An afternoon away

[Queen Coretta de la Courcel]

I did it. Somehow, I managed to sneak away from the Palace without hearing lectures on where I should go, where I should not, when I should be back... so many things, and they all made me grind my teeth behind a pretty smile as I nodded. This time, too, I only had one guard - and I wouldn't even have that one had he not been more attentive than the other. Granted, the other was using relieving himself when I took flight and would undoubtedly track us down at some point, but that wasn't my fault.

Not really, anyhow.

Spirits high, I headed first for the very center of the City, not sure where I was going to go today and figuring the other Casseline wouldn't be so quick to find me here instead of one of the shopping districts. I missed Christien but I hadn't seen him all morning and I couldn't take the time to track him down, not without risking the lectures and both bodyguards.

Stepping out of the carriage, I gave the sullen Casseline at my side a flirtatious smile that he half glared at me for. Stifling a giggle, I walked towards the fountain, enjoying the warm air and the almost freedom the day offered.

[Lillianne Prévost]

I had gone for a walk that morning, trying to gain ground on the seemingly endless road to full recovery. It felt as if it was taking forever. But I didn't push myself, having learned my lessons on the first day of the fair, and had stopped for a rest at the fountain at the edge of Elua's Square.

I was in the sun, enjoying the warm rays with my eyes closed. My guard was around somewhere, trying to seem inconspicuous. I thought it made him stick out even more, but he didn't like when I told him that, so I just kept quiet. But I put him from my mind, and just enjoyed my situation.

[Queen Coretta de la Courcel]

The sun was beautiful, warming my skin with a delicious heat that left me languid and relaxed, only complimented by the relative freedom the day offered so far. As I neared the fountain I saw another girl, eyes closed, apparently lost to the world around her. A smile grew a little on my face. "It's pretty today, isn't it?" I asked quietly.

[Lillianne Prévost]

A voice spoke softly near me, and I opened my eyes on the Dauphine. We had never been formally introduced, but I had seen her at court events. She was holding herself with a lot more true confidence today, and I was very glad for that. I didn't envy her position.

"Very much so your highness," I replied with a soft smile. I didn't rise and curtsey, as she probably wanted to be noticed about as much as my 'inconspicuous' guard. Someone would definitely notice a curtsey deep enough for the princess. Instead I nodded my head respectfully. "I couldn't stand the thought of being cooped up inside with the sun shining so brightly."

[Queen Coretta de la Courcel]

A quick one, this girl. My smile didn't change, but I sat next to her, carefully smoothing my skirts under me and making sure they weren't wrinkled or folding wrongly after I'd sat. "You know me," I said softly, "but I'm afraid you hold me at an advantage - I don't know you."

I paused, my smile growing. "And thank you, too, for being... discreet."

[Lillianne Prévost]

"Lillianne Prévost," I introduced myself, smiling still. "A current princess is always more memorable than a future duchesse. And it is no problem at all. You look like you'd rather be looked over just this once."

[Queen Coretta de la Courcel]

"I would," I said, flashing her a grateful grin. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Lillianne Prevost. I'll be sure not to forget your face in the future. Are you new come to the City? I can't say I remember seeing you at previous events."

[Lillianne Prévost]

I shook my head. "I've spent most of my life in the City. My mother preferred it to our estate in L'Agnace," I replied. "I have been to a few court events. You probably just didn't notice me." I wasn't perturbed by the thought, it happened often enough. Sometimes I quite liked it. I got to blend in and simply watch, without being concerned with distraction.

[Queen Coretta de la Courcel]

I looked at her curiously before shaking my head slightly, my cheeks taking on a rosy hue. It was impossible to keep track of everyone, but that did not make it easier when you met someone that had been to events that you've attended as well.

"Ah, well," I said, sighing softly. "My twin and I haven't been in the City a year yet; we grew up in the country, and came back only eight or nine months ago."

[Lillianne Prévost]

"Then you have even more of an excuse," I said with a friendly smile. "Do you like it here in the capital?"

