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Richard Amore

The pride-filled, warrior prince of Lingaria. You may address him as 'Your Royal Highness'.

0 · 912 views · located in The World of Thern

a character in “Stuck In This World And Stuck With You”, as played by Captain Awesome

Description

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Name: His Royal Highness, Prince Richard, of House Amore, son of His Grace, King William, and Her Majesty, Queen Melissa, and heir to the throne of Lingaria
Gender: Male
Age: 18

Appearance: Richard stands at a reasonable 5'10 and weighs 144 lbs. (199 lbs. in his armor). While his facial features, childish dark brown hair, and Lingarian-pale skin somewhat hold the appearance of being a 'milklivered' young boy, the Prince of Lingaria is all but that when up close (for most, at least). With his crow-ish, brown eyes, and everlastingly stern facial expression, Richard practically breathes the feeling of authority. His outfit consists of a fine, silk, black-with gold trim overcoat, a black-with gold trim cape, worn over his right shoulder, dark gray cloth undershirt, black, cloth trousers, quality, dark gray boots, made from an exquisite leather, and normally carries an elegant, brass-accented, black cane. With it, he may find himself slouching a little bit but, when holding it off of the ground or not using it, you will never see His Royal Highness in a pride-lacking stance for a second.

Equipment: A high-quality arming sword, made with command in mind, named 'Arbiter'. Full plate armor of tempered steel over layers of riveted mail and gambeson.

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Abilities: Richard uses a very royal style of swordsmanship, combined with his own ruthless tactics of brute force; sometimes going as far as to punch his opponent when in close range, or slam his body into an opponent when in close range, while wearing his armor. While it is quite reckless, it proves to be quite devastating to his opponents in one-on-one combat.

Personality: Richard is, by no means, tactful. He can be very cold and upfront and even comes across as calculating. He knows his place in society, and, while he will not rub it in your face, he is not afraid to express this birthright.
Because of his way of seemingly breathing nothing but authority and discipline, others often see him as something other than human but he does have a side to him that others would deem human. It exists, but really only gets brought out by his mother and her ability to practically see right through Richard's skin and into how he really feels about matters.

Backstory: Richard was raised mainly by his father. He is practically hardwired to be a ruler, and a damn-good one, by the standards of the King of Lingaria. He never had what most people would consider to be a real childhood but that was not because of his father. It was always his own choice to pour over his studies to become, in his and his father's opinion, the best man he could be.
Now, he is the pride-and-joy of his father, and a capable general. The stormy disposition that came with this mentality, however, has made his mother and younger sister rather disappointed with how he has turned out...

Horse: An ebony-black Frisian light draft warhorse stallion, named 'Pilott'. Stubborn, much like his master, and has a very large amount of tough endurance, as needed for a warhorse which not only carries its fully-armored master but a set of armor for itself as well. However, he is not a very fast horse, compared to other breeds.

So begins...

Richard Amore's Story

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Character Portrait: Richard Amore Character Portrait: Maira Sinclair
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Richard looked down at the drink with a raised brow before taking it and immediately placing it on a counter, leaving him between it and the girl. While the first drink seems to have calmed Maira down a bit, he already could tell that, if he refused the second, she would have probably downed it and that was not needed right now. Richard was not about to sit by and let Maira drink to a state of unconsciousness.

Upon the request for a report of the situation, Richard lowered his gaze and began to slowly pace. She had a right to know everything, he just wished it could be told by someone who understood her feelings better.
He sighs.

"Arren has fallen, as I believe you heard. I don't know how much you know about what goes into an assault but usually it can last anywhere from one week to a full month and-a-half. It involves a lot of heavy equipment. Siege towers; artillery; a lot of manpower. Obviously, the news is that Arren has fallen. I don't know how they could have done it within such a short amount of time without any word of using artillery. It leaves me baffled..." Richard pinches the bridge of his nose and tightly shuts his eyes with his back now to his wife.

"General Janvier, who was charged with protecting the region around Jaennar, perished during the ensuing fight, leaving the entirety of what little forces your father placed in the area besides in the castle to be commanded by the highest ranking member they have that's still alive and not currently being prepared to be ransomed back to his family-if they didn't just slaughter everyone with a blade in their hands...It could be some kind of random militia captain for all we know that's in charge of defending the first major city in Vaull's way."

Richard stands back up straight. He sighs again before continuing, "On top of that, I don't remember the name but a lord, who I assume to be the owner of the place, has been beheaded and nobody knows what happened to the rest of his family. Unless he had some kind of secret passageway out, his wife and children are probably rotting in a dungeon somewhere. Overall, the situation just got a whole lot worse and our schedule has been pushed. I'm-...I leave for the front tomorrow, along with the rest of the men. If we hurry, we can make it to our appointed places of duty and your father and brother can halt their advance and minimize the damage, hopefully not too close to Jaennar. From there, we'll just have to carry on with the plan: Wait out the snows of Winter and begin our push at the first break of Spring."

Richard rests his hands on his hips and turns back around. "I'll be out of your hair. At least there is that..."

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Character Portrait: Richard Amore Character Portrait: Maira Sinclair
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The same feeling that had hit Maira when she first overheard the news hit her once again. She was glad she was sitting otherwise she may have just dropped to the ground. Her stomach churned as she felt ill, but she took a couple deep breaths. She had to keep it together. She was silent for a long while as she stared at the ground, thinking on this information Richard had just told her.

"What if there was an inside man? Wouldn't that have made the assault easier?" She questioned quietly while still staring at the ground. She didn't know near as much as the men when it came to stuff like this, but she had a general understanding. It was concerning how fast this all happened.

Finally after a moment she stood up. There was no use in her worrying and fretting over it at the moment, it was her and Richard's wedding day. It may not be something either of them really wanted, but now she was determined to make the best of it if not for her own sake but for Richard. "You may be a pest Richard, but I've grown used to it by now. I think I may miss you while you're gone." She said as she managed a playful smile as she approached him.

She stared up at him for a moment before she closed her eyes and through her arms around him in a hug. She was trying to appear okay, but the truth was she just really wanted to be held by someone, to feel safe. "In all seriousness though, I think I really will miss you Richard. You will come back to me right?" She asked as she continued to hug him, her head resting on his chest for the moment. She knew they needed to get back to the party soon before people began to wonder where they were.

