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She left me It wasn’t my fault She left me behind, of her own free will

"What did I do to end up with a daughter like you?" My father shakes his head We round the corner and enter the cavernous space of our old family home’s kitchen Here, my father seizes a butcher knife from the counter No, don’t, please "You open your mouth, and out spill lies Who did you learn that from, hmm, Adelina? Was it from one of our stable boys? Or were you born this way?"

"I’m sorry" Tears spill downI don’t knohere Violetta is--" I know I am not a child trapped in my old home I am in the Estenzian palace, and I am the queen I want to return to the festivities Why can’t I wake up?

My father glances down at ht and sla so hard that I nearly choke He positions the butcher knife over h over his head I squeeze my eye shut and wait for the blow

Please let

The whispers chuckle at my plea As you wish, Your Majesty

"Your Majesty? Adelina"

The hand clutching rip I look up to see that it belongs to Magiano The kitchen is gone, and I aiano pulls h his expression is concerned, he see hiainst hie to find the worst hallway to lie down in?" Magiano says, his teasing only halfhearted He brings his face down toI can barely understand, over and over, until the whispers in my head fade into the shadows

"I’ainst his shoulder

He pulls away far enough to give o"

I take a shuddering breath and wipe my hand across my face "Why did you co for you? Was it because of what happened outside?"

Magiano blinks "You were calling for htens into a thin line "I’d hoped you would co if he is stillme, but he seems serious now For the first time, I realize that there are Inquisitors behind hi for iano seesto the Inquisitors, and they start to file out I close iano carry me back to my chambers

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