As Kiara made to follow him, she heard the last part of his sentence and muttered something under her breath. "That's exactly why I said I wanted to get it over with, bastard..."

His words were quickly forgotten, though, as they walked through the city, [i]her[/i] city. The sights, the smells, the people, they were so familiar to her. It wasn't the first time she'd been down here nor the first time she'd worn this dress. Some people might have recognized her, but not as the princess. In public, like this, she used a different name. 

To these people, her people, she was just a farm girl by the name of Ava. The life she supposedly lived was so simple. She was a girl that people could tell their problems to. A girl who would understand their woes because she came from a background that could.

If they had known the truth, who she really was, they would treat her like she was so much better than them when she had never felt that way. All she wanted was to be a part of their lives, to be treated like an actual person. What she wanted was friends that did not like her because of who she was born to.

Ostus wouldn't know this, that she'd been down here before, and she would probably never tell him. He wanted to believe she was so above everyone, that she had no idea of the problems. It didn't matter. He wouldn't believe even if she did tell him who she really was. After all the years she had put on those pretty dresses, caked on the makeup, put her hair up in obnoxious styles, and told them that everything would be okay.. well she really did not blame him for his opinions. She had gave them what they needed: someone to look up to, someone to tell them that things would be alright.

She was drawn out of her thoughts when Ostus began to speak again. For a moment, she was quiet, but then she could hold it no longer. Laughter burst from her lips, but not from amusement. It was more out of disbelief. "That's great. Wonderful cover story. Too bad not a single person would ever believe it."

Lowering her voice to keep others from overhearing, she continued. "I'll put it in a way you can understand. For fucks sake, you can't stand to look at me, talk to me, or be near me. Perhaps we should act as if we don't know each other. More believable."