#regalstart

“you’re looking well this evening,” she commented to the person next to her as she was looking over the delicacies that had been laid out upon large feasting tables. she took a gentle sip from the cup in her hand as she admired the finely crafted foods, as though taking stock and heavily weighing her decision before picking one out to take a bit of. 

     She was an attention grabber, by choice, this evening. Her dress accentuated her curves, hugged her waist tightly, and did little to hide the blades strapped around her hips. Her one saving grace was the overcoat that hugged her shoulders. Eden was no stranger to balls, she’d infiltrated many, but this was her first as Eden. The first one that she was allowed to behave as she wished, kiss whoever that she wished without repercussion, and the first one where she was hidden in the crowd. “Hello, beautiful stranger,” Eden said to the partygoer beside her. They stood before the drink table. “I do believe that you and I have three choices here tonight. We get a drink, guess each other’s identities, dance or take a walk through the gardens. Take your pick.”

      The halls were bustling, each person practically running to their next location. Some had meetings scheduled, she was sure, while others simply wanted to look preoccupied. People were oblivious, distracted by their own thoughts, deeply intwined in their own minds. Eden watched in silence, observing the way each person behaved, learning their patterns. The more you watched, the more you learned. It was the easiest way to discover what made a person intricate, and learn their weaknesses. This was what she was born to do, according to Raven, long ago. Turning to the person beside her, she pushed her hair off her face and smiled faintly, “If you don’t have anywhere else to be, I’m about to grab some food. You’re welcome to join. I’d like to make some new friends, and reunite with old ones.” She had little to fear from most, and it was true: she would like some friends. It had been a long time since she’d had any.

the tip of her quill dipped in to the well a final time, tapping it against the rim of her ink well before singing her name. lighting a red candle, she let the wax drip on to the paper before she took off the necklace she wore every day and pressed the seal of her personal coat of arms into the melted red wax. the letter was for her mother, something that alix had made a habit of -- no matter where she was in the world. she would report on her health and activities, and after her marriage she’d also report the health of matthias, and of course her sweet son, lucas aaron. the queen mother of france was a loving woman who had always encouraged her younger daughter, even when she insisted in participating in the war. the blonde started to stand from her space in the gardens, sending the letter off with one lady as another took the heavy portable desk and writing tools back to her rooms, leaving the swiss queen alone. lying out on the stone bench, she knew it was rather inappropriate, but it was so comfortable to feel the sun on her skin. at the sound of footsteps ( whether her ladies or someone else, she wasn’t sure ), she sat up immediately, though she was sure it was a guilty and stiff motion she made. 

     matthias enjoyed many things. a r t  was one of them  &  perhaps the one he liked the most. he often found himself painting or drawing.  ( drawings that he wouldn’t look at again, most of the time. )  he was contemplating the landscape that he had began to sketch once he spotted what he considered a great addition to his illustration.  ❛            excuse me, would you mind sharing a few minutes of your time with me? i’d like to DRAW you. unless you mind me doing that, of course. ❜

“How adorable you think you all are--- a peace convention.” Morgane spoke lowly as she stepped out of her carriage. She looked the castle over with a cold stare, then at the people who came out to great her. “You all, it’s been too long. Miss me?” She snickered.