Ryophlira POV

Every single muscle in my body felt like it had been crushed and set on fire. The ache of Aiyolistra’s headbutt throbbed behind my eyes, and my ribs groaned with every breath I took. Even with our accelerated healing, a battle that destructive left a deep, bone-weary exhaustion in its wake.

Ari was a saint. She moved quietly around the bathing chamber, pouring soothing oils into the steaming water and gently working the knots out of my shoulders. Once I was clean, she helped me into a breathtaking, off-the-shoulder pink gown cascading with delicate tulle and floral embroidery.

But the moment I stood before the tall looking glass, my breath hitched. The low, elegant neckline of the dress exposed everything. The dark mark Yue-Senn had left.

If the guards, the lords, or the maids caught wind of what happened at the inn I would bring ashame and disgrace down on my family. I should have never allowed him to get that close.

"My lady," Ari whispered, her hands visibly trembling as she brought out the concealing powders and cosmetic creams. "We have to cover it before you leave this room.

"Hide it," I choked out, a cold spike of anxiety cutting through my exhaustion. "Please, Ari. Quickly."

After layering the heavy pigments to mask the bruised skin, she wove my hair into a long, elegant side braid pinned with lustrous pearls. She carefully draped the thick, woven plaits over my left shoulder, creating a strategic shield to guard the secret from prying eyes. By the time she finished, I looked like a perfectly painted lie.

I stared at my reflection, barely recognizing the girl looking back at me. Just an hour ago, I was covered in dirt, blood stain and looked like a dried fruit. Now, I was trapped in layers of pink tulle. What kind of Queen am I even going to be? I wondered, a sudden wave of isolation washing over me. Will the people of the North look at me and see a leader who can protect them, or will they just see an outsider? Will they welcome me... or hate me? And beneath all of those political anxieties lay a much sharper, quieter fear: Does Yue-Senn regret agreeing to this? Did he look back at last night and wish he’d never let me under his sheets?

"You look as beautiful as ever."

The heavy doors clicked shut, and my mother glided into the room. Her sharp eyes swept over my dress. "Though, I hear you lost to your sister today." She continued.

I stiffened, keeping my posture. "I didn’t lose. I just got distracted."

"Spoken like a true loser," Mother laughed. She walked over, smoothing down a stray piece of fabric on my sleeve, her presence a silent reminder that she and Father were watching my every move. "Don’t worry your head about the spy from this morning. Your father and I have guards stationed at every border. We have everything covered. Now, come along it’s time for your etiquette class."

My jaw dropped. "What?! Please, no. Mother, I can be a graceful queen, I promise!"

"Nice try, darling. Let’s go."

I dragged my feet, cursing bitter under my breath the entire way down the corridor. I felt entirely defenseless against what was waiting for me.

We reached a pair of gilded double doors at the end of the east wing. Mother pushed them open, revealing a sharp, elderly woman standing in the center of the room. She held herself with the posture of a steel rod, a heavy lace fan snapped tightly in her right hand.

"Welcome, Princess. It is my absolute pleasure to teach you," Ms. Rosa Norwood said, bowing with flawless, terrifying precision.

I shot a desperate glance back over my shoulder, but Mother was already stepping backward into the hallway. She flashed me a radiant, triumphant smile and closed the heavy doors, leaving me completely at the mercy of Ms. Rosa Norwood .

The Rules of Grace

"We shall begin with the foundation of royalty, Your Highness," Ms. Norwood announced, her voice clipped and devoid of warmth. She gestured to a velvet stool where a pair of shoes rested. "Change into these."

My eyes widened. The shoes were impossibly high, carved from rigid leather, and clearly a size too small. When I forced my feet into them, a sharp ache shot up my arches, squeezing my toes together until they throbbed against the stiff material.

"A Queen does not slouch, nor does she show discomfort," Ms. Norwood lectured, stepping behind me. "Walk."

I took three steps forward, my balance completely thrown off by the steep incline of the heels. My hip swung just a fraction too wide.

SNAP!

The heavy lace fan came down hard against my shoulder blade.

"Improper alignment! A lady moves like a swan gliding on water, not a soldier marching through mud. Again."

I ground my teeth together. A fierce wave of heat rushed to my face, I wanted shred the fan to pieces and shove it down her fucking throat.

But I forced myself to stop. I looked down at the polished floorboards, deliberately pushing the rising anger back down into my chest. This wasn’t about my pride. This wasn’t about proving a point to a tutor, or to my mother, or even to Yue-Senn. My parents already knew how badly I had slipped up, I couldn’t afford another mistake. If I messed this up if I failed to be the queen my people needed this fragile alliance would shatter. My family would pay the ultimate price for my stubbornness.

I had to be a good queen for them.

I bit my lower lip so hard I nearly drew blood, swallowing the fire in my throat, and straightened my spine.

"Now, the formal bow to foreign lords," Ms. Norwood commanded, pacing around me like a hawk circling its prey. "Lower your center smoothly. Do not tilt your head too far forward. We are showing respect, not submission."

I held my breath, slowly bending my knees despite the agony screaming in my feet. The fabric of my gown rustled softly as I lowered myself.

SNAP!

The fan struck my wrist this time, a sharp sting against my skin. "Your hand placement is sloppy! Keep your fingers elegant. And your wave, show me the royal wave."

I lifted my right hand, executing a small, controlled movement of my wrist.

SNAP!

"Too fast! You look like you are swatting a fly, Princess. It is a gentle rotation, a symbol of eternal peace and reassurance to your subjects. It is very disappointing to see just how much you lack especially in comparison to your sister and other noble ladies." She shook her head.

For the next three hours, it was an endless cycle of torment. Every minor tilt of my chin, every slightly hurried syllable that left my mouth, and every unstable step in those agonizingly small shoes was met with the sharp, relentless sting of Ms. Norwood’s fan. My feet were repeating a cycle of blistering and healing. My muscles were cramping, and my temper was being tested to its absolute limit.

But through it all, I didn’t fight back, and I didn’t utter a single complaint. Every time the fan struck, I swallowed the bite of my own words and corrected my posture. I practiced. I forced my feet to endure the brutal shoes, keeping my chin parallel to the ground and my head held high.

My family had put their trust in this union, and my people were counting on me to secure their peaceful survival. No matter how much it hurt, and no matter how much I despised the suffocating weight of this bitch, I will not let them down and I will certainly not back down.