Open Chronicles The Start of the Season

[Wilhelm Anireth]

​

Wil was what he would begrudgingly call 'in trouble'.

Instead of returning to the welcoming, adoring arms of family upon his return from his unpleasant hosts in the Falwoods, his parents had treated him like a petty criminal. They acted as though he had chosen to be kidnapped, to have his boozy tour of the outer territories ruined and to be flung into some forgotten run down elven dungeon. His mother had insisted on extra guards, his father had forbidden him to leave the palace, and both of them had started to speak of how a marriage might 'make him grow up.' No amount of gentle pleas - or shouted words - had changed his parents minds. So he had languished in the palace, alone, whilst his siblings ran about doing... well who knew what. The only pleasant company he had had for the past month were the servants, and they were only pleasant in that they didn't shout at him. So when his mother had announced they would be opening the Season - whatever that was - with a ball, Wil had been thrilled. It was a testament to just how broken he had become in his grounded state that he was actually excited for a Royal Affair.

The Season, as it turned out, was what some noble in one of the Great Houses had come up with calling the particularly hot months Aniria enjoyed. They were to be filled with balls, breakfasts, tea parties, and hunts as a chance for the nobility to mingle with one another and find suitable matches before they apparently went into hibernation for the cooler months. Wil had never heard of anything so ridiculous but if it gave him an excuse to drink and talk to someone that wasn't a portrait of a long dead grandfather, he wasn't going to complain.

Tonight the youngest nobles who had just turned 18, and those who had never attended a Season before, would be presented before the the Court. The change after the revolution meant that that now included several Dreadlords who had officially graduated this year. This year, it would also include the Princess.

His sister.

Wil tugged at the stiff collar of his shirt with a grimace, trying to pull the cravat looser. His father had done it up so tight the Prince had genuinely wondered if his father planned to kill him and claim it was an accident. It had only been that morning his mother had informed him it would be his job to 'present' his sister as a debutante. So there he stood, in the line with several other excited looking girls and equally uncomfortable looking men whose task it was to parade the young women down the room towards the Queen and King, and without a single drop of blasted alcohol.

"It is dreadfully hot in here, I wish they would open a damn window."

Kassandra​

 

[Catherine Urahil]

For years, she had been educated into being the perfect lady of a Great House, had been tailored into being sufficient in varying activities expected of young ladies. She had been happy to do them all, to be honed into an exemplary member of the Urahil house, but she had done all that with the comfort of not dressing to fit into society. She had preferred clothing more suited to making her unremarkable, easily forgotten, but tonight's event had called for something far beyond her idea of attire.

Her cousin, Felix Urahil, had equipped Catherine with a seamstress to dress her in the season trends, but none of which were the no nonsense stylings Catherine would have picked herself. Tonight, her short and pale hair had been left as is, save for the sapphire barrettes pinning her bangs to keep the hair out from her face. Plain, and simple, it was done to her approval. It was the dress however, that she had to keep herself from frowning as she loitered nearby the refreshments table. Gold, entirely gold with dark gold embroidery that glimmered in the mage lights. Placing her in Urahil blue would have made her blend in, said Felix after she insisted on representing the House like any other. To be dressed in gold was the perfect way to announce the newest Urahil into society.

For a young woman like her, standing out was not something she particularly liked.

She would have turned invisible, blending in with the wall if it meant she could observe and not partake, but Catherine would be lying to herself if she did not wonder what it was like to live and be among such finery and company.

 

[Kassandra]

Kassandra was about as happy to be here was Wil.

She had returned to the hallowed halls of the Anir Keep practically screaming. Throwing open the front door and immediately accosting her father as she demanded to know why she had once more been pulled from the front lines. Arryn Cross had practically needed to hold her back from thrashing her father when the answer had been 'A Ball'.

