Fantasy Court Of Secrets

[SandraDeelightful]

In the Royal Palace in the Kingdom of Leston, everyone has their secrets. Everyone from the Queen Almina, to the lowest servant. In this Royal Court, everyone is trying to get ahead. Trying to marry one of the Queen's children, trying to gain the highest title, trying to gain the favor of the queen, and all while trying to keep quiet the things they all want hidden away. And should anyone find out about your secret, they have complete power over you. There have even been people who had their secrets revealed and ended up mysteriously disappearing, never to be heard from again.

Love, hatred, murder and deceit await in the Royal Palace, as people begin to uncover behind the courts glittering facade, lies deep dark secrets, that are constantly being hidden from the citizens of Leston, Secrets that many members of the court would be willing to kill to keep it a secret. There is a dark world being hidden, secrets that many are not ready to find out. And they are secrets that could destroy the reputation of the queen, and the rest of the royal family.

 

[SandraDeelightful]

Queen Almina of Leston​

In the Royal Palace of Leston, it seemed like there was some sort of ball or party every other week. Tonight was one such night. Queen Almina rarely had much of a good reason to throw a party, however, she just loved to throw grand parties and balls for her court. When it came to being a hostess, Almina was a gracious one. She had a knack for making people, at least the ones she liked, feel comfortable at her court. She also had a habit of keeping everyone on their toes. She was a woman and many people believed that it limited her ability to lead. Leading was for kings, balls were for queens. Almina liked to show her court that could do both. She had spent her entire life, from the time she was only a toddler, she had been trying to prove herself.

For tonights ball, Almina was wearing a deep violet gown, with gold lining. There was a floral pattern on the gown in gold threading. On her feet we're matching flat heeled shoes. Her dark hair was piled on top of her head in an intricate updo, with a glittering tiara on top of her head. Almina had always been rather fond of purple, for it was the color of royalty. Almina had always been one to show off her status. She had a special set of money allowance that went to clothes and jewels for herself. She thought, as queen, she ought to show her status. She always had the most expensive and lavish gowns made for her and her family. It was her duty as queen to make a good presentation.

Almina walked along the glittering walls of the palace, making her way to the ballroom, the train of her lavish gown flowed elegantly behind her. Her shoes made a soft clicking noise as she walked. She walked with all of the grace and elegance one would expect a queen to have. She stood tall, with a straight back and her head held high. Almina had a presence with her wherever she went. When she walked in a room, she commanded respect. It was something she had to learn from a young age, being a woman in a man's world. She knew many did not believe a woman could lead, and she intended to prove them wrong.

Almina approached the double doors that led to the ballroom. She could hear the herald announce her:

"Her Royal Majesty, Queen Almina of Leston!"

The double doors opened, and Almina walked through. She smiled as she expects the entire court to bow to her. It was tradition for the members of the court bow to any member of the royal family entered. Almina descended the steps into the ballroom and made her way to the bottom as the party went back to the way it was. Almina stood at the foot of the stairs ready to great her guests. A warm smile was on her face. She had mastered the art of being welcoming. However, she also could easily change from that warm and welcoming hostess, to a vengeful and spiteful woman should someone make the mistake of angering her.

Queen Almina's eyes scanned over the court. She looked over each of the members of the court. She could never be certain who was on her side, and who was an enemy of hers. She knew there were enemies among her, but she could never be sure who the enemy was. She was always on her guard, no matter what sort of pleasant face she put on in the public eye. The same way she kept her court on their toes, she was always on her toes, knowing an enemy of hers could reveal themselves at any moment. And the minute they did, she would have to make an example of them, to let them know that enemies amongst her would not be tolerated.

Almina knew that there were enemies all around her. She only had a small inner circle to whom she could confide to. And if she ever found out that anyone in that inner circle would betray her, the consequences would be most severe. She would not have her role as queen be questioned by anyone.

 

[Nightblade]

Daeron "Brightflame"

Daeron had arrived to the palace earlier that morning to much fanfair. It was not often that northerners came south, yet here he was. He had his companions accompanying him as befit his status as a lord. It had been all formality as the Queen welcomed him and his companions to the capital with a "Queenly" smile. He had of course followed all formalities, kneeling before her and kissing her hand.

He had spent the day bathing and relaxing. With a ball tonight he would need his wits about him in order to be able to effectively deal with these nobles. He was not at home where a ball or feast meant a good time. He got dressed in his finest black leather clothing with a light white fur cloak.

He had spent the ball with his own men. Drinking and generally enjoying themselves. However Daeron's eyes scanned the ballroom, making sure nobody was doing anything he found issue with.

His men were playing their part well, looking like savages which played into Daerons hand as most people looked mildly disgusted/ offended. Tearing into a leg of chicken like a wolf, he looked and found the eyes of the Crown Prince. Saying nothing, his eyes bore into the Princes and gave a brief wink before returning to his food.
​

Misty Gray

​

 

[Aio]

Yesenia Isadora Tassis

"By Gods name stop! Please!" Yesenia screamed as she clung to her bed post. While she was never one for theatrics she could never stop herself when it came time for her to be placed in a corset. As she clung to the bed post her aunt stood behind her pulling on the corsets ties. What seemed like hours took possibly one, as Yesenia's constant attempts to prove to her aunt she didn't really need a corset. Although time and time again she lost the arguement by a simple look that told her not to push any further.

After the battle Yesenia was clothed, the final touches made before she was left alone in her room. Left to look at herself in the mirrior that was propped in the corner. It was a beautiful dress, she could not lie, no matter how much she hated to dress up. With dark blue fabric as the base of her dress there was intricate beading of white and silver beads across the dress. Causing her to look as if she was wearing the constilations from the night sky. Her fingers went up to her hair as a smile spread across her face. She finally convinced her aunt not to let her where the head dress that was tradition for her family as it would only get in the way of the ball. She liked how it was sliked back out of her face in a low tight bun.

Pinching her cheeks before she left for the Queens ball. Not want to be late like she always seemed to be, Yesenia walked quickly down the halls, her shoes clicking on the floor as she held her dress up so she was not to step on it. Slowing down every time she was to pass someone.

By the grace of god she had some how made it on time, weaving herself through the crowd as she listened to all the chatter. Making her way to the back of the room. Finally she was reminded of who she ought to be, straightening her posture, placing her hands delicately in front of her as the Queen's presence was announced to the party. She bowed, lowering her head, and occassionally stealing looks every now and then.

Finally everyone raised their heads and Yesenia was free to mingle. Although she was never much of a talker, so she simply stayed in the background. Those who did attempt to come up to her would find while the small talk was pleasent there would not be much else Yesenia had to offer.

