forum Love? You think this is out of love?

Started February 19, 2021 by @Fenrir

tune

The young man Abrose had first pulled into the crowd had now found a young lady to dance with, timid at first from what Abrose could observe but nonetheless trying his best to woo the girl
Abrose had managed to pull in a few more Lord's and ladies, most joining him, some shooing him away playfully. It seemed that he had u destinated the crowd today, initially finding them drab and boring, when he had first arrived. He was delighted to find now that was not the case. The dance finished with the ladies kneeling down, their dresses flowing around them and their heads turned away as the gentlemen bowed low as if to reach out to them. Abrose followed the ladies, kneeling to no one in particular and glancing over his shoulder, his red swag of material curling around him for a moment before he stood to begin the third dance.
He scanned the crowed of onlookers for a moment, his gaze finally coming to rest on Malachi, who had tucked himself away in the corner of the ballroom. With a shake of his head and a sweet smile, Abrose made his way towards him.
"Now I know it's traditional for the gentleman to ask the lady to dance but, frankly, I've never really followed any sort of tradition." He winked and offered his hand, bowing slightly at the waist. "Care to dance, your highness?"

Thankfully it wasn't long for the servant to return. Malachi motioned for the other to come closer so he could reach the glass. Within a few seconds, the glass was empty and the other took it away from his hand.

Eventually his eyes lingered down towards the floor. All the dancers spinning across the dance floor was making the feeling worse. It was an unfamiliar one, he knows it very well. Maybe he can hold it together till the end of the ball. Nodding to himself, he looked back up among the crowd. After dabbing his forehead with the handkerchief, his eyes widened.

Abrose is making his way over to him. Oh gods above no. He probably looks terrible right now without a doubt. Malachi took a deep breath and began to mumble to himself. "A crown prince isn't weak. A crown prince isn't weak. A crown prince isn't-"

The footsteps from his fiancé came closer and closer. He stopped himself then gazed up. Forcing his body to tense up, he made himself chuckle. A dance? Now? For a second his gaze wandered around, making sure no one else was paying attention to them.

"Ah well….I am not fond of the third dance; the tempo is too fast," He said, forcing a smile. Another deep exhale left his lips. "Perhaps….perhaps…maybe we should wait till the fifth one. The tempo is much slower and the movements are steady. How about that?"

Abrose's smile falter slightly and he found himself akwardly withdrawing his hand for the second time that night. He nodded slightly and straightened, "of course, perhaps another dance then."
He regained his easy smile and plucked a glass of Champaign from a passing waitor "a fast tempo always promises a lively dance." He glanced around, watching as dancers took a bit of break between the dancing to refresh themselves on food and drinks
"it's nice seeing them having a good time, not caring about formalities or appearances for a short time." He commented, finishing off his glass and setting it down on another passing tray with a thankful nod to the maid.
"I eagerly await our dance, your highness." Abrose bowed and walked off back towards the center of the ballroom, this time finding a small group of ladies and gentlemen and beginging the dance with them, following along to the other dancers around them

His weight kept shifting back and forth on his feet. Still he kept himself rigid, pretending to be normal as usual. The smile softened as he watched the prince straighten himself then nod.

Instead of taking much, he just kept nodding along to what Abrose was saying. In order to maintain his balance, he tightened his core by holding his breath. The idea ended up being foolish as he had to hold up his head. But thankfully, he was able to grin momentarily. "Have fun, Abrose," He said, "Till then."

General Maeda strolled over and held out a slightly dampened cloth. Malachi took it with a little grateful smile then began to use it. The two of them did not say a word to each other for a while. They both had their eyes on Abrose, closely watching him having fun from afar.

"When did it start?" Maeda asked. His eyes flickered over to the prince. Malachi didn't bother turning to face him, he already picture the look of concern on the general.

"Just a few moments ago," He responded. "It's probably all the worry. I was thinking about the wedding, Abrose, his family, Sohan, those Valenians, work, and my father. It hit me again."

Maeda took a deep exhale through his nostrils. "Hold on a little longer and go dance with His Highness when he comes back," The general advised, putting his hand on the prince's back. "Just think in the moment, do not worry."

The group had broken off into pairs but remained close to each other for now. Abrose had found himself dancing with the same woman as before, clad in an emreld green that beautifully complemented her smooth ebony skin. "I take it you're enjoying the party?" He asked with a small smile, this time following the gentleman's dance.
"I am, your grace." She replied with a thick accent.
Abrose tilted his head curiously as he spun her and curtsied "you are not from here? The Eastern continent I take?" He asked, brows creasing in worry as the woman glanced around her.
"I'm afraid if I reveal that answer to you, your highness, I put my life at risk." She replied softly.
Abrose nodded slightly "I understand." He whispered in her common tongue.
Her eyes widened in surprise "you understand Haruian?"
Abrose nodded "yes, my father taught it to me when young. It is not perfect but I try and speak as best I can."
The woman's eyes softened "your father was a great Ally to us. The king of of the Southern kingdom of Carniel . He was a wonderful friend to both our king and to our people. He is greatly missed."
Abrose drew in a wavering breath "he certainly is." He offered a sad smile as they went through the steps.
"My name is Nao." She said softly as the dance came to an end.
"and are you staying long here, Nao." Abrose asked as they started another dance together
She nodded with a sly smile "as a court lady. They all think I'm from Parillia or some other place." She laughed and shook her head
"Ah I see. The poor council. I hear they are not too fond of other land's influence perhaps you can change that."
"Perhaps we both can." She agreed

