Prologue

'Once upon a moonless night'

'A chandelier shone such dazzling light'

'Its glittering diamonds oh so bright'

'But come morn' the dull glass sways with no one in sight'

"That's a mighty good poem, your Ladyship," A young maid commented as she held open a jewelry box displaying several earring pairs. Mala who had been murmuring that to herself jolted out of her daze to look at the young girl. The maid, with chestnut-colored hair set in a tight braid, looked at Mala expectantly to pick out an earring set.

"You pick," Mala uttered still entirely unused to all the attention. In the barracks she'd had no one waiting on her hand and foot. No fancy clothes or jewelry. She shifted slightly as she adjusted the high collar of her lacey beige dress. Oh how she wished for the option to don her uniform for this occasion.

"How... about these?" The maid suggested as she held up a pair of dangling butterfly-shaped earrings with emeralds set into the wings. "It would go lovely with your eyes," she added. Mala just gave a stiff nod and went back to staring in the mirror. She almost didn't recognize herself. Gone was the rough knight that locked up the besotten Earl. In the place stood what could only be described as a noble lady. She knew she wasn't, not really anyway, but it was interesting to pretend. Pretend that her family circumstances had been like any other noble. That she had been well cared for by her family and that they were here now to celebrate her engagement to Earl Deranged and not for other nefarious reasons.

"Your Ladyship perhaps you can tell me more about that poem?" The young maid asked, sensing the shift in her charge's demeanor. "Perhaps you can direct me to the book you read it from? You see I've been trying to learn how to read."

"You don't know how to read?" Mala asked. Her shock was evident from her tone of voice. "I know most commoners don't choose to pursue higher education but reading and writing, everyone learns that as a child."

The young lady fiddled with the hem of her sleeve nervously before uttering "My family is really traditional," She said. It almost came out like a whisper, as if she was expecting someone to burst through the door. "I have a younger sister and little brother. My mother died after giving birth to my little brother. Our father had deemed it not necessary for my sister and me to learn how to read and write. All we had to learn was to take care of the baby and household."

"What?! How old were you?" Mala tried to reign in her surprise.

"I was nine, your Ladyship. I turn fifteen this summer," The young maid answered. "My father was always a firm believer that women shouldn't think. That won't get them a husband,"

"Excuse me?!" Mala now stared incredulously.

"So I really admire your ladyship!" The young girl exclaimed while grabbing her charge's hand in hers. "All your achievements! Being the first female knight! Having such extraordinary knowledge and having your fiance treat you as an equal!! Lady Mala, you are my role model!"

With each declaration, Mala shuffled back a bit. The young maid was so happy to be here that her eyes would have sparkled like stars when she looked at Mala. That was.... a first. Never would Mala have thought someone would idolize her so.

"The more you get to know me the less you will want my life," Mala spoke in a soft voice as she took the maid's hands that were pulling away upon realizing that they had touched a noble lady without their express permission. "However," Mala added. "If you wish to learn how to read and write you may join me in the library in the afternoons."

"I couldn't possibly..." The young girl uttered taken aback by the offer. "My work,"

"Will include taking care of me," Mala stated. "Sir Dagur has been pestering me to appoint a Lady-in-waiting."

"Me.., me... your Ladyship? A Lady-in-waiting?! But I am but a commoner!"

"And I am a disgraced noble," Mala stated. "Hardly a Lady. I would honestly prefer you simply call me Mala when we are alone. I know how the other maids speak of me. You are by far a breath of fresh air. What may I call you?"

"Uhm... Clea ma'am," The girl answered. "Sorry for not introducing myself earlier. I had suddenly been assigned to get you ready,"

Mala nodded. She had no doubt this was some ploy from the more seasoned staff. Sending the youngest, inexperienced, maid to help her get ready for the engagement ball. Surely they were waiting for a disaster to occur. For her to realize that she did not belong in this household. For her to go crawling back to the family that had abused and abandoned her but was now enjoying the riches that her marriage would provide.

Ever since Earl Deranged had invited her onto his estate she had felt eyes on her, judging her and subtly disapproving.

"Oh, we need to finish your jewelry selection your Ladysh- uhm... Mala," Clea uttered, testing the waters. When Mala didn't protest she produced a diamond necklace. "The Earl insisted that you wear this tonight,"

Mala gawked at the necklace. The stone on that thing was.... HUGE.

"Sir Dagur insists?!" Mala asked again as Clea fastened the necklace around her neck.

"The Earl had been very adamant that you wear this tonight," Clea confirmed.

Mala stared in the mirror and lightly placed her hand on the large teardrop-shaped diamond hanging from her neck. It was... beautiful. The craftsmanship alone stood out. It made her think back to the poem she had been muttering. Something she came across in a handwritten book in the library. People would see her glitter tonight, on the arm of the Earl, smoozing with nobility but come the next day she had to face those judgemental eyes again.

"A disgraced Noble"

"A woman doing a man's job!"

"Utterly distasteful,"

"The Earl should have a traditional bride!"

"Our daughters might still have a chance!"

"Surely he picked her up from some alleyway just to get us off his back,"

"A woman picking up a sword?"

"She has the gall to associate with Lady Heather? A flower of our society!"

"Cold soup is all you deserve!"

"Swindler!"

The voices repeated in Mala's head as she stared at herself in the mirror. How much did she have to endure to get to today?

Her fingers trembled as she remembered the question the Dowager Queen had asked months ago. "Do you love Earl Deranged?"