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[indent][sup][color=ab274f][b]Attire:[/b][/color] [url=https://i.imgur.com/sTIjTiA.jpg]Banquet fit[/url], a simple princely crown
[color=ab274f][b]Date and Time:[/b][/color] Sola 28th, 6pm
[color=ab274f][b]Location:[/b][/color] Castle dining hall
[color=ab274f][b]Mention(s):[/b][/color] Kalliope, Anastasia, Calbert, Mina, "Callum", Charlotte
[color=ab274f][b]Interaction(s):[/b][/color] Alibeth, Edin, [@Tpartywithzombi] Violet, [@Oso] Cassius, [@FunnyGuy] Alexander, Lorenzo
[/sup][/indent][/cell][/row][/table]Alibeth argued for Kalliope’s suitability as a spy, speaking of her fall as if it had been part of a grand strategy. [color=ab274f]“That is as ludicrous an argument as claiming Anastasia's flair for dramatics is a cunning tactic”,[/color] Wulfric countered quietly. Why defend the servant for the very flaw she so often chastised her daughter for? Did she not see the lovesick glances Arden exchanged with that foreign captain? Having a spy fall in love was as disastrous as having one turn traitor. The queen had a bad habit of turning a blind eye to the faults of their women employees. He imagined she might have [i]borrowed[/i] Arden for certain missions, but he had to wonder how fruitful those had been. He did not doubt she was useful, but dismissing her unpredictability was too dangerous for his liking.

To his father’s so-called joke, he offered only, [color=ab274f]“It is a pity that inflicting violence on a person does not reliably instill them with sense.”[/color] If it did, they could have made a fun communal game of ‘slapping sense’ into Edin years ago, resolving [i]oh so many[/i] issues.

Roman went on to laughingly boast about how he had, in fact, slapped Lady Violet. The prince’s brow crept up in disbelief. [color=ab274f]“How unusual that you admit to misconduct so readily, and with so little care, Lord Ravenwood. If your demeanour persists to your trial, it may very well conclude with unprecedented swiftness,”[/color] he drawled. The Varian lord tried to redirect the negative attention to Deacon, but it was a feeble attempt. 

Neither Count Damien nor his daughter took kindly to Roman’s words. The lord had been offered a chance to explain or better still, to apologize. Instead, he turned to humour, and offended the person he had wronged. It was…a choice, to be sure.

Wulfric raised his wine glass to Violet. [color=ab274f]“Indeed, you are not obliged to choose either,”[/color] he agreed. He did not show it, but her words puzzled him. They were the cries of a child, demanding to know why she had been deceived, when it was her own folly that had blinded her to the manipulations of others. Moreover, she spoke of choosing between men when all she had been asked was to illuminate the truth. If the weight of expectation pressured her, she needn’t yield to it.

In the end, Lady Damien firmly denounced Lord Ravenwhood, and confirmed that he had struck her. She said nothing of or against Deacon, however. The prince had a niggling suspicion she had warmed up to her employer. As Lady Blackwood had noted, a person’s silence could speak volumes.

He turned his attention to Callum when his brother decided to speak against Count Damien in defense of Lord Ravenwood. Wulfric studied him silently. It was no longer only a question of what kind of magical effect he was under, but [i]why[/i], and by [i]whom[/i]. Delronzo? But then, here Callum was, going against two of Marek’s allies; Damien and Deacon. Perhaps, sowing chaos was the intent…?

Yet it was strange, for his brother ought to know how much Edin favoured Calbert. It was as if certain key facts eluded him. Was the curse affecting not only his personality, but his memories as well? 

Circumstances did not permit his thoughts to wander. He would have to conduct research at a later date, both on the nature of his brother’s affliction as well as a way to cure it.

Cassius strolled in, freshly irate, spewing vitriol and tossing about threats as if he had every right to. He took his tongue far too much for granted. Even so, Wulfric recognized Damien Jr. was returning like with like. Callum had started the quarrel, but it remained to be seen whether he could finish it. [color=ab274f]“Yet he is the one wearing a crown, so [i]do mind your tongue.[/i]”[/color] His did not need to be a particularly sharp warning when the queen was already standing up in outrage. The faint sound of a dagger being unsheathed out of view did not escape his notice.

Since it was clear those gathered were forgetting a rather simple solution, Wulfric provided a reminder. [color=ab274f]“There is no need for threats, [i]Lord[/i] Damien. If you seek to defend your sister’s honour, you are free to challenge Lord Ravenwood to a duel. Provided that both parties agree, you may go at each other’s throats to your heart's content. With proper witnesses, seconds, and the like, of course. You may even request Their Majesties’ blessing. A most exclusive opportunity, is it not?”[/color] He cocked his head to the side, wondering if either of the lords would issue a challenge and if the other party would accept.

[color=ab274f]“However, if you dispensed with law and honour alike, you would be liable to become intimately acquainted with a cell,”[/color] he locked gazes with Cassius, composed and cool. [color=ab274f]“For your sake, I advise that you remember yourself.”[/color]

He did not bother to hide his distaste when Alexander cut in. [color=ab274f]“Ah, yes, the instigator lying through his teeth, offering false apologies and feigning regret, even as you revel in the havoc you have wrought. Do you believe yourself subtle, Mr. Deacon?”[/color] He watched silently as Alexander touched Cassius to pacify him. Would the enraged lord really take that, just like that?

His sister shouted across the room, filling those arguing with so much confusion that tensions stilled, if only for a moment.

Then, out of the blue, Lady Charlotte wandered to their table, and hugged the younger Damien. 

Wulfric blinked, perplexed. [color=ab274f][i]Is she drunk?[/i][/color]

At around the same time, Lorenzo shouted from the other side of the table. [color=ab274f]“Duke Vikena, we have no need of your intervention. Please return to your seat,”[/color] Wulfric firmly echoed his mother’s command. The last thing they needed was further escalation.[/color]