The sun in Elaris was unforgiving that afternoon. The sky was so bright it almost looked white, and the heat made the air shimmer like glass. Lavender and Sarah walked down the cobbled streets with their maids, Martha and Abigail, trailing right behind them with fans in their hands. Both girls were dressed light, Sarah in a pretty red dress that made her skin glow and Lavender in a soft blue gown that fluttered with every step she took.
They finally reached Madame Beaufort's Ices Parlour, the prettiest little shop in all of Elaris. The windows were lined with ribbons and crystal bowls filled with colorful ices, and the sweet smell of strawberries and cream made Lavender sigh happily.
They sat down by the window, where the sunlight poured in, and ordered their favorite ices. Lavender chose vanilla and blueberry, while Sarah went for raspberry with a bit of lemon on top.
"I cannot wait for this season's first ball," Sarah said, her eyes sparkling as she twirled her spoon.
Lavender didn't even look up. She was too busy enjoying her ice cream, quietly taking small bites while Sarah kept talking about gowns and suitors and dances. This had become a normal thing, Sarah talked, and Lavender listened… sort of.
"I'm going to wear pink for my debut," Sarah continued. "Mother says the Queen will be there herself! She and your mother are going to present us to Her Majesty. Isn't that exciting?"
Lavender hummed softly, which was her polite way of saying yes, but please let me eat in peace.
Sarah, however, wasn't done. "It's such a pity the Crown Prince already has a wife," she said dramatically. "He's terribly handsome. I would've made a wonderful princess."
That made Lavender finally look up from her ice cream. She smiled a little, just enough to make Sarah narrow her eyes.
"Lavender, you're not listening to a word I'm saying!"
Lavender laughed softly. "I heard every single thing you said," she replied. "It's just that… I remembered something."
Sarah leaned forward eagerly. "What did you remember?"
Lavender lowered her voice like she was about to tell the kingdom's greatest secret. "Lady Florence has been plotting to ruin her sister's debut."
Sarah gasped so loudly that both their maids turned to look. "Why would she do that? It's not her sister's fault she isn't married yet!"
Lavender's lips curved into a mischievous smile. "Because her betrothed had eyes for her sister, not her."
Sarah's eyes went wide. "How do you even know these things?"
Martha and Abigail exchanged glances but said nothing. They had stopped questioning Lavender's mysterious sources long ago. Somehow, she knew everything about everyone ,from which lady had fainted at the opera to which lord had kissed the wrong woman at last season's ball.
"Well," Sarah said finally, "it's good you do. It'll help us this season. You can keep us away from the scandalous ones."
Lavender grinned. "Exactly. I'll find out everything about the bachelors this year,the charming ones, the boring ones, and the ones to avoid completely."
Sarah laughed. "And which kind do you want?"
Lavender froze for a second, her smile fading just a little. "I don't know," she said quietly. "Maybe none."
She didn't want to say what she was really thinking ,that no one in Elaris wanted her. That she was the black girl from Zerola, the one everyone looked at twice.
So instead, she changed the subject. "I'd rather focus on my book."
Sarah's whole face lit up. "Oh! Debut! My mother adores that book! She complains about the mamas in it like she doesn't behave exactly like them."
Debut was the book Lavender had published the year before and it had been gaining so much attention. Well mostly because no one knew that an eighteen year old girl wrote the book.
Lavender laughed. "If only she knew those mamas were inspired by her and all the other mama's."
They both burst out laughing so loudly that Madame Beaufort herself gave them a look.
"The money I get from the book," Lavender said, still giggling, "I'll spend on both of us."
"And we'll be the richest ladies in Britannia," Sarah declared, lifting her little glass bowl.
"Cheers," Lavender said, and their spoons clinked like champagne glasses.
After that, Lavender started gossiping again — about the other debutantes, about the dresses, about who might faint first at the Queen's ball, just to distract Sarah from talking about men again.
After a while, Sarah looked at the clock and groaned. "I have to go before my mother has a heart attack. She still thinks I'll get stolen if I'm out too long."
Lavender stood too, smoothing her blue skirts. "Does she still want you to marry better than your stepsister?"
Sarah rolled her eyes. "Of course she does. And I will. My stepsister's husband cheats on her all the time, you told me that."
"Then don't worry," Lavender said with a grin. "You'll marry the most eligible man in all of Britannia."
Sarah smiled at her friend, touched. "I hope you're right."
But before either of them could leave, the sound of the doorbell chimed , sharp and unpleasant.
Three girls stepped inside, their fans fluttering and eyes immediately landing on Lavender and Sarah.
The laughter faded from both girls' faces. Sarah's smile tightened. Lavender just sighed softly.
"Trouble," she muttered under her breath.