Rodiak

🗡 Roses and Daggers 🎕

_{S i r A l d e n D r a k e P l a n n i n g t o n
S i r A l d e n D r a k e P l a n n i n g t o n}

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_{N a h i r A y s u n K a d i r
N a h i r A y s u n K a d i r}

_{collab between @Terrance420 and @Rodiak}

"Alden Plannington?" Royal advisor to Caesonian Kingdom. Nahir smiled as she placed a hand over his, her fingers tingling when her skin came in contact with his, sending tiny sparks down her spine. Unsure if it was her, or if it had been the drink, she allowed herself to go along with it not daring to stop and question why she was feeling this way. Instead, she stepped closer to Alden ever so slightly.

"I'm Nahir Aysun." She traced her fingertips over his palm almost in a playful manner. "I was unaware that royal advisors would visit such establishments." She ignored the others around them, not even bothering to bat an eye in their direction. Right now, all Nahir wanted to drown in the warm brown eyes staring back at her. The more she looked, at more she wanted to reach out and glide her fingers through those soft curls on top of his head, maybe trail her nails on his bare back and ride — Stop. Don't think about that. Nahir, focus. Focus on those glorious lips... Her thoughts were starting to sound like they were not her own, but creators were they pleasant enough to almost give in to the temptation.

As her hands lightly trickled on Alden’s wrist and palm, goosebumps traveled across every inch of his body, freezing him up. Their eyes locked, putting him in a trance. All he imagined doing was to place his hands on her hips and pull her closer to him, to embrace the sensations and temptations that were overwhelming him at this moment. He gave a light smile and closed his eyes for a brief moment. Oh no no no, this is not like you at all, Alden. You are more poise and composed than this. Magic or not, this drink does not have that much control over you. It simply cannot, it simply canno…

Before his thought could be finished, he had opened his eyes again and noticed that her eyes were now staring at his lips, and this sent him over the top. It was now only him and her, no one else existed around them. …it… it simply can. He had then gently closed his hand, enclosing her hand in his palm while pulling her closer, and replied back to her comments, trying to be as suave as possible. “Nahir, what an absolute lovely name. I had just come back from a long trip, and my presence has been unannounced as of yet. I figured I would enjoy the festivities…” as he said this he rose her hand slowly and gave a light bow as a gesture while giving off a charming smile “...and embrace the evening for a while” he had finished whilst giving the back of her hand a light kiss.

The small gesture sent Nahir into a momentary bliss as his lips lightly graced her skin. She smiled at the compliment, sending a million butterflies to her stomach, making her feel like she was floating up high in the clouds. Like she was in some sort of romance novel, and she had just met her love interest. It was silly, Nahir knew that much, but it was real. Real enough that she could not look away from Alden as she slowly undressed him with her eyes.

"Allow me to welcome you back home, Alden." Nahir inched closer, a smirk playing on her lips. She wanted to feel his hands all over her and not just her hand. She wanted— needed him to pull her close and beg. To see him on his knees looking up at her with those warm eyes begging for her. Breath, woman. He's just some random man! ... a man I want to devour... She bit her lip, trying to stop the thoughts from running wild in her head. But even his voice was starting to sound so sweet in her ears. Their proximity to each other did not help; she could feel his breath almost tickling her ear and neck; it was sending her over the edge. "The night is still young. Would you like to accompany me for a drink? Perhaps we could embrace the evening together."

With a bite of his lip and a gleam in his eye, Alden rose her hand high and twirled her around, bringing her closer to him, with the two fully embraced now with his hand now resting on her hip. He simply stared at the beauty in front of him, admiring her body. His thoughts now ran wild with tainted thoughts. He wanted to feel her all over as lust had fully taken him over. He let out a small chuckle as he had thought to himself, Never had I imagined this would have occurred, especially tonight. Just try to relax and breathe. She’s someone you have never met before…. a woman… a gorgeous woman I want to dominate…

“I would certainly love to accompany you for another drink Nahir, the night is young indeed” . He pulled her hips even closer to his, with their lips just inches apart. He stared at her captivating eyes, and knew they shared the same carnal desire for each other. They shared this moment together, and any former thoughts of doubt completely washed away. Here and now, he was completely confident. He took his hand and brushed her hair back, and gently whispered in her ear, “ and perhaps, allow us to embrace the night somewhere else .”

Her breath caught in her throat when the world spun around her before coming to a stop in front of him. Her body flushed against his, with only thin silks and fabric stopping them from completely devouring each other. She brought her hand up and rested her palm over his chest as chills ran down her whole body feeling his lips brush against her ear. The yearning in the pit of her stomach only grew at his words, and she felt her knees go weak for a split second.

"May I suggest something else?" Nahir leaned forward, pressing her chest against his. The hand on his chest moved up and around his neck until his curls brushed against her fingers. The pure lust and desire in her eyes reflected on his and only drew Nahir in until their lips were closer than before. "Why don't we skip the drinks?" She looked at him through hooded eyes full of nothing but want for him. There was no reason to hide their cravings for each other or why they should not just give in to their desires. Each passing second was starting to feel excruciating as her thoughts continued to fill her head with everything Alden could do to her.

The tensions between the two created such a lustful and longing vibe for each other, as both wanted to indulge in nothing but sin and pleasure. The hand on his chest, their bodies so close, and the tantalizing look in her eyes compelled Alden even more. His grip on her hips became much more firm. With their lips this close, all he wanted to do was to engage passionately. He met her gaze with such conviction, bit his lip ever so slightly, and then looked at hers. “I believe that sounds like a lovely idea”

"Good." Nahir smiled and took his hand.

🗡 Roses and Daggers 🎕

_{♖ O U T F I T ♖}

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______________________________________ I N T E R A C T I O S N : @samreaper	______________________________________ M E N T I O N S :

Splaat!

Zarai stood there, just a few ways off the growing group, with her once pristine white blouse now covered in frosting and cupcake. She had been cheering on some of the people fighting in the ring but had decided to return to the bar for another "Fever Dream" drink but was stopped by a flying pastry. It hit her on the face, the delicious frosting sliding down to her cheek, down her neck, and into her blouse. She didn't know if it had been the fact her shirt was ruined, or if some of the delicious pastry now called her boobs a home, or if the heated fight in the ring had rubbed off on her, but she was fuming.

"Who. The. FUCK threw that cupcake?!" Her head immediately snapped towards the source of the pastry, eyes glaring at every single head in that group. She approached them with the cupcake still resting peacefully on top of her chest. Her eyes were immediately drawn to the only one screaming and writhing around the table, trying to fight himself. "Who threw the cupcake?" She narrowed her eyes at the group until she finally saw the cupcakes on the floor. The same frosting and stupid colors that were now staining her clothes lay on the floor under the masked blonde.

"You." Zarai pointed at the man calling himself estupido; she would agree with that. Although, pendejo would be a more suited term. With one hand, she forced the man onto his feet, unable to recognize the familiar voice and the cowlick that seemed to defy gravity.

