Sister's argument

Please, I want to go to this ball, Dad. This is once in a lifetime opportunity that we cannot afford to miss, said Mia, coming to stand beside her sister so that their pleas would be united and accepted

How is this even possible? Their mother asked. She was still skeptical about how they could get an invitation when they were below the social status.

Jess knew that her parents, judging by their looks, were probably shocked at the invitation from the palace. She decided this was the right time to tell them about her encounter with Walker Lane and how the crown prince wanted her to work for him.

Mama, Papa, the truth is-

Mama, my friend Lisa must have spoken to her father to help us get the invitation to the gala. I told her about my desire to attend the grand ball yesterday; she must have wanted to surprise me. Mia interrupted Jess before she could finish her sentence.

Jess thought nothing of it, seeing that her sister was thrilled at the invitation. Seeing her parents nodding their heads in excitement, she opted to keep the information to herself until after the ball.

Mia, I doubt if Lisa's dad would have been able to pull such strings, seeing that he hasn't been summoned to the palace recently. I doubt Lisa got the invitation, Jess said.

Lisa's father was the deputy to the next village chief, and they entered the royal court only if summoned.

Oh, please, Jess, if it was not Lisa's dad who helped us get the invitation, should I assume that you were the one who made the palace courtier send us an invitation? You have never seen the four walls of the palace and only worked in that dirty little diner, Mia retorted, her tone condescending.

Mia's outburst caught Jess off guard, as she was solely making a harmless statement. Why would her sister pick offense at her words? She wondered

Mia, Mr. Smith called her youngest daughter and gave her a stern look.

That's no way to talk to your sister, he reprimanded her.

Papa, anytime I mention my friend Lisa, Jess always has one thing or another to say. I know you don't like my association with her because she is from a rich family, but Lisa has been kind to me, Mia huffed.

I was only expressing my thoughts. Lisa's father has not been summoned to the palace for a couple of months now, and it is difficult for him to pull in such strings as he isn't in a high position in the palace, Jess defended.

Stop it, both of you, their mother's soft voice said sternly.

Apologize to your sister now, Mia, or you won't be allowed to go to the ball, their mother said with finality while tapping her feet on the ground.

I'm sorry," Mia grudgingly said as she walked to her room, which she shared with Jess, and banged it shut.

Vera shook her head at her daughter's behavior while her husband watched without flinching at such disrespect.

We need to talk to Mia before she makes this behavior a habit. It would do us no good to have a brat as a daughter. Who would marry her with such an attitude? She asked in a low voice to her husband so that Jess could not pick up on what she was saying.

Jess, dear, your sister is a little agitated because of the ball; she has been rehearsing it in my ears for two days about wanting to go to the crown prince's birthday celebration, but I had dismissed it.

Who would have thought that somebody would extend an invitation to our family? Ignore your sister's behavior today and keep a watchful eye on her at the castle, Mr. Smith instructed his eldest daughter.

Papa, don't worry. Mia can be a little childish at times, but she has a good heart and means no harm, Jess said with a smile, putting the little outburst behind her to focus on the most important thing.

Dear, what will you wear to the ball with such little time on our hands? Her mother asked worriedly. She didn't want her daughters to be dressed as peasants even though they could not afford a new dress.

Both girls were of marriageable age, and Vera Smith hoped that they would find suitable suitors from decent homes who would pick an interest in them at the ball. Although the palace organized the ball to celebrate the crown prince's birthday, it was also an opportunity for girls of marriageable age to find suitors.

The issue of what to wear also bothered Jess. She remembered that Walker Lane had told her to dress presentable, as no one could see the crown prince dressed shabbily. She wanted her appearance to be decent enough and not hinder her opportunity.

Jess suddenly remembered Clara, her partner at work. She lived not too far from Jess's house. Clara was into fashion and had a decent amount of clothes that Jess could borrow for the night. The fact that she was petite like Jess made it more accessible, as she could fit into most of her dresses without the need to alter them much.

I want to go to Clara's house and see if she can lend me one of her outfits, Jess said as she dashed towards her room. She saw that Mia still had the door locked.

She must still be sulking because of what happened a few minutes ago. She thought.

She banged the door for Mia to open so she could tidy herself up before going to Clara's house, but Mia would not bulge. She looked at her hair, which was in a messy state, and her clothes, which smelled of onions and grease.

I can't possibly go out like this while looking like a homeless person. But what other options do I have? She thought.

She headed to Clara's house to see if she could borrow something decent to wear. She would have to amend it to fit her without altering the original design, as she would have to return it later.

Mia wanted to go to the ball to mingle with the upper class and possibly get hitched to a nobleman, while Jess's aim differed slightly from that of her sister.

She had long wanted to work at the Royal Hospital, which was her dream. The wages were miles apart from those at the diner, and she knew she would paid well for her work. She thought she could use the money to solve some pressing issues.