[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/9Y5SIuf.png[/img]

[img]https://i.imgur.com/vhZP84V.png[/img]
[color=silver][i][sub]A collaboration between [@jetipster] & [@Aewin][/sub][/i][/color]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/Nv0VCVB.png[/img][/center]
[color=silver][indent][indent]Having neared the argument as it reached it’s finale Chris dove in as the Arcenian Princess was storming away. This was going to require some damage control and he knew that he couldn’t let his parents, or their good Arcenian friends, down by letting this scene continue. Having scooped up Arabelle’s arm into his with a smile and a “Your Royal Highness”, he forcefully yet gracefully steered her toward a large bouquet that he swiftly pretending to examine. [color=FFD700]“What the hell was that?”[/color] he muttered through a forced smile as he leant to smell the nearest orchid. [color=FFD700]“I know you don’t like him Belle but was that entire calamity really quite necessary?”[/color]

Arabelle was utterly fuming after her run-in with her ‘precious’ fiancé. Why did the Gods have to torture her? Is it because she didn’t attend Sunday morning church service with her family enough? The only comfort Arabelle had was knowing that the quarrel was somewhat quiet - only the immediate crowd could tell something was amiss, and Arabelle was sure she was friendly with [i]most[/i] of them. 

However, it appeared that her comfort was entirely a sham, because not long after the altercation she was spirited away by a friendly face. [color=a27c89][b]“I did nothing!”[/b][/color] Arabelle argued. She kept her voice low, to maintain Chris’s hunky-dory facade as she appreciated the orchids in front of her. [color=a27c89][b]“All I wanted to do was check up on a friend. [i]He[/i] started it by calling my concern for a friend [i]frivolous[/i].”[/b][/color]

Chris placed his half-empty flute on a passing tray and took both of Arabelle’s hands in his own. [color=FFD700]“I know how these things go…”[/color] he whispered. He’d taken many of the phrases his father and brother had used during their years of disagreement out of context and it had never helped.[color=FFD700] “Misheard comments have caused many past disagreements for our families in the past. I’ve met Erik and doubt he’d call concern for a friend frivolous. Are you 100% certain that that is exactly what he said?”[/color] His green eyes locked with hers. 

Of course! That was exactly how she remembered it going! Arabelle nodded solemnly. She already thought low of him, but to dismiss her concern for a [i]mutual[/i] friend was a low blow. [color=a27c89][b]“I only told him I wished to talk to Princess Genevieve.”[/b][/color] And to go away, but that was the first thing she almost always told him. She suppressed the urge to groan as she was reminded again of the encounter before. How could he be such a fool? It was irritating knowing she would have to spend the rest of her life with such a person. [color=a27c89][b]“Please tell me your evening is going better than mine.”[/b][/color] Arabelle sighed, in an attempt to stop lamenting so much.


Her subdued nod told Chris all he needed to know. She couldn’t be 100% sure of what exactly had been said in the heat of the moment. He’d been there before. Too many times… He gave her a reassuring smile and turned them to face the room once more. [color=FFD700]“I’m sure we can catch Gen later”[/color] he said softly, [color=FFD700]“I mean we are all stuck here for the foreseeable future. ”[/color] He quickly realised that wasn’t exactly comforting so quickly grabbed another passing glass and attempted to ease the tension. [color=FFD700]“My evening?”[/color] he rolled his eyes and started to gesture around the room... [color=FFD700]“I’ve already slept with all the possible guys out there, all of whom now no longer talk to me. My best friend is with her betrothed who she knows nothing about and all of my other friends are also at one another’s throats over these political matches.”[/color] He downed half of the glass and stifled a burp. [i]Is this my 2nd or 3rd glass? It can’t be my 4th… right?[/i] [color=FFD700]“So I’m having a gay old time Little Belle!”[/color] he laughed, the sarcasm palpable. [color=FFD700]“At least you’re getting married to a gorgeous guy,”[/color] he nodded toward Erik, [color=FFD700]“I’m forever destined to be the gay-best-friend-of-honour and never the bride-groom.”[/color]

Arabelle couldn’t help but be somewhat amused. Chris wanted what Arabelle had, but Arabelle desired the freedom that Chris had. It was like neither of them could be happy with their current situation. Delicately balancing the glass of wine she still had saved for Geneveieve, Arabelle gave Chris a sincere one armed hug. [color=a27c89][b]“You said so yourself, we are all stuck here for the foreseeable future. Who knows what may happen? Last I heard, the Prince of Estea is still single!”[/b][/color] Estea was a small nation off to the east of Arcenia, and as far as Arabelle was aware, the prince was very single, and [i]very[/i] attractive. [color=a27c89][b]“Or, if he is not to your fancy… I give you permission to take Erik. He may have a good face, but I doubt we’ll ever be compatible. Maybe you’ll have better luck with him.”[/b][/color] She gave Chris a playful nudge. 

