MyCatGinger

Royally Enchanted [MyCatGinger + Summer]

"It may be as you say." the princess mumbled to herself with knit brows. "I do not believe I've heard of an Oldpine before. As it stands, the significance of capturing a few wizards and witches is not very much to be boasted, especially when my father had his guards sweep the surrounding lands and settlements and wiped them out in droves from particular areas."
She couldn't help but clear her throat with a triumphant, almost proud lilt in her voice as she continued to speak, "Thirty people? I don't believe there are any less than that number within the walls of this castle alone."

When her observation did indeed yield no results, she shrugged her shoulders in disappointment, though lent Rivalen her ear, curious indeed as to the story this man had behind him. What she heard saddened her, and she found her gaze focused hard on the floor ahead of her, anywhere to avoid the man's undoubtably sullen expression at bringing up the topic. It took her a few seconds to muster up the words, "I extend my condolences to you for your mother." before she turned to look at him again. His sly smile in place of the expression she had expected made her all but flinch. Commoners definitely are hardier than any noble I've ever met.
She recalled an incident long ago where someone grew borderline hysteric over her innocent overlooking of, or not paying enough attention to, the death of someone important in their extended family. Though she was young, and didn't know. The memory made her shudder.

Her eyes widened at the man's words, and she couldn't help but blurt out "I thought it was a pretentious title, myself. But killing three wizards by only your two hands? God be praised, that is remarkable, Rivalen! And each time, I assume they must have been ridiculously powerful, and you stood no match save..." she spoke the next words softly, with a hint of disbelief, "Being in the right place, at the right time."

She would have egged him on to tell her more, tell her all about it, when her brother popped around and the brief conversation passed swiftly. In the end, she was left with one less guard and her personal attendant himself. Though it would be like this, him with her alone, more often than not in the upcoming days, or weeks or even more than that, depending on when her father would realise just what he'd done, it still made her nervous. But of course, being in the vicinity of a formerly unknown man, a former absolute stranger whom she had never heard about, was always going to feel a little bit off.
He wouldn't be a stranger for long, though, despite the little about himself he chose to share with her. She could respect that. Perhaps being interreogated as soon as being met with all the grandeur of such a situation, such a life, would prove to be jarring.
Perhaps she may grow to enjoy his company after all. He hadn't tried anything particularly funny just yet...and if he was going to be her personal attendant, he'd have to see her at her best and her worst, naturally.

"Myself, is it?" she let out a tired sigh, as if the very idea of the task of talking about herself would wear her out. It was definitely more dramatic than not though, and as they turned one more corner and, faced with a flight of steps, she stopped mid-corridor. It was quieter here, as they approached the princess's empty chambers that lay at the top of the stairs and a couple of paces after ascending them, as most of the servants were down making preparations for the afternoon meals, or teas, or going about cleaning the hallways closest to the castle entrance. The area in which they stood was circular and wide, and the stairs curved as they climbed onto the floor above them. She hung at the bannister, back to the wall, and studied him one last time before smirking and putting on a particularly uppity voice, exaggerated and mocking of any other royal, "Princess Roxanne, of the kingdom Miroin. My pastimes include enjoying hearty breakfasts upon waking, shirking my share of royal duties and actively hating magic, magic-users, and anything that has to do with therein."

She paused, "Truly, I personally wonder why witches and wizards are how they are. I do not believe I've ever met any before. However, as you may know, the Queen, my mother, is no more, herself. Her life was taken by a magic user when I was fairly young."
The memory brought her longing, and not so much pain. She was too young to remember when her mother's life was extinguished, but the sorrow she grew up with not having a permanent motherly figure and, in its stead, being gifted an increasingly paranoid father bit at her. "...the loss of my mother has left my father beyond hatred for magic. He absolutely despises it. Whenever we are visited by foreign officials, they particularly seem surprised when we are forced to mention that we are indeed not intending on using magic to better our kingdom's stance. I wonder if they look down on us. Call it something queer."

The fleeting thought was replaced quickly. She did not want this man to see her weaknesses through this early on. "I believe I also forgot to mention, if you had not confirmed it till now. My love for the outdoors is overwhelming. In fact, not particularly the outdoors, but being out on grassy fields, on horseback..." she smiled at the thought in a way that made her face glow, radiating warmth and sincere affection, "It is absolutely surreal. I feel free, and happy, when I am lucky enough to indulge myself in such things. In contrast, my second love would be literature. Reading and understanding books and scriptures that talk about our pasts, our presents, perhaps even our futures. I wish I could read all the written documents of the world."