 

[Cosmo]

Sigismund Clodomir, the Barley Knight
​

Sigismund stood at attention in the north-east corner of the room, the main doors situated directly across from him past the nobles wandering around, breaking into groups, gossiping, flirting, engaging in their 'dalliances', it gave him a strong view of the main exit as well as two of the side entrances mostly used for servants bringing in, and removing, dishes and for pairs of nobles to sneak out to take a stroll through the gardens together. Some pairs were fairly innocent, young debutantes and their suitors hoping to steal a kiss under the moon light, others, less so, as even now he spotted the Baroness Parva sneaking out with the young Lord Edinburgh, already earning a reputation as something of a rake, although, for the life of him, all Sigismund saw was a mustached youth with a rapier pretending to be a man, he idly wondered if he was friends with the younger prince, they had to have much in common, still there seemed to be something about the boy's offer she found alluring if the blush on the older matron's face was anything to go by. Not that she would risk much, her husband was in a side parol enjoying his cards and, from what Sigismund had seen on another 'occasions', seemed to care for little much unless it was some defenseless animal he and his friends could run down for 'sport'.

Sigismund gripped his halberd a little tighter as he continued his vigil, checking for threats, watching the nobs dance and prance around cataloging the more amusing tidbits for the kids that would be eagerly awaiting the stories on the morrow. Although what they found interesting about these 'people' was far beyond his ability to understand, it made them happy and that, in itself, was more then enough for him. Unlike the garish nobles doing their best to stand out, particularly the shy debutantes in the corner being shooed out by their domineering mothers seeking the best matches, Sigismund did not stand out. He was just a Royal Guard. He looked no different then the other dozen that stood guard at this ceremony, the only difference being the blade at his hip, but it was nothing, and he preferred it that way. Unlike some of the other Guard, one of which, Sir Reynolds, who had taken his helm off to engage in some flirting with a pretty, young wallflower, he had little interest in knowing these 'people' on anything more then a professional basis.

He kept his attention on the doors as the Queen entered the room, not kneeling, nor bowing, like the others, not because he was being disloyal, but because, as a Royal Guard, he was not required to kneel upon her entrance. It was hard to protect someone, after all, if they were on their knees looking down demurely like a broken dog. Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted the queen, a handsome woman in her fine purple dress, and Sigismund idly wondered how much she paid for it. How many of the beggars lining the streets outside, their hands held out as the carriages bringing in the local nobility flocked here hoping for coin, could she had fed with a single jewel upon her person? How many widows of soldiers could she provide for? How many of them could she stop from a life of prostitution to provide for their fatherless children? Many, he assumed. But it didn't matter. It was not how the world worked. It would never be. At their core, nobility were just spoiled children, the world outside was the world outside. It was hard to see how much shite one walked through when their nose was in the clouds.

His amber eyes swept to the northern lord that did his best to stand out by pretending he was not one of them, from within his dark helm, Sigismund could not help but compare him to a sullen youth. Enjoying how he made others feel, attempted to appear and feel different for the sake of appearing different and the enjoyment he got from how it agitated others. The 'man' would do well here, if only because he provided a temptation for the various impressionable young women and bored married women looking for excitement.

Sigismund swept his eyes away from 'brightflame', a name that always struck him as a bit convoluted, like calling oneself the 'dark night', and continued his examination of the crowds, his free right hand falling on the hilt of his blade as his eyes continued their dance.

Elekta Kount Nightblade SandraDeelightful

 

[Ms. Sparrow]

Princess Azalea

Spoiler: Ball Dress + Hair

​

“Corsets are the devil,” Azalea said through gritted teeth as her handmaiden yanked the strings tenfold harder, drawing a sharp breath from Azalea. Her dress was bold, dark. Something that would most likely not sit well with her mother. Which she liked even more. Since she was a kid, ever since she learned her mother disapproved of women fighting, she tried to be everything her mother wasn’t. It was known Azalea did not have strong ties with her mother. Especially after her twin brother was shipped off the the army, making her lose contact with him. It was something she could never forgive her mother for.

“I like corsets,” Her handmaiden said thoughtfully as she tied off the strings of her dress, causing another sharp breath to be emitted fron Azalea, whom shot her handmaiden an irritated side glare. She only smiled and began to working on tidying her hair. “I can feel my heartbeat.” The handmaiden said, giggling.

Azalea grinned wryly, “Aye it’s corking, I love it,” She paused, “I just wish they weren’t so bloody tight, the devil created them just for the displeasure of women.” Her maid smiled, holding back a laugh at Azalea’s unwavering spirited personality. Azalea turned to look at herself in the mirror. The deep crimson of her dress set off her piercing blue eyes even more, her brunette waves, put into a beautiful updo with loose curls hanging that went nicely with the red of her dress, even her makeup was darker, with crimson lips and darker eye makeup that made her eyes pop.

“You look beautiful,” Her handmaiden complimented, “Your in danger of outshining your mother.” She remarked softly, a kind smile on her face, taking a step back to admire her handiwork. She looked like a rose, but with many thorns indeed. Almost dangerous looking.

Azalea grinned, a mischevious twinkle in her eyes, “Then let’s hope she doesn’t poison my next meal.” She said with a grin before she slid out of her room.

The black dancing slippers she wore made her feel as if she was walking on clouds. Indeed she moved just as so. Years of dancing had left Azalea incredibly graceful, many’s jaws often dropped when she danced. Azalea didn’t walk. She glided. It was the only reason she attended balls, not to see the foxes amoung the hens. But to dance. It was her second favorite thing to do. Her first was fighting. She’d mastered archery, now she was attempting to tackle swordplay, if she could find a sword her size she’d probably be doing a lot better of a job at it.

She scowled as she approached the double doors, her silent padded footsteps unfortunately not hiding her quite enough to be publicly announced. She loved a good entrance, just not this kind. What would it be like she wondered, to be normal for just one night? But alas she would never get that opportunity. Instead she was meant for a dull life of teas, manners, and courtship. While many men found Azalea, her sharp tongue often drove them off, which was her sole purpose. She’d rather hang hersekf then live a loveless marriage.

“Her Royal Highness, Princess Azalea of Leston!” The herald announced before the double doors swung open, revealing a stunning Azalea, her mouth formed into a warm smile, but her eyes did not. Instead she fixated them on each face briefly, sighting the enemies of the court she was familiar with. Azalea held herself up, bearing her usual fieriness without having to say a thing. Her presence was a strong one, almost daring someone to approach her. She looked as deadly as she did beautiful.

Her dress wasn’t nearly as extravagant as her mother’s, which was alright considering she perfected simplistic tastes. Something that didn’t scream ‘I’m rich!’ As much as her mothers did. Azalea gracefully slid into the room, greeting people as she did so, while ignoring past men whom had made previous attempts to court her and failed. Other men glared at her, perhaps remembering a time when they were either boxed in the face, or were pelted with potatoes or something of the such in the past, anything to drive them off.

She gained many friends, but won many enemies. While Azalea’s spirited nature seemed to make her oblivious to this. She watched more closely than many thought. Indeed they were all snakes amoung the court. It was the game. The dance. However they called it. Make sure you have more friends than enemies, and she did. And yet Azalea had many daggers waiting to be planted in someone’s back, should they ever harm her or her family.

