[color=lightgray][center][h3][color=Burlywood]Duke Gideon Edwards[/color] & [color=F0E399]Duchess Victoria Edwards[/color][/h3]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/6yZrd18.png[/img][img]https://i.imgur.com/QVcLBPe.png[/img][/center]

[color=Burlywood]Time:[/color] 6pm
[color=F0E399]Location:[/color] Castle Dining Hall
[color=Burlywood]Inteactions:[/color] [@TpartywithZombi] Ariella [@Lava Alckon] Drake [@Tae] Thea [@Helo] Callum

[hr]

As the herald’s voice rang clear—"Presenting Lady Violet Damien and Lady Ariella Edwards"—Duke Gideon turned his head immediately, a subtle smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

[color=Burlywood]“There she is.”[/color] His voice was touched with unmistakable fondness as he watched his daughter enter the room. While most might see a scandal, he saw only his spirited, radiant girl.

Victoria, beside him, audibly gasped at her failure of a curtsy. Her fan snapped shut like a bolt of lightning.

[color=5F9EA0]“Dutchess Edwards, do you think yourself our betters? I noticed you did not bow, or curtsy, before your king and his family. Are you too proud to submit before His Majesty?”[/color]

Victoria narrowed her gaze at Callum, then forced a smile without kindness. She rose, presented a curtsy as she said through gritted teeth, [color=F0E399] "My apologies, Your Majesties."[/color]

As she lowered herself back into her seat, she glared daggers into Ariella, [color=F0E399]“And here she comes, sitting next to me, of course.”[/color]

[color=Burlywood]“Yes. I also saw her come in glowing like the sun through the trees.”[/color] Gideon turned to Ariella and smiled at her, 
[color=Burlywood]“You look beautiful, little star,”[/color] he told her softly. [color=Burlywood]“And quite honestly, I’m proud you didn’t fall. You had us all on the edge of our seats.”[/color]

Victoria took a sip of wine and muttered beneath her breath: [color=F0E399]“We’ll be speaking after dessert. And you will wish you had fallen.”[/color]

Gideon sighed and added kindly, [color=Burlywood]“Welcome, my dear. I missed you.”[/color]

As the herald’s voice carried across the glittering banquet hall—“Introducing, the Lord of House Edwards…Sir Drake!”—both Gideon and Victoria turned in their seats.

Victoria let out a soft gasp as her gaze landed on her son, dressed in sleek black with the flourish of that orange rose on his chest.

[color=F0E399]“Orange?”[/color] she breathed, eyes narrowing like a hawk spotting a fluttering quail. [color=F0E399]“What is he wearing an orange flower for? He knows that clashes with the Edwards palette!”[/color] Her voice dipped into a near-hiss. [color=F0E399]“And where in the Gods’ name did he get those cufflinks? ”[/color]

Beside her, Gideon barely stifled a laugh and smiled proudly as Drake then held out a chair for Thea. [color=F0E399]“Amazing job with that greeting, son. I'm glad you're here."[/color]

His gaze then slid to Lady Thea and Lord Leo Smithwood, his expression lighting up with practiced charm and sincere warmth.

[color=Burlywood]“And what a joy it is to see the esteemed heirs of House Smithwood tonight.”[/color] He rose slightly from his seat in polite acknowledgment, offering a gentleman’s bow toward Thea, then Leo. [color=Burlywood]“Lady Thea, your grace is matched only by your reputation—I daresay we could all learn a thing or two from your sense of style.”[/color]

Turning to Leo, his smile widened into something more playfully respectful. [color=Burlywood]“And Lord Leo, I’ve heard great things about you. What an honor to sit with you tonight.”[/color]  

Just as Gideon leaned back in his chair, a flicker of black hair caught the corner of his eye. His gaze turned—and immediately softened.

There she was. Lady Charlotte Vikena. 

He felt his heart ache for a moment, then he smiled at her kindly in greeting whilst Victoria grimaced and moved her seat back as if she might catch illness from the presence of a Vikena.
[/color]