[color=darkgray]
[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/3EdPgr4.png[/img][/center]
[Color=salmon][b]Time:[/b][/color] Late Morning
[Color=salmon][b]Location:[/b][/color] Sorian Beach
[Color=salmon][b]Interaction:[/b][/color] [@Potter] Layla  [@princess] Charlotte, [@tpartywithzombi] Ariella.
 
Feeling Layla's legs squirm against his grip pulled Lorenzo back to reality. He was still holding her... He was alive and somewhat well… Charlotte was alive… And best of all, he wasn't in hell with Calbert as his demonic torturer. His hold loosened as he let out a sigh of relief. With Layla escaping his grasp, he planted one hand down on the brittle sand, taking a few deep breaths. The other held the half-drunken smoothie. [Color=salmon][I]I'm still alive… Why?[/I][/color] He peered up at Layla.

[color=F4BC5E]“I think you must be cursed, Duke Lorenzo. No good deed goes unpunished, does it? Keep your distance and think before you act, Duke.”[/color] Her words had bite but compared to other times, it was more like… nibble. She nibbled him… after how he had acted. After what he had done. He wasn't quite sure if the pity that befell him was supposed to hurt more than the punishments he had perceived previously but to him, this was a godsend. 

And then just like that, Layla departed and his loving daughter gave him some much-needed embrace. 

[color=AFB3E0]"Everything's okay, Lorenzo. No one is going to suffer and I am right here."[/color]

Charlotte was so patient with him. So caring, as if he were her darling child. The roles they played were as flipped and reversed as they could ever be. Why?

Lorenzo remained silent as wiped his tears away with one hand and reached for Charlotte's hand with the other. He didn't utter a word to her and simply nodded as he pushed himself up from the sand. 

[Color=salmon]“I apologize… for that .”[/color] His voice was low and filled with shame. He didn't dare try to turn around to face Calbert. If he didn't have to engage the count, he wouldn't. If anything, Lorenzo needed to keep himself from ruining anything else. Carefully peering over his shoulder, he spotted Ariella who he had left to wait by the water. So careful he was not to look any further. [Color=salmon]“I think I will head back to the estate… Ariella Edwards would like to see some of our flowers in the garden.”[/color] Delivering a curt nod with a solemn face, Lorenzo walked from the beach blanket with his strawberry smoothie in hand. He would wave Ariella over, so they could depart. 

Still, his thoughts plagued him. His doubts. His embarrassment.

[Color=salmon][I]Prince Wulfric was right…[/I][/color]

[/color]