The dizzy feeling still lingered despite his efforts in pretending that it wasn't even there to begin with. He felt exhausted while a headache was starting to form. Nevertheless, he isn't going to let himself faint or collapse while being in the ballroom. Anywhere but here.

He placed the cloth on his forehead, taking multiple deep breaths. Once he felt somewhat cool, he took it off then took a glimpse at Abrose, but his attention was caught by the woman dancing with him instead. So did her smirk.

"Maeda, do you see the woman dancing with Prince Abrose over there?" He asked, tilting his head to the right. "Have we seen her before? Is she the consular of Parillia's daughter?"

The general paused then turned his head to look over. His eyes squinted while he hummed. "I do not believe so, Your Highness, but I feel like we might have. It's hard for me to tell from here."

Malachi bit his bottom lip. While he could just be suspecting or reeling in the effects of feeling lightheaded, something doesn't feel right. "Her dress is gorgeous. It must be made out of fabrics from the Zhang Dynasty, they make the finest quality for dresses like hers," He smirked, "How unforgettable."

For a while the two of them didn't say anything again. They both just kept gazing around. The prince looked over at Edwin, who was dancing with his wife. Edwin gazed back momentarily, giving him a nod then mouthed the word 'tomorrow'.

General Maeda noticed the exchange between the prince and ambassador. A regretful sigh left his lips. "Your Highness, about your meeting tomorrow-"

"I know wedding planning will start, but you are aware that I had planned this before finding about getting engaged to Prince Abrose," Malachi stated. His eyes lingered back to his fiancé, a tiny grin swept across his face. "I do not want a snake in our garden to bite him, it'd be terrible for all of us. I want my wonderful fiancé to be safe and happy."

"I must admit, I didn't expect the princess of Valenian's capital to come tonight. A bit risky no?" Abrose asked, concern flashing in his green eyes.
Nao tilted her head thoughtfully "it is. But what better way to gain perspective than come to the enemy territory?"
Abrose arched an eyebrow "and infiltrate their coucil, giving them more reason to go against your people?" He countered, turning her a few dipping slightly
"I have no desire for war, your highness, please understand that. But this is the only way my voice, the voice of a woman from the Eastern continent will be heard and taken seriously. Do you honestly think I don't understand the risk I am putting my life at, coming here, right where dozens of soldiers and your prince are waiting to kill me?" She asked in a hushed whisper, her accent thickening slightly, making it difficult for Abrose to understand.
Abrose sighed softly "I don't understand your situation, not personally. All I've known was from what my father told me and those were when Valenia was thriving and happy. I know not of the hardship your country and people have gone through in the past years." He replied honestly, looking away slightly in shame for not becoming aware of other countries.
Nao gently cupped his cheek, forcing him to look into her caramel eyes, rimmed in gold eyeliner. "Do not feel bad, Abrose. You've been through your own haedships. I find great comfort in knowing a friend will always be in the south."
Abrose gently took her hand and pressed a kiss to the back of it. "Always your grace. In the south and soon in the North." He promised.
"In the North as well? Are you staying long?" She asked curiously
Abrose nodded "I am to marry the Crown Prince in the next few months."
"Ah so I was not far off calling him yours. I saw you both walking in the gardens from the windows. You two seemed close." She mused with a gentle nudge to Abrose's shoulder.
He laughed and blushed "I didn't say that close. Or close at all. I'm honestly not sure. He is a confusing man."
She chuckled lightly and glanced over at Malachi before focusing back on Abrose "I'm sure a bit of warmth from the south is exactly what his majesty needs to warm his cold heart."

"Safe and happy?" General Maeda repeated, with a concerned expression. "I know that look on your face, Your Highness. You have to remember that we are in no position to do anything….yet."

With his arms crossed, Malachi let out a swift sigh. He let his gaze wander up to ceiling, taking a break from looking at the two on the dancefloor. "Of course, you are right," He hummed, "But that's why I'm having a meeting with Moon and a good old friend. To plan something ahead of time."

Malachi maintained his nonchalant look even though he felt the urge in his lips to frown. What else could he do right now? Walking up to Prince Abrose and the woman would be absolutely foolish. Same with walking out with Edwin or taking a moment to relax. The best thing for him was to stay still, and so he did.

"Maeda, do you want to know why I finally gave in to everyone's demands to marry Prince Abrose?" He questioned, turning his head to look at the older man. "It is more than just providing aid and solidifying an alliance between Atrovia and Carniel. I am interested in seeing what else the marriage will bring."