 

[SandraDeelightful]

Princess Euphrosyne of Leston
​

Princess Euphrosyne spun around in her dress once more. She loved her mother's balls and partied and she always looked forward to them.she looked herself over once more in the mirror, making sure that she looked her absolute best. Her hair was done up in a simple but elegant up do, with a flower-shaped pin in the back. Much like her mother, she loved shades of purple and violet, but she much preferred paler shades. Tonight, she was wearing a beautiful lilac dress, with chiffon sleeves and bits of lace around the neckline. Her shoes where flat, well suited for dancing and a pretty ivory color with a flower on the toes.

Euphrosyne loved balls. They were always such fun. She loved to dance and flirt with gentlemen and she always had hoped of finding a husband at one of those parties. She had always been a romantic. When she was a child, there was a new man whom she found attractive each day. There was always a new crush. She was simply a naïve romantic, who always had hopes of finding her true love at one of the many balls her mother threw. There were always plenty of men who caught her eye. She always had a wonderful time at balls, and always enjoyed them immensely.

Euphrosyne left her bedchamber and began making her way towards the grand ballroom. She was a very eager girl, so she had to control herself to keep from running. She walked along the long hallways, filled with portraits of her ancestors until she reached the double door. As she stopped and waited for the herald to announce her, there was a beaming smile on her face. She stood tall, with a straight back, as she had seen her mother do so often. She had often tried to emulate her mother's mannerisms. Ever since she was a child, she had tried to be like her mother.

"Princess Euphrosyne of Leston!" Euphrosyne smiled brightly as the heard the herald announce her, the doors opened, and Euphrosyne entered the grand ballroom. Just as they had with her mother, the court bowed, with the exception of the guards. Euphrosyne gracefully descended the staircase, and curtsied to her mother when she was at the foot of the steps. She looked out at all the attendees of the ball. Looking for the handsome gentleman. There were quite a few that were part of her mother's court.

Euphrosyne's ultimate goals were to be a wife and a mother. Some thought that she was a bit of airhead because of that. Euphrosyne didn't think so. She knew what she wanted. She thought that she would be well suited for that. She had dreams of romance, and she loved children. It just seemed so well suited for her. Ever since she was a little girl, she dreamed of finding a man as perfect as she thought her father was. Since she was only a few months old when her father died, she had no memories of him. She had always just assumed that her father was in love with her mother.

 

[MJ ._.]

Anna Bella Moor​

Standing in the shade of staircase, was a maiden dressed in simple dress made of purplish grey silk. It was gray to help her stay lass noticeable and had to have a purple hue to become a matching background for queen’s attire. She had tied her hair up in a bun and was decorated and covered by a light purple see-through veil. From the spot she was standing, the maiden could watch guests, guards and servants well. From her perspective, each of them had a story to tell and she had the appetite to yearn for them. Most of them she knew well, some relatively and the rest were new to queen’s balls. ‘The more the merrier!’ She thought as a sweet smile formed on her lips.

Anna wished she could stay with her mistress every moment of the day but standing there to watch the ball was much more fun. Besides, the queen didn’t need her in that time. She only had to wait for her to arrive, then join her when she was less busy to tend her needs if required. It wasn’t like the queen was going to need her presence as there always were dozens of maids to obey her orders but as the lady-in-waiting of the queen she didn’t want to let anyone to get closer to her mistress than she was. Meanwhile she could enjoy watching variety of extravagant clothing and jewelry worn by nobles and record memories of their behaviors for later use. She was well aware that she wasn’t the only one spying on guests; there were royal guards and knights on duty to protect them who were watching the joyous folk closely. One of them who always rejected taking his helm of and speaking a few words with guests was the barley knight. That helm of him never let Anna notice where he looked or how he felt but she had many doubts about him while no reason to dig through them.

Anna bowed at members of royal family as the usher announced entrance of each of them but didn’t leave her place until the queen arrived. She watched her ascending the stairs gracefully and greeting her guests generously. Then, Anna softly stepped out of the shadows and bowed at the queen having her know that she was there, ready to take commands, without getting in her way while she accepted her guests.

 

[Misty Gray]

Prince Theodore of Leston


Theodore had been away from the palace grounds for most of the morning, partaking in a spot of deer hunting. He did enjoy the thrill of the hunt and despite being fixated with order and neatness, he didn't mind get dirty whilst out in the woods. Once he was done, he'd had his knights follow him back to the grounds of his lavish home. He then partook in heavy workouts. He gave the job of cleaning his dirty clothes to one of the servants, choosing to give Eamon slightly less demeaning tasks. He was a Lord, after all, so wasn't quite as low as a mere servant.

As the ball approached, Eamon was tasked with assisting the tailor in some finishing touches to the prince's outfit. Theodore generally wore black and this evening would be no different. The expensive velvet clothing had been finished with gold coloured thread and lined with expensive silk. After admiring his reflection for some time and checking there wasn't a single hair out of place, Theodore decided it was time to head to the party. These balls were a frequent occurrence and whilst he enjoyed them, the social aspect of it grew tiresome on occasion. Some of the gentlemen attending the balls could be quite dull or often came across as desperate boot-lickers. Theodore commanded respect, but some of the nobles were snivelling creeps. He had no tolerance for the ones who made it too obvious..

Theodore had told Eamon to attend the ball with him, though the Lord would know at some point the Prince would go off and do his own thing. As the prince entered the room, the herald announced his presence. "His Royal Highness, Prince Theodore of Leston." Following this, the prince raised an eyebrow and flashed a smug smile. He knew he was attractive and he certainly knew he was the second most important person in the room right now. Perhaps even the most important, he could argue. He glanced around, his eyes wandering upon some of the beautiful women who were present. Just about all of them were not worthy to be his wife, but that didn't mean they weren't attractive. They certainly had their commitment-free uses. Just like Lady Eleanor had. The Prince cleared his throat and turned to Eamon after setting eyes on a pretty young lady. "A Lord like yourself should have no trouble finding a wife amongst this crowd of fine ladies. I'm sure some of them would be fawning over you were you to simply stand in their close proximity."

As he spoke, Theodore caught sight of his two sisters. They looked lovely as ever, which meant he would have to keep his eyes on them as much as he could. He wasn't sure any man present was worthy of his sisters' affection. Perhaps not even worthy of gazing upon them for too long.
​

Trompe lOeil

​

 

[Trompe lOeil]

Lord Eamon of Dantes​

What a jacket.

The gold thread adorning it only emphasized the luster of the black velvet. Each stitch was perfect, painstakingly neat, the thread tracing loops and whorls, equally perfect. The lining was silk, a lavish touch that would only be visible to someone very close. Trust the heir to the throne to own a jacket with a silk lining that few would even notice.

"And so comfortable," Eamon murmured, admiring the way the fabric draped across his shoulders. It was too long, of course; the sleeves went to his fingertips. His shoulders, while technically broad enough for it, didn't nearly fill the jacket out. He did a twirl, marveling at how the sheen set off his blond hair. "Gorgeous."

