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[i]A collaboration between [@Jetipster] & [@Pyxis][/i][/center]

	Chris shifted in his plush leather seat, the perfectly air-conditioned car doing nothing to relieve his discomfort. His eyes flickered as they tried to focus on the seemingly endless stream of immaculately pruned trees flashing by the tinted window of the Nevarrean vehicle. Only moments ago, he had been joking with his best friend, but passing through security and onto the royal estate had shifted his demeanor. 

	He’d spent the last three weeks in the beautiful Nevarrean sunshine, celebrating pride, releasing turtles, and all with his best friend — a fantastical bliss. Now life was real again. Despite the glamour and wealth that encompassed him, he had never felt more vulnerable than at this event. Numerous promised betrothals had been announced by many sitting royals for their children, his friends. He was both furious at their situation and in many cases, apathy and wholeheartedly relieved that he did not have a childhood promise to fulfill. Yet the latter came with a sting. He knew of no other openly out young royals to which there was even that option. He knew that he would eventually have to take a step back from his royal life, as his country’s staunch traditions would not comfortably allow his continued status if he was seen to ‘marry down.’

	As he thought of the promised marriage of the glamorous gowned figure seated beside him, a tanned manicured fist clenched on his knee in silent fury at his powerlessness. She had accepted it so easily. He’d flown over as soon as possible to comfort her, but she was… [i]fine[/i]. Sure he liked Asher. He was a great guy. A good man. A good prince. But not Leo’s choice! He knew all about her crushes and little secrets, as she knew his. But here she was anyway - marrying a [i]MAN[/i] for one thing, and one she doesn’t even know at that. And here he was. A royal. A celebrity. An influencer. A millionaire. Her confidant and best friend. Yet there was nothing that could help her. 

	Still staring at the manicured lawn, his left-hand reaches across the middle seat for hers.

	When Leo felt the warmth from Chris' hand over her own, she turned her head to look at him. The[color=CD5C5C]"We're gonna party all night, right? I brought some sandals for both of us when we get tired of these stuffy shoes."[/color] She took his hand and intertwined their fingers together like always. She gave her best friend a quick smile before turning back to look out to the scenery that was the Aciran gardens. Leo didn't like silence, especially between them. She had noted his change of demeanor was soon as they had been cleared by security, and she wanted to keep things between the light and bubbly. [color=CD5C5C]"I hope they have good wine too, the last time we were in an Aciran ball the liquor they had chosen gave me the worst hangover ever. Do you think we'll see Rhys? I haven't talked to him in a while. Don't worry about Ryn Ryn; I'll keep her away from you two- even if she bites me."[/color] Leo offered a small laugh as she looked back at Chris. 

	The weeks leading up to Princess Vivian's celebrations had been somewhat surreal for the next queen of Nevarrea. While news of her arranged marriage had shocked her country and many of her friends alike, Leo had stepped back from the spotlight and shut herself in the Bourbon Palace. It was not secret that the Crowned Princess of Nevarrea preferred women, and many in the country supported her. It was in her blood. She was a Teoko, and Teoko people put no boundaries on love. Leo wanted to live by that standard, yet it seemed like she was stuck in the endless loop of arranged marriages of the monarchs, and there was nothing she could do about it. As the Crowned Princess of Nevarrea, she had an obligation to her country to further the bloodline and keep her country safe- even if that meant giving herself up to a man, she didn't know. 

	Shortly after the announcement Chris had been the only one to drag her out of her room and into the celebrations of Pride in her country. The colors, the laughter, and the happiness that brought the festivities had momentarily pushed her betrothal to the back of her mind. Those three weeks had been the best weeks of her life so far. From the dancing to the drinks, the shared laughs with Chris to the drunken singing- it all came crashing down as soon as they stepped foot in Aciras.

	These two upcoming months in Aciras would be her chance to get to know the man Leo was set to marry. She wanted to make a good impression on Asher and prove that she was a worthy wife. That she would do her best to please her people, her mother, and her bloodline. To show her best friend that she really was [i]fine[/i] and everything would be okay. 

	Everything would be okay, a phrase that Leo had been repeating to herself for the past hour. 

	[color=CD5C5C]"We're gonna kill it. Like always."[/color]

	Chris smiled as he felt her fingers entwine with his and gave it a squeeze. Typical Leo, filling any silence with chat and endless attempts at rousing a laugh from him. Of course, they’d have a great time! They always did. First on the dance floor and last off - unless tryst or intoxication found them first. He smiled, grimly at her mention of booze. How could she even think about that when he was still feeling fragile from all the rum, tequila, and cachaça cocktails of her homeland he was plied with by her mother last night? And she knew he got car sick… Typical Leo.

	He squeezed her hand tighter as the car slowed to a stop. [color=FFD700]"I know we will. Like always."[/color] he whispered, repeating their mantra. The car finally stopped, and he straightened his tie. [i] ‘Come on Kalymnos it’s just a party.’[/i] Yeah, but it was a celebration full of his friends that he had either slept with or wasn’t speaking to. Despite the large number of his peers invited, including his two best friends, he’d honestly never felt more lonely... 

	He turned with a grin to his best friend as the door on his side was opened by a footman. [color=FFD700]"Come on, then, let’s show them what a proper couple looks like."[/color] he joked with a wink. 

