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[indent][sup][color=ab274f][b]Attire:[/b][/color] [url=https://i.imgur.com/DO7Iw9h.jpg]Outfit[/url]
[color=ab274f][b]Date and Time:[/b][/color] Sola 23rd, Late Morning
[color=ab274f][b]Location:[/b][/color] The Castle Gardens: Tea Party
[color=ab274f][b]Mention(s):[/b][/color] [@Helo] Leo, [@JJ Doe] Fritz, [@Potter] Sadie, [@Lava Alckon] Drake, [@FunnyGuy] Alexander
[color=ab274f][b]Interaction(s):[/b][/color] [@mantou] Wystan, [@Tae] Mina and Count Sebastian, [@Tpartywithzombi] Violet
[/sup][/indent][/cell][/row][/table]After his mystifying meeting with the ever-strange Count Hendrix earlier this morning, Wulfric spent some time in his office. He scoured the additional papers the count had lent him, comparing and contrasting the details of his business with that of Black Rose’s. Even with another point of reference, nothing about Delronzo’s company seemed amiss. So, either his legitimate fronts were actually legal, or else Marek was fully accustomed to making it seem as if his business was without issue. For a moment, he considered that the same might hold true for the count.

But no…

The prince frowned, because after their most recent meeting, he no longer thought it likely that Hendrix was some sort of Varian counterpart to Delronzo. The count was odd and secretive, certainly. Yet, it didn’t [i]seem[/i] as if he was the type of man who would also deal heavily in the Black Market. Perhaps, he had contacts there, however. Either way, with how fixated Hendrix was on him as the heir apparent, the count’s motives and concerns struck him as rather political.
 
For another hour or so, the prince dealt with more paperwork.

Then, after standing, stretching, and getting changed into an appropriate outfit, he made his way to the Tea Party. He didn’t intend to delay there for long, but as the first prince, he should at the very least show up to greet the guests.

Since he made his way into the gardens through the castle, his entry point was different than most others’. Even so, Wystan was, as usual, a diligent presence one could not miss, stationed in the most optimal area to intercept the guests for a search. 

As Wulfric strolled his way over to the guard, Count Blackwood and his niece made their appearance. As was her wont, Lady Mina promptly made herself into a nuisance as she attempted to flirt with the watchdog. So, she was up to her usual antics. How unfortunate.

[color=ab274f]“Good morning, Wystan,”[/color] he greeted the harried man as he approached.

[color=ab274f]“Lady Mina, please do not hassle our guard,”[/color] the prince rebuked her lightly, his smile polite, though he raised a pointed eyebrow at her. [color=ab274f]“Even [i]overfriendliness[/i],”[/color] his tone indicated he knew exactly what she was up to, [color=ab274f]“can hinder his duties. And indeed, we would not want any [i]sneaking of weapons[/i],”[/color] he retorted to the part of her comment he’d happened to overhear. He expected his words would be enough for her to stop bothering the royal retainer.

He gave an approving nod to her uncle, who had complied without issue. [color=ab274f]“Thank you, Count Blackwood. For one known to enjoy his solitude, I am certainly glad you have decided to attend. Welcome.”[/color] He gave the man a bow, and followed with one for his niece as well.

Having arrived just after the Blackwood pair, it was his turn to hand over his weapons. The prince removed them without fuss or ceremony. The sheathed sabre, the holstered pistol, and the dagger from within his jacket were all taken off and laid aside.

His gaze passed over the attendees. He caught the glances of several, and offered each a polite nod. To Lord Leo, who was frowning heavily at the violinist, apparently taking issue with the music. To Count Hendrix, who was – for some reason, now wearing a pair of glasses – familiar in his watchfulness. To Sadie, who had just waved enthusiastically to Lady Mina. She was seated with Lord Drake, while an unknown man stood nearby, conversing with the pair.

[color=ab274f]“I do believe Princess Sadie wishes to call you over,”[/color] Wulfric commented to Mina, a light note of fond amusement in his tone.

The suggestion that they make their way over was on the very tip of their tongue, when a carriage pulled up as close to the gardens as it could. Out of it emerged Lady Violet Damien. Even after learning that her murder had apparently [i]not[/i] been of her, meeting her in person was startling. 

The woman stumbled out of the carriage, her gait faltering even with assistance. The sun seemed to pose a problem to her downright deathly pallor. Her irises were a vibrant blood red, but wandered around aimless – sightless. She was expressionless and inert; if she were lying down, eyes closed, he would sooner believe her to be a corpse. Most conspicuous of all, there was a barely healed scar across her face. [i]Just as if it had been left there by an axe lodged into her head.[/i]

The faintest thread of an unlikely possibility creeped into his mind.

[color=ab274f]“Lady Violet,”[/color] the prince greeted her with surprise. [color=ab274f]“So, it is true.”[/color] A cool smile formed as he tilted his head at her curiously. [color=ab274f]“That initial report of your death…was [i]a mistake[/i],”[/color] he murmured.

[i]But had it been?[/i]

[color=ab274f]“Thankfully,”[/color] he added. Only those few in his immediate vicinity would have heard all he had said to her.

Though he appeared at ease, Wulfric remained subtly vigilant.

Because this…yes, this was something very peculiar indeed.[/color]