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[color=9e0b0f][b]Location;[/b][/color] Alice's Father's Chambers - Abhainn Ballroom
[color=9e0b0f][b]Interacting With;[/b][/color] Her father -- Jetta, her handmaiden[/center][hr][hr]
Alice looked at her reflection from the beautiful, dulled blade of the illustrious sword that weathered many battles and duels, only to be wielded by one of Abhainn's great military strategists. Seeming to be distracted by the way it reflected the light of the hearth, the silence was finally broken by a groggy man's voice, [b]"I wanted you to wield it one day."[/b]

Alice looked up to face her father that finally awoken, resting the sword gently against the bed frame as she moved to sit closer towards him. She gave him a warm smile before replying, [color=9e0b0f][b]"I never felt worthy enough."[/b][/color]

[b]"There is no other warrior that I would've rather had to take over my legacy,"[/b] he replied immediately, grabbing her hand in his own. His hands were cold despite the raging fire that heated the room to a cozy atmosphere. 

Alice hesitated before giving her response, understanding the love that he always had for her, [color=9e0b0f][b]"Hopefully there will come a day in which I'll be allowed to use it."[/b][/color]

Her father chuckled, shifting his head to look at the reminiscent sword, [b]"While I should pray that you never see battle again, it's a shame that your skills would go to waste."[/b] Alice didn't reply and instead brushed his brown and grey hairs to reveal more of his smiling expression, though it still pained her to see his sickly features. The dark circles around his eyes, his narrow cheeks, and his dried lips seemed to begin to replace his once handsome face. He continued, [b]"How long have you been sitting there for?"[/b]

Alice turned to watch the fire crackle within the hearth, [color=9e0b0f][b]"I came after the arrival of the Sliabhian Royalty."[/b][/color]

[b]"That must have been hours ago,"[/b] her father spoke in concern, [b]"Does something trouble you, my dear child?"[/b]

Leave it to her father to figure out when something troubles Alice, he seemed to be the only man to ever read past her expressionless face. Still, she hesitated before bringing up her newfound struggle, [color=9e0b0f][b]"How does one deal with jealousy?"[/b][/color]

[b]"I take it you already don't like the future queen,"[/b] her father presumed.

[b][color=9e0b0f]"How could I?"[/color][/b] Alice spoke, [b][color=9e0b0f]"I've slaughtered their men, she's from our rivaling kingdom, and --."[/color][/b] She couldn't give her final, main reason as to why her fast-growing distaste was formed.

Alice's father sighed, already knowing what the last reason was without her having to tell him, [b]"If things are meant to be, it will be. I know you feel anger, but don't let that get in the way of your respect for the royal court. She will soon be apart of this kingdom and it takes a great leader to cast aside past quarrels and all feelings of hate to welcome the dawn of a new age. Be that leader. King Maddox may need you when times get tough within these new grounds of marriage, too."[/b]

Alice let out a sigh, trying to subdue her anger from the matter, [b][color=9e0b0f]"You're right."[/color][/b]

Jetta came running through the doors calling out, [b]"Lady Alice!"[/b] She came to a halt, panting, as she finally found Alice sitting at the edge of her father's bed, [b]"I've been searching for you everywhere. The celebration will begin soon, I need to get you ready!"[/b]

Alice let out a light laugh, [color=9e0b0f][b]"It's fine, Jetta. I've decided to go as I am. You spent far too much time getting me ready this morning to only fashion it for as little time as I did."[/b][/color]

[b]"Let me at least fix you up a little, my lady!"[/b] Jetta pleaded.

Alice's father motioned for her to go as she gave him a soft kiss on the forehead. She assumed her position in front of the vanity as Jetta fixed her hair and tied up all the strands of hair that came loose from the up-do. Alice looked over to the easel that held a beautifully, finished painting of the Abhainnian sunset, which eventually spawned the idea of a gift. There would be no better gesture to make a good first impression, and it's a unique gift that would be different than what is usually offered by the nobles. Alice stood up as Jetta followed, hands still touching up her hair as she exclaimed, [b]"Wait, wait, wait!"[/b]

Alice looked over the rather large canvas, touching it to see if the paint had fully dried, [b][color=9e0b0f]"Jetta. Do we have any wrapping paper?"[/color][/b]

[b]"Wrapping paper?"[/b] Jetta echoed while giving a small giggle, [b]"Unfortunately, no, my lady. I do have yards of fabric ranging from cotton, wool, linen, silk --."[/b]

[b][color=9e0b0f]"We'll use silk,"[/color][/b] Alice interrupted.

With that, Alice spent a fair amount of time wrapping the painting neatly and presentably within soft, blue colored silk, adorned with a ribbon and spool to keep it nicely wrapped. She then made her way to Abhainn's ballroom, but she was stopped in the halls with the tall windows to get a visual of the fireworks display that many of the nobles were gawking at. Mesmerized, herself, by the colorful lights, she couldn't help but let herself fall into the fantasy where the tables were turned: Alice being welcomed to the celebration in which she was happily marrying her love, King Maddox, while the other nobles were to watch while the two expressed their happiness. Without dwelling on the dream, she turned away from the fireworks display as she saw a group of nobles muttering to themselves and eying Alice. They quickly turned after Alice caught them staring, walking quickly by them to enter the ballroom.

It was like any Abhainn celebration, lots of food and beverage, and lots of drunks already. It was loud, more than usual, especially with the added Sliabhian nobles that were welcomed to celebrate the unity between kingdoms. Alice stood in the middle of the ballroom, not far away from the entrance to try and recognize any familiar, friendly face, but there was no point, for she had no true noble friend. She stood, holding her wrapped canvas and searching for her designated seat before the entrance of future Queen Julianna entered the room. The melody that played upon her entrance is what notified Alice.

For a moment, the two would make eye contact, Julianna being happily and warmly welcomed by the nobles of both kingdoms, while Alice stood within an empty space, almost making it clear that she would be the black sheep within the kingdom. Julianna's beauty seemed to vividly outshine Alice's in this moment, especially since Julianna had the time to properly get ready after a long journey. She was glowing, even more so than earlier, and her dress hugged her body in all the appropriate places. It was like staring at a man's ideal woman versus one that meddles in with the affairs of war. An uneasy feeling settled within the pit of Alice's stomach, unable to bring up any fake smile to give Julianna, and instead getting out of the way to make a clear path to her spot. 

Alice made her way to her own chair, though it was one furthest away from the royal family. It seemed as if Abhainn was torturing her, falling very low on the scale of noble popularity. They did have a designated spot for her father, which was a kind gesture, despite the shared knowledge that he is a sickly, bed-ridden man whom is unable to attend. Taking her seat and beginning to drink her chalice of wine, she decided to not place the wrapped canvas with the other welcoming presents that would begin the showering of gifts throughout the month. 

There were many mixed feelings between the marriage, many nobles seemingly happy that the queen was at least a beauty to be treasured, while some experienced jealousy, much like Alice did. In this moment, Alice had no person to converse with as her newness of the noble life and the dramas that came with it still lingered. With the rumoring gossip: that she's not a real woman, that she has no knowledge of how to be a noble lady, and that she's a cold-blooded killer all added to the many reasons for why she was commonly avoided. Whether it was from jealousy that Alice's title of Abhainn's Battle-Maiden was praised more than any other noble or from the disgust of the unladylike actions that made Alice who she is today that caused these rumors, Alice never sought to dig into these affairs. Even the nobles that she once grew up with became distant, though she never questioned their motives because she knew all-too-well as to why the nobles treated her as such. Instead, she drinks her wine and observes, like she always does when she's invited to noble events.