The ladies bent at the waist, skirts fanned out on either side with arms spread wide. The glossy locks of the triplets were clearly not as tightly bound as her own, as several attractive pieces fell to frame their angelic faces. Chammielle's remained firmly in place as she inclined her head, not daring to meet the eyes of the Prince.

Lady Delphi Kuchen raised up first, signaling to the girls they could also raise up in turn. Chammielle kept her eyes down and clasped her hands lightly before her. She painted a small smile to show the appropriate amount of delight at his arrival, but otherwise kept her features smoothe. Not that they looked that way.

"Your highness, you honor us with your visit. On behalf of my husband, Lord Kuchen, allow me to introduce you to our daughters."

The way she said our somehow sent a feeling of warmth through her chest. It wasn't like her stepmother was a cold person. At least she was including her.

"Chammielle...Ianthe...Chryssia...and Aster. Our girls have prepared a lovely spread in the garden for your arrival."

She couldn't help but notice she'd saved Aster's name for last despite their order of birth. The trio was identical, but Aster was exceptionally pleasing to the eye. Her nose turned up just a hair above her sisters, her eyes appeared more dewy, and that ebony beauty mark set quite the contrast on her porcelain skin. Their mother had clearly set it up as saving the best for last.

For her part, Chammielle did get along with Aster best as well. She had no qualms with the order. Even the implication that her name being announced first might have nothing to do with her being the oldest. Even if her stepmother had meant it in order of beauty, it still seemed accurate to her. She was below looking plain in her own eyes.

"Ladies, thank you for accepting my short notice with such grace. I'd no idea Lord Kuchen was away on business when I decided to come. I am sorry to miss him."

His voice was surprisingly deep and lilting. She felt a shiver at her back and pulled at the ends of her shawl. It was plenty warm today. How strange.

She dared a glance up at him and spied the fine lines she knew so well from all the portraits in every noble home she'd ever visited. Including her father's office. But my how he'd grown.

Dark curls, thick as night, brushed the tops of his shoulders and fanned out not too far from his angular face. His cheeks were almost sallow, and his skin looked pale and smoothe. A crease was at the right of his perfectly pink lips as it tugged in a small, asymmetrical smile. He looked perfect as a prince should. His deep metallic eyes were so clear and sharp, like the sabre at his side. Her own golden brown ones felt muddy in their sockets from looking at them.

She turned her gaze back down.

"I know he will be sorry to have missed you, your highness. Please, allow my daughters to escort you to the garden."

Aster stepped forward lightly to the prince's side and coyly gestured before them with her other arm clearly available. He linked arms with her naturally and it sent a light blush across her cherub cheeks. With a prince as handsome as he, every girl in the kingdom would be eating their hearts out at such a sight.

Chammielle smiled a bit wider as they passed, and took up the rear of the procession.

They walked along the gravel path around the side of the house. Climbing roses littered the walls and became a tunnel as they drew nearer to the back garden. Everything was in full bloom. The grass clipped and green, and all the flowering hedges inviting pretty insects to stop and stay a while. There wasn't a single home in all of Garten that did not host roses, and especially in the Kuchen territory. They were as plentiful as the name itself.

"My, such a pretty garden. Fit for such fine ladies as yourselves."

Perhaps it was the way she viewed herself, but Chammielle thought she heard something else in his words. She was not a fine lady. And this was not an extravagant garden. The palace clearly had a far more manicured and varied array of specimens, so did it suit him and not them? Were they plain and average things to him?

It felt like a slander against her half sisters and she couldn't help herself.

"My dear Prince, how kind of you. Though it and we are so humble by comparison, I thank you on behalf of my excellent sisters...for your complement."

The girls giggled and she continued to smile. He had no chance to reply, as Aster began to point out their new marble pavilion, sporting the wrought iron table and five chairs. Their tea would be an interesting event indeed.

...

It was as though it were rehearsed. Aster was seated to the right of the Prince, her hand lightly touching his arm here and there at different points in the conversation. The round table did not allow for anyone to be seated directly before him, and so after Aster Chammielle sat to her right, and then Ianthe and Chryssia. It was intentional of course. Once the Prince had chosen his seat, Aster had naturally sat beside him as he had pulled out her chair for her. Chammielle had taken her place beside her, letting her other two sisters sit apart from her. This way she was the contrasting figure. Not only did it showcase Aster's perfect beauty, but she divided her from the other two so that it was obvious they looked exactly alike compared to Aster across from them.

It was perfect.

Chammielle sipped her tea happily. The assortment of savory and sweet delights were bright and coated in edible flowers. Even some of her crisp biscuits topped with sugared flowers had made it into the spread. She nibbled at one, noting she should try cardamom in the next batch.

"These are quite excellent, ladies. Your cook has really outdone themselves."

Chammielle smiled a bit at that, giggling quietly to agree with him without making herself standout.

"Oh! Those biscuits are Chammielle's doing. She is an excellent baker in her own right, is she not your highness?"

She almost choked on her tea. So much for not being in the spotlight. She glanced at Aster, wishing the girl wasn't always so honest.

"Really? I had no idea you possessed such a talent, Lady Kuchen."

She dared look up at him and was trapped by his charming and perhaps devious smirk. It was too late now. The depth of those eyes could swallow her.

"Tis nothing, your highness. I am quite certain the palace can afford you many greater delicacies..."

"Still...a remarkable talent in an otherwise merely charming place. A rose among thorns."