Her smile faded, into a sorrowful one now as she looked up at Rivalen with melancholy green eyes, and then up the stairs before them, finally leaving where she stood at the bannister to gather her skirts and continue on, to climb them. "...however, those things are not particularly easy to continue doing, for my father has been seeking suitors and wishes to have me married into a household we may strengthen Miroin's standing through."

Royally Enchanted [MyCatGinger + Summer]

"As much as I want to believe you truly are working out of the goodness of your heart, I still believe in the existence of some ulterior motive, Rivalen." the princess said, only sparing a side-glance and expectant half smile at the young man who had now joined her side. "Perhaps I will stop worrying once you've proven to me that you're trustworthy beyond a shadow of a doubt. And for that to occur, I will have to give you the opportunity, no? Until then..." she lowered her voice to match his tone, "He stays. I think you two will end up getting along delightedly."

Her sarcasm made apparent, she feigned a tiny sigh before continuing "He only will be your guide around the castle, or any other guard my father chooses to assign, until you are familiar with the different halls and chambers, and you do not end up getting hopelessly lost. After all, I do not believe this is the norm for a humble man from a humble village. Besides, I do believe you will require his assistance, at least for the first couple of days. He accompanies us now for, after I am escorted to my own quarters, I believe he will show you to the now-vacant ones of my former personal attendant: Maria."

However, there was a small period of silence between the two individuals as they walked, with the guard a few paces behind and absolutely silent despite his footfalls, through what seemed to be endless hallways lined with paintings Roxanne had seen a million times over on a million different occasions, so much that none of them even warranted a second glance from her. She was the one to break the silence, eager to know more about this stranger. Eager to know about his origins, his title and his intentions, dreams, aspirations, what have you. The best way to do just that was to ask. "Rivalen." she said, still getting accustomed to the name rolling off her tongue in that foreign way it did. "You said you were from a village I probably have not heard of, yes? You might be correct and you might not. I'd like to know its name. Perhaps, also of your origins. Perhaps more about yourself."
She paused, enough to turn a corner and just about avoid a rushing servant girl with as much grace as she could manage. It seemed that the kingdom was always animated as noon approached.

Continuing their walk at a slightly brisker pace now, she looked up at the man without so much as tilting her head. That much she had at least learnt from her tutors: The art of silently, subtly scanning and judging someone as to not let them know you were practically eyeballing them.
One last time she took him in, from dark locks to his waist and the attire he donned, and then up again. He most certainly did not look like the witch-slayer Alain had called him.
"And pray tell, why do they dub thee, such a simple man, the title of 'witch-slayer'? I must say, I am most definitely intrigued."

They were cut off yet again by another person who looked to be needing to get somewhere, though in a stiffer, more composed manner, and Roxanne immediately recognised the youth. "Brandon!"

"Hello, sister." he began, stopping to say his hellos.
The guard behind the two offered a slight bow, "Your Highness."

Returning his gaze to his sister, her brother appeared visibly surprised when his eyes fell on the youth who stood by her side. He grew visibly tense and growled under his breath, in a manner so subtle, but threatening all the same. "Roxanne, who is this man, and why has he been let into the castle? What business does he have here?"
Saying this, he stood a little taller himself, subconsciously intimidating to this man as the protective instincts kicked in. Brandon stood at about the same height, and shared his sister's dark hair and green eyes. They both had the dark hair of their father, but the green eyes did not belong to Cedric. The king had light brown orbs; his wife possessed the children's shared olive green. The same eyes that sharply raked this man into his memory, as opposed to his sister's subtle scans.
"You. State your name and your business."

His sister tugged at his arm gently, trying to convince him it was of no issue, though the words she spoke felt bizarre to him, and continued to feel foreign to her at best. "He is the...err. New personal attendant father has assigned to care for me."

"...what."
"It's true, brother."
"Has he gone mad?"
"I don't know. Have you asked him if he has?"
"I will when I see him. In fact, I was just heading to the court to attend to some matters. It would appear there is trouble on one of our borders."
"Oh, God. Not another magical attack, I pray?"
"I do not know the specifics, but I would assume so."
He clicked his tongue in disgust, spitting the following words like venom, "Filthy wizards. Filthy witches. If I was able, I would kill them with my own two hands. Especially for...what they did, to mother."
"...Brandon..."

She stroked his upper arm a little to soothe the young man, whose attentions were quickly returned to Rivalen. In his eyes, the extinguished fire was replaced with a kind of defeated sadness, "In times like this, it would appear we are in heavy requirement of trustworthy assistants. I do not know what you plan to do with my sister, but I pray you attend to her well. You will be up against my wrath if you so much as glance at her the wrong way."