Chris smiled at the hug and playful nudge. Mission accomplished. As for Arabelle’s comment… if only. What he wouldn’t give to be able to marry a handsome prince like Erik but given that the pool of potentials were in the room and already discounted, there was no chance of that. But he’s also jump at the chance to give his little Belle the freedom she desired, that she herself as just a teenager had helped him achieve in his formative years. [color=FFD700]“Ha! Don’t tempt me. I daren’t even imagine how our parents would react to that happening!”[/color] he pantomime whispered with a wink. 

He examines her betrothed from across the room. [color=FFD700]“In all seriousness Belle, and I know you won’t see it this way, but you could be far, far worse off.”[/color] He held up a hand before she could reel off another rant about ancient grudges. [color=FFD700]“Hear me out.”[/color] He cocked his head as his appreciation of the Prince continued. [color=FFD700]“Personally, he’s well-bred, handsome, and well-built. I’ve only ever found him to be courteous, intelligent and quite humorous. Pragmatically for you he’s not only all of those things that anyone would crave to have in a partner but who’s position would also set place you both down in history books.If you can spin it as an un-political marriage it’ll be an incredible story of how love and common sense conquered petty party politics, something we could all definitely do with right now.”[/color]

He broke his serious turn with a shrug. [color=FFD700]“Anyway, what do I know. You’ve only got the small hurdle of your eternal fire to get over right? Just hope he hasn’t fallen for my irresistible charm like so many others before then,”[/color] he added with a nervous laugh as he registered the faces of Alejandro, Raiden and Henri once more as he scanned the ballroom. 

It was a bitter pill to swallow, but Arabelle knew Chris was correct. She - no, [i]they both[/i] had to stop acting childish and start putting the prosperity of their kingdoms first. It was the same thing Pops had reminded her before she boarded the flight to Aciras. It was childish, but putting down her pride for a man that wasn’t willing to do the same was difficult. Seeing him only made her build the wall around her much higher than before with every train-wreck of a meeting. 

[color=a27c89][b]“I mean… you’re not wrong. I cannot deny that, my friend, but…”[/b][/color] She sighed, feeling weary. The conflict was too much for her. Her pride was both her strength and going to be her downfall. Perhaps she should consider taking an oath of silence when in Erik’s presence? Although, Arabelle was near certain that the Austerian prince didn’t need her to say anything to act like an utter prat. [color=a27c89][b]“I wanted to try… I just wasn’t ready to see him so soon. I’ve already postponed the wedding once, hoping that either I can catch feelings or figure out a way to escape this but, as you can tell, neither have been a success.”[/b][/color] 

Chris’s nervous laugh rang in her mind, making her forget her woes. She could easily push away her problems with Erik in favour for cheering up a friend! She watched him as his face scanned the ballroom curiously. Didn’t he say he’d hooked up with all the possible men? [color=a27c89][b]“Is there anyone you like, out of all the men in this room?”[/b][/color] Arabelle wasn’t aware of the sexualities of the men in the room. She wondered if her question was a dangerous one. The last thing she wanted to do was force Chris into outing someone that wasn’t ready yet. 

Maybe he’d been a bit harsh. Chris reached around to mirror Arabelle’s one armed hug and drew her close. [color=FFD700]“I didn’t mean to sound like one of our parents,”[/color] he replied in an apologetic tone, [color=FFD700]“You know I don't believe in arranged marriages.”[/color] He looked back across the room at Leo and Asher but they were now out of view and his heart fluttered. How was it going? What was happening?
 
He was brought back to the present by his friend’s question. [color=FFD700]“Oh Belle”[/color] he said before taking another sip, [color=FFD700]“I’m not one to kiss and tell…” [/color] He let the sentence dangle for a moment before whispering conspiratorially,[color=FFD700] “but I will say that your Erik is one of the only young royals here who hasn’t ‘experimented’.”[/color] A mischievous glint shone in his ears before fading at the reality of the many betrothed couples before him. 

Arabelle couldn’t tell if she was happy or surprised by the news. At least Erik was honouring their betrothal by not fooling around behind her back, unless Chris meant that Erik has yet to experiment with the princes of the world. Gah, what did it matter - it wasn’t like she [i]cared[/i], really.

Still holding her tight Chris whispered into her ear as he pointed back across the room, [color=FFD700]“What about Sindri?”[/color] he murmured with faux huskiness [color=FFD700]“Then we’d be family but I would have the fitter brother...”[/color] He gave her a final squeeze as he laughed into his glass. [color=FFD700]“Keep it up Little Belle.”[/color] he said as he walked away in search of something carb-filled. 

At the mention of Sindri, Arabelle snorted into her free palm. Sindri was a good looking man, yes, but he was far too much brawns for her taste. And Austerian, but that was obvious given her incompatibility with Erik. The idea didn’t seem terrible, however. She watched as Chris walked away, wondering whether she should encourage that joke or not. Perhaps she should. 

But first… Now that Chris had helped calm her mood, she was ready to check up on Genevieve, who was still being whisked around by Henri somewhere in the ballroom. 

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