Her rage had hardly calmed as the Queen explained the importance of the event. Kassandra quickly countering with the fact that many members of the Forty Forth Western army did not have the luxury of such leaves, nor the ability to simply walk away from what was looking to very quickly become a full-scale war.

In one fell swoop, her parents had once again proven that she was indeed not simply another member of the Anirian Guard. No. She was the Princess of Vel Anir, a special and delicate flower who needed to be protected, pulled away from the front-lines and thrown into a pretty dress for the world to see. She had practically seethed as the maids had dressed in her in silks and lace. Her clothes radiant in the colors of House Anireth and speckled with gems that would have made a Dwarven King jealous.

Kassandra stood radiant, regal, and still more than a little pissed off.

Though she allowed none of that emotion to show on her face.

Despite her best efforts at a change of image, she knew well the role which she was to play here at this ball, and despite her anger; she knew it's importance as well. Kizzie was no naive duckling. She knew the truth of Vel Anir, even in the age of the Republic. The Royal Family could not afford a misstep, not when things were so precariously balanced.

So she would do her duty, as a Princess of Vel Anir should. Whether it was on the front-lines of a war, or in the midst of a gaggle of girls who could hardly fathom the life she had been living the past few months.

Lost in her own thoughts, Kizzie barley heard Wil's words. "Hm?"

The Princess intoned, standing besides her brother. Lips pursing as the back of her mind puzzled together what he had said.

"Oh." She said, her hand casually waving to the side. A spark of her magic running forth as suddenly every single within the hall slid open. A cooling breeze floating through almost immediately. "Is that better?"

Kizzie asked, doting on her brother.

 

[Constance Krixus]

Contrary to others in the room, Constance was ecstatic to be here. Her beautiful purple dress with accents of gold starkly contrasted against her dark hair and blue eyes, all the colors of House Krixus. It was the nicest dress she had ever worn in her life, compliments of her guest. She had absolutely begged to be introduced at this ball, expecting far more resistance. Thankfully, Aunt Natasha had convinced her son of the necessity.

"Thank you for being here," she whispered to her cousin who looked like he would rather be anywhere but here. Yet, he had agreed to present her with the expectation that after this event Constance could go to most of these events in House Krixus's name leaving Alistair to his own devices.

"It would be unbecoming of you to be here alone for your first time."

Alistair was a mystery to Constance. She had only met her cousin after his graduation and the untimely death of her uncle. The young man was a strange individual, especially his eyes. He was clearly blind, but in the most random moments, he showed vision even beyond a strong-sighted individual. She supposed that was the frightening power of the Dreadlords.

However, even with that mystery, Constance could tell he was not interested in enjoying himself...how sad.

Constance cast her gaze at the other members of the line designated for those others being introduced to high society. They all looked so beautiful and poised. The insecure part of her started to worry whether she was supposed to be here.

Alistair must have sensed her worry as he whispered to her. "Stand up straight and smile. It's all about faking confidence here."

 

[Aelita]

"As you know, Lord Segrob frequently lends his ear to my advice."

Aelita heard as she blankly stared at the wooden floor at her feet.

"Of course, after I single handedly felled a swarm of elves, it's only right the nobles took notice."

A few recently graduated Initiates seemed entranced by the braggart's words. She finally turned away and quietly fled from the annoyance.

A sharp, new military uniform adorned Aelita. The badge of a lieutenant in the Guard could be seen. It was her sign of being a recent graduate of the Dreadlord Academy.

Along with a few others of the Guard, Dreadlords included, Aelita found herself assigned to protect the nobility of threats within and without. She slowly walked down the one of the dimly lit side-halls of the venue. The "help" used it to shuffle back and froth between places such as the cellar and kitchen back to the main ballroom.

As Aelita slowly walked forward, she suddenly stopped. Her head perked up. Eyes darted around - despite there being nothing out of place for her to see. A few servants took pause to after seeing the uniformed Dreadlord's sudden movements.

