" Oh, Mother! I can't wait to have my party! How will I ever be patient?" Ayria asked her mom. It had been 3 months since Lady Christa had announced her permission for Ayria to have her first co-ed slumber party. Her father was away at the Gliac Wars and had no way to communicate his thoughts on the idea, so the mother simply decided on her own. Let's see here, Ayria thought, Elle is coming with Konrad, Bryr with Matthias, Cindy with…. Dameon, No wait Lylac is coming with him. " M'lady, your tapestry isn't going embroider itself you know." " Yeah, I know." she mumbled to herself, not knowing her mother heard her. " What is it with you and commoner language, Ayria. You are of noble blood and noble language you shall use!" " Yes, M'lady." she responded, holding all sarcastic thoughts that were entering her head to herself. She took one more look at the scene she was planning on sewing and started on her awaiting task.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Ayria slowly sat down in the chair, for her dress was tighter than usual. Damn suitors, she thought, Why am I to be a prize to be won? Why can't I marry the man I love, Tyron. Her mind had wondered as one by one suitors approached. One was too ugly, one too old, one too fat, the other too skinny. Many were peasants trying to seek a fair, rich lady's hand, some rich on their own, but all seemed greedy nonetheless. " Well, I thank you for your time, lady." the last suitor, ugly and fat and much too dumb, said while leaving. " Thanks the heavens this over." she said to the maids around her. " Ayria, there is one more suitor here for you!" Tresa, the maid pushed her back in her seat. As soon as the man turned the corner, Ayria sat right up and straightened out her gown. Tyron, 'bout time you showed up. she thought mentally. " M'lady." She got up and curtsied, " Sire." The entire conversation had more energy than all the other ones put together. By the end, Ayria was dreading his leaving. As they bid farewell, Tyron pulled Ayria close and whispered in her ear, " I shall have you. And I'm coming to the party, my love." With that, he kissed her cheek and left.
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" Ayria!" someone, a female voice yelled. Ayria turned her head to see her best friend, Rylee, running toward her. She got up and ran to her. When they met, they hugged the way all friends hug, and they walked to the menagerie of Lord and Lady Jusod. " Your never going to believe the news, Ayria. Brynton, my Brynton, is coming to the party! Oh, I'm so excited! What about your Tyron, is he going to make it?" Rylee was perkier than usual and that was getting on the other girl's nerves. " Yes." Ayria said, much less enthusiastic than Rylee had expected. " What's the matter, Ar. I know you better than this and something's wrong. Is it concerning those suitors last week? Has your father agreed and chosen one?" Ayria walked into the monkey cage and picked up the baby monkey laying at her feet. " Yes, damnit!" she petted the monkey, Ginger, she named it. " Who?!?" Ry said half excited, half worried. " Some man. Reginald, I think." " Oh. Well, we'll fix it, you know we will." With one last hug, Rylee was off to see her tutor and Ayria was left alone in the menagerie to think about her life, which was most definitely not in her hands. "Me, marry Reginald. He's… too… too.. Perfect. The dashing looks, fast wit, and money and a country to go with it. Me and Prince Reginald. What a preposterous thing!" The monkey looked at her and ran to its cage. At least it's Tyron coming to the party, not him. At last, she walked to her room and began her dancing lessons.