	Leo returned the grin to Chris and gave a nod of encouragement before her door was opened by a footman who helped her out. As she walked to Chris, she kept an easy-going smile on her signature red-colored lips. Leo's dress had been a gift from a famous fashion designer in Notia who had visited Nevarrea a few weeks before. The [url=https://i.pinimg.com/564x/fd/72/8e/fd728eab39fa38046a3597295dda9b18.jpg]dress[/url] was a beautiful tan with golden sequence that hung from various places and reflected the lights of the flashing cameras around them. While Leo had planned to wear a dress from her close friend and designer, Fernanda Gonzales, her mother had pressured her to wear the Notian dress to impress Prince Asher of Notia. Fernanda's gown would have to wait for a later date. As for her hair, Leo continued her tradition of braids and flowers. Her hair had been braided into one loose braid that had other smaller braids intertwined in it. It had been decorated with small flowers and gemstones, Leo only hoped it held up all night.

	Chris was in a [url= https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/e4fd07dd-ac0d-4f8a-b604-971edf7c92c6.jpg]dark purple suit[/url], slightly more adventurous than the crowd of blacks, greys, and blues ahead of them but still regal. His gold tie had been selected to complement Leo’s dress. As usual, they milked the cameras for all they were worth. As he stood there with his best friend, just for a moment, all his worries disappeared. A genuine smile was back on his lips by the time he untwined his arm from Leo’s and prompted her forward. He knew that some commentators would scorn him, allowing a woman to go before him, but it was the 21st century for God’s sake. And anyway, as a rightful heir the Nevarrean throne, in theory, she did outrank him.

	After Leo and Chris waved a bit, she wrapped her arm around Chris' arm and led the way into the entrance of the ballroom where other royals were being greeted by the King, Queen and their daughter Raven. The duo moved closer until they were standing in front of them. Instead of following royal protocol, the Princess of Nevarrea stepped up before Chris and placed a hand over her heart, followed by the usual curtsy. Leo loved to incorporate her Teoko costumes with those of royalty protocol- it always made her mother scold her, but they were small signs of rebellion against the whole royal protocol crap everyone had to follow. It also helped greatly that Chris had let her go before; she'd thank him once they were inside. He always knew how to stick it up to the royals.

	[color=CD5C5C]"His Majesty the King, Her Majesty the Queen and Her Royal Highness, Princess of Aciras,"[/color] Leo kept her hand over her heart as she greeted the Aciras royal family, [color=CD5C5C]"I, Crown Princess Leonor Sofia Acosta Bourbon of Nevarrea, am grateful for the invitation to the festivities of Her Royal Highness, Princess of Aciras Vivian. May the gifts from Nevarrea please you and your family during these festivities."[/color] With that, she bowed her head slightly and removed her hand from her chest to finish the Teoko greeting. She stepped aside to let Chris do his own greeting. Leo was already tired of the whole royal protocol; she only hoped that they didn't have to do the same once inside.
	
After Leo had completed her official greeting, he completed his own rehearsed repetitive greeting with a bow of his head. [color=FFD700]"Your Majesties the King and Queen and your Royal Highness,"[/color] to which the Queen and Princess cordially offered their hands to be kissed as per Hellenican custom. Is mother had always held the Acirans as exceptional hosts. [color=FFD700]"Thank you for the invitation, your majesties. I bear the apologies of my parents and brother but hope that my presence will more than make up for their absence, especially my selection of specialties from home."[/color] He stepped aside, and with a wink at Leo, they were quickly hooked arms once more and strode into the ballroom, him steering her quickly toward the nearest champagne bearing server and relieving the tray of two glasses.

	[color=CD5C5C]"They're probably tired of hearing their damned titles being repeated to them over and over."[/color] Leo had taken one of the champagne glass and given Chris a small thank you. With their arms still hooked, she led the way further into the ballroom. She had to give credit to the Acirans. They knew how to decorate their place and make everything look even more stunning. Though, Leo would have gone with something more colorful and vibrant- but that was just her. 

	Her eyes quickly scanned the ballroom to see who was present at the ball already and who would be arriving fashionably late. The Crown Princess of Tuyen Phu was already present and standing out like always with those perfectly sculpted tattooed arms, her perfect legs, and- Leo had to take a sip of her champagne before she began drooling all over herself. While she didn't want to take her eyes off Han, she continued to look around at the various familiar faces that had already arrived at the Welcome Ball. 

	Chris had clocked the Asian princess as well and smirked at Leo’s casual sip - a tell that he’d clocked over their many years. But he was the one caught out after meeting eyes with Henri and choking on his own fizz. He had not expected the quiet Luxembourger to be present, especially not in such a dapper outfit and quickly looked away to find the Arcenian princesses who’d arrived just before them.

	[color=CD5C5C]"Well, here we are."[/color] Leo turned to look at Chris with a grin. [color=CD5C5C]"Might as well make the best of it, no?"[/color] Make the best of it until these two months of balls and parties were over, and she had to face the fact she would be getting married to the Crown Prince of The Land of Ice. Why did it have to be a cold place of all places?

	Chris could only raise his glass to hers with a mirrored grin. [color=FFD700]“Yamas!”[/color]