The days passed in a blur. Daphne spent her free hours in her room with a mess of parchment, mortar, and pestle. She experimented with the ingredients Alaric had given her, the scrolls spread across her table as she tirelessly worked to create a potent antidote.
The three years she had spent training plus her family's guidance had prepared her for exactly this kind of test. She didn't need to practice her etiquette or her walk, those skills were as natural to her as breathing.
Soon, it was the evening before the official commencement of the competition. The ladies had just finished their dinner when Lady Klara stepped to the front of the hall, and a hush fell over the room.
"Ladies, a long journey has brought you to this moment. Your dedication and talent have been proven," she began, her voice crisp and formal. "Tomorrow marks the official start of the competition."
The air grew thick with tension. Every lady leaned forward, hanging on her every word.