Prince Theodore had been merciful in his assignation of duties that day; he'd saved the dirty work for the servants, and given Eamon a task that he excelled at: fashion. It had been a simple matter to tell the tailor what adjustments he needed made, and to make sure the embroidery was current. Eamon had a good eye for detail, as long as he cared about the work. The jacket had turned out perfectly.

Which is why he had a spare moment before he was to return the jacket to the Prince. Just long enough to try it on, and wish that anything he owned even came close. As the youngest son of a minor noble, Eamon spent all of his paltry allowance on his wardrobe. Staying up to date with the latest fashions was expensive. It was a labor of love, of course. Eamon had to make sure that whenever someone’s eyes fell away from the Prince and onto his retinue, they liked what they saw.

“Someday,” he told his reflection, making one last bow. Then he sighed, shrugged off the jacket, and got dressed in his own ensemble. “Black, again,” he moaned. He had to match, of course, and nothing matched black better than more black. His jacket was silk, though not nearly as fine as the Prince’s. The primary fabric was a shiny black silk, with a matte silk creating a large floral pattern across it. It looked marvelous when it caught the light. It was a subtler design than Eamon would have chosen, but these were the sort of sacrifices the Manservant to the Prince was expected to make.

He trailed behind Prince Theodore when they entered the ballroom, not important enough to warrant an announcement. Someday, he vowed again, keeping his expression neutral as he surveyed the room. Everyone looked stunning. He would have to inquire after Princess Azalea’s tailor. There was a good chance every lady would be wearing that style at the next ball.

"A Lord like yourself should have no trouble finding a wife amongst this crowd of fine ladies. I'm sure some of them would be fawning over you were you to simply stand in their close proximity."

Eamon grinned. He’d played this game before. Besides, it wasn’t as if marriage wasn’t a good strategic option for him. “You flatter me, Your Highness! They’re usually just after stories about you, though.”

He scanned the room briefly for a lady to suggest, then gave up almost immediately. This court was still too new for him to be able to safely pick someone out. The risk was too high that he’d choose an ex-lover of the Prince’s, or someone equally off-limits. “Anyone catching your eye this evening, milord?”

 

[Kent]

Duke Gabriel Vi Silvyre

He picked up his teacup and saucer and took a sip of his tea. It had a great taste and aroma, it was one of the best in the continent. He was at the middle of the Palace Gardens, sitting on a special prepared seat and table to accommodate himself and guests. As usual, he was studying. He knows much, but it won't hurt learning a few more knowledge. There are still quite a few books in the Royal Library that he have not yet read. He especially picked the garden this day because it was peaceful and there was less noise. The servants inside the palace were extremely busy preparing for the Royal Ball. The garden was the only place where his wish of serenity was granted. The air also felt good and the plants make him feel one with the nature.
"You lied, you betrayed us. You said you were loyal to me until the end."
"I'm sorry, but nobody would follow a fool pretending to be a leader."
He read the last statement of a chapter and then closed the book. He didn't need a bookmark because he won't forget where he left off. A lady in white approached him and whispered something to his ears and Gabriel nodded. He took a last sip of his tea and then stood up.
"Quite a lot of things to do." He said "I'll finish those off then and prepare myself for Her Majesty's reputation ball.

He was being dressed by his butlers. They were clothing him with a white tailcoat with a couple decorations to signify his social status and authority.
"Earl Quintus, Earl Sullivan, and Earl Gray along with Countess Sheeve will be my escorts for this ball. " Gabriel told his Head Butler. His servants were nobles and had titles, he ensured that so that they will be able to escort him wherever.
"Yes, My Lord." Replied Earl Sebastian. His chamber doors opened and the 3 earls along with the Countess were waiting for him. All of them were wearing white clothing to match their Lord's. Gabriel smiled.
"Lovely as always, my friends." Gabriel didn't like when he said 'friends'. He considered all of his Servants as friends since they are unusually close and loyal to him. They were walking towards the Ball room when they met the queen and his escorts along the way. His party knelt and bowed their heads. He did a fake smile before they individually kissed her ring. The two parties went towards the Ball Room. Gabriel had Her Majesty's party enter first and then his party went inside after.
"Duke Gabriel von Silvyre!" The Herald announced. The atmosphere around the room changed for a moment as some nobles felt uneasy and began whispering among each other. He noticed Lord Brightfire and his party. He was a little bit disappointed at the fact that he brought his companions who did not have any titles to a ball hosted by the Royal Family, but he decided to leave it there. One noble snickered and looked at him disgustingly. Gabriel smiled back, but then looked at him with a piercing gace and the Lord immediately bowed his head slightly.
"It works every time." Said Countess Sheeve.
"As expected from our Lord." Said Earl Gray.
"The Queen invited quite a few trash here." Said Gabriel "But we're done with that, it is time to socialize."
He looked around and saw Princess Euphrosyne. A big smile met Gabriel. The Princess and him were close childhood friends. He has been observing her for a long time and would often visit and tell her stories of the outside world. He approached her, his servants smiled and decided to give him a little bit of space.
"Princess Euphrosyne!" He said as he approached her. "You look astonishing as always. Are you enjoying the ball?"
SandraDeelightful




​

 

[Nightblade]

Daeron

Daeron took a deep drink of the sweet wine and hid a grimace. It was not the mead he was used to in the north but he would have to cope with it. He kept looking around the room, looking to do something that would cause a whisper. Getting to his feet, he made his way over to the queen. Giving a bow, he looked up to her and gave what he called his lordly smile
"Your grace, I was hoping you would indulge me in a dance?"

He asked holding out a hand in offer to dance with the queen. He could feel the stares on him as he made his request. Quite frankly the whole stuffy affair was getting to be a bit much for him, stand like this, greet with that hand, he had to fight not to roll his eyes. While he was thinking away to himself he was waiting on the queen to accept or decline his offer of a dance.
​

Misty Gray
SandraDeelightful

 

[SandraDeelightful]

Princess Euphrosyne of Leston
​

Euphrosyne was walking through the ballroom, mingling and flirting and giggling with the guests. She had always been a people person, and always adored socializing with members at the court. She had always loved it when the palace was full of music and lights and people. She felt her best at these situations. She had been diligently raised as a lady, and she loved showcasing what she had learned. She had thrived under her lessons on how to be ladylike. She had looked forward to those lessons the most.

She had always tried to embody the perfect lady. It never bother her, that her position requires her to act a certain way. She actually loved acting like a lady. She always tried to be the perfect lady, and in that aspect, she was always trying to better herself.

Her eyes wandered throughout the ballroom, looking for perhaps an eligible gentleman, in the hopes of a dance. She loved handsome gentlemen almost as much as she loved dancing. Euphrosyne had always adored dancing, and she was considered a rather skilled dancer. She had learned many types of waltzes and reels and minuets. She put her all into any dance she was partaking in. She found it both fun, and an important skill for a lady of her status.