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Character Portrait: Richard Amore Character Portrait: Maira Sinclair
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"An inside man in a military installation on a contested border? To send a spy to a place like that is to order him to dig a hole and jump in so that we may bury him alive."
It was the truth. One could sneak past the border, make it through what forces they encounter, then enter a village for supplies, only to find themselves being apprehended because they are a stranger with a Vaullish accent. It is not like a Vaullan would be that hard to spot to a people, like the one they would shortly be at war with.
But it appeared as though Maira no longer cared. She was now standing and even began to smile a little as she confessed that she might just miss Richard while he was gone. She slowly approached and he slowly raised his posture, curious as to what the girl was doing.
She stopped. There was a pause as she lifted her chin to her own accord to look up directly at the boy before her...
...and then there was no longer any space between the two.
'What is she doing?...' Richard could not help but wonder to himself. It was a hug-of course it was a hug-but...why? It was a new feeling from Maira to Richard, a hug. Especially one so deep he could feel the warmth of breath on his chest. He could feel it, as her words echoed through his ribs, asking his heart directly if he would return.
His brain, however, answered for it.
No man taking part is guaranteed life through war.
It was cold but it was the truth; something he would normally have said easily and without hesitation. However, his lips stood silent with his heart, for they found a difficult time telling a girl that her brother and father could very well join those they sent to fight in death. Instead, he slowly lifted his hand and, ever-so-awkwardly, placed it upon her shoulder.
"I'll be home by next year's snows..."
His mouth seemed to act on its own, undermining the will of Richard's head in order to settle for a compromise between his mind and heart.
"At least, for a short while," he added. There was no way Vaull would give up so easily as to settle after but a year of fighting and that made for a war that could drag on, when both sides generally want it to happen at least somewhat.
Not knowing of what to do in such an...odd situation to him, Richard clears his throat before quickly suggesting, "We should probably be getting back," and softly peels himself away from the girl. Fixing his clothes, Richard lightly clears his throat once again.
"Mhh. Right. On then."
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It was a long, quiet ride from the cathedral back to the palace. Not too much was said between the two, even as their minds raced from the day's news, or rather, because of the day's news. Certainly Richard's mind was occupied by such but...admittedly, they were not alone in his choice of topics to think of.
Richard glanced at his wife's feet and back out the window where his gaze previously was. The sight of a Donerslander Royal guardsman managed to hold his attention but a moment but that was in the short span of time before they passed through the inner gate and rode into the courtyard. Once again, Richard found himself quickly making a glance at Maira; this time, at her directly. That was a mistake.
In his eyes the woman returned his look and the two remained there, staring at each other, not knowing what to do. Richard blinked, not moving his usual blank, permanently-judging expression, before quickly lowering his gaze and returning back to the safety of the window, for it was much less risky even if it held nothing to look at for the next few seconds until the end of the ride.
After they dismounted from their transport, the two were led into the hall to await the other guests, who shortly began to flood in. It was but a short time before the reception had officially begun and the party goers started to mingle.
As is to be expected, the of-age men from both families (save for Richard) were missing for approximately half of the hour before rejoining everyone else.
At least...MOST of them rejoined...

"Abner, I have a big task for you," Richard beseeched his little cousin in his native tongue so that he may not have trouble understanding. The boy, however, paid very little mind to the prince, instead opting to look around at nothing in particular, seemingly memorised by who knows whatever is going on inside his head. Richard, still slightly bent over to address the twelve year-old, lifts his hands to reposition the boy's attention to him.
"Abner, focus. This is very important. I need you-LOOK AT ME-I need you to watch your older brother for me." The boy inquisitively looks at his older cousin.

"...Why?" Abner questions in the same drawn out, bored way of speaking as his brother, to which Richard sighs, "I know you're never the type to hang around with a bunch of adults for more than two seconds but your brother has a-..." The prince recalls all of the times he has had to forcibly recall Daniel from many-a-women and drink alike. "...Well, he has an issue and I can't keep track of him. I need you to look after him just this night for me. Can you do that?"
It was only after a long pause that Abner gave an answer.

"...Why do you think the horses in the stable become excited when I hum at them?..."
"-No! Come back to me, Abner! Don't wonder off to wherever it is you go just yet-this is important!" Richard pleads. Abner seems to somewhat regain focus and blinks once before returning to the realm of the living.
...
"What is important?"

I'm getting nowhere with this boy...

Richard's hands fall to Abner's shoulders. "DANIEL. SUPERVISE. MAKE SURE NO TROUBLE. NO TOUCH GIRLS."

As if taking out any excess language has allowed him to suddenly understand Richard, Abner slowly nods his head but still remains curious. "What of my father? Is he not able to help?"
Relieved that Abner is finally on Planet Thern, Richard closes his eyes in another sigh and explains the situation. "Your father is organizing his men and helping with the other forces. I was counting on him but you know which he places as top priority. I cannot say I blame him this time but that does not get rid of the need for someone to watch Daniel. Can you do that?"
Richard opens his eyes to find Abner-"Donersland has some funny sounding birds..."-once again with the gaze of someone not on everyone else's plane of existence.

"...Glad you could help, Abner..." Richard finally relents as he lets go of the boy to watch him absent-mindedly turn around and walk into a crowd of people in the direction of the table for the refreshments. Fortunately for him, another familiar face emerges from the small crowd. It is not one of...particular courage, but it is a relevant face and that is certainly better than nothing.

"Aunt Rachel!" Richard calls out. The woman seems to flinch in the direction of her nephew before scurrying over.
"Richard! I'm so proud of you. How does it feel to finally be able to kiss a woman of your own?" she asks, her voice quiet like her two sons but with the addition of an underlying layer of anxiety.
"Eh~yes...Look, I have a request of you. Could you possibly look after Daniel for me tonight? Usually I'm the one who does but I don't think it would look very well if I left my own party..."
She develops the same inquisitive look as Abner before questioning, "W-what about Abner? H-he hasn't disappeared t-to some dangerous place again, has he?" she says, obviously concerned for the safety of her child.

Richard places a hand on the woman's shoulder in an attempt to calm her. "He's fine, I assure you..."

Well...kind of...

"...I'm just afraid that Daniel might need a-...another eye on him, just in case he gets into trouble and-"

"-and you want to make sure he does not..hurt the celebration then," Rachel finished.

"...Yes," Richard confessed, "I had to take him up to his room and made sure he stayed there at the ball last week and I don't think I could get away with such on my own wedding day."

Nor could I bear the shame of it.

The woman seemed hesitant. It was very much dissuaded by the culture of their home for a woman to keep a man from his fun at a party, but it never proved to be a problem with so many able-bodied men of proper class to do the work required. Here, however, to ask a Donerslander to help in such a matter...it could foster rumors and feed any future political unrest. It did not help that an order for the servants to cut Daniel off would only cause trouble, as it is a member of nobility's right to drink versus the word of a servant.

Richard sighs.

"This is Donersland. I doubt anybody would look at you funny for keeping a close eye on your son and make sure to remind him where he is too. I will not have him cause a scene." The woman, despite seemingly carrying on with unchecked trembling, nods her head.

"...I-it-..."-Rachel takes a breath in a futile attempt to calm herself-"...it will be done," she says before scurrying off to find her son.

Richard attempts to find ease, but it remains hidden beneath the feeling of insecurity made barely any more tighter than right after he had spoken to Abner...

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Character Portrait: Richard Amore Character Portrait: Maira Sinclair
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The silence of the ride back to the palace didn't phase Maira all that much. Perhaps it was because as they left their little sanctuary in the church her mind began to swirl with the events of the day once more. She was thankful to Richard for saying what he did when she asked him to promise he'd come back. The truth was she realized all too well the possibility of this war ripping away everyone she cared about. Her father, Ewan, even Richard may be torn away from her and then what would she do?

