#Chapter 31: Third Lesson

Elara The morning came far too quickly. It felt like I’d shut my eyes for no more than five minutes, and then suddenly bright sunlight was streaming in through the curtains as they were unceremoniously ripped open. Of course, none other than Grace was the culprit for the brutal awakening. “Out of bed, Elara,” she snapped, striding over to the bed and yanking the covers off of me. I shivered in the cold morning air. “You have much to learn today if you are going to avoid embarrassing this family any further.” “Good morning to you, too,” I muttered under my breath, but she was already rifling through my closet and didn’t hear me. I yawned, rubbing my eyes as I swung my legs over the side of the bed. I didn’t have the energy to fight her this morning, not when I knew exactly how this day would go. Grace wasn’t interested in my input—she only wanted a compliant punching bag. “Hurry up,” Grace called over her shoulder. “We are starting with etiquette tra