[color=lightgray][center][h1][color=D0B4EC]Charlotte[/color] & [color=lightsteelblue]Cassius[/color][/h1][/center]

[h2][color=lightsteelblue][center]Part 1[/center][/color][/h2]

[color=lightsteelblue]Time:[/color] [color=D0B4EC][b]8am[/b][/color] (Earlier than starting point)
[color=D0B4EC] Location:[/color] Lover’s Lake

[hr]
Charlotte was reclining in a hammock strung between two trees, the green fabric cradling her as she swayed gently with the morning breeze. The hammock was perfectly positioned by the water's edge, enabling her to listen to the sound of the cascading waterfalls in the distance as the smell of morning dew permeated the air. 

A portion of her dark hair was braided both ways around her head and tied in the back with a blue ribbon, while the rest of it spilled over the edge of the hammock, catching the morning light that filtered through the canopy of leaves above. The pale blue fabric billowed slightly in the breeze, the lace trim fluttering. The dress, simple yet elegant, cinched at her waist with a satin ribbon, giving way to a flowing skirt that brushed against the ground with each movement of the hammock.

Beside her stood Tempestes, a beautiful dapple-gray horse, The horse nuzzled Charlotte’s hand affectionately as she offered it a handful of sweet grass she had picked earlier. 

The hammock swayed slightly, and Charlotte adjusted her position to look out at the water, letting one leg dangle lazily over the side. The sunlight danced on the surface of the water, casting shimmering reflections. She watched them with a dreamy look in her eye despite the way her brain was rampant with thoughts. 

Her thoughts trailed off as a sudden realization began to take shape. The visions she had been experiencing were [i]memories[/i]. And that last one… Walter had known she would see it. Her heart quickened at the realization.

Her gaze slid out to the water and she smiled softly after a moment. [color=D0B4EC]"Perhaps I could be cursed… However, you don’t know what it means to me to see you after all these years…"[/color] she whispered, her words carried away by the breeze as if she were speaking directly to him. [color=D0B4EC] "I want to believe you’re still with me, guiding me, my very best friend."[/color] She closed her eyes with a heavy sigh.

Getting to see her father’s face and hear his voice so clearly, clearer than she had in more than a decade, had been a gift, no matter if it had been a curse or a blessing. Still, the uncertainty of it all gnawed at her, leaving her feeling both comforted and unsettled. 

Meanwhile, the morning sun sat high as Cassius walked toward the lake, the golden light casting small shadows on the ground with each step. His boots crunched on the gravel path purposeful, yet tinged with the weight of uncertainty. He glanced around at the sprawling estates, the manicured lawns, the grandiose architecture of the manors behind him. It was just reminders and the symbols of his newfound status. Honestly, It remained strange to him, this life of opulence; formal dinners, masquerades, and the asinine expectation to behave like a proper noble.

He snorted to himself, the sound carrying a note of sarcasm. [color=lightsteelblue]"A proper noble,"[/color] he muttered under his breath. The very idea amused him. To think, how many men would kill for this? To wake up one day with wealth and power at their fingertips, to be treated with deference by those who once looked down on them. Yet, here he was, feeling restless, as if this new life of luxury would reveal itself as nothing more than a gilded cage any moment now.

Cassius had always been a man who valued his freedom, who reveled in the ability to go where he wanted, do what he pleased, and speak his mind however he wished to do so. The endless rules and expectations of nobility were a far cry from the rough-and-tumble world of mercenaries and battlefields he had known for most of his life. The formal dinners, with their stifling etiquette that he was sure he’d never grow used to, the masquerade where everyone hid behind masks, pretending to be someone they weren't… though fun, it all felt like a grand joke, one that he was somehow expected to play along with. 

But the joke, he thought with a grim smile, was on him. Because despite the humor he found in it all, he couldn't shake the feeling that he was out of place here, [i]a wolf in sheep's clothing[/i]. What was the price of this life, he wondered? And would he ever truly fit the bill?

Cassius paused as he neared the lake, staring out at the calm water in the distance that mirrored the sky above. The calmness of the scene was at odds with the storm brewing within him. His body almost physically ached for the adrenaline of battle, the thrill of danger, the satisfaction of a hard-fought victory. The chaos and peril of his previous life had become so ingrained in him that now, in the stillness and [i]safety[/i] of Sorian, he felt like a man out of place, out of time. This concerned him, as he had only been a part of this new world for a short while. 

There was a restlessness in his bones, a gnawing need for the unpredictability that had once defined his existence. Here, everything was predictable and controlled. Even the dangers he faced were carefully measured, wrapped in the trappings of politics and intrigue. The thing that something inside of him missed was the raw, unfiltered life of a sellsword, where every decision was a matter of survival, and every day was a gamble.

He flexed his hands, the familiar calluses on his palms a reminder of the life he'd left behind. In those days, his weapons had been an extension of his will, and every scar on his body told a story of a battle won or lost. Now, his sword and his axe hung in his room as almost nothing more than a decoration, a relic of a life that seemed to be slipping further away with each passing day.