Suddenly he stumbled back. He lost his balance for a moment before Maeda, luckily, managed to catch him in time. Malachi muttered a thanks then handed the cloth back. The general still kept his hand on the prince.

Running his index and middle finger, he brushed through the off-white strands of his hair. There were a few dark brown strands, but he paid no attention to them. A soft smile swept across his face as he patted the general's back.

"Are you sure you will be fine?" Maeda questioned. He had a smile of his own on him, but Malachi could still see the worry lingering in the general's eyes. It's the same kind his own father gives him.

Despite having a light sensation, he gave an affirmed nod. His eyes lit up with determination. "Well of course," The prince assured, "I am descended from the greatest rulers of Atrovia and Maehwa. I always will be fine, I won't let myself go down very easily."

They stopped for a second, and looked at each other. Malachi's shoulders lightly bounced as he chuckled. Maeda couldn't help but laugh a little himself, "Of course, and this is your engagement ball after all. You should be strong in front of Prince Abrose."

Abrose chuckled lightly "I do hope you are right." He took a step back from Nao and bowed deeply as the dance came to final end.
"I'm rarely wrong." Nao winked and curtsied at Abrose. As she straightened, she caught the eye of on of the councilmen beconning her over to a group he was talking with. Her lips pressed into a thin line, sighing through her nose. "Think it's too late to ignoring them?" She asked softly.
Abrose shook his head and gently squeezed her hand "unfortunately no. I can go with you if you'd like." He offered, glancing over his shoulder at the group of councilmen.
Nao shook her head "I'll be alright, besides, you need to refresh yourself before the next dance." She winked as she strode off towards the men, head held high and silky green dress owing behind her as she approached them with the confidence of a queen. Abrose could learn a thing or two from Nao.
With a small sigh, he walked over to the refreshments table, taking a few pastries and glass of some mystery cocktail. He had always been a light drinker, usually never drinking anything stronger than Champaign or wine. He took a tentative sip of the drink and shrugged, not finding too bad. He downed a bit more, needing to clear his head and relax. After everything that had just happened that night, he wasn't sure how mumch ore he could take. He braced himself against the table and closed his eyes momentarily. He was a prince. He knew what he was doing. He was going to be fine

As much as Malachi liked hosting events such like this, he hated it at the same time. A ball is just a sophisticated version of a secret club owned by a gang; it's better to be at the side and watch everything rather than being part of it. Extravagant dresses and suits are used as covers while people go around doing their dirty work.

And so does he, in his own way of course. That's why he is off to the side with General Maeda. They've been doing the same thing for the last four balls or so. The general did tell him to enjoy this one, yet it seems as of old habits die hard.

Maeda tapped the prince's shoulder then motioned over at the woman in the green dress. "Looks like Emerald is making her way over to Councilman Eszes and the others, I'll keep an eye on them," The general assured, as his eyes squinted, staring at the group. "Your Grace, you should check on His Highness."

Malachi clenched his jaw as he watched the woman. As of now, he does not know much, but he has a bad feeling about her and whatever is going on. And yet, he forced himself to calm down. He had to remind himself that he still felt unwell and this is his engagement ball after all.

He patted Maeda then stepped away. After a step, he stopped then turned to face the general. "I need the list of the attendees and where all the invites were sent to me by nine tomorrow, " He said, "Also I'm going to write letters to Ambassador Jiang, tailors, and seamstresses in the capital, please deliver them yourself. Also, check on your daughter and Edwin."

Once he got a nod from the general, he finally did leave. The air around him felt cool now as he held his chin up and made his way across the ballroom. In the corner of his eye, he caught some guests bowing as he passed by. Lightly, he smiled while giving them a head bow.

When he made his way to Abrose, he tilted his head. Is something wrong? The poor prince does look a little exhausted. He let out a sigh, but still kept on his smile. "Oh dear, you must be having so much fun since you look so tired," He chuckled, "Are you feeling alright, Prince Abrose?"

Abrose glanced over his shoulder, and offered a tight smile "yes, I'm alright everything that has happened today apparently caught up to me in the moment. I'm just a bit overwhelmed , but l'll be alright, thank you Your Highness." He reassured, nudging away the cocktail. It was best that he didn't drink now, God knows how he'd act in from the prince whilst inebriated.
He took a steadying breath and tilted his head at Malachi. "Finally decided to join the festivities?" He chuckled lightly, flicking his gaze around the ballroom. "I must admit, I didn't expect the ball to be of such entertainment. I'm glad I was proven wrong."
He returned his gaze to Malachi's, brows creasing in worry as he spotted sweat on the prince's brow. "Are you alright?" He asked softly, not wanting others to hear in case there was something wrong with their prince.

Malachi held his hands behind his back while his head lightly tilted to the left. Although he noticed the strain in the prince's face, he did his best to maintain his nonchalant look. Poor prince, it must have been a long few hours. Should he mention it or should he just pretend to ignore for now?

