Royalty Secrecy

Hunting For Love

Early in the morning...

Someone knocks on Lauren's door as she opens it to find...

"Rise and shine!" Dinah chirps.

"Wake up. Nobody's getting any younger here," Tori speaks.

"Isn't it a little early for this?" Lauren raises an eyebrow.

"Today's events start a little early," Dinah says.

"Obviously. Do you think we enjoy standing outside your door in the early hours like some sort of postal delivery service?" Tori says sarcastically.

"That's not what they... Never mind. Today's going to be awesome! Lauren, you're going to commune with nature along Cordonia's majestic countryside," Dinah says.

"Dinah, let's get to it! Sunshine is exactly what I need," Lauren says.

"Like a plant," Dinah smiles.

"Right. Where are we headed?" Lauren asks.

"We'll be following one of the historic hunting trails the old nobility would use. It's ancient. Even before there was a Cordonia, nobles would hunt their quarry along these trails," Tori informs.

"We're not hunting anything, right?" Lauren asks.

"Hunting is forbidden these days. Besides, the dangerous wildlife has migrated elsewhere in the years since the great Royal Hunts of centuries past. Instead, you'll be riding on horseback through some of the most gorgeous countrysides in Cordonia," Tori says.

"Come on, let's go," Dinah says.

Walking down the hallway, Lauren, Dinah, and Tori spot Normani.

"Hi, Lauren!" Normani smiles.

"Hi, Normani. Is that a new outfit? Looks fancy," Lauren says.

"Oh, this? It's my riding uniform. It's going to have plenty of scuffs and dirt marks by the end of today. What are you wearing for the ride?" Normani speaks.

"I didn't bring a fancy riding uniform with me," Lauren frowns.

"Of course. There may be one or two left in the boutique. We need to get you down there immediately," Tori speaks.

"I'll come too!" Normani says.

~~~~~~~~~~

Normani leads Lauren into the boutique and by the mirror, Ariana fastens the final button on her blazer.

"Voila. Perfection, if I do say so myself," Ariana says.

"You look lovely, Ariana," Normani speaks.

"Of course I do," Ariana says.

"Ariana, I'm going to look even better," Lauren speaks.

"Let's not assume things. This outfit complements my dignity and grace, which neither of you has. So no matter how you wear it, you'll never look as good as me," Ariana says.

"We'll see about that," Lauren says. She grabs the last uniform from the rack and steps into the changing room.

She emerges in her new outfit making Ariana's jaw drop in shock.

"Spiffy, don't you think?" Lauren smiles.

"It's like you stepped out of a Victorian painting," Normani says.

"Please... Victorians haven't been in style for centuries," Ariana says.

"Let's go riding!" Lauren says.