Three Pretty Princesses

Chapter 6- Ava

With Evalyn doing almost suspiciously well, Ava was free to slip away from the lunch party. It was odd not being noticed. She had lived her entire life with every eye in the palace watching her, and now she was nothing but a shadow. Even her mother seemed enthralled with the Princess, most likely dreaming of the charismatic daughter that could have been.

Ava, velvet blue hood up, strode through the palace with her head down. She passed multiple workers who didn't glance twice. The shadow realised that she would needed a name. She had never been a good liar because she had rarely ever had to lie. She was the Princess. She could say what she thought.

Ava searched her mind for appealing names. She wanted one that reminded her of something pleasant. This was difficult as she had associated most common names with the unpleasant people she knew with those names. In the end, the choice was simple. The only woman who Ava truly looked up to was Empress Elizabeth of Frostvale. She had only met her once, but even within a few seconds Ava had known she had met someone of her own kind. The Empress was reserved and intelligent, a clear distinction from the past scandalous monarchs of Frostvale. Her smile was warm but her eyes told a different story. Her eyes spoke of the icy ruthlessness she bestowed upon Avauntwood during the autumn rebellion of 796 PU.

"Elizabeth." The name somehow felt like toffee in her mouth. "Elizabeth, Elizabeth, Elizabeth, Elizabeth, Elizabeth."

The princess-in-disguise turned the corner to her quarters, suddenly aware of the loud clicking her

shoes produced on the polished rosewood flooring. At this rate she wouldn't be able to sneak up on Sonyae. Ava slipped off her suede, heeled shoes, and began padding along the floor barefoot. After 16 years living at Fairfax Palace, she had never realised how cold the floor was. At about this time Sonyae would be neatening up the bedroom; she be in the midst of making the bed and sweeping the floor. Ava took one quiet step towards the doorway, her foot cringing at the chill.

"Now what would a lady-in-waiting be doing in the Princess's quarters unsupervised?"

Despite instantly recognising Sonyae's fruity voice, Ava sprung up in shock, "Are you kidding me, Sunny? Can play just one trick on you without you foiling it?"

Sonyae grinned and strode towards the Princess. Swiftly grabbing Ava's hand, she whispered, "Keep trying, Bluey."

Ava let herself be lead into her own bedroom and pushed against the wall by her own maid. Sonyae's kiss felt warm, like honey-cake fresh from Palace bakery, yet it sent icy shivers down Ava's spine.

Ava pulled ran her hands through Sonyae's jet black hair. She had read science books all her life. She knew how to measure and test phenomenons and theories, how to prove them true or false. But the pleasures of the flesh were something that she would never be able to quantify. She would never understand why touching lips with another made her heart flutter at an uncomfortable level. Ava would worried about this later on, when the shivers and flutters were over, and she lay, trying to comprehend it, but right now the girl's forever-analysing mind was shut off.