Snippet #2764202

The prince's gaze turned back to his betrothed after another moment of silent disbelief and ridicule directed at the vanished earl. Correction, supposed earl. Despite her composure, he could tell the countess Sera was more than just a tad angry. Her eyes were near scathing, but she restrained herself remarkably. Impressive if he was being honest.
Sera's cool words earned a slight arch of Navarre's brow, the royal giving her a look of thinly veiled incredulity. Insult fight? Navarre was no child, and while he had been at odds with the lady thus far, he wasn't insulting anyone. Especially not aloud. He shook his head slightly, adjusting the cuff of his sleeve to banish a wrinkle as he spoke. "Very well my lady, as you wish it...after all, it was you who started the argument." he almost smiled, having a feeling the countess did not see it that way at all.

Navarre returned his attention to his drink, only to glance back up at Sera's quiet dismay. Best makeup? Of course...women liked to powder and prim themselves to look more fetching (though not always with success- he'd seen plenty who simply looked ridiculous). Half tempted to roll his eyes at the complaint, he managed not to and glanced at the young woman cleaning herself and, yes, disturbing some of her makeup. What was no longer covered wasn't offensive to look at, so he doubted her attempts were to cover up some unsightly feature or disfiguration. Therefore, it wouldn't be the end of the world (at least as he saw it) if she were to ruin her efforts to adorn her face. He rested his chin on his knuckle, finding himself speaking frankly. "You needn't be concerned about looking ridiculous. Ridiculous is when people use so much that they resemble a court jester. Having to wipe one's face after being assaulted by pie is not."

----

Gavin gave his master a slight smile and an apologetic shrug, hoping Robin could tell he was sorry he couldn't do anything to rectify the situation, despite the fact that it was of course impossible to do anyways. To his surprise, Robin seemed to have also been reminiscing about the past, and- -more specifically, about the time he had been unintentionally invited to the late earl's home. Gavin nodded at the slightly younger male, the memory fresh in his own mind as well. Even back then, Gavin had felt he'd have liked to meet Robin properly and befriend him. To think he was now working for the boy he had hoped to someday play with, it was all rather surreal. Not, of course, that he was complaining. So far, Robin was proving to be just as interesting and likeable as he seemed.

The demanding knock and order that had him snickering seemed not to disturb the new earl, at least not enough to cause the noble to back down and have the lady sent away. Seeing Robin shake his head, Gavin clamped his mouth shut and took a step back at the mock glare shot his way, stifling fresh snickers he could feel in his very chest. Ah, he found these things far more amusing than he ought to! But he wouldn't interfere for now, and stepped aside several feet to allow his master some measure of privacy.




Kezia's eyes were narrowed in distaste, hands on her hips as Robin opened the door to address her. She took a half step back on impulse, his height and half grin more than just a tad intimidating. She swiftly straightened her posture, glaring back at the so called earl. He was challenging her to a shouting match? What a crude, uncouth ruffian indeed!

He wasted no time, answering her call with his own defense, and an accurate one no less. She suppossed he was reacting out of insult to his family.

But even so...he had no right!

Her hesitation lasted only a moment, her hands balling into fists at her sides as her infuriated gaze bore into her intended. As he continued to speak, his words only further served to aggravate her, almost to the point where Kezia was tempted to slap the man across the face.

"Even so, who throws a pie into a ladies' face?! That's just uncivilized, and utterly juvenile! You call yourself a man?" she snapped, one hand reaching up to poke him sharply in the chest as she rattled off her argument.
"She had no intentions of insulting you, so she is not to be treated as some criminal. And you should talk- you're nothing but a hypocrite! A princess needs to be tactful, but what earl would be so ill mannered as to throw a pie into someone's face?! Is that how you always respond when you have a disagreement? What would you do if someone were to purposely insult you? What kind of noble would you be if you can't handle discontent or trouble? You retaliated to a mistake in such a way, I shudder to think of how you handle a real issue!"

Kezia glowered, her tirade not yet done. She took a step closer, prodding him more forcefully as righteous fury for her sister fueled her current temper. "And what should she apologize for? All she's done this entire evening is try to paint you in a favorable light. She's done nothing but point out reason's why I should be happy to have you as my intended!" Kezia drew back then, managing to hold in frustrated tears at this whole situation. Damn it all, she didn't want to marry this man! She at least thought she'd be allowed to pick from a selection of suitors her parents approved of, not married off to some scoundrel. So upset was she , that she barely registered Robin's flushed cheeks.