[Color=darkgray] [CENTER][H1][Color=DAF6C7]Riona[/color] & [color=gold]Alexander[/color][/H1][/center] [B]Time:[/b] Mid-Day (After Edin’s milky hands) [B]Location:[/b] Castle Gardens[hr] [Color=gold]“Finally.”[/color] Alexander sighed out into the empty garden of the castle, taking his first true breath outside the view of King Danrose and his royal guard. [Color=gold][I]I should have worn it.[/I][/color] Alexander dug into his breast pocket to retrieve the ring he had removed during his conversation with Violet Damien. Holding it up, he narrowed his eyes. [Color=gold][I]I should have worn this damned relic of a ring.[/I][/color] He had a mind to toss it across the garden so he'd never think of needing it ever again. The idea was tempting indeed, but instead, Alexander slipped the ring onto his left hand. He shut his eyes, taking a deep breath as if he were taking in all that the garden had to offer. And just like that, like magic, Alexander appeared to relax. His brow unfurrowed, his shoulders slightly dropped, and most obvious of all was the pleasant smile he wore upon his face. [Color=Gold]“Ahh, much better.”[/color] That was when a dark-haired woman wearing a simple dress with a noticeable tear along one side appeared from behind a towering hedge. Riona froze, eyes wide as she locked gazes with the well-dressed stranger who reacted with raised eyebrows. She ducked her head in a half-bow. [color=DAF6C7]“My lord,”[/color] she said and tried to scurry past before things got awkward but Alexander was too swift. He performed a quick side-step to impede Riona’s advance while wearing the warmest of smiles. A flash of annoyance tightened Riona’s jaw for a heartbeat before her face smoothed back to neutrality. [Color=gold]“Alexander Deacon.”[/color] He placed a hand on his chest with a slight head bow. [Color=gold]“I respect the formality, I do, but I would much rather have a proper introduction with one of [I]the staff[/I] considering my presence here will be a normal occurrence.”[/color] Alexander was guessing the woman was a servant of some kind judging by her attire and initial behavior in greeting him. [Color=gold][I]Olive complexion, tall, long black hair, dark eyes… Striking.[/I][/color] His gaze upon her spoiled his thoughts of admiration and wonder concerning her exotic appearance compared to most. [Color=gold]“Your name?”[/color] Riona’s eyes narrowed to slits. An “Alexander Deacon” hadn’t come up in any of the staff meetings, and something about him set her nerves on edge. His gaze crawled over her, lingering like he was appraising livestock, making her skin prickle. She eased back a step, angling her body to keep the torn portion of her dress out of sight. Her fingers curled tighter around the handle of her basket. The slight defensive change in posture was but a mental note for Alexander. [color=DAF6C7]“Pardon me, Mister Alexander Deacon,”[/color] Riona said, her voice steady despite the wariness inside her, [color=DAF6C7]“but who exactly are you, and what is your business here?”[/color] [Color=gold]“Apologies. Sometimes I'm much too modest. I should have opened with my newly given title.”[/color] Alexander exaggeratedly straightened up his posture, chin held high before he continued. [Color=gold]“As of this morning, I am the Royal Advisor to the king,”[/color] he announced before flashing a toothy grin. [Color=gold]“That is my only business here, milady, I swear.”[/color] He raised a hand in oath. What began as a playful admission would soon stir the pot of conspiracy. Her eyes widened, shock plain on her face. [color=DAF6C7]“... What?”[/color] Riona breathed. Alden’s ransacked quarters pressed into her thoughts—and the blood. Gods. [color=DAF6C7]“... What happened to Sir Plannington?”[/color] [Color=gold]“Alden, you mean?”[/color] Alexander rubbed his chin in thought yet his face showed slight discomfort. There was reluctance but it was a simple facade. [Color=gold]“I can't say I know for certain but I did hear a rumor or two, though they're not worth mentioning. What I know for sure, is that the position was left vacant by him.”[/color] He furrowed his brows with feigned concern, breaking away from his playful attitude [Color=gold]“Is everything alright? Is there something I should know?”[/color] [color=DAF6C7][i]Not worth mentioning, huh?