Roxanne shrugged off the thought, returning once again to Rivalen's side. Taking one final look at the two of them side by side, the raven haired youth cracked a smile of his own, "Oh, Frederick most certainly will not be pleased, princess."
"Stop it!" Roxanne pleaded in a squeak-like voice, the tips of her ears going hot again. Every time he was mentioned, her heart would want to leap out of her chest. Her brother knew it just as well as she. He was a Duke whom the princess had grown quite fond of, though this knowledge was yet to be revealed to her father.

Alain stood forward, composed as ever, occupying the prince for any given details about this attack at the border. If the man was one thing, it was genuinely concerned for the safety of the ruling family. The prince had to fill him in, and when his knowledge drew blanks, he gazed between the duo and Alain before sighing heavily, defeated, and continuing, "I believe these two should be able to make the rest of the journey to...uh. Where were you two going?"
"My chambers, brother. Tutoring begins at midday."
"Oh yes, I had forgotten." Being older by four years and having as much information as the king could possibly manage crammed into his son, Brandon spent his days making decisions and arrangements with his father in court. It seemed like an eternity to him since he had last taken a class two and a half years ago.

"Then I take my leave of you two. Alain, if you would?"
"Yes, Your Highness." the guard shot a glance back at Rivalen before continuing to head in the opposite direction with the prince. Roxanne could tell by the worry her brother tried to contain that the situation might have been worse than she had imagined.
She couldn't imagine it, however. So she let it go. She had no idea which border it was, either. Perhaps it was best she didn't know.

"Shall we continue, Rivalen? By the Lord, if you had wished for something else, you could have been a rich man..." she sighed softly before smiling at the direction in which her brother and Alain headed. The gentleman's wish was granted, by pure circumstance. And that particular phrase was something her brother had told her that her mother had said to him a lot, when he had wished for something simple and that very thing had happened.

Perhaps if you had wished for something else, something better, it also would have come true, my son.

Royally Enchanted [MyCatGinger + Summer]

Mm? Hesitant?
...I wonder.

"Rivalen..." the princess repeated to herself aloud. A name that elegantly flowed off the tongue. However, perhaps a name she mightn't, despite all the attempts made by her tutors to teach her to never ask for a name twice lest it be deemed rude, remember instinctively. She repeated it to herself a couple more times to cement it into both her speech and her memory, though loud enough for the gentleman to hear her take note of it, after her curious little threat. "Rivalen, Rivalen. I pray, for your safety, that you swear true to the Lord."

Roxanne listened to what he had to say, concerning himself and his origins. Though it was only a brief introduction, it didn't strike her as particularly spectacular, or anything worth her father singling him out to be her caretaker. A humble woman from a humble village would still be just as qualified for the job as this person, Rivalen. Her gender would give her an advantage this man did not have, concerning perhaps more private matters, such as-
Her thoughts wandered to an area in which she drew blanks.
...just how am I supposed to ask, when I wish to bathe?!

Shaking her head noticeably to rid herself of the idea, reassuring herself that said hurdle would be crossed when they approached it. She looked the man in the eyes again to catch the end of his sentence, '-my princess is well taken care of.'
"I appreciate your concern." she spoke softly to the man now, being unable to hide the traces of being flattered through upturned lip corners in a tiny smile. If her tutors had ever taught her anything about common courtesies, concerning men, women, nobles and commoners, she had completely put hours and hours of teaching to waste. Never appear too eager, or too yielding. the words of a strict old woman echoed in the back of her mind. Roxanne, habitually, paid it very little heed.

Alain was next to speak, and what he said made the intrigued princess' eyes widen and eyebrow quirk. Witch-slayer? This common looking gentleman?
It was an interesting title to bestow upon a man like Rivalen. Though it seemed oddly...satisfying. As if she finally realised just why her father was doing exactly what he was doing. His paranoia over the taking of his wife's, Roxanne's mother's, life continued to resonate strongly with whom he had become. Somebody who claimed to have the ability to slay witches would be, in her father's mind, absolutely instrumental in his daughter's safety, and ideal to protect her from that very thing he grew to fear the most.

Roxanne listened attentively to each and every last word that Rivalen said to Alain, curiosity piqued after learning what this man supposedly was.
Dumb luck and circumstance.
The wizards' secret.
And, all of a sudden, Roxanne found herself very curious just to find out exactly what these circumstances were, and, more importantly, just what exactly this secret was.
Though that would have to be saved as a question for a later time. After all, if this man would be her personal attendant, there would be many a thing she would ask him about many a matter concerning him, his life, and many a thing she would potentially tell him about her and her own life on top of the affairs of the kingdom. If only as a casual adviser, than anything else.