Little did she realize that as she thought of all this and stared out the window she was gripping the skirts of her dress so tightly that some of the beading broke off. Only when she barely felt a tiny bead roll past her finger did she let go and inspected the damage she had caused. Her mother surely wouldn't be pleased with her. She then looked up to see if Richard had noticed what she had done. That's when their eyes met and she could feel her heart pounding in her chest. Only when they tore their gaze away from each other did she feel her cheeks flush and turned her attention back to the window.

They exited the carriage and made their way back into the palace. Maira remained beside Richard until the party really got started. When Richard made his way to speak with his little cousin Maira took this opportunity to make her way over to the refreshments table. She grabbed a glass filled with a dark red liquid and glanced around her quickly before downing in and grabbing another. The wine mixed with the other alcoholic drinks she had partaken of that day were slowly beginning to take their effect as she world seemed to slow down ever so slightly. She also found that she felt rather giddy, giggling at small things she overheard on her way back over to her husband. She sipped on her second glass of wine as she almost danced back over to Richard.

"Oh your aunt looks nervous." She giggled out as she stared after the woman as she came up next to him. She took another sip of her wine before turning her attention back to him. "Oh my you don't look much better dear husband. Come dance with me and do not fret over all this anymore. This is our wedding day after all, it should be a joyful and fun occasion. Let others handle our problems at least for today, we can fret over things tomorrow." She took his hand in hers and gently tried to pull him towards the dance floor. In all honesty she didn't want to be standing still anymore. She needed to move, to dance, to distract herself from her thoughts and the alcohol and dacing would help her with that.

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Character Portrait: Richard Amore Character Portrait: Maira Sinclair
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"She's just...anxious," Richard explains. His aunt has never been the most bold of women and always seemed to become tense when anyone-except for only Abner now-would talk to her. For her lack of boldness, one should not fail to recognize her courage. Despite her obvious anxiety over everything, it does not keep her from caring for her family.

The prince finds himself pulled by a woman whom he has yet to make the acquaintance of.

"Maira, if I don't handle it, nobody else will," Richard protests. "And I've no wish to-..." A foreign scent fills the air, now that his wife drew close. Richard leans in and takes a quick whiff to confirm. "...Are you drunk?"
Upon closer examination, Maira seems much less stable than her normal self. Her behavior is also somehow even more disfunctional and loud than it usually is.
"You have been drinking, haven't you?" Richard questions, his brow furrowing in frustration. He had been counting on not having to keep watch over a drunken Maira along with his family, but that hope has officially gone out of the window, marked by an uttered Lingarian curse through the groom's lips. "It's only been an hour or so since we got here, how are you already drunk?"

Don't leave me here to deal with things by myself! I know your father, brother and I leave tomorrow but you could have at least waited until dusk before you cave into whatever strange drinking fantasies I'm sure you Donnerslanders have! By our lady, show restraint, woman...


The Lingarian covers the lower half of his face with his palm, in frustrated thought.

It's okay. We can hold on until our departure from the party tonight. I'm a capable manager, I can handle this. Making sure a reception happens without anything bad taking place is nothing compared to ruling a country and I haven't been learning to handle a reception all my life, have I? I'll be fine.

Richard directs his attention back to the woman before him.

...I really wish I could trust you not to be a child for once.

"Maira," he asks. "Could you hold off on the drink? I'd prefer it if you..." Richard looks at the somewhat physically unstable person before him. "...could possibly make it to the end of your own party."

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Character Portrait: Richard Amore Character Portrait: Maira Sinclair
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Maira was becoming more and more frustrated as the seconds went by that Richard wouldn't dance with her. All she was asking of him was to provide a distraction for her and he was denying her of even that. The thought of how he wouldn't relax bothered her even more. Then his next words caused her face to fall serious. Her eyes grew dark as she moved dangerously close to him.

"I am not drunk. Am I beginning to feel the effects of the drink? Aye I am, but I still have control over myself Richard." She glared at him, her eyes never breaking contact with his. "I am a Donnerslander, we are born with alcohol in our blood. You offend me by assuming so few drinks could make me drunk." She huffed out the last words before crossing her arms of her chest and moving away from him once more. As she stepped back she felt herself falter a little bit. Perhaps she was feeling it a bit more than she even realized, but she wasn't about to admit that to him.

After a moment of debating on whether or not to down the last of her drink just to spite Richard she sighed before thrusting it into his hands. "Fine I won't drink anymore as long as you promise me you'll at least try to relax some. This is our wedding Richard, we should be enjoying ourselves. Not worrying over this and that, other people WILL take care of it I promise. My family at least will take care of any dramas for the rest of the night." She tried to reassure him, knowing that between her mother and nursemaid alone issues could be handled. If anyone ever wondered where Maira got her courage and stubbornness they would only have to look at her mother when she was dealing with an issue. Queen Anabel was a sweet woman, however she wasn't afraid to speak up and had a way with words that could make the most fierce tremble in their boots.

"So maybe you should down the rest of that drink, try and relax a little, and come dance with your wife. Or we can do something other than dancing if you wish as long as you try and relax." She gave him a pleading smile, trying to get him to understand that all she wanted was for the both of them to try and have an enjoyable rest of the night.

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Character Portrait: Richard Amore Character Portrait: Maira Sinclair
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Richard sighs in relief at Maira's clarification of her sobriety, barely acknowledging her obvious discontent with him. At least he had someone he could count on for short period. He still had little trust in her reliability but it was a step in a more positive direction for once. Then she began speaking of her heritage and how Donnerslanders are 'born with alcohol in their blood' and Richard suddenly felt as though he had just challenged his bride to a drinking contest, of which she would hold the honor of being the sole contestant, and the prize was the physical manifestation of pure spite.

I swear, if she drinks that...

It would take a fool to not see what she wanted to do. This would be the second drink he has personally seen her finish-forgetting about the amount of alcohol in her 'something strong' from before and however many she has had outside of his supervision. Richard frowned. She was either just now feeling the effects from the first drink or she had-as is quite a bit more than likely-more to drink than he has personally seen and is not over exaggerating in her claim of alcoholic tolerance. I imagine any regular girl who drank a full glass of liquor and two of wine-lets say-would be a bit less stable than she currently is.
Before he has a chance to process the action, Richard finds the drink unexpectedly thrust into his possession, almost failing to grasp it prior to when its original caretaker would let go.

W-...What's this?

Richard is, once again, taken aback by the sudden change in mood. It appears Maira has adhered to his request after all...on one condition: That he himself would let the family take care of the party...
The prince, frustrated, sighs deeply and pauses a moment.

...

"...Okay."

It was a lie. The Sinclairs knew not how to deal with Daniel and, even if they did, it was up to his family to take care of their own and try to prevent any negative appearances of themselves. It was important to make a decent first impression and he would have to continue doing so. However, now that it seems Maira has made it her mission to relieve the burden of any form of management from Richard's shoulders, he would have to try his best to stay alert through it with her.