[/i] “... Nothing that you don’t already know, I’m sure,”[/color] she replied, her tone carefully neutral. As the newly appointed Royal Advisor, Riona found Alexander’s apparent ignorance... convenient. At the very least he should know the state Alden’s room was left in… right? … But how much did he really know? Her gaze swept across the garden as if she was about to reveal something that she wasn’t supposed to. [color=DAF6C7]“Your predecessor vanished without a trace,”[/color] Riona stated in a hushed voice. She watched Alexander intently, hunting for a tell—a twitch, a blink, anything that might betray his true knowledge. His eyes widened slightly before narrowing as if Riona had offended him. [Color=gold]“Of course. One of the rumors. ‘Sir Alden Plannington vanished without a trace. Stolen in the night. By whom? For what? No one knows.’”[/color] Alexander shrugged before he leaned in close. [Color=gold]“I personally believe he just couldn't handle working with the king and lacked the courage to formally resign. Things like this happen… Unless there's more to it than what I’m aware of.”[/color] Alexander, leaning away now, crossing his arms. [Color=gold]“Do I even want to know?”[/color] He asked aloud to himself. [color=DAF6C7]“Considering he’s your predecessor, you should. The fact that you seem unbothered in the slightest concerns me.”[/color] Even if Alexander didn’t know about Alden’s disappearance, his blatant disregard for the whispers of the castle staff told Riona a lot about the new Advisor. [color=DAF6C7]“And given how quickly you stepped into his shoes,”[/color] Riona continued, [color=DAF6C7]“I’d wager the rumor mill is just getting started. So, brace yourself.”[/color] She straightened, smoothing her dress. [color=DAF6C7]“It won’t be easy settling in as is.”[/color] Not when you had to deal with Edin every day. [color=DAF6C7]“Good luck.”[/color] [Color=gold]“Luck?”[/color] Alexander hated any mention of it to the point where he briefly furrowed his brow with disdain. [Color=gold]“Listen, milady, as far as I know, and as you mentioned, Alden Plannington simply vanished. Perhaps the worst happened to him, perhaps the best.”[/color] Alexander turned slightly from her. [Color=gold]“I wonder about it, sure, but I can't simply allow rumors to deter me…”[/color] He sighed deeply, almost defeatedly. [Color=gold]“I’m not unbothered but I…”[/color] He winced as he seemed to fail to find the words but quickly collected himself. [Color=gold]“Just know the risk is necessary. I aim to make the best of my life. To thrive and not simply survive, my nameless friend.”[/color] He was still looking off into the garden as he spoke. Watching Alexander flounder, his earlier smoothness crack, Riona felt the tension in her muscles ease. [color=DAF6C7]“The risk, huh?”[/color] she mused. [Color=gold]“Yes, the risk.”[/color] He repeated softly while peering at her from the corner of his eye. [color=DAF6C7]“I can respect ambition, as long as you’re not making other people pay the price for your ascension and you don’t see people as expendable pawns.”[/color] [color=DAF6C7]“Oh, and since you seem to be allergic to luck? May the winds of fortune steadfastly ignore you.”[/color] [Color=gold]“Thanks.”[/color] Riona managed to return his smile as she humored him. Her tone was light, playful even, but Riona’s instincts remained on alert. Did she trust the man? Not by a long shot. But if he was going to be the next Advisor, he’d find out a name soon enough. Might as well beat him to it. [color=DAF6C7]“You can call me Riona, Mister Alexander Deacon.”[/color] [Color=gold]“Riona,”[/color] he echoed smoothly. [Color=gold]“It’s unique, which makes it perfect for you, I’d say.”[/color] He turned slightly to face her. [Color=gold]“And now that I mention it… Hmm…”[/color] He parted his lips to speak but stopped himself and just managed to smile before quickly backtracking to another subject Riona had brought up. [Color=gold]“I don't believe anyone could be a pawn for my ambition. I’d rather have as many allies and partners as possible.”[/color] Riona caught the sleight of hand in his words and she didn’t hesitate to call him out on it either. [color=DAF6C7]“Pawn, ally, partner. Still expendable, aren’t they?”