Character Analysis
Everyone's favorite gambler, Graceful captures her fair share of hearts in this book. Graceful knows how to get her way, especially when it comes to her dad. While her loving bets with her dear old pops are only done in jest, she seems to win no matter what the stakes—you know, because he lets her. Perhaps this is why she's so devastated when she can't convince her dad to change his mind about her upcoming marriage to stranger and—gasp—Uplander, Gyaar. As her dad explains:
"This is no ordinary marriage. You will join North and South and make it one thing." Graceful thought, He is right. And did not know what to feel about that. (13.141)
Graceful's marriage to Gyaar is super important because it brings peace and stability to the nation, while also showing that the two sides can unite. This revelation kind of blows Graceful's mind, since she generally thinks of the two groups as polar opposites (just like everyone around her does). In her defense, though, she's just a kid—plus marriage is a pretty major life event, and her parents seem to change her spouse (she's originally promised to Cam) without giving any thought to whether she'll welcome this change or not.
On Her Way Up
Once she's married, Graceful keeps using her spark to get her way—instead of with her dad, though, now her husband's her target. So when Gyaar tries to invite her to his bedchamber, she boldly says:
"You take Dorn-Lannet, and now me, and do you ask? No." (15.116)
This statement shows some serious sauciness, especially when we remember that this is coming from a girl who wasn't given any say in her marriage. Instead of leading a life of submission, though, Graceful speaks her mind. Sure having babies is part of her duty to the nation—it's a political marriage, let's not forget—but that doesn't mean this isn't a her-body-her-rules kind of scenario.
Eventually Graceful comes around to her new hubby and life, and has a couple kids with the guy. Pin makes this offhanded comment about Graceful years after her marriage:
"She does seem very Uplander in her ways, her dress. Even speaking… her accent is like theirs." (16.51)
It's funny, isn't it? Graceful seems like an Uplander, yet she was so vocal early about how different the Uplanders were from her people. It seems like with enough fancy dresses and servants, and given a little time, even a diva like Graceful can come around to the Uplander way of life.
Graceful's Timeline