Aelita's eyes panned over toward a split in the hallway and began to make her toward it with apparent purpose.

Just coincidentally at a few moments prior, Kassandra ended up using her magic to force a lot of windows open.

 

[Arryn Cross]

His first task since his promotion, and the Captain of the King's Guard had been all but forced to attend this.
He'd only just spent days in a cell dwelling on the prospect of hanging for the killing of his predecessor, he'd faced his trial and been absolved of the crime, only to be thrust into the uniform and sent here. This was worse.

He was also quite sure Lynus was still quietly angry with him for upsetting the woman he was so fond of with his honest words, that he'd found the perfect punishment. He loved the Prince as his brother, at least he had, until now. He'd not quickly forget the small smirk he wore when he gave him his first order as Captain.

There was absolutely nothing that could hide his displeasure at being subjected to such torture, but he would do his duty and ensure that he and his men, of whom there were several dotted around the edge of the room, ensured the safety of the Royal siblings..

 

[Wilhelm Anireth]

Annoyingly, it was better.

Wil huffed as his one thing to complain about without complaining about the real thing bothering him and potentially upsetting his sister, vanished. Why did she always have to be so nice? Sometimes he would much prefer it for his siblings to just yell back. Like a real family. It would have helped him to realise he was not so alone in the feelings he felt if he knew his siblings felt a little of the same.

He leant back against the wall with his arms folded over his chest, dark curls falling across his eyes, and finally took in his sister. As always she looked perfect, not a hair out of place, but for once she didn't have that practised winning smile on and she didn't greet the other girls as she normally might have.

"You look a million miles away from here," he commented begrudgingly. Wil had not properly spoken to either of his siblings since he had arrived back in Aniria but that didn't mean he didn't care. Deep down. Deep, deep down.

 

[Jiya Luana]

"I hear a congratulations are in order."

Jiya could only dissuade her Steward from signing her up to so many balls. She had managed to come up with an excuse for the past three; helping Elspeth start the paperwork at their new hospital, an important trip to Vel Vara to deal with her mothers complaints, her younger siblings graduation... And now she had run out of excuses. Or rather, her Steward was fed up of hearing them. The start of the Season ball - this debutante - was apparently a secret favourite of her dour looking right hand. There had been no arguing with him over her attendance.

He'd practically driven her here himself to ensure she did not slip off to go chase some lead on the sjælden.

It was thoughts of the sjælden and the heart pumping adventure she had taken with one Guardsman - now Captain - that had her eyes scanning the room as soon as she entered for an all too familiar face. Jiya had apparently spotted him before he had spotted her. It looked as though he was too busy trapped in some thunder cloud of his own creation to notice anything beyond his assigned job and the Head of House Luana was more than happy to take advantage of that. She slipped up behind him until she was practically at his shoulder. She had to rock onto her toes to murmur in his ear, hoping to make him jump.

"It's Captain Cross now, correct?"

Dressed in the style of her house, Jiya wore a beautifully woven red and gold saree that fit and flared with every dip and curve to her body. Her wrists, throat and ears were adorned with golden jewels from the far West and her face and been lightly painted in the more modest fashion of the time. Her hair, usually in braids, was loose in delicate waves that pooled to her lower back, pinned back at one side with an intricate golden comb in the shape of a lily. She might have fooled anyone into believing her a true lady. That was, until, her nose wrinkled as she tried not to laugh.

"You certainly look like Captain Cross glaring a hole through the Prince's head right now."

 

[Kassandra]

Kassandra let out a long sigh. "It's obvious, isn't it?"

The Princesses lamented, ignoring the fact that anyone but her brother would likely never have been able to tell anything had been amiss. Though she'd missed out on the brutality of the Academy, she had learned in Althhaven how to hide her emotions as well as any diplomat.

Her head shook as she glanced out the window, staring for a moment towards the west before she turned to look at Wil.

