Chapter 53

Valerie's POV

I kept my head high while walking back to my quarters after getting my dress soiled by Celia's so-called 'accident'. The echo of murmurs from the reception still clung to me like smoke—words carried by too many mouths, improvised to make it worse, and the one who did it—none other than Celia, of course.

My dress was still faintly damp where Celia's "accident" landed, and the chilled