Richard looks down at the cup of wine as it is suggested that he drinks it but instead decides holding it will suffice for now. When it is suggested that the two could do something else though, it gives him an idea.

This'll work nicely.

"My mother had told me she wanted to talk to us the first chance we got, lets go meet with her-I'm sure she is dying to say hello to her new daughter."

The first half may have been a lie, but the second certainly was not. Richard knew that for a fact. The young man grabs hold of the princess by her hand and leads her over into the direction of the woman in question, back over to the direction of where the bride and groom's seats had been placed. She stands near her and Richard's father's seat, directly next to where Richard himself was to sit. Her raven-like hair in an elegant style of do to match the exquisite, black-with golden trim dress she wears. Of course, the king is somewhere else. Typical of his father not ever being able to be found until he wishes to see the one looking for him...

"Mutter."

She turns at the sound of her title being spoken. A smile immediately shows itself upon her face as she automatically recognizes the voice speaking for his mother and spikes to pure joy when finding Maira beside her boy.

"Oh, how lovely! I'm so glad I got to see you right now because I couldn't bear keeping myself any longer from expressing how BEAUTIFUL you look! Oh my how you have grown into such a wonderful lady! I only hope Anne grows up to be this gorgeous! Richard, aren't you just the luckiest man right now?!"

"Mm," the boy hums, looking off behind his mother.

Looks like they're getting ready to start bringing out the food. Cue my escape...

Richard looks around a moment...and then perks up before gesturing into the direction of his cousin and his aunt.

"Oh! Aunt Rachel is over there with Daniel! One second, ladies, don't go anywhere!"

Richard sets his untouched cup of wine on the table, near his mother's place setting, and takes his leave...

"Oh stop it, Richard," his mother calls out in an endearing tone. The prince halts in his tracks.

Dammit!

She may seem as graceful as ever, but it is quite obvious to Richard that she knows exactly what he's doing...and she is not about to let him abandon Maira.

"Oh, mother. I wanted to see how the two were fairing! You know how Rachel gets in crowded spaces like this."

Let go, mother.

"Let Daniel handle her, he's a capable young man!"

She wields a playful expression, one that carries on the game of wordless conversation, almost replying 'not a chance, little boy' and Richard already knew exactly what she wanted from him. What she always wanted: for him to get along as best as possible with Maira, under any-and EVERY-circumstance they found themselves in...and there was no escape from her cage brought down upon him.
He was trapped.

"But mother I-..."

Richard, in his act, looks back over to the other mother and son...at the refreshment table...
...standing in front of the wine...

His eyes widen. The woman beside him seems to be quietly raising her hand to grab Daniel's attention every time he takes a swig of the bitter drink but softly lowers it again without saying anything. She is doing absolutely nothing to stop him.

Never mind seeing to the dishes being set out, THAT is bad...

"Mother, I-"

"-Ah-ah-ah~! Your wife needs you, just look at her. She looks so depressed!"

Richard nervously chuckles.

"No, mother, you don't understand-"

"-I'll bet you have not even danced with her yet!"

"No. MUTTER just-!...Ugh, one second!"

Richard, once again starts toward his extended family but quickly finds himself intercepted by a hand on his shoulder. He stops, turning around to address the one making the gesture and finding a man his height but having much more of a stocky, more solid build to him than the prince.

"Father! Good afternoon to you!"

Why now?

The robed man hugs the young boy. His hair is roughly the same length and shade of light brown as his son, but seems to be significantly less messy, and each share the same nose. While the middle-aged man seems to appear much less boyish or milklivered as Richard, they seem to share certain traits about them that truly identify them as undoubtedly father and son. It is amazing that he could have overall so many facial features cast almost directly from his mother onto his skin and yet seeming to remain the spitting image of his father but here it is. What sets them most apart, though, is their eyes. Richard's crow-like eyes of his mother's side of the family are a stark contrast to his fathers much warmer eyes, despite the command both hold inside of them...

"Richard!" He calls out. "Congratulations to you! My man has finally taken a woman for his own!"

"Yes-yes! Father, she's right there with mother!"

He turns to greet the two ladies, smiling warmly.

"Oh Maira, you look so lovely for this wonderful celebration, I'm honored that you could join our family."

"Please excuse me," Richard quietly speaks, hoping to slip away but is caught for a third time.

"Hold on for a moment, Richard, I wanted to talk to you."

The boy stops and turns back around, ever more frustrated.

Of course you do. I should have guessed that the second you showed yourself...

"Of course, father."

"Ladies, if you will excuse us for a moment," he calmly expresses as he leads Richard away with his arm draped upon the shoulders of his boy. "Richard, I couldn't help but notice something is troubling you. Are you doing alright?"

Father, you married me off to the girl who beat me over the head with a stick as a child. We have NOTHING in common and I'm not entirely sure if I could spend an entire life time in her company without jumping from the outer walls of Lucca-but THAT IS NOT ALL. Right now, DANIEL is doing exactly as I expected of him and so is his mother! If those two doing exactly what we'd expect them to do would mean that I'm doing good, then I am- "Fantastic."

"No, I know exactly what you're thinking. You're worried about our appearance and the potential for Daniel to misbehave..."

Well, you got some of it, I'll give you that.

"Yes. How did you know?"

Richard looks over to his father, who has begun to chuckle to himself.

"I was in a similar situation on your mother and I's wedding day. Your Uncle Killian was not always the most grounded of individuals. Imagine this but...well, I'll admit he was a much more mild of a case than Daniel but the habits were the same-I assure you that. On top of keeping him in-check, I was also doing my best to oversee everything so I could impress your grandfather."

Richard had not heard this story before. Sure, he heard the basics of it but not about the problems.

"So...what did you do?"

The king smirks to himself.

"I had some of my friends that saw me struggling and helped me out."

Richard immediately loses interest.

"I don't have any friends here, father."

The man lightly claps his hand on his son's back.

"You've got family though. Go see to your wife. I'll take care of things from here. I want you proving your worth as a ruler, not a manager of palace staff. I may need help with your cousin some time but, for the most part, you should be able to enjoy yourself."

Richard sighs, relieved.

"Thank you, father."

The men turn back around toward their women.

"Consider it payment for forcing you to leave so soon after your big day. Spend it with her."

Richard walks back toward his wife and, for the first time since he has arrived in Donnersland, finds himself legitimately smiling.

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Maira was pleased when Richard thought about going to see his mother. At least it seemed like he was trying to relax and enjoy the night as she had pleaded. That and she was glad he hadn’t abandoned her quite yet. She suspected he would eventually try, but for now she didn’t seem to have to worry about that. Not that it would make much difference to her in all actuality, she just wasn’t quite prepared to answer the questions of the guest on where her new husband had gone.

