How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
"Tend to the guests. They will be arriving soon. And—" The King's brow furrowed. "Take care that your sisters remain in their room. I've made them promise to stay inside, but—it is them." (1.69)
The King knows his daughters too well. They sure don't like being confined, especially not on Yuletide, when it's a tradition for the girls to try to get a peek at the marvelous ball that they won't be allowed to attend until they're fifteen. It stinks to have your freedom limited by your age, but so it goes.
Quote #2
The palace, known for its tall, mullioned windows that dappled light through the halls, would be muffled with drapery, turning day into pitch-black. They would be kept inside, trapped in a cage like those peeping birds at the wire-and-bottle shop on Hampton Street, and only allowed out on Royal Business… which would not be often. (4.31)
Azalea dreads mourning because the girls will feel trapped, like birds in a cage—and a dark cage at that, since all the windows must be draped. Add in the fact that no dancing is allowed, and mourning is starting to sound pretty awful.
Quote #3
The gentleman finished, smiling sadly. Azalea grasped her teacup in her hand, feeling the porcelain beneath her fingers. Trapped… the gentleman had been confined to the palace—just like them. (8.25)
Keeper weaves the girls a sad story about being trapped in the palace just like they are, thanks to mourning (well, his situation is due to a magical oath, but hey, close enough). Of course we learn later that this is a lie, and Keeper essentially chose to trap himself there, undead until he can get his revenge by killing the Captain General. But for now, Keeper is smooth enough to provide the girls with a reason to empathize with him, so maybe, just maybe, they'll help him escape.