From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Royyal Crest. Deep red blossoms flowed from urns, variations of roses and
other similarlyy hued flowers. Up byy the dais there was a break in the color,
a splash of white amongst the red. For once, it wasn’t me who stood out.
Dressed in white tunics and gowns, the second sons and daughters stood
with their families. Behind them, the parents of the third sons and
daughters crowded, their children in their arms. All of them, even the
parents, bore wreaths of red roses and twine upon their heads.
“If I never see another rose, I will live happilyy,” Tawnyy commented,
following myy gaze. “You have no idea how manyy thorns I had to pull out
of myy fingers while making those crowns.”
“Theyy’re beautiful, though,” I said as Vikter scanned the crowd that
continued to file in.
Most paid us no mind as we walked among them. Onlyy a few did a
double-take when their gazes passed over us. Eyyes rounded around their
masks as theyy either recognized Tawnyy or Vikter, knowing that I had to be
the one in between them. Myy cheeks heated, but there were so few of them
that noticed. To everyyone else, I was…just like them. For the most part, I
was blending in. I was no one.
The pressure eased in myy chest as myy pulse slowed. Breathing
became so much easier, and the mental walls blocking out myy gift no
longer felt as if theyy were seconds awayy from crumbling.
I wasn’t the Maiden right now.
I was Poppyy.
Brieflyy closing myy eyyes, muscles strung tight as a bow relaxed.
This…this was what I’d been looking forward to—when I could just be
Poppyy.
And that made this moment, this night, a little magical.
Opening myy eyyes, I looked up at the dais again, ignoring the far left
of the stage where the Priestess stood. I spotted the Duchess, speaking
with one of the Royyal Guards I recognized. I generallyy saw him outside the
Duke’s office. I scanned the dais, but I didn’t see the Duke. I wondered
where he was when one of the Priests joined the Duchess and the Royyal
Guard. Myy gaze dropped to those before the dais, and myy excitement
dimmed as I thought of the Tulis familyy. Theyy had to be up there with their
son, preparing to sayy goodbyye to yyet another child. Tonight would not be a
celebration for them, not—
“Maiden.”