The only one who sees me
"My savings. All of it."
"I wouldn't know." She smirked. "Why would I need your pathetic pennies?"
"Don't lie to me," Nysa snapped, voice cracking. "I hid it under my floorboard. You're the only one who's been in my room since yesterday."
"Oh, please," Kaeli said, tossing the fabric aside. "You think I'd waste time digging around for crumbs?"
Aunt Mara stirred weakly from her chair. "What's this noise?"
"Kaeli stole my money," Nysa said through gritted teeth.
Uncle Jorren appeared in the doorway just then, eyes narrowing. "What's going on?"
"She's accusing me without proof," Kaeli said, arms folded. "Again."
"I'm not lying—"
"You think I believe you?" Jorren barked. "My daughter doesn't need your filthy coins. You probably lost it or spent it foolishly."
"I've been saving for weeks—"
"Enough!" he snapped. "You will not stir trouble the night before the celebration. You should be grateful we even let you stay under this roof!"
Nysa stared at them—her uncle, his clenched fists; Kaeli, smug and victorious; her aunt, too weak to speak—and felt the fight drain from her.
She turned and walked quietly back to her room.
The tears came after the door shut.
She didn't cry loudly. Just soft, shaking sobs into her hands. Not just for the money, but for the dress that would never be made, the shoes she wouldn't afford, the dream that might dissolve into mockery.
The palace was never meant for girls like her.
---
Later that night, a knock came on the window.
Startled, Nysa opened it a crack to find Lina standing outside in her cloak.
"You were right," Lina whispered.
Nysa blinked. "What?"
"She did take it."
Nysa stared at her cousin's pale face in the moonlight.
"She's been sneaking around the last few days," Lina continued. "Bragging about a new necklace she wanted to buy. I saw her counting coins near the well earlier. Too many to be hers."
Nysa's throat tightened. "Why are you telling me this?"
Lina hesitated. "Because she'll ruin you if you let her. And... because you're the only one who sees me."
Nysa said nothing.
Lina looked away. "I'm sorry."
Then she was gone.
---
Sleep never came that night.
Nysa lay awake staring at the ceiling, her mind a blur of thoughts. Lioren. The palace. Her cousin's smirk. Her aunt's silence. Her uncle's anger. The invitation tucked in her apron.
She could still go, technically. But she had nothing to wear. No shoes. No dignity.
And she had one day left.
---
Nysa didn't sleep.
She rose with swollen eyes and limbs heavy from exhaustion, her body moving on instinct as she scrubbed the kitchen floor and prepared Aunt Mara's morning tea. Her thoughts drifted between panic and numbness, her stomach turning whenever she remembered Kaeli's smug face and the emptiness beneath her floorboard.
It was the day of the royal celebration.
And she had nothing.
By the time she reached the shop, her apron slightly crooked and eyes dull, Cara was already there—polishing a tray of earrings with exaggerated care. She looked up as Nysa stepped in and immediately frowned.
"You look awful," she said bluntly. "What happened?"
Nysa tried to smile. It trembled. She turned away and walked to the back room, dropping her bag with a thud. Cara followed.
"Nysa?"
"I—" Nysa swallowed hard. "I can't go."
Cara's brows knitted. "What?"
"I can't go to the celebration," she whispered, voice breaking. "My savings are gone. Everything I've worked for... it's just gone."
Cara stared, then pulled her into the corner where no one could hear.
"What do you mean gone?"
"My cousin stole it," Nysa said bitterly. "Every last coin I hid. I confronted her, but she lied. My uncle didn't believe me. I have no proof. No money. No dress. Nothing."
There was a long pause.
Then Cara exhaled, folding her arms. "That's… that's awful. But we can figure something out."
"There's no time," Nysa said, slumping against the wall. "It's today, Cara. What can I possibly do in just a few hours?"
Cara paced a little, tapping her chin as if seriously thinking. "We could… try borrowing something from Murda or Sera."
"They're already using their own gowns," Nysa muttered.
"Right, right. Okay. What about asking the seamstress near the old well? She might have something leftover."
"I doubt she lends dresses for free," Nysa said flatly.
Cara clicked her tongue, pretending to ponder harder. "Okay… what if we, I don't know, make a gown out of curtain fabric? Remember that old market play?"
Nysa gave her a flat look.
Cara chuckled. "Fine, fine. Maybe not."
There was silence.
Then Cara's expression suddenly lit up, as if a candle had sparked behind her eyes.
"Wait…" she said slowly. "My sister."
Nysa blinked. "What about her?"
"She has a dress," Cara said excitedly. "One she wore to a cousin's wedding last spring. It's... soft gold, almost champagne-colored. It has lace at the sleeves and a tiny train. I remember because I wanted to steal it."
Nysa stared. "Really?"
"And shoes! Matching shoes and a little beaded bag. I think she's even got gloves. You're almost the same size. It might actually work."
"Would she lend it?"
Cara hesitated, biting her lip. "She's not the warmest person… but I can try. I'll plead."
"Cara…" Nysa's voice cracked. "You'd really do that for me?"
"Of course," she said, eyes gleaming. "You're my best friend. I won't let Kaeli ruin this for you."
Nysa felt the tears before she realized they were falling.
"I didn't even care about the celebration at first," she whispered. "But after everything… I started to hope. I wanted to go, Cara. I wanted to feel like someone."
Cara wrapped her arms around her and held her close. "You are someone. And you're going."
Nysa clung to her, grateful and trembling. "Thank you. I don't know what I'd do without you."
"You'll never have to find out," Cara murmured.
They pulled apart.
"Wait, how did you know it was Kaeli, I didn't say which cousin," Nysa sniffled.
"Ohh, it was pretty obvious, I know Lina is not like that."
.
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