From the other end of the hall, Riona spotted Anastasia flanked by the royal guards as they escorted her. Riona bristled at the sight of the princess. Her muscles tensed and her face contorted into an ugly expression. The maid didn’t even try to hide her disdain toward the woman. She just kept marching forward.

All this must’ve puzzled the guards. Riona didn’t need to read minds to know why.

To start off, everyone working in the castle knew that the servants who worked above stairs had to wear specific standard uniforms. A simple, but neat and respectable attire that allowed the servants to blend into the background. Not whatever the stable hands wore, which was what Riona was wearing. The look clashed with the posh surroundings, and whatever came from outside followed her inside. The smell of stables, mud, dung, everything. Things any decent servant should know to leave outside. At least, not any sane servant who didn’t want to get “re-educated.”

Then there was the issue of etiquette. Normally, when a member of the royal court appeared, the servants stopped what they were doing. They kept their heads bowed until said member left the area. But here this commoner was, walking straight down the hallway, even in the princess’s presence.

Even if the dumb woman’s bad manners could be chalked up to her being one of the foreign noble’s servants (odd, since her face looked so familiar), it didn’t explain the hostility. That expression couldn’t be aimed at Anastasia, could it? Impossible. Everyone and their mothers adored sweet, precious Princess Anastasia. Anyone who felt otherwise… well, something must be wrong with them.

The guards protecting Anastasia eyed Riona warily and edged closer to Her Royal Highness. Riona kept walking forward, staring at the princess; the woman-child who inherited King Edin’s hedonism and desperate need for attention.

Anastasia’s eyes were red and brimming with tears; the very picture of distress.

Good. Riona thought. The least Anastasia could do was feel miserable about what happened and feel the gravity of her actions. Maybe she’d finally understand what responsibility meant.

It wouldn’t last long, though. No, it’d eventually be less about causing someone’s death and more about her. She’d wonder what others would think and feel of her now. Whether she was less loved because of this mess.

Nobody would hold her accountable in the end, not really. Fans would flock to her side, comfort her, and reassure her that she wasn’t to blame in the slightest. They’d protect her feelings. Pretend she had little to no role to play in the incident and put the blame on anything, except her. Sweet, precious Princess Anastasia could do no wrong.

What grated Riona the most was that the princess probably believed that this was the first time something like this had ever happened. So much was shielded from Anastasia for “her sake.” They (her brothers and Wystan especially) needed to stop sheltering her like this. Stop treating her like a porcelain doll so she can mature and grow a heart stronger than glass. Ignorance might be bliss, but the princess needed to recognize and accept that her naivety caused more harm than good. Ideally, before she stopped giving a damn and completed her transformation into Princess Edin.

The distance between her and Anastasia shrank. One of the guards stood between the women after seeing that Riona made no move to alter her course. Seconds before he opened his mouth to order the maid to halt, Riona sidestepped. She greeted the guards with a good morning and continued down the hallway as if nothing had happened.

Time: 9am
Location: Entrance Hall
Interactions: @Silverpaw Wulfric @Lava Alckon Farim @Rodiak Nahir @13org Mayet
Mentions: @Tae Saiya @Infinite Cosmos Munir @Potter Hafiz

---

King Edin's daughter did not behave in the way a noblewoman should from any kingdom. Her words were simple and her thoughts unfiltered. He supposed if she had been Raif's daughter, he would have scolded her for lack of tact and poise in her presentation of herself. He could not quite insult her parents too much for such a thing. Mayet, despite efforts, was not one to pretty up her words either.

However, there was something comforting about Princess Anastasia's rawness at this moment. As everyone had prettied their words up in an attempt to control the situation, she had simply told her truth. There was the matter of a man she would not name, but Raif could understand not bringing someone, who in her eyes was innocent, into a potentially dangerous situation. He, himself, had mixed feelings about it as he would indeed like to question whoever had hosted the bizarre event. The King, however, apologized for her behavior and then ordered her to be dragged out by guards as if she were a peasant who had wandered into the wrong room. The princess was not pleased; her reaction was rather intense, to say the least; her behavior was not that of respect for her parents.

There is a hierarchy amongst the children, it seems. They do not hold the same value. From the behavior of the youngest, I gather they spent less time on those two and then detest that they are not as well carved as the older two.

"It was not necessary to remove her. I asked for candor and she delivered hers."The Sultan commented once the doors had shut."We now have the beginning of the story straight...I gather something goes awry upon arriving at the party. "

“I propose we dismiss this event here and move on to some breakfast. It seems more investigation is required in order to find the perpetrator… Your Majesty.” The Sultan's eyes met the queen's as she addressed him. “If this is alright with you, My husband and I would like some time to gather intel from my children and whoever else we can. As soon as possible, I will then meet with you again with all the answers you desire. Whatever steps are necessary to make you and your family comfortable and happy here, we are willing to take.“

Her eldest echoed this sentiment, assuring him, “Please rest assured that we will obtain the information, Your Majesty.”

Raif was silent for a moment. Then, he gave them a curt nod, "This is acceptable." This was all draining so early in the morning anyhow.

Mayet's voice had entered his ear. "That girl is being used. She doesn't even have the capacity to lie. Let alone to scheme something."

"Is that so?"He had commented with intrigue, whispering back, "She gave me the impression of a young woman fed up with the lying of others. What a pitiful story if she is indeed being fooled by the friend she is protecting."

He had hoped that the next ordeal would not occur, but he knew it had been unavoidable. All Raif could do was anticipate with disdain before Hafiz started his daily tirade. He could understand now why the princess had been escorted out as he listened. He wished to do the same with his brother.

"Grand Vizier is right; we do not easily forgive our enemies," Nahir's words drew his attention, "but we must be sure who our enemy is." His daughter's words were wise, and pride swelled in his chest. He liked to know he could count on her to know what was proper to say, unlike Hafiz.

"Fath— Sultan, I suggest we take Her Majesty's advice and move on to breakfast. An empty stomach can affect one's mood and decision-making, and I can see my uncle Hafiz, unfortunately, skipped his meal." Raif returned the head bow to his daughter, then adjusted himself to address the King and Queen one more time.

"We do not wish to be enemies." Raif clarified. "We hold the sentiment of disparagement. However, involving our people in the investigation would be a good step to healing our trust in you. I echo my brother's call for respect, but without threat. I will leave some of my people here for your usage."

"Without further adieu, I will take my leave to the guest house... I do expect that breakfast is served for us."The Sultan simply dismissed himself, beginning to leave and expecting his children to follow. He rested a comforting hand on Farim's shoulder briefly as he passed him. Now to find Saiya.

