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[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/3EdPgr4.png[/img][/center]
[Color=salmon][b]Time:[/b][/color] Morning
[Color=salmon][b]Location:[/b][/color] Sorian Vikena Estate Garden
[Color=salmon][b]Interaction:[/b][/color] Charlotte [@princess]
[Color=salmon][b]Mention:[/b][/color] 

[color=salmon]“What have I done? Oh heavens, what did I do this time?”[/color] Lorenzo groaned shielding his eyes from the sunlight beaming through an oak tree’s branches and leaves. The man couldn’t quite take in his surroundings due to the tight squint of his eyes, yet he knew where he was. [color=salmon]“Ugh… am I?”[/color] Though not as familiar to him as his own garden in Veirmont, Lorenzo had still spent plenty of seasons lightly tending to this one where he now lay.  Peering down, he noticed the warm-colored tulips and sighed knowing he had crushed plenty when making a bed out of them. He did not need to ponder why he had come out here. He was used to waking in odd places, especially after he drank, which was often.

Between the drinking and his narcolepsy, Lorenzo sometimes found himself resting in unfamiliar places. Normally, he was lucky enough to find his bed, but there were times when he awoke without the warm embrace of his pillows and blankets. 

With a deep sigh, the duke rolled over from his backside, sacrificing more tulips, and pushed himself up off the ground. Brushing his clothing off, he realized he was still dressed in his ball attire. [color=salmon][i]Good.[/i][/color] He was clothed. That means he at least had a few ounces of dignity. Just a few, unfortunately. 

After regaining a sense of direction, Lorenzo trudged toward his home on the estate property. There was no dizziness or headache, fortunately. This morning actually felt easy as he just needed to deal with tiredness. He made sure to stick to the stone walkway, as it gave him something to focus on while he walked along it. The shapes of the various stones used to make the path grabbed the attention of his brain which was still waking. He also wanted to avoid flattening any more of his flora on the way. To devastate something so precious… So precious…

[center][color=salmon][i]Lottie.[/i][/color][/center]

He stopped in his tracks before his gaze looked upon the rear of his home. How could he have been so irresponsible? So selfish! 

[color=salmon]“No no no no no no no. I-I… I must locate her.”[/color] Lorenzo’s eyes shot open as he started briskly for the rear doors of his estate. Bursting through, his eyes searched for his beloved daughter or anyone who could provide him answers. 

[color=salmon]“Nathaniel! Delilah! Benjamin!”[/color] Lorenzo called as loudly as he could upon entry. His eyes were still desperately searching the empty lounge area as he walked through with quickness. [color=salmon]“We must find Charlotte this instant! Charlotte! Charrrloootte!”[/color] He walked briskly into the hall spotting Nathathiel’s startled face as he jogged to his lord

[color=limegreen]“Good morning Duke Vikena. I-”[/color]

[color=salmon]“Where is the lady of this house?! Where is Charlotte?!”[/color] His tone was almost accusatory as if she were Nathaniel’s responsibility last night, yet the deep pit in his stomach reminded him otherwise. He didn’t want to face but he knew he’d never escape that feeling. Like shackles tugging at you ever so slightly only to remind you of your sin. Invisible to the eye but so significant to your past failures. Even if the world was oblivious to it, it would haunt you without mercy or compassion.

The poor pathetic man was nothing more than a victim to the grim presence of guilt.


[color=limegreen]“She is here m’lord. Sleeping in her room. But… Where have you been? I believe Lady Vikena was searching for you for many hours of the night? We saw you come in yet…”[/color]

[color=7ea7d8]“Lord Vikena! You’re home… You look-”[/color]

[color=salmon]“I must see her, Nathaniel! Now!”[/color] Lorenzo demanded to which Nathaniel replied with a silent nod as he led the duke to Charlotte’s room. When Nathaniel poised to knock, Lorenzo simply burst into the room.

[color=salmon]“Charlotte!”[/color]

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