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[color=lightgray][color=#6C72C6]Time:[/color] Evening
[color=#6C72C6]Location:[/color] The Ball
[color=#6C72C6]Interactions:[/color] [@CitrusArms] James [@AuthenticTomb] Sylvia
[color=#6C72C6]Mention:[/color] [@Remram] Askel/Nolan [@Tae] Mina [@HylianRose] Lucian
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Marina watched Nolan go as she placed a giant turkey leg on her plate. She frowned for a moment, tilting her head as she considered whether she should follow after him.

[color=#6C72C6][i]Lady Charlotte has always been very nice to me. Maybe I should go see if she is okay.[/i][/color]

[i]But there was all the food in front of her.[/i]

Her gaze slid slowly back to the table, filled with honeyed meats and mmm mashed potatoes... A bead of sweat nearly formed at her temple as the savory fragrance caressed her nostrils in a way that felt frankly manipulative.

[color=#6C72C6]“Mmm…”[/color]

She audibly lamented and tapped her foot, caught in a great moral battle. When Marina glanced over again, it looked as though Charlotte was ecstatic to see Nolan. She relaxed a little, then smiled.

[color=#6C72C6][i]He's got it. I will proceed.[/i][/color]

With that decided, Marina began ladling more helpings onto her plate with a renewed pep in her step. Unable to help herself, she picked up the turkey leg and took a big bite, humming with pleasure as she chewed through the warm meat.

[color=dodgerblue]“Princess Marina. You’ve been getting along with my friend, I see. Good. I’m happy to see him making more friends.”[/color]

Marina slowed her chewing but did not stop. Her gaze slowly slid to the nice-looking fellow with glasses.

[color=dodgerblue]“I come to you in the interest of our good Captain. Yes?”[/color]

Her eyes lit with recognition. She nodded once, solemnly, then gave him a thumbs up with the hand not currently responsible for holding her turkey leg.

She was listening... Chewing, yes. But listening.

[color=dodgerblue]“Distasteful rumors regarding your brother and his new acquaintance have been spreading. I’ve done what I can to control the damage before it spreads or twists.”[/color]

Marina’s eyes widened as her gaze darted across the ballroom.

Her brother?

Surely not Lucian and Mina. Mina had known Lucian for years, and if anyone dared to come after his reputation, Marina would personally begin biting people.

Then her gaze found Askel and Ranya. She watched them dance for a moment, her expression slowly changing.

[color=dodgerblue]“Her Excellence seemed particularly concerned with the hooded woman, just over there, near what I assume to be the rumor mill.”[/color]

Marina followed his gaze to the hooded blonde woman.

[color=dodgerblue]“Aah, but a squire can only do so much.”[/color]

She swallowed down her mouthful of turkey.

Then she slammed the leg onto her plate and set the plate down slowly, her gaze darkening.

[color=#6C72C6]“Oh, a squire is going to do a lot tonight.”[/color]

Her voice had gone low.

[color=#6C72C6]“Nobody is starting anything with my brothers. No. Way.”[/color]

She picked up a fork.

Subsequently, Marina gathered up her skirt and tucked the fork into the band at her thigh. After that, she lifted her wine and sloshed it around in the cup for no reason other than optics. A couple droplets spilled on the floor due to her vigor.

[color=#6C72C6]“You and I, my boy,”[/color] she said, pointing at him with a gaze more intense than he had likely ever seen, [color=#6C72C6]“have evil to defeat.”[/color]

She inhaled, trying to wrestle her anger. Then she exhaled sharply through her nose. [color=#6C72C6]“Now. Inform me of everything you know so far. We are going to go afoot, listen for information, and ask very casual, very innocent questions.”[/color]

Then her eyes narrowed as she added. [color=#6C72C6]“And by casual and innocent, I mean we are going to find out who the [i]fuck[/i] dares.”[/color]

Marina’s gaze swept the ballroom again, but this time something almost wicked sparked in her eyes.

[color=#6C72C6]“And I know just the girl who can help us…”[/color]

Her gaze slid through the crowd, searching for her partner in crime.

[i]Princess Sylvia Camilia.[/i]

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