Prince Antoine
Location: Silbahn royal convoy → the Kingdom of Abhainn → Stables.
Interacting with: Rhoslyn {@Fabricant451} mentioned, Aedan {@Pundii} mentioned, Jack {@Bishop} mentioned, Julianna {@HushedWhispers} mentioned, Willian {@Legion02} mentioned.
The road from Mount Slibah to the capital of Abhainn certainly wasn't a kind one. The roads and trails were well kept, granted, but the journey was long and the demands of any such journey were nothing to sneeze at. Throughout the many days he spent atop his horse throughout the journey, Antoine had plenty of time to think: his mind often wandered back to the looming dread in the pit of his gut when the convoy crossed the Abhainn River, to the many extra near-empty carriages drawn by the many extra horses - each one needing to be fed and rested - at the request of his betrothed would-be aunt, but above all: the passing statement offered to him by his would-be mother.
"If you only learn one thing, Antoine, make it to never follow the example of Jack." He recalls that he was checking the inventory of a wagon at the time, imbuing the memory with the scent of salted meats. This wasn't an unusual lesson from his mother, who dealt with the actions her hedonistic husband perhaps more than Jack himself, but it seemed to ring in his head this time. He searched through his mind for some deeper meaning to it, why it would mean so much more this time, but he always came back to the same conclusion: they were venturing beyond the Abhainn River to their capital, so naturally, it was only a question of how badly Jack could ruin the diplomatic mission.
In the early morning before the last leg to the Abhainn capital, Antoine stowed his brigandine and gorget in favor of something more appropriate for a diplomatic mission. After wearing armor for so long, wearing silk and cotton made him feel a little vulnerable, although it's a small price to pay to avoid giving his future relatives the wrong idea. It was an optimistic thought, considering which King was also in the convoy... He watched as the first thing Jack did, before his arrival had even finished being announced, was beat a man towards death. His lips dipped into a tired scowl. When he watched Jack snap a flagpost from the wagon and bring it up to bear, he looked away; he'd seen the exact move before and had no intention to watch it again. In that moment, he almost wished a foreign knight would gallop in and take Jack's head from his shoulders, although unfortunately there was no such luck.
With the day moving on - even despite Jack's best efforts to sabotage the marriage he organised - Antoine glanced about the grounds. He spied the Black Rose picking up after her husband, Lord Aedan and the nobles about him, other ladies mingling and gossiping in the court, and even the Price of Abhainn walking with another lady. He let out a quiet 'hmph' as he glanced over the stubborn prince, although otherwise hid his disdain. He felt a little out of place in the foreign capital with very few people that he knew that weren't busy already. With a gentle whip of his reins and a gentle spurr from his boots, Antoine guided his horse towards the stable.
Antoine let out a quiet grunt as he hefted the saddle off his gelding. After confirming the stableboy was coming to continue tending to the horse, he started his own way back towards the wagons. Even in his nice clothes, his riding boots weren't nearly appropriate; after an update to his shoes, he'd be fit to join his parents.
Unfortunately.