Our match ended with the encroachment of a mere pawn, allowing me to take his king for myself. Afterwards, I ignored His Grace and went to work smoothing out the details of my engagement party with the staff, making the decision that we would host a week later. Several servants aided with decorative matters, such as the floral arrangements, choices of food and drink, along with the inquiry of which runners would be best suited to line the table. Seven days later, I presently linger near a window with one leg over the other, reading a book His Grace had lent me from his study. Apparently, he had taken notice of my perusal through his shelf and offered me a self-guided tour. I borrowed several, one of which I took with me to the living area whilst waiting for a glimpse of Serenity’s carriage. Her invite had been addressed to have her arrive a bit sooner than the event formally began, mostly since I desired to converse with her in private banter. As the hour draws near, my gaze begins periodically shifting from the pages to peer outside at the estate’s gravel drive-in. Eventually, I turn my attention back to a navy carriage being guided by the trot of a horse and excitedly make my way to the door. A staff member holds open the door for me as I walk across the path to greet her, a grin tugging at my lips as Serenity takes her step down.
“Good morning, Lady Serenity,” I beam, curtseying.
“And good morning to you, Lady Avalor,” Serenity jests, exchanging the gesture with an overly dramatic flair. Motioning to stand beside her, I hold out the crook of my elbow.
“Shall we?” I ask, playfully tilting my head at her with the utmost respect.
“We shall,” she says back. Walking arm in arm together, we head inside for the living area where we encounter His Grace pouring himself a glass of tea beside the dining room table. I guess he’s still upset…Well that’s quite a shame - for him. Serenity suddenly stops and gives me a glance.
“Wait…” she whispers, furrowing her brows. “So how are things?” she asks, recalling her brief interaction with him at the ball, “Is there still trouble between you two?” I bear a sinister smile at her. Raising the back of my hand, I whisper for a hushed exchange.
“Not anymore,” I boast giddily. She shoots a bewildered stare, conveying she had not a clue for my reason for glee. “Here, watch,” I assure her, gesturing with the tilt of my head for her to peer over at him. “Nikkolas,” I assert pompously, knowing fully well he’s not heard his name uttered once since our quarrel. He promptly looks up from the teapot and stares directly at me.
“Yes?” he answers, innocently.
“What might you be doing over there?” I sneer, with a snide twirl of my finger. Glancing awkwardly down at the pot, he answers.
“Just merely pouring myself a cup of tea.”
“Yes,” I say in emphasis, narrowing my eyes in contempt, “but what are you doing here?” He furrows his brows curiously at me, setting his glass down.
“Uh, forgive me, Avalor,” he offers, with parted lips, “but I’m not quite grasping what you mean by that–”
“Oh,” I suggest mockingly, with eyes widened, “I see you misunderstand me, Nikkolas.” “I assume I’ll just have to clarify that for you. I mean to ask what you are doing here,” I assert, pointing definitively to the floor, “in the dining room.” His expression falls flat upon my having made clear it was rather his presence that I was referring to. “I invited you to the party, but the party’s not yet begun, so I ask you again, Nikkolas,” I continue, with the utmost disdain, “what are you doing here?”
“I-I just thought I would get some tea–”
“Then have a servant bring it to you,” I interrupt coldly, piercing his gaze, “I don’t want to see you until the festivities begin.” Quickly nodding, he motions to exit through the living area. In his stride past us towards the stairs, however, I block his retreat with a firm hand to his chest, jolting him.
“Are you trying to irritate me right now?” I press, glaring at him. “Go the other way,” I scoff, pushing my palm against him in the direction of the opposite staircase.
“I’m sorry,” he caves in almost a whisper, treading back. In his ascent, I turn to Serenity.
“And that,” I say, proudly flicking my crimson locks over my shoulder, “Is how you get rid of a man.”
“He turned tail and ran!” she jests, amused by His Grace’s shameful behavior.
“He did, didn't he?” I agree, with a grin. “I’m hoping that by the end of today he’ll have done more than just run away,” I add eagerly, clasping my hands behind my back.
“Well,” she asks, narrowing her eyes playfully at me, “what more could he do than that?”
“I have a special something in mind for him later today,” I reply aloofly, “but, you will have to wait out the party for the real fun to commence!”
“Why do you always leave me out of plans?” she pouts comically, feigning the expression of a child whilst crossing her arms.
“You know why, Serenity,” I allude, holding out the crook of my arm, “If I told you it wouldn’t be a surprise.”
“May I at least have a hint then?” she prods, locking her elbow in mine.
“Hmm…” I tease, turning my gaze at the ceiling during our trot, “You do notice the change in his behavior, don’t you?” She nods casually.
“I do–what of it?”
“Well, one would presume he’s been awfully… lonely,” I allude, with the tilt of my head, “And I figure that by now, he’ll be more than willing to welcome the embrace of the woman he mistakenly turned his back on.” Going to sit down beside her, I continue. “Considering the state of our relationship as it is now, I feel certain he’s begun to regret his decision to try and court me.”
“And that would be accurate,” she acknowledges, furrowing her brows, “but what would that accomplish on your end?”
“Very much so, in truth,” I reply, throwing my leg over my lap, “since all the necessary paperwork is in order.”
“And what might that entail?”
“A grand settlement in the event of infidelity.” His Grace was so dutiful as to outline the hallmarks of what a good husband ought to abide by, likely driven by an urge to impress me with his faith. Oh well. “I have plans to coax Margot into approaching him, aiming to play the role of a lovesick wife in my performance.” “As I remarked earlier, they were made for each other–I’m just surprised this would play out so perfectly in my favor,” I conclude, with a shrug.
“You don’t think he will try to deny it?” she prods, raising a brow.
“No, I don’t. I think he’ll do quite the opposite. She’s exactly what he’s looking for in a marriage,” I scoff, a twinge of envy in my voice. She shoots a deadpan expression, picking up on my insecurities.
“And what might she have that you don’t, Ava?”
“Perhaps the poise to make me realize the crudeness of my own features,” I remark, throwing my head back in annoyance, “perhaps it’s merely the thought of her that reminds me I’ll always amount to second; or perhaps it’s my own faith in her that a proposal to me was destined to become hers.”
“But didn’t he decide on an alliance with you? Might there be a reason behind that?”
“Yes, but I’d call it no more than a lust that drove his error, condemning our affairs to remain fleeting at best.”
“Well, I hope for the sake of an annulment this plan of yours succeeds,” she says, softening her gaze, “but you shouldn’t talk so low of yourself.” Putting her hand over mine, she continues. “Margot may be the most conventionally attractive of us, but she doesn’t have that brilliant mind of yours.” Brilliant? I look at Serenity with an expression of discernment at her choice of words.
“That’s strange,” I allude, recalling His Grace’s compliment.
“What?” she asks curiously.
“You sound just like him, Serenity,” I answer, peering up at her, “I find that unsettling.”
“What?” she retorts, with a furrowed brow, “Am I not allowed to use the word brilliant?”
“For the moment, no,” I reply, “I’d ask you to refrain from that term.” “It only serves as a reminder of His Grace and I’d much rather forget any trace of a positive exchange between us, and immerse myself in the memory of his past arrogance,” I clarify, the thought of my beloved burial lingering in my mind.
“That, along with the settlement,” Serenity teases, “Don’t forget, you’ll win handsomely, Ava, I assure you.”
“Yes,” I agree, “I’ll at least have that to look forward to.”
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