"Que? Te quieres estar pegando como un estupido? Por que no te ayudo?" Zarai grabbed the cupcake still splattered on her and rubbed it against the man's mask, neck, and clothes. "Maldito imbecil." She pulled back with a laugh, eyes staying on the blonde, and although she had gotten even with the cupcake, there was still something in her that burned.

She had to release it. To just let it all go. Her hand twitched, but Zarai just kept staring at the man in front of her, now covered in the same breadcrumbs and frosting as her. Looking at him just made her angrier than before. How did his stupid hair keep going up? Why were there even pastries at this party?! Why was she so angry? Why did Zarai think it was a good idea to bring uncomfortable shoes to a place like this?

"You. Me. The ring. Now." Zarai finally said but didn't wait for a response. She grabbed the front of his shit, ignoring the frosting, and began to pull him towards the ring and away from the group.

🗡 Roses and Daggers 🎕

_{P R I N C E F E L I X C A M I L I A
P R I N C E F E L I X C A M I L I A}

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_{S I R M A T H I A S L A R S E N
S I R M A T H I A S L A R S E N}

_{collab between @Mole and @Rodiak}

After excusing himself from Lady Damien, Mathias made his way from the dance floor to one of the few wine tables. Once reaching his destination, he took one of the many glasses laid out before turning to face the dance floor. His eyes scanned the various faces and lavishly dressed people around the ballroom to distract himself from the two first dances of the season. While he had enjoyed dancing with Lady Vikena and Damien, something had felt off about it. Mathias knew there had been nothing wrong about them or what they had said, but he knew the feeling had originated within him. He could not pinpoint what it was or why he felt that way, but the more he thought of it and tried to figure out why the more uneasy he grew.

To distract himself, Mathias downed the first glass of wine in one breath, ignoring the stinging in his throat. One or two nobles noticed him drinking the red liquid like water, but none of them said anything of the matter, even as he reached for a new glass. But instead of drinking the second, he stared down at it, wondering when exactly the feeling deep in his stomach came to be.

The wine was clearly something very special, and Prince Felix having thought it was about time for himself to at least indulge in it a little (never to the extent of his companions), left Lord Lorenzo and Lady Crystal. He had other conversations to pursue, but leaving himself empty would start to prove an unwise decision as the party carried further into the night. The prince made his way towards the serving table (having no server offer him any as was typical in these sort of events). His mind quickly abandoned the remands of his previous conversation as he found Sir Mathias drinking the liquid in a shocking abundance.

“The wine is very special, is it not Sir Mathias,” he asked the man as he took his own glass. The prince took his attention from the older gentleman and toyed with the rich, red color inside the glass. He tipped the delicate stem towards himself and made a small sniff of the liquid. He admired it respectfully, glanced at the man and then took a sip. “It really paints the mood of the evening,” he continued as he dangled the ideas of Lady Thea and Lord Lorenzo in his mind’s eye. He could not be bothered to surrender himself to such a foolishly golden state. He had his own priorities to uphold. But, alas, there were countless others who had succumbed to the joy, and now, Sir Mathias appeared to be rosying his cheeks, as well.

"Your Highness—" A startled Mathias almost dropped the sweet liquid over him. He cleared his throat before setting the glass down and bowing deeply before the prince. "It is quite special, the first time I've had Caesoanian red wine. Although I must admit, I have not allowed myself to taste it." He gave the prince a sheepish smile as he rose from the bow. Had he known that Prince Felix would be visiting the tables, he would have resisted the urge to down the glass as he had. He only hoped Prince Felix did not think of him as an alcoholic.

"How has the night treated you, Your Highness?" He picked up the glass of wine again but refrained from taking a sip of it for now. Instead, he looked at the Prince briefly, stealing a quick glance at the delicate features. "I hope both dances were to your liking."

“The wine, while not as smooth and eloquent as the Varian fruit, is not something to be overlooked,” he admitted generously, trying to overlook Sir Mathias’ reluctant display. “The evening could simply be summed up as such. My dance with Lady Thea went well…” he concluded.

It was rather embarrassing to mention anything negative about Lady Thea. To do such a thing was like Prince Felix talking about someone else altogether. While, Sir Mathias was a good man and had always offered a mentor’s advice when prompted by the prince, there was something dark that kept him from opening up to anyone about this subject. And, even if he had the sudden ease to say something, now would not be the time. Besides, the dance could have been worse. He had many scenarios bookmarked in his mind over how things could have gone wrong, and (thankfully) none of those scenarios made a show of themselves.

“I could not be more honored to have such an elegant and elite intellectual of a Lady,” he continued after taking a sip of his wine. “She is quite beautiful, with a remarkable sense of will. Many times, it is as if I am under the spell of her charms,” Prince Felix made a smile, pondering in his own words of faux charm. “And what about yourself, Sir Mathias?” The Prince lowered his glass and studied the knight. “How has the evening treated you?” He asked, having already concluded a negative answer by the wiles of how the knight was drinking with such an embarrassing hand.

Mathias resisted the urge to look around the room in search of Lady Smithwood. The halls of the Varian castle spoke and whispered of her new habits after her father's disappearance. It had been the talk of the year, no one who lived or worked there was able to get away from the topic. He wondered at times if her engagement to Prince Felix had been a wise one, then he remembered that it wasn't his place to think of such things. "I am glad to hear that, Your Highness. Nothing short of perfect, I am sure." The knight smiled.

"Ah," Mathias could not say that it had been a lovely experience as the Prince had already seen him swallowing down a full glass of wine like nothing. Lying would only make him bad, more than he already was at the moment anyway. "It was quite an experience," This was his first time outside of Varian and his first-ever extravagant ball, so his words were truthful. "Lady Vikena and Lady Damien were wonderful dance partners." He took a sip of the wine, finally tasting the sweet liquor, and realized that Prince Felix was right about the wine.

The small amount of wine that the prince had tasted was enough to ease the nerves, tense in him. He enjoyed the touch of Lady Thea Smithwood, but the feeling was something vacant and distant. He could not outline the darkness. However, right now, as he spoke to Sir Mathias, there was a small spark. He noticed the spark many times when associating with the knight. Right now, his pale words were like feeding a dying light. He had felt this same sensation earlier when making small talk with Lord Lorenzo and Princess Crystal.

“The way you are consuming your liquor, I can only wonder what the experience was like,” Prince Felix tried to jest in his own, dark tone, but much like his fencing, he came off as sharp and a little condescending. He wondered about Sir Mathias as much as he could. The man was ruthlessly loyal and compassionate about the ones for which he cared, especially after the departing of his most beloved.

Prince Felix has not the patience or time to feel such emotions. He kept everyone within swords length and truly concealed much of what he truly thought and felt to himself. He took another sip, slightly larger than the last, if it made a difference to anyone watching. “Lady Thea is a wonderful dance partner, as well,” he hinted, momentarily, with his guard down and trying to diffuse any presumptions he had illiteously inquired within his previous comment. The last thing he wanted was Sir Mathias to fall apart on him. It was the first of events like this for him, and now was obviously not the time. “I dismissed the first dance, solely to observe. There are some wonderful dancers all around us, but that is to be expected,” he mused.

