WARNING

This story contains character deaths, sexual themes, graphic violence, swearing, triggers and psychological themes.

Please read at your own discretion

CHAPTER 15

"Madam, where should I put the invitation?" Gerda's voice broke the quiet hum of the room, her expression caught somewhere between confusion and concern as she stepped inside, holding a gilded envelope in her hand.

Anna glanced up from the stack of papers she was reading and grimaced. The mere sight of the envelope made her stomach twist like a tangled knot. "Please put it on my desk, Gerda. Thank you," she said with a polite but tired smile.

Gerda nodded and placed it carefully on the desk, as though the paper might burn her fingers.

From across the room, Kristoff looked up from the stack of documents he was poring over. His brow furrowed as his gaze shifted between Anna and the now-unwelcome pile of invitations cluttering her desk.

"Another one from Lady Tatiana?" he asked, resting his chin in his hand.

Anna sighed, running a hand through her hair. "Yes. Another one."

Kristoff leaned back in his chair, his arms crossed, his expression darkening. "How many times has it been, Anna?"

She shrugged, though the movement felt heavy. "I've lost count," she admitted, her voice quiet. "It feels like every day there's another invitation. Always from someone in her circle."

Kristoff frowned. "You know what she's doing."

"Of course I do." Anna's voice grew sharper, tinged with frustration. "She wants to humiliate me, Kristoff. She's playing her games, and she's using her influence to make sure I'm caught in the middle of it."

The room grew silent for a moment, the weight of Tatiana's name pressing down like a dark cloud. Anna's mind raced, her thoughts like a storm churning inside her. She could almost hear Tatiana's voice in her head—mocking, cruel, and dripping with false sweetness. The invitations weren't just social niceties. They were traps, gilded in gold and lace, meant to ensnare her in public embarrassment.

"I could just… decline," she muttered, more to herself than anyone else. But even as she said it, she knew it wasn't that simple. Declining would be seen as cowardice, as though she couldn't handle the pressure. And she knew Tatiana would seize that opportunity, twisting the narrative to suit her own agenda.

"You don't have to go," Kristoff said, his voice steady but laced with concern. "No one would blame you."

Anna shook her head, her lips pressing into a thin line. "I can't just hide, Kristoff. If I don't go, it'll only make things worse. She'll tell everyone that I'm weak, that I'm not fit to help lead this territory." She glanced at the stack of invitations again, her chest tightening. "And they'll believe her."

Kristoff's frown deepened, his hands clenching into fists. "It's not fair. She shouldn't have this kind of power over you."

"It's not about fairness," Anna said softly, her voice carrying a quiet resignation. "It's about control. She wants to prove that she can pull the strings, that I'm just a puppet in her little game. I understand her restlessness, I really do. But is there any need for her to go this far?"

The words felt bitter in her mouth, like ash. She hated feeling like this—cornered, helpless, like a bird caught in a cage made of silk and thorns. But more than that, she hated how Tatiana's tactics were beginning to chip away at her confidence. She'd always prided herself on her resilience, on her ability to rise above challenges. But this… this felt different.

It felt personal.

It was personal.

Kristoff watched her for a moment, his gaze softening. "Anna," he said, his voice gentle, "you're stronger than she thinks. Don't let her win."

Anna forced a small smile, though it felt fragile. "I'll try not to," she said, though her voice wavered. Deep down, she wasn't sure if she believed her own words.

"Maybe I should go with you," Kristoff offered, leaning forward in his chair. "If I'm there, it might be easier to—"

"No." Anna cut him off, shaking her head. "You have too much on your plate already, and besides… this is something I need to face on my own."

Kristoff hesitated, then nodded, though the worry in his eyes remained. "Alright. But if you need anything—"

"I know," Anna said, her smile softening slightly. "Thank you, Kristoff."

As the room fell silent once more, Anna's gaze drifted back to the gilded envelope on her desk. It seemed to mock her, its delicate script a stark contrast to the turmoil it represented. She took a deep breath, steeling herself.

Tatiana might think she could break her, but Anna refused to crumble. She would face whatever came her way, even if it meant walking into the lion's den again and again. For her people, for her sister, for herself—she would endure.

Even if it hurt. Even if it felt like walking on shards of glass.

…

The moment Anna stepped into the greenhouse, the air seemed to thin, making it just a touch harder to breathe. She could feel the weight of their eyes on her, like tiny needles pricking at her confidence. Laughter faded, replaced by polite smiles and whispers barely hidden behind fluttering fans. The air was thick with the sweetness of roses, but beneath it lingered something acrid, like the scent of a storm waiting to break.

Anna took a deep breath and straightened her shoulders. She wasn't here to be devoured by their niceties disguised as knives. She adjusted the fabric of her gown and stepped further inside, her heels clicking softly against the polished floor.

