[sup][center][img]https://i.ibb.co/hFv4fRSF/Nora-Pawonska.png[/img][/center]
[/sup][COLOR=gray]
[b][color=Palevioletred]Time[/color][/b]: Evening
[b][color=Palevioletred]Location[/color][/b]: Grand Ballroom
[b][color=Palevioletred]Attire[/color][/b]: [url=https://i.ibb.co/p6ScwRHp/Chat-GPT-Image-Jan-14-2026-10-30-21-PM.png]Dress[/url]
[b][color=Palevioletred]Interactions[/color][/b]: [@Chrys] Amira, [@princess] Count Emil, [@Potter] Elena
[b][color=Palevioletred]Mentions[/color][/b]: None
[center][SUP][sub]___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________[/sub][/SUP][/center]

[indent][indent]

She smiled as the girl introduced herself. There was a small part of her that saw herself in this young woman and felt the urge to protect her in ways she hadn't been able to protect herself. So, when Count Emil arrived into their small little bubble, she felt herself stiffen and bristle. It did not take Nora very long to catch a terrible feeling about him. Especially when he seemed to make light of what had happened earlier that morning. 

Nora hadn't gone to the events that morning, wasn't sure she could have taken seeing it like that. Even knowing the Queen was gone was enough of a burden on her psyche, she wasn't sure what seeing it would have done to her. Undoubtedly, she would have super-imposed herself or either of her siblings over the Queen and the idea of that was far more than she could handle. Regardless, she didn't see this event as very mournful. She would rather pretend the morning hadn't happened and mourn in her own time, privately. Tonight was for parading around, pretending everything was fine.

However, nothing could have prepared her for Amira's reply. Had she not heard? What rock had she been living under? Surely the news had spread even through the Alidasht royalty. Surely someone would have told her. Unless... Nora's eyes narrowed for a fraction of a second, thoughts of a lonely, isolated young Alidasht woman. 

She was about to try and speak, to say something to Count Emil when she saw her sister walking up to them and her mouth hung open, the words dead in her throat. Slowly, she closed it, waiting for Elena to approach. It was strange, feeling immense joy and excitement at seeing her sister again while also feeling like she was contending with a snake. Danger to her right, but all she could think about was how wonderful it was to see her sister again. The sibling bond was a strange one indeed. 

Still, Nora wasn't entirely sure what to do here. They needed to acknowledge Count Emil and somehow deal with Amira's surprising lack of awareness. 

[color=tan]"It is lovely to meet you, Count Emil."[/color] Nora replied, her voice quiet and shaky despite her best efforts to try and sound confident. She curtsied just slightly in his direction before she turned to Amira. [color=tan]"I'm not sure that topic is truly appropriate for this occasion. I'm sure myself or my sister Elena would be happy to explain it to you on another day?"[/color] Nora tried to offer, motioning to her sister who had joined them. 

[color=tan]"Elena, I'm happy you made it."[/color] Nora finally greeted her sister. She was smiling but either of her siblings could see that she was a few steps away from tears and a full breakdown. Though, that wasn't entirely hard to do.

[/indent][/indent]
[/color]