Mathias smiled at the Prince's words, letting a small chuckle escape past his lips. He had known Prince Felix long enough to understand the man's sense of humor, and he did, in fact, have one. "Worry not, Your Highness, I assure that both ladies had nothing to do about the amount of wine I've been consuming." He did not, however, discuss the reasons why he was drinking in such a way. Mathias wished to prevent souring their conversation or bring about any sort of awkwardness. Besides, he himself did not understand the reason nor the source of the feeling that now lived deep within him.

"I hope the first dance was entertaining enough; I did notice your absence on the dance floor and Her Highness too." He glanced down at the wine glass in the Prince's hand, wondering if both were trying to drink away their worries away. He was bout to inquire about the subject when King Edin's voice interrupted his thoughts.

After the small speech, he turned to look at Prince Felix, "Shall I escort you to the guest house, Your Highness?" Mathias may be attending as a guest, but his job to the crown and the royal family came first. Although, he would not take it to heart if the prince decided to head over by himself. It gave him some time to gather his thoughts and try to process the events of today. Perhaps even plan a small walk around the halls with his son, knowing that the boy would not be close to sleep right now.

“Of course,” Prince Felix asserted. He did not bother to finish his glass of wine. Instead, he merely placed it on the table for someone in the staff to discard and clean.

As the two men began taking their leave of the grand event, the Prince continued the conversation. “If you do not mind my asking,” he began, deciding swiftly not to make jovial of the event. It was unlikely to be taken with as much heart. “What brought you to consume so much wine, last minute at that?”

Taken back a tad with the Prince's question, Mathias was unsure how to answer him. There had not been an external reason as to why he suddenly downed a whole glass of wine. It was out of character for him; the knight did have to admit that, but there wasn't really anything he could say that would satisfy the Prince's curiosity. "Impulse, though I am not sure." He glanced over at the Prince, hoping to see another teasing look on his porcelain-like features. When he found none, he continued, "I— I have been struggling with some internal conflicts, none that would invalidate my responsibilities as the Captain of the Royal Guard. It is my first grand event since my wedding as well, and I am afraid the thought of it finally caught up to me." The statement was partly true. Mathias always avoided lying to Prince Felix, but he could not exactly explain the feeling he was struggling with because he had no way of doing so.

As the two gentlemen continued to walk, Prince Felix considered what Sir Mathias was saying. He thought about their fencing matches, which had been nonetheless favorable on the Prince’s side for the most part. At times, a man’s swordsmanship reflected his inner character, and despite his perception, had noticed nothing at the heart of the knight’s changing demeanor. There had been a time when the knight had proven guilty with despair, back when he was younger. However, now seemed hardly the time to bring this up.

“Perhaps it is not my place to inquire any further, then,” the young prince said with lingering curiosity. Sir Mathias had always lent an ear during their time together, not that he had made too many confessions — as a more stoic individual, but among the times in which he had, he had not regretted it. Now, if he lent his own ear to Sir Mathias, he would only be returning the favor. “And, perhaps, it is not my place to make such a statement, you ought not hide your embarrassment, because we all have our inner struggles. I can assure you, you are not the only one. If you care to share anything with me, I would dare not judge such a fine mentor as yourself,” he spoke in reference to his dearest Lady Thea. Although, he might as well have spoken of himself. And he dared not say anything of his own predicament to any soul, but thought nothing similar to how Sir Mathias might respond. It was his duty to listen, after all.

They had approached the guest house now, there were a few lingering nobles and guards outside mingling, but Mathias paid no attention to them. The knight looked over at the Prince, surprised at the words of support he had offered the knight. He smiled, bowing his head in gratitude. "I assure Your Highness I will not hesitate to share my troubles when I finally find the words to do so." He stopped short from the entrance to the guest house and turned to face the Prince. "In the meantime, I shall follow your advice—"

"Papa!" A little blond boy dressed in blues and browns came running towards them and wrapped his arms around Mathias's leg. Not too far after him, an older lady came running behind the boy with a worried look on her face. When she saw Mathias, her features relaxed but quickly took notice of Prince Felix's presence and curtsied.

Mathias smiled at Mary, his son's nanny, before turning his attention down to the boy. "Lukas," The knight allowed his shoulders to relax as he crouched down and took one of his hands. "Say hello to His Highness, honey."

Lukas glanced up at Prince Felix and hid behind his father. When Mathias gently pushed him forward, the boy shyly bowed, "Hello, Y-Your High... High..." He took a deep breath and held his father's hand tightly before speaking again. "Hello, Your Highness." He smiled proudly.

“Ah, gentle Lukas,” the prince gave a nod and a smile. He knelt down to meet the young boy at eye level, “Take care of your father. He’s a good man,” a smirk drew on the man’s face as he commanded the boy, both looking into each other’s eyes. Prince Felix stood up and bowed to the knight. “I should be able to make it to my room on my own from here. Thank you for your service, as always.”

"Yes, Your Highness." Lukas nodded slowly, bowing again and stepping next to his father, and glared at anyone that got too close to them. Mathias chuckled as he stood up again and faced the Prince. Not long ago Lukas would have run away at the sight of the prince. There were certain people the boy was scared of, and one of them had been the prince. Even with Varrick, he had been so shy to even look at the man. Granted, Varrick could look quite scary at times.

"No need to thank me. Have a good night, Your Highness." He could see Lukas bow too next to him.

“Have a good night as well, Sir Mathias,” with that, Prince Felix concluded their conversation for the evening and went his way.

🗡 Roses and Daggers 🎕

_{♛ O U T F I T ♛
L O C A T I O N : Marek's Afterparty}

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______________________________________ I N T E R A C T I O S N : @Potter , @Terrance420	______________________________________ M E N T I O N S : @samreaper , @princess , @Helo , @Alivefalling

"Dear sister Nahir, I was never someone to enjoy alcohol that much, but you got yourself quite the drink, didn't you?"

Nahir had been so mesmerized by the pretty rose petals floating on the gold liquid to realize her sister had crept up to the bar next to her. "Quite intriguing, is it not. I've never seen something quite like this." She swirled the glass, watching the petals dance before taking a sip and waving as Mayet left with her own pretty golden drink. The drink itself tasted of grapefruit and apples, a combination she had not had yet, and while the former fruit was a bit too bitter for her taste, the apple seemed to balance it out.

She took her time with her drink as she survived the place. A warehouse like this with this sort of event must have a rich and influential host with enough power to keep their warehouse of pleasures secret. Nahir spotted Anastasia walking out of one of the rooms with a tall man, but the lights from the magical projections shone in her eyes as she tried to catch a glimpse of him. He looked important and carried himself as much anyway, so Nahir pushed herself away from the bar after finishing her drink and made her way to Anastasia.

