[center][h1][color=1e4fff]Crystal[/color] & [color=0072bc] Count Calbert[/color][/h1][/center]

Crystal woke up with a groan when suddenly her curtains were whipped open by one of her maids “Time to wake up Lady Crystal. You have a busy day today !” 

Crystal answered with a whine as she sat up in her bed, her hair a rat's nest as she rubbed the crusts out of her eyes. She was excited to go out, but she never really was good in the mornings…mostly due to her bad habits of reading or writing far too long into the morning. 

“You really need to stop reading into the wee hours of the morning my lady.” The maid said as she gathered up the few books that had spent the night on the bed with Crystal. Placing them on the nightstand on the left side of her bed. 

[color=1e4fff]“I can’t help it. I was excited for today, so I was wide awake, and then I was bored because I was just laying there…. So I read.” [/color]Crystal replied as she flopped her hands from her eyes into her lap, her eyes closed still as she swayed back and forth in an attempt to stay upright. Before schoching a few times to the edge of her bed, looking like a child trying to get out of their parents bed. 

As the maid went to her closet, Crystal reached the edge of her bed and let out a yawn while stretching her legs and arms at the same time before flopping back into the bed, her toes barely touching the ground. Her thoughts turned to the experiences last night, some great, some horrible… She felt her heart beat hard as she grew even more nervous about today. She pulled a pillow over and stuffed it over her face and wrapped her arms around it tightly. 

The maid came back out with a cream colored dress. With a matching large hat. Crystal peaked from under her pillow. “Your mother the countess had requested you wear this.” The maid walked over and hung the dress behind a panel screen for her. 

Crystal pulled herself up slowly and sat for a moment. Her thoughts drifted to her mother and sister… The latter gave her a sour look on her face. She didn’t even come over to say sorry for brushing her off yesterday after she totally helped her set up a dance with that ogre. She blinked, she didn’t even see her lights on last night as she went to her room. She looked to the maid to ask her if she saw Violet, but the words caught in her throat. Second guessing herself and deciding she didn’t want to talk to her anyway this morning.

She got up and dropped her pillow back onto the bed as she shuffled to the water closet to freshen up before changing into her outfit.

Her hair a mess still, after slipping her dress on, she came out and moved to her vanity. Noticing her stocking and boots were laid out for her.[color=1e4fff] “Thank you Sarah….Could you please get the paper? I believe the schedule is inside.”[/color]

“Of course m’lady.” Sarah bowed and headed to the door as Crystal started to brush her own hair, humming a song her mother always hummed while brushing crystals hair when she was growing up.


As Sarah was heading to the door, there was a knock. Her father, Count Calbert, was just outside it with a couple new friends. Though, they were off to the side as he did not want to overwhelm her with them. He planned to gently ease her into it with hope she’d understand. [color=0072bc]“Good morning, Crystal my dear! Might I have a word with you?”[/color]

Crystal stopped mid brush as she looked at the door. Sarah looked back at her waiting for her cue to open the door. At which she nodded, going back to brushing her hair and looking at the mirror which was facing the door. [color=1e4fff]“Yes Father.” [/color]She said softly. She watched as Sarah opened the door and curtsied to the Count. Her keen eyes noticed the few men off to the side as she softly said respectively to the master. “M’lady is decent…” Her eyes pointedly towards the men behind him. “But not prepared…” she added with emphasis while stepping out of the way of the Count, leaving the door open enough for him to sneak through while hiding Crystal from the others. 

Calbert entered and gave Sarah a gentle smile, nodding to her in greeting. He noted her words and shut the door behind for the time being. He came to greet his daughter with a sincere hug. [color=0072bc]“You look lovely as always. How are you feeling this morning, darling?”[/color] He greeted. Whatever emotions were swarming his head, he was careful to keep them away from his expression other than the warm love for his daughter.

She stood up as her father walked over, seeing Sarah open the door again and slip out. She gave her father a tight hug back, as well a kiss on his cheek, groaning with an eye roll as he said she looked lovely as always to her.[color=1e4fff] “Unlikely…”[/color] as half her hair was still a mess and her eyes were dark. 

[color=1e4fff]“I’m tired…. Couldn’t sleep. So I read…and didn’t sleep more.” [/color]she said a bit sheepishly. As she pulled back and sat back down on her vanity stool. 

[color=1e4fff]“But I’m excited and nervous for today.” [/color]She continued as she brushed her hair a few more times, turning back to the mirror. [color=1e4fff]“So what did you want to talk about?”[/color]

Calbert frowned,[color=0072bc] “Well if you need to sleep in today a little bit, I understand, but do be advised that the Princes are meeting with noble women later today if you’d still like to go.”[/color] He began to gently comb his fingers through her hair to fix it up a little.[color=0072bc] “And this is where what I’d like to talk about comes in.”[/color]He sighed and took a moment before continuing, [color=0072bc]“So there are few subjects to speak about, actually, dear.  Let us sit… Sarah won’t you be a dear and fetch some tea?”[/color]

