Introductions

"Your highness? Princess Avaline?"

Ava continued to look ahead at nothing in particular, seeming quite calm as she slowly curled a loose lock of her hair around her finger. "I understand. You may leave," she dismissed without even looking at the servant girl. The girl bowed her head and quickly left the room.

"Ava? Are you… okay?"

Ava finally looked up, a mocking smile on her lips. "Isn't that interesting? I'm nothing more than the daughter of his dead wife he never wanted to marry until it suits him. The moment he can use me for a political marriage in place of his more precious children, then it's 'Princess Avaline, my beloved daughter'. How amusing."

Yoseph, the man who was more a father than her own had ever been, frowned further at that, the small wrinkles gathering at the corners of his eyes becoming more pronounced. He rubbed at the stubble on his chin in distress, dark brows tightly knit together and the curls of his hair falling over one of his eyes. "Ava… You don't have to go through with this. We could fake your death, give you a new identity."

The hard look in Ava's eyes finally softened but she shook her head. "We could but that would attract unwanted attention. My timely death right after the marriage announcement, they would definitely investigate it. That wouldn't be good at all. It's fine, I can handle this. It won't keep me from my work."

"You'll truly go through with this marriage? Aye, you're more than the royal family deserve." He then fell quiet, silently staring at her for a moment before he spoke again. "More than I deserved."

"Don't talk nonsense Papa, it's thanks to that negligent royal father of mine and your kindness that I've had the life I've lived these years. I'm truly grateful. We can consider this my show of gratitude."

Yoseph smiled at that, reaching out a hand across the table. Ava placed her hand in his and he gently ran his thumb over the back. "Ava, be careful out there, okay? I'll have everything prepared for your departure by the end of the week, including everything you asked for. We'll have a party before you go."

"A big one?" Ava asked with a grin, those unpleasant feelings temporarily set aside to simply enjoy these last moments with her adoptive father.

He winked in return. "The biggest we've ever had."

---

Although the party was nothing compared to the singular birthday party she had returned to the capital to attend the year she came of age, it was certainly one of her favourites and the biggest they had hosted in the secluded and quiet town she was raised in. They'd hung lanterns in the trees surrounding the backyard, lined long tables with her favourite foods and all the townsfolk she had befriended or had watched her grow up came to say their goodbyes to her with tears in their eyes. The only thing that could have made it better is if the stuffy servants and bodyguards from the capital hadn't been lurking at the edges, ruining the lovely scenery.

She could sense the judgement they exuded as this refined princess merrily dined with these plain townspeople, a smile on her face as she accepted their congratulatory gifts that were far too cheap to be worthy of her status. So to appease them, she sat with proper posture, acting and speaking properly the entire trip to the capital. She left no room for complaint, even as she stepped into the hall of white marble, red curtains and gold trimmings. She came before the greying man atop the throne, secretly criticizing the new crown the king was wearing. Surely something encrusted with that many jewels and layered with that much gold would be uncomfortably heavy to wear. Although she admonished the excessive amount of layers and complexity of the clothes he wore, she still had to have respect for the straight back that laid beneath them, unyielding and strong. There was still far more she hated about him than there was to respect. On the surface she only smiled politely, none of these thoughts reaching the light of day.

"Your majesty," Ava greeted with perfect manners, lifting the skirt of her dress slightly as she curtsied.

He stared down at her for a long while before he finally said, "Avaline, are you well my daughter?"

"Yes, I am well, father," She replied with a light tone, that last word seeming to leave a bad taste on her tongue.

"Ah, to see my daughter grown and about to marry… It's truly a father's greatest pride and sadness," He droned on, pulling on a remorseful expression as if he were truly in the midst of emotion about it. A brilliant show for sure but Avaline was far beyond falling for it.

'Who are you fooling?' Avaline thought to herself before organizing her expression into that of a delicate maiden filled with quiet nervousness for the upcoming changes in her life. She fidgeted with the skirt of her dress for just a moment as if she'd forgotten herself before quickly pulling her hands back in front of her, folded properly. "Father… If I may, I'd like to make a request."

The not yet old king raised an eyebrow. "Speak."

