25

Twenty Five

*Freya*

The ball was about to begin. I sighed as my maids hurried back and forth around me. Anxiety rose up within me as they pushed me to the front of my large mirror. I stared at my reflection. The whalebone corset clinched tighter around my ribcage as Grace laced up the back. I sipped in a shallow breath, steadying myself against the bedpost. The silk of my ballgown flowed like liquid moonlight, cascading in shimmering waves to the floor. Silver thread glimmered in beautiful floral patterns across the bodice.

"You look like a vision, my lady," My other maid, Clara said as she pinned my dark curls into an elegant bun.

I gazed at my reflection in the full length mirror, marveling at the mesmerizing beauty of the dress. And yet, as exquisite as it was, each shallow breath reminded me of how impossibly tight it was. And I was supposed to be in this cage all night? Beauty is pain, Grace would say.

Flo packed up my gowns so I could fit my feet into the pretty pink heels