[center][h3][color=D0B4EC]Charlotte[/color] & [color=9354FF]Fritz[/color][/h3][/center][color=D0B4EC]Time:[/color] Evening
[color=9354FF]Location:[/color] Vikena Estate

[hr]

[color=D3D3D3]As the others gradually left the house, the heavy atmosphere lingered like a storm cloud refusing to part. Charlotte sat quietly for a moment, her hands fidgeting with the delicate lace of her dress. Her thoughts whirled with everything that had been said. Yet, amidst it all, her gaze drifted toward Fritz. [color=D0B4EC]“I—I hope I am not being too forward, but…”[/color] she began softly, [color=D0B4EC]“Would it be terribly odd of me to ask if I might give you a hug?”[/color]

Her cheeks tinted faintly, though her gaze remained sincere. [color=D0B4EC]“It is just… you seem as though you might need one, and if I may admit so, I think I might as well.”[/color] Her lips curled into a tender, almost sheepish smile.

The request caught Ryn wholly unprepared. He blinked at her, certain his ears had twisted her words into shapes they were never meant to take.

It was not that he objected to hugs—Ryn quite enjoyed them—he simply was not sure if he needed one. Assassination attempts were hardly novel occurrences in his life; an unfortunate but ultimately unremarkable fact of existence, as common as blue skies or salted seas or winter’s bite.

However, when she admitted the hug was not just for him, Ryn crossed the space between them and gathered her into his arms without a second thought.

There they stood, sharing a silence and stillness that felt neither awkward nor heavy. After a long moment, he murmured against her hair, [color=9354FF]“What are you feeling?”[/color] Because [i]“are you alright”[/i] would have been an exercise in stating the obvious.

[color=D0B4EC]“Frightened and a tad overwhelmed.”[/color] Charlotte admitted as her arms encircled him. After a gentle, brief rub of his back, the embrace lingered for a moment longer before she pulled back slightly, her hands still resting on his arms as her gaze rose to meet his.

[color=D0B4EC]“Thank you,”[/color] she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper but filled with sincerity. A heavy sigh escaped her lips as she hesitated, her thoughts swirling before she found the courage to continue.[color=D0B4EC]“I want to see this investigation through…”[/color] Her brows furrowed and determination shifted her features as she amended the initial statement firmly, [color=D0B4EC]“No. I [i]must[/i] see this through. “[/color] 

Her hands tightened slightly against his sleeves, a flicker of desperation crossing her features. [color=D0B4EC]“I cannot let any of you get hurt. If anything happens to any of you because of my inaction, I don’t think I could bear it.”[/color] Her voice wavered for a moment before steadying. [color=D0B4EC]“I need to get an upper hand somehow soon so I can be more useful.”[/color]

Her words struck a familiar chord in Ryn’s chest, echoing with a familiarity that made him pause. The sentiment could have been plucked straight from his own thoughts, and for a moment he was not entirely certain whether he was speaking to Lady Charlotte or addressing his own stubborn reflection. [color=9354FF]“I feel the same…”[/color] Ryn sighed.

[color=9354FF]“Which is precisely why I must ask,”[/color] he said, quieter now, [color=9354FF]“why you seem to think yourself exempt from the very concern you extend to others.”[/color] Lady Charlotte’s eyes lowered, her grip on his sleeves faltering.

His hand settled over hers where it still clutched his sleeve. [color=9354FF]“When were you planning to tell us how the meeting with Count Damien went?”[/color] The slight tension in her muscles told him enough before she could shape a response. A sad sort of smile tugged at his mouth.

[color=9354FF]“Had it gone well, I’d imagine you’d have burst through the door brandishing whatever information he gave like a sword. Instead, you’ve been tiptoeing around his name as if it might summon him.”[/color] Ryn tilted his head, studying her expression. [color=9354FF]“Something went rather spectacularly wrong, didn’t it?”[/color]

Her lips parted as if to speak, but the words tangled in her throat like knots she couldn’t untie. [color=D0B4EC]“You are not mistaken,”[/color] she began softly. With a sigh, she seated herself, her hands resting on her lap. Her gaze returned to him as she spoke after only a brief pause. 

