Marion Norindale Books

Dedicated and poised, Elodie is a hard worker and a caring friend. Though she’s about to receive the most stringent test of her loyalties upon starting at the House of the Scroll…

Her family descends from old Castillan nobility, bestowing upon her the title of Viscountess.

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EXCERPT

The front door creaked open and slammed shut.

“Did you tell her?” Sabina lounged against the kitchen island, skimming over a piece of paper. Her sandy hair draped over her shoulder.

“No,” replied a voice from the hall. “I thought it’d be a surprise.”

Her husband and daughter rounded into the kitchen.

Alfonso boasted even longer hair than his wife, a swept-back waterfall of black. Though he was pale in contrast to her bronze complexion.

Their daughter Elodie shared her father’s pallor, with golden locks inherited somewhere a bit back in the family line.

She slung her back up onto the counter and climbed onto a stool. “What’s a surprise?”

Her aunt Daphne giggled from her perch cross-legged on the counter. She boasted more of their Lannish genes, with thick black curls and warm bronze skin.

She handed her niece a wedge of orange, which Elodie accepted with a squeak of thanks.

“Just this.” Sabina unfolded the letter.

“‘Mr. Eli Sweeney:

“‘You are cordially welcomed in your upcoming attendance of the House of the Scroll. Enclosed is a list of supplies necessary for purchase, as well as the courses available to first-year students. All course selections must be submitted no later than the first of Kaechim. Please be prepared and present on campus no later than Dechri, Julichème first.

“‘We look forward to your joining our community.

“‘Thank you,

“‘Demille Thorncrown

“‘Headmistress of the House of the Scroll.”

“Congratulations!” Daphne sprinkled a shower of sparks over her niece. “Not that we didn’t know this day was coming, but…”

“It’s still a celebration nonetheless.” Sabina rounded the island to plant a kiss into her daughter’s forehead. “Congratulations, sweetie.”

Elodie grinned, popping the last of her orange slice into her mouth.

“Congrats.” Alfonso patted her on the shoulder. “I guess we’ll have to take you shopping for a few new things, eh?”

The girl’s smile faltered. “Y-yeah—”

The look in her eyes bounced between the adults.

“I heard,” Daphne declared, licking orange juice off her fingers, “that the school has gotten a lot more blasphemous since Thorncrown took over.”

“Well, it was a little bit better when she started,” Sabina reasoned. “I know she got a lot of pushback in our time, but hopefully, that’s true.”

Alfonso patted his daughter’s back. “We’ll get what we can. Does it say anything about the uniforms?”

His wife consulted the letter again. “Um…it actually says the standards have been loosened. Students can now wear whatever they want underneath their robes.”

Elodie’s eyes widened. “R-really?”

Her mother cocked an appraising brow. “I guess things really have changed.”

Alfonso smiled. “That’s great. Then we can get you whatever you want, huh?”

Two bright pink spots stood out on Elodie’s cheeks.

* * *

If things really had changed…then was it too much to hope that she could maybe, possibly, express herself more openly than she was able to now?

Though the thought of revealing her true identity still tingled through Elodie in a flood of pins and needles.

She released a sigh. Maybe it was just enough to wear her preferred clothes under her robes for now.