"I suppose it is time that I do, but if you are feeling a little uneasy at the moment, we could always dance some other time," He offered, "Are you planning to stay in Atrovia after the ball? I could have a room arranged for you if needed."

His eyes lingered at the prince as he had a puzzled look on his face. Malachi took note of Abrose's expression, wondering why the other was concerned. Personally, he thought that he was looking alright; maybe he wasn't able to hide his own drained expression very well.

Pushing up the corners of his lips, he let out a small laugh. "Of course, but I suppose I am just a little tired," He answered. Reaching under into his coat pocket, he took out his handkerchief and lightly brushedit against his forehead. "A long day proceeds with a long evening after all."

Abrose laughed softly "trying to get out of our little agreement, your highness?" He questioned with a smirk, "don't worry, I'd be happy to dance any time, even if it's not today.
He took a deep breath and shook his head "no, no. That won't be necessary but thank you. I promised Shire I'd be back home after the ball." He glanced out the window, taking a deep breath. He had always been fond of night time, though there was something about being alone, in a carriage, in the late hours in the night that made him very uneasy.
"Speaking of Shire, it's going to be quite fun explaining the engagement to him." He murmured, more to himself than to Malachi. "I might change my mind about your offer to stay just to avoid him a little longer." He chuckled lightly and glanced over at Nao, smiling softly at the dumbfounded expressions the councilmen around her tried to hide.
"a long evening indeed, but one I'm glad I spent here." He offered a smile and returned his attention to Malachi, "after the ball I presume you're going to rest for a while before returning to your duties? It has been a long night." He mused

"Don't worry, I am not," He laughed, "I am just concerned about you right now. You do appear to be a little tired and I am fond of seeing others in such a state. I'll keep our promise for another time."

Out of instinct, his hand reached out to call for a servant, but soon let it drop. The gap between his lips shut. Maybe the travel from here to Carniel isn't that far, although he does wonder if it would be better to travel back rather than just staying here. He shrugged off the idea, watching as Abrose looked out the window before his eyes did the same.

Right, Prince Shire probably won't be anywhere near joyful about the engagement. Oh heavens, he can already hear the doors opening following with the Carniel prince's yelling. "It definitely will be interesting to say the least," Malachi mumbled. Soon after, he let his smile return briefly. "Perfect. Then I will have someone prepare a room for you; it'll be ready by the time the ball ends."

Malachi gazed over at the mysterious woman for a quick second. His eyes narrowed as he did before looking down at the floor. For a brief moment, he turned a little in a direction for General Maeda to see and rubbed his left eye.

"There is no need to be concerned about me. Of course I will rest for a bit afterwards." Facing Abrose, he kept his arms behind his back. Though his expression was mellow, he attempted a warm look. "It sure has been. Time does tend to fly by though, I'll be up before anyone knows."

Abrose pressed his lips into a thin line, keeping down an argument, knowing better than to decline Malachi's offer twice. He bowed his head slightly in acceptance. "If you insist, it is greatly appreciated your highness." He replied softly. Admittedly, it was an immense relief to Abrose, knowing that he'd have a safe place to stay for the night. When he went back to Carniel, he'd deal with Shire. He couldn't imagine his brother arguing the prolonged stay to be a bad thing, especially if it was for Abrose's own safety. Then he'd casually slip in the part about the engagement while spirits were high.
He glanced up at Malachi and bunched his lips to the side in thought for a moment as Malachi spoke. Abrose agreed with him time had gone by unervingly quickly at the ball. It only seemed like an hour or so since he had accepted the prince's proposal and walked through the gardens with him though he knew the danced had lasted much longer than that.
"If I may so bold to ask," he began carefully, his hands fidgeting with the hem of the swath of red fabric, "to ask abour Valenia and the continent's people? Why are you on the verge of a war with them?"

He gave a gentle head bow. "I am relieved to hear, but if your brother does have a particular problem with this, just tell him to talk to me," He said. While his shoulders got stiff at the thought of having to meet with Shire, it might as well be a good idea to attempt to get on his future brother-in-law's good side.

It wasn't long till his eyes widened. Asking about the country's enemy in a room full of people? Especially some potentially being spies of the enemy? Quite far from bold if you had to ask him. In a way, he admired it though.

Malachi took a step forward, making sure that he was close enough to the other prince but still at a reasonable distance. His eyes flickered around at the others before he stared back at Abrose. "Well, it's complicated, but even before Atrovia was founded, my ancestors had conflict with them," He sighed, "Valenia used to own land here west of the capital to the ocean, but Berislav the Great went to war with them and made it apart of Atrovia. Ever since then it's been an eye for an eye for us. There are plenty reasons why the tension between us have always been strained. It had only spiraled into messier occurrences from the beginning."

Licking his bottom lip, he kept his eyes down at the floor. Again, he took another step. He brought his lips to Abrose's ear. "I suggest asking me questions about Valenia when it's just the two of us, my prince," He whispered.

