Invitation

""Is it true? I wouldn't have believed it," Ariadne said in false surprise, "Because it's not visible at first glance."

And she quickly studied the surroundings, it was a place as the young woman liked them, luxurious but comfortable and especially discreet with its low beams in precious wood engraved with spells spreading a mute as well as a subdued light, tablecloths of cream color with the moving motive of garden and sirens.

The walls were covered with fabric paper and had pictures of various seasonal places.

It was really an enchanting place. A place made for people like her, at least as far as she knew herself.

"But look at us!" Resumed his friends sketching grandiloquent gestures. "It is obvious that we are anything but that, rather lovers of sparkles and admiration."

"I think it's a little too much for me, girls! And to think that I thought I was deeply affected."

"We have to play the game Ariadne! And we're not just talking about this place. But hey, since that's the topic now, we need a place where the people of the world are continuously present and can fix us. And by going against that fact, you always choose this kind of place so dull and dilapidated. It's almost thinking you want to hurt yourself and diminish our beautiful ego. No wonder that time goes by you've turned so pale and closed in!"

"My darlings, although I am aware of your always misplaced ego, the mere thought of hurting it already discourages me a lot. So, to build a plan even a simple one for a goal like trying to diminish yourself would be nothing more than pure madness."

She looked at them and saw in their expression a kind of urgency and exciting expectation.

"All right! All right! Enough about futility, because I'm pretty sure the purpose of this meeting, however useless it may be, is not to talk about my favorite restaurant, much less to taste their delicious dishes, is it?"

The two friends exchanged a smile full of innuendo before turning to the princess with a knowing smile.

"You're right, honey. We're here to talk to you about something. Or more precisely to ask you something."

Ariadne frowned but didn't know if she was interested or not..

"What a thrill! I'm all ears. I'm listening to you."

They first looked around her with conspiracy as if they were afraid of being heard by a few indiscreet ears, then seeing that no one really paid attention to them, they approached their friend and whispered their secret.

"We had received an invitation. A special invitation for a special evening, and we hope you will join us there."

Ariadne immediately felt something suspicious about the whole thing, but she also had to admit that it piqued her curiosity.

"Very well. But first you two are going to tell me where the invitation came from to be sure." Asked the young royalty with a calm that did not let anything appear of her interest.

"Simply put, the organizer is a so-called distant friend, or rather a "good contact", and his party is a masked ball."

"Because a friend can also be a distant contact?" Ariadne remarked, sardonic. "But more importantly, where exactly should this fantastic masked ball take place and when?"

"Uh, you know the place."

"We mean by name."

"Yes?"

"It is the famous palace of Aclon. And the ball is for tonight."

"Tonight…"she repeated, as if she was having trouble assimilating what she had just heard, or more precisely, she did not want to. "Tonight? The... the palace of Aclon!"

"Yes," the duo shouted joyfully in chorus.

"Let's be clear, you're asking me to go with you to an unknown ball planned by a stranger, and which would take place in the famous palace of this eccentric person, and to top it all off, at night?"

"You've summed it up well, princess."

- To my great misfortune, by the way. Well, of course you're both ignoring the other guests at the masked ball, aren't you?

- But that's the point, my sweetness! They exclaimed overexcited. Everyone ignores everyone. Having a good time with strangers is an essential hobby for any person, everyone knows that.

- In other words, we will spend a night, plunge into the most total and intoxicating darkness with complete strangers who, you hope, will bring us erotic moments and endless pleasures?

- Yes, you realize how lucky we are to finally be able to participate in one of the crazy parties that the prestigious Duke of Aclon organizes and which constantly echoes throughout the kingdom! This is an unique opportunity to be seized.

Ariadne showed very disturbing gestures of reluctance.

- Girls, I don't know...

- Well, we, my darling, know enough for three.

- And how did you get these invitations, tell me?

- That's a secret you probably should never know, sweetheart. The two friends affirmed.

Then they looked at the dejected princess tenderly.

- We will go. And although we both know we'll have our share of adventures, Ariadne, you'll shine. You always have.

Ariadne made a grimace.

- It's not really to reassure me.

They each took one hand from him.

- Honey, we're both aware that it's hard for you to do this kind of thing, to get to know strangers, to put on daring clothes, and especially to go to this kind of party. But you see, we think you need something like that. You really do.

The princess smiled vaguely. As her two friends said, but in a more indirect way, she was beautiful but very reserved.

Unlike all her brilliant friends, she could do without make-up and magic to be graceful, but this fact has never done her any good. The natural fire faded next to her long, supple and flamboyant hair. Her eyes were like two fountains of heavenly waters, made to fill with passion and yet contained only desolation, without forgetting her skin softer than porcelain and that men's caresses have never succeeded in awakening.

Her haughty head bearing added wonderfully to her grace. She was wearing a bright blue short-sleeved blouse and white pants. This superb elegance has been complemented by high suede heels. Her only jewellery was a fine gold necklace, a gift from her grandmother and a bracelet set with various discreet jewels. She knew her majestic charm better than anyone else. And no doubt, she thought to herself, that was what had condemned her to misfortune.

Honestly, she would be willing to exchange all her beauty for just one moment of joy.

- You were always good at finding the words that would convince me to follow you.