After the information about Oceane's father came to light and Oceane had agreed that if Ava had a plan, they would attempt it, Ava got right to work. When Jona had been at court, she would often be escorted by him over to the gardens for a walk. Honestly, it was a time of the sun she looked forward to. There were no eyes on her, and Jona didn't judge her for what she spoke about or even if she preferred not to speak at the time. When he had left, her walks in the garden had ceased but she had made a very clear announcement to everyone– Oceane, Mallory, Arnelo, and Viv– that she was intending on resuming her walks and that whoever was with her that sun should be expected to accompany her.

Obviously, she wasn't being entirely above water. While she would be looking forward to her time in the garden, it was a plan to throw Viv off their scent. If Ava had a routine that was created, it would less suspicious when she would eventually ask Viv to walk with her in an isolated and lonely place that would have her lines of communication, whatever they were, be temporarily disrupted. After four suns of garden walking, she took Arnelo with her.

She was candid with him, proposing her plan to the exact detail and taking a leap with trusting him. She wasn't going to be so honest, but Oceane convinced her that being upfront with him was best. If Ava believed he was a good person, which she did, Ava had to give him the opportunity to face a test. If Arnelo spilled, then they would have to think of something else. It was Oceane's father and if she was willing to take that risk Ava had to comply with Oceane's request.

"I would distract Viv in the gardens, perhaps two hours. It takes only an hour to get to the skrims and back that would give you plenty of time to escort Oceane to get the letter to where it needs to be," Ava had finished recapping her plan and Arnelo was silent, "You can read the letter if you want to confirm we are not asking to be rescued or anything. I have given up on that and Oceane won't leave if I don't. But her father needs help and Oceane's old crew needs to know she's alive so at the very least they aren't in mourning. You've met Oceane, you know how loved she is. Her friends deserve to know."

"Where will the letter be delivered to and who will receive it?"

"This man's name is Venais," Ava shook her head, "I don't know much about him. I haven't heard his name spoken before but Oceane had the recommendation passed down to her by her roommate. He is supposed to be trustworthy and Oceane is certain her source is not steering her wrong."

"Is it the east or west skrims?" Arnelo followed up and he had stopped walking so Ava halted too.

"West," Ava faced him, "they are supposed to meet at the back of a food market. I think Opper Market."

"I know where that is," Arnelo confirmed and looked around, "I would want to read the letter before I agree."

"Of course," Ava nodded, "of course. Yes. Anything."

"Vivexa has people watching our every move. Even if no one questioned me for leaving the estate with Oceane and going to the skrims, we would be tailed."

"Oceane has enlisted the help of her roommate to steal some of the figs from the kitchen in four suns from now and make it look like rats got into the supply. It will need replacing and you have already been taking Oceane to the skrims and to the rest of Aubermasse to shop for the kitchen so it won't be out of the ordinary when they ask her to go."

"They can ask anyone."

"She will already be helping in the kitchen, she's been going down there when she feels like expending some energy. In four suns, she will be there and offer to go. You will escort her, and I will distract Viv. You will be back by the time Viv and I return from the garden. When she gets a report that you both left, it will only be followed with the mundane news that it was to go get figs."

Arnelo hadn't given her a straight answer in that conversation, he had mentioned that he was going to think about it and then made the silence between them uncomfortable until Ava had suggested they make their way back to the estate. The following morning, without saying much else, he agreed to help. And just like that, they had a plan set up to help Oceane's father. All that was left was the execution and she couldn't help but feel a slight bit of hope.

Which might have been foolish, she could only wait and see.

Time dragged on but when the night of the delivery was upon them, everything had gone to plan. Oceane had been in the kitchen as dinner was being prepared and when the chef realized the figs were ruined and they had a short amount of time before dessert needed to be out, panic arose. Lady Vaith hated change and if she was told fig pastries would be served for dessert, fig pastries needed to be served for dessert. So, Oceane volunteered herself and Arnelo was fetched to be her companion because everyone knew Oceane wasn't allowed out alone.

Ava had gotten out of dinner that night. Her mother had agreed to give her every other dinner away from court. Her past eight suns, since her father told her to relax, she had done nothing but be social at court, attending special events, and entertaining way too many people in her welcoming room. As an exchange, she had the night off sometimes. That night she enjoyed the rarity of time to do as she pleased and she had made it known to Viv that they would go to the garden the moment the sun began to set.