His wink and words that followed, though they shouldn't have, sparked her own curiosity and mischief both. It was almost refreshing having somebody not quite as uptight as everyone else in the kingdom was. Humour was a scarce commodity among noblemen and noblewomen, and the slightest attempt to joke around warranted scoffs and stares. She usually had to contain herself, though thankfully, with her brother being the jester in private he was, she had been saved from the torture and had not yet gone mad. Her brother, and...him.
The thought of him made the tips of her ears go hot, and she was thankful they were hidden behind the dark curtains of her hair.

She returned a smile of her own, bringing a hand to her lips to stifle a coy chuckle. Something told her this man would be dangerous, though not so much for his fists, since he did look unarmed and quite plain, but more for his demeanor. It might, if he wasn't careful, get him into hot water with the more uptight members of the castle staff.
"Oy vey," she began, feigning a tiny gasp, "dust bunnies and dirty stockings are the absolute worst enemies a princess must deal with, mind you. I think, Rivalen, you would be noble in your ways to make very sure she never has to encounter the like, so long as she lives." she smirked.
The irony in her statement was unbeknownst to her.

"Alain." she called to the guard again, who was clicking his tongue at the misbehaviour of the young man, even gesturing from where he stood, behind the princess, that he'd behead the man if he continued to act that way.
"Yes, Your Highness?"
"Have you shown Rivalen his quarters yet? I...presume he will be occupying Maria's, unless other arrangements have been made."
"No, Your Highness. I have not been given direct orders by the king to make any changes."
"Ah, I see. So he is assigned to Maria's quarters."

Dong, dong, dong.
The sound of bells chimed in the distance. It was the nearby church, signalling the hour.
"Oh..." Roxanne began, looking to the guard. "Alain, what is the current hour?"
"It is approaching midday, Your Highness. The clock would have just struck eleven." he replied.
"It would be time for my afternoon classes then, it would seem." she nodded, trying to recall what had been scheduled for her on that day and at that time. Her father, despite everything that was happening, made the value of education apparent to his children. He had assigned numerous tutors to teach them through their teenage of the life of nobles, and the information about their kingdom, and others, so his children would go out into the world knowing exactly what they had to do.
He however banned the tutoring of the history and development, the uses and virtues of magic within the kingdom. It became to a point where the children had heard of the words 'witch', 'warlock' and 'wizard' and deemed them all malevolent entities by default.

Maria would have kept track and delivered the message to me, she thought to herself and her eyebrows knit in thought. When nothing came to her, she sighed and looked to both Alain and Rivalen again. "I wish to retire back to my chambers, where I pray somebody will be waiting to inform me of the tutor that will be arriving by midday. I believe it would be an appropriate time to guide Rivalen to where he will likely spend most his time in the near future."
Roxanne's decision was made. On top of that, perhaps she would have a chance to learn more about the man as they made their way to her chambers. She intended for the walk to be a languid one.

"Your Highness, allow me to escort yo-" Alain spoke up, clearing his throat.
"I think I will be fine, Alain. It is apparently this man with whom I will have to spend a lot of time in the upcoming future with. As much as it continues to feel out of place in my mind." she reassured him, eyes hardening on the man in a way to finalise her statement. "However, if you are so very worried, you may follow behind at a safe enough distance to impale him with a sword or spear should he, at any moment, forget his place."

She looked to Rivalen again, "You might just be one of the luckiest men in the world, sir. Personally attending to a woman. I pray you have made arrangements for the tasks that are more...unsuited to you, or you plan to make them. For now, however..."
She took one slow step first, and then a couple more, away from the man, before sparing the blue skies and the green grass and the stables nearby one last glance, and then turning on her heel and beginning a slow walk, back to where the doors leading into the fields were, and eventually all the way back up to her chambers.
She could only pray Rivalen followed, and that Alain did not give him much more trouble. However, the set of heavy footsteps behind her that unmistakably belonged to the guard confirmed his intentions to her. Perhaps he would spare the young man with the silver tongue, even if just in the current moment.

Royally Enchanted [MyCatGinger + Summer]

Roxanne's tiny giggle dissipated as soon as, contrary to what she had believed was going on, the man explained his situation to her. He truly was going to be her personal attendant.
It took her a handful of seconds to glance between the two men, quizzical expression painting her features, and when nobody said a word further it appeared as what they were saying happened to be the truth after all. However, she wasn't the first to break the silence in that moment.

"But Alain, he's-" Quentin began, cheeks still a light pink, though whether it was from the former running or the thought that Her Highness would be waited on hand and foot by a man was unclear.

The guard cut the boy off, knowing full well in the back of his mind the question that was on everybody's mind:
Was King Cedric out of his mind to assign a man to do the job only a woman could do, and a job only women have done traditionally, for centuries?
"Yes, Quentin, I-"

"Enough." a feminine voice spoke up among the two males' chatter, and Roxanne gazed, hard-eyed, at the man with the former innocent smile, now with his head lowered in a deep bow to her. She seemed to be gauging him from where she sat atop the Clydesdale-cross stallion, who under the tense moment appeared to grow nervous or restless himself, snorting and pawing at the ground. Or perhaps it was at the presence of this stranger.
"Quentin. Would you assist me?"