"It's probably because I wish I were a few million miles away." The Princess snarked, though kept her voice low enough that only her brother would hear the complaint. "Or at least a few hundred."

Kizzie remarked with a sigh, then took a step closer to Wil. Her palm folding gently over her brothers shoulder. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't be complaining. It is rare we get to spend time together now."

The Princess said with a shake of her hand.

"Mother told me how much this means to you." Kassandra continued with a smile. "And I'm happy to be here."

Even if it meant being away from the front.

 

[Arryn Cross]

Arryn's keen senses, honed through years of rigorous training and vigilant duty, should have alerted him to Jiya's approach. Yet, so deeply ensnared was he in his own thoughts and the meticulous scan of the grand ballroom, he didn't notice her until her soft, teasing murmur sent a shudder down his spine.

He turned sharply, almost instinctively reaching for the hilt of his sword before his eyes landed on the familiar face of Jiya. Her beauty, enhanced by the exquisite attire she wore, striking him momentarily speechless. She was always beautiful, always elegant, but he'd grown more used to seeing her in her travelling clothes and muddy boots, and for a brief moment, he forgot the weight of his responsibilities and the tension that had been gripping him, and silently admired her. She looked every bit the noble lady, a well polished diamond, yet he knew beneath that exterior lay a spirit as adventurous and daring as his own.

"Lady Luana.." he replied, his voice steady despite the quickened beat of his heart. He gave her a slight, respectful bow, his stern expression softening ever so slightly. "To you, it is always Arryn, though formally, yes, it is indeed Captain Cross now. Your congratulations, though unexpected, are appreciated.."

Her mention of the severity of his gaze on the young Prince had him clearing his throat, a slight twitch of amusement on his lips as he straightened, "I'm quite sure I don't know what you are talking about.." he answered with a quirk of his brow as he swept his eyes across the room. That there were many eyes cast this way, and most of them male, was not lost on him. She was quite the crowning jewel.

His mouth was suddenly dry, and whatever compliment he'd been about to pay her died on his tongue before being swallowed down with a bitter aftertaste.

"I hope you enjoy your evening, My Lady." he said with a light smile.

 

[Jiya Luana]

Jiya's smile turned positively wicked as she saw his lips twitch. Out on the road she had slowly learnt what made him smile or laugh, but out there he hadn't had the pressure of his work weighing down on his shoulders. Here there was nowhere to get away from it. So a small smile felt like more of a triumph than the snorted laughter she had won in the Falwoods. So it hurt all the more when it suddenly vanished and the professional wall came up.

"Arryn, you know you don't have to call me that," she frowned and lightly touched his arm, oblivious to the looks he had apparently noted. Concern knit her brows together and pressed her lips into a thin line. She wondered if something had happened that had made him so tense but dared not ask; royal politics was not something to be aired in a scenario such as this. Still, her eyes flickered to the Prince and Princess as though they might give her a clue for Arryn's sudden hesitancy.

"I've missed you."

 

[Arryn Cross]

That fucking smile of hers. He wanted so badly to return it. Wanted her to know how much he adored it..

Instead he could only sigh quietly to himself, accepting defeat. He knew how much Jiya hated the formality, and he tried to ignore the brief flicker of hurt in her eyes when he addressed her as such. He looked away from her entirely as he casually dropped his arm, pulling it slightly away from her touch. He didn't wish to see the look on her face then. He knew well enough that there were many suitors in this room for her to have her pick. He also knew she cared little what anyone thought, and yet he could not allow her to ruin a potential match by being so casually friendly with him. The last thing he needed was her Steward having any cause for complaining about him.

"I know, but tonight, My Lady, amidst present company, I'm afraid I do," he said, his brow furrowing apologetically as his gaze once again drifted over the room.

That she'd missed his company was something he wanted so badly to smile about, something he wanted to tease her for as he wore his usual smug grin, but his expression remained as stoic as he could keep it. Despite his efforts, there was little he could do about the glint in his eye when he met her gaze once more. His voice was low as he dipped his chin, responding quietly, "I missed you too." He said, and straightened again as a pair of men dallied past them.