Finally, he had almost reached his destination, just in time to hear her words as softly spoken as they were. 

Turning to face the sound, Cassius laid eyes on Charlotte. Confusion spread through his mind. He had not seen her since the masquerade a couple of nights ago, though part of him had hoped to. Alas, here she was. He processed her words and wondered who she was speaking to. It was surprisingly reminiscent of the way he would sometimes speak to the wind as though his mother were with him. She looked lovely there, and comfortable laying in her hammock. Cassius smiled as he shifted his momentum in her direction and adjusted the dark leather doublet that clung to his broad shoulders, its worn edges and faint scuffs betraying his reluctance to fully embrace the pristine elegance expected of him in Sorian. Beneath the doublet, his linen shirt was simple, the sleeves rolled up to his forearms, revealing the hard earned scars that crisscrossed his tanned skin. A small dagger hung at his side from the belt laced through his dark wool trousers. 

[color=lightsteelblue]“Good morning, Lady Vikena.”[/color] Cas greeted her in hopes of not startling her. [color=lightsteelblue]“What brings you out here, well ...other than talking to ghosts?”[/color] He asked with a sly smile and a glint of curiosity in his eye. He approached slowly as he did so, closing the distance and reaching a hand out to pet the beautiful mane of Charlotte’s horse as he waited for her response. 

Charlotte’s face lit up and she beamed at Cassius. [color=D0B4EC] “Hi! Good morning!”[/color] Without a second thought, she jumped up from the hammock and she closed the distance between them. Then, she wrapped her arms around him in a brief embrace. 

Subsequently, she pulled back and told him with unnecessary haste, [color=D0B4EC]“You will not believe it—I completely forgot to find a gift for Lord Drake’s birthday… So I had to rise at the crack of dawn and ride to the store to find something fitting… A bit dreadful of me, I know.”[/color]

[color=D0B4EC] “And once that was done, well, I simply couldn’t resist coming here afterward,” [/color] she confessed with a smile. Tilting her head in that curious way she always had, she asked, [color=D0B4EC]“But what about you? What brings you here so early?”[/color] Though she had initially been hesitant to trust Cassius, especially after the rather terrible first impression he had made, Charlotte had gradually come to see him in a different light. His kindness during the ball had softened her heart, and the more she reflected on her distrust, the more she realized it was in poor taste to judge him simply for his name. She had been judged enough for her name and one of her best friends had bore the same last name as him, after all. 

With that in mind, she had decided to give him the benefit of the doubt, but she knew she had truly made up her mind during their dance at the ball.

His lips curved into an even wider smile as he accepted Charlotte's embrace, a rare moment of warmth in his otherwise nonchalant demeanor. As they released, he returned his hand to stroke the horse’s mane, though his eyes did not leave Charlottes. 

[color=lightsteelblue]“I wasn’t aware that grown men had birthday parties.”[/color] Cassius said in jest with a slight chuckle. [color=lightsteelblue]“But I’m sure he’ll adore the gift…it’s very thoughtful of you, Lottie. As for me…”[/color] He cast a sidelong glance at the lake, nodding towards a cluster of fishing traps partially hidden among the reeds. [color=lightsteelblue]"You see those over there? Those are mine. I’ve come out here a few times since arriving in Sorian, not just for fishing, but it's also a good place to clear the head. This spot has a way of putting things into perspective."[/color]

Lottie immediately giggled. [color=D0B4EC] “It’s quite normal in noble circles, Cassius… Certainly, your father will try to throw you one, so beware.”[/color] Lottie said as she continued to laugh, [color=D0B4EC] “I love birthday parties… Though I haven’t had one in some time myself. “[/color] 

Her eyes brightened with a sudden memory, a grin spreading across her face. [color=D0B4EC] “I remember at my parties, we used to play pin the tail on the donkey, and I always failed miserably... It was such a splendid time!”[/color]

Noticing his gaze shift toward the fishing traps in the lake, Lottie followed his eyes, feeling a slight tinge of embarrassment that she hadn’t noticed them earlier. [color=D0B4EC] “Oh... I suppose that’s breakfast, then?”[/color] she asked with a hint of playful curiosity.

[color=lightsteelblue]“Oh he can certainly try…”[/color] Cassius mused. [color=lightsteelblue]“But whether I show up, now that’s an entirely different story.”[/color] 

His laugh was genuine, but his eyes softened a bit at the revelation that she had not had a party of her own in some time. [color=lightsteelblue]“Guess we’re just going to have to fix that, aren’t we? If no one else throws you a party, Lottie, I’ll give you one you’ll never forget.”[/color] He said confidently. 

She blushed and fixated her gaze on the fish traps instead. 

 [color=lightsteelblue]“Oh and yes, that is most certainly breakfast.”[/color] Cassius ran his fingers through the perfectly groomed mane of the horse one final time before motioning toward the traps. [color=lightsteelblue]“Well…are you gonna make little ol me go grab them all by myself, or are you gonna help?”[/color] His smile was both disarming and enchanting as he teased her.


