D A V I N A

"You didn't even try" My mother shook her head in dismay and the disappointment in her voice was evident.

While she never liked to compare me to my other sisters, in that moment, I knew she would want to say she wished I had behaved as gracefully as they had.

"I would beg to differ, she smiled politely and curtsied with grace" Athena mused and did a beautiful curtsy to emphasize.

I giggled and earned myself a glare from my mother which caused Athena to roll her eyes as she turned to face me before she laid down onto the couch while I sat on the edge, being scolded like the child I was, yet I was expected to marry.

"I tried. They were far too old and not for me at all" I shrugged with a feeble excuse.

She sighed heavily and briefly glanced out of the window, and I watched a smirk trying to fight its way onto her face and wondered if Athena's humour might have eased the tension. "I will admit that, but I didn't say I chose them based on their looks. They were well accomplished men, we only have one more so please try otherwise one of those old men might just be the man you wed"

"Fine" I sighed in defeat as I simply needed to accept my fate, maybe an old husband would serve better. It was not like he could race after me on a horse or anything, but then the other duties of a wife I could not see myself doing at all.
There was a short knock, and I watched as my parents moved towards the door to welcome the last suitor of the day.

"Wow, so that was her plan" I heard Anthea with admiration in her voice for our mother, I believed.

"What?" A frown formed on my face due to confusion while Athena simply shrugged beside me seeming lost in the same confusion that I was, and I followed her eyes towards the door where a man shook my father's hand.

"Save the best for last..." Athena tutted in agreement.My eyes saw who she was practically drooling at, of course she remained poised but she always had a distinct look on her face when she found someone attractive.

I could admit that he was attractive, but love at first sight? Certainly not. However, it was clear my mother had planned it out well, she had only one true pick for me as she gazed lovingly at him as if he were already her son-in-law.
My mother was a smart woman who I had yet to outsmart but that didn't mean I would make it easy for her, if this were to be my destiny then I would have fun with it while I still could and was not bound to anyone.

"This is Prince Nicholas" She gestured her hand towards the man with tousled hair, fair skin, and green eyes. He certainly was not an old man but instead appeared to be almost my age, and for some reason, that did not sit well with me either, he was in fact a cute boy.

I curtsied, and he smiled seeming pleased, "You are even more beautiful in person than the towns whispers."

"And if I weren't?" I raised my eyebrow as I stood upright and met his eyes.

"Pardon?" Surprise filled his voice to match the arched eyebrows, and in that moment, I knew he was just another royal man who had everyone at his beck and call mouthing only what he wished to hear.

"Davina" my mother nudged me with a tight smile. "She tends to be the jester of the family"

"And succeeds all the time" I smiled and tried not to take offense to my mother, describing me to some stranger as the person I wanted to be known for the least to the outside world.

"But she is graceful" Anthea added with an edge to her voice, and I glanced appreciatively at her for defending me.

"that she is" Athena smirked, and I fought the urge to roll my eyes at Athena.

"If you'd excuse us..."
And just like that Athena and I were being gently escorted to the corner of the small room.

"You two need to cut it out. Nicholas is our most promising suitor" She whispered with her back turned to him while I watched as he conversed with Anthea as his smile never once left his face, he was well trained.

"He is quite adorable, funny how he is the youngest and handsomest one to have been selected by you mother when Im sure there were many other better takers than the last two you had brought to her." Athena narrowed her eyes and I could tell she was annoyed that our mother had rigged it in her favour.

"Not my type" I scrunched my face as I stared at his boyish grin before my mother stood before me and blocked my view of him.

"You don't even have a type" She stated. "And don't make that face..."

"I am certain it wouldn't be adorable" I sighed and fidgeted with the corset abit.

She held her hand to her forehead and I could tell she was on her last straw with us and I couldn't help but feel bad as she spoke, "Enough, you are my lost born. Please take this seriously..."

"Fine. Its clear what my future holds so lets be done with it then, shall we?"