[color=lightgray][center][img]https://i.imgur.com/4NnUUj4.png[/img]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/NhN42Jj.png[/img]
[color=AFB3E0]Time:[/color] Late Morning
[color=AFB3E0]Location:[/color] Sorian Beach
[color=AFB3E0]Interaction:[/color][@Conscripts] Dr.John [@PapaOso] Cassius [@Tae] Kalliope [@Lava Alckon] Farim, [@ReusableSword] Roman, [@Potter] Olivia/Layla, [@Apex Sunburn] Sjan-dehk
[color=AFB3E0]Attire:[/color][url=i.imgur.com/gFdmp8B.jpg] Bathing Suit [/url], Light-colored beach sandals, Hair loose[/center][/color]
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[color=lightgray][color=LightSteelBlue]"...I’m not just the Count’s son…I’m his bastard.” [/color]

Charlotte's eyebrows arched involuntarily. [color=AFB3E0][i]His bastard?[/i][/color] It was hard to imagine Calbert cheating on Countess Liliane. With just a bit more thought, she recalled that Liliane was his second wife. She took a step forward to scrutinize his face as he continued to talk. [color=AFB3E0][i]He does bear a resemblance that aligns with the right age... Could he truly be a hidden child from the Count's previous marriage? Looks like even Count Evilbert's secrets do return to eventually haunt him. [/i][/color] A slight smirk played upon her lips.

His words, initially murmurs in the background, grew in intensity as his attention shifted squarely onto her, [color=LightSteelBlue]"...how lovely you look today as well. Almost perfect, in fact, save for this.”[/color]Unprepared for the sudden shift, her cheeks flushed crimson as Cassius's hand darted toward her briefly, only to pull back with a smudge of purple, a residue from an errant smoothie. [color=LightSteelBlue]“That’s better…a bit of spilled smoothie stood no chance of hindering such beauty.”[/color]  

She stood frozen, her face aflame, and her eyes wide with surprise. [color=AFB3E0][i]Is he... flirting with me?[/i][/color]

Before she could quite react much more, Kalliope's voice had then cut through the air, [color=8D3B72]"So this is the girl whose name you said last night instead of mine? She’s even more beautiful than you made her out to be at dinner!"[/color]

Charlotte remained rooted in place, her cheeks now somehow even redder than before.  [color=AFB3E0][i]I... My name last night instead of hers? So they're a couple it seems and he accidentally called her my name... [/i][/color] Her thoughts spiraled like leaves caught in a gust of wind. Then she instinctively took a step backward as a puzzle piece fell into place.

[color=AFB3E0]"Oh."[/color]

[color=AFB3E0][i]Please tell me that's not what she means.[/i][/color]

However, as she attempted to unravel the narrative and her thoughts circled back to the image of Cassius looking at her with a certain admiration while extracting a piece of smoothie from her hair, it became increasingly difficult to dismiss the evident truth of what had transpired. She turned her attention to Kalliope and Sjandehk and observed them for a moment. 

[color=AFB3E0][i]Why did Kalliope have to voice that so loudly? How many heard? Surely, Ruby and Olivia overheard... If indeed Kalliope and Cassius are involved romantically, then this would be just as embarrassing for her. Maybe this has to do with his father like I thought the first time...or...[/i][/color] Her expression crumpled as the next thought seemed to make the most sense to her at the moment.

[color=AFB3E0][i]Maybe I'm just a joke.[/i][/color]

Charlotte absently rubbed her arm, her gaze dropping to the ground, the desire for solitude suddenly surging within her. [color=AFB3E0] "Please excuse me, I-..."[/color] She began to mumble to the trio in front of her, but her words trailed off abruptly as her gaze fixed on Count Calbert Damien approaching in the far distance, causing her to halt in her tracks.



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