Time: Morning
Location: Her bedroom
Attire: Her dress
Interactions:

Flashback [+]

The night had been quiet yet eventful for Layla. Before she had left, her head felt as if it were being squeezed and crushed. Layla struggled to return to her room, but eventually did so and in the nick of time. After locking the door, she had quietly fallen to the floor and wrapped her arms over her head. Zilal had slithered over and curled up beside her. When the room quit spinning, she reached a hand out and set it over his head. As if fireworks were going off, Layla gritted her teeth to stop from screaming out in pain from the constant throbbing in her head. Then, as if she were back in the sands of Alidasht, she set a hand over her head to discover the sweat was pouring down her forehead. She curled up and saw through blurry tears, Zilal curling up beside her face and resting his head on her arm. Her muscles tightened and felt locked to propel her to sprint away, yet she didn’t move. Darkness soon overcame her, though she didn’t know if it was from it being nighttime or not….

When the light penetrated the underwhelming curtains, Layla’s eyes opened. She looked around and discovered she was on the floor but why? Hadn’t she gone to the party with her siblings and dreadful cousin? Did she drink passed her limit? Layla scowled and moved her hand and felt the cool scales of Zilal. With a faint smile, she pet him gently and then rolled over to stare at the ceiling. Why had she been on the floor? What happened last night? Groaning, she squeezed her eyes shut once more only to hear a disturbing noise. Her gaze flickered over to the doorway being pried open.

Scowling, Layla stood up too quickly and pressed a hand to her mouth and rushed to the bathroom. A few stumbles followed her and caused her to slam the door loudly. She clutched the sink and held onto it and squeezed her eyes shut. Why was the room spinning? The quiet movements of her guard, Ali, were heard but she ignored him. Repeated questions only bothered her more. He had to leave now, but if she didn’t respond, it only made it more suspicious.

Scowling, she turned to the door and called out authoritatively, ”Don’t you know not to bother me in the mornings? Get out!” It crushed her heart to yell at her servant, but she wanted him to leave. There was a pause, perhaps a moment of understanding and surprise, but finally, her wish was granted. Layla waited an additional ten minutes until she finally was able to sit down against the bathroom wall. She stared blankly ahead of her, not recognizing anything. Tears swelled up in her eyes and she blinked them away stubbornly. God she hated doing this. Why did humans have to cry like infants?

Finally, Layla stood up and quickly threw herself together. Once she returned to her room, she found Zilal curled up on the bed with a note beside him. Layla sauntered over to it, read it over then rolled her eyes. Their presence was required in the entrance hall. ”No thanks.” Layla tore the paper into shreds and then swept the remnants into the garbage bin beside her bed. A fragrance caught her attention and she whirled around to find that Ali had left her a single rose with some chocolate dessert beside her. Her eyes widened with glee and she excitedly pulled it over. ”Oh you know me so well, my dear Ali.” She grinned and began to eat, though guilt settled in once more. Her gaze flickered to the doorway. Once finished she found a maid and gave the dish back to them. Layla then returned back to her room.

Time: Morning
Location: Danrose Entrance Hall
Interaction: Wulfric @Silverpaw
Mentions: Queen Alibeth/King Edin/Anastasia @princess, Zarai @Rodiak, Mayet @13org, Farim @Lava Alckon, Hafiz @Potter

Callum listened as Farim spoke after him; a calm and rational plea for Darryn’s life and made with no cries for some bloodthirsty revenge as punishment for what was simply a party that got a little wild. Cal often made swift and harsh judgments based solely on first impressions, and he rarely changed his mind from those impressions. For Mayet he saw her as embodying ever foul rumor of Alidasht itself; foul-tempered, bloodthirsty, vicious, and Caesonia was already filled with nobles like that. Hafiz only provided much of the same foul venom, yet another who claimed a noble title but whose words and actions were anything but noble. The son of the Vizier, however, provided a stark contrast; Farim was a good man, someone Cal could respect. He flash a small thankful smile towards Farim after he had spoken, and extended the same to Zarai who pleaded for Darryn’s life as well. In a crowded hall of nobles, all here due to their own choices, and yet, only a small handful cared enough to speak up when a stable boy’s life was on the line.

Hearing about Zarai’s injuries from her mother, even more so than seeing the bruises that marked her skin, made it abundantly clear that out of all of them, Zarai was the one that truly suffered injuries from last night. The rest of them, the oh-so-offended Alidasht included, were all more or less unscathed save for the embracement of having lost control of themselves. Zarai, herself, asked for no vengeance, only for Darryn’s life. It was clear to Callum that he owed her an apology later, for whatever had happened last night, for whatever part he might’ve played in it, and now also for the increasingly lecherous looks, Edin was sending her way.

Cal had done his best to shift the blame towards himself, and even with Edin predictably backing him up, it seemed it was not enough to convince the rest of them. But it seemed he wouldn’t have to because Ana soon stepped forward to speak with more raw honesty in one speech than he’d ever heard spoken from the entirety of the Caesonian court. Callum wasn’t sure if he had tried to take all the blame to protect Ana or because he thought she might be complacent in their family’s plan to scapegoat another, but now he knew for sure, that Ana didn’t want to play these games any more than he did. For the first time in a long while, maybe even ever, he was proud of someone in his family.

His sentiment was not shared by his parents who had Ana immediately sent to her room. It was predictable, she had brought up problems that reflected poorly on them and so they tried to dismiss and further hide those problems as they always did. Then a meeting that started with a lecture that led up to an announced execution of a man who had done nothing more than driving a carriage, ended with a break for breakfast and a promise of further interrogation of the already badly beaten Darryn. Except an interrogation was very unlikely to mean calmly asking questions and listening to answers, and far more likely to mean further torture for Darryn.

There wasn’t a lot Cal could do about that, he had little power or influence over his family but little was a least a ways off from nothing. Speaking with Edin was out of the question, he didn’t have a reasonable bone in his entire body, and his mother, the side of her he’d seen today made him want even less to do with her than normal. Wulfric, on the other hand, might be willing to entertain a compromise. So he approached his eldest brother just as the group gathered in the hall began to disband.

“Wulfric, today has made me see just how important image is to this family. Especially when it comes to relations with our neighbors, and how much my words and actions could affect that.” He spoke quietly to his brother, leaving out childish nicknames and with no trace of sarcasm or jest in his tone.

“It matters to you that this whole summer goes well, right? It matters to me that no further harm comes to Darryn and I’d be, distraught, if it did. Distraught enough I might forget how important image is to this family and I don’t want to be the cause of any incidents. So maybe you can help me, Wulfric, you make sure no more harm comes to Darryn and I keep my mind focused on staying in line with the image you want for this family. I can’t give you a name, but I can give you cooperation with just about anything else. I can be reasonable.”

He knew better than to outright threaten Wulfric, but his brother was smart enough to know what he meant. Callum could be more than just a nuisance if he wanted to, he could put every bit of his time and energy into sabotaging his family in every way he could. He didn’t, because he knew someone else would wind up paying for it, but if they were going to torture servants for nothing more than driving a carriage to a party then he might as well not hold back. Maybe he was only digging himself deeper into the hole he already was in, but he was partially to blame for the outing; he encouraged it, so he couldn’t just do nothing and let Darryn suffer for it.