[/color] Her arms folded across her chest and she lifted her chin, meeting his gaze head-on. They mirrored each other in stance, though; their expressions couldn't be more opposing. A bittersweet combination. [Color=gold]“Well, Riona, some might consider that but not me. An expendable ally or partner just feels like an oxymoron.”[/color] He winced, showing how strange it would be to waste a connection with someone who could support him in the long run. [Color=gold]“I could… show you.”[/color] He leaned in slightly [color=gold]“Show you how I deal with a partner,”[/color] he said with a smirk. Arching an eyebrow, Riona leaned back, putting a deliberate inch between them. This conversation took an unexpected turn. [color=DAF6C7]“Care to elaborate, Mister Alexander Deacon?”[/color] Alexander stifled a chuckle. [Color=gold]“I, [I]Mister Alexander Deacon[/I], have a charity event planned with Prince Callum Danrose and Lady Mina Blackwood. I believe your participation would be the perfect opportunity to experience something I helped put together and at least have a little fun.”[/color] Alexander spread out his hands welcomingly. [Color=gold]“But!”[/color] He raised a finger. [Color=gold]“I must be transparent and admit that this event happens to be a dating auction, so I will understand if you decline the invitation, Ms. Riona.”[/color] She just… stared at Alexander. He stood there, practically preening, as if he’d just delivered the deal of the century. Seconds ticked by. And then more seconds. When it became clear that was all he had to say, Riona let out a slow breath. [color=DAF6C7]“Right,”[/color] she said. [color=DAF6C7]“And this proves that your allies and partners are indispensable, how, exactly? Because from where I’m standing it sounds more like you’re fishing for brownie points and scraping the bottom of the barrel for more meat to toss on the auction block.”[/color] Riona was just a commodity for the event, not a partner or an ally. Maybe he was talking about Callum and Lady Mina, then. [color=gold]“Fishing for brownie points [i]and[/i] scraping the bottom of the barrel? In other words, I am desperately attempting to impress others with an undesirable.”[/color] Alexander appeared disagreeable to this, squinting his eyes at her. He briefly looked away. [color=gold]“Maybe it’s just me.”[/color] he said himself with a shrug, alluding to something he decided to keep to himself. [color=gold]“As far as partners and allies go…”[/color] He returned his gaze to her. [color=gold]“This event has its moving parts with the goal of aiding those in need. All while keeping up the theme of this year’s courting season to attract those who’d normally never think of sparing a coin to the impoverished. Your part in it would be just as important as my own, a team effort. I only wish to show that I’m not one of these pompous nobles who seek to use you for their needs and take all praise for your contribution. I’d even let you help host the thing.”[/color] He shrugged again and sighed. [color=gold]“I will admit, it’s not the most tasteful event to inquire of you on our first meeting, so if you have something better in mind, be my guest Ms. Riona.”[/color] Again, Riona couldn’t help but feel like Alexander was dodging answering her question. [color=DAF6C7]“To what end?”[/color] she asked instead. [color=DAF6C7]“You said you want to show that you’re not ‘one of these pompous nobles.’ To. What. End?”[/color] [Color=gold]“That was simply for your own assurance that I mean well for those I work with and that I have no pawns. But if you're talking about the big picture…”[/color] Alexander walked around Riona's rear looking over her once more. [color=gold]“It could be dangerous to reveal [I]that[/I] so openly.”[/color] [color=DAF6C7]“That answer doesn’t do much to inspire confidence, Mister Alexander Deacon.”[/color] Her eyes narrowed as she tracked his movement, her body pivoting slowly to keep him in view. [color=DAF6C7]“And I believe you can’t be allies or partners if there’s no trust.”[/color] Appearing on the other side of her, he continued [color=gold]“True. Trust must be built after all. Let's just say I seek to make necessary changes [I]here[/I], and the success of the auction is just one small step toward that. I don't need you but I’d love to have you.”[/color] Alexander made an obvious glance at the tear in her dress. Though he raised an eyebrow, he didn't choose to comment on it. Instinctively, Riona’s hand quickly reached over to hide the tear. [color=DAF6C7]“And why is that?”