Victory

The night was difficult—tossing and turning in her sleep, Lumielle found herself staring outside the window until dawn finally broke. Fingers tangled in her tresses as Evangeline knocked on the door only to find that the young Princess was awake.

"You've been up early as of late," Evangeline answered brushing her long lilac tresses. Her hair was growing quite long. Her hesitance to cut it showed—Lumielle didn't wish to revert back to the young woman that she once was. The past still haunted her.

"Have I?" Lumielle queried. She closed her eyes, soft thumbprints of insomnia clung to the bottom of her oculars. Even in the mirror, she could see that she looked tired. Thoughts of Cosette refused to leave.

The door creaked open once more. Sylvia approached with a very familiar man behind her.

"I greet the Star of Endora," Helio said bowing as he presented a vellum letter. Her father was beckoning her. How annoying.