<div class="floatleft">(http://i782.photobucket.com/albums/yy103/TrashyMe/fantasyprincessdark_zps1aaba496.jpg)</div><strong>Character:</strong>Avelyn Hellatius<br/><strong>Location:</strong>Proving Grounds, Princess' Box<br/><strong>Time:</strong>Day 1, Noon<br/><strong>Tagging:</strong>Ellya, Cedric, Jacquelyn, Open<br/><br/><hr/><br/><strong>"The Duke will be the first,"</strong>Ellya conceded.<strong>“Well then, let us consider this an opportunity to see what the contest has to offer,”</strong>Avelyn replied with a faint smile and respectful raise of her cup, a wordless toast as she heard the guards meet their visitor by the entrance.<br/><br/>Cedric was undeniably a handsome man with a strong figure and confident poise, a fact which almost reignited old fantasies for Avelyn as she finally put a face to all those tales from her younger years. Unfortunately for the duke, the princess wasn’t the sort to allow sentiments or appearances to colour her impressions, she needed someone capable not pretty. Still, this didn’t mean she couldn’t allow her eyes to linger.<br/><br/><strong>“Your grace,”</strong>Avelyn greeted with a cordial smile and graceful bow of her head, matching the duke’s gaze with one of cool authority. If Cedric was looking for a spark then he was looking in the wrong place, with the princess’s features only darkening at the mention of scouting. Like Ellya, Avelyn brushed the presumption aside as she responded, her tone gracious if not as gentle as her sister’s.<strong>“Surprisingly, the art of combat is a little more complex than I had first expected so I’d be grateful for any insight you could share, Duke Valda.”</strong>She was eager to see him put his expertise to the test, where she could decide if his words were more than bluster.<br/><br/>It was then that Jacquelyn made her entrance, prompting an amused half-smile from Avelyn as the youngest addressed Cedric with her usual candour. Jacquelyn had shown herself to be a rough diamond in Avelyn’s eyes, undoubtedly precious but so very, very, VERY… rough. An impression the eldest had gained after witnessing years of pranks and play, with only Ellya capable of reining the brat in. Throughout their lives Avelyn had treated the teenage princess with her typical style of indifference, showing neither love nor hate, but unlike the rest of the family the little imp had always made the act such a chore; either by absconding with her exotic treats or just being a general pain in the royal butt. It was mostly accepted that Jacquelyn was the least liked of the siblings by Avelyn, a notion which found little base in truth.<br/><br/>While she’d never admit it to anyone, the eldest held a certain fondness for Jacquelyn. She blamed the masochist in herself but she secretly enjoyed the energy which the young lady injected into the humdrum day-to-day proceedings, even if it meant sacrificing an exotic chocolate or two and having the servants hunt down the incorrigible princess.<br/><br/>She pretended to not notice the introduction as Ellya softened the blow of Jacquelyn’s abrasive entrance, choosing instead to send her lady-in-waiting off with whispered instructions before returning her attention to the duke.<strong>“Your grace, if I may,”</strong>she began, motioning elegantly to the seat beside her,<strong>“Please, sit and join us, the next fight should be starting soon and I'm sure we're all eager to hear your thoughts.”</strong>Annette soon arrived with a tray holding a pitcher of wine and goblet. The lady-in-waiting bowed respectfully as she offered the rosy beverage to Cedric while politely stating,<strong>“With my lady Avelyn’s compliments, your grace.”</strong>