She chuckled at that. Her, a rose? Her hair wasn't that red. He'd also tried to put her above her sisters.

"You do tease, Prince William. Roses themselves have thorns. And you will find no such things here. I assure you, all flowers in this garden have been bred thornless."

She smiled and sipped her tea though it was growing cold. She'd leave the conversing to her half sisters. They were far more flattering and cheerful than she was.

"Ah, but even a poet has teeth."

She bit the inside of her cheek.

Why did she even bother opening her mouth? He was clearly noting her as a wordsmith, and she couldn't deny her words had a bite to them. She took out her fan and feigned ignorance. Waving the air at her face to hide her own smile.

"Oh! Chammielle writes far better pieces than the poets of today!"

If it weren't for the fan, the four of them would have seen her gaping mouth. Ianthe had spoken up this time. It was like they were trying to shove her in the Prince's face. What were they thinking?

"You don't say. I should dearly love to hear some of your poetry, Lady Kuchen. I must admit I am quite bored with today's poets. Nothing like the classics some eighty years ago."

She was about to make some excuse. What, she didn't know. Her papers catching fire. Something like that. But Chryssia interjected.

"Oh, Chammielle prefers the enlightened works of Mezastolz."

"Mezastolz?"

The Prince was now very clearly intrigued. Mezastolz was an infamous economist who wrote poetic commentary on the state of the nation over a hundred years ago. His depictions of cruelty contrasted with the golden hay days in the courts of the wealthy were controversial. Not that her half sisters knew that of course.

She cleared her throat lightly.

"It makes for interesting reading. I've quite run out of new material in our small library. Aster loves Periocles. She reads his poems over and over."

"Why Lady Kuchen, I do believe you are trying to change the subject."

She realized then that all eyes were on her, and the feeling was both exhilarating and mortifying. This was not how this tea was meant to go. The Prince seemed to relish her momentary discomfort. His eyes sparkled mischievously and she twirled the tip of her shawl about her gloved finger.

"Why Prince William, I do believe I am your subject."

His eyebrows lifted and he let out a genuine laugh. It wasn't polite or pandering. It was sincere and full bodied. Even quite deep.

"That...that you are. Please, I would so love to hear this poetry. If you have a moment later, perhaps you could share some with me."

Aster waved to Daisy who stood nearby and gave instructions to have her notebook brought down. The conversation turned to recent dances hosted in the territory. Prince William gave his attention equally to the three blondes and Chammielle sighed silently within her soul. This was comfortable. This was the way it was supposed to go.

"I must say, I cannot remember the last time I was so pleased to have tea with such good company. Lady Aster, would you care to take a turn with me about the garden? I believe I see some yellow roses over that way."

The two got up and excused themselves. They turned past a cherry tree in full bloom and Chammielle let out an audible sigh and closed her fan with a snap.

"What are the three of you up to?"

Ianthe and Chryssia looked at each other before back at her.

"Up to?"

"Sister, whatever do you mean?"

She pinched at the bridge of her nose, a bit of the talcum powder and oil coming off onto her glove. She'd need to change them after tea.

"Do you not understand the reason for the Prince's visit?"

They stared at each other once more.

"Honestly, I'd have thought mother would have explained everything to you already. Or at least our governess."

They shook their heads and leaned forward on their elbows, eyes begging for a story like when they were little.

"Every generation of monarchs is married upon their 21st year. Like the nobles, princesses are married to neighboring kingdoms to strengthen the bond of diplomacy and friendship. The princes on the other hand choose for themselves. They make the rounds, visiting every sector within the kingdom to acquaint themselves with every eligible maiden of nobility. A month later, invitations go out for the royal wedding."

The girls gasped, open mouthed and wide eyed.

"That means-!"

"Aster-!"

"Yes, or either of you, have a chance at becoming the next Queen of Garten. And what are you doing? You're all pointing out my quirky qualities as if I were the main attraction."

The girls were giddy. The prospect of becoming royalty was exciting for them. They interlaced their fingers with each other and bounced in their seats squealing.

"Hush! He might hear you!"

They quieted down and then in unison stared at her once more.

"But...what about you?"

She waved them off. She had no interest in becoming royalty. A second son of a Lord would do for her. The rollercoaster ride this day was turning out to be was giving her a craving for chocolate. She might as well tell them how she really felt.

She smirked at them.

"Don't be silly. Whoever heard of a freckled queen? My portraits are already hellaciously done by half hearted painters, and I can hardly wear a hat with this hair much less a crown. You are sweet, but naive. No one wants my face stamped on a coin. These damned spots would riddle it with holes and it would be worthless! The same as any notion of my having a chance. So, drink your tea, show off your clever selves, and leave me out of this. It's no competition."

Ianthe and Chryssia stood with horrified looks and came over to her. Perhaps she'd shown them too much of how she viewed herself. Though she thought she'd been funny about it. They hugged her shoulders and kissed her hair, whispering complements that made her soul ache. She was gentle, caring, intelligent, thoughtful, witty and creative, but she was not beautiful.

Tears came to her eyes and she patted them both.

"Thank you, girls. I am fine, truly. If you'll excuse me a moment, I think I'll change my gloves. The afternoon is becoming a little warm for me."

She stood and smiled at them before turning to the house.

It didn't always hurt to think she was not pretty. She'd already embraced it a long time ago. Today it seemed like a fresh slap to her muddy looking face. Pearls and embroidery could do nothing. They might as well have used them on a plough horse.

She wiped at the tears and entered through the kitchen door.