ー☍ー

"Ava!" 

A whisk of small engulfed me the moment I stepped into the garden.

Expecting this perfectly, Victor pulled Nicolli out of the way as Luis released his hand from mine. I stretched my arms out to receive her, spinning around from the momentum before settling down.

I sighed, noting the straight purple locks and sighing in understanding.

"You look wonderful today, Michela," I addressed her, pulling ourselves apart to awe at her dress-- a sparkle of blue and purple gradients, adorned in sapphires, frilled with white.

"So do you, Avelynn," she smiled right back.

Michela Ivywood, the young lady of Duchess Ivywood, today's tea party host. She was my age, thus from a young age we were often set up to have a stable noble relationship as friends.

Neither of us hated it, and we became quickly close.

"Mica," I cupped her cheeks in my hands, eyeing her sharply, "as much as I would love to enjoy our reunion a little longer, we are in the presence of the royal family. I believe you know well what you must be doing."

I glanced at Luis and Victor, and she seemed to be flustered.

Michela steadied herself quickly, brushing her dress straight and poising once again with her elegant smile, "I deeply apologize for my graceless display, Prince Luis, Prince Victor."

Curtsying with a sophistication I could never achieve, she greeted them, "I, Michela Emilyn Ivywood, am greatly honoured to receive your attendance in our tea party today, your highness."

"It is but our pleasure, Lady Michela," Victor and Luis echoed.

"However, I would have to reprimand your manner of act, Lady Michela," Victor smiled sternly, a hint of kindness in his tone but he was serious, "it is very uncouth of you to run across the garden with that dress, much less hollering and leaping into the arms of a fellow woman."

Michela's face just melted into an obvious pout, "as usual, Vic is soooo strict on everything. Loosen up already, or Nico's gonna hate you."

"Wha-?!"

"Mica!" Nicolli gleefully approached Michela, taking her hands in hers, "it's been so long!"

"Nico!" the purple-haired girl imitated the cheer, "you're as adorable as I remember! Your dress suits you so well!"

"You flatter me," she swooned.

"See that, Luis, that's called a burn," I jabbed a thumb in their direction.

"Huh?" he didn't quite register.

"Now, now," two claps, and attention was turned to my older brother.

My older brother, who had come here on a faster carriage ahead of us. 

"Lady Michela, if we must catch up, shall we do so on the table?" he suggested, reaching easily toward the girl's hand, taking it gently, "I have found a rather colourful array of sweets you would love to try."

Michela's expressions softened as she turned toward Terren Dawnflare-- her fiance.

"Now then," Terrenc faced the foursome, "shall I escort us to our seats?"