She had also requested some dragon's breath. The last time she had brought Viv to the garden, they had talked strategy. Ava had been itching to speak about her upcoming plans and suggestions and her father didn't allow for any way to debate suggestions so Viv had become her basket to shoot ideas into. That time, she was not going to talk about anything related to her father or her influence. It was going to be a mission of getting Viv high and talking. Her sole mission was entertaining her. It had been a tense few cycles because of how hard Ava had been working and she was going to try and lighten the mood with Viv.

Animosity for each other was nowhere near where it was when they first met but Ava was more easily annoyed with her shadow. Viv in exchange was quick to resort to antagonistic antics and Ava was quick to take the bait and snap at her. But Ava was hoping to avoid all of that and play nice, if not she would risk pissing Viv off and making her leave before Oceane and Arnelo were safely tucked away in the estate once again.

A knock on her chamber doors alerted her that she was ready to be escorted outside. She answered the door in less fancy garb than what she had been used to when attending court. Still, it was never as comfortable or as easy to wear as what she used to on the Scorned Woman. Nothing beat pants with pockets and shirts that didn't press into her ribs to make her appear like something she was not. Viv was on the other side of the door with a cigarette between her fingers, holding it up.

"You aren't going to cry if you smoke this, are you? You've been crying a lot and I don't know if I can handle it," Viv said and snatched the cigarette away when Ava tried to swipe it.

"Shut your mouth, cretin," Ava huffed, not a great start to her plan of not rocking the boat with Viv.

She laughed and handed Ava the cigarette instead of getting mad at the comment.

"Come on, let's take you for a walk. Like the domesticated housepet you have become," Viv teased and held out her arm.

Ava didn't take it and instead walked past Viv and made her way in the direction of the garden.

"How was court this morning and aftermorning?"

"Do you ever hear a story and just know it's a lie?"

"It's kind of my job to know those things, so yes," Viv chuckled a bit.

"Well then, that is how my sun at court went. Being fed lies in hopes that those lies would earn someone better standing with my father and with court," Ava shrugged, "General Dumox inflated the number of pirate vessels he sunk, claiming to have even been the one to board and kill the legendary Captain Owl. That is not true, Owl was alive and well last I was in Corinspe. I mean, if you are going to lie at least pick something that isn't so easily proven wrong."

"No one else knows he is alive, so it isn't quite so easily proven to be false," Viv countered.

"All it takes is one person to spot him or report on a conquest at sea that he succeeded at and General Dumox's standing goes down in flames," Ava shook her head, "not worth the risk."

"A great flaw of many of those that attend these courts and the other courts around Baethos is that they are blinded by delusions. In this case, General Dumox suffers from delusions that he is wiser and smarter than everyone and so they are incapable of catching how he's inflated his accomplishments."

"I would go a step further and say that most noble and greater houses, regardless of their court attendance, suffer from delusions."

"Do you lump yourself in with them?"

"Are you implying I am delusional?"

"Just a bit."

"Perhaps I am no better than they are. I have been told that no matter how much I don't view myself as noble or as belonging to this life, I do. I have been told I cannot erase, ignore, or overcome my past no matter how hard I've tried and I still keep trying; so I suppose I do suffer just like the rest of them," Ava said with a slight sigh, looking over to see Viv already staring at her.

"Surprisingly deep, princess," Viv acknowledged as they approached the exit of the estate.

The conversation was cut short as they passed through guards and some people who were still in conversation at the edges of the stairs leading into the gardens. She politely nodded at them and they returned the greeting. Once they were out of earshot, Ava looked over at Viv.

"We should smoke this in the maze," she held up the cigarette and Viv motioned for her to lead the way.

Ava wasn't doing a very good job of entertaining because she took the lead and didn't strike up a conversation until she had found the middle of the maze. Inside the small circle in the center of the hedges was a gazebo that couldn't sit more than four at a time. Ava hadn't been there in the eight suns since she had resumed her nightly walks but she had often lounged in the area when Jona was around and would bring goodies to share.