"Lady Anna, it's such a delight to see you!" Lady Namaari, the host, stood with arms outstretched, her smile as bright as sunlight reflected off a blade.

Anna forced herself to smile back. "The pleasure is mine, Lady Namaari. Thank you for the invitation. This greenhouse is truly stunning." Her voice was calm, measured, but her heart beat just a little too fast.

Lady Namaari gestured toward a seat near the center of the group. "Please, come join us. It's such a rare treat to have you at our gatherings."

Anna's smile tightened at the subtle jab. Rare treat. They always found a way to make it sound like her absence was an offense. "I've been quite busy lately with the relief efforts," she said smoothly as she took her seat, the soft rustle of her gown masking the faint tremor in her hands.

"Oh, of course," one of the younger ladies chimed in, her voice light and lilting. "We've heard about all the work you and Marquis Bjorgman have been doing. Such noble efforts, truly. Though," she paused with a delicate sip of her tea, "one might worry that isolating yourself too much could be...misunderstood by others in society."

Anna's stomach tightened, but she kept her expression serene. "It's true that I've been focused on other matters, but I believe priorities should reflect the needs of the people. Don't you agree?"

"Absolutely," another lady interjected, her fan snapping shut with a decisive click. "Still, it's important to maintain appearances, don't you think? After all, the people look to us not only for leadership but also as examples of refinement and decorum."

Anna's fingers curled around her teacup. "I couldn't agree more," she replied, her voice like silk stretched taut. "Which is why I always ensure that my actions speak louder than appearances. I'd like to think that genuine care and dedication resonate more deeply than how often one attends a tea party."

The ladies exchanged glances, their smiles fixed in place, though a flicker of irritation passed over Namaari's face.

"You've always been so...practical, Lady Anna," Tatiana finally spoke, her voice low and honeyed. "Though I must say, some might interpret practicality as...a lack of engagement with the traditions that bind our society together. Not that I think that, of course."

Anna knew exactly what Tatiana was doing, twisting the narrative to make her seem out of place, an outsider among them. She kept her chin lifted and met Tatiana's gaze directly.

"I've always believed that traditions should evolve to meet the times, Lady Tatiana. After all, isn't our true purpose to serve the people, rather than simply uphold appearances?"

A brief silence followed, the kind that stretched and weighed heavy in the air. Anna could feel the tension coiling around them, but she refused to look away.

Lady Namaari cleared her throat, her smile returning, though it seemed more forced now. "Well said, Lady Anna. Though, I do hope we'll see more of you at our gatherings. It's always refreshing to have...different perspectives in our little circle."

Anna inclined her head slightly, her smile polite but unwavering. "I'll do my best to attend when my duties allow, Lady Namaari. Thank you for your kind invitation today."

The conversation shifted after that, moving to safer topics like the newest fashions and the latest gossip from neighboring regions. Anna listened quietly, nodding and offering the occasional polite comment, but her mind was elsewhere.

As the tea party wore on, she couldn't shake the feeling of being an intruder in their world. Their words, though carefully veiled, sliced at her confidence like paper cuts—small but stinging. They wanted her to feel out of place, to doubt herself. But Anna refused to give them the satisfaction.

As the tea party wore on, Anna couldn't shake the feeling of being an intruder in their world. Their words, though carefully veiled, sliced at her confidence like paper cuts—small but stinging. They wanted her to feel out of place, to doubt herself. But Anna refused to give them the satisfaction.

Then, Lady Scarlet, a vivacious woman with a penchant for dramatics, leaned forward, her tea forgotten as her eyes sparkled with mischief. "Speaking of engagements," she began, her voice light but with a pointed edge, "have I mentioned how attentive Lord Herb has been lately? Why, just the other day, he sent me a bouquet of the most exquisite peonies, flown in from the southern provinces. He's simply the most thoughtful fiancé."

The other ladies cooed and murmured their approval, their voices blending into a symphony of polite envy.

"Ah, but speaking of fiancés," Scarlet continued, turning her gaze toward Tatiana with a sly smile, "Lady Tatiana, we've heard so little about Duke Overland lately. Surely, he must be keeping busy with his duties, but we're dying to know—has he seen you recently?"

The room seemed to still for a moment as all eyes turned to Tatiana. Tatiana, ever the consummate performer, placed a delicate hand on her chest and sighed, her expression a mask of wounded vulnerability.

"Oh, dear Lady Scarlet, you've struck a tender chord. It pains me to admit it, but I do sometimes feel... neglected." She paused, her voice trembling slightly for effect. "Jack is so consumed with his responsibilities that I fear I've become an afterthought."

The ladies gasped softly, their fans fluttering like restless birds. "Surely not, Lady Tatiana," one of them exclaimed, her tone full of exaggerated sympathy.

