𝐀𝐋𝐈𝐂𝐄

-𝘰𝘯𝘦

Alice, now 24, was fed up with her brother's vow to protect her from all harm. Because according to him, any potential suitor was also harmful. Hence, her annoyance at his pleading for her to go to the masquerade ball.

"Why do you need me there? It's not like you'll let any suitors even spare me a glance," she retorted with an eye roll. Usually, anyone who gave Henry this kind of attitude would infuriate him, but from Alice, he found it amusing.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

She gave him a pointed look, causing him to raise his hands in defense.

"You don't let me talk to any man-"

"Charles and Marcus talk to you all the time," he cut her off, earning a pillow to be thrown at his head.

"They don't count, Henry. I'm 24 and unwed, people in court are beginning to talk," she looked down at her hands and began to fidget, a habit from her childhood that never went away.

He raised his eyebrow, trying to contain her anger. "Who? What are they saying?"

With another roll of her eyes, she sighed and laid back on the bed dramatically.

"Apparently I'm into women."

Henry tried to stifle back a laugh, but was unsuccessful, which only earned another pillow to be tossed in his direction. However, this time he caught it with ease.

"Come on," he got out once he calmed down from his laughing fit, "get dressed and come to the ball. I want you to meet the Lady Anne."

Alice immediately perked up upon hearing her name, ready to tease her older brother about his current conquest. While she didn't agree with his tactics on getting rid of Catherine, she also just wanted him to be happy, and to finally have a legitimate son. Because if he didn't, he would more than likely go mad, and no one wanted a mad king.

However, she wasn't going to show him that she immediately agreed internally.

"Fine, get me Lady Mackenzie."

With a nod, he got up and went to leave the room, but not before chucking the pillow in his hands as retaliation. While he never, ever let anybody boss him around, Alice of course was the exception. Many in court considered this behavior from her to be inappropriate, but no one would ever tell their king that.

Within moments, Lady Mackenzie, Alice's lady in waiting and best friend, came in with dresses and enough make up for the entire court.

"Let's make you the most beautiful woman in court!" She made her announcement, promptly plopping all of the dresses on Alice's bed. She raised an eyebrow towards her in amusement.

"Why? So my brother, Marcus and Charles can scare off all of the guys who try to talk to me?"

Mackenzie waved the girl off and made her stand from her seat to look at all of the various garments.

"Stop being such a bore. I'll distract them that way you can at least get some conversations in."

A tactic they have tried in the past, that never seems to work. However, that doesn't stop them from actually trying every time there is a ball, or a summit, or any get together for that matter.

Alice ended up picking a dark blue gown, which had a lower neckline than what she was used to. However, since they were slowly breaking away from the Vatican, this was becoming more acceptable. Her mask was made from feathers and was dyed black. It only covered the top half of her face, so it was obvious that she was still Alice Tudor. She declined make up as per usual, as her skin always had a terrible reaction it.