[center][h2][color=f7941d]Mikhail Feldunn[/color][/h2][/center]

Mikhail was satisfied as he watched Ashley scramble, especially considering from what little he knows about her she likes to always maintain her social grace and it was slightly funny to watch her rush to put herself back together again. Also kinda cute if he was being honest. Not that he’d ever admit that to her though. His expression instantly started to sour as she started using titles and manners and all of the things one is expected to do in the face of nobility. At least with the people he was practicing with they made no illusions that they hated him. But with nobles, you could never tell.

He studied her face carefully as she spoke, just as he does with every other noble he meets who tries to make a good impression simply because of Mikhail’s title. At first glance she seemed absolutely genuine, kind. But for some odd reason that was actually the problem. It was always an act. None of them cared for Mikhail as a noble just as a way of moving up the social ladder in one way or another. He had already received a couple of marriage proposals that he had outright refused. Of course without his father’s knowledge. But he assumed Ashley was in a similar boat to say the least, faking her smile and everything about hearself right now. But even though there was something off about it compared to most that he couldn’t put his finger on. Perhaps there actually was something else to her had yet to see.

While he had never, as far as he knew, seen the real Ashley he feels he had gotten somewhere in that regard. During the last party when he had gotten thrust onto the stage for a match against her. Honestly he found the entire thing annoying and boring. If he had to guess, despite never seeing her actually fight before, that she probably used magic normally. While she was skilled in the sword for sure she didn’t seem to be able to match him in stamina and strength. Of course he didn’t hold back really, just enough to make sure he didn’t break any bones by accident. She was still a knight captain overall, he wasn’t going to underestimate her and risk getting his ass kicked to Irinoth and back. Of course the attack that drew blood was a slip up on his part not that anyone seemed to care. But that smile… honestly it chilled Mikhail a little bit. He couldn’t tell if this is how she actually was underneath that but being able to bring out another side to her was oddly satisfying and was in all honesty the only fun part of that night. Of course he ended up excusing himself not long later that night. Parties were not his environment of choice.

[color=f7941d]“I’ll put up with it at those parties if it makes you feel better, but drop the ‘milord’ and all that anywhere else. Getting called that makes me want to gag.”[/color] Mikhail held up a hand to signify to stop. He honestly hated those titles but if he tried to complain at one of those parties he would never hear the end of it. And seeing as Clive continued to drag him to those events he would end up suffering far… far more in the long term. [color=f7941d]“There’s no need to butter me up and lie to me like that, but yes I am very interested in what’s going on down in Irinoth. And it’s a coincidence that I ran into you because I was going to ask you if you’d care to travel with me. After all I’m strong enough to hold my own but I need someone who’s smart enough to figure things out once I’m down there. And of all the people I can stand in this city, you are definitely the smartest and most familiar with whatever potential evil is plaguing that damned island. So, what do you say?”[/color] Mikhail still wasn’t entirely sure he could trust Ashley but it’s not like he could go at it alone. Everyone else in this city that he knew was either going to backstab or leave him the moment things got scary. At least with her he knew she was strong enough, at least mentally, to not do the same.