[Queen Coretta de la Courcel]

"I do," I said, flashing her a smile. "It suits me much more than the slow, dreary life in the country. What of you, Lillianne?"

[Lillianne Prévost]

"Home is really here," I replied honestly. "Moulins is a good place for a vacation, it's absolutely gorgeous in the autumn. But it's not where everything happens," I agreed with her. "I recently turned sixteen, I was hoping to get out in the court more now."

[Queen Coretta de la Courcel]

My smile broadened a little more as I jested in a friendly fashion. "Happy late birthday, then. Do you have any suitors leaving flowers upon your doorstep and spouting poetry yet?"

[Lillianne Prévost]

I blushed and shook my head. "No your highness. I don't really know any boys well enough yet for them to behave like that."

[Queen Coretta de la Courcel]

I smiled softly, folding my hand in my lap. "Boys can be strange enough that sometimes you don't even have to know them for them to do it. But then again, they might well expect you to fawn over them because they showed you how brutish and manly they can be, too," I added, shaking my head.

[Lillianne Prévost]

I laughed. "Perhaps I just haven't done enough fawning to expect them to return the favour," I offered with a smile.

[Queen Coretta de la Courcel]

"Perhaps," I said, grinning at her. "They're so busy making vile noises that sometimes I swear they wouldn't notice if someone stepped on their foot."

[Lillianne Prévost]

I laughed again, her words ringing true. "It would serve them right if we did," I replied with a grin. "Even if they didn't notice until later that their toes hurt."

[Queen Coretta de la Courcel]

I laughed with her, amused by the mental picture we both were painting. "I can just imagine it now, the confusion at how their foot was harmed, and all the head-scratching as they tried to remember what happened."

[Lillianne Prévost]

I grinned. "I hope they aren't all that bad," I commented. "Surely one or two are worthwhile."

[Queen Coretta de la Courcel]

I smiled softly, thinking of Landis. "I don't doubt there are," I said, then brightened to match her grin. "They're just harder to find is all, I think."

[Lillianne Prévost]

She shifted and thought of softer things. He was lucky, whoever he was. "Have you found one then?"

[Queen Coretta de la Courcel]

I blushed slightly; Lillianne was sharp. "No," I answered, forcing myself not to fiddle with a lace trim that ran along my waistline. "Well, yes, but he's not mine," I added, my grin growing a little more as an idea came to me. "Mayhap I should introduce you both; he's free, so am I, and I think you might like him."

[Lillianne Prévost]

"Oh, I wouldn't want to get in the way," I said, worried that I might offend someone down the road.

[Queen Coretta de la Courcel]

I reached over, taking one of Lilliannes hands and giving it a light squeeze. "Rest assured, you wouldn't," I aid with a reassuring smile. "But I cannot blame you for feeling so. Do you know of any men like it yourself?"

Purposely I didn't say Landis's name; if she met him down the road and they got along, it would be much better if I wasn't there to think of in either of their minds.

[Lillianne Prévost]

I shook my head, blushing slightly. "The only men I know are my parents' age. Otherwise they're just boys."

[Queen Coretta de la Courcel]

I watched her, then tugged gently upon her hand. "Come on, Lillianne. Let's walk, and see if we can stumble into anything.. interesting. Besides," I added, coyness entering the twinkle in my eye, "If I keep moving, I can avoid my other guard a little longer."

[Lillianne Prévost]

I laughed softly and stood with her. "Of course your highness. Lead on."

[Queen Coretta de la Courcel]

I smiled and struck out, angling towards the artisans district, away from where the guard would think to find me. Though knowing him, he'd beeline towards me like a wolfhound on the bloodtrail of a wounded rabbit. I sighed.

Tangling my arm with Lilliannes, I leaned closer to her, glancing at my Casseline with a wry grin that got nothing but a level look in return. "Think we could lose them?" I whispered, looking at her with a flash of a smile.

[Lillianne Prévost]

"I've lost mine before, but it takes an awful lot of work," I confided with a smile. "And now there are two of them. I don't know how good our chances are."