Time: 9:30am
Location: Entrance Hall --> Palace Corridor --> Her bedroom
Attire:Dress
Interaction: @JJ Doe Riona
Mention:@Silverpaw Wulfric

---

Anastasia's eyes had followed her father to her mother, who simply nodded. Neither even looked at her as guards moved to her side. It's like I'm not even their daughter... Was I ever? This idea did not sting horribly, however, for two reasons. The first was that she had accepted the detachment between her parents a long time ago; that it was something that would always be. As for the latter, she did not even want to be their daughter right now. What she wanted mattered not. Here in her home, she was not a princess nor a Danrose; she was nothing more than a pest to shoo out of the room. Wulfric could have walked to the center of the room, and said the same thing she had, using his fancy-schmancy vocabulary and eloquent dialogue, of course. Everyone would have looked on in adoration.

Maybe if they hadn't thrown Darryn's life on the line, she might have goofed off and put on some eloquent act too. Though it would have been received as a joke, even though Wulfric and Auguste were always roleplaying too, at least in her eyes. Her gaze snapped to her eldest brother for a moment. For once, the look she gave him was not a nice one. He's okay with this... Isn't he? With them hurting Darryn. I thought maybe he was different than them, but I've been as stupid as everyone thinks I am. He's just like them.

She bolted forward as the guards arrived. Their hands grasped at her forearms as she slipped away. "You better not hurt Darryn. I am not leaving without him!" Once she left this room, there wasn't much she could do. They'd certainly take him to the dungeon, and it was almost impossible to break in there. However, her words were spoken into a void. No one had looked her away or said anything. That only made her angrier. She moved towards Darryn's side, who shook her head at her to try to discourage her movements. It was then a firm grip was placed on each of her arms, and then she was practically picked off the floor. They were careful not to squeeze her arm too hard, but it was enough to keep the rather small girl in their hold. Two knights flanked each of her sides. They easily proceeded to pull her up the stairs.

"You're sick! Darryn didn't do anything. This is all bullshit!" They had ascended the stairs and made their way to the door at this point, which shut in her face as she called down to them. It was then she fell silent, chewing her lip as her anxiety racked her. Her vision was blurred with her tears, but she still managed to catch the contorted expression of the servant girl as it was ever the intense one. Her name's Riona... And she's wearing stable clothes. She doesn't usually, does she? She recalled to herself and simply met her look with a defeated one. As she passed, she said softly, "You're right, Riona."

Anastasia wasn't sure if she even heard her. But here she had been calling her parents about how sick they were when in reality, she had been playing with Darryn like a mouse. She had not treated him like an equal, just as they were not. Whatever she asked, he had done, and it had been easy. She had told herself how it had been innocent and simply paid no mind to possible consequences. Certainly, she had seen Darryn as a friend she cared for. But in the end, he was in this mess because she had been a bad friend.

As Riona had sidestepped away, the guard let go of Anastasia's arm. He moved after Riona, calling to her, "You! You go get cleaned up and get in your proper uniform. Then bring Princess Anastasia some breakfast since you seem to love staring her down!"

"Just leave her alone."Anastasia told him. Meanwhile, the other guard had let go of her arm too and opened her bedroom door. He made a motion for her to enter and she did quite hastily.

Time: 9:30am
Location: Danrose Entrance Hall
Interaction:@Helo Callum @Silverpaw Wulfric @Rodiak Zarai

---

"Breakfast sounds good right now." Edin muttered to himself, patting his belly. The crowd began to scatter at the dismissal, and he had been alone in his thoughts for that time. Before Zarai had fully departed, he had called to her, "Lady Zarf! We will call upon you again for your story when we reconvene." Lady Zarf would be level-headed enough for the task; it would be useful to have someone they could trust who had attended the party.

As the room had emptied and things had quieted, he looked to his wife and sons, "I think it ended pretty well. The Sultan proclaimed he did not want to be enemies. All we must do now is find out who hosted the party and kill him." King Edin was casual with his words. He flicked a piece of lint off his shoulder as he spoke. "Well, we'll have people do that for us, so we do not have to do much else other than perhaps gather the investigation team... Hmph! Maybe for that Grand Vizier as well." He scoffed and let his gaze move to Wulfric, "You watch out for serpents like him. He's the type to set all this up and then throw a fit like that. Did you see how he threatened us? Called us his enemies?"

"... Your father is right." Alibeth hated the taste of those words. "Grand Vizier Hafiz's words were concerning. Even the Sultan's tolerance is thinning. I do not think we can afford another mishap...I feel we must take steps to control those with irregular behavior." Her glance slid to Darryn thoughtfully, then she looked back to Wulfric and Edin. "Shall we proceed with the execution? It may look better than we honor our words and seem not to be taking chances on them." She tilted her head. It seemed at that moment Callum was telling Wulfric something. She was curious but decided to wait.

"Of course. He had a hand in endangering the lot of them. Easily replaceable as well."King Edin spoke. "Nobody will miss a peasant who cleans up horse shit for a living." His words prompted laughter from himself. Subsequently, he waved them all off, "Speaking of irregular behavior, Callum and Anastasia are clearly the issue. Wulfric will have the final say on the matter as I will now excuse myself for some breakfast. Toodaloo." With that, the King left the entrance hall.

Clothes for the day (No cape or weapons)

---

---

This whole gathering felt off, things didn’t quite add up or make sense. Roman, not believing he had anything important to say simply stayed quite in the back of the group. Not saying a word but his facial expressions spoke enough for him to whomever might have been watching the giant. Near constantly sporting an incredulous look as the conversation went on but not once looking like he felt guilty or ashamed for whatever had happened the night before. His eyes shifting back and forth moving from one person to another whenever they spoke.

Memories creeping back to the constant reminders and lectures he received from his parents about the political languages the other royals spoke. When he was young, he never could grasp the concept yet as he grew older, he became more and more aware of it.

“Remember if you can’t quite read the situation or know what to say keep that mouth of yours shut tight. Try to read the situation, from the words, the body language, and what isn’t being said.”
His fathers voice and the image of his impressive red beard crept into his mind for a moment.
“Assume the upper echelons of royalty know or have a good handle as to what’s going on, you can lie or miss lead them but be subtle and carful.”
After finishing his beer, he continued, “think of it this way, the nobility and royalty can be explained like this. It looks like a beautiful field of mountain flowers in a sunny meadow. Yet hidden just below the surface are poisonous plants, thorny stems, and venomous snakes waiting to strike.”

His memory faded as Callum started to confess to something that didn’t seem like him, then Mayet came in with anger, ready for battle. He caught Ana’s gaze for a moment and flashed her a brief reassuring smile. Leo spoke up and immediately gave up broad information likely without thinking of the repercussions. The advisor’s son who introduced himself as Farim tried to diffuse the situation, but the sultan or advisor didn’t seem too fond of the interruption either. They all seemed intent on letting one boy take the fall with a few claiming for his innocence. Another spoke up, one that almost went unnoticed being in a wheelchair.