Noticing the other prince's hands tugging at the red fabric made his left brow quirk up. Forcefully, he took Abrose's hands into his own. "If you have your hands already preoccupied, how will you defend yourself?" Malachi questioned. "A Leeros must always be ready for whatever Fate throws at them. Soon will you be one, and the first thing you'll do is hold my hands like this." Soon, he let go and stepped away from his fiancé.

"well, I'm sure I'd do the same if my land, the place I swore to protect those who entered and built a safe haven were to be taken away. Such a prosperous place, full of diverse peoe of a beautiful culture all snuffed and taken away just because some king wanted to own it." Abrose replied, clenching his jaw slightly. His father worked with these peoe first hand. He wouldn't blame the Valenians for wanting to fight back for what was theirs.
Abrose arched an eyebrow as Nalachi took a step towards him, grounding himself in place. He refused to be intimidated by the prince, even if his heart skipped a few beats as he leaned in close. He kept a neutral face as Malachi spoke, nodding slightly "of course."
What trueky surprised Abrise was when Malachi took his hand. It was an unexpected gesture, one that he wasn't so sure was welcomed. It felt off in a way. Not like how it had felt in the garden, though to be fair, that was awkward as well. He flicked his gaze towards Malachi, green eyes meeting his. "I think I'll leave the fighting to you, my dearest Prince. I'd rather fight in a different way, while gladly holding your hand in mine."

Malachi turned to the side to cover his expression. His eyebrows rose as he had to bit down on his bottom lip. And his shoulders lightly bounced while he shook his head. He did his best to keep his chuckles as quiet as possible. Well this will certainly be an interesting marriage for the both of them.

He tried to play off what he had just heard. If he got worked up, he might as well just collapse right there on the ballroom floor. His condition just began to get better too. "Agree to disagree, I suppose," He mumbled, forcing a smile.

Despite his efforts, his gentle demeanor disappeared. Glancing off to the side, he took a deep exhale. Gods above him help. "We all fight one way or another," Malachi nodded, "Though there are times where we have to switch methods, it's only strategy after all."

A servant approached from behind him. Thank the heavens. He could hear the footsteps at a distance. Holding his hand up, looked over his shoulder at the servant and watched as the young lad took a few steps back.

"Well, I'm afraid that I have some business to attend to, Prince Abrose of Carniel," He said. "I'll have someone escort you to your room when the time comes. Again, I'm sorry about our dance." Malachi gave Abrose a glance before walking away.

Abrose's brow turned up in concern before he realized what the prince was doing. Laughing. He took a measured step back once allowed and narrowed his eyes slightly. He clasped his hands behind his back to keep himself from doing God knows what in front of so many people and tilted his head up to look at Malachi, his lips pressed into a thin line. "There are time such as those. But I will try to keep peace where I see fit." He replied in a slightly clipped voice.
He took a breath to calm his annoyance and swept his gaze around the ballroom before looking at the young servant walk up behind Malachi.
He icined his head in acknowledgement "yes, of course. After all you are still a prince with responsibilities. Thank you again for inviting me" he curtsied and lowered his gaze for a moment, "ad for everything afterwards. Including the room." He rose gracefully and nodded slightly as Malachi walked off with the servant. The moment Malachi was out of sight, Abrise made his way through the crowd, hoping to find Nao. All he wanted was to relax for once that day with someone familiar and understanding.

Well, that could have been worse, although he wondered if it was too soon for him to walk away… He definitely would have made it worse if it was just the two of them. Maybe he already did, like always of course. And to start a relationship with a fight…Surely this marriage will be one for the history books.

Malachi walked with the servant till they both were away from most of the guests. He almost turned around to look for the other prince, but he stopped himself. Shutting his eyes, he shook his head. What a fool he is. The servant took a step to be at his side, but he waved his hand signaling that he was okay.

"Have Prince Abrose stay in one of the rooms in the east wing, close to mine. Make sure he gets whatever he wants and let's invite him to breakfast," Malachi said. He gazed over his shoulder to see the prince in the crowd. A sigh escaped from his lips. "Keep him away from our other special guest at all costs. I worry of what could happen to my dear fiancé. Do you understand?"

The servant nodded right away. Malachi gave the servant a smile before continuing, "Tell the others to wrap this up soon, it's getting late."

Again, he stared at Prince Abrose. His head titled to the right while his eyes glazed over with curiosity. If only he knew what the future would be like. If he did, then he'd be more assured about the decision he had made.