Salt and pepper hair and a beard to match with. Broad shoulders, tall, and despite the lack of light, she managed to make out some detailing on his suit. Nahir's eyes wandered down his back to his shoes but stopped shortly after seeing those buns of—

Was she checking him out? Focus, Nahir. It was only one drink. Besides, he was old. His hair was already graying! Oh, but did it look like a glorious mess that her fingers could run through. Maybe even pull while she—

"Focus." Nahir peeled her eyes away from them — the buns — as he disappeared up the stairs, and she approached the forming group around the bubbly princess. Leo was there too with a few others she did not recognize. Other nobles?

And then a blonde man with one of the masks began to... slap himself? On top of a table. Over cupcakes. And yet, Nahir couldn't help but stare at the scene unfold before her. With every slap and every slam of his head, her cheeks grew darker and darker. The disheveled blonde hair caught the colorful magical lights with every slam as sweat beads formed on the idiot's forehead. And the rage, of the rage in his eyes, drew her towards the mess that was that man.

"Who is that? Why is he calling himself estupido?" Nahir had walked up next to one of the men around the table. He was a bit taller than her with dark curly hair and brown eyes. Under this lighting, they looked so dark, as dark as his hair. Gods did Nahir want to touch his hair."Alden, was it?" She smiled, giving him a once over before returning her eyes to his. "Friend of the princess?"

🗡 Roses and Daggers 🎕

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_{N A H I R & Z A R A I}

She could feel the vibrations of the music as the group made their way down the secret door to the party. It was unlike anything she had heard before, but the strange rhythm and catchy beat only made her footsteps faster, and belly fill with anticipation. She refused a mask, wondering if a mere face covering would really hide her identity when her dark skin would give her away. It wouldn't matter, not here anyway. Tittles had been left behind as soon as they all stepped foot inside.

The lights, the music, the people, everything was unlike anything she had seen or experienced before, and Nahir was loving it all. She allowed herself to bask in the changing lights that seemed to be emitting from an unknown source but decided to pay no mind to them once the princess removed that stuffy robe.

"Hot damn, cupcake, you really did not come here to play." Nahir looked back to glare at one of the ladies that had snuck out with them. The scent of the familiar herbs still clung to her skin as she pushed past the Alidasht princess and towards Anastasia.

"Seriously, I can't believe this exists here!" Nahir did not know who this woman was, nor what her title was, but she supposed it did not matter right now. She was wearing dark trousers with a simple white blouse and a red corset over it, along with one of the white masks they had offered. A rather strange combination, Nahir thought as she walked closer to her siblings.

"It is a rather peculiar discovery. Who would have thought that a country so deprived of pleasures would have such scandalous celebrations." Nahir glanced at Mayet and Munir, a smirk playing on her lips. She'd been disappointed to hear that Saiya and, later on, Layla would not be joining them at the party but had promised to catch them up tomorrow morning. She was not very keen on drinking too much tonight, seeing as she was planning to tour the castle gardens early in the morning before anyone else awoke. A drink or two would suffice.

"And that is what I was just thinking!" The girl with the corset spoke up again in her direction. Nahir just looked at her, eyeing the woman before turning her attention to the bar. The colors and various bottles lined up on the wall called to her, beckoning her to come closer for something that would soothe the nerves. She didn't resist the urge one bit as she approached the bar.

Zarai rolled her eyes when one of the Alidasht princesses ignored her, not caring much for it as she grinned back at Anastasia. "Seriously, this is amazing. Can't believe this was kept from me for so long!" She laughed as she finally realized Kazu was also in their presence. While the effects of the drug were starting to wear off it only meant that it was time to indulge in another vice.

"Well, cupcake, hope to see more of you later." She winked at the princess before rushing to the middle of the room, instantly grinning up at the various lights that filled her vision. Magic! This must be magic. She laughed as she continued to walk further in, eyes darting from light to light until she found herself by the bar. Across from her, Zarai heard one of the Alidasht princesses order.

"Douse the Thirst, please." Seconds later the red drink was brought to her. She could see the rose petals swirling around a tiny crescent moon from her seat. Amazing! Zarai thought, making sure to make a mental note that she would no longer complain about trips to Sorian ever again if she'd get to experience this again.

"A Fever Dream for me." Zarai waved down the lady behind the bar, winking at her as she waited for her drink. The sound of fighting finally caught her attention, turning to face a boxing match in one of the room's corners. Her eyes immediately perked up as she stood on her tip-toes to try to get a better view from afar.

After the drink was done and placed in front of her, Zarai thanked the woman and scooped it up without looking at it. Clearly too distracted by the fighting as she approached and sipped her drink, hips swaying from side to side at the beat of the music.

🗡 Roses and Daggers 🎕

Nahir & John

Second dance

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Music had already begun when Nahir and John arrived at the dance floor. She took a deep breath and lifted her arms in position to wait for Doctor Williamson. Layla, and John himself, had mentioned that he was not the best at dancing. She didn't mind, not much anyway; back home, dances were more intricate and lively than the Caesoanian waltz. The waltz in this kingdom was slow, precise, and intimate. Alidasht favored the movement of the whole body. Hands, feet, hips, and even the face were part of the dances themselves. Saur was known for their expressive dances, and the skill to perform them was no walk in the park.

Perhaps thankfully for both of them, the waltz this time around was slower, so the doctor’s inexperience with dancing didn’t hinder both of them too much. John led the dance this time around, slower but trying much to adhere to Layla’s advice: letting loose and go with the flow. Nevertheless, he was still less expressive in his own dance move, being more of a pillar to assist the Shehzadi in her dance. Like how a good doctor should.

Nahir wondered if the Sultan would ever consider holding a season in Alidasht. Would their guest be able to withstand the Genasean heat? Despite the city's proximity to the sea, the summers could be unbearable to foreigners, especially those hailing from Varian. Although, it would benefit the kingdom great to host such an event. The season could allow Alidasht to show off its wealth and power- show both Varian and Caesonia that the peace has not weakened them and, in fact, show how much stronger Alidasht and her people have become.

"Doctor Williamson," She began, "would you ever be interested in visiting Alidasht?"

Visiting Alidasht…a place of mystery that were told mostly in books, historical records and hearsay, but when it comes to actually stepping foot on their soil, or just the thought of it, John didn’t have existing desires for that, perhaps due to how occupied he had been throughout the last few years.

”I wouldn’t say I have plans to before, but Alidasht is a curious place,” John replied. ”and I’m a curious man. So yes, I would love to be a visitor.” Not just to enjoy the beautiful country, but to learn about it too, or rather dispel whatever rumors circulating about the land. He enjoyed direct observations, not hearsay passed between individuals. ”What would you…say…recommend a new visitor like me, who has never been there before, do in Alidasht?”

Nahir had been warned about the doctor's dancing, so she was pleasantly surprised to see that Doctor Williamson was not as terrible as she had imagined. Perhaps with a bit of practice, he could become a decent dancer. Although, the idea of seeing John perform one of the Alidasht dances amused her.