[color=D0B4EC] “Me? A lady? Help you?”[/color] Charlotte teased with mock surprise, feigning shock, [color=D0B4EC] “...[i]Oh[/i], you poor thing. You’d be positively lost without me to save the day.”[/color] With a cheeky smile, she flexed playfully, then hitched up her skirt with exaggerated elegance and made her way toward the reeds.

[color=lightsteelblue] “I’ll be sure to tell everyone far and wide of your heroism here today, princess.”[/color] He said with sarcasm and a wink as he let her pass and then followed behind her casually. [color=lightsteelblue]“Such bravery, such charity from an esteemed woman such as yourself.”[/color] Playfulness laced every word as he spoke, and after a moment the two found themselves at the traps. Cassius lowered to grab one of the smaller baskets and pull it from the water, revealing it to have a healthy bounty of fish. [color=lightsteelblue] “I hope you’re hungry, Lottie.”[/color] He said with a smirk as he reached out to hand her the basket with joy. 

She took the basket into her hands with enthusiasm, however it was a little heavier than she anticipated. Charlotte wobbled on her feet as she adjusted her grip and found her balance once more.  Hoping to brush off the moment with grace, she met Cassius’s eyes with a bright smile.

[color=D0B4EC] “So. Do you usually fish in a lake for breakfast?”[/color] She inquired with a playful lilt. [color=D0B4EC] “I mean, no judgment… “[/color] The thought simmered in her brain a little and she could not help but continue, [color=D0B4EC]“Well, perhaps a bit of judgment. Surely you have enough to eat at home. It’s hardly fair to waste these poor creatures' lives.”[/color]

Cassius stepped closer, ready to catch her if needed, but Charlotte quickly regained her footing and met his eyes with that bright smile of hers. He himself smiled at the way she wobbled. He couldn’t help it, it was just too damn cute.

[color=lightsteelblue]“Not all the time, but often, yes.”[/color] Cas admitted. [color=lightsteelblue]“Just a piece of my old life that I can’t let go, I suppose.”[/color] He nodded at her point, understanding the concern. 

[color=lightsteelblue]“Besides, whatever I don’t eat at home goes to the staff, so I feel like it balances out all things considered.”[/color] He looked down to his other traps, which were most likely full as well, and continued, [color=lightsteelblue]“Don’t worry, though.”[/color] He said, turning back to her. [color=lightsteelblue]“I only take what I need.”[/color] 

Cassius then moved to open the other baskets, letting the majority of the fish escape. [color=lightsteelblue]“I wouldn’t want you to think I’m some heartless brute.”[/color] His smile softened with his words, a mix of teasing and genuine affection in his eyes.

[color=D0B4EC]“I assure you my impression is quite the opposite.” [/color] Charlotte told him warmly and smiled. She considered his words before adding, [color=D0B4EC]“ It’s lovely you think of your servants…I often forget mine are paid to live with me as they’ve become so dear to me…”[/color] Her look grew far off and her smile grew as her mind wandered to the faces of their staff. [color=D0B4EC] “Delilah has always been my attendant and maid for the household, but I suppose I have always seen her more as my big sister… Or perhaps even like a mother.”[/color] 

After a pause, she giggled and said, [color=D0B4EC]“And Gilbert is our darling chef. He is a liiiittttllee grumpy, but goodness do we love him. Then, Nathaniel is more my stepfather’s employee but he has a wonderful heart. “[/color] Charlotte had then approached closer to assist if needed. Though, she forgot her hands were already quite full. Her expression shifted with enthusiasm as she proclaimed in a hushed voice, [i][color=D0B4EC]“And we have a secret handshake!”[/color][/i]

Listening to the way Lottie spoke of her servants filled Cassius with a sense of ease. Not all nobles felt the way she did about their staff. Having gotten to know her a bit, he wasn’t surprised by her sentiment, but still…it was a comfort to confirm she was the kind of person he thought, and hoped, her to be.

[color=lightsteelblue]“You really are as sweet as you seem, aren’t you?”[/color] Cassius asked with curiosity and a playful grin. [color=lightsteelblue]“Most people wear kindness like a pretty necklace to be shown off, but you…you just…[i]care[/i], don’t you?”[/color] He smiled at her once more. [color=lightsteelblue]“It’s honestly refreshing. And I bet they adore you, don’t they?”[/color]
As he finished releasing the fish that he wasn’t going to use, Cassius took a moment to reset the traps for next time, gently took the basket from Charlotte, and began leading them back over to her horse and hammock.

[color=lightsteelblue]“Hopefully I get to meet ‘em…Delilah, Gilbert, Nathaniel, and the rest. They sound lovely.”[/color]

[color=D0B4EC] “You really think so?”[/color] Charlotte had asked with genuine curiosity as she came to a halt beside Tempestes, who nuzzled her hair affectionately. She smiled and gently hugged the horse for a moment, then turned on her heels to meet his gaze once more. [color=D0B4EC] “Of course you will! I live right next door, silly. You can just come over.”[/color]

[color=lightsteelblue]“I do.”[/color] Cassius said simply, kindly, and with full conviction.
[/color]