[center][color=#B3EBC0][h1]Nolan Edwards[/h1][/color][/center]
Location: Grand Ballroom 
Attire: Attire: [url=https://i.imgur.com/8JdKRkn.png]Starry Night Attire[/url]
Interactions: [@princess] Marina 
Mentions:[@Oso] Ambrose [@CitrusArms] Stratya [@princess] Lottie and King Edin
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Why couldn't he just keep his mouth shut?

He wasn't blind; he could see that indignation roaring in her eyes and anger painting her cheeks and it made his chest ache. He wanted to tell her that he was fine, he did not need her to defend him or to show that she cared and give him false hope. Just let him bury that persisting spark as deep as he could in the confines of his heart until it smoldered into ash just like everything else. It would be better for everyone. Anything would have been better than for her to see what laid beneath the surface and find a shambling mess of scars that whispered his every insecurity. 

Who could ever want something as broken as him? 

[color=#6C72C6]“She saved my life this week.”[/color] 

That alone was able to bring him out of whatever pit he was spiraling into. At first there was a look of concern for her safety that then his brow furrowed tightly in restrained rage. If Stratya didn't kill whoever dared to raise a hand towards Marina then he certainly fucking would with his bare hands. 

Marina paused. [color=#6C72C6]“Well, my breakfast. But my breakfast might as well be my life before noon.”[/color]

Nolan blinked a few moments and then breathed out a heavy sigh. [color=#B3EBC0]"Gods above Marnie, lead with that."[/color] Still, he could only laugh. It sounded like the pitter patter of rain against a window pane.

She pulled him out of it with a silly sentence. Well, not entirely. She wasn't a magician that could cure every ailment that plagued his heart with a charming laugh and a bright smile. In fact, she was both the source of that warmth in his chest and the insecurity that had been gnawing at him since he laid eyes on her tonight, but her grip on him grounded him. It almost felt unfair that he was probably the only one feeling this way though he could push that aside. 

It wouldn't be the last time.

[color=#B3EBC0]"Believe me, I am well aware of her greatness."[/color] Nolan followed her line of sight as they turned to the very captain they were just talking about and her knight that had followed her like a shadow. Her admiration towards the knight-captain was plain as day though he had to question if that was all there to it? Well, it's not like he could blame her; her knight and Stratya made for a handsome pair.  

And then she remembered that she had a partner that she was dancing with. 

The way she spoke so fondly of Lottie did his heart some good. Heavens above did Lottie need more companions! Maybe she had found some more too while he was away during this first half of the Courting Season. His thoughts, however, returned to Marnie when she said something very curious. Who did Lottie remind her of that made her seem so much smaller, her gaze so distant just like when he placed the bracelet on her.

Nolan, hesitantly, returned the gesture back to her in hopes that it would bring her some sort of comfort. His attention though was brought to the verbal displeasure of King Edin and the group before him. They were a bit too far to make out what was happening, but even he could make out Lottie in that dress that typically would have been far too daring for her tastes. It left him feeling oddly tense.

[color=#B3EBC0][i]Why do I feel so uneasy?[/i][/color]

[color=#B3EBC0]"I will need to catch up with her. I've been away on work related matters so I have not been privy to the latest happenings of this Courting Season."[/color] Nolan stated as they took another turn. [color=#B3EBC0]"I only hope that she's met someone nice."[/color] He remarked with a tinge of worry for his dear friend.