Evander shook his head. For ill or for better, Dacian was here until he decided to leave, or until his king decided the ambassador needed to return home. Evander would just have to be careful of what he said around Dacian. That was all.
But what if there is something going on? Stopping in his tracks, he put his hands on his hips while his eyes squinted. "No", Dacian mumbled to himself. His duty as the ambassador of Sceivania is to take care of concerns and business with Sceivania and Aven. He shouldn't be concerning himself with potential issues where he doesn't have any place in. And yet, he cannot shake off the concerns he has with the king. Oh how the king looks exhausted and troubled. If only he could do something about it.
Evander shook his head, going back to his paperwork with a sigh. He still had some misgivings about this, but he brushed them aside. It didn't matter. Things would be fine, even with Dacian here.
(Timeskip?)
Again, Dacian found himself stopping. This time though, he turned in direction of the bed and trudged forward. Now the excitement and worry has finally began to take a toll on him. He faced the window so that he'd fall onto the bed on his back. With his eyes staring up at the ceiling, he let out a deep and long sigh then made the sign of the cross.
(Yeah sure, timeskip please)
(alright. Any ideas when to? I was thinking either at night, and Evander loses control, or some sort of event? A ball or something, idk)
(Those all sound like great ideas. Maybe we could skip to some kind of event like a ball and it leads to Evander losing control??)
(ooh alright! Anything else you wanna add, or should I get the timeskip done?)
(I don't believe I have anything else. Let's go!)
(alright!)
It was a few weeks later, and a ball had been organized. It was not for any real, specific occasion; just a ball. Just a dance. Just a chance for the nobility to mingle and see their king alive and whole and well. Even if he felt like he hadn't slept in days, and had circles beneath his eyes and a headache that wouldn't let up. But he had dressed up for the ball, dressed in a dark suit, his hair combed and a golden crown lying upon his head. He sat on a throne on one end of the ballroom; he would mingle later, once everyone had arrived. His advisors kept pressing for him to marry, produce heirs, but…he wasn't ready for that just yet.
Time does tend to pass by right before one's eyes. Dacian was surprised at how caught up he got in everything from work to befriending and working with other ambassadors to home. Thankfully it all kept his mind busy so that the anxiety about the king and the monster had been tucked in the back of his head, though it still lingers. Now he is at his first ball in Aven, wearing a crimson red suit along with a black overcoat, talking to some of the ambassadors. Most of them were accompanied by their spouse or one of their children, and yet here he was all by himself; although it wasn't necessarily bothering him.
Evander eventually pushed himstoff the throne to head out and mingle with the crowd, speaking and smiling a little as he conversed with each person he could, shaking hands and fraternizing. He also wore a black cape, the underside of which was a deep golden tone, lovely and soft and a reminder of his status as the king. Pinned to the left breast of his suit were military medals; he was king and savior and he wasn't going to let people forget that.
It didn't take long for him to realize what was happening. All the others he was talking to suddenly turned their heads looking at someone. Dacian found himself curling back his lips as he glanced over, noticing that it was the king. He still feels terrible for all he had done when they first met. While his face remained nonchalant, he felt stiff and frozen in place. Glancing down at his black gloves, his fingers began to shake as he slowly tried to take one of them off.
Evander looked just a little tired, but then, most people expected a king to be tired; after all, kings were responsible for so much. So no one thought it odd that his features were pale and drawn, that those dark circles under his eyes looked almost dark enough to be ink smears. Even if they did think it odd, no one mentioned a thing.
Finally, he managed to get glove off. Even after, his fingers were still shaking a little. Dacian glanced around at the others before letting his eyes settle back onto King Evander. To him, His Majesty still looks the same as when they had met, if not a little more worn out in his opinion. Is it wrong to pity a king? Is it wrong to wish he can do something to help? He shook his head. All he is able to do in comforting the king is to do his duties and to hold back on his words. Very feasible he supposed, but oh how he still feels terrible about not being to assist in any way.
Evander's gaze eventually found Dacian, and he inclined his head in greeting, another faint smile flashing over his lips as he finished his conversation with one person and coming to Dacian, shaking his hand. "It is good to see you again, ambassador." he said. "I trust your stay has been enjoyable so far?"
A warm gleam had swept across Dacian's face when their eyes had met. Seeing the king smile a little again was oddly refreshing and captivating just the last time. When the king had made his way over to him, he bowed before they shook hands. "It is good to see you again as well, Your Majesty," He nodded. Briefly, he had gazed around the ballroom. "Oh it had been quite marvelous I must say. Thank you for everything. And how have you been, my king?"
Evander nodded a little. "I have been…well, thank you." he replied, inclining his head in acknowledgement. His grey eyes were tired, but calm. He was king, after all. If he wasn't calm as much as possible, then he wouldn't remain king for long. "I trust that you have not run into trouble, working with my advisors?" Evander hadn't had time to arrange a meeting with Dacian yet, and so the ambassador had therefore been working mostly with Evander's council-members.
