[center][h1] [color=teal]Countess Liliane[/color], [color=0072bc]Count Calbert[/color] & [color=1e4fff]Lady Crystal[/color][/h1]

[color=1e4fff]Mentions:[/color] [@samreaper] Kazumin [@Tpartywithzombi] Violet[/center]

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Liliane had been watching her daughter as she had danced with the unfamiliar boy from her spot in a chair in the corner of the room. A few nobles ladies were sitting nearby the delicate woman as she had her hands folded neatly in her lap. She had told an attendant that she had been feeling dizzy and needed a seat for the remainder of the ball. After she had been given one, quite a few people asked to sit by her, eager to speak to the angelic countess.

She entertained the conversations with them with soft and short answers, her attention moving often toward both her daughters as they were on the dance floor. At first, she had been quite happy to see Crystal dancing with someone, and had only been glancing over here and there, but it had taken a downward turn. He had taken up Crystal’s personal space multiple times, causing her visible discomfort. At this point, she had tuned out the conversation with her lady friends and had put her full focus into the situation at hand. Something the boy said cleared struck fear into Crystal. Liliane stood up immediately. 

Crystal quickly made her way towards her mother. Trying her best to ignore the stares and looks given her as she hurried by. Her face, hot with embarrassment and her skin prickly from the creepiness from the situation. 

Had he really stalked her? He went with a story like that, that couldn’t be coincidence. But the way he got close to her by pulling their bodies together it only made it reaffirm her belief. 

She honestly would have gone to her father first, but she didn’t see him. She didn’t give her mother a chance to say anything before she hugged her. Her voice muffled in the shoulder. [color=1e4fff]“Mother, I’m sorry I shouldn’t have come. I’m just making a fool of myself and you and father…” [/color]She wasn’t bawling, but the tears still threaten to breach her eyelids at this point.

Liliane’s expression broke seeing her daughter distressed as she came into close proximity. She wrapped her arms around her and embraced her tightly.  [color=teal]“Oh my little girl. You have no idea how happy I am that you decided to come. You’re doing no such thing.”[/color]She kissed her head and ran her fingers through her hair comfortingly.  After a moment she gently lifted her daughter’s chin up to look her in the eye. [color=teal] “Can you tell me what happened?”[/color]

She took a moment to collect her thoughts, finding her self calming down a bit when her mother stroked her hair. She always loved that. When her chin was lifted so she could meet her mothers eyes she took a deep breath and closed her eyes for a moment as if that would force the tears back down. 

She finally reopened them,[color=1e4fff] “ That man I danced with… I… think he might be a stalker. I don’t know how, I just might be overreacting. But with how close he was getting… and the fact he tried telling a story that was basically the start of mine.” [/color] she sighed and took a tiny step back to look… another woman was now dancing with him, she seemed to completely enjoy his company. 

She felt annoyed, hurt, angry, relieved…. All at the same time. [color=1e4fff]“It was too much to be coincidental right? But I’ve never seen him before… how would he know? Am I overreacting? I don’t know but I suddenly feel like the bad guy… I mean look at that woman, she is clearly enjoying his company…”[/color]

Liliane listened to her daughter with a warm smile then advised her gently,[color=teal] “It is okay, no matter what the reality of this situation or any other one, to decide you are uncomfortable and you want to leave.”[/color] She followed her gaze and watched the blonde in her pink dress dance with the perpetrator. [color=teal]“That’s Princess Anastasia. She is… ever the friendly sort and doesn’t have a instinct that tells her to run when she should. If you recall, I believe she ended up getting herself kidnapped years ago. The poor dear.”[/color] She sighed and took Crystal’s hands. [color=teal]“Listen. Don’t worry about it, alright, my dear? … As for him being a stalker, your father and I will find everything out that we need to and go from there.”[/color]

[color=1e4fff]“I can’t just go back out there… I don’t know who I bumped into but everyone will stare.”[/color] Crystal said softly… looking at the other lords and ladies not dancing and we’re looking at her.[color=1e4fff] “Continue to stare.”[/color] She added. She started to wring her own wrists again. [color=1e4fff]“I shouldn’t have come… this never would have happened if I didn't come.” [/color]

She looked over to see Charlotte having a wonderful time with Sir Mathias, and finally spotting her sister dancing with another Lord. Looking lovely as always. [color=1e4fff]“I should just go… I don’t want to embarrass You or Violet. Not when she can actually find someone…”[/color]

[color=teal]“You can! Would the heroines in your stories give up?”[/color]Liliane asked her, brushing hair behind her ear,[color=teal] “You’ve been in your room for so long, Crystal. This is your moment to start your real story.”[/color] She had noted to herself to chastise her later for coming on her own instead of with them, but she wanted to see her daughter have fun before doing any reprimanding yet tonight. Crystal was here and she looked so beautiful that it had moved Liliane to tears when she had seen her come in. She deserved to dance with lovely men and enjoy fine cuisine with the rest of the young ladies of Caesonia tonight.

The countess glanced at Charlotte once she saw her daughter look in the direction and then looked down at Crystal again,[color=teal] “Lady Vikena’s had an arduous night. Before you arrived, her father embarrassed the Sultan of the Alidasht Kingdom and she made an attempt to take the blame. Alas, the Sultan was merciful on the two of them. I think it would be beneficial for the both of you to catch up. You both require the commiserations of a friend tonight.”[/color]

Crystal closed her eyes and sighed. Her stories weren't the same, just some lonely girl dreams written on paper. She didn’t say anything though as her mother continued. She looked back to Charlotte. 

