[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 : [@Inertia] [/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] [color=93a477][I]Thought it through? I doubt he is capable of any thought at all.[/i][/color] Zarai thought for a second, her mind ready to tear down King Edin and spew out any and all insults she knew to him. Him as his slimy greasy forehead. That was until she saw his face, Zarai recognized the hesitation, the defeated look, the hopelessness in his voice. Auguste, much like her, was stuck in this situation with little to no say. She tried not to, but Zarai shook her head when he mentioned he’d be fine with whatever pick his parents presented him with. [color=93a477]"Don’t say that, or you might regret it, Your Highness."[/color] She cracked a smile, [color=93a477]"What if they pick some ugly girl who is cruel and talks in nonsensical riddles? And worse of all,"[/color] she leaned in, looking right and left before whispering, [color=93a477]"what if she has two left feet and can’t dance?"[/color] Zarai couldn’t blame him for his lack of response to her question; his tired eyes didn’t go unnoticed either. However, he better think of something seeing as she wouldn’t be the only one asking that. [color=93a477]"Stifling is one way of putting it,"[/color] She agreed, smiling to let him know he wasn’t the cause of such a feeling. It seemed like they were both in the same boat and were just trying their best to stay afloat. [color=93a477]"If Your Highness has heard of my fencing, I must not be keeping it as secretive as I should have."[/color] Zarai’s mother had not said anything of the subject yet, and she wished to keep it that way. Of perhaps she had already found out and was fine with the sport. There were other women in fencing competitions, many from high noble houses like her own. [color=93a477]"I must apologize,"[/color] Zarai’s smile wavered as she took a deep breath. [color=93a477]"but I must be curt with you. My family has decided that I am now too old to be an unwed lady and wish me to marry. That is every parent’s wish for their children of course, but unfortunately, mine are evil, as you would understand—"[/color] [i]oops[/i] [color=93a477]"—because you’ve met them. So evil, right?"[/color] Nice save, Zarai. [color=93a477]"Anyway, if I do not find a husband of my own by the end of this season, I will be forced to marry old stinky Lord Monet. I am serious about the stinky part. How, in the seven hells, does a man stink of wet dog and expired sausages simultaneously? On top of that, that man is weird. Apologies for the tangent, but you’re right, to the point. If you ever, for some reason, find yourself needing a woman to marry and don’t have a clue who, I do hope I cross your mind. I’ll be in the guest house. You know that didn’t have to tell you. "[/color] She picked at her nails, trying to keep her hands busy. [color=93a477]"Could be an easy marriage, open if you would like. I don’t stink; I hope I don’t. My family has the money, the status, and the pedigree, if you guys are into that. Really, we’d be a good match. You like swords, I like swords. We both like swords. It could work out! "[/color] She stopped to take another breath, giving her just enough time to process the soup of words she had spewed out of her mouth. [color=93a477]"Ah fuck."[/color] This was a mistake. [color=93a477]"I am so sorry, Your Highness. Please forget everything I just said."[/color] Zarai stood up from her chair, gave the prince a curtsy, and quickly made her way to the door. There, Sir Barrios stopped her and pointed to the wheelchair left behind. Zarai didn’t turn to look at it, instead ordered the knight to fetch it and left the room to wait for him outside and out of the sight of Prince Auguste. [/color][/indent][/indent]