"But of course, Your Highness." the boy, holding his tongue, was animated again by her words, and moved over to hold the reins of the horse, and Alain moved to her side as well to help her dismount, skirts and all, without causing any injury to herself. She thanked the two of them curtly, and stepped closer to the man introduced as her new personal attendant.

"Rise, and tell me your name, good sir." she stood tall and proud to appear more intimidating, in hopes that if this was still somebody's idea of a charade it would be concluded immediately. "And outside of that, I am only left to wonder. What would a gentleman like you gain from being my personal attendant? Furthermore, I pray my father has not completely lost his mind, for assigning a man to a position a woman is so aptly suited appears to me to be one of his more..." she paused, grasping for the appropriate words as to not disappoint the gentleman who appeared so eager, but in a manner in which she wished to quietly dismiss him. She would not be having another personal attendant, and on top of that, it would most certainly not be some lecher with a silver tongue, "...jocular decisions."

"Your Highness." Alain's voice was uncharacteristically soft as he stood stiffly at the princess's side, weapon in hand and him on high alert, "I am regretful to inform you that His Highness, King Cedric appeared to be perfectly content with this decision. I am afraid this is not the practical joke you may take it to be, though it pains me to admit it."

"Yes, I can see why..." Roxanne shrugged her shoulders in defeat, half-turning around to notice Quentin hanging around with the horse in tow, though his ears had gotten the better of him in a way that made her chuckle. He was always eager to know of all the news in the castle and more, though Roxanne had deemed it never maliciously, but only to sate his own curiosity. Having known the boy from his childhood years ensured that he was one of the people she could talk to about whatever was on her mind, concerning the royal affairs she was forced to dabble in.
"Quentin, please, would you escort my dear Wind to somewhere he may quench his thirst? I realise he might be parched, and I should not burden a poor horse and have him entangled in my own affairs." she nodded at the boy, who took the hint faster than she expected and with a disappointed sigh and a begrudging 'Yes, Your Highness...' took a tighter grip of the reins. Though, she did say one last thing to them before the two of them made their departure:
"He is growing into a fine young stallion, Quentin. Although his breed might be better suited to cart pulling, he rides like his namesake. I appreciate all your efforts, Quentin. It is an extraordinary caretaker that makes a horse great."

"I...Th-thank you, Your Highness!" he squeaked. Her compliments always caught him off guard, and had him sheepishly trying to push some stray tufts of hair away from his face, behind his ears, fidgeting with rosy cheeks again. He even puffed out his chest as he bowed to the three individuals, his leaving gesture, before walking off with the horse trailing behind. Roxanne could have sworn she heard him whistling halfway down the line.

"Yes, well." her attention was returned to the matter at hand, at the man who had stood from his bow now. He stood taller than her by far, though she wasn't one to be put off by something like that. She did hold a higher honour than most men she spoke to, besides.
"Your name, sir. I'm afraid if it is as my father wishes, then it will have to be as it has to be. I do not particularly approve, but..." she sighed quite deeply here, dusting off and straightening the skirts of the royal blue gown with trimmings of silver she had chosen to don that particular day. It contrasted heavily with the colour of her skin, and even the colour of her hair and her eyes, feminine and refined as it was. "...I hope you hold your word to your promise."

She brought her voice down, blinking up at the man through hooded eyes again and an almost threatening ease about the words she spoke, and the smirking lips through which they came, "Try anything funny, anything at all, and I will have you hanged, drawn and quartered before you so much as have a chance to call my name to beg for my mercy. I will also have you know I personally am competent enough with a bow and arrow. And if you so much as try to run, I will find you. And I will hurt you."
Straightening herself up and giving the man as bright a smile as she could manage, she continued in a loud enough voice for even Alain, who stood by tense though still ready to pounce, to hear. "I, though it pains me to say it, have no choice but to accept your offer for now. Do know that I will consult my father about this, so if I find out this is some ploy and you have our dear guard Alain in cahoots with you, I will know. Furthermore, if it really is as you say, it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, sir..."

Royally Enchanted [MyCatGinger + Summer]

"Maria? Where...are you taking those bags?"
"Your Highness. I am afraid my time with you has come to an end."
"Maria...but why?"
"I'm afraid it must be this way, Your Highness."

