Audrey 

I was so determined to get my plan on board. I decided to call my best friends over. Camilla, She was a beauty. She was of my age. But good for her, that her father died and her mother was not forcing her to marry. My new best friend was Sidney, she was a red head. She had a vibrant energy around her and very piercing eyes. I was in the library. I looked around and found my pens and some sheets on the table.

Sitting down I started writing my letter to Cammie.

Dear Cammie,

It is your dearest friend, Addie. I am writing this letter in urgency. As we have last discussed, my parents wanted me wed. Every man they decided for me was as insufferable as the last. Not finding any man suitable for me, I rejected all of the proposals.

Can you believe that they came up with an even more diabolical plan? My heart hurts to let you know that they have arranged a marriage for me. And it doesn't even stop here, they are to announce it on our next ball. Therefore I ask you to come to Eriella to help me escape this outrageous plan.

Your dearest,

Audrey.

I ended the letter for Camilla and then moved on writing the same on Sidney's letter. Sidney was younger than me and Camilla, we treat her like our little sister. Having both of them come here would be helpful. I then sealed the letter and handed it to the guard to deliver it. Now, coming back to the papers, the scandal sheets I stole from my mother's room are gone from my room. She had something in them that made her so anxious about my future. I must find these sheets and see what they all are saying about me.

Now, I was in her chambers. I searched under the bed. They were not there, surprisingly. I went to the night stand. Nothing, but last night they were here. I searched the drawers. Nothing! She clearly hid them somewhere I could not find.

I searched my memory to find a place where she hid something successfully from me. There has to be something. Something for sure. I remembered that mother hid her speech letters from us all. At every ball she likes to be prepared. She would never come up with a speech and let others see it before it is delivered. That was under her bed pillow. I searched that place. Coming empty handed. I decided to see under the mattress. When I did lift it. I found those sheets. Dates recently. When I turned towards the door in delight, my eyes met with mother's. She had her arms crossed.

"You would not leave this matter behind, would you?" She asked me. "Mother, I just want to read them and see what I can find about him." She shook her head in disbelief. "Audrey, I thought that perhaps you would really marry King Jacob for us. Look at you! You are plotting." She held up a hand stopping me from saying so I shut my mouth. "I should have known that you are as stubborn as I am. I know you better, Addie and you will not scheme anything against our wishes. It is decided that you will marry him. You can not deny and if we find you deciding on doing something regarding this matter, then the time frame given to you for four weeks will be taken away. You will marry him, right away." She said and before leaving her room she turned and said, "You can take them. Perhaps after reading them you will understand the seriousness of your situation.

I knew she was right. I knew that she would not stop at anything. I know that she is as stubborn as I am. That's why my only hope is this plan. It has to work at any cost. I would not yield to verbal threats of ruining my life and taking my rights away from me. I took the sheets with me and left the room. If they both got my letter, then Camilla would be here by dinner tomorrow. It was good that they both were attending a ball near our kingdom. I can not wait to tell them my plan.

Thankfully they arrived in time. Now, Sidney and Camilla were sitting with me in the parlor. The parlor was light green painted. Some wallpaper was giving it a perfect blend of spring. I exhaled. "So? Is this true? That they are forcing you to marry?" Sidney asked. I nodded while placing the sheets filled with my ideas on my lap. Sidney's ginger hair had grown longer. They were now reaching her bosom.

"King of Randosa, you said?" Camilla asked. I told her his name and his kingdom when she arrived before dinner. Sidney arrived just a few minutes after her. I nodded to her as well. "I have a plan in these sheets. But I need your help. The plan can not work without you two helping me." They both nodded frantically. Camilla had her raven hair in a bun.

"I found some scandal sheets of the past and I have seen my name make a presence quite often. You know, after reading these sheets that's when mother realised I must be married to stay away from these sheets as they can make or break me." I finished and looked at Sidney, remembering what mother told me of her mother before.

"That is so right, I have been reading these sheets and I have noticed your name appearing more than ever. My mother too..." Sidney then carefully evaluated her word choice and finished, "My mother experienced something similar to scandal during her seasons. That led her to be married soon. That's why she told me to be extra careful with my reputation." She did not tell us exactly what happened but gave us some insight as to why she was reading scandal sheets.

"What is the plan then?" Camilla asked me. I gave them both a scandal sheet. One was original and the other was a copy written by me. "What is this?" Camilla asked me. "A scandal! That we must make. If I want to get away with this marriage." I replied. Sidney read aloud, "A woman found in a man's chamber in a very compromising state. Princess Demi is found in a bed with Prince Kaden, the second in line of the Ophilite kingdom. It is reported to me in confidence that the Prince had asked for her hand in marriage. Looking at Princess Demi's reputation, to save it, she must say yes to this proposal. Yet again, a scandal caused a match." She ended the scandal report. "This is my plan! We must find a Prince willing to compromise with me. Who do you think can be bold enough to agree?" I asked them both.

"Addie, as good as it sounds. I have to say that it can work. But the most important question is who that man must be." Camilla asked me. I looked at Sidney expectantly. "No! Do not even think about it. My brother is engaged elsewhere. I can not force him to compromise with you." I sighed and said, "We will find someone. We must find someone. I only have five days left."

"Okay, I will stay with you, as it is clear you need help with finding a suitable man for you." Camilla said and Sidney agreed to it, insisting that she must stay with me. Oh, how blessed I am to have them as my friend. We quickly engaged ourselves in conversation of their last ball. After it was very late at night, we decided to call it a day. They were tired from all the traveling and yet they stayed to talk. They surprise me every time.

***

The next morning, we all were together in the gardens and chatted about everything. Then the topic shifted to Jacob. "Have you ever seen any ball?" Sidney asked me. I shook my head in a clear no. "I think I have heard a rumor surrounding him. That he was very hot blooded. Whenever he made an appearance in the balls he caused some damage. That's why everyone decided to never call him. He used to come to my father, as his father is a good friend of my father. That's all I know." Camilla said.

"I made a list of men. We could pick one." I listed every eligible man's name. "Addie, you can not be serious. You literally wrote every single man right now. Some of them are rumored to have mistresses. I don't think you can handle that." Camilla said and took the list from my hand and cut more than half of the man's name from it.

I sighed in defeat. The men who were single right now have offered for me and I have rejected them. I can not be compromised by them. "We need more names." The day went by like that.

***

The next day, two days left until the ball. Instead of the heir to the throne we focused on men who were second in line. We did select some names but the problem was their brother. "What about Arnold? He is second in line." Sidney asked. "His brother is the problem. I puked on him, to get away from his proposal." They both laughed. "Oh! Addie, you and your wicked ways." Camilla said. We started cutting names and at the end. The list was gone. At the end not a single name was selected. Something has to work. I can not be hopeless.

***

Next day, the day before the ball. "I don't think it will work. We have failed clearly." Sidney said, raising her both hands in submission. "I must agree. The ball is tomorrow Addie. What is your plan now?" I should have thought of it. That we would end up with no one to be a match for me. Not even for a compromise. I sighed, this is my last hope now.

"In the ball tomorrow, you both must hand a key to a man. I will give you both a key to two different rooms. Tell them to come meet you there. I will go there and do..." I winked and they both chuckled. "I will help." Sidney said first. "I am in too." Oh my sweet mother, you are in for a big disappointment.