Vivienne felt a tight prick right in the middle of her chest. It was like someone had reached inside and twisted something fragile until it broke. Delphine's words were cheap, nasty daggers, and they landed perfectly. She just stood frozen, her back still to them, trying to breathe, trying not to let them see how much it burned.
Delphine saw the pause, the stillness, and pushed harder, her voice laced with venom and a sick sort of fake concern. "You must have forgotten, Vivienne. You're still a noble by birth. Your father is a noble, isn't he?"
Vivienne finally, slowly, turned around. The light hit her face in a way that made her eyes darker, colder. Her lips parted slightly, but no sound came out.
