[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/UTPkRs4.png[/img]

[color=#758173][H1]Mina Blackwood[/H1][/color][/center]



[color=#758173]Time:[/color] Evening
[color=#758173]Location:[/color] Banquet Hall
[color=#758173]Attire:[/color] [url=https://i.imgur.com/fhncIJ0.jpeg]Dress & Hair[/url]
[color=#758173]Interaction:[/color] [@Helo] Rohit, Callum/Clarence, [@PapaOso] Milo, [@Reusable Sword] Roman, [@FunnyGuy] Alexander, [@Tpartywithzombi] Violet, [@SilverPaw] Wulfric, [@princess] King Edin, & Queen Alibeth
[color=#758173]Mentions:[/color]

[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/BCGMDwO.png[/img][/center]

Mina’s heels clicked sharply against the marble floors as she strode down the corridor, her uncle’s silence pressing down on her like a vice. She could feel his gaze, heavy with disapproval, trying to pierce through her composure. But she wouldn’t give him the satisfaction. Not tonight.  

Sebastian’s patience finally snapped as they neared the banquet hall. His voice, low and firm, cut through the tension. [color=792A31]“You think you can waltz in here, high as a kite, and act like nothing matters? You’re becoming a liability, Mina. You’re better than this.”[/color]  

She halted abruptly, turning to face him with an icy stare. [color=#758173]“Better than what, exactly? Better than [I]you[/I]? Better than the years I’ve spent cleaning up your messes, covering your lies, protecting [I]you[/I] at the cost of everything I’ve ever cared about?”[/color] Her voice was steady, but beneath it simmered years of resentment.   

Sebastian’s expression darkened, but she didn’t let him speak. [color=#758173]“I’ve sacrificed everything for you. I’ve lied, I’ve made excuses, I’ve turned my back on people I loved—all for your sake. And what did I get in return? You took everything from me and called it love. Called it [I]protection[/I].”[/color]  

Her words hit their mark, but she wasn’t finished. [color=#758173]“You break people down and call it for their own good. You did it to my mother, forcing her to hide away when she was pregnant with me, and you did it to me my entire life. Well, I’m done.”[/color] Her voice dropped to a whisper, laced with venom. [color=#758173]“[I]Fuck you, Sebastian.[/I]”[/color]  

Sebastian reached for her arm, his voice softer now, almost pleading. [color=792A31]“I never wanted to hurt you. Everything I did—”[/color]  

[color=#758173]“Was for me? No.”[/color] She took a step back, eyes cold. [color=#758173]“It was for [I]you[/I]. And I’m done letting you control me.”[/color]  

A flicker of something—regret, maybe—crossed his face, but she didn’t care. She turned on her heel, striding toward the banquet hall.  

[color=792A31]“You’ll regret this when you’re sober,”[/color] he murmured, almost to himself.  

Mina’s lips curled in a bitter smirk as she scoffed, but she didn’t dignify it with a response.  

The herald’s voice rang out as the doors were pulled open. [Color=gold]“Count Sebastian Blackwood and Lady Mina Blackwood!”[/color]

Heads turned as they entered, the tension between them nearly tangible. Mina ignored it, her gaze sweeping the room until it landed on Rohit. A playful smirk tugged at her lips, and she lifted a hand, blowing him a kiss with effortless audacity.  

As she made her way toward the royal family, she spotted Milo and, on impulse, trailed a hand across his shoulders as she passed, throwing him a devilish grin before moving on without a word.  

Finally, she reached the head table. She dipped into a graceful curtsy. [color=#758173]“Your Majesties,”[/color] she greeted smoothly, her voice poised and practiced. Sebastian followed suit, his bow precise but stiff.  

As she straightened, her eyes found Prince Callum. Something about him made her pause. He was too composed, too poised—unnatural, even. The easy, mischievous air he usually carried was…different. A strange unease crept into her, but before she could linger on it, she forced herself to look away.

Her gaze then met Wulfric’s and she hadn't missed his comment to Alexander as she'd approached. Mina’s lips curved into a knowing smirk as she greeted him. [color=#758173]"Your Royal Highness,"[/color] she greeted smoothly, her oceanic gaze locking onto his without hesitation. [color=#758173]"I see you’re still perfecting that signature mix of charm and menace. It’s almost comforting, really."[/color]

Moving to the long banquet table, she slid into the seat beside Roman, her body instinctively relaxing in his presence. A slow smile spread across her lips as she leaned in, boldly brushing a lingering kiss against his cheek. [color=#758173]“You look quite handsome tonight, Roman.”[/color] She murmured.  

Turning her attention to Violet, she offered a polite smile. [color=#758173]“Lady Violet, always a pleasure. I hope the evening has been kind to you so far.”[/color]  

Then, her gaze landed on Alexander, and her lips curled into a knowing smirk. [color=#758173]“Alexander,”[/color] she teased, voice lilting. [color=#758173]“Are we behaving ourselves tonight?”[/color]  

Before she could settle in, Sebastian’s voice cut through. [color=792A31]“And who is this one?”[/color] His tone was light, but the tension in it was unmistakable. His sharp gaze flicked from Alexander to Mina, expectant.  

Mina took a slow, deliberate breath, letting the moment stretch. Then, with an air of casual defiance, she met her uncle’s eyes and said, [color=#758173]“Oh, this is Alexander Deacon. I met him the other night at the carnival—we had a [I]lovely[/I] time together.”[/color]  

She let the words hang, knowing full well how he’d interpret them. And when she saw the flicker of irritation behind his carefully controlled expression, she smiled.  

For the first time in a long time, she felt like she was winning.