Pleased with his answer, she nodded and followed his lead. "Curiosity is always welcomed in Alidasht. The temples of Genasea, as well as the libraries, are always my first recommendation to new visitors." She continued, "Kisoma, one of the cities of the north of Genasea, has the largest University and libraries if you are looking to visit s more knowledge-filled place." Talking about her home made her heart ache; she already missed the noisy, busy streets, the music, and the smells. Nahir especially missed the warm beaches.

”Oh Kisoma? I’ve heard of the place.” John nodded, his pitch went up a notch upon hearing something familiar. ”We had some outbound scholarly trip to Kisoma. I heard it’s been like that for a while, not sure how long. The weather is quite temperate there, isn’t it?” Relative to the rest of Alidasht of course. Would still be significantly hotter than Varians or Caesonians were used to, and probably a lot more so for the pale beavers of the North like John, but eh, he’s been to other places, he’d probably manage. ”Is that why the big university is at Kisoma?”

"One of the few reasons, yes." She nodded, "Kisoma had always been a major city- a gathering hub, its location perfect for hosting foreign convoys from the North and South alike." Nahir had been enjoying their casual conversation so far. She had always enjoyed the company of academics and scholars, and John was no different. After a spin, Nahir smiled up at the doctor.

"It was there where I first laid eyes on a beautiful Caesonian gown." The fabric and style had been so different from what she was accustomed to, not to mention the amount of material! Since that day, Nahir had begun to pull inspiration from the other kingdom's fashion into her own, creating the unique styled she was now wearing.

”Ooh?” Her mention of the Caesonian gown was a cool little detail. Indeed, just as he noticed on the balcony earlier, she blended really well with Caesonian dresses. It is an entirely different style on its own, honestly difficult for John to imagine anyone imitating, and his opinion was of that people shouldn’t anyway. Not the people who thought slapping a bunch of jewelries on make you look royal, or putting a hood on make you look mysterious and cool.

”I will say that you had great taste, your highness. I don’t mean to flatter, but to integrate well with our-I mean Caesonian fashion is…” He looked up for a second for a good word. ”tricky. Believe me, I’m wearing a bit of that.” And he looked like that long-nosed doll from that play. John slowed down the waltz for a bit just to have a clear look at Nahir. ”So yeah, you look fantastic tonight.”

"You flatter me, nonetheless, Doctor." Nahir chose to leave John's small slip up for a later day; not wanting to sour their dance with personal questions as to why he did not finish with "our". Although she became intrigued about it, she smiled at his words. "It is a hassle to dress for such occasion, especially with three different kingdoms meeting in one place. Fashion is a bit all over the place." Though, she wondered what John would look like in traditional Alidasht garb- and if he would be open to the idea.

”I can’t agree more with that.” John broke out a laugh as he continued his waltz, swirling around a bit. ”They say that fashion is personality you can buy, so naturally everyone wants something that shines on themselves best.” Some most shining examples include the vampire Leo, the ‘literally blinding’ prince Felix, the constellation princess Beatrice, the half-man half-metal Roman. And then there’s John, the ‘I’m not even gonna try, I’m just gonna wear variations of this until I’m dead’.

"It is often that I see the clothes wear the individual rather than them wearing the clothes," Nahir joined his laugh, as her reflexes took over and held tighter as they began to swirl but had no trouble matching the doctor's lead. "Although I must say, there is a lot one could learn from only looking at what a person is wearing." She did not give any examples, deciding to spare those few nobles and royals' attire from her judgment.

But what about John’s? He wasn’t necessarily insecure about how he looks, but what Nahir said piqued his curiosity for certain. ”Any examples in your mind? If you’re worried about us Northern decorum…” He lifted a hand from her shoulder, twisted his wrist once before laying on his chest. ”Don’t worry, you can let me know about how I look. I’m unceremonious, numb to getting judged, so you can be as honest as you like.” His laughter continued, perhaps a little too laid back or even unaware about something that might intonate a darker personal topic on his part.

Nahir's lips parted as if to scold him for saying those words so easily but instead decided to smile at the doctor. She slowed down, much like he had when he'd taken a closer look at her, and began to assess the doctor. Although his clothes were plain and the colors neutral, she could tell they were made by experienced hands, which meant they were supposed to last longer than one use. There was no colored trim, no gold, no fancy buttons or jewels used to adorn himself. "Very well, doctor," Nahir nodded, "The lack of jewelry and practical clothes tell me you were not born into nobility. Yet, you stand out against the gold and colorful outfits of others here, and you do not seem to care or be concerned about it. The material, it's sturdy and made to last years tells me you are more concerned about the clothes being functional over fashionable." She smiled again, "Though, I must admit that I may be cheating- our conversation before told me enough to say you are a passionate man when it comes to your work."

John listened to Nahir’s assessment, and he had to say it was fairly…obvious? It wasn’t just his personal taste of simplicity and convenience for the costume, it’s also a practical choice scientifically. It wasn’t obvious yet to everybody, but Varian Royal Physicians were beginning to dress with less jewelry due to a recent publication indicating the existence of certain microorganism that can stick on gemstones and other jewels. Doesn’t stop them from flashing their titles on their clothes if they wanted to, but that was the case.

But her assessment wasn’t wrong either. He stood out amongst the nobles for his bloodline, but amongst the servants as well for his standings. He’s comfortable in his own skin, and proud of it, his work and personal growth.
”Thank you, your highness. It makes my day to hear that.” He smiled happily.

"I-" Yelling interrupted her as some noble began to scream at one of the servants. Her pace slowed down as she turned her head to look at the source of the commotion. "Looks like this evening is full of drama, is it not? Almost feels like it will never end." Her first thought already forgotten.

The distressing yell was not lost on John either. He saw from the corner of his eyes some nobles kneeling, but he was far enough to not make of anything else. ”Ayy, yeah. It always is.” He sighed, as he too slowed down and gently separated from Nahir’s grip. ”Allow me a moment, I’ll see if everyone’s ok.”

He bowed hastily before rushing towards the commotion. The more he moved towards the commotion, the less severity it appeared to be, and the more he regretted that decision. He arrived outside the crowd, trying to peer over the other nobles watching, hearing someone blaming someone else, and then complaining about her dress being ruined. Ok then, there goes nine out of ten reason for him to care. Just some halfwitted nobles too high up in the clouds…

“This is why you should never hire commoners! No work ethics! Inherently lazy! You do the bare minimum work and expect to get paid handsomely for it! Even though you can’t even do the simplest task!”

’Hmm…’

And the tenth reason should go with him too. But it stayed with him for a bit. John was still listening to the barrage of contamination. His ankle tapped onto the floor in restless repetition and his breathe hung heavy. He wanted to speak up, but something within him prevented him from doing so. Instead, he just stood there, something quietly building within him. Thankfully, prince Callum interjected before anything drastic happened.

Oh yeah…it’s been a while since…John had to come by and say hi at some point. For now, he just turned and left, forcing his way through the crowd that he now considered a human cesspool, making his way back to Nahir, shaking his head quickly a few times in the process.

