"Zara, you must attend the ball. The entire duration."
"I will, mother," Zara said, the annoyance in her tone barely concealed.
"And by entire duration, I mean exactly that. Not half. Not most of it."
"Uh...well..." Zara hesitated.
"I will be informing Maria to be strict about it as well."
"B-But mother...."
"I will not hear your excuses."
Zara pressed her lips together, cheeks flushing red with the concentrated fury of someone who had already lost and knew it.
---
She returned to her room and immediately buried her face in her pillow and screamed.
Maria stood beside her, expression perfectly level.
The screaming continued for a few seconds, then stopped.
"Should we begin selecting your dress for the ball?" Maria asked.
Zara's head shot up from the pillow. "How inconsiderate can you possibly be? I am in the depths of sorrow here. My own mother has levied repercussions upon me and you stand there , unbothered?"
"Lady Zara."
Maria's tone shifted. Just slightly.
