[center][img]https://txt.1001fonts.net/img/txt/b3RmLjE0Mi41ZjllYTAuUTJ4aGNtVnVZMlUsLjA,/rawuh.regular.webp[/img]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/SEOQvLX.jpeg[/img][/center]
[color=5F9EA0]Time: 6 pm
Location: Castle Dining Hall
Attire: [url=https://i.imgur.com/R61caal.jpeg]Winners wear red & black![/url]
Interactions: Ari [@Tpartywithzombi], Gideon[@princess], Wulfric [@SilverPaw] [/color]
[hr]

[color=9FA1A4]
As they reentered the dining hall, Clarence’s  composure slipped for a rare moment. He watched guards walk the Queen from the hall and could only wonder what he’d missed. Something big. Something important. 

And what had he gained for his loss? A brief and meaningless conversation with mortals, only one of which actually mattered to him. 

Ariella insisted on gripping his arms and looking around like prey surrounded by a pack of wolves. It was disgraceful. [i]Insulting.[/i] To enter a room, at his side, as his ally, and fear other mortals. Had he not just told her these hunters were nothing to fear? When their eyes next met she would find only disappointment in his gaze.  

[color=5F9EA0]“To fear them is [i]beneath you[/i].”[/color] Clarence leaned in and hissed his words into her ear. [color=5F9EA0]“Unleash your full potential and no mortal in this room could ever threaten you. And until then, [b]I[/b] keep the beasts from your door. To fear them, is to insult me.”[/color] He warned as his hand patted her back as he mimicked a reassuring gesture with a face that matched the movement. 

[color=Burlywood]“Are you two ready to go home? I'm rather convinced your mother has been sitting in the carriage this entire time—likely reciting a list of things I did wrong tonight.”[/color]

Clarence broke away from Ari’s grasp as Gideon suggested to both his children that it was time for them to go. [color=5F9EA0]“A wise suggestion, Duke Edwards, and I must apologize. I fear my family's drama has ruined dinner tonight.”[/color] Clarence, his voice soft and respectful, nodded his head to Duke Gideon. 

With his goodbye’s said Clarence returned to his proper seat, but lingered just near Wulfric long enough to whisper a single question. [color=5F9EA0]“Have all my wildest dreams come true? Was that [i]Alibeth[/i] getting arrested?”[/color] Every bit of Callum’s sarcasm and delight dripped from Clarence’s words. It was too easy to mimic that one; he couldn’t think of a better twist for the ending of the feast. And how delicious it was that Callum had missed out on seeing it, robbed of the satisfaction of seeing the very moment the tables turned for the Queen. Robbed of even having the memory of it for later viewing. 

Maybe it wasn’t so bad that Clarence had missed the event after all. He leaned back in his chair and continued to enjoy what was left of his food. The only other creature as relaxed and unbothered in the room was perhaps the large wolf that rested comfortably near the feet of the witch hunter. [/color]