69 Dinner

"Why do we have to go?" Aris inquired, he was fixing the buttons of his sleeve as Lumielle exhaled. She wished that she could give him a proper answer. Lumielle had received an invitation to attend dinner with her father and the De Saude family. This had never happened in her past life.

Lumielle had been caught completely off guard. She had been drinking tea with Yennafer and Veronica with smiles on their faces when the invitation had arrived. Opening it, she felt her eyes harden.

Rumors of Cosette and her audaciousness became commonplace. How cruel of the De Saude family to strip Lumielle and Aris of the only place that reminded them of their mother?

Elise had been the reason behind the rumors, orchestrating a sympathetic tale as Veronica spread the news to anyone that would listen. Hosting balls and events, everyone was willing to lend an ear. That was all she needed. Her reputation needed to plummet and in the ashes of it all, Lumielle would be the one to resurrect her life.