[center][color=9AF781][h1]Lord Leo Smithwood[/h1][/color]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/OEh1rTU.png[/img][/center]
[hr]

[color=9AF781]Time:[/color] 6 pm
[color=9AF781]Location:[/color] Castle Dinning Hall
[color=9AF781]Interactions:[/color] Thea, Drake, Gideon & Victoria, Charlotte, Ariella
[color=9AF781]Attire:[/color] [url=https://i.imgur.com/oKdesJw.jpeg]“Why was I not told red was the color for tonight?”[/url]

[color=lightgray]
[color=D0B4EC]“I’m… getting through the night,”[/color] 

Leo gave Lottie a concerned glance. Again, he stood from his seat and placed an arm around Charlotte’s shoulders, softly squeezing one shoulder as he offered a comforting sideways hug. [color=9AF781]“If you need anything at all, simply ask, we are here for you.”[/color] He said quietly. 

[color=9AF781]“Lorenzo’s doing well tonight. And look, Count Hendrix is over there looking out for him, too.”[/color] He whispered, assuming Lottie’s distress came from recalling how disastrous both the Alidasht dinner and Royal Curd brunch had gone. Tonight was different; the scandals involved others, and the two of them, and their families, were merely spectators in others' misfortunes. As it should be. 

[color=D0B4EC]“Has everything been alright with you?”[/color]

[color=9AF781]“Oh, absolutely. Thea and I had a wonderful talk over breakfast. [i]She knows everything.[/i] And she’s willing to help as well.”[/color] He whispered into her ear as his eyes looked from Wulfric, to Hendrix, and finally to Gideon. [color=9AF781]“Doesn’t matter who else is here tonight, you’re surrounded by allies. Everything will be alright.”[/color] He quietly encouraged. Leo removed his arm and returned to his seat, hoping that at least a little of his optimism had spread to Lottie. 

[color=greenyellow]“Well hopefully some good food can bring us together! And perhaps some scathing reviews of various shenanigans throughout the night.”[/color] 

Every time Drake spoke, Leo liked him a little bit more. [color=9AF781]“Indeed, it will, Lord Drake. Good food, exceptional company, and scandalous entertainment; it can only add up to a wonderful night.”[/color] Leo agreed, 

[color=F0E399]“Who is she anyway?”[/color]

Duchess Edwards stayed focused on the scandal Kalliope had set in motion. [color=9AF781]“Kalliope Arden. I’m under the impression she works for the palace in some capacity.”[/color] Leo offered a snippet of what he knew, a playful grin as he waited to share the woman’s previous scandal with an interested Duchess. 

[color=F0E399]“She looked like she’d climb the nearest chandelier if it meant someone else’s husband would look up her skirt.”[/color]

[color=9AF781]“Oh, I don’t doubt it. Wherever that woman goes, drama inevitably follows…”[/color] He replied, grin widening as he tried to drum up Victoria’s interest, a means of distraction from picking out those at their table. Leo was just about to delve into a story when Thea spoke up. 

[color=#035E7B]“Though I do envy your confidence. It must take a certain kind of self-assurance to confuse a woman’s boldness with her worth, or a fall with a failure. But then, I suppose when one is so far removed from youth, passion begins to look like scandal.”[/color] 

Leo looked at Thea, and just barely, almost imperceptibly shook his head. 

[color=#035E7B]“Perhaps the duchess should start with a mirror before auditioning for a spotlight.”[/color] His sister whispered to him. 

[color=9AF781]“Thea, please, think of Drake, let’s not cause trouble with his family.”[/color] He softly whispered his advice back, a gentle shift of perspective rather than an outright chastising. He glanced at Drake, whose attempts at diplomacy never went unnoticed, and Leo understood with perfect clarity how uncomfortable it was to watch those around you launch verbal arrows at one’s mother. 

[color=9AF781]“The line between passion and scandal is thin. It takes wisdom and experience to know where that line lies.”[/color] Leo countered, his attention resting on Victoria as a warm and easy smile spread across his face. 

[color=9AF781]“And when it comes to Kalliope, she is firmly rooted in scandal.”[/color] His eyebrows raised as a sordid tale lingered behind his lips. He teased the Duchess's attention with the promise of it. One of the knights, Stratya, walked by only to slide a biting remark in before scampering off. Leo’s eyes shifted to Gideon, wondering briefly if the man had the backbone to defend his wife. It was one thing for Ariella to call out her mother, another entirely for a man of Gideon’s stature to sit there while a stranger took shots at his wife from a distance.  

[color=9AF781]“You know, just the other day Lottie and I shared a table with Kalliope at The Royal Curd, a brunch to honor the generous and gracious King Edin.”[/color] A heavy and dramatic sigh escaped him, an ominous hint at how that brunch had gone. 

[color=9AF781]“And would you believe it? Kalli turned that whole brunch into the messiest affair. She showed up fueding with the man who carried her in tonight, a Captain and Marquis from Jafi, Sjan-dehk, and the man's, well, I’m still not sure if Iyen is a lover or a bodyguard.”[/color] Leo continued, as he directed Victoria in the direction of the two from Jafi who had entered with Kalli. 

[color=9AF781]“But boy, did those three turn a whole brunch into an uncomfortable affair. It was downright embarrassing to witness such theatrics play out before a single plate of food was at the table. Then, I swear to the Gods, Kalli flipped her lid over every mention of cheese at a restaurant themed around the dish. Shouting and eventually brandishing a knife, the second someone mentioned a melty brie or sharp cheddar.”[/color] Leo kept his attention on Vicrotia, trying his best to keep her attention on him. All he needed was to build a little goodwill between their two families. 

[color=9AF781]“Insanity. Clearly, the girl is not right in the head. Deranged even. Honestly, I’ve never seen such fear in Lady Morrigan’s eyes as i did at that brunch. To think that someone would dare grip a weapon in the presence of the king's cousin.”[/color] Leo shook his head with heightened disappointment. He ensured his story tantalized and exaggerated the drama to distract and captivate the Duchess as best he could. 

[color=9AF781]“Apologies, Duchess Edwards, for stealing your ear for such gossip, but when someone is that unhinged and dangerous, I think it best to warn the respectable sort about it.”[/color] Again, he smiled, making it seem as if such gossip was beneath Victoria and he was at fault for indulging in it. 

[color=9AF781]“You know what else I’ve noticed. Never before have I seen any of this nation’s fine and aloof Princes so taken with a lady as Prince Callum seems to be with your daughter. But of course, if any family is worth royal attention, it would be one as distinguished as yours. You must be very proud of Lady Ariella.”[/color] Leo added, and his warmest smile extended to Ari as did his best to force a distant mother to complement her daughter. 

What else could the Duchess say? Insult a prince in the king’s palace, call him an unworthy match? Leo doubted the Duchess was that foolish. Surely Victoria would love to admit that she had in fact, raised a young woman so well that she now had one Caesonia’s princes wrapped around her finger. He appealed to her sense of pride. [/color]