The noble girl's lips quivered, though her chin lifted in what I assumed was meant to look like pride.
"You think being engaged to the crown prince makes you invincible?" she snapped, her voice trembling beneath the surface. "You were nothing special before that, Lady Seraphina. Just a duchess's daughter hiding behind your family name."
[Host she and her friend are daughters of counts.]
I blinked at her, faintly amused. "Nothing special?" My voice was calm—too calm. "Even if I weren't marrying the crown prince, I'd still be the daughter of one of the Great Dukes of this empire. The Valemont name stands above most noble houses, including…" I let my gaze travel slowly over her, "the family of a mere count."
The hierarchy of this empire was clear. The royal family sat at the top, followed by the dukes, marquesses, viscounts, counts, barons, and finally, commoners. The girl in front of me stood two ranks below my station, yet she spoke as if we were equals.
