[color=A0A0A0][h2]Fleuri Jodeau[/h2][/color]

"I've been to soirées akin to this before, but nothing quite as high profile as this, and not as an Iron Rose," Fleuri answered, before turning to the table to fill his plate.  He assembled an impromptu entrée from the available meat and vegetables, taking his time to make the dish look presentable for what would be a very brief and largely unnoticed existence.  Once Fleuri was satisfied with his creation, he turned back to the serpentine knight, plate in hand.  "To answer your question, I am enjoying it so far.  House Jodeau is no longer a player in the game of intrigue, but we're still considered aristocracy and are thus obligated to keep up appearances, and I am honored to have the opportunity to attend a ball hosted by the monarchy."

[i]All the more reason we must be on our best behavior,[/i] Fleuri thought as he briefly glanced over at Tyaethe and Gillian, still arguing with that noble.

Fleuri picked up his glass and took another drink.  "And if anyone here disparages you, they're a fool.  It is because of the valor of knights like yourself that they, not Phoran Cal and his treacherous cronies, celebrate tonight within the Crown of Thaln.  Granted, not everyone who sided with the monarchy did so for unselfish reasons, but they all gained from the efforts of those who took up arms against those traitors."

[@FlappyTheSpybot]