Lady Zarai, a mischievous young lady roman is always a fan of her free-spirited nature. Yet it seemed that sometime last night she got in a fight, her mother going on and on about how her little porcelain doll was attacked and left for dead. At least that was how it sounded. Honestly it did look like she got in a good tussle, but he could see the small details of defensive injuries. He subconsciously checked his own knuckles for signs of a fight but didn’t see anything.

The recurring theme of poisoning and no one seeming to be able to remember what happened was strange. He seemed to be the least effected by whatever happened as everyone else seemed sluggish or off somehow. If it was just alcohol, then that would mean that everyone else here is just a lightweight. A plausible explanation but unlikely given Callum would normally put up a good fight for it. Psychedelic drugs were not out of the question either, some of the mountain mushrooms make you taste purple so it would not be too far out of the way for something like that to be used.

The other thing that was strange was he could have sworn they were picked up by the queen and royal guards last night or someone told him about it. Trying to remember specifics made his head hurt. Yet if that was true than the queen would at least know who owned the place where they were picked up or at the very least searched the area. He doubted they were so incompetent they would not do this, so it left two options. Either the queen knows who did it and they are powerful in some way or have some sort of sway over them and are using this to shift blame off that person or they truly do not know what’s going on. Either way Roman figured he should be carful with this subject.

The outburst from Anastasia was strange for her but given the situation he could see why. She was just going full tilt into her confession to pull the blame off Callum and onto her but keep the blame on her family. She continued and to him seemed to be standing up for herself. Roman couldn’t help but smirk for a moment, he was proud of her for not just sinking back and doing what she was told.

The king did say a few things but even from his earlier interactions with the man made him simply tone him out. A man that can not see the worth in fine craftsman ship like the king isn’t worth his time. The only thing that man would cherish would be a mirror that always follows him around and makes him look 20 years younger. Even when did receive the gift from his father the king almost seemed to toss it to the side the moment another toy was placed in front of him like a spoiled child.

The queen would be the first to suggest that this meeting convene after the Sultans suggestion of breakfast. The mention of food did break his thoughts for a moment making him wonder what the street vendors would have for sale right about now.

Roman’s gaze shifted to Wulfric for a moment as he made his finishing statements. He had the giants respect he may be cold and almost surgical at times, but it made him to be very effective at playing these political games. Not the best person for idle or relaxed conversations or at least his type of conversations, to be the way he is meant that Wulfric had to be guarded and carful as not to say the wrong thing the wrong way. Still, respected.

It seemed the Alidasht were not all satisfied with the answer given and he had to agree with them. Almost like they were part of a comedy play at the amphitheater, so far, they would likely have quite a few rumors and jokes been spread at their expense. He could only hope that it did not turn into a tragedy as the grand vizier demanded they take over the investigation.

It seems they were dismissed as the others began filtering out to proceed with their plans for the day. Roman couldn’t help but linger a little longer than some of the others just quietly watching the others and listening. He noticed Zarai stare at the door that Ana left through. Roman also wanted to talk to the princess but he could do that at another time. If Zarai did look his way, he would just give her a soft smile and a nod before turning to leave.

The main thing he was looking forward too this morning was to check and see what Violet Damien was doing this morning and to ask her father a very important question. He walked confidently out the door being sure to be courteous to any of the other nobility he may or may not pass on his way down the street. He could only hope to find a street vendor or something on the way to the estate.

When Roman arrived at the front of the Damien estate, he greeted the guard or messenger at the gate assuming they had one and would request an audience with Count Calbert Damien. If not Roman would confidently stroll up to the main door and knock requesting the same thing.

It had taken Charlotte a few moments of contemplation after Lorenzo had gone to prepare himself. Her gaze met that of the girl staring back at her in a floor-length mirror. It zoomed in on the dark circles under her eyes. The pancake excitement was dying down just a little and she was feeling the full effects of a horrid lack of sleep. However, luckily, sweet Delilah had left her some coffee and muffins on her small table in the corner of her room.

Charlotte wasted no time making her way over and moving her impressively-sized stuffed rabbit, Sir Hector, out of the wooden chair. She sat herself down and took a moment to breathe in. The smell was heavenly as it caressed her nostrils like the hands of a lover. Below her on the clothed table was a dainty little tray with a floral coffee pot along with a matching cup. The tiny cup simply would not do. Without hesitation, she plucked the pot up and opened up her mouth to pour the precious bitter liquid down the hatch.

"MEOW!"

She set down the pot with a rapid blink.

"Mrrreoooow! Meow!"

The memories replayed in her mind finally. She had returned home, kitten in arms. After a quick bath, she had given him some ground meat from the kitchen and proceeded to go throw herself on her bed. Charlotte wasn't sure if she had been fully awake during that whole ordeal.

Nonetheless, she certainly recalled now. Charlotte looked around for the source of the meowing. It was then and there that the black furball himself launched himself onto the table. He slid, clumsily as he pulled the cloth almost off the table with his momentum. He met her widened gaze with hers.

"MEOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW!"

"Oh dear."Charlotte covered her mouth as she giggled then stretched a hand out toward the cat, "Good morning little warrior!" He sniffed her fingers, eyes still wide, and then meowed once more. "Oh yes! You win! ...I promise. Just a little longer." She booped his nose and stood up.

Charlotte was quick with her movements for the sake of the fiesty kitten. After taking care of her hygienic needs, she selected a lacy white dress and pulled some booties on. As always, she picked up a ribbon. Charlotte decided to only pull half her back into it and leave some of her long locks free-flowing. Over the duration of this process, her brain was at work going through the chaos of the prior day.

Last night was just so much. To think Lorenzo was in the garden that whole time... Oh but that just simply doesn't add up... I really did look closely... Her expression had contorted with her confusion once more. I can't believe what Calbert said to me either. I will expose the truth and show everyone what kind of person he really is. It's a daunting task to take on, but I will do it. I have to do it!

Charlotte scooped up the kitten, who hissed and bit her hand as she had done so. She moved down the corridor, stuck in a tornado of her own thoughts. Am I right? Was he the one to hurt my mother? ... Despicable the way he walks about as if nothing happened! How dare he... But at least it's progress. I have something...

She descended the stairs and made her way to the kitchen. Their chef, Gilbert, immediately gave her a side-eye glance as a meow filled the room. He was wiping down the counter with vigor before she had entered. but now it had increased to a vicious wipedown. "Lady Charlotte."He said sharply to receive her attention.

But I've learned nothing about Leo's father! And he's coming over this afternoon. How will I do that? ...I think first things first, I'd need to find out who he spoke to last, right? I could interview some Varian people... Oh, but they're all at the castle... But there is an event there to meet the princes today where the nobles will all be in line... Maybe I could take advantage of that. Charlotte began spooning more of their meat into a bowl. She placed the kitten momentarily on the counter as he began grumbly eating.

"Lady Charlotte.."

