She Is Your Sister

Queen Emma's fury was palpable as she slammed the door to Elisa's chamber, her face flushed, and her breathing rapid. Her eyes blazed with anger.

"ELISA!" she shouted, startling her youngest child, who was in the midst of being assisted into her dress by a new maid recently assigned to her. The maid had previously worked in the kitchen, and her inexperience showed as she struggled with the dress.

Both the maid and Elisa were taken aback by the queen's sudden and thunderous arrival. "Mother?" Elisa stammered.

The maid instinctively retreated, allowing mother and daughter to have their conversation, even though Elisa's dress was only halfway on. The ribbon of the waist corset began to loosen, threatening to fall.

Elisa desperately tried to pull the corset tight to prevent it from dropping, but Queen Emma struck her across the face. Elisa tumbled to the floor, the corset coming undone completely.