#malignantknight

As much as she had been enjoying the night thus far, it takes but one comment to remind Hinoka that she didn't belong here. She was a soldier not a socialite. Despite the good interactions she had been having, deep down she was overwhelmed and wishing she hadn't turned down her brother at the door. Camilla's comment cuts, if only because Hinoka knew she was out of place already. But as she turns to face the voice of her enemy (and how Corrin would be disappointed in that distinction), she found herself pausing uncomfortably.

Her mind turned to the siege of Castle Shirasagi, a battlefield, or the aftermath of one about to breach the castle proper. She remembered cold steel against her neck as Camilla stood over her. Now it was herself standing taller than the woman. It was hardly the same situation, but it was enough of a ghost of something similar to make her feel more uncomfortable. She could have fired back her own cutting remark, given into her anger, likely giving Camilla the satisfaction of knowing she had gotten under the Hoshidan Queen's skin.

Nohr had taken everything that mattered from her. She wasn't going to let this woman take her dignity too.

"Perhaps then, next ball, you might advise on a better outfit, Princess Camilla," she replied, offering a small and more practiced curstey. Perhaps the first action she had been forced to perfect as Queen. Her smile was a little forced, but that was the only indication to the storm buried deep. Then she offered forward a lily.

"I—for me?"

He takes them as they're offered, almost uncertain at first, trying to remember if he'd heard anything about exchanging treats instead of flowers or if there was perhaps a custom he'd neglected to review before his arrival. But the horror that settles when he comes up with an impressive blank is short-lived; the buns smell sweet and delicious, and it's Camilla. From what he's seen himself and heard from others, his aunt has always and ever been a kind and generous soul.

"Thank you—" Aunt Camilla, he almost calls her, which would've been an unacceptable and inexcusable slip of the tongue. This isn't simply a private soirée; this is a formal event with individuals from several different nations in attendance. If there is ever to be a time for formalities, it's certain to be now. "—Your Highness. Would it be alright if I shared this with some of my companions?"

“Isn’t it great they have all these treats out for us? I was almost worried there wouldn’t end up being tea!” The little princess beams brightly as she skips along to the little table she’d set up in the corner, dragging her sister alongside to deposit her right at an already pulled out chair. Because of course, when it comes to teatime with your sister, no detail goes unchecked! 

“Sit!” Elise points at the chair with a very serious nod before skipping to the other side of the table to pour them both tea from the pot she set in the middle of the table, right beside a little tin of chocolates to share. 

“I was gonna grab pastries too, but I thought that might be a little overkill for just two people…” Something some might argue would be alright in a place like this — a fancy party full of royalty and nobility, with free food and drinks provided seemingly to no end, but… Nohrian habits can be a little hard to shake, sometimes. She already had some earlier with Niamh, anyway. Leaving the rest for other people to enjoy is the polite thing to do.

Instead, she opens the tin and props it on the lid with a dramatic flourish to imitate the splendor of a pastry tower—

Only to be hit with a splendorous reminder of her Crimes.

A half-empty chocolate tin.

Drinks were never enough for her, especially when it came to fruity syrups served with piece of fruit inside; she was extremely greedy of it and as she landed her hands on another bowl, she felt the soft touch of another hand. As she lifted her gaze, their eyes met and she felt a little skip to her heart.

“Camilla” she sweetly said, a gentle smile tugged her lips as she let go of the bowl, “Are you enjoining the evening as well?” she chirpily asked, then she picked one of her flower from the bouquet and gently tugged it in Camilla’s hair. “There, you look gorgeous!”

Camilla had heard stories of others forced to play nice with enemies they once faced, but she never imagined that she would be forced in the same group. Confined by an injury, with no one but that horrid dog nearby (wearing the ugliest, tackiest assault on the senses possible) Camilla's face twisted into a snarl.

"Go back to what ever hole you climbed out of before I send you there myself."

"Well... what have we here."

Iago had... struggled to see most of the royals as much more than an extension of Garon, but without most of his splendor.

And when things went sideways, that only confirmed it for him. They were not His Majesty. None of his might, glory, any of it.

And with running into one (maybe two, judging by the snickering of before) of them already, it should come as no surprise the rest came running too.

...Perhaps Xander is here too. Finish the set. All of them in one place, where none of them are ruling.

...Could be a useful opportunity.

"Oh, I will return to my hovel, don't get your head worried over this. You're already headstrong as is. But while you threaten me, I doubt the Fodlani populace would appreciate a Nohrian killing an honest, standard merchant, especially in such an opulent event. So I would hold your tongue."

Sure, he could deny who she thinks she is, but that's seemingly a fool's errand.

"But, if you're so insistent... here."

A deft toss, and a lily of the valley is lain limply on the floor, no care if she picks it up or not.

the ethereal ball || party setup

One's curiosity is understandably peaked when presented with something new. It's simple human nature. So at hearing there was some sort of bubbling water, Selena just knew she had to try it out. It's not like she was picky, anyway. You can't be picky when you never know when your next meal was.

Scarlet eyes sparkle upon recognition of lavender hair, nearly a skip in her step as she joins her ..ex(?) liege at the bar counter.

❛ Lady Camilla, radiant as ever. ❜

The redhead hums with a wide grin that reaches her ears. What? Can't she be happy to see someone? Gawds. ANYWHO, she waves down the staff member in charge of running the bar to order one of those new drinks shes heard only a little about. Her gleeful smile fades rather quickly as soon as she takes her first sip- clearly not impressed with the beverage.

❛ I know we've had some terrible chefs back in the castle, but this is just... a whole new level of bizarre. ❜

Despite her upturned lip, Selena is nothing but content in this calm moment. With a soft huff- mostly in amusement- she takes a tulip and places it right next to Camilla's own glass.

❛ Even if it won't make it taste better, at least it'd make it look prettier. ❜

“Is he gonna be able to handle all that?”

Python leaves it purposely ambiguous as to which direction he means, gesturing toward the white-haired rogue with the eye-patch next to Python’s plus-one. It could go either way, as far as he can tell.

Taking a breather outside proved to be a foolish endeavor. As a result, Nyx finds her self lining the wall of the ballroom. For a moment, her eyes close, soaking up the ambiance of the night. Her breath in step with the dance, yet, a part of her wishes she were there on that same floor.

Just as the spindly fingers of loneliness creep, a voice, soothing as the ocean waves lapping against the shore, rings out. Nyx's eyes remain closed for a moment longer, but a faint smile grows.

"I definitely don't miss the clamor of the camp, but I will say, this chaos beats that of a battlefield any day."

She opens her eyes to meet Camilla's gentle gaze. "Though I still need to acclimate to the myriad of matters that go into school life. If you would be so kind, I would appreciate a shoulder to lean on if any queries may arise."