”Sorry for that. Nothing major happened. Just…idiots I suppose.” He said once he arrived. ”If you don’t mind continuing…” He was about to offer the Shehzadi a hand until he heard the typical ending chorus to the waltz. There wouldn’t be much more to continue. ”Nevermind, we’re ending. A shame we couldn’t end it more smoothly.”

"No need to apologize, Doctor," She smiled, shaking her head a bit just as the ending of the song played. "A shame, indeed." Nahir glanced back to the now diffused situation, one eyebrow arched after hearing the shrieking noble. She turned back to face John, an easy smile returning to her lips.

"It was a pleasure to dance with you, Doctor Williamson. I hope we can get a chance to do so again, but this time without an interruption." She wanted to glare at the noble that had so rudely stopped their dance but decided against it, at least, until the doctor was gone.

”Doubly so for me, Shehzadi Nahir.” He replied in kind. ”I hope so too. You can always ask me, I’m always around. For any business, appointment or just wanna chat, I’ll be more than happy to accommodate.” Then gave a deep bow, like when he did with Layla. ”Take care!” And a friendly goodbye wave.

"You as well, doctor." Nahir smiled, returning the wave before departing from the dance floor.

🗡 Roses and Daggers 🎕

_{♖ O U T F I T ♖}

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______________________________________ I N T E R A C T I O S N :	______________________________________ M E N T I O N S :

With her head in the clouds and floating feet, Zarai had somehow wandered to a small group of ladies talking amongst themselves. Well, more gossiping about the events that had transpired in such a short amount of time. Zarai paid no mind to them, not that she could really. Their voices were all blending into one as she stared at the ornate designs of one of the ladies' skirts. The subtle greens and blues blended perfectly with the silver that adorned the fabric. Zarai almost wanted to reach down and touch the material, but despite the high, she still did not wish to cause a scene.

"Lady Lesdeman?" Zarai snapped out of her trance, green eyes looking up to the lady looking directly at her. Was it Lady Snufflebottom? She didn't remember her name. "Would you mind telling us your inspiration for..." the woman looked up and down at her, "your... suit? The emerald green is gorgeous on you, and the white trousers- something we have not seen before." The other ladies nodded and leaned in closer to Zarai, awaiting her answer.

"Uh-" She blinked, looking around to see the group of ladies looking at her and expecting an answer. "My brain? I... I mean, inspiration just flows through me, ladies; painting and sketching are simply not enough, and thus I've decided to bring my art into my clothes." She laughed softly, sipping from the cranberry juice she had ordered moments before approaching the group. Wine would not be the best right now, and while Zarai was always up to some chaos, she did not want to further cloud her mind with alcohol.

There were a few "ooh"s and "ahh"s from the group, but Lady Snufflebottom just nodded, eyes locked on hers, and it was starting to make Zarai feel funny. "Of course, I can share some of my sketches with you if you would like. I have a lot that could " she offered, hoping that the lady would ease up on the staring.

"Luzero?" Zarai's back tensed at the sound of her mother's voice. Oh fuck. She turned around to see her mother standing directly behind her; Duchess Lesdeman closed the fan and slapped it against her palm before signaling Zarai to follow her. With no other words, she turned around and began to make her way away from the group without looking back to see if her daughter was following or not.

"Excuse me, ladies." Zarai bowed before hurrying after her mother.

"Where is your dress? The one that I commissioned for you?" The Duchess looked at Zarai from the corner of her eyes, glaring at her daughter's outfit as if it had slapped her mother. "I always buy you such nice things and you continue to change them and completely ruin them. Zarai, you are a lady for Creator's sake, act like one. If you are to marry after this season it should be in your best interest to act like a proper lady. I should have listened to Queen Alibeth and sent you to a boarding school here. Caesonian values are much more suitable for a lady of your standing."

"It was stuffy." Zarai shrugged a shoulder, ignoring the patronizing tone of her mother's voice. Instead, she shoved her hands in the pockets of her trousers, looking for a minor distraction which she indeed found. A small piece of folded paper that was not there before, Zarai pulled it out while her mother continued to scold her as they walked.

Dear Zarai Lesdeman. The night has just begun. Come to 420 Wicker Street. It's the only warehouse in sight. Titles will be left at the door. Anyone who looks down on controversial ways of amusement, or who would inform who they shouldn't, shall not be invited. Tell no one you are going or where you are going

"Oh shit-"

"What?" Her mother stopped, and Zarai almost bumped into her mother, but trained feet and quick reflexes stopped her from doing so. She shoved the note into her mouth before her mother could turn to look at her. She shook her head quickly with an innocent smile; her mother just narrowed her eyes and turned back around to continue her lecture.

"You will dance this time, and you will not leave my sight for the rest of the night, Zarai Luzero." The Duchess finally stopped walking and turned to look at her daughter. Her dark eyes glared daggers down at her daughter. "I will find a man with a title and wealth. And if I cannot, I will fetch Lord Monet because I do not know a single man from Varian willing to dance with you after you've driven your reputation to the ground." Her words were like needles to Zarai. They were small and insignificant, but with enough of them and the right amount of pressure, they stung enough to make anyone shed a tear.

Zarai was no different. Although she had heard those words for years now in a myriad of ways in all tones one could possibly produce, the works stung like a snake's bite today. Tears began to swell up in her eyes but Zarau would curse herself if she allowed herself to cry in the presence of her mother. She bit her tongue, and a bit of the note, looking at her mother but unable to meet the cold gaze. Everything fiber of her body screamed for her to do something anything- but her body felt like she'd been thrown into the Northern Seas. All she could do was nod.

The Duchess took a deep breath before speaking again, "Zarai, I want the best for you. I want you to be happy, a proper lady in a good marriage with a respectable man who will continue to run Puerto Vira." Her voice had softened now, almost gentle and soothing, but Zarai could see through it all. "Stay here, okay? I'll find a nice gentleman for you." The Duchess took her daughter's hands and gently squeezed them before pulling back and walking away.

Zarai watched her mother and made sure she was out from sight before finally allowing herself to breathe and quickly spit out the note. "Your reputation bad, find you a man, run the city-" She rolled her eyes and pocketed the piece of paper. Her mother was right, though; she had to find a husband and not because of the Duchess's reasons, but because Zarai would not allow herself to be married off to whoever her mother wished.

Her nose continued to sting as tears threatened to spill. Luckily a distraction presented itself; the sound of the slap overtook the music. Zarai's head snapped to the growing commotion but dared to not move. She could not quite see what was going on from her position, only hearing a noblewoman complain and belittle a servant. She wanted to move, to step in or do something but the venomous words of her mother continued to echo in her mind.

🗡 Roses and Daggers 🎕

_{♖ O U T F I T ♖}

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______________________________________ I N T E R A C T I O S N : @samreaper	______________________________________ M E N T I O N S :

Zarai watched the man who she had bumped into frantically pick up the grapes. She thought he was going to offer to rinse them off, or just offer them back to her and she would have been perfectly happy to have them back. But no, instead the strange man with the funny hair began to juggle them even before she could stop him! Lady Lesdeman in return watched each grape fall back to the floor, each time gasping until her voice was nothing but the sound of a mouse.

