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[img]https://media.giphy.com/media/14r6S5LiRMaK52/giphy.gif[/img]

[hr][color=#E15436][b]Location -[/b][/color] Abhainn's Ballroom
[color=#E15436][b]Interacting With -[/b][/color] Lady Amaryllis {[@Filthy Mudblood]}, Prince William {[@Legion02]}, & Prince Antoine {[@vFear]}
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Staring into Amaryllis's eyes, Maddox found a wave of memories rising deep within him. He had tried so hard to tell himself that Lissa certainly could not be here for the celebrations, that it genuinely took him a good moment or two to recognize her behind the mask. But there was no mistaking her.

When her heard her speak - or, rather, stammer - he realized it truly had to be her. A soft smile broke out across his features, his eyes lighting up behind his mask. Before his eyes, she melted into the love-struck girl he had known all of those years ago. She stumbled over words, struggling to address him, and Maddox figured he would step in to help her out, but another voice jarred him from his thoughts.

[color=#E15436]"No, not a bad time,"[/color] he replied, whipping his head around to look at the younger man. His head swam in response, reminding him that he was still very much so under the influence. [color=#E15436]"Thank you, Antoine. I look forward to the union of our two great families."[/color] How easily the rehearsed line rolled off of his tongue. [color=#E15436]"You will be my nephew when this union is completed, won't you?"[/color] That made him sound old. But so did having a child of his own, which he figured would be expected soon after the marriage.

But Antoine's attention had already turned to Lissa by the time he stopped worrying about his mortality. And why did his gut clench slightly as the prince took Amaryllis's hand and kissed it? The Lissa who received the Prince was one he had known only in court - the mature, well-mannered young woman who conducted herself so well that Maddox's own father hadn't realized the two had been carrying on, so to speak, for months. Maddox looked to William for a moment to see how he reacted to Antoine before his attention was pulled back to Lissa once more, just before William excused himself from the conversation. In truth, Antoine could have given just about any reason for his departure and Maddox wouldn't have even taken notice.

Now he was the one captivated by her as she quickly regained her composure. [color=#E15436]"Yes, some things never do change, my lady,"[/color] he replied, meeting her gaze. [color=#E15436]"Abhainn is all the brighter now that you are back."[/color] He wished to reach for her or to run off with her like they would have all of those years ago. But Antoine was here, and he'd be damned if he showed his future nephew that side of him. Despite how...tempting it was. [color=#E15436]"It has been far too long...perhaps we might catch up with each other if time permits?"[/color] Tactfully put, Antoine would hopefully see it only as two distant friends rekindling a relationship. But perhaps Lissa would see it as more.