Side chapter: Cinderella part 2

The ballroom swirled with activity, but Alyndra was rooted in place, her heart racing from the encounter with Thalindra. The princess knew her name.

The realization sent a chill of excitement down her spine, mingling with curiosity. How? She'd come here as a nobody, with a forged invitation and no intention of being noticed. And yet, Thalindra had seen her, truly seen her, as though she were a puzzle worth solving.

Alyndra didn't have long to dwell on it. The grand music struck up again, and the royal family moved to the center of the room.

The court bowed and curtsied in synchronized motion, their glittering gowns and suits catching the light like a field of stars. Alyndra, always a step out of sync with the world around her, simply stood there, watching. 

Princess Thalindra stepped forward, commanding attention without effort. Her black suit, sharp as a blade, stood in stark contrast to the opulence surrounding her.