"just a few moments ago I saw you drink one drink and shove it aside. You go over to his highness for a few moments, you come back and now are throwing back cocktails as if there's not tomorrow." Nao leaned against the table and tilted her head in concern.
Abrose sighed softly and shakily put down the drink.
"If it can block otut he ridicule masked by laughter and the assuming expressions, then yes, I see nothing wrong with enjoying the party." Abrose said, taking a deep breath and straightening.
Nao sighed softly and gently looped his arm with hers. "You need to find something you enjoy doing-"
"Right now, I enjoy drinking my current situation away." Abrose muttered
"and you honestly think think those proems will go away after the party?" She asked, gently pulling Abrose away from the table but not before he snatched a chocolate pastry filly with cream.
"Come now, tell about Carniel. How has it been?" She asked.
Abrose smed softly and started to tell Nao about Carniel after his father's death. It hadn't been doing as well as it used to during his reign but it wasn't horrible. He told her about the Rocky plains and forests surrounding Carniel as well as the annual festival they held recently in honor of his late father's, lasting a few days and trueky being one of his favorite times of year

While he did want to, he couldn't help but watch Abrose again. His arms crossed in front of him as he clenched his jaw. He's only doing this because the other prince is with that mysterious woman again, that's all. No other reason.

Malachi scoffed, "At this point, he's going to go beyond his tolerance level. I can see his cheeks turn red from here." A small chuckle escaped from his lips. Drinking, how surprising he found it that the youngest prince of Carniel likes to drink. The other just has this innocent aura about him that made it ironic. Poor thing.

He shook his head as he turned around and made his way up the central stairs. One of his favorite Atrovian traditions is that when the king, or in this case the crown prince, leaves the ballroom, the ball is practically over. His fingers lightly brushed against the handrail. The bleakness of it sent a shiver down his spine.

Right, the gloves. His head jerked as he stopped himself from gazing back at the ballroom floor. Suddenly memories of when he slipped the gloves on Abrose's hands flashed in his mind. Stopping on his way to the door, he took out the handkerchief for a brief second and dabbed it against his forehead. Though his legs were trembling, he kept one till he was out of the ballroom and in the hallway.

"I would love to go to Carniel again, I haven't been since…" Nao paused as she realized when the last time had spent time in Carniel. Since the king died. "Since I was a but child." She continued carefully, dropping her voice.
Abrose nodded slightly, eyes growing distant for a moment "you came to father's funeral?" He asked softly as they found a small lounge area to rest at.
Nao nodded slightly as she settle down, her stunning green dress flowing around her. Abrose sat beside her and looked around the ballroom.
"I did. Any kingdom who wanted came as long as they weren't there to cause trouble. After all the Kingdome was in mourning. My parents were good friends with His majesty." She gently took Abrise's hand. "You look like him."
Abrose laughed softly and wiped away a few tears.
Nao pulled him into a hug "I hadn't meant to make you cry." She apologized, trying to keep back tears as well. After a few moments in the embrace, they both pulled away and collected themselves. "Well, it looks like the ball is coming to an end. Are you staying the night?"
Abrose nodded, "yes, I believe in the West wing."
Nao arched an eyebrow as she took Abrose's hand to stand. "Really? Thats where his highness stays. What luck you're staying so close to him."
Abrose shrugged "most likely to keep an eye on me or something." He sighed tiredly "and where are you staying?"
"I stay in the East wing with the court ladies." She said with a roll over eyes.
That made Abrose chuckle.

In a matter of moments, he was back in the study. Although this time, he wore much simpler clothes compared to the regal uniform he had on. Malachi wore a white long-sleeve linen shirt with black loose-fitting trousers and a horizon blue silk robe.

He sat in the desk chair with a pile of parchment paper, envelopes, a candle, seal wax, a presser, an ink cartridge, and a pen. There was also a glass of water and a small towel. The same servant from before stood in the middle of the study, waiting for His Highness to give another order.

Dipping his pen into the ink, he lightly tapped it against the rim of the bottle then began to write. "My apologies for our previous interaction. Please rest well and enjoy your stay. If you need anything, you can fetch for a servant. My room is farther down the hall, last door on the left if you're inclined to me instead. Let's have breakfast in the morning together. ~M."

Malachi placed the pen back into the ink bottle. Then he slipped the letter into an envelope, melted wax, and created his seal. With his left hand, he motioned for the servant to come closer to the desk. He watched as the younger man reached out and took the envelope with his two hands.

"Make sure that the letter is resting on his pillow before he gets there," He ordered, "Also take one of my robes and set it on the bed too. Not a silk one, something much warmer. And get extra blankets just in case."

The servant nodded in an instant. He gave a bow before walking backwards till he reached the door. Malachi waited till he heard that the servant walked away from the study before continuing on. Placing another paper in front of him, he picked up the pen and went back to work.

