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Lightbringer
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Please don't post if your name isn't in the title! Thanks! |
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Lightbringer
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The prince arrived today.
She'd watched the carriage enter the gates; as the only member of the royal family to reside on the ground floor of the palace, she was the first to know. The irony of such a realization did not escape her; as the eldest, the firstborn, she should have been the one promised to him in marriage. Instead, that honor fell to her sister. Her younger sister who, as of now, didn't even know that her future husband had arrived.
That was not to imply that Ada held any sort of grudge against her sister. No. Ada had accepted her lot in life a long time ago; she'd had over ten years to come to terms with how much her plans had changed, after all. This was Serina's moment. Her birthday had been mere days ago, marking her official coming-of-age. Her wedding would be in two weeks, if Ada had understood the dates correctly. Those two weeks would be filled with celebration and festivities, as the soon-to-be-wed couple got to know each other...
A soft sigh brought her back to reality, as she glanced down at the dress she was wearing. "Amren, help me change," she said, moving away from the window. Her chair creaked in protest, and Ada made a mental note to find someone to oil the wheels for her. There would be a ball tonight, and even though Ada wasn't specifically invited, she hoped to at least get close enough to the ballroom to hear the music if nothing else.
With Amren's assistance, Ada quickly changed into a dress better suited to a ball; the silvery-blue fabric of the otherwise simple dress matched her eyes almost perfectly. Her hair was done nicely as well, pulled back in a braided bun with silver decorative pins holding it in place.
A bit less than an hour before the ball was scheduled to begin, Ada made her way to the grand ballroom. The decorations had been finished that morning; colorful imported flowers and banners bearing the kingdom's crest were displayed around the room and on the huge doors. The musicians were practicing; the music filled the empty hall.
Ada was not allowed to enter the ballroom. Her hopeful smile faltered as the doorkeeper looked down at her and shook his head.
"Really? I am not permitted to attend my own sister's engagement ball?" she asked, half-hoping that her nearly desperate argument would convince him to go against the orders he'd clearly been given.
"No, Princess," the guard responded stiffly, his arm still extended to prevent her entry. "I apologize. His Majesty wishes to ensure that this union proceeds with no unexpected surprises."
Ada gave a silent nod. "Of course," she said, already moving to turn away. Perhaps she could hear the music from her chamber, if she listened closely enough... |
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Neutral
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Gods, how he despised these ropes. Standing in his room, Ace was surrounded by servants trying to get him dressed up and ready to leave their beloved kingdom for a few days. Trying to, because Ace was not making easy for them. In a childish manor, he would once in a while pull away when they adjusting his pants, brush their hands away, whenever a cape would wrap around his shoulders or a crown would be put atop his head. Meanwhile, Ace's attention would be elsewhere: On a Robin bird's nest to be precise. From his window, he could barely but surely spot the feathered bright red chest peak through branches and leaves, occasionally moving, but never leaving its home in the treetops. Ace had never seen it fly. Perhaps it couldn't. "Your highness, the carriage is waiting," someone announced, making Ace to turn his head, "I've told you not to address me like that," he said by way greeting the newly arrived lord who chuckled, "It's common formality-", "No, Lord Ryder Harrington, it's annoying," Ace mocked jokingly, raising a brow before heading down to the carriage. It didn't take long before they entered the gates of a foreign palace. Accompanied by Ryder, a servant and 7 guards, Ace was led to the palace's main entrance, met by what looked to be some sort of higher ranked. Ryder took care of his introduction, "His Highness, Prince Ace Xavier Maldonado, first born to his Majesty, King Alexander Maldonado and heir to the throne and Kingdom of Alaandirh." Ace wanted to punch him. After being welcomed and brought inside, Ace quickened his pace to walk beside his friend, "That was unnecessary," he casually said. Ryder smirked, "Common formalities." Ever since he had been a young boy, Ace hated being referred to as royalty, trying his best to defy his father's rules and lessons as a result. The only thing that led him to, was being assigned a "role model", who turned out to be Ryder. Supposedly, he was to teach him how to live up to his title. Obviously it hadn't worked, but Ryder still lived up to his role by addressing Ace "properly". Ace glared at his friend, "I'm gonna have you hanged if you keep this up," he threathened. Ryder glared back, "Go for it." Time went by quickly. After a tour of the palace and officially meeting the parents of his upcoming wife and queen, Ace was getting restless. He was about to be married afterall. To someone he had never met. As firstborn, it was his right and duty to marry another firstborn of royalty. He'd never thought too much of it. If anything, a marriage like this was a way of joining forces and unite their kingdoms. Rounding a corner, the group - led by the same high ranked individual from when they had arrived - was about to reach the doors leading to the ballrom. There was still almost an hour untill the engagement ball would begin, but they had been advised to be there at an earlier time. Ace was looking around, absentmindedly tracking down exits. He would be lying if he said that he was not getting slightly nervous. Ryder noticed it. "Trying to run already?" he asked in a low voice. Ace huffed, "No," he lied, "Good, because I'm not letting you," Ryder responded dryly, to which Ace stayed silent, unfortunately telling Ryder everything he needed to know. Letting his eyes wander, they eventually landed on the ballroom entrance. And the people before it, more specifically the young woman in a wheelchair, who seemed to be leaving. Stopping in front of them, Ryder was the one who spoke first, after assessing the situation, "Is there a problem here?" his friend asked, looking between the guard blocking the entrance and the young woman turned halfway around. |
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Lightbringer
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She wished that someone had told her. Would it have taken too much effort for her parents to tell her themselves, or to even send a message with a servant? They had merely left it at an assumption that she would not come, and that was simply not true. If for no other reason, Ada would have come just to show her support for her sister.