No one was out in the gardens but if they were, the middle was not only harder to find but less desirable of an end than the exit. So, she assumed they were safe to relax there. Ava led them inside and sat down, with Viv coming down to sit across from her.

"What did you do while I was at court?" Ava initaited the conversation.

"Do we have to do this every time I am not around you? I did errands and personal shit that I will not be divulging because that is not the type of friendship we have," Viv shut down the inquiry.

"Friendship," Ava hummed with a smirk, "you always say relationship. Or partnership. Or business arrangement but never friendship."

"Don't take it as a compliment, friends only receive that title because of the length of time I have known them, not because of any sentimental threshold," Viv teased back.

"As your friend, I deserve to know at least one thing you did," Ava pushed her luck.

"I stole seventeen thousand gold from the coin vault in town," Viv wiggled her eyebrows, "then I fucked the Lord's Guard's daughter while he gave a speech about renouncers in the city square."

Ava laughed and shook her head, "The sad thing is, all of that is believable."

"I have done those things before," Viv acknowledged, "but not recently. Although, I have seen the Lord's Guard's daughters around court and I would not mind if one of my fibs were to come true tonight."

Ava frowned, "Do not speak about women like that."

"Like what? Like they are the greatest creations of the gods, that their lips taste of honey, and that their breaths are melodies composed by our generation's greatest musicians?" Viv recited, "do not mistake your jealousy for me having made any transgressions against women."

"Light the cigarette," Ava said with a roll of her eyes and she looked out of the structure they were in and into the small garden that was housed in the middle of the maze.

As she was told, Viv lit the dragon's breath and gave Ava the cigarette after the first inhale.

"Your mum only talks about suitors, potential suitors, when you are going to get betrothed, when your union ceremony will be if you can manage to get a proposal for a union before court ends," Viv waved her hand to indicate that the list went on, "so that's soon on the horizon for you."

Ava shook her head, "I'm not doing it. I refuse."

"Marriages are often political arrangments, Avery, it needs to happen," Viv shook her head and took the cigarette back, "chances are, whatever noble you marry won't give a rat's ass about fucking you. Hell, you can even set it as a term of your union."

"And when my mother's berating about marriage turns into her desire for me to have her grandchildren, what then? When my father expects me to continue to act properly to keep a place in his office, what would I do?"

"Fake a child," Viv shrugged, "there are plenty you could take in. Have your future husband impregnate whatever mistress he takes on and then take care of the mother and the child in return. Keep it under wraps, fake your pregnancy."

Ava frowned, a look of disgust crossing her face, "You really are so crass and amoral. That is another person you are speaking about. That is a child and an innocent woman you suggest I involve in this shitshow."

"You still don't get it," Viv shook her head, "sometimes people are collateral. You need to get married and you to do it in a way that won't ruin your life or your happiness."

"I didn't come here to talk about anything serious. I have a night off and I want to enjoy it," Ava insisted.

"Then I will leave. I always seem to be interrupting your peace," Viv handed back the cigarette as she stood up.

Ava sat up and her hand shot out to grab Viv's and kept her in place, "No, don't leave."

Viv raised an eyebrow.

"Smoking alone is no fun. And I just need someone to talk to," Ava provided, hoping a bit of false vulnerability would lure Viv to stay.

"About what?" Viv sat back down but kept the cigarette out for Ava.

"Anything that isn't the fact that I can't help Oceane's father, I need to get married, I told Killian I was a nox, and my father seems to be a bit fed up with me at the moment," Ava listed.

"You told Killian you were a nox? Have you lost it?"

"It was a mistake. Nothing has come of it or will come of it because he has concocted too many lies in the past cycle," Ava shut down any lecture about it with a sharp tone, "I don't want to talk about it right now."

"Then what? There isn't much else going on in your life to talk about."

"And you refuse to tell me what's going on in yours. So I'm left with nothing but to probe," Ava crossed her legs under her dress and continued to puff away at the cigarette without passing it before Viv snatched it away, "Where were you born? I don't remember you ever saying it."

"Because I never did," Viv confirmed.

"So? Where were you born?" Ava pressed, "you have to tell me to quell my rebellious attitude. I've been making it easy for you lately."

"Niveal," Viv admitted, but she looked anything but happy to do it.

"Do you still speak with your parents?"