[/color] [Color=gold]“Well, for one, I find you to be quite the beauty. I only wish you'd smile a little more. But besides that, there's something else. I can't quite put my finger on it but something about you draws me in. Maybe it's your wit or those dark eyes that seem to peer so deeply into my own. The third reason…”[/color] He briefly averted his gaze playfully. [Color=gold]“I’d get to make a better second impression than this one.”[/color] He chuckled lightly. A sliver of anxiety snaked through her when Alexander mentioned her eyes. Riona kept her expression stern, hoping her skepticism of the man overpowered the unease. And yeah, she was definitely still suspicious of him. But aside from his sudden appearance as Royal Advisor, his evasive answers, and a simple gut feeling—she had nothing on him. [color=DAF6C7]“I see,”[/color] Riona said, [color=DAF6C7]“your first impression might not be great, but you can salvage it by being transparent about the allocation for the charity funds. And don’t give me vague platitudes about ‘helping those in need.’ We’ve all seen and heard too many stories of coins meant for the needy somehow finding their way into lining other people’s pockets. So tell me, where exactly each coin will go?”[/color] Then she could verify later to see if he was telling the truth. [Color=gold]“Unfortunately, I don't have that answer. Apologies if that further ruins your impression of me.”[/color] He smirked. [Color=gold]“It's Prince Callum Danrose who will decide the allocation of the charity funds. I don't know your opinions on him but judging by what I know of him and his views, I think he’ll ensure the contributions are provided to the poor in some form or fashion. If anything, I can give him a few ideas during our upcoming meeting based on my humble upbringing. Shelters and orphanages in need of proper beds, soup kitchens, or perhaps even tailoring an event for those of less affluence for once.”[/color] If Cal was overseeing the allocation of funds, at the very least, Riona didn’t have to worry about the money being misused. More participants meant a larger pool of donations, regardless of how much someone bid on her. Even a little money could go a long way. [color=DAF6C7]“Alright,”[/color] Riona said with a nod, her decision made. [color=DAF6C7]“If it helps raise more donations, I’ll put myself up as one of the auctioned dates.”[/color] Then with a smirk, added, [color=DAF6C7]“And I suppose this means you get another shot at impressing me, Mister Alexander Deacon. Let’s see if you can do better this time around.”[/color] Alexander raised his eyebrows, surprised by Riona’s answer after how he had replied to her last question. He could only guess that she had some faith in the young prince. That or she just enjoyed playing with him like a feline with a ball of yarn. [Color=gold]“I look forward to it, Ms. Riona. I'll add you to the list of participants and I'll ensure you're informed with additional information and any changes to the event. You shouldn't be too difficult to find… Oh and before I forget.”[/color] Alexander retrieved his black notebook and pencil from his jacket. [Color=gold]“Your measurements. So you don't have to worry about finding a dress.”[/color] Measurements. Right. The last time anyone had bothered measuring her for clothing, she had just been officially accepted as a maid. The dress Riona wore now had started life three sizes too large before she’d taken a needle and thread to it. [color=DAF6C7]“That’s considerate of you, but a large cotton dress and a belt, or anything that could serve as one, should work.”[/color] [Color=gold]“Modest,”[/color] he commented while jotting in the notebook. [Color=gold]“I’ll ensure you have some options to choose from in terms of style and color. For hearing me out, and making a good first impression. Now, I’m afraid I may have stolen enough of your time. Thank you, and… I’m sure I’ll see you around plenty on the grounds, Ms. Riona.”[/color] [color=DAF6C7]“... I’m sure we will, Mister Alexander Deacon. Goodbye.”[/color] Riona bobbed her head and started down the garden path. She glanced over her shoulder once, getting one last good look at the new Royal Advisor, before disappearing behind the stone archway. [Color=gold][I]Until we meet again.[/I][/color][/color]