping her hands together in excitement.

"We will need jewels, surely!" Didi said.

"Don't call me Shirley," Lorna replied tightly, "and I've also taken care of that. It's only a matter of reaching into Frances's vault. His first wife had all the jewels a woman could need, and now they sit there untouched and forgotten. We will choose the most beautiful ones and they will be yours to keep, especially after one of you are chosen to be his queen!"

Those are my jewels by rights. My mother would never have seen you wearing them, I thought to myself with disgust.

"Do any of these matters involve me, or have I joined you simply for the taste of stew?" I cut in, unable to hide the annoyance from my tone.

"Actually," Lorna began, turning to me with a tight smile, "this involves you entirely, my dear. You'll be taking a little trip this weekend."

I raised my eyebrows, confused, "A trip…? Where could I possibly-"

"To Lord Terrowin's home in the country. He'd like to meet you." Lorna said, cutting into her food with precision, "Before he agrees to marry you, of course."

I reacted faster than I could even process what she had said. I was on my feet, my hands were sweaty and my heart beat hard in my chest, "What does that mean?"

"Exactly what I said," Lorna replied coldly, "he's done us a huge favor by connecting us to the monarchy. And he's a lonely man; I believe he's never even married before. So there you go, all the security and wealth you could ever want in repayment for ours—and look at you, you appear so ungrateful."

"I don't even know this man!" I exclaimed, my throat tightening with emotion.

Lorna dropped her fork onto her plate and allowed it to clatter rudely as she also got to her feet, "This is not up for discussion. In fact, it has already happened. I've kept you in this house for over a decade and now I'm giving you the chance for a new life. You owe it to your sisters to impress Lord Terrowin. Don't you dare think of robbing them of the opportunity of a great life."

I simply couldn't believe it. Her voice echoed through my mind painfully, her words growing farther and farther away with every terrible thing she said. I could hardly reply anymore, but I had to fight this, "There must be another way!"

"There isn't," Lorna shrugged, though her posture was still tense, "and I think we'd all be better off if you were just gone. Don't pretend that you love us, I know what you think. What more could I do for you here?"

"I'm nothing to you!" I shouted, my voice breaking, "I've always been nothing! You've been planning on this all along—to just get rid of me, and to be able to keep my father's money and live here like I never was! You've robbed me of everything!" The tears were streaming down my face, hot and fresh. Didi and Anna were uncharacteristically quiet, but they were now miniscule in my mind. All I could feel was total and complete despair.

"You're right," Lorna returned, her voice gradually rising as she stood in my opposition, "you are nothing to me. But my girls are everything and I will do what I can to see them succeed. You will leave here and whatever happens after that is not in my interests. But you will leave, first and foremost, and soon. Until then, I will be watching you closely. If you do anything—anything—to get in the way of this, I will make sure you will never have freedom again. Are we clear?"

"Freedom?" I breathed, my voice shaking, "I've never been free. You can't take away something I've never had. You're evil!" I shouted, "Evil!" I pounded the table with my fists; never before in my life had I been this angry, this hurt. I was blinded with anger, and my shouts brought some worried servants into the hall, who threw some nervous glances at Lorna. She gave them a single nod, and two of them wrapped their arms around my body—I was still crying, shaking, trying to catch my breath and I was shouting at her as they pulled me away. I was led up to my staircase and given no choice but to return to my room as they guarded my door. I locked it behind me when I entered and threw myself onto my bed to weep until I fell asleep. The feeling was indescribable; I could've thrown myself out the window in despair at that moment… but I wrapped my arms around my pillow and held on as tight as I could as the moments passed and eventually faded away.

So I slept.