"I'm afraid I found myself in a cell, before I found myself in this gods-forsaken cape," he murmured, his voice edged with bitterness. "Else I would have found you sooner." He offered her a light smile, but it was fleeting as he caught one or two scowls aimed rather indiscreetly at him.

"You should... mingle," he cleared his throat, the professional mask slipping back into place. "Enjoy the evening. Perhaps we might find time to talk later."

 

[Jiya Luana]

Jiya was not used to feeling as though she were on the back foot, but Arryn had not only yanked the rug out from beneath her feet, he had kicked her down the stairs with his cold shoulder treatment. She didn't know how to reconcile this stoic man with the one she had come to call a friend. She saw a flash of the latter when he quietly confessed what had kept him busy. Her eyes flared in alarm.

"A cell? Arryn wh--"

But then he was closing up on her again. That mask slid over his face before her eyes and she was locked on the outside once more. She stood there, unsure of what to say, how to say it, what to do. All she had been looking forward to was seeing him here tonight and now it seemed he did not wish to see her at all. Another hurt expression fluttered across her face.

"As you wish, Captain," with a small bow of her head she then waded into the political fray.

 

[Wilhelm Anireth]

"To me?!" it came out far louder than Wil intended and a few of the girls lined up behind them glanced over at him curiously. The Prince muttered and ducked his head, not wanting any female attention at a time when his parents were looking to marry him off to curb his ways. "Kezzie, I'm only here because they told me you wanted me to do this. That and the whole house arrest deal for the past month," he kicked at the floor, scuffing it. It enraged him his parents continued to play these games with their children. Playing them off against each other. It had taken him months to confirm Lynus had indeed tried to write to them - even find them - but when he had he had begun to look for other ways their parents had tried to manipulate them all.

"We could leave," he offered, looking up through his lashes and flashing his sister one of those coy smiles. "Go find a beer hall of something."

 

[Catherine Urahil]

With her chaperone drunk and entertaining other highborn men with tales of war, Catherine began to slowly slip away from his sight and take a walk about the ballroom. She preferred to be like a mouse, sticking by the walls, but many faces lined against them, already in conversation with others or taking a quiet respite. That would not do.

Cat struck out from the wall, doing her best not to fiddle with the golden embroidery all over her bodice and skirts, but instead walk with perfect posture she was taught. Of course, she knew all the dances, but was also glad that Felix chose not to play chaperone for this evening and decided tonight would be best to play observer. There would be many other balls to attend this season, and perhaps at those events she would make such an effort if it pleased her dear cousin. He had done so much for her growing up, she was only thankful he knew when not to overstep and crowd her towards the waiting suitors that wished to dance.

 

[Arryn Cross]

He saw it then, the hurt flicker across her beautiful face, like someone had skipped a stone across a lake, disturbing its serenity. That he had caused it was a punch to the chest, throwing the air from his lungs, robbing him of his ability to speak. The ache of it was visible on his face as she addressed him with his title, the word sounding so wrong coming from her mouth. Arryn. She always called him Arryn.

His brow furrowed, lips parting to protest, a step forward taken with an outstretched hand, reaching for her wrist before he stopped himself. Reminded himself who she was. Who he was. His hand closed into a fist and his mouth shut as he stepped back into position, and his jaw clenched tightly as his eyes followed her retreat from him.

You fucking idiot, Cross.

The thought echoed in his mind as he watched her navigate the crowded room, her grace undiminished despite the emotional blow he had unintentionally dealt. Each step she took away from him felt like a tether being stretched, threatening to snap. He wanted to call out to her, to pull her back and explain, but his duty and the eyes of the nobility kept him rooted in place.