Euphrosyne smiled as she noticed her good friend, Duke Gabriel de Silvyre. He had told her about the world outside the palace, and Euphrosyne taught him how to dance. She had even found him rather handsome, but, then again, she had found most men rather handsome. Still, she liked Gabriel a lot, and she considered him a very dear and cherished friend. She was very pleased to see him tonight, she had hoped that he would be here tonight. She always enjoyed seeing him, and she always enjoyed talking to him.

"Hello, Duke Gabriel," said Euphrosyne, giving him a beaming smile. She curtsied slightly to him. "I'm enjoying myself immensely. I always find myself enjoying events like these, though. And yourself? Are you having a good time?"

Kent

 

[SandraDeelightful]

Queen Almina of Leston
​

Queen Almina had been greeting her guests, making sure that each and every one of them was well received. Even the ones she didn't particularly like, and there were plenty of people who were part of her court whom she didn't particularly like. Still, she put on a good face and tried to make everyone feel welcome in her home. That was one of her duties as Queen, and she could not allow her personal feeling to get in the way. She would be a good hostess and complain in private, as she had always done since she had become queen.

She greeted them politely and graciously, as a queen should do, but she did have a tendency to let her mask slip, as sometimes when greeting a guest she disliked, she would discreetly roll her eyes as she turned to the next guest. It was a gesture that one would have to look hard at to notice it.

Almina was surprised to get an invitation to dance by Daeron. She loved dancing, but she rarely did it at balls anymore. She had duties as hostess to attend to. However, she missed dancing, and she was willing to Daeron up on his offer.

"How very kind of you to ask, my lord," said Almina, a small smile gracing her lips. She put her hand in his. "I'd be delighted, thank you."
Nightblade

 

[Aio]

Yesenia Isadora Tassis

Yesenia had been at the ball long enough to watch the royals congregate in one of the corners of the room. She held a drink in her hand, watching the contents swirl around although she never took a sip from the glass. Instead she grew bored, always despising events such as these. They were only a show of wealth. Who had this and who didn't.

She had her pick when it came to a dance partner, turning them away with a simple explaination, even handing one suitor her drink and sending him towards another potential girl he could fling around the dance floor. Every now and then she would glance at the royal family, the queen and princess engaged in conversation with other esteemed members while the princes seemed to keep to themselves. A small smirk appeared on her lips, before tearing her gaze away from the royals and onto the floor where there seemed to be some dancing.

Twisting and turning Yesenia attemted to find a comfortable stance as the corset dug into her skin. Damn these things. She thought, before she found a somewhat comfortable position. Her eyes again returning to the royals. Her exchange with any of them was only a few words, even though she lived within the castle with her aunt since she was young there was not much need for her to interact with them. Nor did she wish to. The queen was the reason her father was cast away, the reason he lost his title and dignity. Not that she voiced these opinions, for it would most definitly be seen as treason and she did not feel like going down that rabbit hole. So instead she smiled and swapped pleasantries. Being the perfect little lady she could be, although even that proved to be difficult.

 

[Uasal]

Lady Elizabeth of Leston

Spoiler

​

Elizabeth had been self-confined to her bedroom and study for the entirety of the past three days with reading and writing her only focus within said time gap. This was as a result of new legislation signed and sworn in by an afar kingdom of interest. And well Elizabeth for one was quite set on memorizing and understanding said legislation by the end of the coming fortnight. In fact, if Elizabeth had her own way she would have a meeting arranged with a lord of the said kingdom's court by the end of the month to discuss the topic in great detail.

However, Elizabeth was still a Lady of the Royal House and as such, she was expected to attend her mother's ball and to socialize with young lords her own age and above. Elizabeth loved to attend balls and to flirt with the lords she found attractive however it was this 'socializing' with elderly men that she found to be quite despicable. None the less she had a duty to do so and as such managed to draw herself away from her studies and into a dress fit for the occasion.

After making her way down and into the ballroom Elizabeth curtsied to her mother and immediately set about conversing with those who approached her. A couple of polite and respectful rejections to offers of marriage soon left Elizabeth free to mingle on her own terms with the crowd assembled and that she did, quickly making her way towards her brother and Lord Eamon. Two people of which she had plenty of time for. Especially the Lord Eamon who she felt she was on good terms with, completely unaware of course that he had no romantic interest in her nor any woman at all.

"Good evening both, I trust the sport this morning was in good favor to you brother. And I trust that the sport you hope to indulge in later this evening is nothing shy of scandalous." With a short sigh and look around the room Elizabeth returned to the conversation with a soft yet humorous smile "Whatever are we to do with you dearest brother? Alas, I can't be too harsh on you for something I myself am guilty of. Even if that is in a lesser form" Turning then to Eamon, Elizabeth's smile turned flirtatious "I'm sorry Eamon my brother here must cause you such trouble with his antics. Perhaps I may steal you away for a dance later if your in need of an escape?"

SandraDeelightful Trompe lOeil Misty Gray

 

[Ms. Sparrow]

Spoiler: Dress + Hair

​

Azalea watched Gabriel Silvyre approach Euphrosyne in distaste, glaring at the back of his pale head in a protective glare. A part of Theodore had rubbed off on her, his protectiveness of them. She never liked Euphrosyne anywhere near Gabriel. She did not trust the Silvyre’s, they were ruthless and cold hearted. She’d done her own research of him. Azalea only believed Gabriel was friends with her sister just to be closer to the crown. Nothing more.

Azalea tore her eyes from the pair. Instead she glowered at Grubinger’s black-gloved hand on her arm, escorting her. Why did Grubinger, of all the attractive men here, have the courage to ask her to dance first? Grubinger wasn’t bad looking, and he was young—especially for a Duke. But, heavens! Azalea remembered the former leader of the family, his uncle. Though even he was the same age as her mother, he had died when she was little. He was an agreeable gentleman who smelled of pine and white cake batter and always had a hint of a smile and a light in his eyes.

Grubinger, by contrast, was a thundercloud. He never smiled. The only color he wore was black, even his waistcoat and cufflinks, giving the impression of a sleek, overlarge spider. With the added disadvantage that you couldn’t squash him.

“Do you know much about the Silvyre family?” asked Azalea. “What is the news regarding them?”

“I hardly know,” said Grubinger.

Azalea gave him a dangerously sweet smile.

“I hope you’re good at dancing,” she said through her teeth. “Or this ball will be completely ruined.”

Grubinger brought her into perfect dance position.

The musicians began, and Azalea stepped off in waltz time with Grubinger. To her surprise, he was a masterful dancer. He swept her along the dance floor, guiding her about the corners and between skirts, flowing perfectly with the music. In fact, the only thing wrong with dancing with Grubinger was…well, dancing with Grubinger.

The waltz ended, the Duke escorted her to the edge of the ballroom, and Azalea was flocked with gentlemen all asking for a dance.

