Three Pretty Princesses

Chapter 12- Pauline

Pauline was not good at embroidery. She would leave the fabric stained red after pricking her finger so many times. This was much to the annoyance of Evalyn, posing as Ava, who 'would work hard to get the embroidery started only to have it ruined when Pauline was on rotation.

The thread made a harsh, scratching sound, and Pauline sighed, realising she accidentally created a knot. She looked up to see Evalyn giving her a bemused look.

"Your highness, you have a visitor," a servant called out, much to Pauline's relief. She stood up, allowing the embroidery to drop off her lap onto the group. Prince Erik swaggered into the room, unaccompanied.

Pauline gestured to Evalyn, Ava, and the other handmaidens to leave the room. The two royals waited in silence as the room emptied.

"I'm so sorry for my behaviour during the Springtime Tourney," Pauline began, falling into a frenzy of shame and embarrassment over Ava's actions.
"No- I'm sorry," Prince Erik interrupted, "I shouldn't have made you so uncomfortable in front of your friends."

Pauline lifted her big green eyes to meet Erik's. "Can we just forget about it?"

"Of course, your highness," Prince Erik insisted as he took Pauline's hand.

Realising that her hand was wet and bloodied from embroidery, Pauline immediately subtly her hand out of his grasp, and rested it on his shoulder.
"Just call me Ava," she giggled.
"Of course, you hi- ... Ava," the Prince acknowledged. It occurred to Pauline that Prince Erik had probably been coached his entire life about proper manners and etiquette. Meanwhile, she'd spent her days scrambling for food at the orphanage table with little regard for cleanliness or politeness.

And yet here they were- the heir to the oldest empire in Montague, and the orphan girl with nothing to her name- gazing into each others' eyes with but few words between them.

Pauline had always known she was special. Something about her humble beginnings made her think that she was destined for greatness. Madame Willow's fortune telling only confirmed what Pauline already knew. What if she could marry Prince Erik? What if she could make him fall in love with her as Ava, and then reveal her true identity? It was a stretch, but Pauline was bold and brilliant and knew she could do it.

So, in her uncalculated boldness, she went in for a kiss, and somehow, in her luck, Prince Erik wanted to kiss her too. The kiss was invigorating and exhilarating in ways that she had never felt before. The fire of Pauline and the ice of Erik somehow cancelled out to create a unassailable passion. Prince Erik grasped at her waist, roughly and impolitely, like an ordinary man of the earth-not a prince.

Panting for air, Pauline pulled out. "We can't do anything now."

"I know," Erik replied, regaining his composure, "But we will, one day. You know it too."
Pauline sighed. Erik thought he was pledging to marry an entirely different girl. "We will."

The two held eye contact for a few moments, before both looking to the door. Erik loosened his grip on Pauline, and began to lumber towards the door.
"See you soon," he said.