Her voice softened, her head tilted down so she could look up at her father meekly. "I'd like to request that my maid and my guard be included in my dowry. They've been with me for a while now and it would put me at ease to have familiar faces, I've never been to the Eden kingdom before nor met any of the royal family…"

The king before her tapped his fingers on the armrest of the throne, considering his daughter before him. "I'll permit it. It will be a part of my gift to you."

With this, everything was truly in place for her to continue her work. She smiled up at him. "Thank you, you're truly kind, father." She was in quite a good mood now as she bowed her head to him, turning to leave in a swish of her skirt. As she walked through the long, open hallways, a man with tanned skin and dark hair, dressed properly in his guard uniform with an impressive sword at his hip. He tilted his head quizzically at her as they walked. "Come now Covin, do you have so little faith in me that you think he wouldn't permit it?"

Covin shook his head, his lips curled into a slight smile.

"Good, then you and Mila get packed. Let's go meet my husband, shall we?" She said, giving her companion a playful wink. She received a low chuckle in response, shaking his head with a look of pity on his face. Ava laughed at that and if there weren't other people around, she would have given him a playful shove. But, alas, other servants and guards dotted the hallways so she could only give him a look. He rolled his eyes before vanishing again, leaving Ava humming to herself as she walked.

---

Ava sat with half lidded eyes, basking in the warmth that flowed through the wide open windows, a gentle breeze stirring the delicate curtains to each side. She raised the porcelain cup in her hand to sip at the rose coloured tea inside, her gaze on the man sitting across from her at the table. He was quite the picture, dressed in refined whites outlined with gold embroidery, a youthful face and kind smile but he held himself with confidence. Dark eyes that held warmth and brown hair that curled slightly around his ears. She considered him thoughtfully, her fingertip tapping lightly against her teacup. He met her gaze without hesitation.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Princess Avaline."

She smiled politely in return, her voice soft. "You as well, Prince Jin." She then turned to the attending servants, pretending to hesitate a moment before she shyly requested, "If I may, I'd like to have a moment alone to get to know my future husband." The servants seemed a bit surprised, having to turn to their prince for permission. Having received his dismissing wave of a hand, they smiled at the princess, bowing before they left the room. Ava waited until she heard the sound of the door clicking in place before she turned her gaze back to the prince before her. She then placed her teacup down on its saucer, rising from her seat.

Prince Jin seemed a bit confused but still rather at ease as he questioned, "What is it you wanted to talk about that had to be in private, Princess?"

She moved over to his side of the table, leaning back against the table edge. Although this wasn't proper, the way she held herself and folded her hands in her lap was, creating quite the confusing image. "I'd like to clarify one thing, Prince Jin. This marriage of ours is purely on paper. I have no wish to act as husband and wife unless it's a show for others. If you aren't okay with this, feel free to decline the marriage. Of course, the alliance would be declined along with it." Her tone was no longer a soft one, nor did she speak shyly or hesitantly, instead conducting herself with confidence, not at all seemingly like the delicate lady she was just moments before. This left the prince utterly stunned as he stared up at her, having to hold himself back from stuttering.

After a long moment passed in silence, in which both prince and princess simply stared at one another, Prince Jin finally came to his senses. His brows furrowed slightly as he finally tore his gaze away from her, looking instead at the teacup in his hand. He swirled the tea before he spoke, "I accept these conditions. The alliance and marriage will go ahead."

"Wonderful, I knew you would be reasonable. Prince Jin, do tell me, do you have someone you fancy?"

Jin was left speechless for the second time today, staring at her in bewilderment.

"If you do," She continued calmly as if ignorant to his stunned state, as if there was nothing strange at all about this conversation, "Then you're free to be with them regardless of our marriage. Oh, another thing, I want my own room."

"Your own…" Jin had to rub at his temple as he tried to wrap his head around what was going on. No one had ever made demands on him like this. It seemed his future wife wasn't about to be subservient or accept a position lower than him. Although technically the Yandil kingdom held more power in this alliance, he wasn't expecting to be in such a position so quickly.

"Is there a problem, Your Highness?" Ava asked in a light tone.

Jin shook his head. "No, there isn't. I'll have that arranged for you Princess."

"We'll be married soon, you may simply call me Avaline if you wish Your Highness. By custom, I won't be seeing you until the wedding, take care until then, Prince Jin." She flashed him another smile, gathering her skirts as she stood to leave. Jin was left alone in the room of bright sunshine and gentle breeze, staring down at his teacup with a complicated expression.