After I finished cleaning myself up, I stepped out of the bathing room and moved quickly toward the front room of the cottage.
When I got there, my mother stood near the entrance, her expression tense, tired, and uneasy. In front of her stood a woman I did not recognize.
The woman was gripping my mother's clothes aggressively, pulling at the fabric as she spoke in a raised, angry voice.
"I am tired of waiting!" the woman shouted. "Do you think I have nothing better to do than chase you for my money?"
My mother tried to calm her. "I told you I will pay you. I just need more time."
"Time?" the woman snapped. "You people always say that!"
Something in me snapped instantly. I rushed forward. "Let her go." My voice cut sharply through the air.
Both of them turned toward me. The stranger looked me up and down with irritation. "And who are you supposed to be?"
"I said let her go," I repeated, louder this time.
The woman scoffed and tightened her grip on my mother's clothes again.
This time, I did not stop myself. I moved quickly and shoved her away from my mother.
She stumbled back slightly, clearly not expecting it.
"Adeline…" my mother gasped.
"You come into our home," I said sharply as I turned to the woman, "and grab her like she is nothing?"
The woman's expression hardened immediately. "You are a disrespectful child," she spat.
That word struck something in me.
Disrespectful? My eyes narrowed as I stepped forward again. "If protecting my mother makes me disrespectful," I said coldly, "then I will gladly be it."
The woman frowned. "You should learn how to behave."
"And you should learn not to behave like an animal before demanding respect from others," I shot back, my voice rising with anger.
The air tightened between us.
My mother stepped in quickly, placing a hand on my arm. "Adeline, please," she said softly. "Let it go."
My breathing was still heavy, anger burning under my skin.
But I could not refuse her..I shot the woman one last glare before stepping back slightly.
Then I turned and walked back into the cottage, straight into my room. I went to the small wooden table where a pouch of money was kept.
My savings. But I did not hesitate. I grabbed it and returned outside.
Without a word, I threw the pouch at her feet.
"Take it," I said coldly. "And leave."
The woman bent down, picked it up, and stood. Before leaving, she looked at me one last time. "You are very disrespectful," she muttered again.
I said nothing.
After she left, silence filled the space.
Then my mother exhaled softly, clearly tired. "You did not need to be so harsh," she said gently.
I looked at her.."I will not let anyone treat you like that," I replied.
She was the only one I had in this world, and I would not let anyone disrespect her simply because fate had decided to be cruel to us.
My mother's expression softened slightly.
"But anger cannot feed us, my dear."
I let out a quiet breath, my shoulders still tense from everything that had just happened. I knew she was right… but it did not change how I felt.
Before I could say anything else, she reached for my hand.
"Come," she said gently.
I barely had time to react before she pulled me toward one of the wooden chairs near the small table. The chair scraped lightly against the floor as she guided me down to sit.
"Mama…" I started, but she gave me a look.
I sighed softly and allowed myself to sit properly, though the tension had not fully left my body.
She moved around and sat on the table in front of me.
"There is something I need to tell you," she said.
My brows drew together slightly. "What is it?" I asked.
She hesitated, just for a moment, then reached into the fold of her clothing and brought out a letter.
My eyes lingered on it.
"We received this this morning," she said softly. "From the palace."
The palace? Why would the palace send us letters?
I stared at the letter in her hand, my curiosity mixing with unease. "For what?" I asked.
She looked at me, and something in her gaze made my chest tighten. "It is an invitation," she said. "For the bride selection ball."
Silence settled between us.
I blinked once. Then again.
"For the prince…" she added quietly.
I shook my head immediately. "I am not going." The words came out firm before I could soften them.
My mother blinked, clearly not expecting the immediate refusal. "Adeline—"
"No," I said again, shaking my head further. "I am not going."
My fingers curled slightly in my lap.
I do not even want to think about it, or even consider it.
What was the point?
A ball? A prince? A future?
I almost laughed. I had one month. One month left to breathe, to exist, to pretend I had time like everyone else.
What place did I have in something like that?
"I have no reason to be there," I added more quietly.
My mother stepped closer. "You at least should consider it," she said gently. "Opportunities like this do not come often."
I looked away. Opportunities. The word felt almost cruel.
"I said I am not going," I repeated, my voice softer now, but no less firm.
Because how could I explain it?
How could I tell her that standing in a grand hall, surrounded by people chasing a future I would never have, felt like nothing more than a reminder of what was already slipping away from me?
I kept my gaze turned away from her, fixing it on nothing in particular, as though the wall would somehow give me strength to hold my ground.
But my mother did not move away. She never did when something truly mattered to her. "Adeline," she said softly, her voice carrying that quiet patience I had grown up with. "At least listen to me."
I exhaled slowly, my fingers tightening on my dress.."I have listened," I replied, still refusing to look her way.
"No," she said gently, shifting closer. "You heard me… but you have not listened."
I closed my eyes briefly, already knowing this would not end as easily as I wanted.
"This is not just any invitation," she continued. "Do you understand what it means to be called to the palace?"
I said nothing. Because of course I understood.
"It is a chance," she added, her voice softer now. "A chance for something better than this life."
My throat tightened slightly.
This life. I knew she did not mean it harshly. But still…
I opened my eyes glancing around the small cottage, the worn table, the simple chairs, the quiet space that had held every memory I had of her.
This life was all we had. And yet, I also knew what she truly meant. A life without struggle. Without debts. Without women coming to our door, grabbing at her like she was nothing.
Her hand reached for mine again, this time holding it gently. "I know you may not care for such things," she said. "But I do." Her voice trembled slightly at the end.
And that… that was what broke through me.
"I want to see you safe," she continued. "Taken care of. I want to know that when I am no longer here—"
"Mama," I cut in quickly, my voice tightening as my eyes snapped towards her.
I swallowed, my gaze dropping to our joined hands.
"I…" I started, but the words did not come easily.
Everything in me wanted to refuse again. But I could not look at her and say no. Not when she looked at me like that. Not when this… meant something to her.
"I will think about it," I said at last.
Her expression softened instantly, relief flickering across her face. "That is enough," she said gently.
Her hand squeezed mine lightly.