"But," Tatiana continued, her voice dipping into a dramatic whisper, "perhaps it is because his attention has been drawn elsewhere." Her eyes flicked briefly to Anna, a fleeting but deliberate glance that made Anna's stomach churn.

"After all, it must be difficult for a man to focus entirely on his betrothed when other... distractions linger so close to home."

Anna's hand tightened around her teacup, the porcelain cool but threatening to crack under her grip. She kept her expression calm, though her heart pounded in her chest. She knew where this was going, and so did the others.

"Distractions?" Lady Scarlet asked, feigning ignorance, though her curiosity was palpable.

Tatiana gave a delicate shrug, her lashes fluttering. "Oh, I wouldn't dare say more. It's just... well, I've heard whispers about a certain lady residing in the Bjorgman estate. A quiet presence, perhaps, but one that seems to draw unexpected attention." She sighed, her lips curving into a sad smile.

"It must be so difficult for the Duke to remain steadfast when such... unique circumstances are at play."

The room buzzed with murmurs, and the other ladies turned their sharp gazes toward Anna.

"How troubling," one of them said, her voice sweet but with an undeniable bite. "It's so important for families to respect the boundaries of a man already spoken for. Don't you think, Lady Anna?"

"Indeed," another chimed in. "It would be most unbecoming if... let's say, connections were pursued without considering the feelings of the betrothed. A proper family would never condone such behavior."

Anna's chest tightened, and she could feel the weight of their subtle accusations pressing down on her. Her thoughts swirled like a storm, but she steadied herself, forcing her voice to remain calm.

"With all due respect," she began, lifting her gaze to meet theirs, "Duke Overland and Lady Tatiana are not yet engaged, are they?" She phrased it as a question, her tone light, almost innocent, but her words carried an edge of steel.

A flicker of irritation crossed Tatiana's face before she masked it with another well-practiced smile. "Ah, Lady Anna, you're quite right. Not officially, of course. But such matters are often understood, don't you agree? A gentleman's loyalty should never be questioned, even in the absence of formalities."

Anna gave her a polite smile, though inside she felt a spark of triumph. "I see. Then I trust that the Bjorgman household has done nothing to compromise that loyalty." Her words were measured, calm, and deliberate.

The air in the room grew tense, the unspoken challenge hanging heavily between them. Tatiana's smile faltered for just a moment before she regained her composure, her fan snapping shut with a crisp click.

"Of course not," Tatiana said, her voice syrupy sweet. "After all, the Bjorgman household wouldn't want to invite any unnecessary misunderstandings."

The tension lingered, but Anna held her ground. As the conversation shifted back to safer topics, she felt the weight in her chest ease slightly. The storm had passed, for now, but Anna knew better than to let her guard down. Tatiana wasn't done with her—not by a long shot.

The conversation had taken a dark turn, and Anna could feel the weight of the words pressing down on her, suffocating her. It was a carefully laid trap, and she could hear the soft click of the snare tightening around her as the ladies subtly circled in, each of them probing, baiting, and waiting for her to snap.

One of the women, a slim, sharply dressed lady with sharp features, leaned in slightly, her voice sweet but laced with malice. "Lady Anna," she began, her eyes flicking toward Tatiana with a glance that held more meaning than she knew, "I've heard some curious rumors. There's talk that the lady the Duke is spending so much time with—the one residing in the Bjorgman estate—is... well, how should I say this?" She let the words hang in the air, the meaning clear even before she continued.

"I heard she's actually a gypsy. Is that true?"

"I've heard of that rumor as well! After all, the Duke is always at the center of attention. It is quite concerning for him to be associating himself with people of such…disposition."

"That's right!"

Anna's breath hitched for a moment, her hand instinctively gripping her teacup tighter, the porcelain now cold beneath her fingers. The words stung far more than they should have, the accusation completely unfounded and designed to wound. She could feel the room growing colder, the tension settling over her like a thick fog.

Anna could see Tatiana's expression tightened at the mention of the word "gypsy," her lips thinning in a barely concealed glare. Her eyes narrowed, flicking briefly toward Anna, then back to the woman who had spoken, but she didn't say anything to stop the conversation.

Anna knew she was calculating, watching for Anna's reaction, feeding off her discomfort. The other ladies, eager to see the drama unfold, held their breath, their attention completely focused on Anna.

Her smile faltered, but she didn't let the women see her falter entirely. She took a deep breath, her mind racing.

"I have never heard such a thing about my sister," Anna said evenly, her tone polite but firm.

"As for the rumors, it seems you are more concerned with gossip than with the facts. Perhaps that's where the confusion lies." She tried to keep the edge out of her voice, but the anger was simmering beneath the surface, her heart racing with frustration.

Before anyone could respond, another lady, with a round face and a piercing gaze, interjected, her voice innocent enough but with a tone that carried a hidden venom.

