[color=lightgray][center][img]https://i.imgur.com/clIHoiY.png[/img][/center] [color=DDB775]Time:[/color] Morning [color=DDB775]Location:[/color] Church of Sorian → The Royal Curd [color=DDB775]Mentions:[/color] [@TpartywithZombi] Ariella [@Helo] Callum [@PapaOso] Milo [hr] King Edin paced furiously back and forth in the grand hall of the church, his face flushed with anger. The service had long concluded and the painting was revealed before the group of people huddled around it. [color=DDB775]"How could this have happened?"[/color] King Edin bellowed, turning to his staff with a look of confusion and fury. [color=DDB775]"This church was supposed to be locked last night!"[/color] A member of the church staff, a young man with a nervous expression, stepped forward. [color=yellow]"Your Majesty, I... I forgot to lock up last night. I am so sorry."[/color] King Edin's face turned a deeper shade of red. [color=DDB775]"You forgot to lock up? This is unacceptable! …You’re a buffoon!"[/color] He took a deep breath, trying to control his temper, but his voice still trembled with rage. [color=DDB775]"This painting is ruined because of your negligence. "[/color] He ran his hands through his hair and glared at the man, [color=DDB775] “This was painted by [i]the[/i] Milo St. Claire!”[/color] As he spoke, one of the staff members pointed to the floor near the painting. [color=brown]"Your Majesty, look. There’s a footprint here, faint but visible. It looks like someone stepped in the paint."[/color] King Edin's eyes followed the direction of the pointed finger, and sure enough, there was a faint footprint in the paint. His mind began to churn, recalling a recent conversation with Duchess Victoria Edwards. Her voice filled his head: [i][color=F0E399]"...and then, Your Majesty, he deliberately untied his shoes and removed his socks, right in the presence of ladies and gentlemen! He left his shoes and socks near me as if he were at some uncivilized gathering of homeless people..." [/color][/i] The king's thoughts turned to his youngest son, Callum, who was often the scapegoat for such incidents. [color=DDB775][i][b]"Callum,"[/b][/i][/color] he muttered under his breath venomously, his anger building again. It was as if the very name was poison itself. [color=DDB775] "I'm going to wring his neck! Always, always him! It’s ALWAYS HIM!!"[/color] The staff member gently placed a hand on King Edin's shoulder, trying to calm him down. [color=brown]"Your Majesty, perhaps we should have Prince Callum step in the paint... If his footprint matches, we will know for sure."[/color] King Edin paused, his mind drifting back to the conversation with Victoria Edwards. He took a deep breath, his anger slowly giving way to a more thoughtful expression. [color=DDB775]"Yes," [/color] he said, nodding slowly. [color=DDB775]"...I'd like to be here tonight…. Bring Prince Callum Danrose… and Lady Ariella Edwards to the church. And bring a tin of paint. Have the Duke and Duchess attend as well."[/color] [color=brown] “And if neither match?”[/color] [color=DDB775] “Then we’ll have the [i]whole damn kingdom[/i] come step in that fucking paint until I find that vile rat and exterminate it. “[/color] The staff members nodded and hurried to carry out his orders. As they left, King Edin stood before the defaced painting, his mind still echoing with Duchess Victoria's words. [hr] Thirty minutes later, King Edin arrived at the Royal Curd in a grand, dramatic fashion. The double doors swung open to reveal the king in his luxurious attire and crowned with an air of authority. He kept his head high, looking at no one as he made his way through the room, exuding a commanding presence that silenced the whispers and turned all eyes towards him as his knights in golden armor followed, the sound of the heavy footsteps audible. As he approached the throne, a servant stepped forward, raising a trombone to their lips. The notes of a fanfare filled the room, capturing everyone’s attention. [color=orange]"Hear ye, hear ye!" [/color] the announcer called out, his voice booming over the assembled guests.[color=orange] "Meet and greets with His Majesty, King Edin Danrose, will commence."[/color] King Edin sat in his throne, his eyes fixed straight ahead. As the murmurs resumed, he finally allowed himself to survey the room, the weight of the earlier incident at the church still lingering in his mind. A waitress moved to take his order immediately, her hands trembling slightly as she approached the king. She handed him the menu and King Edin's eyes flicked to her for a moment, cold and intense, before he looked down at the menu. He pointed at the appetizer of choice with an intense finger jab onto the menu. The sharp movement made the waitress flinch, her face paling as she quickly nodded. Without another word, she turned and hurried away, her steps quick and nervous. The king watched her go, his expression unchanging.[/color] [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/wh5grR7.png[/img][/center]