Chapter 13 - THE WORD THE GLASS REFUSED TO REPEAT
Orren captured the voice inside a crystal tuning fork. They replayed it at half speed, but the missing name became a burst of bells each time.
“The bargain is censoring it,” he explained. “Names have power in Hollow law.”
Ella became obsessed with hearing the word. She pressed the fork against her ear until blood appeared, convinced her true identity might absolve or condemn her.
Adrian took it away.
“I am tired of other people deciding what I am,” she said.
“So am I.”
“No. They still call you Prince Adrian when they fear you. They look at me and see her.”
The accusation was fair. Even Adrian used Cinderella’s expressions to measure Ella’s authenticity.
The next clue came from the golden feather found beneath the stair. Under moonlight, its veins formed part of a legal covenant. The feather was not shed by an ordinary wing; it was a torn page from a living contract.
Mara assembled it with the moth wings and discovered a limitation Aurelia had concealed: the Moon Door could not be opened by deception alone. Adrian had to knowingly choose an imitation after learning it was false.
His continued protection of Ella was not enough. He would have to crown her as Cinderella despite knowing she was someone else.
The upcoming wedding had been arranged for the night of the eclipse by Helena’s ministers.
Adrian canceled it publicly.
Within an hour, every candle in the palace turned blue. Ella screamed as a glowing mark appeared over her heart—a countdown with eight points.
May you like
Aurelia’s voice moved through the flames.
“Then let truth kill her for you.”
