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The rest of the morning had gone as Mathias had expected. After the small debacle with his fake mustache, he and Ariella spent the remainder of the party exchanging light pleasantries and laughing over the absurdity of Mary’s impromptu mustache artistry. She had, after all, won the hat-making contest during the horse race, so perhaps it was no surprise. Still, despite the humor, Mathias’ thoughts kept drifting toward Lady Edwards. Discreetly, he’d called for coffee and bread, hoping it would help sober her up. It was only the second time he’d met her, and both times, she had been inebriated. Given what he had observed of Duchess Edwards, he could understand why.

He watched as other nobles stumbled and slurred their words, which only made him want to join their drunken stupor. At least now, he understood why his get-up had gone unquestioned or unnoticed. He had to remind himself he wasn’t in Varian, and while appearances were still important for his personal goals in Sorian, perhaps he didn’t need to take things so seriously

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Mathias climbed down from the carriage with a small huff, rubbing the small of his back before thanking the driver and grabbing his bag. He’d never quite gotten used to the jostling of carriage rides—perhaps he was just getting old. Dismissing the thought, he paused to take in the crisp, fresh air of the summer night. He could smell the trees, the grass, and the campfire nearby. It reminded him of those nights spent foraging for food when he was younger. The idea struck him again—maybe he could sneak off after the activities and see what Caesonia’s forests had to offer. It couldn’t be too different from Varian’s foraging, right?

As the camp staff welcomed them, Mathias hung back and scanned the group. He spotted Ariella, chatting with a woman who he had recently learned was Captain Stratya Durmand. Like him, she was dressed lightly but practically, ready for the outdoors. And unlike her, Mathias hadn’t brought a weapon, something he was now regretting if he planned on foraging later. He wondered if she carried a spare; she certainly looked prepared for anything.

His gaze drifted to a woman he hadn’t seen before. She stood watching the group, a smile on her face that didn’t quite sit right with him. Her posture and demeanor seemed out of place, as if she didn’t belong with any of the nobles or commoners. Intrigued, Mathias approached her, his friendliest smile in place.

[color=94b0c4]“Quite an exciting night, isn’t it?”[/color] He folded his arms behind him in a gentlemanly manner. [color=94b0c4]“I wonder what kind of activities the staff have planned for us. Should be fun, don’t you think?”[/color] His tone was casual and warm. [color=94b0c4]“I’m Mathias, by the way. A pleasure to make your acquaintance, my lady. And you might be...?”[/color] He dipped his head slightly in a polite bow.





















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