Charlotte placed her hands on her hips as she watched him eat, deep in thought still. I am so overwhelmed... and I underslept. I better maybe take some time to relax. I can start off easy and bring some of my mystery books to the park. Two birds with one stone.

"Lady Charlotte!"

Charlotte whirled to find the blonde man at the island counter, staring at her. His brows were furrowed. She slowly realized she had not even noticed him there initially. He looked pretty upset. She gave him a smile and greeted him softly, "Oh hi Gilbert. Good morning."

"What is that." He pointed at the kitten without greeting.

"It's a cat. It's uhh..."Charlotte glanced back at the noisy kitten. "His name is Champion." She declared after some thought.

"Why is he on the counter? ...With his hair?"

Charlotte picked him up as well as the bowl hastily as the cat angrily yowled. "Right! Sorry!" She set him on the floor and brought the bowl over to him.

Gilbert rushed over and began wiping down the counter. "Lady Charlotte, shall I be preparing him breakfast from now on? I made sure Kier was fed early this morning... I recall you had quite a few pets when you were younger and I do still have the diet plans somewhere. However, I would appreciate if no animals go on the counter's from hence forth." Charlotte thought she heard a little 'hmph' at the end and smiled to herself. Gilbert had always been on the grumpy side, and she was well used to him.

"What will you and Duke Vikena like for breakfast?"

"Oh, Lorenzo and I are going out for breakfast." Charlotte replied, "But Delilah and Nathaniel absolutely adore your sausages. Would you mind please preparing the staff some breakfast?"

"You're going out for breakfast." Gilbert replied with thinly veiled offense.

"Yes...?"Charlotte then hit her forehead. "Oh, but it's not better than your amazing food...It's just pancake day at the park, and I would really enjoy attending." He still looked disappointed. "I will need you today though! My friend is coming over in the late afternoon, and I promised him lots of treats. Would you mind preparing something special for us?"

Gilbert's face scrunched up with his emotion for a while. He relented and nodded. "Of course, Lady Charlotte." He threw the towel he had been using previously into a bin with slight aggression. Though the two were long-acquainted, Gilbert had been her hardest staff to get close to. He was always very serious about his work and kept people at a distance. Charlotte decided she'd have to make a big fuss later to help him feel better.

It was inching on nine-thirty when Charlotte came looking for Lorenzo. She had a woven picnic basket around her arm containing a blanket, some books, a pouch with some of her money inside, and Champion with a new blue bow around his neck. To her surprise, he had been much more well-behaved now that he had gotten a good meal in. He was peeking his head out of the basket, curiously looking forward as he bounced with her steps.

“You! You go get cleaned up and get in your proper uniform. Then bring Princess Anastasia some breakfast since you seem to love staring her down!”

Riona imagined herself flipping the bird or telling him to get the damn thing himself, but she kept her mouth shut and waved in confirmation. Darryn’s fate was far more important. The guards won’t take up more of her time.

Darryn was nowhere in sight when Riona reached the entrance hall. A mixture of relief and anxiety filled her. Relieved to see that they didn’t execute him on the spot just to prove a point to the after-partygoers. Anxious because it meant that they’d do it away from their guests’ eyes. They would still kill him. There’s no doubt about that. They just wouldn’t do it out in the open. It’d be behind closed doors with either his executioner as his only audience or a room full of “problematic” staff to remind them what happens to people who displeased the crown.

Riona looked around until she noticed Callum. The only person who, Riona knew without a doubt, wanted to prevent the execution as much as she did. She took a couple of steps forward, then stopped halfway when he spoke to his brother.

“...It matters to me that no further harm comes to Darryn and I’d be, distraught, if it did.”

A small smile replaced her frown. She expected no less from Callum.

And yet…

“Distraught enough I might forget how important image is to this family and I don’t want to be the cause of any incidents.”

The frown returned as she heard the tune to an all too familiar dance play again.

“So maybe you can help me, Wulfric, you make sure no more harm comes to Darryn and I keep my mind focused on staying in line with the image you want for this family.”

And what good has that ever done in the long run? The maid wondered how a brilliant mind could be so stupid sometimes. He had to remember that he’d been down this road already. He knew the ending to this theatrical performance, but he kept following the script. Worse, each time he used the “threat,” it lost its power because nothing came of it. Even in his defiance, Callum remained obedient.

“...They are my family, I’m not going to get another one, and no matter where I go I’d still be one of them. Maybe it’s better to suffer with company than alone.”

Riona bit the inside of her cheek and turned away.

On the other side of the foyer, barefoot Lord Smithwood looked irritated at the servant who brought him new shoes. Without a word of thanks or caring to look at the face his servant made, he grabbed the pair of shoes and put them on his feet. Then he left through the main doors without delay. And just like that, what Riona did was rendered meaningless. Her actions, like Callum’s hollow threats, were brushed aside as a mild inconvenience. The powerful getting away with everything without consequence. Business as usual.

Powerlessness reared its ugly head. It wrapped its tendrils around her, the fire within her, ready to snuff it out and drag her down into a dark place. The sparks lashed out. No. Riona’s body moved before she had time to think about it. No. Feeding on the anger still there, Riona propelled herself to walk faster. No.

She refused for it to end like this. Something, anything, had to come out of this. Even if that something was a small dent. It might not amount to much now, but maybe somewhere down the road, it would. Each word that hit the small dent could make a deeper, wider dent, and one day they’ll finally penetrate and sink in.

In the back of her mind, Riona knew she was conflating her reasons for working under the Danroses with her desire to bring Lord Smithwood down a peg or two. Gods, she couldn't even deny that she was using him as an excuse to vent her anger. She needed this, though, to keep her from drowning in hopelessness; to stay sane, so that she could go on a little longer.

Once the maid caught sight of the Varian lord, she picked up speed to cut in front of him. She stopped a few feet away from him before turning to face him. Riona moved closer to Lord Smithwood, ignoring his annoyance and invading his bubble. Every time he backed away, she closed the gap. When she was near enough, Riona smeared a generous amount of mud mixed with manure from the bottom of her boots onto the lord’s brand-new footwear.

Silently, she apologized to the servants who’d have to clean the mess. She hoped that her next words, ones that they couldn’t say to his face (and ones she wanted to say to all pompous nobles), would make up for it.

Riona somehow looked down at the taller man in front of her. “Let’s cut to the chase. I’d call you a piece of sh*t, but at least you can use that as fertilizer. So, I’ll call you a piece of trash instead. You, Smithwood, are a piece of trash. And a duke who's trash can only make a garbage duchy.” Riona let out a breath. “I feel sorry for your subjects. Really, forced to deal with your attitude for the foreseeable future? Ugh. They’d be better off without you as their leader.” Their eyes locked on each other. “I don’t know how you deluded yourself, but your people don’t actually need you. You’re the one who needs them. You’re only ‘up there’ cause there're people holding you up, you ungrateful snot. Treat them better.” She shrugged, “Or don’t. Just don’t act surprised if you find yourself in an early grave.”

