[indent][indent][indent] [table] [row] [sup][h3][b][color=2e2c2c] ▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅ [right]▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅[/right][/color] [/b][/h3][/sup] [/row][row] [cell][color=2e2c2c]______________________________________[/color] [right] [img]https://i.imgur.com/vz3gTHR.png[/img] [/right] [/cell][cell] [color=2e2c2c]__________________________________________________[/color] [color=2e2c2c]__________________________________________________[/color] [sup][h2][center] [color=black][sub]L A D Y Z A R A I L E S D E M A N[/sub][/color] [color=93a477][sub]L A D Y Z A R A I L E S D E M A N[/sub][/color][center][sub][sub][url=https://i.pinimg.com/564x/bc/75/6b/bc756bf9f2f5b7f82808a1d02d786bc7.jpg][i][sub]♖ o u t f i t ♖[/sub][/i][/url] [/sub][/sub] [/center] [/center] [/h2][/sup] [center][color=silver][sub]S O R I A N P A L A C E , 9 : 3 0 A M[/sub][/color][/center] [center][color=gray][sub][sub]I N T E R A C T I O N S :[/sub][/sub][/color][/center] [center][color=gray][sub][sub]M E N T I O N S :[/sub][/sub][/color][/center] [/cell] [/row] [/table] [/indent][/indent][/indent] [indent][indent][indent][indent][indent] [img]https://i.imgur.com/eHHlypM.png[/img] [/indent][/indent][/indent][/indent][/indent] [indent][indent][color=gray] Zarai almost threw up in her mouth, but she smiled through the disgust as she gave Edin one last bow. She managed to catch Lord Ravenwood's smile, and she returned it before sticking out her tongue and pointing subtly at the king as a sign of disgust. Behind her, Francesca cleared her throat, and Zarai quickly lowered her hand and relaxed her face just as she was pushed outside the hall. Their trip back to the guest house was quick, seeing as Francesca grew tired of pushing her around and opted for a carriage from the palace to the guest house. Once they were in the confines of their chambers, Francesca waited no time to berate Zarai as she had never before. The girl stayed quiet, staring past her mother's twisted expression to the wall where a fly was currently resting. Her mother's words faded to the background, and everything around her felt numb; she liked numb. [color=AA7195]"Are you listening to me?"[/color] If she were numb, Zarai wouldn't be able to feel anything. It was like standing outside in the snow, barefoot and unshielded from the biting wind. If she stayed still for long enough, eventually, all of her surroundings would disappear. The bone-chilling wind turning into a warm embrace. [color=AA7195][i]"Pon atencion, estupida."[/i][/color] Zarai's head whipped to the side, and she was back again. No snow to tend to the burning cheek. She looked back at her mother, staring into the blue pools that were on the verge of overflowing. [color=AA7195][I]"No tienes idea de cómo me duele esto, levantar mi mano contra ti. Zarai, por favor, es una tortura verte así.[/i] You can't continue doing this to me, your father. We worry for you and your future."[/color] Zarai didn't reply. knowing that anything out of her mouth would just upset her mother further. Instead, she nodded and tried to find the numbness again. [center][color=93a477][I]______________________________________[/i][/color][/center] It looked like Zarai would be chair bound for a few days; what a great start to her summer. She had planned to participate in the archery competition and hopefully make it past the first round. Archery wasn't her strong suit, seeing as her mother forced her to learn piano rather than how to shoot with a bow. It would have at least been a fun activity to start her morning. Now, Lady Lesdeman was to await for the King to call her and give her statement on the events of last night. She would much rather be one of the targets at the competition than see that ball of walking lard. [color=aa86ca]"My Lady, are you certain we are heading the right way?"[/color] Ser Berrios, a man on the shorter side with dark brown hair and gentle eyes, had been appointed to Zarai as a bodyguard by her mother. She knew him or at least had seen him around her home. He'd been knighted by her father years ago; he had always struck Zarai as a suck-up. [color=93a477]"Yes, now push faster, Ser Barrios."[/color] Zarai pointed down at the hall, [color=93a477]"Onwards, my knight, for I must see Her Highness."[/color] There was nothing that Ser Barrios could do now but sigh and push Lady Lesdeman down the hall as fast as he could, giving some of the guards an apologetic smile. When they finally arrived at the princess's wing, Zarai pointed to the door where two guards were stationed on either side of it. The knight nodded, pushing the chair at a normal pace now until they reached the door. [color=93a477]"Hello, gentlemen,"[/color] Zarai smiled up at the guards, [color=93a477]"I'm Lady Lesdeman, here to seek an audience with Her Highness Princess Anastasia. Oh, this is my knight Ser Barrios; he can wait outside if you would like. You'll be a good boy, right?"[/color] She smiled back at the man, who only gave her a defeated look. [/color][/indent][/indent]