The lively music, the decorations, and the dancing transformed the ballroom into something almost magical. Azalea nearly forgot, as she danced the jigs, promenades, and waltzes, that the ballroom was filled with enemies.

She grinned inside every time a gentleman took her into dance position and his eyebrows rose, and rose even farther as he would lead her about the ballroom. They swept past ladies in chiffon and lace, their hoopskirts swaying with her breeze. She danced lightly, followed at even the slightest of touches, had a firm frame and strong form, and never forgot a step. By the time the gentlemen escorted her to a velvet chair at the ballroom’s side, they beamed and complimented her on her grace. Azalea returned the compliment with a sleek, deep curtsy that made her black skirts swath the floor in a silky puddle, and giggled inside when their mouths dropped.

She could be quite nice when she was enjoying herself, but few knew this of her. After awhile, Azalea needed a much deserved break, stepping off to the side to watch others dance and keep a close eye on her siblings.

 

[Cosmo]

Sigismund Clodomir, the Barley Knight
​

Sigismund's vigil continued as it always did. He eyed the groups of young debutantes gossiping and casting glances at other gentlemen and ladies before erupting into small giggles or sneers cleverly hidden behind fans or their hands, the older men sharing bravado of their 'hunts', both in using hounds to chase down foxes or their 'hunts' in women and the usual male bravado that came along with it, his eyes jumped to the various group of elderly matrons scoffing about the youth of the day as they plotted and schemed for their children and cast eyes at certain fetching men. He let out a tired breath, it bounced against the helm and came back to warm his face, rustling his beard and making it damn hard to resist the urge to scratch. Sigismund had hours of this to endure. At least his leave was coming soon which would give him some level of freedom which he often spent on the balcony for the fresh air as he could only handle the smell of so many perfumes for so long.

He stood at attention as each of the royal spawn entered the ball. First to arrive had been Princess Azalea, beautiful as ever, although he wasn't quite sure how he was going to describe her outfit to his daughter and young nephews so they could envision it..

"I love her dress, its almost.. sinful," a soft voice near him whispered. Sigismund tiled his head ever so slightly, sinful. A good word for it. The black was intriguing, depending on the way the candlelight struck her, it was almost as if the shadows crept forward to bring her back into its embrace, it would be almost too much but that deep red around her torso provided just enough color to make it indulgent, beckoning the admirer to come close, to try their hand at the warmth that lay within the shadows even as her hard eyes promised only a frosty welcome. It showed a lot of flawless expanse of skin and sat comfortably on the border of scandalous. Yes, sinful, that was how he would describe her outfit. He had little doubt they would enjoy that imagery.

Sigismund's attention was torn from the elder princess to the arrival of the younger princess, Euphrosyne, who could not have been more different from her sister. Her pale violet dress and frills in fashion season, at least that is what the giggling girl behind him knowingly informed her friend of and held its modesty. Where her sister had been sinful temptation to those around her, promising wonders and pain in equal measure, Euphrosyne appeared to be simply happy to be there. No hidden agendas, no purpose other then to dally and enjoy herself which was.. almost commendable. In time, that would fade, the cruel reality that was the court and the hideous nobs that filled it would corrode that innocence, shatter that youthful nativity and break that spirit, and if he thought about it, he would have to admit it made him a bit sad and while others would take pleasure in seeing that happen, seeing the flower wilt as it venerated their existence, made them feel better about themselves as they dragged others down to their level, but he was not one of those.

A flicker of moment caught his attention as he spotted the 'queen's shadow' partly hidden by the shadow cast of the staircase, her duller grey dress making it hard to spot. From his angle, he could barely make her out, but Sigismund should have expected her. The Lady Moor was never far from the Queen's side, as close and connected as her own shadow hence the little nickname he would use to the children. Sigismund examined the woman from the dark confines of his helm before he was torn away by the arrival of Crown Prince Theodore who walked, no, swaggered would be the correct word. An over stuffed peacock looking to sheath his namesake into a suitable hole, but from what he had seen, it appeared he was 'in-between lovers' at the moment which meant he was in for a long night of watching widows, married ladies and foolhardy young girls throw themselves at the prince hoping to either snare him, alleviate boredom or add a notch to their belt, perhaps a mixture of the three and Sigismund can only assume it was by the grace of god that the prince had no known bastards running around. His handsome manservant behind him and that was.. truly the only way Sigismund had found to describe him. The cocksure prince and his handsome manservant, the children ate it up, so it worked, plus, he had no doubt their imagination of both were far superior to the real things and he feared their disappointment should they ever have the misfortune to meet either.

The herald announced yet another person, and his eyes flicked to him, or them would be the more apt word, of their own accord. The pasty duke and his henchmen, Sigismund wasn't quite sure how he was going to describe their.. interesting group to the family. Someone as pale and pasty as he should refrain from all the white, it was as if the sun had bled all the color from his body, but then, if Sigismund were to consider it, he doubted skin that pale got much sun at all. The question still hinged on how was he to describe their little group. Eggs? No, it lacked the refinement required and expected... It was something he would need to ponder on more. Sigismund frowned under his helm when the duke came to Euphrosyne's side. They were friends from childhood, or so he had heard, but he could not shake the feeling that... the pasty duke would be the one to shatter the princess's innocence and the world would be all the lesser for it.

Sigismund turned his attention from the pasty duke to the northern lord when he approached the queen, his hand drifted towards one of the pistol near his waist. Did he believe something was going to happen? No. But it was better to have his hand there and not need to draw then need to draw and not be able. When he bowed and asked the queen to dance, the people nearest showed their surprise and, some, showed their distaste. If the lord was anything, it was brave, and Sigismund could respect that, if nothing else. Between her accepting and the arrival of the late king's bastard daughter, it seemed it was the necessary catalyst as the atmosphere of the ball improved, the dancing growing more popular with even Azalea dancing with a drab fellow and then others after, it was nice to see, and no one could fault the young men that lined up to ask for a dance.

He straightened up and watched the scenes ahead, mentally recording it and plucking what words he could to describe it for the morning. It seemed they may yet get a decent tale.

MJ ._. Ms. Sparrow Uasal SandraDeelightful Nightblade Kent Misty Gray

 

[Kent]

Duke Gabriel Vi Silvyre

"Dancing is not really my forte, but I'm enjoying a little bit. I do get bored, but it's fun to talk to people. Tease them maybe." He chuckled.
The Young Princess was aware of Gabriel's personality, or at least most of it. She witnessed it while they grew, but she seem to have no problem with it. A bunch of people do have problem with him being near the princess, though, but such things hold no relevance to him unless his relations with the Princess is threatened. He was aware of the many eyes staring at him, he just smiled him off. He was particularly weary of Azalea, she is kind of a semi-tomboy and does not like Gabriel anywhere close his sister, but he does not hold grudges. He met most of the Princes and Princesses at Childhood so he knew quite a lot about them.