The smile of the queen was met with one similar on Maira’s face. Maira had to admit that she had always liked the woman. She was always kind to her even though she had obviously been trying since day one to make Richard and Maira get along. “Thank you, I am quite flattered by the compliment. As for young Anne I suspect she surpass all in beauty especially if she keeps the lovely personality she has.” She said in response to the compliment, her cheeks even turning a slight hint of red as she was slightly embarrassed.

When Richard spoke she found herself glancing over at him, wondering if he now planned on making his grand escape. His mother wasn’t about to let him, however, and Maira had to suppress a slight giggle. The battle the mother and son proceeded to have provided much entertainment for Maira as she silently made a bet on who would win it. When Queen Melissa made mention of how Maira needed her husband she did her best to play the part in favor of the queen. Richard once again tried to make his escape, but this time he was stopped by someone else.

At the sight of King William, Maira curtsied respectfully before giving him a warm smile. “Thank you Your Grace, I myself am honored to be a part of your family as well.” She responded, a smile still on her face. The king then excused himself and his son from the two women as he said he needed to speak to Richard. She then turned to Queen Melissa once more and began to make small talk with her, though she found herself glancing over at Richard and his father on occasion. After the third time of doing this she had come to the conclusion this would be when Richard would abandon her for the night. Could she really blame him though? Why would he want to be around the person who terrorized him as a child? She decided she wouldn’t be upset with him if he did do as she expected of him. A small sadness filled her, but she managed to hold her head up high.

Moments later she saw movement out of the corner of her eye and as she turned to see who it was she expected to see King William coming to make an excuse for his son’s absence. Instead she was caught off guard with Richard heading back towards them and he was smiling. It was a genuine smile and this was the first time in a long time, if ever, Maira had seen him genuinely smile. She felt butterflies flutter in her stomach as a warm and genuine smile crossed her own face. “You came back
” She unknowingly almost whispered out happily as he came up next to them.

The sound of dinner being served is what finally pulled her out of her daze. She found that she had been staring at Richard, that same smile on her face for heavens knows how long. Her face flushed a warm red color as she became slightly flustered. “Um p-perhaps we should take our seats for dinner?” She said as she quickly moved to where she was to sit. She remained silent for the most part through the beginning of dinner only speaking when addressed, though she found herself sneaking glances over to Richard.

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"Never mind. Father said he would check on Rachel for-..."

The prince found his smile give in to confusion as he approached both women to find them grinning. One was staring at him while the other one sipped from a glass of wine and looked at him but certainly was smiling about something else...
...Or, rather, someone else.

"Okay, what is your deal?" Richard asked the two ladies, though his attention was clearly more fixated upon his mother. She must have caught the social cue because she immediately spoke up, crossing her arms, while still holding the glass, and raising her expression to the ceiling above her.

"I'm just happy you made it back."

Richard could not help but hear his mother's voice in his head again.

'I'm surprised you're not a mile away by now, love!'

The confused look turns right back to his usual steady discontentment.

"Of course, mother. Glad to be back."

Get over yourself. I didn't come back for her.

"Your father, always the caring man, is he not?" Queen Melissa brings a hand to her cheek as she speaks of her husband.

'I don't think that matters at this point.'

The queen smirks and gestures with her eyes toward Maira. Richard follows suit.

"Yes. Yes he-"
What do you mean-?...

Richard finally notices his wife smiling and still staring at him...

...Don't flatter yourself for doing absolutely nothing, mother. We would have ended up like this anyway...

Something must have brought Maira back to the land of the living, because she suddenly appeared to regain her senses. Immediately, she suggested the three take their seats for the meal but it was not fast enough to divert the attention away from her face before it turned a pinkish pigment. Richard's mother looks back to him before winking with the eye hidden from view of her new daughter and backs away to go take her seat, smiling as she does so.

"You two enjoy your meals, okay?"

The food had yet to be served and Richard could already taste salt.

Richard spent a large portion of the meal quiet, with the occasional interruption of a conversation with his father and the rest being spent occupying Daniel...which is both the easiest and hardest thing in the world to do, it seems. Often times, it was difficult to grab his attention. Others, a well-placed bit of philosophy could occupy him for minutes at a time, wondering things like, 'why does anything in this world truly exist?' and 'if you could reverse the movement of the sun across the sky, would there be an effect on time?' A question like that could occupy him enough for Richard to keep him from his drink at least for a little while.
The meal had to start without Abner, for he was nowhere to be seen until well into the dinner, when Aunt Rachel nearly had a heart attack after looking behind her to see her son balancing on one foot on the railing of the balcony while holding a plate of food. She then promptly brought him to his seat at the table, only to find him disappeared once more within minutes.
Richard did not pay much mind to Maira for the first half of the meal, truth be told, for his family was largely keeping the bulk of his attention. At least it seemed he was having a bit of wine with his food, which was a start, and he certainly seemed to be enjoying the taste...

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Maira was soon finding she could hardly stuff any more food into her mouth. Granted they were only a little over half way through dinner, however with the amount of food already served mixed with the confinement of her bodice she decided she would only be able to take small nibbles for the rest of the night. In fact she was taking a small bite of something when she felt a small tug on her arm. She turned to find her two little brothers smiling up at her. "Ian, Jamie what are you up to?" She asked them happily as she scooted herself out to face them better.

"We came to say umm...con...con-grat-lations?" Ian struggled out, not sure what the word actually was as he climbed himself up onto his sister's lap. He was the smaller of the two and was often mistaken to be much younger than his twin Jamie.

"It's con-gradual-ations stupid! Learn how to speak Ian..." Jamie grumbled as he leaned against Maira's chair while closely examining one of her beads on her dress. Maira couldn't keep from giggling at her two younger brothers, even when Ian protested he wasn't stupid. When he kicked at his brother, however, Maira quickly smacked his leg.

"Hey you guys need to be nice to each other. Ian do not kick your brother and Jamie don't call Ian names. Do you understand?" She said firmly to the two seven year olds. Both reluctantly nodded and she proceeded to kiss both of them on the head.

"Won't Maira be a wonderful mother when the time comes?" It was the voice of her mother that pulled her away from the twins. A mortified look crossed her face while she turned the color of the tomatoes that were on her face.

"You're going to have a baby?" Ian questioned his sister as he began poking her belly. Before she could speak, Jamie spoke.

"Mommy said it takes a man and a woman to make a baby. Are you going to give my sister a baby Richard?" He turned and asked Richard and Maira was at a loss of words. She was completely embarrassed and couldn't find a way to reply right away.

"Um...well...I....no Ian I'm not pregnant. M-m-maybe I'll have a baby in the future? Mother why must you embarrass me so?!" She snapped as she finally turned to her mother, anger filling her.

"I only spoke the truth Maira, you will be a great mother some day. That should not embarrass you." Her mother retorted before turning to continue another conversation with someone else. It seemed no one cared that Maira was completely mortified and she felt tears welling in her eyes from embarrassment.

"Boys why don't you go off and play." She suggested to the twins and they smiled, happily agreeing before running off. She then felt herself shrinking down into her chair a bit, wishing she could disappear into the chair. She felt the need to apologize to Richard for her family's rudeness, but at the moment she could find no words.

