all white and gold. Mine had a high waist and no strap on the left but did have a small, off-the-shoulder strap on the right, covering my scar and looking really lovely at the same time. The top was snug, but the skirt was billowing, kissing the floor with scallops of golden lace. It came together with pleats in the back that fell behind me in a short train. When I looked at myself in the mirror, it was the first time I actually thought I looked like a princess.
Anne grabbed the olive branch I was meant to carry and situated it in my arm. We were supposed to place the branches at the foot of the king as a sign of peace toward our leader and our willingness to yield to the law.
“You look beautiful, miss,” Lucy said. I couldn’t help but notice how calm and confident she seemed lately. I smiled.
“Thank you. I wish you were all going to be there,” I said.
“Me, too.” Mary sighed.
Ever proper, Anne turned the focus back in my direction. “Don’t you worry, miss; you’ll do perfectly. And we’ll be watching with the other maids.”
“You will?” That was encouraging, even though they wouldn’t be downstairs.
“We wouldn’t miss it,” Lucy assured me.
A sharp knocking snapped us from our conversation. Mary opened the door, and I was happy to see it was Aspen.
“I’m here to escort you to the Convicting, Lady America,” he said.
Lucy piped up. “What do you think of our handiwork, Officer Leger?”
He smiled slyly. “You’ve outdone yourselves.”
Lucy giggled, and Anne quietly shushed her as she made final adjustments to my hair. Now that I knew about Anne’s feelings for Aspen, it was obvious how perfect she tried to be in front of him.
I took a deep breath, remembering the masses waiting for me downstairs.
“Ready?” he asked.
I nodded, readjusted my branch, and went to the door, peeking back just once to see my maids’ happy faces. I looped my arm through Aspen’s and headed with him down the hall.
“How have you been?” I asked casually.
“I can’t believe you’re going through with this,” he shot back.
I swallowed, immediately nervous again. “I don’t have a choice.”
“You always have a choice, Mer.”
“Aspen, you know I don’t like this. But in the end, it’s only one person. And he’s guilty.”
“Just like the rebel sympathizers that the king demoted a caste. Just like Marlee and Carter.” I didn’t have to look up to see how disgusted he was.
“That was different,” I mumbled, not sounding convincing at all.
Aspen stopped dead in his tracks and forced me to look at him. “It’s never different with him.”
His tone was so serious. Aspen knew more than most people did, because he’d stood guard during meetings or delivered orders himself. He was holding a secret right now.
“Are they thieves at all?” I asked quietly as we continued to move.
“Yes, but nothing deserving the years of jail they’ll receive today. And it’s going to be a pretty loud message to their friends.”
“What do you mean?”
“They’re people who’ve gotten in his way, Mer. Rebel sympathizers, men a bit too outspoken about what a tyrant he is. This is being broadcast everywhere. The people they’ve tried to sway will see this, will warn others about what happens to those who attempt to go against the king. This is deliberate.”
I whipped my arm from his, hissing my words at him. “You’ve been here almost as long as I have. In all that time, did you ever not deliver one of the sentences you were ordered to?”
He considered. “No, but—”
“Then don’t judge me. If he’s not above putting his enemies in prison without real cause, what do you think he’ll do to me? He hates me!”
Aspen’s eyes were pleading. “Mer, I know it’s scary, but you’ve—”
I put up my hand. “Do your job. Take me downstairs.”
He swallowed once, turned forward, and put his arm out for me. I gripped it, and we walked on in silence.
Halfway down the stairs, as the buzz of conversation started to reach us, he spoke up again.
“I always wondered if they’d change you.”
I didn’t respond. What could I say anyway?
In the grand foyer, the other girls were staring into the distance, quietly moving their lips as they recited their lines. I detached myself from Aspen and moved to join them.
Elise had talked about her dress so much, I felt as if I’d already seen it. Gold and cream were woven together in a slim, sleeveless design, and her golden gloves looked dramatic. Her