"I could have still eaten those..." She picked up one of the grape that had been left untouched from the trail of her coat and popped it into her mouth staring at the man with narrowed eyes. "Tch." She rolled her eyes and stood up from her spot amongst the fallen grapes.

"Now you gotta pick those up," Zarai looked at him expectantly, one eyebrow raised but the coldness of her eyes had disappeared as quickly as it had come. Now, instead, it was replaced by slight amusement and a glint of mischievousness. She could tell that the man in front of her was no noble. No way. No one in high society would juggle 10 grapes just to please her or cheer her up. Some Lord would have called over one of the servants to clean it up and bring her a new plate. Zarai eyed him, looking into his eyes and scanning for anything fishy about him. She began to circle the man, fingertips tapping her chin and examining him carefully.

"While I appreciate your attempt to make me feel better how about instead of juggling those grapes to make it up to me, you help me with a little something?" Zarai grinned, using her index and middle finger to walk her hand from one of his shoulders to the other until she patted his arm. "I'm Zarai, by the way. And you are?" She looked up at his cowlick, "Curious."

🗡 Roses and Daggers 🎕

_{♖ O U T F I T ♖}

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______________________________________ I N T E R A C T I O S N : the poor soul that will face her wrath	______________________________________ M E N T I O N S :

The hallway from the main palace to the ballroom was often empty during festivities. Just a few ways away from one of the entrances to the ballroom, there was a broom closet that had gone unused for a few weeks now. The hall was empty aside from a few guards that lingered during patrols, and servants were too busy in the kitchens and ballroom to really notice anything. And for the right price, they would ignore anything suspicious.

Inside the broom closet, hushed whispers and shuffling of fabric could be heard inside. Miss Crane was still staring up at the closet ceiling, the once perfectly placed curls now framing her blushed face. In front of her, Lady Lesdeman adjusted the emerald floor-length coat, ignoring the disheveled silver decorations on the front.

"I think the first dance is over," The music had faded into a soft melody that filled the ballroom. Zarai looked at the other woman, smiling when she saw Miss Crane was still trying to catch her breath. With a smile, she reached up to gather the curls to one side and carefully tie it to the side with a green bow. "Elaine, we have to go." She leaned in and whispered as her hands worked on redoing the lace in the front of Miss Crane's dress.

"Huh?" Miss Crane finally looked at Zarai, watching as the Lady tried her best to fix her gown through hooded eyes. Slowly, Elaine came down from the high as she began to fix her own dress, trying to tie the lace with shaky fingers.

"Creators- that was amazing." Miss Crane laughed softly before looking at Zarai with a big grin. They had been talking by one of the large doors trying to avoid the "randomized" dance King Edin loved so much. Zarai had been so upfront that Miss Crane couldn't help herself and agree to their little getaway while everyone was distracted. "Lady Lesdeman I..."

"Shhh," Zarai covered her mouth quickly when she picked up the sound of footsteps approaching and didn't let go until they had vanished from the hall. "I'll go first; wait here a few minutes before going back to the ballroom." She winked at the other woman before leaving the tiny broom closet and shutting the door behind her before Miss Crane could say anything more.

Lady Lesdeman straightened her coat and smoothed her hair as she approached the closed double doors. She hoped that no one saw her and Miss Crane sneak out just a few minutes before the dancing started. Not because she cared what others thought, but because if her parents found out she would have to sit through another long hour of scolding that would just result in her mother trying to make her feel guilty. Ugh. Zarai rolled her eyes just thinking about it.

No one seemed to notice when Zarai entered the ballroom aside from a few servants who only glanced her way. She waved at some, winked to others, and made musket hands at the pretty ones as she made her way to one of the food tables. Once there, she picked up an empty plate and began to fill it up with various cheeses and fruits until her plate couldn't hold anything more.

Everything seemed to be going perfectly fine until she caught a glimpse of her mother across the dance floor talking to a few other ladies. Immediately Zarai ducked behind the table, almost dropping her full plate in the process. A few lords and ladies looked in disbelief witnessing her trying to half-crawl and eat at the same time as she made her way behind a large group of nobles. No way was she going to leave all of this food behind, the grapes were fucking delicious.

"My Lady?" One of the servants had approached her with a worried look on his face to check if she had lost something. Zarai only glanced at the man and handed him a handful of grapes which he happily took as he continued watching her crawl until she was out of the line of sight of her mother. She finally stood up behind an empty table, unaware of the figure approaching her. And just like that, someone walked into her face and the grapes went flying over her head. Zarai's heart was shattered and scattered just like her grapes had.

🗡 Roses and Daggers 🎕

&

_{collab between @princess & @Rodiak}

”The honor is mine, Sir Mathias Larsen.”Charlotte had replied to the beautiful blonde man before her. All the effort to utilize the wine to slow her heart rate had been for nothing as she felt it speeding it up again. He was a picture out of a storybook with those green eyes and such a charming face. She stepped forward toward him as they were directed to move off for another couple to be acquainted. He sure was tall; the top of her head would tickle his chin. Though the name had some familiarity to her, she could not recall ever meeting him before.

”My name is Charlotte… I mean, Lady Charlotte… but no need to fret over the title. I’ve never been quite certain if it’s meant anything all that interesting since I’m very obviously a lady like any other girl here, so why should I in particular state the obvious?”She smiled at him but her pupils had dilated slightly in the realization of the silly statements tumbling out of her mouth.

It seems I am a lightweight.

Mathias offered his arm to Lady Vikena for her to take as they walked together to their designated spot to wait for the dance to start. He glanced down at her, seeing her this up close- it felt strange almost after the whole debacle with the Alidasht Kingdom. From his spot Lady Vikena almost looked like a porcelain doll; elegant, graceful and smelling slightly of sweet Caesonian wine. The knight did not blame Charlotte for taking advantage of the free wine, not after what had happened.

"I am not very sure why we carry such titles, my Lady, but you have opened my mind to these questions." Mathias laughed softly. "Very well, Lady- Charlotte please call me Mathias from now on." He wasn't much fond of being called Sir Mathias and even less being Lord Larsen. Even after all of these years he was not used to either of those titles. Besides, it would only be fair that she would call him by his given name instead of his title if he was going to do the same.

She was relieved that he had seemed amused with her words. ”Very well. Mathias, it is, but you just called me Lady now haven’t you? You’re taller than me so I couldn’t possibly be above you by such an exorbitant status.” Charlotte had joked. She let him lead the dancing as they had taken hands. Muscle memory helped her place her feet in the right spots luckily enough. She just had to ignore the idea that she was dancing with a two-headed man. Hopefully, this conversation would flow better than her first attempt. ”I-Uh... You should tell me more about yourself..”