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Richard had not realized how hungry he was earlier, mainly because he really was not hungry. He simply was used to what he perceived as good food made by the cooks back home. The Prince had heard cooks hailing from the Southern lands in Donersland were good but never did he think Eastern spices were not the only thing largely differing them from any other cooks. Is this the best they have? Is this maybe the palace's cook when trying his hardest? Is this-

"Are you going to give my sister a baby, Richard?"

Richard is instantly sent spiralling into a choke-induced coughing fit, having been caught so off-guard by such a question. Immediately, he picks up the napkin from his lap and covers his mouth to prevent any food from escaping onto the table and, after recovering from the rapid situational deterioration, luckily manages to swallow the large majority of food which originally entered his mouth before turning to see who it was that asked the question. The prince turns to find his now brother-in-law, Ian. Not far behind was Jamie.

...Or was it the other way around?

Regardless, Richard did not like it but he was not about to pretend that he did not know the correct answer to the question. He has thought about it before and, as the heir to the throne of his country, he required one of his own. Now that they have been wed, Maira is the sole candidate to bear him one. That did not mean he had to like it though.

It also did not mean he had to answer such a question either...

After he watches the twins leave, Richard looks at his wife, rolls his eyes and shrugs before going back to trying to distract Daniel. It is not long before people start to finish their meals and the music begins calling to the more lively of guests, eventually making its way down through the less active and eventually even to the royal family's table, when Daniel stands up to try and find a lass for him to hound, at the protest of just about everyone on the Amore side of the table. Richard can already feel the tension radiating from Maira's general area next to him. With a sigh, he presses down on the table and noisily scoots back his chair with the back of his legs as he stands and offers a hand to the young lady beside him.

"Come on. I already know it's going to happen eventually and I might as well get it over with..."

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For the next few minutes Maira was very distant as she tried to calm her mind. It wasn't like she hadn't thought about it before, but the twins questions truly made the realization dawn on her that she would be expected to provide Richard an heir. The thought of it made her nervous, but her fate had been sealed. There was no way for her to get away from this so she had to come to terms with it. It couldn't be that bad right? The more she thought on it the more nervous she became so she had to put a stop to her mind.

Thankfully at that moment she spotted Ewan dancing with a young woman. Her elder brother had yet to take a wife, though he was quite popular with the girls. He seemed to always have an excuse as to why he hadn't married, but if one listened closely they'd realize his reason changed often. Sometimes it was because he didn't want to leave a bride widowed if something went wrong for him in this war. Other times it was because he had yet to find someone who interested him. It made Maira ponder what the true reason was. He surely knew how to make the girls swoon, though, and this was apparent with the young woman he was dancing with. She stared up at him dreamily and he gave her a winning smile. She decided her brother could have any woman he wanted.

The loud noise of a chair pulled her out of her thoughts and she turned to see Richard holding his hand out towards her. She blinked up at him for a moment, unsure of what he meant. Then it dawned on her that he was offering to dance with her. "Oh...okay." She said as she scooted away from the table and took his hand. Her hand prickled at the touch, but she ignored it as she managed to give her husband a smile. She was silent for a moment, but she knew she needed to say something soon.

"Richard I'm sorry..." she started and bit her lip as she looked away from him for a moment. What was she sorry for exactly? Was it for him having to be married to her? For everything she did to him when they were little? That she couldn't seem to make him smile? There were so many things she was sorry for, but would he even believe her? "For my brothers, that is. I mean they're still young and they haven't learned what is proper to ask and what isn't." She finally finished, choosing what she deemed was the safest route. She laughed a little, but even to her it sounded like a nervous and silly thing like she was trying to hide the fact that's not what's she originally intended to say. She almost wanted to kick herself for sounding so stupid. She hoped he would say something soon, afraid if she said something else she'd make a fool out of herself.

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The young man leading Maira could barely hold himself back from expressing his 'blah'-mood and his body language showed it. While he led the girl along though, his hearing picked up from her lips...an apology? Richard slowed his movement through the chairs of the family's first table and looked back to his wife, surprised at the gesture and somewhat confused at what it was for. He got the feeling it was, oddly enough, for the entire situation they were in but he would not put money on any answer he could think of, as he was not completely sure. Thankfully, she clarifies that the apology is for the behavior of her brothers, however she seems to include a pointless, strange laugh at the end.

This entire day has turned her mental...

"...Right," Richard says, continuing to lead Maira along after confirming the intent of her apology. It was a proper subject.

"I suppose children know no other way to act," he continues. "There seems to be no other teacher for that than experience. Some take more experience to learn tact than others."

A casual jab.

Richard lead the princess onto the floor, taking her hand in a more proper position for a dance. His other hand followed suit to rest upon the small of her back. He had learned to properly dance earlier in his youth, and knew he could very well do it, but that did not stop him from feeling nervous that he may look like a complete fool. He wanted to look down at his feet-he wanted badly to look at his feet-but he did not dare show such weakness in front of so many. He could not. Instead, he looked at Maira in front of him. They began.
One foot and then the next. No problems, to the relief of the prideful prince. His thoughts began to slow once more; his focus turning from dancing to what he was staring at in front of him: the face of Maira, his wife. At this distance, he could really look at her face, her expression. He could read her eyes, the way she nibbled on her lip, even see the breaths she took when he really paid attention. It was the first time he had really looked at her since the ceremony and, come to think of it...this had to have been the closest he had ever been to her face.

...Well...except there was that one time...

A much younger Richard walks down the hallway of the Donerclaire royal palace, his head down in a historical text and completely ignoring everything around him except for just about the floor alone. Behind a corner, not too far ahead, sprints an even younger Maira. Both pass the corner, not knowing of the other's placement, ending with a rather hard crash and a pair of matching bumps on each others' face.

"Why duntchou fatch wfere y'going?!" Richard blurted out, his accent hardly controlled in his anger. Originally hurt, the little girl suddenly felt just a little bit...better.

"Vhy donchou vatch vere y'going?!" She mocked while grinning at her own response. Richard frowned, frustrated at his accent being made fun of and subconsciously further thickening it. It did not help that he could only barely speak the foreign language properly in his tender age.

"Shtop saht!" He commanded.
"Shtop zat!" She imitated, grinning ever more.

"I fill tell yo'r-!"
-"I vill tell your!"
"...Shtop!-"
-"Shtop!"

The young Maira's face keeps getting more excited as Richard's keeps growing angrier. They certainly left with more bruises than just the one original. Maira, with one cleanly on her cheek. Richard with...a couple more, as a direct result of his future wife being a bit larger than him in their young age.


It was certainly not the most fond memory Richard has of Maira...not that there were any fond ones to begin with...but that was the past and what was important now was the present. In fact, he had not spoken for what seems like a couple of minutes, since the beginning of their dance. What was he to say? He could not find the words. Falling short of thinking of anything really meaningful to say, he decided to make small talk. Making a quick scan of the room, he found something to talk about. It was rather annoying and overall unimportant to anyone in the room but Richard figured he would have to start somewhere.