Gabriel looked back at the Princess and smiled. He reached out his hand and asked.
"Would you are for a dance, Your Highness?" Before that, he caught a glimpse of Lord Brightfire asking Her Majesty to dance. Gabriel knows that Her Majesty can't refuse an offer from the Lord of the North, her grip on that region has been getting loose. She needs to repair the relations between the Capital and the North before all hell breaks loose and there will be a war for Independence. Gabriel enjoys to watch Her Majesty stressed, but something as serious as a Civil War is not good. It would turn the Nation upside down and more work for everybody. He then focused his thoughts back to the princess.
"I promise I won't step on your feet. Doing so would be quite embarrassing for someone like me, people would laugh at me. Plus, I haven't done so in like a year or so" He said.
SandraDeelightful ​

 

[MJ ._.]

Anna Bella Moor​

After the queen, Anna bestowed most of her attention to the rest of royal family and then to members of council. Rest of nobles came after them and yet all people stepping in her sight were going to have their looks and behavior recorded by her, even maids and guard.

Due to spending long hours in queen’s balls every month, she had lost her interest in variety of dresses and attires that guests put on. What she used to take in concordance about outfits was how modest they were and more importantly that if someone important had changed her or his way of clothing. That night everyone was the same, mostly not so shameful from her point of view. Also their behaviors hadn’t changed the slightest; no hope for improvement yet hopefully not descending.

First to catch her eyes was the small group that formed by a pair of siblings and a servant. Manners of prince Theodore and his manservant was the same as always; it would be annoying for those who doesn’t know them but she had gotten used to it long ago. It was the young lady Elizabeth who was turning from a teenager to a lady so week to week her appearance and capabilities improved. Anna watched her going straightly to her brother and after a short talk with him showing a wishful smile at Eamon. She felt pity for the young princess for being born as an abomination although it wasn’t her fault. The manservant she had shown interest in wasn’t a proper man for a princess according to what Anna had heard about him from other servants, yet the poor girl had no pride of the royalty to hold her back from taking her heart in her palm in front of him. The opposite point was princess Azalea who had no shame in showing off her utter beauty while enjoyed stinging men who approached her. Anna saw it as her game and what childish game that was; to make as many enemies as she could. Although she was still too young, she must have realized that wearing corsets, makeup and dressing up in finest silk while revealing her flawless skin of upper body in front of greed eyes of men meant she was yearning for their attention and yet she made faces as if didn’t like them liking her. She assumed it was probably her way to satisfy her emotions about men. Considering her young age, she was going to be fine playing like that for at most two years. For a while, Anna watched her smooth and perfect dancing in the center of dancing floor. The princess had won most of eyes which was wish of many young maidens. Anna had noticed that Azalea had danced more than anyone else during her mother’s balls despite of her anti-man attitude. She left the dancing doll there and looked for the other princess; lady Euphrosyne who was talking to master of whispers. The young head of council was so around every day that could be considered part of the royal family. He didn’t have many fans among nobles but Anna saw him a suitable suitor for the eldest princess as he was very wise while being young and more importantly; they got along perfectly. As far as she had found out; Euphrosyne wasn’t one of those greedy ambitious girls of the court, so she liked her and wished her a peaceful life with the one she enjoyed his company the most, thus no matter how everyone hated Gabriel vi Silvyre getting more attached to the royal family, she wished he would ask for princess’s hand sooner. As the young duke and the princess started their gentle dance, she looked elsewhere for another story. Prince Alexandre was still absent, men of Lord Daeron had made themselves disgraced enough to leave no reputation for people of north and guards like sir Barley who hadn’t forsaken their duties to flirt with wallflowers, were steaming in their armor to keep all the spoiled nobles safe. Most of guests were dancing with their own partner or a random noble they had met like lady Tassis and the rest had grouped here and there to talk seriously or laugh together. Mean while, her eyes caught a young couple sneaking out to the garden. With a slight wave of hand, Anna called a maid forth and whispered to her to follow the couple secretly and make sure they wouldn’t make an embarrassment for their families. She also told her to send a message to head maid telling her to send someone among men of north as her ears. When the maid was dismissed, she noticed lord Brightflame approaching the queen. She wondered if he had some important words to speak and hoped that it wasn’t bad news. But, from corner of eye, she saw sir Barley getting ready to grip on his pistol which worried her more than necessary. As the so called lord downed his head and asked for a dance, she felt fury boiling up inside her chest. That savage bear had been acting like a king in the north, trying to threaten Queen’s power and now was trying to show everyone that he was on the same level of her highness. She wished the queen would command decapitation of that insolence but knew that it was impossible as he already was powerful enough to feel safe in the palace. Of course a rejection wouldn’t kill anyone, yet the queen accepted it which made Anna hate Daeron even more. She already had heard stories about how filthy that man could be and it gave her a shiver when his hand touched with queen’s. As they went for a dance, the lady-in-waiting wondered if her mistress had really grown tired of standing and needed to have some entertainment. In that case, she wished some other man had invited her before Brightfalme. The best thing she could imagine to happen to that lord was to be eaten by bears or wolves while going back to north but it couldn’t be more that a sweet dream as if he was weak enough to die that way then he could never keep tribes of the north under his control.

Cosmo Ms. Sparrow Uasal SandraDeelightful Nightblade Kent Misty Gray Aio Trompe lOeil

 

[Trompe lOeil]

Lord Eamon of Dantes​

The ball was well underway now, the orchestra in full swing. Around him, dancers began to pair off - some causing a bit of a scandal, some not. Eamon had audibly gasped when that new northerner - Daeron, I believe - had asked the Queen to dance. A sneer had frozen half-formed on his lips as what he'd expected to be a refusal turned out to be an acceptance. She...what? Well, I never. Living up to his reputation, isn't he? He had heard...colorful...rumors about the northern Lord. It would be an entertaining night if even half of them turned out to be true.

Princess Euphrosyne and Duke Gabriel were dancing together, which Eamon didn't have much of an opinion on. They seemed to be of an appropriate rank for each other. Duke Gabriel seemed too caught up in his own affairs much of the time; Eamon hadn't tried to get to know him. He also didn't have many thoughts on the young Princess. She seemed to be the ideal form of a Princess, really. He'd heard that she was very interested in being married off, which must make the Queen happy.

Lady Elizabeth approached them, which was marvelous. He could have kissed her in that moment - although he wouldn't, for so many reasons. She was far too young, obviously. But she had saved him from having to talk about women, which was a godsend. Even better, she was a perfectly safe choice to dance with. She'd not yet come of age, so it was unlikely that it would generate any rumors. And her status as a sort of in-between-royal left her rank in a limbo wherein the dance would avoid a scandal.

All of that aside, Eamon found her charming. She had a razor-sharp mind, which was difficult to find in court. "My lady, you have saved me. I would be delighted to." It wasn't even a lie. He turned to Prince Theodore, already offering his hand to Lady Elizabeth. "You don't mind, do you, Your Highness?"

