(do we wanna just timeskip?)
Ezra kept walking, long legs covering ground faster than most people's would have. He was silent as he walked, still wrapped up in his own thoughts. He hated being here. He just wanted to go back to where he had been. Far away from here and the princess and all these memories.
(Sure, how far forward?)
(uhhhm maybe to him turning the list in? Idk)
(Sure, should I start or you)
(mm idk, up to you)
(I can start, though it might be a few hours)
(alright! Thanks)
Allian was ready to up and leave the palace by the time the third day rolled around and the generals were still here. Most of the day, they were off with her father, in their meetings, but that didn't mean she wasn't required to go to the meetings, or see them at meals. She was supposed to be kind and polite, which was why she hadn't yet thrown anything at Ezra, even when her father brought up the topic of the list of men for her to date.
She instead kept her head down, scowling at her plate as she picked at the rich dinner sitting in front of her.
"Any luck with that list, General Ezra?" The king asked calmly, leaning back in his seat as his plate sat empty in front of him. A small smile played on his face and he nodded at Allian, "I believe her getting out of here would be good for all of us, before she throws a fork at someone."
She made a face at that, then looked up, laughing lightly to pretend it was a joke, "I would never throw a fork at the Generals, don't worry father."
Ezra let out a breath. "I have compiled a list of officers of noble birth and similar age to the princess, though I left it in my quarters. I can go fetch it, if you would like?" He replied, looking at the king and doing his best to ignore Allian's gaze, knowing she would hate him even more now. "I have also included only officers that I personally know, so as to ensure they are all of good personality as well, and unlikely to be unkind to princess Allian." "Unkind" was a…polite way to express his meaning. There were always rough men in the army, and his rmy we no exception, which was why he had been careful. Just because he didn't like Allian didn't mean that he wanted her to end up with a husband that would harm her.
The king nodded, a smile that could be considered impressed or proud on his face, "If you would like, you may go get it, though hurry back." He seemed to trust the choices Ezra had made, or at least he trusted them enough to get around Allian for long enough to figure out if he liked them.
Allian scowled at her plate as her father gave him permission to go. She wanted nothing to do with the men Ezra had chosen, though to become queen, she would eventually need to decide which of the men was most tolerable. The idea to intercept Ezra in the halls popped into her mind as she waited for him to leave. Then she would be able to get the list to him and look through who he had recommended, maybe decide immediately who not to deal with.
Ezra nodded, getting up from the table and heading back towards his quarters, picking up the folded paper from the table to bring back to the king. He walked quickly, long legs covering the ground as fast as he could, not wanting to be gone for too long. It would make him look bad. Disorganized. And he didn't want to give a bad impression. He was already such a young general.
Allian waited several long seconds before she got up as well, "Please excuse me, gentlemen, I'll be right back." She refused to give an excuse for why she was leaving, but none of the General's questioned it, and even her father simply nodded his head and waved a dismissive hand.
She was a little hurt to be dismissed so suddenly, but she took it in stride, turning and exiting the room smoothly before she grabbed the bottom of her dress and lifted it up just above her ankles, starting a hurried walk towards the general's temporary quarters. If she wanted to intercept Ezra, she had to hurry.
Ezra was already on the way back, the folded paper held carefully in one hand, in order not to crinkle it and make it illegible. He was quiet as he walked, eyes careful and focused. He hadn't really wanted to make this list, but he had. But he wasn't happy about handing his officers over to the princess like this.
Turning a final corner, Allian paused when she saw Ezra walking towards her, stopping in her tracks and frowning before continuing towards him. All she had to do was get the list of officers from him, at the very least she wanted to see who she would have to deal with before it was out of her control.
Ezra frowned a little when he spotted her, but didn't stop walking, holding onto the list. This really wasn't ideal. He hadn't known that coming here would mean playing matchmaker for a princess that had no love lost for him. He sighed, nodding to Allian but fully intending to just walk past her without speaking.
"Ezra," She spoke as he got closer, stepping In front of his path back to the King, "I need that list." Allian tried to use her manners, knowing it would get her farther in the situation, but she couldn't stomach being polite to him. At the very least, she held some of the venom out of her voice, but not all of it.
Ezra raised an eyebrow at her. "Pardon, your highness, but this list is for the king. If he wants you to see it, then I assume he will show it to you. That is his discretion, not mine." he kept his voice cool and calm; no reason to cause a scene just now, not if he didn't have to. He was not, however, handing over that list to her.
"Actually, General, it's a list for me. It's of my suitors and I want it," Allian replied, crossing her arms over her chest, "I will not be taking no for an answer, I need that list." She knew it was dangerous to tell Ezra what to do, but she needed that list, more than she needed to keep her rocky relationship with him. The names he held would determine her future, and frankly, she wanted no one but herself to determine that.
He sighed faintly. "I wouldn't dream of telling you what to do, your highness," yes, he did. Mainly to tell her to shut the fuck up for once. "but I compiled this list at the order and recommendation of your father, in order to give it over to him, which is what I am on my way to do. If you would like it, you will have to ask him, as this list is, again, not intended for you that I am aware of. It does not contain suitors, it contains potential suitors, from within the ranks of my army. These potential suitors have already been vetted by myself, but your father will want to vet them on his own, as well. As such, it doesn't really have anything to do with you, right now."
Allian scowled as he refused to hand it over, stepping closer to him and giving him her most murderous glare, even if she had to tip her head back to look up at him. "Who do you think my father wants suitors for? It's meant for my father, but the potential suitors are for me, which also makes the list mine to read. And I need to read it now, before my father gets it." She was running out of time to get him to agree, that much she was certain about, but she wasn't going to ask nicely for it, and soon she would have to resort to actually taking the list from him. If she could.
He looked down at her, frowning a little bit. "The list is yours to read if your father wants you to read it, Allian. Now move." he replied, finally beginning to lose his patience with her. "I'd like to give your father this list and be done with it, so please let me through." he took a deep breath, trying to keep from getting upset.
"No." She said simply, no room for argument in her tone. Allian glanced towards his hand that held the list, taking another step towards him, enough to get into his personal space, before making a quick grab for the list, hoping he didn't notice her movements.
He lifted his arm up so she could no longer reach. "Allian, you are behaving like a child. Now let me through." he snapped, glaring at her while holding the list above her head. "I feel like I'm playing keep away with a five year old." he couldn't believe that she was going to be the next queen. The next queen, and she was trying to snatch this list from his hands like a toddler that's been denied a toy.
"And you are behaving like a mindless soldier, Ezra," She snapped back, "Give me the list. I just need to read it. Then you can march back to dinner, hand it to my father and get the praise your little pea brain wants." Allian made another desperate grab for the list, even if it was out of her reach, jumping as high as she could in her uncomfortable shoes. Even if he was simply following orders, his behavior made her furious. She was still above him in rank, his future queen, and former best friend and he still wouldn't give her the damn list like she wanted.
"I am a general. I sealed it shut, Allian, and I will not turn it in with a broken seal. Let me pass." he kept holding it high, still glaring down at her. "I don't know how to explain this in any simpler terms so that you can understand; this list is for your father. Not you. Your father. Last I checked, you and your father are not one and the same, nor are my decisions or orders beholden to you in any way, shape, or form."