"Oh, but Lady Anna," she said, her words almost sing-song, "I've also heard some rather fascinating things. You know, I've heard that the lady who resides in your house—well, some say she's a runaway. And even more shocking... that she was once involved in the... red light district of the capital. Isn't that just the most scandalous thing?"

The words hung in the air like poison.

Anna could feel the blood rushing to her face, her jaw clenching so tightly that it almost hurt. The room seemed to blur around her, the world narrowing down to this one, small, venomous accusation.

Elsa, her sister—her dear sister, whom she had vowed to protect—was being dragged through the mud by these women's cruel words. And Anna could feel her heart tightening, a mixture of shame for Elsa's past and anger at the baseless lies being spun.

Her voice came out low, controlled, though the fire in her chest burned brighter with each word.

"It is pathetic," Anna said quietly, "and beneath the nobility of this house, to indulge in such petty gossip. I would expect more from the ladies of this circle than to rely on rumors without a shred of proof." Her eyes flicked around the room, daring anyone to challenge her.

"It is not noble to throw around baseless accusations about anyone, let alone someone who is not here to defend themselves."

Tatiana's gaze turned sharp, her smile still in place but her eyes cold. She leaned forward slightly, her voice smooth and dangerous as she spoke.

"Lady Anna," she said, feigning innocence, "I'm sure you wouldn't want such misunderstandings to fester. Perhaps, to quell the rumors, you could bring this infamous lady to the Social Season's End Ball? The season is winding down, after all. It would be the perfect opportunity to clear things up, wouldn't it?"

Is this what she was aiming for?

Anna clenched her fists tightly beneath the table, her knuckles turning white fromt the pressure.

The suggestion hung in the air like a challenge, a gauntlet thrown at Anna's feet. The other women looked at her with expectant eyes, waiting for her to react, to say something that they could twist, something they could turn into another reason to push her further into the dirt.

Anna's heart hammered in her chest, her mind racing. She could feel the weight of the question bearing down on her.

Bringing Elsa to the ball?

She couldn't even begin to fathom the implications. Elsa wasn't ready. She wasn't even close to being able to face the outside world, let alone this cruel society that would rip her apart with their judgments. And yet, Tatiana had forced her hand, knowing full well that Anna would be too stuck between a rock and a hard place to refuse.

But Anna knew she couldn't give them the satisfaction. Not now, not ever. Elsa was not their pawn. She didn't answer right away, choosing instead to look at Tatiana, her gaze steady and unwavering.

There was a tension in the air, thick enough to slice through.

Finally, Anna spoke, her voice quiet but resolute. "I don't think my sister will be attending any social events for some time," Anna said, her tone leaving no room for further discussion.

"And I would appreciate it if you kept your curiosity about her to yourselves."

Tatiana's smile faltered, but she recovered quickly, her eyes flashing with something that could almost be called annoyance. The other ladies shifted in their seats, some exchanging uncomfortable glances.

But Anna held her ground, refusing to let them see any weakness, any fear. She would protect Elsa, and she would not allow them to tear her down. Not now, not ever.

By the time the party ended, and she stepped out into the crisp afternoon air, Anna felt a mixture of exhaustion and relief. The polite war of words had taken its toll, but she had held her ground. She left feeling more angered and conflicted than she initially thought.

She knew she was going to experience veiled harrassment from Tatiana and her sycophants. But she did not expect her sister's reputation to be the one to take a fall. Anna would've preferred it to be her reputation. Let them hurt her, just not her sister.

Elsa's been through much too much. She doesn't deserve this kind of disrespect from ladies who don't even know the full extent of the story.

NOTES:

01.27.25 10:30PM

HELLO everyone!

This chapter came out longer than I had expected. I reread it before uploading and supposedly there was going to be another scene added but it seemed like the chapter would exceed around 5000 words if I added that scene. Anyway, I won't be showing up on the notes much too often okay? So don't worry if I don't respond to your reviews. I will be responding to reviews at 5s (20, 25, 30, etc…) So yeah!

REVIEW HIGHLIGHTS

GUEST
 Yay! There will be more of Elsa's thoughts soon! Just not now, we're on a different arc hehe. But soon, we'll be focusing more on Elsa.

babylover22343
 Hii! Thank you so much for the suggestion, I appreciate it bigg time! Don't worry though~ Elsa flashback will happen in the story! So please watch out for that.

GUEST
 Aww! I'm glad I've made your day! Here, I'll give you another chapter too!

DCMAISON
 Hii! I'm glad to see you again haha! And don't worry about not commenting during the previous chapters. It's all great! Oh you're in for a treat with Tati though. She got a whole rewrite to her character so~ Anyway, please enjoyy! We'll be going through a LOT these next few chapters

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