Abrose stayed with Nao for the remainder of the ball, being one of the last guests to leave the ballroom before the servants were to come in and clear the area.
"Let me escort you back, gods know what His Highness would do if I let the Prince of Carniel wander drunkily around the castle by himself." Nao said, gently pulling Abrose towards the exit of the ballroom and towards the East wing of the castle.
"I'm the one who should be escorting you back to your room. What kind of gentleman would I be to let a stunning young woman walk to her room alone?" Abrose countered with smile.
"A gentleman who'd know that this woman can protect herself very well against any threat this castle may possess." Nao said with a smirk.
"Ah then it is truly an honor to walk with you my princess." Abrose gently bumped her shower and grinned.
Nao laughed and nodded "would you be Inclined to walk with me early morning tomorrow? Perhaps before breakfast to see the sunrise?" She asked as she led Abrose to his room.
He tilted his head in a nod "I'd love to. It'd be my pleasure. Besides, I doubt anyone would be up so early to hear our conversations." He teased with a giggle.
Nao nodded with a laugh of her own, "then it is settled, I shall see you tomorrow morning.” she stopped by an ornatly decirated wooden door and curtisied “i look forward to our meeting, Prince Abrose of Carniel.”
He bowed “as do I, Princess Naomi of Valenia.” He whispered in her common tongue in case anyone was easedropping on them. He watched her depart before slipping into his bedroom. He gasped softly at the sheer beauty of the room, two stories worth of space. The lower level held an entire wall worth of shelves full if old books which curved into a small circular alcove containing a study. Closest to the floot to ceiling window was a grand piano made of white birch wood and black onyx keys. There was also a sitting area near the hearth. On the second floor, acssesable by a sprialing iron stair case was the bedroom, a large bed took up the majority of the space, shrouded in a silky blue curtain and fitted with deep navy sheets. Abrose slowly made his way around the room, skimming his fingers along every surface until he came to stop by the piano. He smiled softly and played a familiar tune, hoping no ine would mimd.
He then moved onto the bedroom, settling comfortable on the bed and marveling at the silky sheets, at first glance looking as if they would offer no warmth but soon finding them satisfyingly cozy. He then saw the letter as well as the folded robe on the pillow. He arched an eyebrow and carefully opened the letter, read it over and sighed softly “you are a mystery my prince.” He murmured quietly, tapping the nite to his lips in thought. After a while he decided to change, finding a simple silk white tunic and cotton night pants in the provided closet. He set aside his evening attire to be worn tomorrow and pulled on the warm robe, a but oversized but it felt like absolute heaven, the fur inside amazing quality. He padded down to the small study and found parchemt along with an ink well and pen.
"My dearest Malachi,
Please don't apologies for tonight. While certain words may have been exchanged that did set me on edge, it's also been a stressful day on you as well and I can attribute your sudden actions to that. Regardless, thank you immensely for tonight as well as the stunning room you have granted me access. It's truly far too kind. Thank you as well for the robe and clothes you supplied, I'm afraid I am unaccustomed to such cold temperatures but I'm sure I'll grow used to it soon. I must thank you once more for the offer, I'll drop by if I need something, extend my thanks to the servants who have so graciously helped in setting all this up. I would love to have breakfast with you tomorrow. Forgive me in advanced if I may be tardy, I have an earlier date with a guest in the castle that may attribute to that, but I'll be sure to meet with you as soon as readily available." Abrose signed off the letter with a small rose signature and feed the nite nearly. He didn't feel like calling for a servant, knowing they must have been exhausted from the nights activities. Instead, he tiptoed towards the end of the hall, hoping he got the room right and knocked gently before slipping the note under the door and quickly making his way back towards his room for a well deserved night's rest.

Setting the last letter on top of the pile, he tied a ribbon around them all to keep them together. He slouched back in his seat, relaxing his head against the chair. Gently holding his right arm, he carefully rolled his wrist till a crack sound could be heard. Afterwards, he sighed once feeling a relaxing sensation in his hand.

For a few moments, he just sat there while looking up at the ceiling. Memories of what happened not even five hours ago tried to flood back into his mind. He stopped himself from reminiscing about it. There's no use for it as he will only make himself more frustrated than he already is. His limit isn't as high as he wishes it to be and he feels as if there's no use in testing himself in this current situation. Oh how useless things are these days.

Suddenly, Malachi got up, placed the letters in a drawer under some papers, and left his study, though he may come back soon. Really he should be having someone close to him while walking through the hallways of the palace at night, but he wasn't severely worried like other nights.

Briefly he had stopped by at the room Abrose was staying in. His fingers lightly wrapped around the door handle, then pushed down. He peeked into the room, sticking his head in. When he saw the prince laying asleep in the bed, he tilted his head to the right. What an interesting person to say at the least. When he closed the door, he ambled down to his own.

His shoe almost stepped on the letter. A soft crinkle sound ripped through the silence as his eyes flickered down and he picked up the letter. Malachi walked over to the end table, picking up the letter opener and slicing the envelope open. Then he undid his robe and sat down, beginning to read the letter.

"Don't apologize…." He mumbled to himself. A soft chuckle managed to leave him. "I'm afraid most of our conversations from now on till the day I die will be filled with me saying 'sorry'." He kept on reading the letter even though he almost threw it away after reading about Abrose's "friend". Well, he isn't so much more innocent himself as he'll be doing the same tomorrow. Though maybe with different intentions.

