[Lavinia's POV—Royal Training Grounds, Morning of My Immediate Regret]
There are a few moments in life where you realize—with great clarity and zero dignity—that you've made a terrible, horrible, deeply regretful mistake.
For me, that moment came exactly four seconds into my next sword lesson.
"Princess," Ravick said with the utmost seriousness, "this is your sword."
He presented it like it was Excalibur.
I, meanwhile, stared at it like it was a freshly sharpened murder stick with betrayal written all over it.
"Are you sure this isn't too sharp?" I asked suspiciously, squinting at the gleaming blade. "What if it slips? What if it cuts off someone's ear? What if that someone is me?!"
"It's a practice sword," Ravick said patiently, although a vein on his temple twitched. "It's dull. You're more likely to bonk than bleed."
"Oh." I nodded wisely, then held the sword upside down like a bouquet.
Ravick stared. "Princess… that's the wrong way."
"It is?" I looked down. "Oh."
