The Circus

I never imagined my knack for bruising would actually pay off.

Once the dust settled, everything fell into place—I moved into the room next to Annalise's.

My new spot was way bigger than my old one. The head maid was out of a job, and nobody dared mess with Mila anymore. It all seemed perfect.

At least, that's what I thought until I swung my door open the next morning and saw Cedric staring back at me.

I flashed a smile and eased the door shut. 'Why does he have to live right across from me?!'

A knock followed. No escaping it now. I put on a brave face and opened up. "Lord Velmont, morning!"

Cedric gave me that half-smile of his—nothing sweet or kid-like about it.

Even at thirteen, he carried himself like someone way older. "Ysabel, the tailor's coming this afternoon to whip up some formal dresses for you. Be in your room by noon and wait for me."

Formal stuff? In the original story, Ysabel didn't touch high society until she was sixteen. Guess I'd veered onto a new track…

…

After they took my measurements, I didn't have much to do. Annalise and Cedric handled the fabric choices, styles, and all the fancy details.

At first, they let me chime in. But when I shared what I liked, the tailor and the Velmont siblings swapped a weird glance.

Those two hardly ever saw eye to eye, yet they both agreed my taste didn't fit the vibe.

I got why Annalise cared so much, but what was Cedric doing here wasting his day?

I plopped off to the side, watching them, my eyes getting heavy.

A kid's body wears out fast.

…

A bump snapped me awake.

Blinking, I found Annalise holding me. Across from us sat Cedric and some knight-looking guy I didn't recognize.

Then it hit me—we were in a carriage. Are they about to ditch me somewhere?

Annalise caught my wide-eyed panic and slid me onto the seat next to her. "The tailor mentioned a circus troupe in town tonight for a parade. Ysabel, do you want to have some fun?"

A circus! I perked right up. What kid wouldn't jump at that? "Yes, I'm in!"

I couldn't stop smiling. A circus—maybe lions! My excitement spilled over.

Caught up in my silly grin, I noticed Cedric eyeing me, curious.

In my head, I snapped, What's your deal? Think everyone's as dead inside as you? But out loud, I chirped, "Cedric, you're excited too, right?"

"Not like you are," he said.

What a buzzkill.

---

Annalise rocked a golden-brown dress that day, the hem lined with fine gold threads in swirly, elegant patterns. It screamed pricey and glowed in the sun.

Cedric and I were decked out in fancy noble gear too, the kind that turns heads. And with Annalise's guard knight, Collins, tagging along behind, we might as well have had a spotlight on us.

People stared everywhere we went. Those two acted like it was normal, but it made me twitchy.

The circus didn't kick off until night, so we roamed the market to kill time and grab some food.

Annalise knew her way around. She snagged me a pile of snacks I couldn't even name. I barely knew Collins—he got next to no page time in the original story—but now his arms were stacked with treats Annalise picked out for me.

He juggled them like a pro. Seemed like a solid guy to me.

The market street overflowed with things I'd never heard of—goods so strange that even standing at the stalls, I couldn't guess what they did.

My eyes darted everywhere, dazzled.

As the circus opening neared, the crowd thickened. Annalise worried the swelling tide would sweep me away, so she scooped me up.

Before that, she'd held my hand tight. Honestly, she took such good care of me. Under her watch, I felt completely at ease.

I lounged on her shoulder, looking around, full from snacks and carried like royalty. Even a real princess didn't live this good, I bet.

Cedric stopped at a stall piled with jewelry.

Though two years younger than Annalise, he matched her height. His tailored suit stood out in the crowd as he studied the odd-shaped trinkets.

I glanced over—pretty stuff, sure, but girly things. What is he looking at?

He picked up a silver hairpin. Tiny diamonds studded its surface, and a yellow gem dangled at the end, woven into a delicate silver net.

It sparkled, clever and eye-catching.

Cedric paid, slipped it into his pocket, and turned back toward Annalise.

I quickly pretended her hand fascinated me, scared he'd catch me watching.

He had taste, I'd give him that. But picturing him wearing it? No way. Probably a gift for some noble girl—poor fool, whoever she was.

…

When flames flared up, music blasted through the tent.

Circus performers stepped out from the shadows, their faces hidden behind black masks—mysterious and dangerous.

Thrilling acts followed: acrobatics, animal taming, magic, and theater. Each one sped up my heart, nerves on edge.

I'd never seen anything so exciting. I didn't dare blink, afraid to miss a second.

Annalise fidgeted, though. She hated crowds. A loud, packed place like this tortured her.

She stood, muttered something to Cedric beside me, and headed for the exit.

A bit later, someone grabbed my hand.

Thinking Annalise wanted to leave, I whined, "Just a little longer, please!" The show hit its peak—how can we go now?

But they didn't pull me away. They stayed quiet, letting me watch until the end.

Satisfied, I turned—and Annalise and her knight were gone.

Cedric sat there instead, holding my hand, yawning. "Let's go. Annalise is outside getting the carriage."

He tugged me up and led me out. Maybe he feared I'd get lost in the mob.

I didn't expect him to be so thoughtful.

The crowd leaving the tent swarmed toward the tiny exit from all sides. Thanks to Cedric clearing the way, I didn't fall, but I stumbled plenty.

Dropping all pride, I clung to him with both hands.

Just then, a handkerchief flashed in front of me, clamping over my mouth and nose. I couldn't fight.

A sharp smell hit, and my senses faded fast. My hands slipped free, and I fell back into the dark.