Stop it, she admonished herself. This was exactly what Daphne wanted: to make her doubt their relationship—doubt Jeff.

Daphne took a step forward, probably expecting her to retreat, but Nina held her ground. Despite their ball gowns, their jewels, their elaborate hairstyles, they seemed to Nina like a pair of warriors tensely circling each other on the field of battle.

“You know what?” Nina declared. “I feel sorry for you. If what you say is true, if you really devoted your entire life to being some perfect princess figure—that’s pathetic.”

There was a dangerous gleam to Daphne’s eyes. “Oh, no. You do not get to feel sorry for me.”

“I do,” Nina repeated. “Because unlike you, I care about Jeff, the person. Not the fact that he’s a prince.”

Daphne laughed, but there was no mirth in it. “They’re one and the same thing, Nina. You can’t want Jeff like an ordinary man and ignore his positions and titles. If you don’t know that, then you’re a fool.”

“Better to love him for real than to love him because of his positions and titles!”

“Oh my, you love him.” The other girl smirked. “That really is too bad for you. Because Jefferson is going to come to his senses and get rid of you soon enough. Until then, I’ll be right here, making your life a living hell.”

Nina knew, with a chilling certainty, that Daphne meant every word.

“I’m going to tell everyone the truth about you. That you’re a lying, manipulative—”

“I’d love to see you try.” Daphne cast her a withering glance. “Who do you think they’ll believe? I’m America’s Sweetheart, and you’re the gold-digging fame whore he rebounded to, before he eventually comes back to me.”

Nina opened her mouth to retaliate, but no words came out, because she knew deep down that it was true. America would take Daphne’s side over hers.

“Someday you’ll thank me for this,” Daphne said quietly. “You don’t have the stomach for this kind of life. I’m doing you a favor in the long run.”

With that, she turned the bolt on the door and stepped out into the hallway.

Nina blinked, dazed. There was a love seat in the corner; she collapsed onto it in a sloppy heap of beads.

She sat there for a while, her chin tucked into her hands, staring blankly at the opposite wall. Light fell from the crystal chandelier overhead, which suddenly looked to Nina like a torrent of tears, frozen mid-fall by an evil snow queen.

How stupidly na?ve she’d been, thinking she could just stroll into this party in a beautiful dress and everything would be okay. She didn’t know how to navigate this court, with its layered promises and barbed favors. This court rewarded people like Daphne—cold, brutal people who did whatever the hell they wanted and never looked back. Nina couldn’t compete with those people. She didn’t want to.

This wasn’t her world, and it never would be.

Nina ran her hands up and down her bare arms against the cold. The wings of the palace sprawled to either side of her, flooded with moonlight. She was out on the balcony, the one with the birds’ nest, where she and Jeff had watched the fireworks all those weeks ago.

This time, Nina wasn’t surprised when his footsteps sounded behind her.

“There you are.” Jeff’s voice was warm, but then he seemed to take in her pallor, the bleak look on her face, and he hurried to close the distance between them.

“We need to talk,” Nina said heavily.

Jeff slid out of his jacket as if to tuck it over her shoulders, but she drew back. He let his arms fall to his sides, chastened.

“Nina, are you okay? What happened?”

Your ex-girlfriend happened. She tightened her grip on the wrought-iron railings.

“I was so excited about tonight,” she began. “Getting to be here with you, at an event that’s important to your family. I thought we were ready for this.”

“We are ready for this, Nina. I hope you know how much it means to me that you’re here.”

She shook her head. “You might be ready for this, but I’m not. All the lies and pretending, that ballroom full of two-faced people—I can’t do it.”

“I told you, forget the internet commenters,” Jeff insisted. “My family loves you; everyone who matters loves you.”

“Are you sure your family approves of me?” Nina forged ahead before he could interrupt. “I’m not talking about Sam; I’m talking about your parents. Do you honestly think they would give us permission to get married?”

She half expected Jeff to defend her, but instead he flinched. “Isn’t it a little soon to be talking about marriage?”

“It would be, if we were a normal couple and I didn’t have to worry about whether or not I’m suitable!” Nina hated herself for parroting Daphne. But like all good insults, Daphne’s words had contained a kernel of truth. That was why they cut so deep.

“I’m not trying to freak you out, or be unreasonable,” she added helplessly. “But I also have no desire to enter a relationship that’s doomed from the start. I don’t want to date someone whose parents are ashamed of me.”

Jeff reached for her hand, and this time Nina let him take it. “Where is this coming from?”