"No," Viv laughed, "I don't know who they are."

"Oh," Ava tilted her head, "you were an orphan?"

"Sure," Viv looked out onto the garden, "guess I was."

"Orphan raised on the streets of Niveal," Ava mused, feeling herself getting high and her shoulders relaxing.

"Noble raised in the lushness of Aubermasse," Viv shot back, "what's it to you?"

"Just always been interested in how you ended up in your line of work. Figured maybe one of your parents was involved."

"You are not entirely mistaken," Viv said vaguely.

"I want to play the game. An equal number of questions, avoid vague answers," Ava proposed.

"There is nothing about you I want to know," Viv replied.

"Doesn't have to be about someone's past. Just because those are my questions doesn't mean that is what you are limited to," Ava tried to convince her, the longer they were speaking the fewer chances things would go wrong.

"Fine, you had two questions. I get two," Viv crossed her arms in thought, "Would you have been a captain of her fleet if you were to have stayed?"

"I don't have half the experience I would need to be a captain," Ava shook her head, "I would be the first mate though, I have experience in that and quite enjoyed it."

"What was your end goal with Theo?" Viv asked.

Ava frowned, "I'm not sure I understand what that question is supposed to mean. I loved her and I wanted that love to be reciprocated... My end goal is what the end goal of everyone in love should be, which is to be promised to each other. Was that not yours?"

"I don't really put much thought into longevity or the long run in any romantic endeavor. You can't predict what will happen, so why try?" Viv answered.

"So, you were just in love with Theo and had no intentions of ever entering into a union, or a promise, or a committed back and forth? You just fucked around while having feelings for each other? No talk of the future?" Ava couldn't bear that. Just the little bit of time she was keeping away from Theo was killing her when she was back on the ship.

"That is like a hundred questions," Viv laughed a bit, "no, Theo and I rarely talked about that kind of stuff. And that is how we both preferred it."

"I don't think that's true," Ava rubbed her hands together trying to warm them up as the sun dipped out of the sky, "she was a romantic, in my opinion. She always had the right words to say and was ready with a gentle touch or reassuring glance. I feel like she would have wanted that conversation with you."

Viv shook her head, "If she wouldn't have done what she did, would you still want her?"

"She did what she did and I still want her," Ava found herself saying without realizing that it was a thought that was even inside her.

"I much preferred the cycle where you didn't talk to me so at least I could avoid how pathetic we both are," Viv laughed again and handed the dragon's breath back, "what's the plan for the future? Finding a eunuch husband and having your very own paramour?"

"I don't need to find a husband this season, you know," Ava looked up from her hands with a huff, "I am a Vaith and will have my pick of the eligible men next length as well."

"I know that your father knows that, most everyone knows that but your mother has been insistent," Viv said and Ava could tell she was not sober by the slight slouch in her shoulders as she relaxed in her seat, "I also think your brother has something to do with it. He's in her ear about it knowing you would hate it."

"I said no more talk about any of that," Ava scolded.

"You were the one that brought it up. All I asked was a hypothetical about the future," she defended, "so? Secret lover? Abstinence for life? A payroll of women from a brothel?"

"I couldn't do any of those," Ava took Viv's example and slouched back, resting her head against the ledge of the back of the seat, "can't take a lover in case that backfires and she ends up dying just because one of my parents decides to kill then on a whim. Can't very well have my own list of personal women I can call on as I please, much because of the same reasons as I can't take a long-term lover. And the thought of being abstinent for another sun, let alone my whole life is maddening. Guess I'm left with just one option."

Ava sat up momentarily to hand Viv the cigarette, Viv took it gently, taking her time with putting it to her lips and taking a draw. She exhaled slowly and Ava was lost in the way her face peeked through the haze as the smoke rose.

"Which is?"

Ava was shocked out of her slight daze. She had to pause to recollect what she had been talking about.

"My only option would be you," Ava teased and that earned her a laugh.

"Sorry to say I'm off the table," Viv hogged the cigarette with a grin, a contrary statement to her usual propositioning, "we cannot get entangled, princess. I'm afraid you might become too clingy."

