5. Dinner With Prince Avery

"Sit here, prince Avery. I will prepare princess Ariadne to be ready." Elie politely said.

Avery nodded his head. "Well, get on with it."

Darian just twitched his tongue with a annoyed look. The man walked in the other direction. Wanted to leave Avery alone with one bodyguard still following the prince.

"Darian." Call Elie in a firm voice. "Be with prince Avery. Just go have a long talk with him. He's the prince of the Pearl Kingdom. you shouldn't disapprove."

"I just want to go riding."

"It's afternoon. My head wants to pop when you talk back. Accompany prince Avery!" Said Elie.

Darian was finally only able to follow Elie's orders against his will. The man sat down next to the seat Avery was sitting in.

"Sit down. Aren't we the same age?" Asked Avery without looking at darian. While Elie has gone by to join princess Ariadne's bath.

Darian flinch. He got very upset when Avery, with his gallant attempt, offered him a sit-down.

"You're not my bodyguard. So just sit tight." Avery's orders.

"Why are you here?" Said Darian who finally chose to sit.

"I just want to see Ariadne's condition."

"Lies."

Avery smiled slightly. "You're very good at reading people's attitudes."

"The look on your face, Avery."

"Yes. My parents told me to come here. They want me close to Ariadne."

"For what?" Ask darian.

"To be cooperative. Uniting the Diamond Kingdom with the Pearl Kingdom."

"Princess Ariadne is a child. Are you crazy to want to get married at thirteen?"

"I'm not saying I'm here to invite Ariadne to marry me. That's seven years away." Blurted Avery.

"Princess Ariadne would not be so foolish as to accept your royal alliance."

Avery was staring at her real hard. "Just wait seven years later." He said firmly.

***

Now the sky is going dark. The birds fly back to their respective nests. Dominating their beautiful sounds at night. The sun had truly set when Ariadne was now beautiful in her blooming dress.

I don't know how many dresses Ariadne wears. At any rate, she was well-dressed and clothed by the king's servants.

"Elie, do I have to have dinner with prince Avery?" Said Ariadne in innocence.

The Elie who sat down folding the sheets all she could do was smile. "Didn't you say yes yourself?"

"I think he'll be home before dark. I didn't know prince Avery was waiting so patiently until dinner."

"Wouldn't you like to have friends? Then make friends with prince Avery." Elie says advice.

"But he's a boy. I do want to make new friends. But not men. I want to have a girl friend."

"Just relax. Prince Avery was nice like Darian. They're the same age."

"No Elie, Darian and prince Avery were different. Nothing comparable."

"Okay. Suit yourself, princess. I'm going to the kitchen to have the servants set up the dining table right away. Wait here, and I'll call you when the table's ready."

Ariadne nodded obediently. The little girl went back to her room in the balcony. Her current habit is to stare up at the star-filled night sky. Imagining herself free to run around out there with the rest of the country's children. But it's not gonna happen. Ariadne is Ariadne. Ariadne is a princess.

***

Ariadne enters the dining room with Elie walking behind her. Ariadne is specially dressed in a gorgeous evening gown that blooms in gold. Of course, wearing glass shoes like Cinderella.

The diamond crown on Ariadne's head seems to be getting rather bulging. And of course the crown must not fall from its head, except in bed and in the bath.

Ariadne sits in the final seat. Avery was on her left side.

This dinner is rich and fancy. There was a whole chicken roast that was fed a lot of stuffing. The fruit was so full. There was corn soup, roast beef, and other heavy foods.

There are also various kinds of bread and dessert. Like a round strawberry cake. On top of that cake was a bunch of sweet strawberries mixed with leci's. While she hisses there is a cheesecake, macaron, a doughnut, a fruit jell-o, and a cupcake.

All the servants lined up around the dining table immediately bowed to their heads. That means they're finishing serving dinner. The servants keep standing faithfully, in case Ariadne needs something.

"Thank you for taking me to dinner." Avery politely said.

Ariadne smiled. More like she was faking it in Avery's presence. "You're welcome, prince Avery."

"What's your favorite food?" Ask Avery was curious.

"My favorite is roast chicken. But only the haunches."

"Ah, yes. That's very edible. What do you do every day, princess?"

"Yesterday I was doing paperwork. But I don't know what's inside. I'm not that smart. Maybe after this I'll be taught a lot of manners by Elie."

"That's good. I also learned manners in my kingdom. Of course it was my father who taught me directly. He said I would be a king one day."

"Oh, yeah? That was so awesome." Said Ariadne.

"Of course. You too will be a queen in this kingdom, princess."

Ariadne only responded to Avery's words with a smile. Then she chose to eat dinner right away.

This time Ariadne chose to eat a lot of cookies. Elie standing among the servants could not prevent it. Ariadne only wants to satisfy her stomach this time. She wants to eat a lot of sweet cakes.

While Darian standing next to elie could only let out his heavy breath. Doesn't like to see Ariadne at dinner with Avery. Not to mention Avery eating very, very well. No manners.

The next second Ariadne's only to be upset. She gazed keenly at Avery's noisy feeding. The little prince ate with a squeaking sound on his tongue. It is troubling for Ariadne.

Especially the clatter of the knife and the fork Avery used was very noisy. It's like they've never been taught to eat in slow motion.

"Prince Avery, can you eat slowly? Didn't you say you were taught manners?" Asked Ariadne.

"Ah, I'm sorry. The food tastes too good. So I just meant to eat quickly. All right, I'm gonna turn my stuffing down."

And Ariadne could only stare again at Avery. The little prince still ate loudly.

"Prince Avery, it's not just your noisy eating equipment." Ariadne alert.

"Then what?"

"Decanted your tongue distracting my ears." Ariadne said boldly.

While Ellie hears it can only shut her mouth. Didn't think Ariadne had the courage to comment honestly. As for Darian, the man can only hold back his laughter. It's nice to see Avery look bad in Ariadne's eyes.

***