[h1][center][color=BBC7E1]Charlotte[/color] & [color=salmon]Lorenzo[/color][/center][/h1]
[center][color=salmon]Time:[/color] Early Evening
[color=BBC7E1]Location[/color]: The Ballroom at the Caesonia Castle[/center]

[hr]

Charlotte had hurried over to her stepfather once Count Calbert had sauntered out of view. She came to stand beside him, her hands clasped with worry.[color=BBC7E1]“Are you alright?”[/color]She asked Lorenzo in a hushed voice. Her eyes were searching his expression for any signs of distress but her father did as he had always done. With his eyes averted from hers, he rapidly shook his head. He had always tried to make Charlotte worry less. He usually failed but he always tried not to burden her. 

[color=salmon]“N-no need to worry dear Lottie.”[/color] He put on his finest smile, his eyes had finally found hers. [color=salmon]“The count just wanted to know how we were faring this evening.”[/color] He reached out towards a passing servant with a tray of prefilled wine glasses, and with the most graceful. move he’d perform this evening, he grabbed two as the servant passed. Not even a drop left either glass as he continued speaking after what appeared to be a naturally easy movement. [color=salmon]“He was [i]very[/i] surprised we showed up today. Something that should be expected.”[/color] Not a moment was wasted. The glass in his right hand reached his lips. 

Charlotte couldn’t hide the doubt from her expression. Last time he had said there was no need to worry, [i]there had certainly been a need to worry. [/i] Though she had quite enough alcohol this evening, she knew Lorenzo well enough to know both the wine glasses were for himself. One was more than enough for him tonight. 

[color=BBC7E1]“Oh how kind of you to think of me as well.”[/color] Charlotte said with thinly veiled sternness. She suddenly took one of the glasses and then reached it toward him to clink together. In response, Lorenzo raised his eyebrows and lowered the glass from his face.  [color=BBC7E1]”Cheers?”[/color] She gave him a smile. 

[i]*Clink*[/i]

After taking a long sip, she told him, [color=BBC7E1]“He asked to speak with me after the ball…”[/color] Lorenzo gulped down all the contents of his glass and looked upon Charlotte with a shocked expression. [color=BBC7E1]“He seemed quite cross with me so I cannot imagine he was very pleasant with you either.”[/color] Count Damien had visited numerous times over the year to essentially passively-aggressively threaten them in his annoyingly smooth voice. However, Lorenzo had usually always been there when they were having one of their discussions. She had never spoken alone with the man and she ideally never wanted to. 

[color=salmon]“Was that all?”[/color] He asked pensively. [color=salmon]“Did he say anything more?”[/color] His tone almost demanding an answer.

[color=BBC7E1]“All he said to me was…”[/color] Charlotte cleared her throat as she prepared to mimic a demanding tone. She got on her tippy toes and put her hands on her hips to also copy his looming-over stance. [color=BBC7E1]"You will speak with me tonight after the ball...For now, you may enjoy the party, Lady Vikena…”[/color] She rolled her eyes after and smirked at him, the tone perking back to her usual as she said simply, [color=BBC7E1]”He is stupid.”[/color] 

[color=salmon]“Indeed he is…”[/color] He averted his gaze for a second but visibly relaxed. He did not want Charlotte speaking to the count, especially not tonight. [color=salmon]“Are you… Are you [i]enjoying[/i] the party?”[/color] He wondered himself if Calbert was correct in what he said about Charlotte being doomed in any pursuit of finding a worthwhile husband. He did not want the devil of a man to be correct. He could NOT let that man be right!

Charlotte wasn’t certain herself the answer to that question. She had spoken to some nice gentlemen tonight, but the likelihood of any of them remaining her long-term friend felt low. It would be a better night perhaps once she got to rekindle with her old friends. She replied after a pause,  [color=BBC7E1]“Yes, it’s been nice, I guess. I just danced with a royal guard from the Varian Kingdom. I think we could perhaps be friends…”[/color] 

[center][color=salmon][i]Friends?[/i][/color][/center]

Lorenzo reflexively winced at the word but was also relieved she had not fallen head over heels for anyone. He desired the best for Charlotte but not even he could clearly describe what that was. 

[color=salmon]“Um.”[/color] It was clear Lorenzo was attempting to continue but lacked any direction. Discussing courting had not been a topic he was ever comfortable with. [color=salmon]“Lottie- Charlotte, you may take as much time as you need. I-I want you to know this because I only want you to be happy with whoever you choose…”[/color] Lorenzo’s eyes began to water and blinked several times to prevent the tears from escaping again. Twice in one evening… [color=salmon]“Just find love. Promise me this… please.”[/color]

Charlotte softened her expression. She reached over for a napkin from a nearby table and began to dab gently at his eyes. [color=BBC7E1]“I promise… Don’t worry. It’ll happen on its own. Can’t force such things.”[/color] Truthfully, she wasn’t sure if love even existed or if it was just an ideal only to be found in novels. She withdrew the napkin and sighed. [color=BBC7E1]“The man I danced with was married I believe. So no such luck there… But I’ll keep an eye out.”[/color] She knew that the goal of a woman her age was to find “love” and settle down. But was that all there was? 

[color=salmon]“Both eyes.”[/color] Lorenzo forced a smile. He couldn’t ask for better company. She had giggled at Lorenzo’s joke, replying with one of her own. 

[color=BBC7E1]”Alright. I’ll keep all [i]three[/i] eyes open.”[/color]

[color=salmon]“As I said, no rushing to it. And we still have a second dance. Now, I would request to share it with myself but I think it’s best you continue to… get out there and meet people.”[/color] Lorenzo appeared to be cheering up. [color=salmon]“Just don’t let me beat you to the altar.”[/color] Lorenzo couldn’t resist which only made Charlotte pat his shoulder as if to make him alert.

[color=BBC7E1]“It's a race to the altar then. You’re on, Lorenzo.”[/color] She teased. [color=BBC7E1]“You better find yourself a nice lady to dance with.”[/color] Her words were almost making the man appear confident again… and perhaps the wine helped too. Once again, he was prepared to take on the world but this time he wasn’t completely in over his head. [color=salmon][i]No embarrassment this time![/i][/color] He had to make this night right, or else Calbert would be… and Lorenzo could NOT let that man be right!