Utterly distressed, Silvia hurried back to her room, her mind racing with unease. But the moment she stepped inside, her eyes landed on the dress waiting for her.
It was laid out neatly on the bed, as if silently welcoming her arrival. Beside it sat a velvet box—undoubtedly containing jewelry to complement the gown. At the foot of the bed, another box held a pair of elegant, simple gray heels, their surface adorned with delicate gemstones that shimmered under the light.Her throat went dry.The dress was breathtaking—perhaps the most beautiful she had ever been given. But this was no time to admire it. The meaning behind it was far worse than she could bear.It meant she was being sent to the ball.It meant she was being presented, just like Gazel, to be paired with a suitor.Initially, Silvia had assumed Sandra would insist on Gazel securing a marriage first. After all, Gazel was the favored daughter—praised, cherished, and placed above all others. Her family Tradition had dictated that none of the sisters would enter the marriage market until Gazel was wedded. Yet now, out of nowhere, Sandra was sending them both."Why?"What was she thinking?Silvia stood frozen at the door, her back pressed against the wooden frame, her hands still gripping the handle as her mind spun in confusion. She gulped, her breath unsteady."But I have no reason to refuse," she whispered, biting down on her lip. Her brows furrowed deeply, her thoughts a tangled mess of panic and frustration."I need to talk to Jordan. He has to do something about this."Tapping her foot anxiously, she muttered to herself, her pulse quickening.She needed a plan. And fast. After a long moment of deep thought, Silvia realized that unless she took the initiative, nothing would change. Jordan wouldn't act unless she pushed him to."I have to talk to Jordan tonight, no matter what."Clenching her fists before her chest, she inhaled deeply, trying to steady her resolve.Knock, knock...Silvia nearly jumped at the sudden sound.Her heart pounded as she quickly adjusted herself, smoothing out her expression before turning to open the door. The moment she did, she found Gazel standing outside, holding a small box.Gazel didn't look particularly pleased to be there—not that she ever tried to hide her disdain.Silvia eyed her carefully. "What is it? Did you have something to tell me?" she asked, her tone calm.Gazel barely spared her a glance before pushing past her, brushing against Silvia as she stepped into the room uninvited. Her perfume—a strong, exotic floral scent—filled Silvia's nostrils, almost making her sneeze. It was unlike anything she had smelled before, rich and overpowering."Hmm—so this is your dress," Gazel murmured, casting an uninterested glance at the gown laid out on Silvia's bed.Silvia followed closely behind. "Is that what you came here for?" she asked, knowing full well that Gazel wasn't the type to engage in meaningless conversation.At that, Gazel finally turned her gaze toward her—no longer bothering to mask the sheer disdain in her eyes."Father bought these from the merchants of Equilore. He wanted me to personally give them to you." She held out the box lazily, her lips curling in mild disgust. "Not that you deserve something so precious, but still."Before Silvia could respond, Gazel tossed the box into her hands without care. The weight nearly made it slip from her grasp, but she caught it just in time.Gazel didn't wait. With a sharp turn, she brushed past Silvia again, pushing her aside without a word. The strong scent of her perfume lingered in the air as she walked out, disappearing down the hall.Silvia stood there, gripping the box tightly, her eyes watching Gazel as she left."What was that about?" Silvia muttered to herself, still puzzled by Gazel's cold demeanor.Her gaze dropped to the box in her hands, curiosity taking over. Carefully, she lifted the lid, revealing a small glass bottle nestled inside."Oh," she breathed, her lips curling into a small smile. "Father got me a perfume?"A rare warmth filled her chest.She pulled the bottle out and brought it close to her nose, eager to test the scent. The moment the fragrance reached her senses, realization dawned."So that's why Gazel smelled like this… It's the perfume Father got us."No wonder she hadn't recognized the scent before. It was exquisite—an enchanting floral aroma that felt as though it had been plucked straight from a divine garden. Pressing the bottle gently against her nose, she inhaled again, savoring the heavenly fragrance.
...........
That night, Silvia waited for everyone to fall asleep so she could sneak out of the mansion and find Jordan. She needed to talk to him—urgently. If he didn't act now, they would be in serious trouble.But no matter how long she waited, her family refused to settle down. Was it the excitement of the ball? Or the looming reality that their daughters might soon leave them? For the first time in years, the entire family gathered in the living room, engaged in various conversations.The younger sisters played, their laughter filling the air, while their father spoke in a serious tone with one of servants from the mine. Sandra sat in a quiet corner, delicately embroidering something, and Esha perched on the sofa, deeply engrossed in a book. Gazel was the only one missing, yet no one seemed to mind her absence.Silvia sat in one of the chairs, absentmindedly braiding her long black hair, her mind restless. She kept waiting for the lively energy of the night to fade, for everyone to finally retreat to their rooms. But as the minutes stretched into hours, exhaustion crept in. Her eyelids grew heavy, the weight of the day's fatigue pressing down on her. She hadn't realized how swollen her eyes were from stress and lack of sleep.Slowly, unwillingly, she felt herself slipping into slumber… and just like that the night turned into day and the stress of the situation started to weigh on her bones.