As I stood in my room, I could feel my mother's gaze boring into me. Lilith had just delivered her decree: "Now, get ready for tomorrow. You cannot go there looking like a fool."
I rolled my eyes, turning away from the window to face her. "I don't care about how I look," I retorted. "It's just a ball. Lydia won't care what I'm wearing."
Lilith's eyes narrowed, her posture stiffening. "Aurelia, this isn't just about Lydia. It's about appearances, about showing strength and confidence. You are representing our realm."
"I represent our realm with my actions, not my clothes," I shot back, frustration bubbling up inside me. "Why do you always have to make everything about appearances?"
"Because appearances matter, Aurelia," Lilith replied, her voice rising. "You may not think so, but they do. Especially in front of the humans. You need to command respect and authority."
"I can do that without a fancy suit," I muttered, crossing my arms.
