“That’s how Mattias sketched your likeness and knew where you lived. Coralythe gave him that information.” Anouk went silent, deep in thought.

I wanted to fix this. To help, not add burdens to my cousin. “Please . . . let me help you. Whatever you needed the wish for, I’ll give it.”

“No, Myrthe. That’s what you do—you help people to your detriment. You let yourself help Oma and it led you to forced servitude. You helped Coralythe and it resulted in a curse. You even used wishes to help Sven with his pilgrimage. And now you’re willing to die to help me when you don’t even know what I need.”

“So compassion is my downfall.” I thought of Bastiaan and giving him bread. That, at least, had resulted in something beautiful.

“No, it’s your strength. But other people use it to take you down. I will not be one of those people.”

“Then I’ll help in other ways.” I had a few guesses as to why Anouk needed the wish, most of which revolved around her marriage to King Mattias. But Anouk spoke about it as though it was to solve a problem she’d had long before that.

Anouk released a great sigh. “It’s my turn to tell you a story. I fear it’s just as grim.”

Winter’s breath, was she cursed too?

“You remember my father.” She sounded resigned.

“Yes.” I swallowed. “He died . . . four years ago?” I never brought it up because Anouk never spoke of it. Even though he’d been my uncle—Oma’s other son.

When he passed away, Anouk wept no tear. If anything, she became a more joyful person. I’d interacted with my uncle a handful of times, and he’d always been pleasant. He liked to talk business and profit with Oma.

Like mother, like son.

Every time he visited meant Oma would leave me alone. It gave Anouk and me glorious hours together outside.

“We were poor once.” Anouk grimaced and held her stomach. “Before we moved to Fairhoven. Hard to believe, I know. Father had debts. And when they became too much, he . . . well, he sold me.”

My mouth went dry.

“To men.” As if that clarification were necessary. “Only a few times at first, begging my forgiveness and promising it was the only way for us to eliminate those debts. But a few times turned into several a week and . . . he made good munten. I . . . I should have left. Moved. Told someone. Something.”

Her hands gripped her skirt. “Then we moved here. Men paid more here, so he didn’t have to bring in as many. A couple months after the move, I got pregnant.”