"I didn't know Ewan was so well acquainted with a lady..."

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Richard’s response felt like a slap to the face to Maira. She began to open her mouth to come back with a retort, however she stopped herself. Would not doing so just cement what he meant? No she wouldn’t allow him to have that satisfaction so instead she closed her mouth. She would brush it off and continue on like it didn’t phase her. Plus what good would it do her other than starting another pointless argument. An argument she would surely be scolded for later which was not something she desired.

They made it to the dance floor and turned to face each other. Maira’s heart fluttered as they prepared to dance, feeling a wave of nervousness hit her once more. She wasn’t entirely sure why she was nervous, she knew how to dance and she could dance quite well. Having learned from a young age and then having an older brother who would always practice with her whenever she would ask. So she wouldn’t even have to think about the steps and yet here she was worrying she might mess up. She feared stepping on Richard’s toes and making him angry, but then they began and she found her feet moving instinctively. She realized she wouldn’t step on his toes, but still she couldn’t shake the nerves.

She couldn’t say the silence between them was exactly awkward by any means. In fact it seemed to be far from that in her opinion as she stared up at Richard. She studied his face and realized how much he had grown since they were children, and yet she could see he had more growing up to do. They both did. She began to wonder if either of them were truly ready for the responsibilities of being married. Not like it would change anything at this point. They were married so they’d have to be ready whether they liked it or not.

Richard’s next statement made her blink once in confusion, but when she spotted her brother once more dancing with the same girl she let a small chuckle escape her lips. “I don’t know if well acquainted is the proper term.” She began with a small smirk as she glanced to her brother and then back to Richard. “Girls seem to swoon over him and I think he enjoys the attention. It wouldn’t surprise me if he just met that girl tonight, poor girl will probably have her hopes crushed come the end of the night.” She sighed with a shake of her head, though the smile was still on her face. The truth was she really did feel bad for the girl. Ewan never did anything with those girls to Maira’s knowledge other than leading them on only to break their hearts in the end. “I do sometimes wish he would stop with his little games and just find himself a wife. It would bring some peace of mind to my parents
” She knew Richard probably didn’t really care, but at least it was something for the two of them to talk about.

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As if to match the girl in front of him, Richard found himself chuckling at the explaination about Ewan. The mood, however, was not flashing pity as much as it expressed shameful opinion.

"Ewan, an ass? Of all people? Surely, you jest," he scoffed.

The statement should sound much more sarcastic but it seems as though, when you practice being serious so often, you end up with the accidental ability to sound serious when the need arises, no matter the occasion.
His word-choice is a different story on believability, though.

"I swear, for an heir, that man is the very picture of a need to grow up. I certainly hope Jamie does not follow his brother's example, for the worst case scenario has him as Ewan's successor."

Richard was not the most attractive of men-he knew he was not the most attractive of men by quite a ways-but at least he knew he would not stoop so low as to show such misconduct in the public eye. It was disgraceful behavior to the young prince and he could not even begin to imagine what his father would do, let alone his mother. Sure, Daniel was a pig of a man but he is not the heir.
...Which would not matter anyway, as he has not the ability to woo a lady, let alone succeed at bringing shame upon the Amore house. Richard only wished that that would halt his attempts at trying.

What Richard especially had trouble comprehending was how one could pursue based solely on appearance anyway. Someone, like Daniel or Ewan, could win the affection of a beautiful lady and she could be the jewel of her peers, yet if she were to offer nothing in terms of personality, she would be nothing more than a common tavern wench. At least Maira was more than that. She had a bright mind, despite her naivety, and thus was not just a simple pretty face. He could be thankful for that. It kept her from being entirely boring.

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Richard's statement definitely sounded a little funny, but due to his choice of words Maira determined he was trying to be sarcastic. She giggled, more out of how funny he sounded than the statement, but Richard didn't need to know that. "Yes as surprising as it is Ewan can often be an ass." She retorted with her own sarcasm, though a smile was plastered on her face.

Ewan could act quite childish at times, she knew this and she knew all too well that it was not befitting of the heir to her kingdom, but he had other qualities that she thought made up for it. He always was one to look out for other people. He would choose the path that was best and protect his people even if it meant giving his own life. This is what scared Maira about him going to war. Ewan would easily throw himself in front of a sword to protect someone else, even if that sword ran him through.

Richard's next words made Maira wince, not because it was shocking, but because it mirrored her thoughts perfectly. It was an all too likely possibility and one she had thought about often of recent days. "I suppose it's a good thing Mother has begun grooming Jamie to take the throne just in case the worst happens." Her voice sounded small, but what she said was the truth. She hadn't been the only one preparing for the worst.

She had realized she had fallen silent and had a solemn expression on her face. She shook her head quickly and forced a smile. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't be thinking such dreary thoughts on our wedding day." She apologized to him, trying her best to act alright. Her mind was still flooded with those dark thpughts, but she refused to let Richard know that. He didn't need to deal with her emotional self any more for the day.

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As the words left her mouth, they seemed to take a bit of life with them. Her expression seemed to be left somewhat somber; her features holding just a little less color to them. Even through her smile, Richard could not help but feel like something was bothering her.

"Maira," he began. His voice was stern as usual. It almost sounded as though he was preparing to issue a command to her but his voice unusually adapted to fit a softer situation.

"Are-..are you o-..?"

Suddenly, a voice calls from behind the prince.

"Richard!"

He turns around to find his aunt scooting through the other nobility on the floor to get to him and Maira. She appears panicked as she speaks in Lingarian, more for the purpose of conveying her message with speed than trying to hide its content from the other guests.

"Your cousin...I-I-I'm trying but I can't-...I can't get him away!"

Richard half sighs and half growls in complete frustration as he lets go of Maira and turns around before walking off.

"Stay here. Talk to my sister or something," he says as if it were an afterthought that Maira certainly had no idea of what was going on.

Richard follows close behind Rachel through the floor and then tables.

"Is it a girl or drinks this time?" He asks, sticking to his native tongue.

"It's a g-..." Rachel starts, only to pause before looking rather defeated. "W-well...it's both...but the girl is the most pressing! He has not left her alone since after dinner and does not seem willing to let her be even though she has refused him multiple times. Now he really seems to be bothering her and he-...h-he wont listen to me!"

Rachel seems to be growing more and more flustered.

"Can't you talk to him? M-maybe he'll listen to the heir..."

"No. Once he has gone too far he doesn't listen to me," Richard confessed, voice not deviating from his flat, serious tone. However, Rachel seems to panic a little at her nephew's words.

"W-What are we supposed to do then?!"

"Just don't worry about it," Richard says, calmly. "I have a plan."

The two walk to the far end of the room, where it seems only personal belongings and abandoned cups remained, and up to a balcony door. Rachel stops, letting Richard take the lead from there into the area of the disturbance. The prince brings his hand down upon one of the two doors' handles and pressed down, releasing the door from its place and allowing him and his aunt to walk through. Against the balcony railing leans Daniel next to a young noble lady...