The older woman sorrowfully turned away from the princess, who was clutching her fists at her sides, unladylike as it might be. Roxanne couldn't help but notice that her actions were slow, reluctant, and of course she herself felt the same way. Another caretaker whom had to be sent away? And on what grounds? It seemed they would never tell her, and this frustrated her beyond belief. Especially since she made the mistake each and every time to grow attached to them, to then later have them taken from her for whatever circumstances. They all seemed like wonderful people, warm and affectionate, like people to fill in the role of 'mother' if hers still had been alive to date. Each and every time, however, without fail, they would be asked to leave by her father. For the Lord knows what.

"...Maria." she sighed, holding open the door of the woman's chambers in the castle for her to walk out with her two bags gripped loosely in each hand. The room looked bare now, pale walls with a neatly made bed and now lacked the warmth it had when Maria's personal effects were scattered haphazardly across the bed, or even across the singular desk that stood in one corner of the room, usually for writing letters by candle-light on. All that remained was a little pot of ink that sat lonely against a candlestick.

"Must you go?" the younger woman walked by her former caretaker's side, as the distance through the labyrinthine castle was crossed in hardly any time. It made her feel hollow, the way this woman, like those before, had come in and lived in the castle like their home, and were suddenly kicked out. She mentally bit her tongue. Perhaps she was being too emotional. Maria did not say a word past an apologetic smile up at the princess, and soon the ornate doors of the castle stood before them. Roxanne only just kept herself from cursing them.

"I will miss you...Your Highness." the doors now gaped open, and the warm summer daylight poured into the castle. Attentive guards stood at either side of the two women as the shorter, older woman was forced to say her goodbyes.
"And I you, Maria." Roxanne smiled warmly, the sun lighting her face, and the woman bowed to her superior one final time within the walls of the castle.
"You will make a just ruler someday, Your Highness. Of that I am sure."
"By God's grace, Maria."

And before she knew it, all that was left in Roxanne's line of sight was the silhouette of the woman as she disappeared into the horizon.

---

"But... Father!" Roxanne protested, staring her father down with liquid annoyance dripping from her tone. "That...you cannot just do something like this without consulting me beforehand!"
"Roxanne." the king's voice was stern. His imposing figure also didn't make the situation any less easier on the young princess, and there was only so much she could raise her voice with him before he had heard enough. "The kingdom is in a state of ruin, and we do not know if we will live to see another day, each day. A battle of life or death wages constantly between us and the outside world."
"But-"
"I'm not finished." he growled, putting Roxanne back in her place quickly enough. She tucked into her evening meal quietly, eyes focused on the plate in front of her now. She did not want to lift her head and look up at her father, and her shoulders slumped when he continued speaking. Her attempt to prove to him that the leg of lamb on her plate was more interesting than whatever he had to say to her clearly wasn't working in her favour, for he continued to speak. Her brother sat quietly throughout the conversation, green eyes darting back and forth between either party. "I will arrange to see the women concerned in the morrow. Once we find somebody suitable, she shall be introduced to you and will commence her duties as your personal attendant immediately."
"I told you, father. I have no need!" the sound of cutlery against crockery was loud and clear, echoing her dissatisfaction.
"I have spoken!" the king's voice boomed, filling the room with a slight echo that sent chills down both children's spines. If they could relate to each other in one way, it would be in the fear they had of their father. This particular paranoiac of a ruler could be scarier than he might have initially thought.

---

"Brandon, it isn't right." the siblings, climbing up to their respective chambers in the castle, chattered among themselves.
"I know, Roxanne. I do." he replied in a sharp, single puff, a little out of breath from having just climbed the flight of stairs they left behind them, "But it is for the best, it truly is. One of those filthy wizards may come and take either me or father away, or even worse, have us killed, and then what will be of you? Your caretaker will be around to help you grieve and alleviate the stress on your shoulders as you prepare to become queen."
"But it isn't set in stone; that I will be crowned queen! It isn't set in stone that either of you will die!" she shook her head in disbelief. It simply could not happen. Despite the attacks, the downfall of the kingdom, the thought of her father and her brother being taken from her seemed so distant, so alien. Like if somebody was recalling the events of a nightmare that would never be possible, not in a thousand years.
"It might very well be, and you know it." her brother, in one of his more sombre moments whispered just loud enough for him and his sister to hear, as they approached the wooden door to her chambers.
"Mmh..." she shrugged off the thought, habitually gathering her skirts to curtsey to her brother, as expected.
"Goodnight, dear brother."
"Goodnight, dear sister." he bowed his upper half slightly before placing a hand on her shoulder which made her look up with curiosity flickering in her olive orbs. He was smiling again, though it didn't quite reach his melancholy ones. "And do remember not to fret yourself too much. I am absolutely positive the new personal attendant will be a lovely woman. Another Maria, I pray. May the Lord grant us his kind favour."
"...let us hope."

