Eva Henriksson

the longer the masquerade went on, the more he itched with restlessness (and the more his mask itched his face. he regretted not asking one of the staff for a better-fitting one). to get out of the sweltering room full of people and into the cool night air. to have his own space. to think. mikael enjoyed the festivities, yes, but having a moment alone with his thoughts was beginning to sound ideal at the moment. and so, as the conversation came to a natural conclusion, he bid his companions goodbye and meandered his way through the crowd, out of the ballroom.

once outside, in the gardens, he slipped the mask off his face, taking a moment to appreciate the relief of having the damned thing off. which was when he noticed another figure nearby—was he mistaken to think there was something familiar about them? as he came closer, he opened his mouth speak, but was interrupted by the other turning to face him. “i may have some habits, however sneaking up on others has never been one of them.” he bowed his head, grinning sheepishly, “my apologies for startling you. i required a moment of respite, you see.”

_

Eva’s heartbeat returned to normal pace as she pressed a hand to her chest. “Mikael,” she simply said, recognizing the familiar face immediately. If she was honest, she was quite relieved to see him and not one of the other guests staying in the palace. She was missing home more than anything and at least being near him held a familiarity enough to transport her home even if her body couldn’t follow. 

“I’m afraid to ask what habits you may have.” Her words were meant to tease him as she settled herself on a nearby bench. The night breezes were a relief from the stifling atmosphere inside. “You’re welcome to join me,” she offered, gesturing to the bench where she sat. “I only left the party out of curiosities, but I can take a moment to rest and reflect. I’m afraid it will only be pining for home, however.” 

“If you could care less about masks,” he began as he took his own off, tossing it aside, “I’ll follow your lead,” he smirked. “If need be I’ll go digging for it in here and blame you” he joked. “Where’s home for you?” he questioned, unable to recognize the girl in front of him, feeling slightly guilty for that

_

Eva smiled as he discarded his own mask. It was very rare that someone actually followed her lead and Eva rather liked it. “Sweden,” she answer somewhat whimsically. Fingers played absentmindedly at the fabric of her dress. “My sister dragged me to come along with her on this escapade,” she grimaced. 

“Please, you don’t need the formalities,” he said as he raised his hand. “Tonight is the night where we’re all on equal grounds, no?” he suggested with a grin, enjoying the fact that he could not be a prince for one night - he could just be himself. “I wanted to get out of the party,” he said as he walked next to her, “it was starting to get stuffy”

-

She nodded, knowing exactly what he meant. She could appreciate that he didn’t want to bother with formalities. Sometimes it was just too much work. “I know what you mean,” she sighed, letting her hand reach out to brush against the petals of a nearby tree. “I discarded my mask early in the night. It was so uncomfortable. I do love parties usually, but I find myself missing home.” 

milas made it his business of who came in and out of the ballroom. perhaps it was his battle-aided mind or the paranoia that came with masks. whatever the case, when he noticed the young woman leave in a hurry, he decided to investigate. milas followed her into the garden and observed as she appeared to be looking for something. she turned around and jumped. milas didn’t feel sorry at all. “apologies. do you make it a habit of…peering under benches?” @xprinsessa​

-

Eva had to laugh, more at herself for being so jumpy, but also at the man’s joke. Well, she only assumed it was a joke since she’d taken it as such. “Perhaps I do,” she quipped back, raising a brow as if to see what he might think of her retort. He seemed very stoic, maybe a little too stoic for her liking. “I thought I saw...” and glancing back in the direction she’d been walking in, Eva gave up the idea that something was ever there to begin with. “Actually, I don’t know what I saw.” 

The party was enjoyable enough, but Xiaoli wanted to be alone for once. The mask had been digging into her skin and she needed a break from the people inside. Rubbing her cheeks where the mask had set she looked up at the sound of footsteps, her eyes following someone as they walked through the garden. Putting the mask back on her face she followed after her, no one could really blame her for being curious. When the woman turned and spotted her, perhaps a bit too close, she raised an eyebrow, “People have said that to me before.” Usually before something bad happened, but she was in a pleasant mood and this woman had done nothing to her. “But I was simply curious. You must forgive me.”