He led her to the dance floor, bowing deeply as the dance began. As they took their positions, Eamon made sure to maintain a very careful distance. "Forgive me, my lady, but I sincerely believe that your brother would murder me if I were to get any closer." His eyes twinkled with mirth. "How do you find the ball?"

Misty Gray Uasal

[edit: whoops, wrong Princess. Updated for Euphrosyne.]

 

[Nightblade]

Daeron

Daeron gave a swift bow and letting the queen rest her hand on his, guided her to the middle of the floor. With a hand positioned correctly at her waist he began to guide them as a pair in a Waltz. Feeling the glares on his back, he barely concealed a chuckle but he did have a cheeky grin on his face. He spoke quietly enough so only the queen herself could hear.

"I must say your Grace, people seem to look at me as if I plan to run off and have my way with you"

He gave a small chuckle as they moved with a gracefulness that did not seem human. He allowed himself a look around the room, including the people who were not dancing. He locked eyes briefly with some people and he found the eyes of the princes steward. They narrowed slightly and a smirk formed as if to say I know how you really are

Daeron could hear the song coming to an end so he did not have much time left, knowing how tense the capital was. With things being unstable right now Daeron had come south to choose a side. Slipping the Queen a note discreetly he gave a bow as the song ended and gently kissed the Queen's wrist.

"Thank you, your Grace"
​

SandraDeelightful
Trompe lOeil

​

 

[SandraDeelightful]

Princess Euphrosyne of Leston
​

Euphrosyne let out a small, bubbling giggle at Gabriel's response. She knew him well, and she also knew her elder sister Azalea did not like her close friendship with him. However, Euphrosyne didn't care. He was always so nice to her, always telling her stories of the world outside a palace, a world Euphrosyne never knew. She had a cherished friendship, and it was something that Euphrosyne held dear. She would not let her sister, nor anyone for that matter, take it away. She liked Duke Gabriel, and she gladly ignored what anyone said about him. He was her friend, after all. Euphrosyne was someone who was always loyal to her friends.

Euphrosyne grinned as she placed her hand in Gabriel's, eager for a dance. Dancing was, of course, her favorite part of any ball or party. She always awaited an invitation to dance, and would gladly accepted any invitation she got. And she would gladly accept any invitation to dance from Gabriel. She was the one who had taught him how to dance after all. Euphrosyne couldn't help but giggle at Gabriel's remark about stepping on her feet. She could remember when she had taught him how to dance. He had stepped on her toes quite often. So much so, that her feet had began to hurt her. Still, she continued to teach him.

"Duke Gabriel, I would be delighted and honored to dance with you," said Euphrosyne with a beaming smile. "And don't worry. I do not fear for my feet. Not any more, at least. I trust you. You've come a long way since I first began teaching you. Perhaps, one day, the student shall surpass the master."

Kent

 

[SandraDeelightful]

Queen Almina of Leston​

Queen Almina was shocked by such a comment, but she did not let it show. She was actually pleased by Daeron's comment. She liked people who were not going to hold their words back around her. She felt like there were so many who held their words back around her, only trying to gain her favor. Besides, if she was to be King, as well as Queen, she would have to learn to bear all the comments that would be more likely for men to make. She let out a small chuckle at the remark, and she looked pleased to hear it.

"Oh, my lord, you must be careful with who say that too," said Almina laughingly, with a teasing smirk across her lips. "There are a great many ladies who would give you a slap for saying such things. I would consider yourself luck that I am one such lady who would not."

She enjoyed her dance with Daeron, much more than she thought she would. She did notice the look that he gave to her son's steward. She wondered what he knew about Eamon. She would have to pay attention to both Eamon and Daemon. She wanted to know if people were hiding things from her. Of course, people were always hiding things from her. And when she suspected things being hidden from her, she always made it her business to find out just what exactly was being kept from her. She would have to be clever about extracting information from Daemon about Eamon.

"Thank you, Lord Daeron," said Almina with a small smile. She noticed he had slipped her a note and she took it. She wanted to read it now, but she knew it would be too risky, were she caught reading it in full view of everyone. She went back to her place on the sides. She would be on the lookout for a free moment, to sneak away.

Nightblade

 

[Misty Gray]

Prince Theodore of Leston

Theodore sent a look to Eamon that almost reflected mild curiosity. His servant was becoming quite good at avoiding these questions and though he was fully aware of that fact, the prince honestly wasn't interested enough to press for an answer. He would play along, for now. "I'm sure there's nothing interesting you could tell them about me," he sarcastically remarked. "Who am I, but just he heir to the throne?" When asked if anyone had caught his eye, Theo sent the shorter man a rather intense glare, like the question had offended him. He soon replaced the stare with a light smirk. "Plenty of people are catching my eye, this evening. Most, unfortunately, for the wrong reasons," he observed.

Theodore looked in the direction of the duke when his presence was announced. He turned away but was soon focused back on the young man as he approached and addressed Princess Euphrosyne. The two were childhood friends, which made Theo a little less suspicious and cautious of the duke. Only a little less. He'd be a fool to ever let his guard down and risk the safety of his sisters or to allow a snake to slither into the family.

The prince's eyes soon fell upon the lord from the North as the man, only a few years older than himself, addressed the queen. Even more interesting was the fact his mother accepted his offer of a dance. Azalea was also getting her fair share of male attention. Thankfully, she was quite capable of holding her own and giving most men a run for their money. He liked that she too was protective over the family. Such a fine trait to have! Perhaps one day she would need taming, but for now she could have her freedom and provide an extra pair of protective eyes.

Theo snapped out of his thoughts when he heard his half sister speak to him. Perhaps referring to her as half of a sister wasn't a nice thing to do, especially considering he often had time for her. Elizabeth may be young, but she was certainly intelligent and knowledgeable in political affairs. She stood up for what she believed in, which was a noble trait, so long as it didn't interfere with his own intentions, as that would be most unfortunate. As long as she was in agreement with his own agenda, Theo would allow Elizabeth to have a voice.

"Good evening, Elizabeth," he replied to his sister. "Of course everything was in my favour. When you're skilled at what you do, things will always go your way," he boasted. He then flashed the faintest of smirks at her comment that followed. "It's not scandalous if nobody really knows," he flatly remarked. "I cannot help it if scandal and pleasure flocks my way. I would be a fool to refuse some of my vices." When his sister asked to steal Eamon away, Theo simply nodded his head. He was sure by now that his servant was one of the less concerning men in the room and he'd have to be one hell of a fool to risk crossing him. Eamon asked if he minded and Theo shook his head. "By all means, go ahead," he permitted the steward.

Prince Theodore would not dance yet. He would spend some time observing the guests and seeking out those in attendance who seemed worthy of conversation. He was a patient man and he liked to make himself wait - almost as much as he enjoyed making others do so. Someone would be sharing his bed tonight, but he hadn't yet decided who that lady would be.

​

Trompe lOeil Uasal