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[img]https://i.imgur.com/uGddlzt.png[/img]
[color=BBC7E1]Time:[/color] Early Evening
[color=BBC7E1]Location:[/color] Duke Vikena's Sorian Estate, Caesonia Kingdom
[color=BBC7E1]Interaction:[/color] Lorenzo[@FunnyGuy] 
[color=BBC7E1]Attire:[/color] [url=i.imgur.com/kzux34s.jpg]Click here[/url]
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[color=7ea7d8]"If only your mother could see the young woman you've become. Absolutely lovely."[/color]

The bristles of a brush gently sailed through hair black as ink. The tall maid was repetitive and soothing in her movements. She had shoulder-length blonde hair and the typical attire for her role. Her name was Delilah and she had served Charlotte since she had been a little girl. She was reaching well into her late thirties yet retained a certain youthfulness to her face. She watched the expression of the young woman who sat before her through the mirror of the vanity. When there was no reply, she continued on with her speaking,[color=7ea7d8]"She'd be happy you're going. It's been a long time since you've been to a ball, my Lady."[/color] 

After a sigh, a smirk pulled at the girl's lips as she imitated her mother's tone,[color=BBC7E1]"... She'd say, Charlotte, get that wretched thing off you before you end up in a brothel."[/color] The long blue dress upon Charlotte was by no means revealing, but the v-neckline was adventurous even for her. Once upon a time, she had worn the same poofy dresses the other girls did with their large bows and tight corsets. She could remember using the skirts as tents as a child they had been so large. But so had been the style of Caesonia: the bigger the better.

The maid paused her work to bend down and move her head around the side of Charlotte where she could catch her gaze, [color=7ea7d8]"Come now, Lottie. It's hardly scandalous. Just a little different than the Caesonia tradition."[/color] She took her shoulders and gave them a gentle squeeze, [color=7ea7d8]"It suits you well, my Lady. You're a little different than the other Caesonian noblewomen-"[/color]

[color=BBC7E1]"Oh dear,"[/color]Charlotte interrupted with a gentle smile, [color=BBC7E1]"Such harsh truths simply will not do well for my digestion, Delilah."[/color] It felt as if every journey outside the home would always result in constant reminders from all she'd never quite fall in step with those around her. It was the same for her stepfather Lorenzo. Perhaps it had been fate he'd become her stepfather. If only the two of them had just been born elsewhere.

[color=7ea7d8]"You know very well what I mean, my lady. Overindulgence was never quite your style. Well, until it came to food that is."[/color] Delilah took it upon herself at this point to make busywork of applying blush to her cheeks as they spoke. The last remark managed to get a giggle out of Charlotte. Her light blue eyes met her own in the mirror, a hint of her inner emotions swimming within. Delilah followed her line of sight and said, [color=7ea7d8]"Do not fret. I am making quick work of you as the last thing we need is for you two to be late. [i]Again.[/i]"[/color] 
 
After she had concluded, Charlotte rose from her stool and turned to wrap her arms around Delilah in a gentle hug, [color=BBC7E1]"Thank you, Delilah...I wish you could accompany me."[/color] The maid returned the gesture a tight embrace, [color=7ea7d8]"It's time you go back out there, my dear. A whole world is out there for you. Hiding in here forever won't make your problems go away. Be brave and face them."[/color] Delilah let go and held shoulders at arm's length, giving her a grin, [color=7ea7d8]"And find a darling handsome man for me to look at while you're at it."[/color]

Charlotte soon moved into the hall. The ceiling was high and rounded while the long carpet stretched down a never-ending hallway. All was not melancholic as she had been blessed with a beautiful estate. She moved down the corridor with haste as each step echoed, however, the sound of rushing footsteps from behind were louder. 

[Color=limegreen]"Lady Charlotte! Lady Charlot-"[/color]

She continued her pace, waving off the man's urgent tone, [color=BBC7E1]"Yes, Nathaniel. I know, I know. He's late."[/color]

[Color=limegreen]"Yes quite so, my lady."[/color] Nathaniel was struggling to keep her with her brisk pace. She had always been a quick walker with her long legs. 

Charlotte glanced his way finally, [color=BBC7E1]"Please tell me he's at least dressed."[/color]

Nathaniel nodded fervently, [Color=limegreen]"Yes, yes of course my lady. I will escort you to the carriage where you can await him."[/color] He attempted to gain the lead, but he could not sustain it. 

[color=BBC7E1]"Coming with us to the ball, Nathaniel?"[/color]She mused, watching his expression with amusement.

Nathaniel did a double-take, thrown off guard by her question. He had become somewhat used to her strange remarks and the way she'd gently tease him, but she did sometimes still throw him for a loop, [Color=limegreen]"Yes-No! I mean no, Lady Charlotte. It would be improper for me to attend."[/color] Charlotte had found amusement in trying to break through his wall of professional etiquette to see what she could find, though she also genuinely saw the servants as their equals. She hoped one day she could truly convince them to come to attend and enjoy the luxuries with them.

[color=BBC7E1]"But Nathaniel, don't you want to see all the fine women?"[/color]
She was now pushing the front door open and holding it for Nathaniel, who was too thrown off again by her question to say more than to curtly thank her. [Color=BBC7E1]"Certainly, you must long for a companion."[/color]

[Color=limegreen]"The fine women?"[/color]Nathaniel repeated, pausing on the front porch as she moved along ahead.

Charlotte grinned at him as she made her way over to the carriage, [Color=BBC7E1]"Yes, plenty of them all waiting for a handsome man like you."[/color] 

[Color=limegreen]"You are ever so kind, Lady Charlotte, "[/color] He finally caught up and held open the carriage door for her this time,[color=limegreen]"But I cannot attend."[/color]He bowed then turned on his heels to take his leave. Charlotte frowned and lingered in her spot.

[Color=BBC7E1][i]We're not so different, you and I. Both of us were taught to stay in our place.[/i][/color]