Ava laughed and reached down, fumbling with her shoe before slipping it off her foot and tossing it at Viv. Viv dodged it but had a fumble of her own with the cigarette. With an impressive display of reflexes, the dragon's breath was saved and Viv extended it to Ava.

"Do you love your family?" Viv asked and Ava looked up in shock at the question. She knew the answer and had even admitted it to herself and others in the past but never when she was in such proximity.

"No, I don't," she answered honestly.

"Like them?"

"No," Ava shook her head with a slight smile, "I do love Mal. She is not like them, she is more like me. But the rest of them are rotten inside and I would not associate myself with the festering chaos they bring with them unless I was forced to, which I am."

"You are so pointed when you are high. Angry, even," Viv readjusted her position so that she was laying across the bench she was seated on.

"There is a lot to be angry about," Ava said, "I don't know how you aren't more outraged."

"From my perspective, there is also a lot to be thankful for," Viv looked over at Ava from where she had laid down.

"How'd you come to that perspective?" Ava pushed, "Why were you left in Niveal? Or how did your parents end up there before they had you."

"What does it fucking matter, Avery?" Viv asked and Ava could tell she had struck a nerve with all her questions, or the type of question. Or both.

"I want to know about you. Why do you refuse to share anything? Are you just that uncomfortable for anyone to see you display even a shred of humanity?"

Viv grunted as she sat up, "Alright. I'm heading out, princess, you can see yourself back."

She stood up and Ava was quick to follow. Panic sunk into her gut as she realized she had just blown her mission. She just had to poke around in places she knew not to.

"I'm sorry!" Ava called out as she jogged after Viv, "I just think you are interesting and I do want to get to know you! I like to get to know my friends."

"We aren't friends, princess. I am in business with you and I moonlight as your babysitter," Viv didn't stop as she left the center of the garden.

Ava sprinted a bit and grabbed Viv by the arm, stopping her. Viv turned around and faced Ava, standing slightly taller.

"See if I did that to you, I would've gotten slapped."

"And I would have enjoyed doing it," Ava smirked a bit and she didn't know why she wasn't trying harder to mend things.

Viv smiled with a slight shake of her head. Ava raised an eyebrow, challenging her but neither of them knew quite what the challenge was. Viv looked Ava's face up and down, lacking any form of subtlety and Ava remembered why she wasn't trying harder to be nice. Viv liked not playing nice.

Ava needed a better reason to convince her to stay put, her hold on Viv wouldn't last much longer and Oceane needed much more time to get back. She thought maybe that it would be okay. Viv would find out that Oceane left anyway but if she found out after the fact, it would give them time to get the letter out of the city before Viv followed up with whatever source gave her information.

If Viv left now and was given information too soon their plan would go to shit.

"Can you let me go?" Viv looked down at her arm being held after a long of silence between them.

"I don't like being alone when I'm high. It makes me sad and then I will be in a mood for suns," Ava pouted a bit, "I won't ask any more invasive questions."

"I don't think you are capable of understanding what is and isn't invasive," Viv pulled her arm away and Ava let it happen.

Viv pushed past her and back into the garden. Ava followed, right on her heels.

"Do you have any friends?" Ava asked.

"I have many friends," Viv nodded, "do you have any friends?"

"Less than you, probably," Ava shrugged and walked alongside Viv.

They took a lap around the garden in silence, Ava not really knowing where to go with the conversation if she couldn't ask questions.

"No talk about your future and no inquiries about my past and all of a sudden, we have nothing to say," Viv broke the silence with a laugh, "is that what you base your friendship on, princess? The lack of things you have in common? Because if so, you were right and we are the best of mates."

Ava rolled her eyes and stopped to look at Viv with her arms crossed, "What does your future look like? What is your grand plan? I am sure you do not care to escort me around gardens for the rest of your suns."

"My plans are to have an influence on power and live comfortably as a result," Viv shrugged one shoulder and smiled, "I get paid quite well here and have so far achieved my goals of both having some sort of influence and I live quite lavishly. I am in no rush to leave, Lady Avery."

Ava nudged her at the name, "Still, doesn't mean you aren't bored."

"I never said I was bored," Viv frowned.

"You didn't have to," Ava cocked her head to the side, perplexed as to why the comment seemed to bury itself into Viv, "you used to spend your suns sailing, moving from one city to the next, one romantic endeavor to another. I don't know much about you but from what I am privy to, you aren't used to staying in a place so long."

