[center][img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/220820/2c4a2afa8d7f7890ad2b534190a3e42d.png[/img][/center]
[Color=BBC7E1][b]Time:[/b][/color] Morning
[Color=salmon][b]Location:[/b][/color] Sorian Vikena Estate[hr]
[color=salmon]“The tavern? The library?”[/color] Lorenzo questioned Charlotte’s places of interest in finding him… wherever he had been. And like clockwork, the fancy mustache-wearing count pointed to the flower petal with a displaced pride. Why was he proud of this? [color=salmon]“Clearly, you didn’t look in my favorite hiding place. Hmph. But I won’t hold that to you, Lottie. The garden we have here is vast and full of thick, healthy flowers… that I ruined but… you know… Just. Just thank heavens we’re both safe!”[/color] He pulled her back into a hug. [color=salmon]“Never again,”[/color] but what did he mean?

Charlotte’s eyes dilated as memories of the garden doused in the night’s darkness painted themselves before her. Nothing had been there. She had checked everywhere. She hadn’t even noticed she was being hugged as she ran through the images over and over, wanting to clarify her own sanity. [color=BBC7E1]“I did!”[/color] Charlotte cried out defensively suddenly. She gave him a quick hug and then let go to readjust her head so she can look him in the eyes. [color=BBC7E1]“Lorenzo, I searched the garden. You… You weren’t there.”[/color]

Her certainty challenged what Lorenzo thought to be true, so much so that gently scratched the back of his neck nervously as he attempted to jog his memory. [color=salmon][i]Still nothing. I don’t remember anything! Blast this cursed affliction![/i][/color] He cleared his throat before offering up an explanation.

[color=salmon]“Well, that is rather peculiar… are you certain? I- You started your search in the night, so you likely just missed me. Yes! And I was under the oak tree shading from the moonlight. A shadow in the dark.”[/color] He bobbed a pointed index finger with the last five words as he felt he had come up with a new idea for a poem.

Perplexed, Charlotte was deep in thought for a moment before she sighed. She could look more into this later. Frankly, she was exhausted, and apparently, her stepfather had been sleeping in the dirt all night, so it would do either of them no good to go back and forth.  [color=BBC7E1]“I suppose I did....”[/color] She relented.

 [color=7ea7d8]“Just what on earth did you two get up to last night!”[/color] 

Delilah entered the room with the daily news stretched out between her hands before her. Her eyes were wide with surprise as she pointed at it. [color=7ea7d8]“The rumors are insidious! And Duke Lorenzo, sir, you’re [i]headlining![/i]”[/color] Delilah’s words caused Lorenzo to spring up, jolted with… excitement.

[color=salmon]“Am I?!”[/color] Turning from Charlotte, he moved to Delilah’s side to peer at the newspaper. It was easy to discern the death of his optimism as he spotted the headline. [color=salmon]“Warmongers? It- It was simply a mistake. I mean, Charlotte you were right there. I… I didn’t touch anyone! It was the over-polished floors and that clumsy guard or whoever it was that couldn’t keep their footing. I mean this- this shouldn’t fall on me! This is exactly why I prefer the Veirmont Gazette.”[/color] Lorenzo ranted and huffed before his eyes found the [i]Morning Tea[/i]. His guilty pleasure of the Caesonia Newspaper. Charlotte had moved over to read as well. She had bit her lip, uncertain what to say. She had hoped that he would have understood what he had done after everything. 

[color=salmon]“What?! How could they?! Concubine?! Fu-”[/color] He stopped himself as he remembered the two women in his presence. [color=salmon]“People can be so distasteful here… I wonder if we should just leave.”[/color] He hung his head.

Charlotte groaned. Though it irritated her that people may view her offer as such now, she knew they had bigger problems. She’d have to shake this off somehow.

Going back to Veirmont was a delightful dream, but one that would simply delay their problems. Charlotte knew she had to stub this Calbert problem in the toe here and now. Besides, she had promised Leo she’d help him too this summer. [color=BBC7E1]“I don’t think we should let them chase us home. Since when did we care what they think?”[/color] Charlotte’s words again charged Lorenzo with a well of confidence.

She wondered if Calbert had something to do with calling her a concubine. He had said something similar but she supposed others could have mistaken her gesture as well. As her gaze moved lower, she did a double take.

[i]…Is he fucking Count Calbert?[/i]

[color=BBC7E1]“...They’ve lost their minds.”[/color] She commented dryly.

[color=salmon]“Yes. They. Have!”[/color] Lorenzo’s face was full of determination as he stared piercingly into Charlotte’s eyes. [color=salmon]“They have lost their minds if they believe they can chase the Vikenas off. Hmph, it’s clear this paper is biased against us… But we have made quite the impact.”[/color] Lorenzo stepped away from both Charlotte and Delilah as he began to slowly pace with his hands clasped behind his back like he was some sort of mastermind. Lorenzo had always rivaled Calbert’s ability to gaslight, except he only did it to himself. 

[color=salmon]“Despite the bias, we made the headline.”[/color] Lorenzo smirked amusingly. [color=salmon]“We practically owned the night it seems! Not only that… We have an exclusive audience with the Alidasht royal family. Every week, until they depart. You see, Lottie…”[/color] He had his back to her now as he stopped in place. Looking over his shoulder he wore the smile of a fool. [color=salmon]“...we Vikenas have returned and made the greatest impression yet.”[/color]

Charlotte managed a smile but seemed at a loss of words. [color=BBC7E1]“An impression of sorts....”[/color] Her gaze slid to Delilah who had a similar look in her eyes. It sunk in and perhaps even frightened her a little now more than ever how delusional Lorenzo could be. There was no way to spin what had been written into a positive manner. The headline was quite literally calling him a warmonger. However, diluting his optimistic view could be dastardly as well, so she chose to move on. [color=BBC7E1]“Well then. We have a whole day ahead of us, don’t we? Let us maintain a good impression.”[/color]

[Color=salmon]“Absolutely! Now that we've both found one another, we can begin attending some of today's events…”[/color] Lorenzo turned to face his body to the two and noticed his current appearance. The thought of remaining home nearly crossed his mind, but he buried it. [Color=salmon]“But first I must freshen up and- hmm… Delilah could you inform Nathaniel that Kier will need some grooming for this afternoon's race.”[/color] Lorenzo was feeling daring today.

[color=7ea7d8]“Certainly.”[/color] The maid set the newspaper down and then turned on her heels to do as he asked. Charlotte proceeded to collect it from its spot. She stared at the first page for a moment, frowning at it, then began to flip through. 

As she scanned the events of the day, something delicious caught her eye. The imagery that crossed her mind led to her licking her lips. With sudden enthusiasm, she picked up her head and looked at Lorenzo, [color=BBC7E1]“There’s free pancakes at the park!”[/color] She hurried over to her stepfather and practically shoved the newspaper at him, brimming with excitement, [color=BBC7E1]“We must attend!”[/color] Charlotte exclaimed just before the room fell silent with Lorenzo staring down at the advertised event with an eerie expression on his face. 

[color=salmon]“Lady Charlotte Marie Vikena… You should know by now that I absolutely [b]hate pancakes[/b]... but we can go.”[/color]