-

Eva’s heartbeat calmed down to its normal pace. She’d long lost her mask hours ago. Maybe it wasn’t proper for a masquerade, but she couldn’t see properly through the small holes for her eyes, and she didn’t agree with losing her peripheral view. She canted her head to the side, brows knitting in thought. “So you do make it a habit to stalk people through gardens at late hours of the night? And here I thought I was the first,” she chuckled at her own joke, hoping the other might as well. “I don’t fault your curiosity,” Eva assured her. “I was curious myself. I have to admit, I was attempting to follow something out here as well. But I’ve lost it. Or perhaps it didn’t exist at all and my mind was playing tricks on me.” 

“I didn’t realize anyone else would be in here,” he said, “and if it was my intention to scare you I really would have tried to scare you, dame” he said with a small bow. “Though, I do have to ask, what brings you out here when there’s a wonderful party inside?”

-

“Your highness,” Eva replied with a low dip and bow of her head. She hadn’t completely lost herself enough to be impolite, especially with someone higher than her stature. “I apologize for the accusation, it was meant in jest, I assure you.” She gave him a small smile, hoping it would alleviate any ill-will he might have felt toward her after her outburst. “I just thought I saw something wandering the garden. I’m afraid my curiosity got the best of me, but after looking, I don’t think there’s anything else out here. What about you, your grace? Do you find yourself bored with the party?” 

“Just to my little sister, I guess somethings just don’t change” she said with a small laugh, they were older but that didn’t mean that she wouldn’t tease her siblings if she could every nor and then. “What are you doing, just enjoying the party?” 

-

Eva shot Astrid a look. “I thought that was always my job when we were children,” she told her before breaking out into a grin. It was true that she was a little hellion as a child, but Eva had grown into quite the young woman, or so she’d been told. “I thought I saw something,” she sighed, glancing around the garden. “But perhaps I was wrong.” Sliding her mask back onto her face, she grinned. “What do you think of my mask? Bet you wouldn’t even know it was me,” she chuckled. 

despite  her  reservations  about  the  masquerade  as  a  whole  ,  meiling  finds  herself  out  in  the  gardens  with  her  son  .  no  matter  what  country  she’s  in  ,  lush  greenery  and  vibrant  flowers  remain  a  foolproof  way  of  calming  her  nerves  .  and  it  seems  the  young  prince  enjoys  them  too  .  or  at  least  ,  he  enjoys  hiding  and  jumping  out  at  his  mother  ,  if  the  way  his  eyes  light  up  with  joy  every  time  she  acts  surprised  is  any  indication  .  “  come  now  ,  little  one  .  ”  she  softly  calls  out  in  mandarin  as  he  continues  playing  .  although  she  agreed  his  tutors  should  teach  him  languages  like  german  ,  french  and  the  like  —  languages  ‘  more  beneficial  for  the  court  in  the  long  run  ’  ,  she  once  overheard  in  hushed  whispers  —  meiling  was  adamant  on  andrin  also  learning  her  native  tongue  .  “  we  don’t  want  you  to  get  too  dirty  ,  we  still  have  things  to  do  before  the  night’s  end  .  ”

however  as  she  finally  cradles  him  snugly  as  if  he’ll  disappear  ,  she  realizes  they  are  no  longer  alone  .  upon  approaching  ,  she  watches  as  the  woman  finishes  speaking  .  “  my  apologies  for  startling  you  .  did  you  come  out  for  some  fresh  air  as  well  ?  ”  meiling  asks  courteously  ,  but  she  never  truly  takes  her  attention  away  from  andrin  ,  who  is  now  fiddling  with  his  own  small  mask  .  “  the  weather  tonight  is  pleasant  ,  so  it’s  unsurprising  if  we  weren’t  the  only  ones  with  the  idea  of  visiting  the  garden  .  ”

-

( virginia gardner, cis woman, she/her, 23) ** ♔ announcing eva henriksson,  the princess of sweden ! in a recent portrait they seem to resemble virginia gardner. it is a miracle that she survived the last five years and for that reason, they are against the kingdoms working together. reflecting on them now, they remind me of the smell of old parchment, quiet violins, rouged lips, and playful smirks .  (l, she/her, 25+, est)