Through The Garden Path

The Prince

Eleven years had passed since then, and Aurelia had flourished into a young woman. Just as her father predicted, the people of the inner city fell in love with her. Many reveled in her beauty and wits, watching in awe as she would discuss such deep topics about her father's sermons with other Noblemen and women. With constant tutoring and hard work, she had learned all that there was about being a member of high society.

"Clemence you should relax every now and then," Aurelia smiled as she took a seat on her chaise lounge.

"I'm setting a good example for Phillippa," Clemence sighed.

Phillipa was Aurelia's lady-in-waiting. Although the two girls were so close in age that rather than give any real instructions all Aurelia did was chat Phillipa's ear off. The pair had become rather close, which was an unheard-of occurrence.

"My lady, I know plenty already," Phillipa replied in an over-the-top proper voice.

Aurelia chuckled, her blonde hair cascading in ringlets down her back. Her father stressed upon keeping her hair long and blonde. With the clouded weather that the city of Divinita's possessed it had become darker as she grew. Agedius ordered her lady in waiting to douse it in citress and let her sit outside whenever the sun was out. Aurelia never cared much about it, she enjoyed being outside and liked it even more when people would comb through her locks.

"This is no time to mess around," Clemence groaned. "Your father will not be back until tomorrow and if you get in any trouble between now and then I will have to answer to the Inquisitors!"

Falling over the velvet couch Aurelia let out a long sigh. She was an obedient daughter, following her father's advice all those years before, but the older she got the more she yearned for more. She wanted to experience the adventures she read about, even those in the old testament got to experience some sort of a conundrum.

"I don't know why father did not take me with him to the palace," Aurelia sighed.

"Because you have not made your debut yet, and it would be wrongful to allow the Princes to gaze upon you until then," Clemence explained sternly.

When women of nobility reach the marrying age they hold a Debutante ball to make their entrance into society. This is when rich families can make their offers at her hand in hopes of marrying her off to their sons. It was at the end of the day, a glorified business deal. Aurelia's was scheduled a week from that day, which meant that soon she would be forced to marry some young man of pure blood. If she knew anything of her father it would be someone from an immensely rich and powerful family.

"It's not like I've never met the princes before," Aurelia muttered.

She recalled her younger adolescence. She was sat with Raphael and Edmund, the king's two sons, in the cathedral's pews. They snickered at her for the first few moments, making fun of how tall she was and how strongly she smelt of perfume. It wasn't until their mother, her Royal Majesty, slapped them both on the back of their necks that they began being kind to her. She had seen them once or twice after that day, but they avoided her entirely out of fear of being scolded again.

"I wonder what they look like now," the girl said, picturing the deep dark red hair Raphael had and Edmund's piercing blue eyes.

"Deliciously handsome I suspect," Phillipa giggled.

Clemence gasped in horror at her proteges' lustful words. Having no part of their immature conversation Clemence cleared her throat and grabbed Aurelia's hands.

"With your afternoon activities being over I suggest you should bathe," Clemence instructed. "I had filled it with steaming hot water before you finished your reading so it should be the perfect temperature now."