His gaze swept the room, fulfilling his obligations, but his thoughts were consumed by Jiya. The weight of his role pressed heavily on his shoulders, yet it was the weight of her words that crushed him the most. The very title he wore with pride now felt like a shackle, a barrier between him and the one person whose company he truly craved.

For now, he could only watch her, could only be subjected to the torture that was standing here, watching her navigate her own world whilst he remained on the outside where he belonged.

And, watch the Royal siblings, and for assassins, obviously..

 

[Constance Krixus]

"This is awful. Everyone already knows each other and I have never met any of them." Constance complained with a great deal of worry in her eyes.

Alistair for his part just looked confused as he looked around the room. His vision only allowed him to really see those with magical capabilities, but with Vel Anir that was a decent number.

"Yes, and? Did you expect to know these people?" While he could not clearly see her, he could feel Constance shake her head in the negative.

"Then why complain of it? You just need to step out and interact with them."

There was a long pause before a very small voice whispered to him, "Will you help me?"

That was likely not a good idea, whether Constance knew that are not. While Alistair may have a bit more experience at these events and did not have several individuals here, he wasn't exactly known for his great social skills or being the life of the party. However, his cousin's voice would not let him quickly decline.

There were a few Urahils he spotted, but was that best for her introduction to noble elites. He also spotted some of the royalty he had interacted with before but that would certainly be to much for the poor girl.

Shit, this would be harder than he thought.

 

[Aelita]

Eventually, Aelita found herself outside the preceding hallway to the ballroom. She passed by a few nobles chatting away in the gardens while she made her way and managed to avoid their attention.

Aelita examined the windows once blown open by Kassandra's magic. Her brows furrowed as her eyes spotted each of them to be in slightly different positions - when the servants would have been scolded for any inconsistent detail of this event. Aelita looked out toward the perimeter of the garden. Her sight scanned for any spot a marksmen could sit and wait for their prey to appear.

As Aelita examined the peculiar scene that Kassandra and Wilhelm Anireth created, one inside the hallway would be able to catch a few glimpses of the blonde Dreadlord. At the same time, Aelita would have a good opportunity to see people trying to leave the main entrance or through a couple side doors.

 

[Breyer]

"... most of them do not know how to swim, nor do they seem to want to even try!"

Breyer was not paying attention to the conversation going on in the group of young men that lounged in one of the seating areas put into place, nor was he particularly invested in getting to know them. Nobles, but ones that seemed to single him out after his name had been announced on arrival. The Dorfarens were not a noble house, having many times turned now the honour, but being the founding family of the city many pass through to Vel Odren, they had welcomed him in.

At least they hadn't expected him to speak and introduce himself.

The open windows had let in a cooling breeze, and Brey felt himself at ease beneath his nice clothing made for the event. It was one of four suits he had for the whole season, but he wondered why he needed so many when he had planned not to attend each event. Only a certain amount to keep his mother happy.

 

[Mariana]

Aelita

"Sppppt," a bush seemed to talk to the blonde guardswoman just outside one of those windows she examined. "Down here."

Black-haired head would peek out of the greenery. Bright colored speckles of pain flecked beneath her nails and fingertips, even a few within her dark hairline. Krixus blue eyes stared up at the blonde dreadlord she vaguely remembered from her short internship with the Academy a year-ish or so ago.

What was time?

The teen was dressed for the party. In a formal dress that now has some snags of bush and dirt that her brother would be none-too-happy about. Inked arms were bare. But if Alistair's younger sister remembered anything about Aelita right, she knew the other girl would know the answer to her next question.

"Any idea of where they keep the good alcohol?"

 

[Jiya Luana]

Urahills.

Jiya quickly skirted out the way of two of the loathsome family members as they headed in her direction. She was not one usually to dislike a whole family because of the actions of one, but since Houri's return from assumed death the elder Luana had become rather protective of her. She knew if she were to happen into conversation with one of them she would end up causing a scene and unlike her younger sibling, she didn't have the magic to back it up. Nor the social skill to smooth over causing a scene at a royal event. Best to steer clear entirely.

