"Mother, really we needn't be so decadent with the decorations. We have nothing to prove during the ball tomorrow, absolutely nothing. You mustn't fret so much over things like this, it will grey your hair." Niall was imposing as he stood next to his rather petite mother, he had inherited her dark hair though his was not quite so dark as hers. His face held a sly grin as he spoke the last several words and she turned to scowl at him. "Niall, sometimes you are much too big for your already rather large breeches." Though she scolded him she held a slight hint of a grin on her face, it was only the twitch of the corner of her mouth that belied that she's wasn't particularly serious. What she was serious about was the massive amount of decorations that covered the ballroom. It was a ball for no particular reason than to celebrate their wealth and the wealth of the people on Indra. His mother did love balls a bit too much sometimes for Niall's tastes.

Standing six foot seven made the Crown Prince stick out like a sore thumb, one of the reasons he chose to ride an Orica rather than an Epsuli as many of the courtiers and people directly under the crown did. He father always chided that he wasn't quite sure what they had fed him to make him so tall and broad but they needed to figure it out and give it to their young training soldiers. Though Indra had not been at war for many years now they kept a very elite master military force at all times, as men got past their fighting prime they retired to become teachers for the new recruits. They had master archers, swordsman, and cavalry and they fought to ride the horses Niall trained himself. Niall's Epsuli horses were revered for their bravery and instincts in battle. The cavalry trained on horses that knew the battlefield already. The horses learned rather quickly that it hurt to get hit with a sword and quickly learned to dodge blows if at all possible. Niall trained them with swords with a wooden edge so that they wouldn't get cut but it would still sting something fierce. It was just up to their riders to stay on top of them and not screw up their maneuvers.

Niall shook his head at his mother, "I will leave you to your work my dearest mother. I am going to see the horses and spend a bit of time outdoors." Though he wasn't really required to bow because of his position he did so anyway, sweeping one of his long legs out behind him in a graceful movement towards his mother. "Be safe my son," Was all the Queen of Indra replied. Niall took his leave, returning to his full height and striding out the doors of the ballroom into the courtyard through one of the side doors. The royal stables were within eye sight of the courtyard for him, just over the tops of the tall hedges that gave the illusion of privacy to the people sitting in the nooks and corners of the maze of hedges. He knew all the turns by heart, he had since he was a child. He used to pack his sister Selene out here when they were children. He was the epitome of health and strength and she was entirely too frail. If he could feed her his strength he would do so in a heartbeat.

He found an unoccupied bench in the larger side courtyard that was lightly more private than the one out front of the palace where visitors of his father, ambassadors from other nations and courtiers walked about freely. They were more liable to get lost in this maze that his mother had put in when she first married Niall's father. She was the second Princess of Zeelu, their king at the time's youngest daughter. Now her eldest brother and Niall's uncle was King. Zeelu was not as wealthy as Indra or Escova but not quite so poor as Manora who didn't even have a monarchy. Today Niall wore one of his favorite simple long sleeved shirts. It had come from he Bazaar earlier this year in Escova. It was made from a lovely light fabric that kept him from sweating so fiercely in the heat of the day. Niall leaned back against the back of the stone bench that he was apparently much too large for as his legs stuck across the walking path nearly completely and if he were to lean his head back he would undoubted end up with a head full of leaves from the bush behind him.

When Adalaide came to reside at Court, she requested a room facing the East. They were unpopular, due to the morning sun, but in her home city there was no escaping the sun. If it did not face you directly, it would reflect off the sand and blind you just as badly. She was use to rising early and she didn't want to break the pattern.

Except for this morning. This morning she would appreciate if she could sleep in just an hour longer. As much as she normally loves people, she would be dreading interacting with as many people as were here today. It's always draining, and she just didn't look forward to it. The one thing she did appreciate about this, was that she could wear clothes from home, instead of the stuffy dresses from Indra. No one could say anything because there were going to be a lot more important people here wearing the same exact clothing.

Speaking of more important people, Adalaide glanced at the letter that was on her bedside table. Her sister sent it about a week ago, but it only arrived last night due to a sandstorm that blocked the mountain pass. It said that both her sister and her sister's husband would be arriving sometime this week. Something to cause her normally good mood to dampen her mood even further.

