2

"Tighter," My mother snapped at the seamstresses who quickly pulled the strings on the corset that seemed to be crushing my ribs. 

"I...can't...breathe," I wheezed. It felt like my insides were collapsing. 

"If you'd listened to me all those times I'd told you to start wearing a corset, Madeline, you would have been used to it by now," My mother scolded, not caring that I was in tremendous pain. 

"Can't I just not wear a corset?" I moaned, tears welling in my eyes. 

Caroline scoffed from where she lounged on the loveseat. I didn't remember granting her entrance into my room. "You have the womanly features of a 10 year old, Madeline- even a corset can't make you look like a woman." Of course, Caroline had to chastise me for not having a full bosom like her, or a nice difference between her waist and hips. I honestly couldn't care less about what I looked like as I had no intentions of seducing the prince. 

"What kind of dresses would you like Lady Madeline?" The seamstress asked, looking up at me. 

I stared at my reflection in the mirror. Instead of my mother's luscious blonde curls, I got my father's dull dark brown hair and grey eyes. I wasn't voluptuous or attractive like Caroline or any of the other girls I'd met and I was completely fine with that.  

"Something that defines her bust surely," Caroline snorted. My mother never scolded Caroline for snorting or scoffing but when I did, she would delve into a speech on how unbecoming it was. It was obvious Caroline was her favorite. 

"Shut up, Caroline! No wonder all the men you speak to never actually speak to you but to your breasts," I shot, smiling when Caroline's eyes narrowed. 

"You wretch! I'll make you regret that," Caroline seethed before flouncing out of the room in a dramatic flourish. 

"You really should learn how to hold your tongue, Madeline. I don't think Prince Carlos wants a blabber mouth for a wife," My mother scolded, shaking her head as the seamstresses measured me. 

"You said the plan was to get kicked out successfully at The Cut and not be sent home in disgrace," I noted. "There was nothing about vying for the prince's hand." 

My mother looked genuinely disappointed. Of course, she'd love to be the mother of the future queen and rub it into the faces of all the other Noble's wives. But, I was completely hopeless and not in the least bit attractive like Caroline. Beside, the prince and I were arch enemies and I dreaded seeing him again. 

*** 

"What side of your plate is your cutlery on?" My mother asked, peering at me. 

I remembered a trick I had learnt from finishing school, considering the fact that I mostly day dreamed during lessons and preferred to play pranks on my peers rather than practice my etiquette. I looked at my fairly callused hands before speaking. 

"The left side?" I said tentatively. 

"Wrong! Jesus, Madeline, what where you doing in finishing school?" My mother demanded, staring at me like she was just realizing how hopeless I really was. "Your cutlery is always on your right. Now, practice sipping some tea." 

I let out a breath before putting on a comical smile that I believed resembled the fake smile Caroline and my mother had whenever we had visitors over. 

"Again!" My mother commanded. 

"W-what did I do wrong?" I asked, confused. 

"Smile like that again and no supper for you," My mother snarled, eyes narrowed. 

I rolled my eyes before trying my best to emulate my impression of a regal smile. Since my mother didn't snap at me, I continued, assuming I was doing the right thing. I picked up the dainty teacup which shook in my hands, gaining me a warning look. 

I stuck out my pinkie, like I'd seen Caroline do countless times and sipped the contents of the cup tentatively. I coughed and spluttered almost immediately after. 

"What is this? Soil tea?!" I stuck out my tongue in disgust. 

"Even if the tea is horrible, Madeline, it is pure courtesy to mask your distaste," My mother shook her head. 

I felt like I was going to throw up as I held my breath and downed the rest of the concoction. Lessons with my mother were utterly horrible and as the days inched closer towards my departure, they didn't get any easier. 

***

"The waltz is a triple time dance, Madeline," Caroline groaned. "I've never seen someone dance so horribly." 

I crossed my arms across my chest. "Forgive me, Lady Caroline, if I don't take pride in being paraded and sold off like cattle." 

Caroline rolled her eyes, amusement tugging at her lips. "You only dislike this because no male would even look twice at you. When you're beautiful, the attention just comes naturally." 

At that moment, I wanted nothing more than to strangle my elder sister but my mother was already irritated at my performance, if not, she would have been re-educating me in the arts of the waltz instead of my air-headed sister. 

I bit my tongue and tried again. I definitely lacked the gracefulness and poise that my dance teachers at finishing school looked for. I had two left feet and danced like a blind bat. 

"It's one-two-three, one-two-three- not one, one one," Caroline clapped. 

I followed her lead, almost tripping on my own feet countless times. 

Caroline put her head in her hands and shook her head. "You're completely hopeless." 

"I know that, Caroline. You don't have to instill it into my brain every second of every day. I get that you're perfect and I'll never be like you!" I snapped, hot tears burning at my eyes. I normally never let anyone get to me. I took all the insults and all the scolding and pushed them to the back of my head. I honestly couldn't care less about Caroline's reprimanding, I was just frustrated about the fact that I didn't have a choice. Why did Prince Carlos get to choose but I didn't? 

*** 

I managed to escape my mother and Caroline and find solace in the stables, where they never visited unless necessary. Caroline was utterly terrified of horses after an incident where my horse, Ace, tried to nip at her hand. It was a hilarious situation to watch and brought a smile to my face. 

"Lady Madeline, what brings you here?" Adam, the stable hand, asked. He wiped his hands on the front of his dusty trousers. 

Adam was one of the only 'friends' I had. He had been around at the manor for quite a long time and taught me everything I needed to know about horses. 

"My mother is trying to kill me," I sighed, leaning against a wooden column that was hardly sturdy and felt as if it was going to fall any second. Truthfully, I prayed it did so I wouldn't have to go to the palace.  

"Isn't she always?" Adam laughed. "I heard from the maids you were going to the palace." 

I let out an aggravated groan. "I wish I could just run away, Adam. It's so unfair." 

"Unfair in what sense?" Adam inquired. 

"Prince Carlos gets to choose out of 12 girls, Adam. But we have no choice but to be there- even if we don't want to," I huffed. 

"That's what comes with being the daughter of a Noble, Lady Madeline. Your life is already set out for you," Adam shrugged. 

I blew my hair out of my face, sighing. 

"But I know just the thing that'll cheer you up," Adam grinned, leading Ace out of his stall. 

I practically leaped to Ace and enveloped him in a tight embrace. "I missed you so much, Acey." 

Ace neighed in reply. 

"This might be the last I see you for a while. But when they announce The Cut, you're bound to see me back," I ruffled his mane. 

I mounted Ace and we rode into the thin forest that surrounded my family's manor. At that moment, I felt so free, tears streamed down my face because I knew I would not be feeling that same freedom for a long time.