---

The summer sunlight streamed down and seemed to be everlasting, as the princess of the castle crossed a set of wide open fields on horseback. Her raven hair billowed behind her in the wind, mixing with the mane and tail of the stallion she rode. She was laughing, innocently, ever urging the stallion faster and faster. And in that moment, everything was forgotten and lost, and it was frozen in time as perfection. It was always the same exhilarating feeling whenever Roxanne was out on the green, with the grass below her and the azure sky above. Even in the sparse forests that lined the edge of the field, the trees made her feel at home. Though the deeper forest had always given off an eerie vibe, and she swore to herself never to venture in by herself. Though for now, nearing the first sights of trees, she ducked down low as the horse slowed slightly to jump a low-laying log with ease, before she pulled the reins in to stop it more, and bring it around gently. In the distance she could see the very small silhouette of the stable-boy, having run to catch up with her. He couldn't have been older than fourteen, fifteen at max, though with him and his father being one of the king's more trusted workers, the job was frequently passed down from his father to the boy.
Quentin, his name was.

"Your Highness, Your Highness!" he dropped panting with his hands on his knees as the woman brought the horse back in a steady canter, slowing and prancing by the skinny boy in a cheeky circle.
"Yes, Quentin?" she smirked. She was notorious for sweet-talking the poor boy into letting her go out with the horses during lazy days. This particular one hadn't been exactly lazy, but more so a case of her not wanting to remain in the vicinity of her father too long. The thought of another personal attendant, a new personal attendant left a bad taste in her mouth.

Nothing a ride out in the fields most certainly cannot fix, she had thought to herself.

"There...huff. There is...puff. Someone has...come to see you...huff. Your Highness." he spoke through gasps, and perhaps caught up in his own steadying breathing, didn't notice her expression change into quite the sour one at the thought. Though, she knew fate was a cruel thing, and wasn't slow to finally submit to the current happenings.
"I know, Quentin. I was told." she shuddered a final time, before leading the horse in the direction of the stables in a begrudging walk, a pace easy enough for the stable-boy to keep up with and catch his breath as he'd speak to her.

"Your Highness? You said..." his voice trailed off, bright blue eyes trying to find hers. His messy chocolate curls framed his face and bounced with each step he took.
"I know what I said, Quentin." she snapped in a way that made him flinch, and stay quiet for the next minute or two.
But he quite liked the company of the castle's princess, so he dared to keep talking even after. She had grown to be a big sister to him, albeit still in quite the formal sense. "Your Highness, one of the castle guards is there. And there's a strange man with him..."

"Huh, a man, you say..." her voice drifted off. She assumed then that perhaps the interviews weren't over yet, and that this man wanted to see her for formal business. Was it a suitor? Oy vey, not another one.
"Yes, Your Highness. I was very surprised. Has...has the King ordered more suitors to come see you today, Your Highness?" he asked inquisitively, though now not looking up at the rider of the grey stallion anymore. Instead he stared dead ahead, and as they walked on, more silhouettes became visible. And as the boy had rightly said, they were those of two men. A woman would have been of shorter stature.

"Not as far as I'm aware, Quentin. Not at all." she squinted now in her eagerness to glean more information about the foreign looking man before forced to make conversation with him when close enough. Unfortunately, the sun was not in her favour and shone down in a way that made it nigh impossible to conjure up an idea of his features from just there, but she could tell he wore a cloak, a hooded cloak, that seemed quite unlike a noble. Perhaps it wasn't a suitor after all. But then again, who would have requested, and further actually acquired, an audience with her?

She couldn't help but bring the stallion into a trot for the last metres or so, pulling gently to have the obedient horse stop just by the guard and this foreign man. Though she did not dismount just yet, preferring the higher ground for more reasons than one.
And she couldn't help but scrutinise him.

She had to admit. He was quite a comely man, for a peasant, after all. His dark hair came to the nape of his neck and framed a face with a sharp sloping jawline, dusted with the beginnings of a light, neatly kept stubble. There was almost - dare she say - an innocence about his features. Something about him that put her at ease, though perhaps it was that he was a simple young man, and not the son of a noble, with whom she would have to be stiff and ever courteous with.

"Good morning, Alain." she chirped in greeting to the castle guard whom she recognised just by one look at his face.
He offered a bow in response, followed by the customary 'Your Highness', expression stony and unreadable as ever, and began to speak again, "His Highness has sent this man to..." he faltered for just a second, clearing her throat before continuing to speak. "His Highness has sent this man to be your personal attendant, milady." he spat the words out as if they were venom, with an obvious reluctance in his voice. Roxanne could see he was clearly unamused.

