Three Pretty Princesses

Chapter 8- Ava

The next morning, Ava awoke in Sonyae's arms. Stubborn morning sunlight was pooling on the the two girls faces, desperate for the kisses they gave each other last night. Ava rolled over. She opened her peridot green eyes for a few seconds, but her eyelids involuntarily began to gently fall back down. Sonyae slipped out of the bed, and began to dress herself.

"It would be in your best interests if you got dressed too. It's nearly breakfast time," she said.

Unable to face her inevitable departure from this morning paradise, Ava rolled back onto her stomach. "I will in a minute."

Sonyae pulled the sheets of Ava, exposing her body to the freezing cold air. A few expletives left Ava's mouth as she sprung out of bed and began to put her slip on.

"You're a shithead. You know that right?" Ava grumbled.

Suddenly, the door swung open. "Hey, Ava I was just wondering when...."

Evalyn's voiced trailed off, as she took in the sight before her. Sonyae was dressed. Ava thanked the Gods for that, but the Princess was in her silk underwear.

"I'll ask you later," Evalyn announced, shrinking back out of the room.

"No, it's fine," Ava cried out, "Sonyae's just helping me get dressed for breakfast."

Ava smiled to herself. Nonchalant.

Evalyn breathed a sigh of understanding, "Oh right, you just had a bath."
"Exactly!" Ava wanted to throw her arms around Evalyn for throwing her such a lifeline.

"What I was going to ask," Evalyn began, smirking for no apparent reason, "was when the next occasion I will have to pose as you for is."

Ava searched her mind. "I think the Prince of Frostvale is coming to Fairfax next week, but Mother will probably ask Pauline to do that."

"So I get some time off? Splendid," Evalyn sung out, "See you at breakfast!"

"Well that was a close call," Sonyae stated, helping Ava slip on her baby blue gown.
Ava giggled, and said, "Evalyn's a bit dim. I don't think she realised."

Evalyn was too vivacious and spry for Ava's tastes. Once she had stopped crying, the girl had talked non-stop, asking questions about everyone from Ava's father to the head-chef. She seemed like one of the ditzy noblewomen that spent their unearned money on Jacobmire jewels and Amakario silks, and spent their days gossiping about each other. It was the vapid lifestyle that Ava's mother wanted her to lead, but she would desperately try to avoid.

As a matter a fact, many of the aforementioned noblewomen were at that very breakfast. They giggled and gossiped over scrambled eggs, while Ava sat near the head of the table plotting their murder.

"This is delicious! Thank you Maddie!" Evalyn sung out to one of the serving girls. It was almost unbearable.

Evalyn turned to Ava, and inquired, "What are you up to today, Ava?"

She had a staggering smile. Ava could at least give her that. Evalyn looked like the other girls, but had a warm shimmer about her.

Ava felt a sharp kick to her shin from across the table. She glared at her mother, whose pointed shoes could be implemented as a murder weapon for the annoying noblewomen. Queen Gwendoline sternly raised her eyebrows, which confused Ava for a few seconds until she realised why.

"Right, uh, I think I'm going to read. In the library," she managed to string together.
"That sounds fun. Are you reading anything in particular right now."
"Yes. You wouldn't have heard of it though."
"Oh, okay."