Her mother went on to explain that Charlotte had a horrible night in her own right. Yet there she was, enjoying a dance… no one is looking at her, judging. She smiled faintly, maybe she was being a bit…childish in a sense. She took a deep breath and looked to her mom a bit sheepishly.[color=1e4fff] “I feel so foolish… thank you.”[/color] She said softly allowing her head to fall into the crook of her mothers neck.

[color=teal]“Don’t feel foolish. You have every right to be upset. [i]I am upset too.[/i]”[/color]Lilianne told her and gave her a firm hug.[color=teal] “I cannot bear to see someone scaring you like this… But it will be taken care of. ”[/color]  As the dances started to come to their conclusion, the two women soon saw Count Calbert striding toward them through the crowd. 

Liliane bit her lip as he stopped before them and glanced down at Crystal. His brows furrowed, 
[color=0072bc]“Why is she despairing?”[/color]He asked as he moved to rub his daughter’s back. He had caught a glimpse of Crystal dancing with some blonde man while he had been speaking with Lorenzo, but he had not recognized him. [color=0072bc]“Was it that [i]nobody[/i] she was dancing with? Did he hurt her?”[/color]

[color=teal]“Crystal received the impression that a young man has been stalking her.”[/color]The countess told her husband softly,her tone full of concern. [color=teal]“He knew all about her life and even went as far as to invade her personal space. “[/color] There was a twinge of anger too now. 

[color=0072bc]“What!”[/color]Count Calbert’s voice raised exponentially, those nearby looking over in alarm. He turned around, his eyes searching the crowd until they locked on Kazumin. There he was. Dancing with the princess as if he had not just hurt his baby. If looks could kill, the boy with the cowlick would have instantly collapsed to the floor. He snapped his fingers without turning around as a servant nervously came to his side. [color=0072bc]“Find out the identity of that man.”[/color]He hissed under his breath. Calbert weighed his options carefully before deciding to take some inspiration from the Sultan,[color=0072bc] “...And invite him to brunch tomorrow.”[/color] He then whispered to the servant for several moments.

Liliane touched her husband’s shoulder.[color=teal] “My love. This could be a misunderstanding. Maybe we should find out all the information before-”[/color]

[color=0072bc]“I simply want to have a discussion with the boy..”[/color]Calbert turned to look at her, his eyes flashing, [color=0072bc]“Just…a little chat. ”[/color] Fury was apparent in his gaze, but he kept his expression stoic.  With  clenched fists, he continued explaining, clarifying his sentiment,[color=0072bc] “I would like to speak to him and find out his intentions for myself. He can clear up any misunderstandings to [i]me[/i]. Regardless, I have full faith in Crystal’s intuition. If she says that man is a menace, then so he is.  I will make sure he [i]never[/i] even glances at her [i]ever[/i] again.” [/color]

Crystal raised her head as her father touched her back. Looking up to him. She couldn’t even answer when her mother spoke up for her. All she managed was a shake of her head when he asked if he hurt her.

She stood there and watched as her father grew angrier by the moment, instantly ordering a servant to find out his name and wanting to ‘just talk to him.’ She began to worry slightly. She never saw him this angry before. While she honestly believed that Kazu was stalking her. She worried that her father would take things a bit too far. From stories she read about fathers having no issues ‘taking care of things’ when it came to protecting their families. She didn’t want anyone to die…not that her father would ever do that. 

[color=1e4fff]“Father…”[/color] She said softly, moving from her mother and wrapping an arm around his and leaning her head against his shoulder. Looking at Kazu,[color=1e4fff]“Can we just leave it be? I don’t want to make it any worse than it is already…”[/color] She said looking up to him [color=1e4fff]“I…honestly never had a stalker..that I know of before… I could be wrong…”[/color] She gripped his hand in hers, if anyone was hurt because of her she couldn’t bear it… it would be horrible. Even if it was a creepy stalker…

Calbert looked down at his daughter, his expression softening. He had always said she was too pure for the world…But that was why he was here to protect her. He would do anything to make sure her and Violet had everything he did not. Every time the world dared to threaten to take from them, [i]he would take from the world first.[/i] He smiled down at her and gave her a loving hug. [color=0072bc]”I am sorry, sweetpea. I must have frightened you. Your safety means everything to me and I am afraid I cannot just leave it be. I will simply discuss the matter with him to find out the truth. “[/color] He let go of her but stayed at her side. [color=0072bc]”If he is stalking you, we have no idea what he may dare do next. You understand this right, dear?[/color]

Liliane moved to her side and added in a kind tone, [color=teal]”And Crystal, he may be bothering other girls, maybe even your sister, for all we know. It is important we get  enforcement involved if he is following around young women.”[/color]

Crystal groaned inwardly as her father released her from his hug. She didn’t say anything but gripped her hands in her lap. She didn’t want to say she understood. She looked away and twisted her hands again against each other. She then looked up at her mother, she added onto fathers 'argument’ so to say… she lowered her head and simply nodded. [color=1e4fff]”O-ok… Just don’t…hurt him..please.” [/color] She muttered under breath.

 [color=teal]”Your father would never hurt anyone, sweetheart.”[/color]Liliane assured her then glanced at her husband.  [color=teal]”Oh, Calbert. There’s something we must discuss about Violet.”[/color]

His eyebrow raised. With a sigh, he told Crystal, [color=0072bc]” Alright then. Crystal dear, run along but stay within sight. Do not leave the ballroom. Oh, and stay away from that vulture of a man tonight. I’ll be keeping an eye on him.”[/color]