[center][img]http://i.imgur.com/Sb88uN7.jpg[/img]
[color=22b2b2][h2]HAYTHAM[/h2][/color][/center]

"[color=lightslategray]My lord, I cannot let you attend the ceremony dressed like a commoner.[/color]"

"[color=22b2b2]Come now, the material is far too rich to be a commoner's, besides what will it harm?[/color]"

Well, sure, he certainly looked rather plain. No jewery or baubles to speak of, and while the [i]materials[/i] that his jacket and pants were made of cost far more than what the average person could afford, they completely lacked design or embroidery of any kind. With a frown he inspected himself again, and finding nothing wrong he took a step towards the door.

"[color=lightslategray]My lord, I [i]cannot[/i] allow you to get your way this time, there will be plenty of powerful people there you need to make an [i]actual[/i] first impression on.[/color]"

"[color=22b2b2]Excuse me, Swift? I'm leaving. You shouldn't question my will you know.[/color]"

"[color=lightslategray]My lord, who has the most control over your everyday life and comfort this far away from home?[/color]"

With that Haytham paused and turned to face the woman, cocking his head at the thinly veiled threat. It [i]was[/i] a threat, and he had to admire the woman's audacity even as he grew increasingly annoyed. 

"[color=22b2b2]Would you have taken that tone with my father?[/color]"

"[color=lightslategray]Think on this: Do you recall your father gallivanting around doing what he pleased without any regards to his appearance? Why do you think that was, young prince?[/color]"

A chill ran through Haytham, and he decided wisely to reconsider his choice of garb for the day. There would be time eventually to reprimand the woman, at the moment though it was far too much of a hassle to disobey. If she truly [i]had[/i] tamed his father like she claimed...

She was truly a terrifying woman.

*****

Still without jewelry, but sporting a much nicer jacket with the insignia of House Avion ( A desert falcon, perched on a sword pommel) Haytham at last made his way towards the opening ceremony. He had it in hid mind to miss the opening speech - the one the year before had gone on for [i]ages[/i]- but the young prince feared for his life if that ever happened. Behind him, the prized maid of House Avion followed closely, and as if reading his thoughts flashed him a wordless, wicked smile. No, today he would not be getting his way. 

With barely contained dread he took his place in the hall, and tuned out the old man while looking at the faces of the new arrivals. He knew... almost none of them, unsurprising given his family's lack of diplomacy the last few decades. Throughout the entirety of the long winded speech he muttered as quietly as possible to Swift next to him.

"[color=22b2b2]And the blonde there?[/color]"

"[color=lightslategray]With the curls? Kara, daughter to a powerful baron up north, although of little significance to the realm.[/color]"

"[color=22b2b2]No, the attractive one.[/color]"

"[color=lightslategray]Princess Aleandra, of House Pridedane. A candidate to inherit the Kingdom of Vespira. Out of your league dear prince.[/color]"

"[color=22b2b2]Just the necessary info please. The dark haired one over there next.[/color]"

"[color=lightslategray]Princess Rhelissa of House Fel. Heir to the Kingdom of Aladore. Also out of your league.[/color]"

"[color=22b2b2]Just shut up already![/color]"

As the last words left his lips, so too did the speech at the other end of the room. Blissfully short this year, Haytham gave a prayer of thanks to the Goddess for her mercy. As idle chatter began filling the air, he turned to his maid one more time, speaking normally this time.

"[color=22b2b2]I should remember all that, and I don't expect to be in any danger- physical or political- for the time being. Please find out if the situation with Baron Theodesus has been resolved peacefully yet in the meantime.[/color]"

"[color=lightslategray]My lord.[/color]"

[i][color=22b2b2]Now she listens to me.[/color][/i] 

As the woman departed, the feeling of freedom filled Haytham, and he wasted no time in starting to mingle with his peers. Briefly, he regarded Anareliea and considered making his way over to her. She had recently lost her father, and while the political implications were dire, the personal difficulty must be even more so. It was barely a year ago that he himself had gone through the same situation. Pain briefly gripped him, before he shoved it aside with a roll of his shoulders. It served no use, he would not allow himself to be gripped by it.

Before he could take a step towards the princess however her cousin -if Swift had been correct- stepped in and began a very public chat. Haytham reconsidered, and instead cast his eyes elsewhere around the room. There would be time to offer his condolences later, and while he personally didn't mind his own antics, trying anything too casual around the princess right now could be a public embarrassment for her. Unlike him, her succession was not secure, and he had barely enough tact to prevent harming her situation.

With a sigh he considered the other figures in the room- many powerful- and found himself struggling to pick one to approach. The last year he had breezed through every academic challenge presented to him, a perk of his lacking childhood, and earned the envy of many of his peers. This though? It was perhaps the first tough decision since arriving a year ago. With a sigh, he picked six of the most powerful figures in the room and erased their names from his mind. Instead, they became 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. Quickly, he pulled a die from his pocket and tossed it on the ground, stopping it with his foot before it bounced away.

3. Alrighty then. All good things came in 3's, right? Good sign so far. With haste, he snatched the die back up and made his way over to the blonde girl he had inquired about earlier.

3... 3... 3...

Crap! He shouldn't have wiped her name from his mind so soon. C'est la Vie, life was too short to worry about the details. With confidence that didn't betray his mind furiously scrambling for a name Haytham stepped in front of princess and gave a small bow, the last of the formalities he intended to use that day.

"[color=22b2b2]So, first thoughts on the place? People here are stiffer than a board most days, almost like relaxing is a chore. Personally? I heard somewhere that stress kills, doesn't serve your people for you to die young, save for the one making a coffin. Try not to get too caught up in it all is what I'm saying.[/color]"

A smile spread across his lips as he rambled, avoiding any mention of her name or status. They were at least of equal rank, in the end, perhaps she was even lower than him. Swift had said she was a [i]candidate[/i] to inherit. In either case, he wasn't obligated to lick her boots or vice versa. Just the sort of situation he enjoyed.

His advice finished, and with a nod of approval at himself for helping an underclassman, he ran a hand through his hair thoughtfully. Surely he couldn't be expected to memorize the [i]face[/i] of every royal he'd never met. Him not knowing her name was practically natural. No need to try and hide it really. Details were rarely worth worrying over, and besides, he had a plan...

"[color=22b2b2]Sorry, Haytham, I don't believe we've been introduced before, miss...?[/color]"