Dacian could feel his grin fade as he heard the king, and yet he forced himself to hold a warm expression. "Perfect! A strong king makes a strong country after all," He beamed. There is something about His Majesty that alarmed him. How long can one go on in such a miserable state? Only he can assume that it must not be long. The king's question got him out of his thoughts. At first, he just shook his head. "No, I have not had any trouble with them. They are terrific to work with," He responded. "I do apologize for not being able to meet with you yet.
He nodded. "It isn't your fault, no need for apologies. It's my fault, after all. Busy schedule, and all of that." He spoke easily, still calm and collected and assuring. "I do hope to be able to arrange a meeting with you soon, though, as I believe a meeting would be beneficial."
Again, he shook his head. Dacian's hand jerked forward but he paused for a second. His eyes widened. "Oh no, Your Majesty, it is not your fault at all as well. You are very busy and I simply do not wish to burden you, that is all," He said. "I hope as well. I will gladly meet with you whenever you wish, day or night."
He nodded a little. "Of course. I'll check my schedule. Don't worry about it, ambassador Dacian. I'll figure it out." He smiled a little bit again, inclining his head.
Dacian glanced down at the floor as he laughed a little. Staring back at the king, he beamed. "I will do my best to not worry," He reassured. "Although, I feel as if it is something that I cannot help sadly, but all will be well, I hope." His gaze lingered, observing the king and his grin. Another chuckle left from his lips. "I must say, Your Majesty, that you look amazing as always, especially when you smile. With your strength, kindness, and that smile, I believe that your descendants will be just as wonderful as you. Wouldn't you agree?"
Evander paused for a moment, looking at Dacian with a faint amount of confusion in his eyes. "I…suppose I must accept the compliment, yes." he replied, with a small bow. "Though I must say, I haven't any descendants as of right now, and may not have any for a while yet." he had no wish to get married or have children until he figured out a way to stop the monster from coming out.
Are his efforts to stay away from another moment like their first interaction going to waste? Dacian bit the inside of his lip, observing the king's face. Perhaps they are. He laughed again and bowed at the same time as the king did. "Ah, well of course. You are a very busy monarch and you should also look after yourself too," He nodded. "It probably is best to given the current circumstances as well, but I am sure everything will be fine."
Evander let out a small laugh of his own. "Of course, of course. Now, if you'll pardon me, I have others I must speak to. Perhaps we can continue our conversation later, when time allows?" it wasn't really a question, though it was phrased like one. He couldn't let one ambassador take too much of his time right now.
Dacian felt frozen where he stood, listening to the king as he laughed a little. He wondered what his Majesty looked like with a beam or full of laughter. The corners of his lips spread further while his nose scrunched a bit. "Whenever time and fate will allow it, Your Majesty. I do thank you for taking some time to to talk with me now, it is an honor," He said. His eyes took a swift glimpse around at the others before landing back on the king. "Go on and enjoy the rest of the evening, Your Majesty. If you happen to need anything, you know where to find me."
Evander nodded, moving on through the crowd as he carried out small conversations with anyone who wanted to. It was exhausting, sometimes, to be a king. Because everyone wanted time and attention and heaven help him if he was ever rude to anyone. But he wasn't bad at it. Not when he could push the monster away and be just him.
Once the king had walked away, he let out a sigh. Dacian turned his head to the right so he could still look at His Majesty from afar. The gleam in his face faded, yet he maintained a soft smile. He covered his mouth as he coughed a little before walking over to some of the ambassadors. It sounded as if they were in the middle of a conversation, so he just stood besides one of them and listened along.
Evander continued in his same easy, light conversations with various ambassadors and nobility. Aven had come a long way in the last year, but it still had a ways to go, and the shadows of the war wouldn't go away for a long time. Many of the nobles, young or old, bore scars or marks from the wars. Many of the young men had scars running along their faces, or missing limbs, or even just a certain hauntedness to their gaze. A few had eyepatches. One had his head shaved, a gnarled, ugly scar curling over his bare head. Even the women bore marks of their own; missing fingers, scars along cheeks and throats or along arms. They all looked more tired and worn than nobility in other courts; no one had come through the war unscathed. Even Evander had scarring, though much of his was hidden by the clothes he wore.
Dacian began to lose his focus with the group's conversations. His weight shifted to his left foot as he started to observe his surroundings. Compared to what he had seen in Aven's towns and villages, this ball had to be the most vibrant thing he's seen so far. On the other hand, he was able to see that the effects of the war had bleed into every class and background except for some, if not, most of the foreigners such as himself. Just a year ago, he was reading letters and newspapers about it all, not being fully aware of what Farrantil had done. He can recall Avenian ambassador's face every time there was a letter, and he even remembered the day when they all had found that Aven won the war. A chill crept down his spine. There is still so much that he does not know and he is not sure if he will learn anything at all.