"M'Lady are you awake?" Adalaide's maid, Dinah, knocked on Adalaide's door and Adalaide sighed. Never two moments to herself.
It could be worse, Addy, you could be part of the Royal family. Adalaide smiled despite herself before calling her maid in.
"Would you grab my blue dress from home? I'll give them the biggest show tonight, and maybe they'll leave me alone for the rest of the nights." Adalaide said as she got out of bed and removed her nightdress. She stepped into her gown, seriously it was that simple, and had Dinah braid her hair while she applied her make up. It was over stated, but it was what people expected. Adalaide sent Dinah off to do whatever Dinah does during the day, and Adalaide went down to breakfast. Luckily being up so early had it's perks and she didn't have to dine with anybody. She made her rounds around the castle, talking to more people then she usually talks to the whole day in the span of a few hours. Finally Adalaide had enough and went to hide in the gardens, more specifically the maze. She didn't enter far, for she was claustrophobic enough as it is, but entered just enough to hide her. She was compact enough to hide her small frame on a bench, across the path but down a ways from where the Crown Prince had decided to sit down. Adalaide could see his legs in the aisle, and stifled a smile.

Adalaide tried not to say anything, to keep up the silence she so desperately wanted but she couldn't say nothing and so finally she broke the silence in the worst way possible.
"That's a good idea, Your Highness, sticking you legs out like that. People might things they're logs in the path and be dissuaded from coming down this corridor." Adalaide let a small smile fall on her face. She would forever tease the Crown Prince about his height, and she couldn't stop now just because it might be considered tactless at this point. They had both come to escape but if there was someone near her, Adalaide couldn't help but say something.

Due to her condition, Selene had often been able to escape the more constricting garments of court, as long as her clothing still showed the wealth of the royal family. Today was no different; Indra and her rulers cared more for their daughter's health than her finery. Therefore, her maid, Tallulah, helped her into an opulent creation of silk and lace that was both beautiful and light.

"Purple again?" Selene gave a slight, amused smile. The court dressmakers did seem to like to make her dresses in various shades of purple. This time, the dress started out as a light, silvery lilac on top and gradually changed to royal purple. Delicate white lace accented the neckline and the sleeves. "Well, it does suit you, and your status, milady." Tallulah replied, fastening the gown up the back. "Now, milady, if you'll let me do your hair next?"

"Of course." Seating herself at her vanity, Selene looked through her makeup to decide what she would apply that day. Tallulah hummed gently under her breath, a lullaby from her native Escova that she had often sung to her lady. As she did so, she carefully brushed and styled Selene's hair in the fashion of the times.

It took a while, but Tallulah finally set down the hairbrush, satisfied. "Now, isn't that lovely." She moved to kneel in front of Selene. "Have you decided on your makeup today, milady?" Selene nodded carefully, indicating several makeup containers gathered away from the rest. "I'll just get started, then." Applying the makeup took quite a bit more time, but eventually it was done. Her makeup was quite a bit lighter then was fashionable, but the court physician had warned her away from caking her face with cosmetics. Standing, Tallulah backed away a few steps. "Beautiful, milady."

"Thank you, Tallulah." Selene rose gracefully and, with her maid following, made her way down to the ballroom to possibly assist her mother. She could certainly help with the placement of the decorations, if not with actually placing them.

A shot rang out throughout the courtyard, followed by the breaking of ceramic. Julien nodded with satisfaction at his shot as he began to load another shot. One of the many perks about being the Marquis (and for having a home so far out of the way any villages) is that you can have your own shooting range. Many of Julien's fellow nobles would look down on both owning a shooting range and using a musket, but that has never stopped Julien, or anyone else in his family. Many military officers frown on firearms, as their considered unsporting and potentially dangerous in the hands of a common soldier. Julien's family, the Guesclins, have been advocates for the use of such weapons for years, and Julien himself was nearly raised on them.

Julien had just begun to ram a bullet home when one of his houses servants spoke from behind him. Like many of the help in Julien's home, the servent was a former soldier in Julien's regiment, so he snapped to attention as though Julien were still in uniform.

"Message for you, sir." the man said, handing Julien an envelope before giving a salute, which Julien returned. "Thank you. Dismissed." After the man left, Julien opened the letter. To Julien's surprise, it was an invitation to a royal ball in a few days. Julien breathed a heavy sigh, he really didn't want to go, but it would seem antisocial if he didn't. "It seems as though I have no choice." he said to himself as he went back into his house in order to get his dress uniform ready.

One would think, looking at Diego, that he loved parties. They would be dead wrong. However, he had a reputation to uphold, so he gave a sigh and went to put on his finery. After all, he had two noble families to represent, and two lovely sisters to watch over.

"Never fear, Mami." He muttered. "I will take care of them." His parents had retired about a year ago, moving to a manor in Friesia and leaving their only son to take care of Torremolinos. The two girls, Alejandra and Idoya, had been given the choice to follow their parents to another country or stay in Indra with their brother; they chose the latter.

It would take him a while to change, even with the help of his manservant; it would take even longer for his sisters to decide what to wear. They would be ready by the time they had to leave, however. Diego knew that.