Three Pretty Princesses

Chapter 17- Evalyn

Meet me on your balcony while everyone is at the wedding of Duke Edward and Margaret of Avauntwood - R.P.

"Shit," Evalyn said to herself as she read the note. She quickly folded it up and shoved it in her corset before the maid brushing Evalyn's hair behind her had a chance to see it.

"Anything wrong?" the maid inquired, as she pulled the platinum blonde hair into a high bun.

"Yep. I mean no. I mean- I'm fine," Evalyn stuttered, beginning to fiddle with her embroidered gown. Reese was going to show up on the balcony, and Evalyn wasn't going to be there to greet him like she usually did. She had to leave a note, but couldn't explain her absence. It wasn't the first time that Evalyn's double life had proved to be an issue with her love life. Reese was already getting frustrated with her suddenly disappearing in the middle of a rendezvous. The lovers' moments together were beautiful but fleeting. Whenever she spent time with Reese time moved too fast. It was like she was grasping at it desperately, begging it to slow down. Evalyn was caught in a constant state of anxiety that she'd be called away again.

Had to attend to the Princess at the marriage- E.H.

Evalyn left the note on the balcony. Reese was under the notion that she was a lady-in-waiting to the Princess, which wasn't strictly a lie, but Evalyn had failed to mention that sometimes she was the Princess. After tearing up blank piece of parchment, eating two ham-filled baguettes, and punching her pillow for a minute, all in anxiety. Evalyn left for the marriage.

Unlike her aunt, Queen Gwendoline, Margaret of Avauntwood was not stunning. She certainly wasn't ugly- with the makeup she was wearing, the exquisiteness of her hair, and her fine regalia, a peasant watching the bridal procession from a distance would think she was the third most beautiful woman in Dulcinea (behind Queen Gwendoline and Princess Ava, of course). Margaret was a rather plain-looking girl with a rather plain personality. She was perhaps the opposite of Duke Edward- a handsome, charismatic man. It reason for their union was obvious, however. With Dulcinea-Avauntwood relations turning rather sour, especially after the spying two months ago, the kingdom and the hold needed something to unite them.

And, in the words of King Matthew the Prudent, "Only two things unite royals: family-blood, marriage, and war."

Evalyn sat through the entire ceremony fidgeting in her seat, her right leg bouncing up and down (much to the annoyance of Pauline sitting beside her). She was witnessing fake love. Duke Edward would undoubtedly cheat, leaving Margaret brokenhearted, but pregnant enough to produce an heir to Jacobmire. Evalyn wanted to feel real love. She wanted to feel that strange feeling she got around Reese- like her heart was in an entirely different place. Sometimes she got it when just thinking about the fact that he loved her. She'd been loved before, but this was different.

As soon as the official ceremony and feast concluded, Evalyn wanted to rush off to find Reese, but she had to stay and dance with almost every aristocrat. It was a chore, but she had to do it to maintain relations. After six hours of drinking, and eating, and dancing, and socialising, Evalyn returned to her chambers drunk and exhausted. She washed her hair, and slipped into her nightgown drowsy and emotional at the midnight hour.

Before collapsing on her bed, Evalyn decided to check if Reese had gotten her note. She staggered onto the balcony, only to be greeted to the sight of Reese himself.
"Typtris himself!" Evalyn yelped, "Why are you here?"

"Not like I've got fucking anything better to do," Reese hissed, his voice lined with obvious anger.

Evalyn's eyes filled with tears. Not again, not again. "I'm so sorry. I didn't have a choice. I-"

"You always disappear with no warning, and you always act live you've got something to hide. Lyn, the first time I met you, you were coming out of the King's quarters," Reese said, his eyes narrowing, "You're no lady-in-waiting. You're a courtesan. You're the King's slut."

"No you don't understand," Evalyn quaked, running her hands through her hair.

"It's true. Isn't it?" Reese thundered.

Evalyn needed to tell him the truth. She felt like she could tell him anything. The truth was so much better than the conclusion Reese had come to.

Evalyn took a deep breath. "Have you ever noticed that I look like Princess Ava?"

Reese's rage subsided, "Wait, you aren't...?"
"No I'm not the Princess," Evalyn laughed, "But sometimes I pretend to be. The King and Queen get me and this other girl to pose as her sometimes to protect the heir from assassination."

Reese's eyes filled with confusion and then dawned with understanding. He looked at Evalyn weirdly, like she was a painting he didn't quite understand.

"Oh," Reese said as he took a step towards Evalyn, "I'm sorry for losing it."

Evalyn fell into his embrace, and began to weep. "No, I should have told you."

Reese lifted Evalyn's chin, and planted a kiss on her mouth. "I love you."