[color=D0B4EC]“It was my plan to enter Count Damien’s study deliberately—to willingly incur his wrath,”[/color] she admitted, her tone unwavering despite the vulnerability of the confession. [color=D0B4EC]“I thought… if I allowed him to believe he held the upper hand, if I played the part of a foolish, arrogant girl who dared overstep her bounds, he might indulge himself. That in his desire to revel in his own power, he would let slip the very information I sought.”[/color]

Charlotte’s lips curved faintly into a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes, a smile tinged with bittersweet regret. [color=D0B4EC]“And in a sense, I succeeded. He spoke, and he gave me answers I had hoped for… but ones I now wish I had never heard. To be quite frank, that man has gone mad.”[/color] 

Her arms wrapped instinctively around her body, as though shielding herself from an invisible chill that lingered still. [color=D0B4EC]“It was never my intention to keep this from you,”[/color] she admitted, her voice softening as her gaze flickered to her hands. [color=D0B4EC]“But the truth is—I don’t know any of you well enough to predict how you might react. Kazumin and Persephone are brave, yes, but their bravery has shown itself as impulsivity. And even Lord Smithwood…”[/color] She hesitated, her tone careful but firm. [color=D0B4EC]“I cannot be certain he wouldn’t act rashly with this knowledge.”[/color]

Charlotte’s gaze rose to meet his once more. [color=D0B4EC]“Count Damien wields fear like a weapon, and he does so comfortably like a man who knows he cannot lose. King Edin seems content to listen to him, even trust him.”[/color] She shook her head, her concern evident on her features. [color=D0B4EC]“I do not yet understand the game we’ve stepped into, nor the rules he’s playing by. But I [i]do[/i] know this: I cannot risk anyone else’s life, not when we are so unprepared.”[/color]

Her arms tightened faintly as she exhaled, her expression softening as she added with quiet sincerity, [color=D0B4EC]“I am glad I was able to take a moment to urge everyone to be careful and stick together. This… this is far from over.”[/color]

The settee’s cushions sank beneath his weight as Ryn settled beside Lady Charlotte. He listened, noting the careful spaces where her story skirted around what Count Damien actually told her. Not that he blamed her—they were still strangers in many ways. Though her reluctance to confide even in Lord Smithwood gave him pause.

[color=9354FF]“You know,”[/color] Ryn said carefully, [color=9354FF]“there’s an interesting paradox in trying to protect us from being unprepared by keeping us, well, in the dark.”[/color]

[color=9354FF]“Fear works best in isolation—when it convinces you that sharing the burden somehow might make the situation worse. Count Damien understands this, I suspect. He’s counting on that solitude… But Charlotte,”[/color] He caught her gaze, held it. [color=9354FF]“How can you know how we’d react unless you give us the chance? Unless you let us know you, and know us in return?”[/color]

There was a flicker of tension in Charlotte’s expression as her hands briefly tightened over her knees. She composed herself, then replied with quiet poise, [color=D0B4EC]“With all due respect, Count Fritz, I did not leave them entirely in the dark. We discussed the gravity of the situation, including how Count Calbert might be tied to the Black Rose. I urged caution, asked them to stay together, and offered my home as a refuge. Prince Wulfric underscored the danger as well. No one departed unaware of the stakes.”[/color]

[color=D0B4EC]“Revealing more at that moment, without understanding how others might react, could have been exactly what Count Calbert intended as well. Until I discern the game being played, I cannot risk moving a piece without strategy. It may serve his purpose more than ours.”[/color]

Ryn spread his hands in a questioning gesture. [color=9354FF]“What steps can we take together to build the kind of trust where sharing doesn’t feel like such a risk?”[/color] 