She sighed into her glass as she walked through the crowds, pleasantly smiling, deftly avoiding dance requests, and nodding to this Lord or Lady she recognised by description or chance encounter at a previous occasion. Looking for anyone who did not look dull and stubbornly refusing to look in his direction.

In the end she stopped by an open window and feigned taking in fresh air.

 

[Breyer]

His eyes fell onto a beautiful woman taking a quick respite by the window in which he stood before the one neighbouring it. He would choose to ignore her if not hearing the murmurs from the group of men he was invited to accompany, but removed enough to not be part of conversation.

"... Luana."

Vel Vara was closer to Vel Redynne, and the Dorfarens in history had always allied with the Luanas in keeping Cortos at bay.

When he was sure the men decided not to invite the Luana lady into conversation, he turned his head towards her and offered a small smile. "Lady Luana. Pleasure to make your acquaintance, I am Breyer Dorfaren." There was no need for him to use his rank title of Dreadlord with her. He was not here on Dreadlord business, nor was he interested in inviting conversation about what he was doing here attending balls and not servicing the magical seals tied to his being and strength that kept Vel Anir safe. "Our families are longtime allies, and I must say it is nice to know I am amongst allies if not friends here."

He knew nobody here, never have once attended the circles of society until his mother demanded he do so now that his father was too weary for travel. Two years he managed to avoid this duty, but now, as he neared twenty, there was more to duty he needed to fulfil for the future of his house. One he would happily let drag out if it meant he could have freedom a little longer.

Jiya Luana

 

[Kassandra]

Wilhelm Anireth | Aelita

"Oh." Kassandra's face fell as the realization of her mother deceit fell over her. Wil's words sparking a fury on her chest that made her want to shatter every window in the palace.

A slow and steayd breath drawing into her lungs as she closed her eyes and forced herself into a modicum of poise. Her mother would not be at attendance, and Kizzie knew that she would have to leave in the morning in order to return to Cortos, but she knew where the Queen would be that night.

The Princess would have words. "No."

Kassandra said with a pitying smile, reaching up and gently touching Wil's cheek.

Neither of them wanted to be here, but escaping out the back door and causing all sorts of headaches for everyone would only cause them more problems. Knowing her luck the whole mess would end with their parents insisting she be locked up in the palace. Barred from returning to duty.

"I think it's better to stay and endure mother's machinations." The Princess contended. "One party and it is done, ruin this and they'll be lock-"

The Princess paused a moment, frowning, peering through the hall. "Wil, why is that blonde girl staring at you?"

She asked, looking at Aelita.

 

[Wilhelm Anireth]

Even now, his sister couldn't just rebel. He sighed as she touched his cheek and smoothed back his hair like she had when he was a child. Was there anything that could make her snap?

"What?" the Prince blinked at his sister then followed her frowning gaze, preparing a winning smile for the woman who apparently couldn't resist staring at him. Said smile withered and died as he latched eyes with Aelita.

"Fuck," he slid behind his sister as though she might somehow protect him. "I said I would give her a bottle of dads favourite wine if she didn't blow my cover at a tournament and I might have forgotten..."

 

[Jiya Luana]

When Jiya sensed someone approaching her she took a deep breath and steeled herself for yet more pleasant small talk. She was going rather insane having the same conversation over and over, like a parrot who only knew a certain amount of words. She longed for a conversation about topics that actually interested her rather than the weather, the latest fashion, and the next ball. But she turned to hew new companion with a practised smiled and readied herself for another round all the same.

"Dorfaren...?" Jiya tilted her head thoughtfully as she tried to place the name. Something tickled at the back of her mind. "Of Redynne? I remember visiting once as a child... There was a wonderful masquerade; someone dressed as a jester rowed us up and down the canals," her smile grew softer with the memory.