He took a seat upon one of her chairs and awaited her to join. Once she had joined, he spoke once more, [color=0072bc]“Your mother and Violet are on their way to Montauppe currently…She left you a letter as she did not want to wake you, but she will return to you once more very soon. “[/color] He handed Crystal an envelope.[color=0072bc] “Violet’s gotten on to some mischievous behavior and we are sending her away to spend some time with your mother away from the gossip and trouble until she is in better sorts.”[/color]

Crystal nodded as he ran his fingers through his hair to help fix it…only to catch a knot to cause her to wince but she didn’t show it. [color=1e4fff]“Of course…I’m tired but I can push through the day.” [/color]She said softly. As she continued to brush her own hair quickly when he continued on. Asking Sarah for some tea. Who in turned curtsied and silently moved out of the room, slipping through the tiny gap in the door she opened, and closed it again 

She sighed slightly as she placed her brush down and got up moving over to him and sat down, giving him her full attention.  She was shocked when he mentioned that they were on their way home. She took the letter and glanced at the front and back, but did not open it. Only placing it upon her lap gently when her father mentioned Violet’s behavior. Crystal knew right away it had to do with Roman… probably because she showed him her scar. Someone had to have seen it apparently. On a normal day she would have been annoyed… but with how they treated her after pushing them together last night she couldn’t help but feel guilty that she felt glad at the karma. But despite what she felt she did say quickly, [color=1e4fff]“I doubt she was being that mischievous father… probably drank too much…but she actually met someone she actually was interested in... ” [/color]saying it softly and respectfully… leaving it at a tone that she wasn't going to fight him on the matter. 

It was weird that mother went with her though. Certainly he could have just sent her home with some guards. But she assumed her mother would have written about it in the letter so she didn’t push it. She did look sad though… She did want to talk to her mother about her experiences last night. 

[color=1e4fff]“I wish she would have woken me up… Now I have to wait months to talk to her about my experiences here” [/color]She said softly with a clear pout. Her hands falling to her lap. She felt a bit like more of her safety blanket was torn from her. She didn’t want to bother Charlotte by clinging onto her this entire time… but she was now the only woman she knew here.

[color=0072bc]“She wanted to let you sleep.. Your mother will come back to visit soon I’m sure, darling.”[/color] Calbert told her.

She had a sudden thought, realizing he said there were multiple things…[color=1e4fff]“Don't tell me you’re not going to let me walk around the town now because of Violet's behavior…” [/color]She asked worriedly, sitting up as she did. He did tend to go a bit overboard when it was ‘damage control time.’

Calbert did not enjoy lying to his daughter. However, this was all for her own good. It would be easier to digest once she had time to adjust to the lack of Violet’s presence and she had a husband to comfort her. He missed Violet dearly and wanted to mourn her as a family, but he also did not want to jeopardize the start of Crystal’s life.  She had a chance to marry a prince here and that was what could keep their family safe from now on. With the security of the royal guard, there would be nothing Crystal would ever have to worry about. The power they’d have access to eventually would be incomparable to that of what they had now.

[color=0072bc]“Well. That’s the other matter I wanted discuss with you… There’s been a rise of criminal behavior here. Your mother and I spoke about this and decided you’ve been cooped up enough. However, we do not want to worry about you out alone and I am sure you would like to feel safe as well. You are a woman of high status and unfortunately a target.  Thus, my dear, I came up with an idea to hire some bodyguards.. “[/color] He paused to let her digest the information,[color=0072bc] “I’ve only selected those in my circle that you may recognize. When you are ready, I’d like you to meet them and let me know if you are pleased with them. “[/color]

Crystal’s heart leapt into her throat as he started. It easily could have gone exactly as she thought, but she sighed with a bit of relief as he said they didn't want to coop her up anymore. There was a catch though… she was to be surrounded by bodyguards. She hated the idea, though she could understand his explanation why. She wasn’t a fool… But she still wasn’t happy about it..

Calbert knew that the last thing a young woman like Crystal wanted was to be babysat all day, so he did decide on exceptions to the rule, [color=0072bc] “If you are going to be at a public event in the day time, they will simply escort you and wait on the sideline. If you are going to be with a group of trusted friends I will allow that as well. I wish for them to accompany you while you are moving from point A to point B. If you would like to discuss other compromises, I am happy to. ”[/color]

She perked up at the compromises. She was confused at first, as she would normally have to fight for as much space as she could… but he offered it outright. She sat there confused and surprised for a moment. Blinking as she tried to think of some more compromises… but what he offered was already very reasonable. 

[color=1e4fff]“I-I um…” [/color]She stuttered, still trying to think of some way to get more freedom.[color=1e4fff] “I guess… that will.. Be..acceptable.” [/color]She said slowly, trying to sound like she was in control. But clearly and adorably not.

Calbert beamed at her cooperative response, [color=0072bc]” Excellent. Would you like to meet them now?”[/color] 

[color=1e4fff]“Yes daddy… I would like to meet them with half my hair a mess and no make up.” [/color]She said with a small sarcastic tone. “I..um… need about fifteen minutes…”

[color=0072bc]”Okay darling. I will have them seated in the dining room waiting to meet you. …Take your time.”[/color] Calbert told her then turned on his heels to depart.