Time: 9:30 am
Location: Danrose Entrance Hall

---

---

People began leaving the hall one by one, and after their parents had their say, Wulfric was approached by Callum. That, in and of itself, was surprising. Even more so was the…proposition. He cocked his head to the side, listening to his youngest brother. “Reasonable, hm?” he pondered neutrally. To the side, he saw that Alibeth had chosen to remain behind, waiting for her two sons.

Stepping closer to his younger brother, he spoke quietly. “If you are to be making an agreement with me,” his words were measured, methodical, “you should know what, precisely, matters to me.” A brief pause as he regarded Callum.

“Naturally, I wouldn’t want you to cause further incidents, and would appreciate the kind of cooperation you are offering.” Yet, one did not simply accept any one deal as it was without further clarification, nor without attempts at altering or adding terms. “However, the most critical issue at this moment – and for the foreseeable future – is resolving this whole,” he gestured with a hand at the now near-empty hall, “situation.”

His cold blue eyes bore into Callum, but his expression was neutral, bordering on pleasantly polite. “So, before I agree, there is something I wish to confirm with you. Please, tell me frankly, can you not give a name because you do not know it? Or is there another reason?”

Callum paused only to listen as Edin spoke, followed by his mother, as the pair stopped pretending to human long enough for him to see them both, clearly, for the monsters they were. Casually agreeing to put a man to death before, ultimately, leaving the final say in Wulfric’s hands. An agreement with Wulfric was his only option if he wanted to see Darryn leave this situation alive and Ana had already freely admitted to being friends with the party’s host. There was no reason to hide that Callum knew him as well and lying to Wulfric was always a gamble, no reason to risk it. “I cannot and will not give you a name because I won’t condemn someone to suffer or die for a party. Ana was not lying when she said we’ve been to these before, everything has always been fine, the host is not a threat.” Callum answered honestly being careful to give nothing away about the host’s identity and then waited for Wulfric to list his terms.

It took an effort of will for Wulfric to hold back the frustration that sought to arise in him. How could his brother still–?! By his side, his palm clenched into a fist, and he briefly closed his eyes, breathing through the urge to try and shake some sense into Callum.

Because his brother was being both honest and reasonable, and had requested for an alliance, Wulfric supposed he should at the very least gain a better understanding of his perspective. If nothing else, that should aid in persuading him…Callum had made it more than plain that he valued the life and wellbeing of those he considered innocent. So, the key issue here was that of trust; he still thought of this host as someone who’d done no wrong.

Wulfric nodded to himself more so than to his younger brother, his features now tight with a tension that hadn’t been apparent before. “Then, as part of our cooperation, I ask that after I secure Darryn’s safety, we discuss the claims you’ve presented me. I will listen and consider your reasoning, and would like you to do the same for mine. If after that, you persist in maintaining your silence…” his frown deepened, “I will instead require that you do not impede the investigative efforts. Essentially, if you decide not to work with us, then keep your confidence, but do not work against us. Is this an acceptable addition?”

Callum listened, doing his best to keep his expression as neutral as he could, and once Wulfric had laid out his terms, he stayed quiet for a moment as if thinking it over. He didn’t need to give away how easily he was going to agree with this but he was hardly worried about them investigating the party's host. Marek was not helpless, he had the means and plenty of precautions to protect himself but Cal didn’t want to make it too easy for Wulfric to infer that.

“Keep your investigation fair and just and I see no reason why it would need my interference. Your terms are fair.” He offered but even that still felt too easy. Shouldn’t making a deal with Wulfric feel more like entering a pact with the devil? His brother was being surprisingly reasonable. Edin or even his mother would’ve likely come up with a list of egregious terms to make such a bargain even seem worth their time. He looked back at Darryn, thankful that Ana was able to show him someone here cared before she was dragged off. Did Wulfric really see his life as disposable or was he looking for an excuse to show mercy?

“It really should not have your interference either way,” Wulfric drawled, “and I see you are resistant to the idea of allowing attempts at convincing you to give up the name. But I suppose we must begin somewhere…” he trailed off, thinking that perhaps, with an easy beginning, Callum might be lured into gradually permitting for more influence to be exerted upon him on a long-term basis. If only they did not clash too soon.

“Would you really have been okay with condemning Darryn to die? For following his orders, as directed by a princess, and simply driving a carriage. Is that who you are now?” He asked, before turning his eyes back to his brother, hoping that no matter what Wulfric said next he didn’t see the same kind of monster he saw in his parents.

His older brother quirked an eyebrow up at him, but otherwise, there wasn’t much to discern. “Since answering that will require some elaboration on my part, let’s add it to the list of things for us to discuss. For now…we must convince mother; I expect she may have a demand or two of her own to add.”

“Fine, I’ll listen to everything you and mother have to say, I’ll stay out of your investigation and nothing more happens to Darryn.” Callum said before looking away from Wulfric. His brother remained as unreadable as always. Cal couldn’t help but wonder if there was any humanity left to see. He certainly didn’t expect to find any in his mother, not after what he’d seen today. He sighed, he’d been hoping this deal was going to be just between him and Wulfric.

With a firm nod, Wulfric turned on his heel, and approached Alibeth, expecting Callum to follow. “Mother,” he greeted her quietly, but intently. “Callum expressed that in exchange for Fletcher’s safety, he is willing to put forward the effort into making this summer go as smoothly as possible. So, he will act with the forethought and poise expected of his position,” he summarized briefly. “I find this a worthwhile bargain.”

Alibeth had given her sons their space to converse and patiently waited until Wulfric rejoined her. His proposal was a temptation, but not without issue. “I see…” She mused quietly as she took a moment to think things through. “Do understand, it is not my goal to kill Darryn Fletcher or anyone for that matter without good reason… I simply have no means to prove he has no tie to what happened and I am not one to risk matters.” She adjusted her gaze to Callum. Speaking to him and Anastasia was always much more difficult for her than the other two. It required her to choose her words much more carefully. “You and Anastasia returned in a dire state last night. She vomited blood. Neither of you could barely move nor remain conscious for long…Yet here you are in good health and though I am relieved for it…” She gave him a small smile as she said the last statement. Alibeth had not been able to enjoy, until now, the fact her children were alright this morning. The stark contrast did, however, concern her.

“Darryn knows very well not to drive a carriage filled with the Alidasht royals to a warehouse late at night. His actions have directly led to endangerment of your lives and the lives of others. There has to be a consequence…” Her expression softened only a little as she recalled Anastasia’s words as well. “...I can see how much this upsets you and Anastasia, so maybe we can decide on a less grim punishment.” Her gaze drifted up over to where Darryn was being held. The guards were still gripping his arms and holding him in place until she gave them orders.