"You've uncovered a new ability," Viv said as she began to back away from Ava toward the exit of the middle of the maze, "being invasive without asking questions."

"You just want me to not observe you? The person I spent most of my time with?" Ava called out after her.

"See? You get it, princess," Viv laughed a bit, already shrugging off the glimpse of a sour mood, "come on, let me escort you back. I can't spend all night with you."

Ava stayed in place as Viv continued to back away. She could take a longer route back to her room, take a longer way out of the maze, and insist on stopping for a walk along whatever new bushes and flowers had just arrived. There were a thousand ways to keep stalling and also leave the middle of the maze. Yet, that is not where her mind kept going. There was another way to keep her there with Ava.

There was something she had been thinking about for some cycles. Her dynamic with Viv was complicated, toxic even. But, she couldn't help but feel a pull toward the other woman. Ava couldn't stop thinking about the itch that Viv could scratch. She hadn't understood Theo and her previous fascination with Viv until recently and without the mercy of any gods on her side, she had foolishly let herself get tangled up with Viv too.

"Come on," Viv huffed a bit after Ava had frozen in place for too long without a response.

Ava had no desire for romance or sweet exchanges. Nor did she have time to outthink her intentions. So she kept her request simple.

"I need an outlet!" Ava blurted out, unable to think of another way to phrase it.

She felt her face heat up and it was hard to swallow all of a sudden. All she could see was Viv frozen, halfway through adjusting her coat, mouth slightly open and a confused look.

"I just meant- I mean. I was referencing," she struggled to find the words, "You said-"

"I remember what I said," Viv stepped in, she stayed in place and Ava could see a smirk starting to form, "I said you could let me know if your hand ever got stale."

"Yes well, forgive me for not wanting to repeat such a raunchy remark," Ava shook her head with a sigh, "well, the moment has passed now. Let's go."

"Absolutely not," Viv laughed and began to walk toward her, "we will not be glossing over the fact that you just propositioned me. After endless comments about it never happening, here you are. Begging me."

Ava frowned as Viv came up to her, "I was not begging."

"Not yet," Viv smirked and Ava scoffed, turning around to leave but Viv took hold of her arm and spun her back around. Ava reacted as she would continue to every time Viv grabbed her out of turn but once again, her slap was caught by Viv.

But instead of keeping ahold of her, Viv let her go.

"We probably shouldn't do this," Viv said, "might cross some boundaries."

"Oh please, as if you ever found a boundary you wouldn't cross," Ava laughed and Viv's smirk dropped, and instead she smiled, a small laugh escaping her lips, "but I forgot. You said not even a half hour ago that you wouldn't want to sleep with me because you assumed I would be clingy."

"Well, wouldn't you be?" Viv raised an eyebrow, "seems like you had high expectations for Theo, what with your aspirations for a union after having been with her only a handful of cycles."

Ava rolled her eyes, "I would never be foolish enough to expect anything more than being purely physical with you nor would I ever be as desperate as to stoop low enough to view you as anything other than a means to an end."

That earned her another laugh. Questions and interest about Viv's life were met with rancor and insults were met with joy. Ava knew she should have been running because even just physically getting caught up in Viv was bad news. She had seen what Viv could do when she chewed people up and spit them back up but she couldn't help the bit of excitement she felt.

Her desire for being rebellious grew every sun and with fewer and fewer avenues for that, she had to turn to Viv. She should have walked away and not entertained further discussion with Viv but she had lied. She was desperate–so desperate– and she had preferred the time in her life when she didn't know what she was missing. At least when she was unlaid, she was in blissful ignorance.

Rather than answer Ava's insult, Viv pulled Ava's hand forward and then rested her own on top of it. Ava tilted her head in a silent question.

"I couldn't imagine laying a finger on a nobleman's daughter and the future head of the Vaith household, not only could some consider that treason but it would reflect badly on my perfectly polite character," Viv teased, "but, I am at your whims Lady Vaith and cannot reasonably deny any request you make of me."

Ava looked down at her hand holding Viv's and she was no stranger to making the first move. She had once chased Theo, who had no intentions of acting on her once strong desire for Ava. So, Ava acted before she could overthink anything. She took Viv's hand and guided it around her, placing it right at the small of her back, where her dress could be undone.

