Audrey and Cecilia

She didn't look back—she never looked back—because she knew that she couldn't bear the looks of anger her family would have sent her way. Her whole life had been spent suffering through their anger towards her, and their neglect had reached a breaking point. Part of her knew that without Achlys guiding her anger and proving she deserved better treatment, she would never have been determined enough to fight for her justice. She left the Diamond Palace in a carriage and minutes after her arrival, her entire staff had returned. 

Powered by a newfound strength she stared them all down, she knew that she was only ten but she also knew that her life couldn't be wasted away anymore. "Your lack of loyalty has been noted." Her attention turned to her nanny, who couldn't stand proud or look her in the eyes, "you will never touch me again. You are not welcome in this palace, quit and don't ever show your face here again." She turned and left the guilty-looking servants behind, they knew the princess would never trust them again. 

In her room was Achlys, who found her to be completely changed, no longer timid and having a silent strength. Her strength was loud, furious and destructive, a tsunami was being formed in the form of a human. He felt excitement brew and he allowed her silence so that she could form her requests. 

"I have saved half of my allowance since I was aware of it, it's a sizeable amount, I need to invest it." She announced to him. "Will you help me?" She knew that every person in her current staff and her tutors would report her independence to her parents, and she would replace them all very soon. Her parents, luckily, had no concept of finance, so she had enough money to buy a large island. She knew, however, from some snooping at a young age, that she only received a tenth of what her brothers each received. Achlys grinned, knowing exactly what she should invest in.

"Call the Viscount Bergmont, he is about to strike gold but doesn't know. No one will invest in him because he has failed before, if you donate just half of what you have, you will make ten times the amount back." Achlys generated a contract with a wave of his hand and gave it to her. This was her first ever request from him, a real request, she had asked him to teach her various things before but never asked him to use his powers selfishly. Immediately a letter was sent to the Viscount, and a day later he found himself at the beautiful Daisy Palace. 

In that day, the servants had given her more than ever, trying to prove they were worth keeping. The palace was covered in flowers, cleaner than it had ever been, it looked worthy of Royalty for the first time. It was too bad Audrey no longer cared. The Viscount, like everyone else, had heard about the neglected Princess, one who didn't even live with her family, who was brilliant but pushed to the sidelines. She didn't look like an unloved child, perhaps all he had heard were rumours, however, the reality that she didn't live with her family contradicted that thought. He had seen the palace, and as impressive as the Daisy Palace was, it was nothing in comparison to the Diamond Palace, Ruby Palace or even the Rose Palace. 

He met with a well-spoken young girl that day, her etiquette, posture, and cadence, everything was perfect. He wished his own daughter behaved like her, instead, he had a rebellious young kid, however, at least there was joy behind his daughter's eyes. There was a sea of nothing behind the Princess's eyes. Yes, they were determined, and resolved to survive, but they lacked the childish quality he saw in his daughter. 

"Greetings, Viscount Bergmont, thank you for making time for me on such short notice." A servant poured tea for him as he bowed and greeted her.

"Thank you for calling me, your Highness, the pleasure is all mine." He wore a simple suit, his hair messy, and he had aged like most men, gaining some weight and also lines from smiling and living. He was rough around the edges and seemed to have an air of humility and hard work rather than the pretentiousness that swallowed high society on its best days. So many members of society had turned up their noses at him after his last two losses, his wife wasn't getting invites to balls or tea parties, but here he was, an official audience with the mysterious Princess Audrey.

They seemed like opposites on the table, a prim and perfect princess without a hair out of place and a messy, grounded Viscount who was trying to provide for his family. However, to anyone who saw them converse, they talked like two people who fundamentally understood and respected each other. They talked for a while, Audrey learned about a world larger than the two palaces she had been bouncing between her whole life, a wonderous world she hoped she could explore one day with Edmond who still hadn't wrote to her.

"You mentioned investing in my next mine?" He asked, hopeful but cautious.

"Yes, I have a sizeable amount of savings, a large portion of which I am keen to invest into the mine you are about to begin an expedition on, and I am aware you haven't been able to land any investors. I would like to be your sole investor and take on all of the risk, I have more than enough to make this possible. I will receive 90% of the profits and you 10% since I am taking on so much risk. How does that sound?" She knew that he would negotiate this to reduce, and her goal was a 70/30 split. His eyes lit up, he wrote a number on his paper and slid it to her. She smiled slyly seeing it, it was less than half of her savings, she nodded. 

"I think 80/20 would be better, Princess." He countered, her grin widened and she nodded. The contract Achlys had created had automatically adjusted to these numbers and the split, she produced it from next to her. Astounded, he read the contract and signed it on the spot. She shook his hand and signed it on her end as well. "I'll be back in a month with results, and, hopefully, a sizeable fortune." He grinned as he left.

"I have complete faith in you, Viscount Bergmont." She replied, her eyes knowing what was to come.

He stopped and decided that he couldn't let her be. He was a father and he knew a lonely child when he saw one. "Well, Princess Audrey, you can call me Cal now that we're business partners. Can I call you Audrey?"

She nodded, feeling her face heat up. "Yes you can, Cal." She had never been so informal in her life with anyone but Achlys, however, Achlys didn't really count. 

"Thank you, Audrey. How about you meet with my daughter, Lilly? She's a year older than you, and I think you two would make great friends. Would you be available to come to my home on Thursday to play with her?" His request made her bubble with an excitement she hadn't felt in a long time. She had never played with anyone but Achlys before. She barely knew how to play. 

"Yes please!" She replied too quickly, and her blush formed. "Thank you, Cal. I would be honoured." 

"Would you like to meet some other children as well?" He asked, his own greed fuelling this question. If he could let society know that the princess was coming to his home and playing with his daughter, they would once again be welcomed into society. 

She nodded, hopeful she could make friends and hold tea parties. She would have to get all the girls gifts and purchase a dress for the occasion too, excitement suddenly bubbled up inside her. She was, after all, a girl who liked girly things.