Callum followed behind Wulfric, letting his brother do the talking, and purposefully not even looking towards his mother as she spoke. He focused on staring at a spot in the wall, his jaw clenched tight, every bit of will focused on not rolling his eyes and keeping his mouth shut. When she brought up Ana coughing up blood, he could’ve laughed in her face, instead, he snorted slightly, keeping his teeth ground together. And when was the last time you gave a shit about Ana? he thought, but now was not the time to pick a fight with his mother, he had to keep his focus on Darryn. He took a breath, a moment to bury down all the venom he held towards her before he spoke up. A less grim punishment was not good enough, that still left them free to toss Darryn in a dungeon cell to rot.

“You’ve already had Darryn beaten, is that not a punishment?” he asked. “My offer was for not just his life, but his safety, let him go and I will cooperate with all your plans for this summer. No more incidents and all I’m asking is that you stop using this man as a whipping boy for your own children.” He still kept his eyes away from his mother, he might be able to hide the hate from his tone but he doubted he could keep his expression as unreadable as his brother could.

Peripherally, Wulfric could see the stubborn set to Callum’s jaw, and the sketch of a resentful scowl on his face. While his brother was preoccupied with himself, he sent a ‘what can you do’ look to his mother. That he was somewhat exasperated on account of their overly idealistic relation was apparent only from the subtle pull of his lips, and the minute shifting of his cheek muscles. However, he did have to support Callum here, because it was clear his brother would not yield on this one thing.

“...My line of thinking was that Fletcher was likely led astray due to being charmed by Anastasia. You know how she is,” he said a bit dismissively as he glanced at the stableboy. Turning back to the queen, he continued, “I imagine he’ll be relieved enough to be spared that he’ll refrain from any further, how did you put it, irregular behavior. He can be placed on probation, and if there’s reason for concern afterwards, we might as well fire him.”

Alibeth’s expression was unreadable as she weighed out her options mentally. “…I suppose this all does come back to the same issue.” She emitted a sigh as her gaze moved to the guards who held Darryn. “Let him go…Don’t screw up again, Darryn.” In a swift movement, the young man was dropped to the floor where he leaned on his palms and groaned. Alibeth waved her hand as if to shop him off.

Darryn did indeed catch sight of it and wasted no time with the opportunity to get out of there. Alibeth was silent until he had left. She turned back to her boys and whirled on Wulfric with a slight fire in her gaze, “As future king, know each action tends to come with its regrets no matter which decision you make. I hope yours are surmountable.” This warning, which had the sting of an accusation, prodded at an old pain, because Wulfric did know what it was like to have regrets of that nature. Lips thinning, he let the flare of unexpected hurt go through and past him, but did not otherwise acknowledge her comment.

Alibeth then began to make her way up the stairs but gave a final word before her departure, “Do recall, boys, you will be meeting with the kingdom’s noble women later this morning. Prepare accordingly.”

Callum tried, and failed, to hide his surprise at Wulfric’s response but his wide eyes had quickly moved from their fixed spot at the wall and towards his brother as he spoke. There was an imminent sense of relief as Darryn’s fate was finally settled on, and he breathed his first relaxed breath since the stable boy had been dragged into the entrance hall. For the first time in a long time, Wulfric had supported him when it really mattered to Callum. He still didn’t know if his brother cared at all about Darryn’s fate or if he just wanted Callum kept in line but the uncertainty almost didn’t even matter. Wulfric had kept his word, he’d backed Callum even against their mother, and that, Callum hadn’t expected. He didn’t say anything else to his mother, not even a single glance towards her, only a nod to show he heard and understood her words before she finally left the hall. He then relaxed further and gave a respectful nod at Wulfric.

“Thank you, for having my back,” Cal said. “I guess I’ll go make myself presentable and ready to entertain the kingdom’s bored noblewomen. Here’s hoping that it’s less awkward than the perfectly random ball dances the old man’s so fond of,” he added, extending a faint, playful smile towards his brother.

Having regained his bearings from mother imparting that little nugget of wisdom (that had no right feeling as personally relevant as it had), Wulfric faced his brother. “As agreed upon,” he confirmed, implicitly accepting the gratitude. Callum’s amiability was a pleasant surprise, though he couldn’t help but wonder how long it would last.

Nonetheless, he took the small victory for what it was. Reciprocating his brother’s smile with a tiny smirk, he retorted, “It is a ploy for publicity like any other.” Moving past Callum to depart, he offered his brother one last glance as he spoke, “Try to find whatever joy you can in it,” he laid a palm on Callum’s shoulder before continuing to head out, voice still ringing clearly behind him, “else you risk terminal boredom yourself - or worse, misery.”

Time: 9:30 am
Location: Danrose Entrance Hall - Anastasia’s Room
Interaction: Guards outside of Anastasia’s room @princess

Misery? Callum had only nodded at his brother’s final words before he’d left. This entire place inspires nothing but misery. He thought as he left the entrance hall as well and headed towards his own room.

Sure, nothing more would happen to Darryn, but that didn’t erase what had already been done. His actions had not only gotten another man beaten and nearly killed, but had painted a target on Marek as well. His actions, which as far as he could remember had been simply attending an unauthorized party with few other willing participants. There was a clear fact buried in this morning's events; every person he had any interaction with unless it was approved by his parents would be worse off for it, if not in outright danger, because of him. He couldn’t keep playing games with people who wrote the rules, there was no hope of winning there.

His only other option was to do exactly what he’d promised Wulfric; stay out of trouble, and do nothing to provoke his family. Maybe in time, he’d be able to nudge them towards more merciful decisions, maybe that was the best he could hope for and even that seemed like a stretch. At least it would mean no one else would be in danger because of him, and that seemed worthy enough to at least try.

Callum didn’t head straight for his own room. Instead, he went to check on Ana first. He found a pair of stern-looking guards standing in front of her door.

“I’d like to speak to my sister. Feel free to supervise if you must.” He offered. Ana deserved to know Darryn wasn’t being killed, he could only assume his mother would leave her to stew and suffer with her own guilt and that was one cruelty he could at least end.

Mention:@Inertia Auguste @Helo Callum @Silverpaw Wulfric

---

As the Sultan had reentered the guest house, he was not surprised to find Saiya lingering in the entrance hall. She had always been reliable whenever called upon. Raif did not utter a word as he met her gaze intently. After a moment, he gave her a simple nod and then moved forward through the foyer. It was clear he expected her to follow. On silent feet, Saiya quietly obeyed and followed the man she’d lived under for many years. She kept her eyes lowered as her heart slightly raced, unsure of what he would say or do to her. She truly blamed herself for not being able to protect his children better, and she wondered if he blamed her as well. Only time would tell as she followed him to his private chambers.

Once the door had shut, Raif turned to her. “Thank you for awaiting my return, Saiya.” He could not help but add a sigh as he lamented, “You could not imagine how draining that discussion was…” It did take the Sultan a moment to pull his thoughts together as he laid his eyes on the spy. He gestured to the upholstered seats by the window. Once he had sat, he spoke again, “Would you mind giving me your rendition of what happened last night, my dear?”