[color=D0B4EC]“Of course, in time, as we grow to know each other better, trust will naturally follow. However, this was not simply a matter of mistrust, nor was it you specifically that concerned me. That is why I was willing to share the information so readily when you asked.”[/color] Her voice softened and she looked at him with a sad smile. [color=D0B4EC]“I withheld this information because the situation demanded caution—not secrecy. Some of our friends have acted impulsively in the past on more than one occasion, and I cannot risk putting their lives in greater danger without careful consideration. If Calbert, a man known for his calculated threats, was willing to threaten us so freely, it stands to reason that we must tread carefully. I was even concerned about what might happen if Prince Wulfric were to learn of this.” [/color] She sighed and further explained, [color=D0B4EC]“I am still deliberating the best way to inform everyone without sending anyone into a trap.”[/color]

Ryn caught her sad smile and reflected it back with one of his own. [color=9354FF]“I understand your caution. The tricky part is that withholding information, even with the best of intentions, can be interpreted as a lack of trust in their judgment.”[/color] Such doubts could impact morale.

[color=9354FF]“It also sets a delicate precedent,”[/color] he continued. [color=9354FF]“Should others decide to protect you by keeping you in the dark—even with information that might prove vital to our investigation—you wouldn’t be able to reasonably object.”[/color]

The window facing Damien Estate drew his gaze. [color=9354FF]“Our adversaries are powerful figures playing a long, dangerous game. And our friends’ spirited ways aren’t likely to change any time soon, nor are our unique positions and circumstances. Which means you might find yourself doing this multiple times, for the foreseeable future.”[/color]

His attention returned to Lady Charlotte, [color=9354FF]“With everything we’re caught up in, you’ll be spending rather a lot of time and energy deciding what to reveal and how to reveal it to your own team. Time and energy that might be better focused on unraveling this conspiracy and outmaneuvering those who'd like to see us fail.”[/color]

Leaning forward in his seat, Ryn clasped his hands loosely. [color=9354FF]“So perhaps the real question is how do you envision this group working together? Are we to operate on a need-to-know basis, with you as the curator of information?”[/color]

Charlotte sighed softly, her gaze falling to her hands as though weighing the heaviness of her thoughts. When she looked back up at Fritz, her expression was gentle yet resolute. [color=D0B4EC]“I see your point, Count Fritz, and leading with transparency has always been my goal. I never want anyone to feel as though they’re on a need-to-know basis—especially not after the bonds we’ve begun to build. But it becomes painfully clear as we navigate these situations that context can complicate things. It’s not always black or white, and sometimes, what seems like the right course at the moment carries unforeseen consequences.”[/color]

Her voice softened, tinged with regret. [color=D0B4EC]“That said, you’re right—keeping things from the group, even with the best intentions, is not a habit I want to form. I will ensure every one is as informed as possible moving forward… within reason.”[/color] Her lips curved into a faint, apologetic smile as she added, [color=D0B4EC]“I only ask for your patience if, at times, I take a moment to consider the safest way to do so. Keeping you all alive will always be my priority.”[/color]

[color=D0B4EC]“.... I couldn’t bear to see anyone hurt because of me.”[/color] Her voice wavered slightly, but there was no mistaking her sincerity. After a pause, her tone shifted as she met his eyes once more.  [color=D0B4EC]“I mean no ill will in turning this back on you, but if we’re to lead with transparency, I have to ask—have you been completely transparent yourself? It’s something I hope you’ll reflect on as well.”[/color] Her gaze lingered on him, not accusatory, but curious. [color=D0B4EC]“For instance… Did you share everything you know about Violet with us? I can’t help but feel you may have held back some pieces.”[/color]

She hesitated, a flicker of compassion in her expression. [color=D0B4EC]“If you were sworn to secrecy, I would understand. Such only underscores my point—context matters…”[/color] Her voice softened further as she offered a faint, weary smile. [color=D0B4EC]“I think we’re all just doing our best to navigate this insane situation.”[/color]

The thought clicked like the final tumbler in a lock. [color=9354FF]“Ah. I should clarify something. As I’ve said at the masquerade, there are matters I haven’t told you about.”[/color]