Abrose slept like the dead throughout the night, nearly collapsing into bed after he had gotten back from delivering his note to Malachi.
Unfortunately those precious hours of bliss didn't last nearly as long as he would have hoped.
The first sign something was off in the room was the familiar scent of lavender wafting to his second story loft, reminding him of the forests near his home back in Carniel. The second was the gentle although quite purposeful nudging that tried to wake him from his sleep.
He blinked slowly awake and breathed in a sigh "it's far to early to be waken up at this time." He muttered, sitting up and glaring up at Nao.
"You promised me a walk before sunrise." She smiled sweetly and passed Abrose the cup of steaming tea. "You should take everything I say with a grain of salt when drunk."
"A pride is a promise dearest Prince. Come now, drink."
Abrose sighed softly and took a tentative sip. "Thank you."
Nao nodded and stood up to rifle through his closet, pulling out a deep blue tunic and black pants. "Quickly, get changed, I'll wait oitside." She promoted, leaving the room to let him change.

It was about a quarter to seven when Malachi had woken up. One of the servants on his court found him laying on the sofa when it was time to wake up. Before falling asleep, he had gone back to the study to do more work and to cross out a part in the letter from Abrose. He also hid the letter in a drawer.

Now he is up, dressed in a navy blue uniform, and relaxing in a chair in the corner of his room. He held the list of guests in one hand and the addresses of them all in the other. Though he tried to find something that sticks out, he was paying attention to whatever was happening outside.

Although the walls were not that hollow, he was still able to hear into the hallway, faintly. Setting the papers down on the sofa, he stood up and crept over to the door. He pressed his ear against the wall, listening in to the conversation between Abrose and a woman. It must be the one from before, the emerald dress. Who else would it be?

His eyes flickered over to the clock. Just a few more moments. Malachi quietly took a deep breath before creeping back to the sofa. He caught his reflection in the mirror, his attention focused on the white strands of hair that framed his face. "At this rate all the hairs on my head are going to turn white," He whispered, then softly chuckled. "Cozying yourself with councilmen is already a trouble as it is. Why bother getting entangled with the royal family?"

Taking his journal out from underneath the sofa, he opened it up to a clear page and began to write everything he heard. Anything will be useful in getting all the weeds out of the garden, though he should be careful if he wants to listen in more. Very very careful.

Abrose met Nao outside his room after a few memts, the robe Malachi had loaned him draped over his shoulders. "Ready," he whispered with a smile, running a hand through his copper hair. He glanced back at Malachi's door with a sad smile. Nao gently touched his shoulder and nodded towards the hallway "he needs to rest. We can invite his magesty some other time." She reassured as she led Abrose to the doors leading to the garden.
He pulled on the robe a bit tighter around himself as they stepped out into the cold air, only now noticing that the princess also wore a tunic and pants under her white hooded cloak. She arched an eyebrow and smirked. "never seen a woman in pants?" She asked in her common tongue.
"No, I have. My sister is a hunter." He responded with a smile. "She prefers to be ready accurate than pretty." He laughed lightly, watching as his breath fogged in front of him.
"She would like you actually, very similar ways if thinking."
Nao smiled softly "it's an hour or to be compared to the princess of Carniel."

Tapping his finger against the cover of the journal, his eyes stared over at the door. He could not hear anything else from the two except for their footsteps as they walked away from the hallway. A slight tension in his chest relaxed as he let out a sigh. After he tucked the journal under the sofa, he relaxed in the sofa. While he normally woke up around this time, he felt very exhausted as always following a dizzy spell in which he'd power himself through.

It wasn't till around five minutes later, he heard more footsteps. They were different compared to Abrose and his "friend's". Unlike the other two, one pair was much heavier and slower while the other was barely noticeable. His eyes briefly flickered over towards the clock. A quarter to seven, it must be time already. Malachi frowned as he thought about how much has changed in just the course of a day and how that will affect everything he was planning for. Well, his wishes for the plan do involve marriage and heirs and all the sorts, but he wasn't expecting to get engaged now. Oh he is still surprised.

There was a knock at the door. "Come in," He answered, sitting up on the sofa. The door slowly opened and in came in a man wearing black and dark red armor along with a shorter and younger man wearing typical Atrovian noble clothes. The younger one closed the door behind him, keeping his eyes to the floor. They both bowed, but the man in the armor got down on his knees.

Malachi smiled as he looked at the man. "Long time no see, old friend," He said, motioning for the other to get up. "I'm so thankful you were able to get out of Valenia safely to help me. So much has changed since I last wrote to you, Yuta, and I'm afraid our plans have to change, but I promise you that you'll get all I've promised you."

His friend looked at him, giving him a respectful nod. As Yuta opened his lips, ready to say something, Malachi took a piece of paper and began to write something down. Closing his lips, his friend stopped to wait for a moment. Not even a few seconds later, he was given the piece of paper. "I am engaged to the youngest prince of Carniel. He is out right now with a potential target. You are to only speak in Atrovian tongue around me, but speak Nushigan from now on."

The prince pointed to the wall, in the direction of Abrose's room. "My beloved fiancé must not know about this," He smiled, "Our goal is to protect my family and our future. You're the Red Wolf, you must get every last one of them." He waited for the Atrovian man to translate everything for Yuta. The two looked at each other before Malachi mouthed, "Let's meet later."