Saiya could only blink for a minute as he expressed how drained he was. He wasn’t yelling at her? Truth be told, she only knew of a handful of times he’d actually yelled at her, and even at that, she knew it wasn’t at her, but the situation she’d revealed to him. He wanted to know her rendition of the events, that was quite fair. She’d remained silent through the whole situation earlier, doing her best to keep eyes off of her, but now it was time for her to speak up. She bowed before she began speaking. ”I fear I remember little as well, but I will share what I do remember. Nahir and Mayet had informed me of a party and they were determined to go. I decided I would join them, but I also knew Farim was coming in tonight and was instructed to stay behind so I could bring him. Him and I made it to the location which seemed to be in an unsavory part of town. From here it all becomes fuzzy.” Her brow furrowed as she once again tried to recall all that happened, but to little avail.

”I remember loud music, I remember dancing, and I remember Farim suggesting we get drinks but…” She paused as something odd occurred to her and she met the eyes of the Sultan. ”I don’t remember having a drink myself.” She explained, only adding to her confusion of the nights events.

Loud music, dancing and alcohol. These are all not out of the ordinary for a young gathering. Where did things go wrong?

The Sultan suddenly did a double-take. “You do not usually drink, do you, Saiya?” Her role required her to be alert, and he knew she took that seriously. He could not recall a time he had seen her drink alcohol to such an extent. “I did not take you for someone to get so intoxicated you cannot remember an entire night… Something is very wrong…” He narrowed his eyes slightly. “They were so quick to usher over how strange this all is… I do think they know more than they let on.”

”I would have to agree with you, my Sultan. Something isn’t adding up and I don’t like it.” Saiya responded with a nod, confirming that she didn’t often drink. She couldn’t even recall the last time she’d actually been drunk as she often avoided that state. She didn’t like feeling not in control of herself, it bothered her. So the fact she remembered so little was getting under her skin. ”What would you have me do? I am at your disposal. I wish to know more about this as well in order to keep this family protected.” She asked him, ready to do whatever he needed.

“I would like you to get close to the royal children.” Raif stated calmly and lowly.“Befriend them and get to know them as much as possible.” He wanted to take a patient route with this situation. They were here to find out if there were good suitors for his children, and he figured this way, he could hit two birds with one stone. Saiya was close enough in age to the Danrose offspring and had already demonstrated her chemistry with one of the princes.

That was a logical request and one Saiya had already been working towards last night during the dances. She had promised Prince Auguste dance lessons, perhaps she could use that to her advantage. She could potentially befriend the young prince and princess as well as they seemed like trouble makers and that was always useful. ”As you wish, I’ll find out all I can from them.” She said as she bowed once more, waiting to be dismissed.

“Thank you Saiya. You are appreciated. You are dismissed… “ As Saiya had been about to leave, he added, “Keep your eyes peeled, Saiya. Be careful.”

Time: 9:30am
Location: Anastasia's bedroom
Attire:Dress
Interaction: @Helo Callum

---

Anastasia had glared at her closed bedroom doors as if they were the reason for all her problems. After a quick kick to release some frustration, she whirled around to take in the view of her room. Her eyes searched about it as if it were the first time she had ever seen it. It was a girl's dream room with its massive size and beautiful detailing, yet it filled her with only dread. I might as well have been put in the dungeon. She'll have me here until I die after the stunt I pulled. A hard swallow followed that thought, and the princess crossed her arms tightly. There was no telling how long she had to save Darryn. Executions were sometimes performed as early as 11 am and if her mother wanted to be rid of someone, she would waste no time. If that was the case, then Anastasia needed to be like her mother for once.

Getting past the guards would be difficult. Even if she managed to run past them, they could easily increase their numbers. Then if one managed to get a grip on her, it was over. She did not have the strength nor skill to avert them.

She started to pace back and forth as she jogged her brain. Eventually, she turned her gaze to the balcony. Anastasia stepped over and opened up the glass doors. It was a very small balcony with standing room for two at most. Anastasia set her hands on the marble railing. The birds chirped and the sky was clear. The sun shone down on her, bathing her cheeks in heat. The feeling should have reminded her that she was in reality. It did not.

There had always been a temptation to attempt sneaking out over this railing. Surprisingly perhaps for Anastasia, she had never done so. It was rare she had needed to consider sneaking out as she had been able to come and go as she pleased by the guards. She knew trying to sneak out this way was a terrible idea. It was a dangerous fall, and there were no easy means to climb down. However, danger had never stopped her before. She'd have to do this the old fashion way with a rope made of blankets. After a moment, her gaze lowered to the ground. There were some staff members moving about the path below. Despite that, her chances would still be much better down there than the inside of the castle.

The sudden sound of her bedroom doors swinging open nearly made her jump out of her skin. She hurried inside her room with an alert expression. Callum came into view and her shoulders visibly relaxed. She was relieved it was him of all people, but the words escaped her. There was no telling his current view of her after everything. Not to mention this was all probably so stressful for him. She settled on simply asking him with genuine concern, "...Are you okay?"

The fragrance of a field of flowers in full bloom rolled into the entrance hall as the Count of Erwynn materialized from the shadows. He greeted a good morning by bowing to the Queen, as she left, and a proper one to the First Prince, addressing him by title and name. During the whole exchange, he kept one arm behind his back, as if he was hiding something from them. However—either because he had no intention of actually hiding it or because he was doing a dreadful job of concealing it—it took little effort to see that it was a bouquet in his hand, nothing deadly to the non-allergic.

“I say, considering how… some were less than cooperative, that was masterfully handled.” Ryn walked closer to Wulric, placed his free hand over his chest and turned his head slightly in the direction Queen Alibeth existed, “Her Majesty and Your Highness have shown me how seriously the Danroses take their royal duties. An exemplary demonstration of how a true ruler acts with great dignity and honor.” The words lingered in the air before Ryn crafted a smile for Prince Wulfric. “Yet also possess the flexibility to make compromises when necessary.” The sigh that escaped him sounded content. The count’s eyes focused on something in the distance. “It’s no wonder Caesonia is such a powerful, prosperous nation… and I see that its future is even brighter in such capable hands.”

Sensing a gaze, Ryn snapped out of his reverie. “Do excuse me. I do not mean to keep you from your breakfast. What I wanted to say is that I will gladly lend my assistance in this matter if you should ever need an extra pair of hands. The people, especially those involved, might be less tight-lipped with foreigners. Sometimes you find yourself learning unexpected things during idle chatter… For example.”

Ryn checked around them to see if anyone else was listening before leaning in conspiratorially. “This secret party may not have been all that secret in the commoner’s district. In fact, I heard about an invitation-only party at the harbor in the library of all places. I didn't realize this was the same party that Prince Callum and Princess Anastasia attended until the morning gathering.” The count looked down, ashamed to admit to the next part. “At the time, I assumed the crown sanctioned the party. Surely a respectable man such as he would’ve sought the royal family’s approval beforehand. How terribly gullible of me.” He finally looked up, his eyebrows knitted together. “Please accept my apology. Had I known, I would’ve reported it immediately.”