[quote][i][color=9354FF]“I cannot fault you for being cautious. We all have our pasts, our scars that shape us. And Creators know that there are things I’m withholding from you too.”[/color] As he placed a hand over his heart, Ryn closed his eyes. [color=9354FF]“I am afraid of being hurt and hurting others.”[/color][/i][/quote]
[color=9354FF]“I’m not suggesting we need to share every detail of our lives.”[/color] A laugh escaped him as he brushed away an old memory. [color=9354FF]“No one needs to know about the bubble bath incident.”[/color]

His attention turned to the evidence board, its papers, and strings creating a web of connections. [color=9354FF] “What I’m speaking of is more specific to this investigation and this team.”[/color] He gestured at their collective work. [color=9354FF]“We gathered here to solve this together, but bits and pieces are being held back from each other for one reason or another. And sometimes hiding one detail obscures others by accident.”[/color]

In a fluid motion, the invitation to Count Damien’s masquerade appeared between Ryn’s fingers. [color=9354FF]“For example, because you couldn’t tell us about the tête-à-tête, [url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/5513248]you couldn’t explain just how closely the count is watching our group.[/url]”[/color] He tapped the paper with the temple tip of his enchanted glasses. [color=9354FF]“Small omissions add up. They make it harder to piece things together and harder for the team to strategize effectively.”[/color] He considered his next words carefully. [color=9354FF]“And they leave room for misunderstandings.”[/color]

[color=9354FF]“When I learned someone hired the Bloody Thorns, Count Damien was on the list of suspects. Given the timing, and how carefully you avoided mentioning your conversation with the count, I wondered if you might’ve known something about it. Not specifically about him hiring assassins, mind you, but I did suspect he threatened to inflict some kind of harm to you and those around you… And you kept that to yourself.”[/color] Ryn rose from his seat.

The invitation made a soft rustle as he pinned it up on the board. [color=9354FF]“Now, it’s true that I still get mistaken for a starry-eyed schoolboy more often than I care to admit, but I’ve lived long enough to know that precious little is black and white.”[/color] He turned around to fully face Lady Charlotte. [color=9354FF]“Which is precisely why it’s important to know how you expect us to handle information within this team going forward. Particularly if some of that information is to be withheld from specific members, whatever those reasons may be.”[/color]

Charlotte listened intently, her expression thoughtful as she gave a small nod. [color=D0B4EC]“You raise a fair point. Perhaps the best course of action is to address this openly with everyone next time, so we can establish how to communicate more effectively while keeping everyone’s safety our priority.”[/color]

After listening to her answer, he said, [color=9354FF]“Whatever you ultimately decide to do, let me know.”[/color] Ryn smiled and added, [color=9354FF]“And if you find yourself spinning in mental circles—it’s okay to consult others.”[/color] He knew, of course, that some found it harder to reach out than others.

[color=9354FF]“Now then!”[/color] Ryn crossed back to Lady Charlotte, fingers dancing over the rims as he swapped the spectacles’ lenses. [color=9354FF]“I’m sorry for the sudden shift in topic, but there’s something else that I noticed. Do you remember how your magicae looked before your meeting with Count Damien?”[/color] He extended the glasses toward her. [color=9354FF]“Would you mind taking a look again?”[/color]

Charlotte tilted her head much like a curious puppy, her brows furrowing as she accepted the glasses Ryn offered. Carefully, she slipped the spectacles onto her nose, her eyes focusing on her hands resting in her lap. Her breath hitched as her gaze landed on the blue aura radiating from her skin. It was thick and vibrant, enveloping her fingers in a luminous halo that seemed to pulse gently with each beat of her heart. The light was almost hypnotic—a serene, cerulean blue with subtle ripples, like sunlight dancing across a tranquil sea. It didn’t just glow; it seemed to hum with energy. [color=D0B4EC]“...Do they… change colors?”[/color] she asked softly, her voice tinged with wonder. 