"Take it off," Ava said as she stared straight into Viv's eyes whose own gaze was locked on Ava.

"Are you new to fucking in public, princess?" Viv pulled her in closer, arm wrapping around Ava's waist rather than make any move to undress her, "not the best idea to take your clothes off. I advise you to take a more subtle approach."

Ava reached behind her and took Viv's hand off her back, pulling it back around to be in between them. Then, with a slight smirk, she picked the skirt of her dress up with her free hand and began to guide Viv's hand under it.

—---

Ava was late for court and even worse, she was late for an event she was hosting; games in the garden.

After an eventful evening, she had returned to Oceane who was waiting in her room with a full debrief on what had occurred. Their plan had gone off without a problem. Arnelo and Oceane were in and out of the market and back in the kitchens before anyone could catch onto what was happening. Mallory had come over and they all spent the night in Ava's room, staying up and talking. She was in a better mood than she had been in a while and she hated to admit that her plan for a small amount of stress relief had worked.

She said nothing of her maze endeavors to her sister or her friend. She didn't know if it was because of fear of judgment, fear of shame, or because she herself didn't want to come to terms with the door she had wandered through that should have remained closed. Still, it was an excellent night that brought out a happy mood for the first time in a while. She felt at peace with her companions, drinking mead and frolicking about the room with nothing but slight hopes in their hearts.

But, she had drunk and celebrated a bit too much and she had woken up far too late. Not only her but Mallory and Oceane were both late. Mallory to court and Oceane to help her roommate with decorations for a party her mother had insisted on at the last minute. Oceane had offered to help since there would be nothing to do that sun with her friends busy and she had scrambled out of the room. Mallory was quick to follow, running back to her room to change. Ava started to get herself dressed, without Oceane there to help her, and it took a while.

Arnelo was in charge of watching her and he was never one to rush her, not like Viv was, so she had no form of accountability. The minutes kept slipping her by but she was no closer to being ready. A few nights before, she had been gifted earrings by the firstborn son of a noble from The Twins, and she was planning on wearing it to the garden at her mother's request. Normally, she wouldn't have entertained the request but he was someone she could potentially charm into being on her side with reforms. His father was giving pushback in The Twins to their poverty policies and he would likely continue to be critical of the ones to come.

Ava hoped that with the gesture of appreciation for the gift and the illusion that courting her would be possible, both father and son would be more willing to accept change even if it was just to keep the option of a union on the table. Which is the other reason she couldn't be promised to anyone, she needed the people interested in nothing but power and social climbing to think that they could get something from her and her family in exchange for cooperation.

Except, Ava lost the earrings. She had tossed them somewhere in her room and she couldn't remember where the box had fallen. She was on her knees in a full gown, peeking under one of her couches. The door opened and she huffed, looking over at the entryway.

"I can't find my earrings. Have you touched them?"

"I have no need for more earrings," Viv said but she wasn't walking into her room.

"If you are here to rush me, it won't work. I need to find these earrings," Ava said standing up after an unsuccessful search of the couch.

"Not here to rush you. Here to ask you a question for once."

Ava walked closer to her door, "What is it?"

"What was going on last night?"

Ava tilted her head with a laugh, "It was that bad you've wiped it from memory already?"

"Don't play stupid, Avery," Viv didn't look to be in a mood, "Oceane left the estate with Arnelo while we were in the maze. I would just assign it to coincidence but it wasn't, was it?"

"I don't know what you are accusing me of Vivexa, Oceane said she went into town over some fruit or something that the kitchens needed," Ava shook her head, "if you aren't going to help me, you may leave."

"Fucking me as a distraction wasn't a bad idea," Viv said as she crossed her arms, "didn't think that was in you but apparently I have miscalculated. Make this easy for me, princess, let me know what you were doing so I can save myself the little time it would take me to find out."

"Like I said, I have absolutely no idea what you are talking about or why you are accusing me of anything," Ava crossed her arms too.

Viv frowned slightly and slowly nodded her head, "Looks like your earrings are right on your vanity."

Viv pointed behind Ava and Ava turned around but there was nothing on her vanity or in plain sight. When she turned around, Viv was gone.