Though that didn't stop her from bringing a hand to her face to try and cover up a smile, even a tiny laugh. She scanned the man from head to toe one final time before speaking to him with hooded eyes, curious hazel meeting resolved brown(?) and a refined however almost condescending tone, "Yes, yes, my father may be the jester he thought himself to be in his youth. May I ask you to state your true business with me, sir? It would appear I am the only one who has yet to entwine myself in this intricate joke my father is playing..."

Wolf Manor

Jiggly!
Someone give that man a black marker.

Royally Enchanted [MyCatGinger + Summer]

Standing at 5'6", with fair skin, raven hair and olive green eyes, she possesses an exotic combination and the best of her parents' features from both the north and south of the land.

Roxanne

Age
20

Gender
Female

Race
Human

Family
Father: Cedric
Mother: Tiana (Deceased)
Younger sister: Serra (Deceased)
Older brother: Brandon

Short Biography
Roxanne was born in the lap of luxury, in a period of time where the kingdom of Miroin was in its prime, and prosperity was all she knew for the first part of her privileged childhood. However, at around three years of age, an event involving magic took the lives of both her young mother and her younger sister, leaving her and her older brother Brandon the only children with a father driven to grief and extreme paranoia, thereafter banning the use of magic throughout the kingdom and enforcing strict laws against its usage, with equally devastating punishments. As this rule was set in place, the use of magic in other kingdoms grew and harmoniously existed with the lifestyles there, leaving the kingdom of Miroin in the dust and falling into ruin. It didn't help that, after a certain point in time, though unknown to Roxanne just exactly when, constant magical attacks depleted the king's best armies and thrust the kingdom into a miserable situation.
The kingdom now is quite weak in its standing as compared to other kingdoms, and deserted by allies more powerful than itself, stands on weak ground. It is also heavily in debt.

Roxanne however remained oblivious to most of this. Or rather, she chose to strategically avoid discussion concerning it, because most of it was directed towards her elder brother, as their father grew old and at 25, he was next in line. Being too young to really have realised when her mother passed away, she grew up with several caretakers whom she grew quite attached to, though with the kingdom's current state, even personal attendants became a rare commodity. She insisted she had absolutely no need for one, but was forced to comply with her father's desires when he wished one for her, especially at this age when her brother might go away any day, and her father might pass away, from either the stress of his heart or one of the aforementioned magical attacks aiming to take his life.

She grew up mostly around the kingdom and a particular surrounding town, begging and pleading and batting her eyelashes to be let out whenever the opportunity presented itself. It is for that very reason (and she claims the classes she was tutored in concerning the land's geography were absolutely useless) she knows the surrounding region much better than if she was locked up in the castle, though as of late, her father has been exercising a stronger hold on her, leaving her more frustrated and more desperate than ever to get out.

Other
She lays her claims on one horse in particular in the stables, a grey stallion named Wind, whom she prefers to ride whenever possible. She also feels at ease in presence of this stallion, and with a weapon in hand. Though bulky weapons like swords or axes are far from suited to her, she has managed to sneak in and be tutored in the usage of a bow and arrow, and though she's clumsier with it and reluctant to use it at all times, a tiny dagger, courtesy of one very paranoid father.

Wolf Manor

I'm here too! :D
Just waiting on Cops and Bliss, and I'm sure we'd be happy to put in a placeholder (speaking on their behalf)!
Just stuff coming up, ya dig, J-dawg? Gang? ^^
We will reconvene shortly.

Wolf Manor

I only saw that one live action movie, but other than that, the cartoons are all I remember, know and love from my childhood. :') Memories.
Jinkies, gang!

As for Cops and Bliss, I'll be a quick part of that post too I believe! Well, since Bliss and Cops mainly take the stage and they happen to encounter Lynn at the lake anyway...

I'll fill out the questionnaire post this last collab post if you don't mind, Mr Jig, because I've just spent seven and a half hours total at a beauty salon getting dolled up for an event this Friday.
I have to wear a pretty dress. This news does not bode well for us.
Evelynn might be able to do it. I most definitely can't.

And so the cast of The Wolf Manor continue to experience their own little Wolf Manor-esque slices of life.
I sure hope I don't encounter any yellow drinks at this event.

Wolf Manor

@Kirah

Really? Oh my o.o I'll definitely ask when I'm in a rut. For now, I'm getting my characters and my bearings straight, whew. It's tough planning it all out...

@Callthecops

Bliss has gone off to enjoy her super awesome trip with her company and I'm so jealous, but she'll have so many great stories to tell when she's back! :D
As for Marci, she's having breakfast. I'm not sure if Gray can just fireman carry her to the lake but we should wait for her if Gray said he'd take her...
Lynn will be at the lake for a good while so don't worry! :)