[color=9354FF]“It’s not impossible… however, in cases like yours, it’s highly unlikely.”[/color]

After a moment of thought, something clicked in her head. Her expression softened as her fingers brushed the chain at her neck. Sliding the chair back slightly, she reached for the pendant nestled beneath her collar. The silver butterfly amulet caught the light, its sapphire centerpiece gleaming brightly, almost as if it were alive. She placed her hand over it, a faint smile spreading across her lips.

[color=D0B4EC]“I know this will sound crazy,”[/color] she began, glancing up at Ryn, her cheeks flushed slightly as though bracing for skepticism. [color=D0B4EC]“But I’ve been… seeing things lately. Memories, I think. They play out right before me as if I’m watching them happen all over again.”[/color] Her fingers lightly traced the butterfly’s wings, her expression growing wistful. [color=D0B4EC]“In one of them, my father appeared… clear as day. He led me to this amulet.”[/color]

She looked up, meeting Fritz’s gaze. [color=D0B4EC]“It was hidden in a drawer. He said it was meant to protect me.”[/color] Her voice wavered slightly, but her resolve held firm. [color=D0B4EC]“I think… I think this locket is why my aura looks like this now.”[/color]

She let the silence linger for a moment, the weight of her words settling between them. Then, almost shyly, she added, [color=D0B4EC]“Do you think something like that is possible, Fritz?”[/color]

[color=9354FF]“Would you mind if I...?”[/color] Ryn gestured toward the butterfly pendant while Lady Charlotte spoke of her father and memories. At her nod, he leaned closer with his lens ready.

The moment his finger made contact, the magicae patterns on his skin shifted—cerulean blue bled through like ink spreading through water, matching the aura that surrounded Lady Charlotte. He lowered the lens, thoughts crystallizing into certainty.

[color=9354FF]“Not only do I think it’s more than possible,”[/color] he said, carefully folding his spectacles and returning them to their case, [color=9354FF]“this leads me to believe that your father knew more about magic than most.”[/color] He met Lady Charlotte’s gaze. [color=9354FF]“Did he ever show any particular interest in the subject?”[/color]

[color=D0B4EC]“... Not that I can remember.”[/color]

[color=9354FF]“Hmm.”[/color] After a thoughtful pause, Ryn’s expression gentled. [color=9354FF]“Regardless, your father’s love runs so deep that even his memories are finding ways to protect you.”[/color] Ryn avoided using past tense, though her father might have passed beyond mortal reach, his devotion remained very much alive. Ryn nodded at Lady Charlotte’s unexpected gift. [color=9354FF]“Given the nature of your magicae, it may be a good idea to keep this close to you at all times.”[/color]

[color=D0B4EC] “ I agree.” [/color] Charlotte told him with a smile. [color=D0B4EC] “…I suppose I should retire for the evening. I am rather tired. Please feel free to stay and utilize one of our guest rooms.”[/color] 

Checking the time, Ryn nodded. [color=9354FF]“I think I will, thank you.”[/color]

She closed the distance between them to give him one more hug.  As she withdrew, Charlotte told him, [color=D0B4EC] “ I will see to it that a meal is sent up to your room if you do choose to stay. Goodnight, Fritz. Thank you for speaking with me!”[/color]

[color=9354FF]“And thank [i]you[/i] for listening. Goodnight, Charlotte. Sweet dreams. I’ll see you in the morning.”[/color] Lady Charlotte stepped over the threshold when Ryn added one last thing.

[color=9354FF]“About Lady Violet…”[/color] he said, [color=9354FF]“You’ve the right of it: I haven’t shared everything. But I think it’s best that you speak with her yourself. She needs a friend, now more than ever.”[/color] A long breath escaped him, his shoulders sinking slightly. [color=9354FF]“The poor woman’s heart is like a wounded cat—desperately lonely but too frightened to let anyone near. Every offered hand looks to her like a trap, waiting to snap shut.”[/color]

[color=D0B4EC] “Poor thing... I shall speak with her and see if she will accept my hand.” [/color]

They could only hope.[/color]