"I-" Mathias wasn't just about to spill his whole life story as to why she was indeed in a higher class status than he was- but he just smiled and bowed his head slightly. "My apologies, Charlotte, it shall not happen again." There was a slight relief in his face, he'd gotten so used to calling everyone around him Lord and Lady that just saying someone's given name brought him back.

Tonight's waltz was a bit slower than Mathias has grown accustomed to, leaving him to lead slightly faster than the other dancers on the floor. "There's not much I can tell you that would interest you," He spun them around once, twice, keeping his hand firmly on her back as if the force of the spin would break the porcelain doll. As if Lady Vikena had not just taken Crystal's sudden embrace. "I am a Royal Guard of Varian," Another spin, this time just in sync with the rhythm of the music now that he had gotten a hand at the slower pace. " the Larsen family has served Varian for centuries now. I'm just following the legacy."

Charlotte gripped his hand tighter as they spun, trying her best to keep up with his footing. His first statement had resonated with her soul. The only thing that could be said about her that she was girl privileged enough to be born into money but unfortunate enough to lose her family. It made her heart ache nonetheless to hear someone act as if they had nothing of value to say. Her eyes lit up as he explained that he was a Royal Guard of Varian. How magnificent. She felt honored to speak to yet another extraordinary person.

Charlotte raised a brow and smirked as she told him sarcastically, ”...Yes because being a part of a family line of Royal Guards is so uninteresting.” She paused her footing to stop their dancing. Her eyes then met his. The dryness melted from her tone and she told him warmly, ”Please don’t demean yourself. You sound like you’re amazing.”

She earnestly continued, ”Your duty is a valiant and noble one. Perhaps it does not cross your mind often but I am sure you are part of the reason why the people of Varian feel safe… Why children can play outside, why the Queen and King can sleep at night… It’s all because of what you do. “ Charlotte smiled up at him, ” I do believe that makes you a hero, now doesn’t it?”

Seeing her struggle with his lead, Mathias quickly slowed down to correct his pace and match hers. He wanted to apologize and blame the difference in culture when he saw a familiar look in her eyes. It was a flash- and just like that- it was gone and replaced with sarcasm.

"I suppose you are right, La- Charlotte." Mathias caught the slip just in time and smiled at her words, nodding his head when he realized that what she had said rang true in her voice. He supposed being a Royal Knight was a grand deed. But the title of knight, or Lord, or just standing here in the ballroom with a beautiful woman before him in a Kingdom far from the slums of Breoven- it didn't feel right. To be here while everyone he had grown up with remained there.

The following words that slipped past Lady Vikena's lips washed away the creeping guilt that was currently trying to crawl its way into his mind. Now, instead of guilt, there was doubt. Perhaps she was correct. He may have gotten lucky, and that did not mean everything he had now was not well deserved. He worked hours trying to protect and serve all for the sake of those he loved. For his son.

He opened his mouth to say something- anything, but no word seemed to form in his mouth. They stood there as the dancing and music continued without them. Such a small frame, and yet Lady Vikena had brought a Varian knight to the verge of tears.

"Words cannot express my gratitude after hearing you say that," Mathias finally spoke, bowing his head slightly. Charlotte didn't know him, yet she was making him doubt the guilt he had been carrying for years now. "You are a kind woman, Charlotte," he cleared his throat and blinked a few times before he let himself smile again. "I- Thank you again. You've opened my eyes, yet again. Perhaps I am a hero to some."

Charlotte was genuinely surprised by his reaction. She was certain he was blinking back tears. Hearing this man express such heavy gratitude through both his words and his emotion made her feel as if she were perhaps a hero too. She smiled again and squeezed the hand she was holding, ”No perhaps! You are one” Charlotte assured him. She paused, her gaze dropping as she contemplated on whether or not she should share her next thoughts.

”...Ever since I was a little girl, I’d read books and always be enchanted by knights and heroes. I know it’s not quite the same but I always wanted to have such purpose. I want to help people somehow; to have an effect on the world around me.” Her voice was softer than before as she spoke.

Mathias looked at her, Lady Vikena carried an air of familiarity he had seen before. A kind woman, one that yearned for change- for power. A title that many wished to possess. "Charlotte, I may not know you personally but I can attest from what I have witnessed today that you are already in fact changing the world." With an index finger he gently tapped the bottom of her chin, bringing her gaze to meet his. "You are a brave woman, a kind soul. You do not need to be a knight or a hero to continue to have an effect on the world."

The music continued around them; Mathias took her hand and wrapped the other around her waist. "I am sure you will come to see how others see you, and that you will continue to do marvelous things." He began to lead the dance again, this time slower than before.

Charlotte’s blue eyes met his as she listened with lips parted in surprise. She could not help but blush at his words. They were as sweet as honey and as if they were created to fill her aching heart with warmth. She hadn’t been certain he had witnessed the fiasco that occurred before but she supposed he indeed had. She took his hand and as they positioned themselves to continue waltzing. She moved her hand delicately on his shoulder. ” Thank you, Matthias. You’re very sweet.”Charlotte told him softly.

Though it was often intimidating for her to hold eye contact for long periods of time, especially when she was nervous, she was growing comfortable doing so with him. ”I… I was honestly so afraid tonight that it’s been hard to imagine myself as brave. My stepfather Lorenzo is the only family I have now. I thought…” She felt her voice choke up a little and took a moment to recuperate before continuing, ”...I thought I was going to lose him.”

Mathias looked at her with gentle eyes as he listened to her speak. "And you would do anything to save him." He gently guided her under his arm for a spin before bringing Lady Vikena closer again, a hand resting firmly on her back as if to comfort her. He understood why Charlotte had done it now and he could feel his chest swell with admiration for her. "Do you love your stepfather?"

Charlotte was careful as she was spun, managing to retain some grace. Lorenzo had been in her life for so many years now, but he hadn’t been a father in the traditional way she had thought of one. There had always been expectations with her birth parents. With Lorenzo, that wasn’t really a thing, but… ”Yes of course. I consider him my father. ” The hand on her back was a great comfort to her as it wasn’t often she received touch like this.

Her shoulders relaxed and she said, ”...I am sure if you were in my place and your family was on the line, you would have done the same. They must feel blessed to have you in their life.”

There was no hesitation when Mathias nodded his head, "I would have done the same to protect my son." He smiled at the thought of Lukas, "But I am the blessed one to have him in my life." Around them, the music began to slow down and other dancers did too. The knight followed in step with the rest, disappointed that their dance would soon come to an end. He had enjoyed Lady Vikena's company much more than he had anticipated and wished for the song to be longer.

Charlotte’s brows lifted in subtle surprise. She then smiled, “I am glad your little boy has you and that you have him.” As the music began to fade, she let her hands slowly fall off Mathias. ”Thank you for the dance, well… For everything.”

The nearby balcony doors suddenly opened and Duke Lorenzo Vikena emerged from them. Count Calbert followed after. She could not help but utter as massive concern filled her, ”Oh no.” Charlotte folded her arms as if to comfort herself then apologetically looked at Matthias, ”I am so sorry. Please excuse me.”