Lunch: Avive, Alain, and Phreya

[Alain de Mauvais (D)]

"Ah," I replied, chuckling. "It is good to know I am not alone then."

[Avive de Rocaille]

I laughed too, after all that had happened it was good that we could joke about the past. "Next time I have good intentions, I will be sure to be rash about it," I said jokingly.

[Princess Phreya de la Courcel]

I chuckled softly.
"Hmm, I'm not sure if that makes it any better." I said teasingly.

[Avive de Rocaille]

"Probably not," I said, laughing low in my throat.

[Alain de Mauvais (D)]

"It seems we are all doomed by our good intentions," I said with a sigh, though I was still grinning.

[Avive de Rocaille]

"Doomed indeed," I said.

"Do you have a library, my lady?" I asked. I knew I was insatiable when it came to libraries, but books were my one true love.

[Princess Phreya de la Courcel]

I chuckled nodding to Avive.
"Perhaps you've forgotten where I was raised." I said teasing her slightly. "Yes, I have quite the comprehensive selection, though not as much as I do at Montreve."

[Avive de Rocaille]

"I see," I said. "Alain's library is also quite comprehensive, you're welcome to visit it anytime you please." I looked at Alain for confirmation of this invitation.

[Alain de Mauvais (D)]

"Of course," I said, smiling. "You are welcome any time, even if you don't want to see the library."

[Princess Phreya de la Courcel]

I had to blush softly at the Duc's comment, it must have been a trait from my mother's side.
"Thank you lord Duc, lady Avive, that is a kind offer. I would love to visit some time." I replied.

[Alain de Mauvais (D)]

"And we would be delighted and honored to have you, your highness" I told her, smiling still. "I will even be on my good public manners at home then too."

[Avive de Rocaille]

I nodded. "For you, your highness," I said, "my cousin will keep all his food on his plate and use his utensils properly." I winked at Alain. "If only he would extend me the same courtesy."

[Alain de Mauvais (D)]

"You're family, you're not supposed to require my good manners," I told her, then looked to Phreya. "Isn't that how it's supposed to work?"

[Princess Phreya de la Courcel]

I smiled but with a bit of sadness.
"Its been awhile since I'ce spent any time with family." I said smiling still. "Consider yourself lucky." I said walking out of the room and standing at the entrance. "I have some very rare volumes, would you like to see them Avive?"

[Avive de Rocaille]

Would I?! "Yes, my lady," I said, attempting to hold in my effervescent enthusiasm, "very much."

[Princess Phreya de la Courcel]

I chuckled softly at the response Avive gave and knew she was truely excited.
"Come," I said smiling and guided us toward another wing of the house that held the vast library. Pushing open the doors once we had arrived I smiled at Avive entering into the well lit room.
"The library."

[Avive de Rocaille]

"Oh," I gasped. "How lovely! You have a wonderful library, my lady." I took it all in eagerly, admiring the heavy books in their shelves.

[Princess Phreya de la Courcel]

"What sort of books do you like to read Avive?" I asked smiling at Alain then looking back to Avive. He's quite hansome.

[Avive de Rocaille]

I thought a moment, then smiled widely. "Everything." I laughed. "But I like histories, and foreign literature the best."

[Princess Phreya de la Courcel]

I chuckled again.
"Well I have lots of that." I said gesturing to the walls.

[Alain de Mauvais (D)]

I glanced around the library, think how ours looked like a reading nook compared to this.

With a smile, I looked at Phreya. "I think you ma have just opened the doors to Avive's dream room," I told her.

[Princess Phreya de la Courcel]

"I think so," I said smiling to Alain. "But I don't think that's too much of a bad thing."

[Alain de Mauvais (D)]

"Not at all," I said, moving closer to where Phreya was and looking around. "Though you may have trouble getting her to leave."

[Princess Phreya de la Courcel]

I smiled.
"I'm not too worried." I replied happily, grinning at Avive's enthusiasm.

[Avive de Rocaille]

For my part, I was attempting to heave the heaviest book of the lot out of the shelf it was resting on. As softly as I could, I let the huge thing rest on a stand and pried it open. "Cousin, look!' I exclaimed. "It's the history of Ch'n! There are only ten translated copies in all of Terre D'Ange!"

I restrained myself from flipping through it, it was thick, but the pages were like tissue paper. "What a gem," I said reverently.

[Alain de Mauvais (D)]

"Ah yes," I said to Phreya, grinning. "She's never leaving."

I walked over to look at the book Avive had wrested from the shelf.

"Very impressive," I remarked, scanning the tome.

[Avive de Rocaille]

"Isn't it?" I breathed, fingertips brushing the exquisitely rendered illustrations.

"Someone worked very hard to duplicate this picture," I observed, "but to duplicate all of them! It's amazing. Simply amazing."

Smiling widely, I turned each page slowly, taking as much in as I could without ignoring my host or cousin. "Have you read this book, highness?" I asked.

[Princess Phreya de la Courcel]

I smiled watching Avive, it was so nice to see some one so interested in one of my own passions.

"Yes actually, when I was a few years younger then you." I thought for a moment. "Would you like to take it home with you?"

[Avive de Rocaille]

My eyes widened, and I swallowed. "Are you sure?" I asked. "It's very valuable, I don't want anything to happen to it."

[Princess Phreya de la Courcel]

I nodded.
"I trust you," I said smiling. "How about I bring it when I visit next." I replied.