—-----

Ava had returned from her time in the garden to a surprise on her bed. A letter on her pillow that had a recognizable seal. She rushed over to it and opened it, pulling the letter out and reading it. Her suspicions were confirmed when she saw the same words she had written to Theo staring back at her.

Ava took a moment to let disappointment course through her, she sat down and felt her gut sink and her shoulders slouch. Why had she expected a different outcome? She thought maybe she could get a letter out past the city limits and have a fighting chance. The night before had given her just enough hope to make it hurt.

But the hurt turned to rage and she didn't understand why saving the life of an innocent man who was unwell was so opposed by Viv. Why couldn't Oceane just have peace of mind? She stood up and stormed out of her room, with Arnelo right behind her.

"I am going to Viv's room," Ava marched down the hall, "and if she's not in there, I will tear this estate up looking for her!"

"She's in her room," Arnelo confirmed and Ava looked over with a raise of her eyebrows, "she isn't the only one that can have people keep an eye on things, my lady."

Ava didn't comment on the cunningness displayed, she knew Arnelo would understand she was not only impressed but also appreciative. She made it as quickly as she could to Viv's room, the one Ava suspected she didn't actually use to sleep in. She forwent knocking and instead tried the door, it was locked and she jiggled the knob a few times before giving up and pounding on the door. It was unlocked and opened a few moments later.

"Come to rant to me about your spoiled plans?" Viv raised an eyebrow, "we can save all of that anger and biting words and questioning why I continue to intervene and go our separate ways for the rest of the sun."

"A man is in prison and his daughter has no way to get to him except one and you shamelessly stand in the way," Ava pushed the letter into Viv's chest.

"I'm sorry, Avery, but Oceane's father is not my problem. If you cannot get him out without a prison break, then that is where he needs to stay," Viv went to close the door but Ava kicked her foot in the way and stopped it from shutting her out.

"It doesn't even affect you!"

"If there is a prison break and Oceane's father turns up missing, anyone that goes digging won't take long to find out that I knew that information and it will take even less time to deduce that either I gave that information to Theo on your behalf, allowed you to get it delivered, or that I hadn't a clue and you had bested me at my job," Viv argued.

"You are even more paranoid than my father," Ava wrenched her way further into the room, leaving Arnelo outside and pushing past Viv in the doorway, "My father doesn't care about some prison in Drokian."

Ava spun around to face Viv once she was in the room and the other woman looked at Ava with a sigh.

"Your father is one of the smartest and most powerful men in the world and you expect him not to be having a sharp eye on Drokian? Do you think he won't connect those dots? Do you think I'm the only one he has hired to give him information? Come on, Avery, it's time you grew the fuck up and stopped being so naive," Viv pinched the bridge of her nose.

Ava actually felt tears come to her eyes but she refused to let them fall. But, she couldn't say anything. She had been pushing the sadness to the side, thinking she was coping with it but she was just ignoring it. She was naive. She was too hopeful. She had not yet grasped that she had no way to overcome her situation.

She heard Viv sigh and it pulled her from her wallowing. Her head snapped back up and her posture straightened as she frowned.

"I'm sorry," Viv said and although it shocked Ava, she didn't acknowledge the apology, "I said I'm sorry."

"I heard."

"Look, princess, I get it. I know you are frustrated and upset. You have too much empathy for people and your heart is big and that is hard to live with. But you can't do anything for Oceane's father and pushing this is just going to keep getting her hopes up. Keep doing what you are doing with your father and just give up, for your own sanity," Viv put her argument in a bit of a nicer tone, "Whether you like it or not, this is your life now."

She had almost come to terms with that fact. She had teetered between fully accepting it and trying to find small pockets to fight back. But Viv's words ignited something in her and she was no longer close to that acceptance. She felt herself pull away from the thoughts that this was her reality now. More than ever, she was determined for it not to be true. She was determined that something would change.

"Such sage advice, like always," Ava said and then turned around, walking out of the room ignoring Viv's calls for her to stay and talk it out.

[AUTHOR'S NOTE: For the smut of the garden scene, visit my discord and the smut channels for links to it. The link is in my bio or https://discord.gg/7D3WH97e7f ]