One hand reached up to push her hair out of her face as she gave another nod to the guard, understanding that he was merely doing his job and had no say in what orders he was given. "I apologize for the trouble," she said softly, with a smile meant to show that she held nothing against him.
However, before she could fully turn around in the slightly narrow hall, she could hear voices and approaching footsteps, and within moments, she found herself more or less face-to-face with an entire group of people. A split-second later, she recognized the escort of the group, and her eyes landed on the emblem of Alaandirh on the clothing of some.
Of all the people who could have witnessed this unfortunate exchange, it had to be the Prince. Her sister's future husband. The man who would have been her husband. One of the men spoke, clearly the lower ranked of the two, asking if there was a problem, and Ada held her chin high, quickly hiding the lingering disappointment on her face.
"Of course not, my Lord," she responded, using the title a commoner or lower-ranked noble would use. She wore no crown, no expensive jewelry, nothing to betray her position as princess of Kyrith. Even the design of her dress was plain, hinting that perhaps she was nothing but a commoner or servant trying to slip into a ball where she did not belong.
The last thing she wanted was to cause a scene, but it seemed it was far too late for that. All she wanted now was to flee to her room and spend the rest of the evening in silence, away from prying eyes. "I apologize for any inconvenience, I was just leaving." She dipped her head in her best attempt at a bow or curtsy, fully turned away from the entrance to the ballroom now and ready to flee as soon as she got the chance.
"I would like to offer my congratulations for your engagement, Your Highness," she spoke directly to the prince now, meeting his gaze and for a brief moment finding his features to be rather handsome. Not that it mattered. "Happiness and good health to you." |
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Neutral
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Ace's curiosity was getting the best of him, but so was the urge to seek out the nearest exit. His nervousness was getting to him, yet on the outside, he looked calm and unbothered. The atmosphere around him seemed to subtly change, though, as if he had only just realized what was going to happen tonight. An engagementball celebrating the union of two people; the upcoming king and queen. Hopefully, as another firstborn of royalty, his queen would live up to her title. Sighing, he tried to stop thinking too much about it. For a second, Ace instead let his mind visit other things. A bright red chest in a bird's nest. He wondered when he would start seeing eggs through the treetops. It was that time of year after all. Ryder had stepped the slightest bit in front of him, once he had started speaking, like a guard stepping in front of something he was supposed to protect, or a father stepping in front of a child; A habit that his friend had formed throughout the years of knowing him. When they first met, the two young men were mere boys. Ace remembered their meeting like it was yesterday. Ryder, who had been around 13 years old at the time, had been instructed to lead Ace around the gardens while correcting his posture and steps. Of course, at only a year younger, Ace had found it much more fun to run off and hide from the young lord, than to practice walking like a proper royal prince. The corners of his mouth turned upwards a bit at the memory. If only one could turn back time.. A voice brought Ace's attention to the young woman. Nothing about her necessarily screamed royalty, but she wasn't wearing the clothing of a typical maid or kitchen worker either. Commoner, then. What was she doing here this early? Or in general? Ace noticed how clean she looked - Another indicator that she probably was not serving the household on a daily basis. He was even quilty of finding her somewhat pretty. There was just something about her face. "No worries," Ryder said, seeming content with how she'd addressed him, before his attention had directed itself back to the guard behind her, waiting for the seated young woman to simply move. Although he didn't have any indication of it on his face, Ace wanted to roll his eyes. He couldn't help but take notice of the interaction. Then, she had turned to him, her voice filling the air once more. Ace's eyes rested on her for a moment, "Thank you," he said simply, knowing that Ryder probably would've thrown a fit if he'd said anything else. As if on cue, Ryder led him and the others around the woman, before passing the guard. Almost through the door, Ace coudln't help but cast a final glance back. |
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Winter 
Day Weather: 