"I said I'm with my family here. I'm not alone," the girl said, her voice harboring a tone telling the tale of a drawn out conversation she very clearly did not want to be having.

"You're all by yourself, though. Let me keep you company," Daniel insists, reaching over and grasping her hand.

"Let go of me," She protests.

Richard intercedes.

"Cousin. Where have you been? I have not seen you since the reception started."

Daniel smiles. An unusual life expresses itself from his normally flat, bored tone. "Just having a good time. Sipping wine. Courting only the finest lady around."

His hand gripping the lady's fingers raises as he attempts to kiss her hand but she yanks them away, finally slipping them from his grasp. Richard takes note.

"Daniel-!" Rachel begins, finally working up the courage to speak, only to be met with Richard's raised finger.

"It's fine, Rachel. He's fine," Richard reassures to the shock of his aunt.

Daniel pushes off the railing, stumbling a little bit toward the woman. Richard takes note as he walks to a better distance to converse with his cousin, now moving by his right side.

"Y~eah, mother, everything's fine! Everything's alright, just like Richard said. He knows what I'm talking about now, don't you, buddy?"

Daniel looks back at Richard for confirmation and receives it through a single nod. The young lady, seeing that Daniel is distracted tries to move away but finds herself spotted and pulled back by her captor again.

"Where are you going there, miss?" He questions her and then sloppily looks back at Richard as if to ask 'can you believe that?' to which Richard simply shrugs.

Rachel pipes back up again in protest. The Lingarian flowing from her lips seem to hold little hesitance for once.

"Okay, Daniel! I've had enough of this, I told you-!"

Daniel's eyes widen. His head immediately turns to face his mother as he glares daggers at the woman. The mother noticeably shrinks as all clues to her son's intoxication seem to have disappeared...

"-And haven't I told you to shut up?! Why must you nag me so, woman? I'm just out here trying to have some fun and I will not have YOU come out here AND-"
Richard wraps his right arm over his cousin's shoulder and clasps his palms together, quickly flexing his bicep as he pulls back, lifting on the boy, causing his center of mass to shift and destabilize his balance. In an instant, Daniel's eyes flutter and close. Suddenly, he falls limp and Richard twists around, laying his unconscious cousin down on his side on the balcony.

Both women instantly have the same appalled look on their faces.

"Oh my lady!" The younger girl exclaims out, covering her mouth with her hand in shock.

"R-Richard!" Rachel cries.

"He's alright," Richard reassures through a sigh. "I only put him to sleep."

The girl noticeably shows relief.

"I k-..know you put him to sleep but did you have to do it so-...so drastically??"

Richard addresses the young lady.

"I sincerely apologize on behalf of this man for his behavior and hope you have been done no harm, my lady."

"It-...it's okay..." the girl simply responds. A short pause and she begins to speak again.

"I-...I thank you for-"
"-Don't you have somewhere to be?" Richard asks, harshly. He had dealt with the issue, now it would be preferred that she left.

Surprised at the hostile response, the girl simply looks around in disbelief before returning to the reception.

Richard walks away from Daniel and approaches his mother.

"Rachel, go back inside. Find Maira and tell her that I will not be getting back to her until late this evening. I'm going to have to take Daniel up to his room and watch him for a while, make sure he doesn't wake up and make a fool out of himself again."

The woman's expression visibly protests Richard's request.

"B-but Richard! It's your wedding night! A husband should always-..he should always be with his new wife on their wedding night! Don't you think Maira should spend at least one night with you before you all go?"

Richard rolls his eyes.

"I've got to get your son to bed. I'm the only one who can! Who else would do it? Abner? I have not seen that boy since you pulled him off of the railing and into supper this evening!"

Rachel lowers her head, disappointed in the situation.

"Just do what I say," Richard continues. "I'll take Daniel to-..."

Richard turns around to look at his cousin, only to find nothing.

"W-...What? Where did he go?!"

Both Richard and Rachel scan their surroundings for the disappeared boy. Shortly after, the woman taps on Richard's shoulder, pointing far down to the left side of the balcony. Moving through the doorway is Prince Abner carrying the top half of his brother by the chest, letting his feet drag behind...

...
"...I can't believe it..." Rachel said as though she were thinking aloud.

"...By our lady, he actually heard me after all..." Richard said in disbelief.

The two watched as the brothers utilize the door, carelessly leaving it open after moving through.

"...I guess I will see you inside then..." Rachel said as she turned to walk inside.

"...Yeah...wait for me." Richard told his aunt as he followed her through the door back inside.

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Character Portrait: Richard Amore Character Portrait: Maira Sinclair
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Richard had begun to speak, about to ask Maira a question and even though when he first addressed her it was in his typical stern voice it seemed to soften. His voice took on a tone that Maira had never heard from him before. He couldn’t finish his question, however, as a voice called out to him making Maira jump at the sound. She too now looked over at his aunt as she recognized pure panic on the woman’s face. The conversation the pursued took place in Richard’s native tongue and left his wife just standing there staring in the two confused. Obviously something was amiss and Maira could only assume that they didn’t want her to know what it was.

Before she knew it Richard had left her there in the middle of the dance floor to go take care of whatever problem had arisen. Maira couldn’t help but be glued to the floor in shock as people continued to dance around the princess. What had he told her to do? Go find his sister was it? Slowly she made her way off the dance floor with all the intention of finding young Anne, but she stopped once she hit the tables. She stared at one of the discarded cups that was still half full of liquid on the table. She knew she should turn and do as Richard said and find his sister, but her mind was still swirling with thoughts of before and now abruptly being abandoned. She gingerly picked the cup up and the closer it got to her face she could smell the bitter scent of the wine. How easy it would be to just drink it, to numb her mind, numb all her senses. The cup was almost to her mouth when she stopped herself. This wasn’t right, she said she wasn’t going to drink any more for the night. She wasn’t about to break her word over something so silly. So she set the cup down once more and glanced in the direction Richard and his aunt disappeared to.

Before she knew it her feet were moving in that direction, curiosity getting the better of her. She wouldn’t intervene, she would only peak to see what was going on. It couldn’t hurt anything if she did that right? She was almost to the door when someone walked through it in a hurry. The two almost collided as Maira looked at the girl.

“Alice? Are you okay?” Maira questioned as she recognized her friend who looked slightly flustered.

“Maira! Oh I-I....Yes I’m okay now, but the Prince...er your husband he-” As the girl was stumbling over her words Maira glanced around her looking in on the scene. She looked just in time to see Abner grabbing his brother Daniel who was unconscious and dragging him off while Richard and his aunt debated over something. She wasn’t entirely sure what had happened, but she could assume and turned back to her friend.

“Come Alice, dance with me. Let’s get your mind off of whatever has just happened.” Maira said, a bright smile on her face now as she took both of her friends hands in hers. Alice opened her mouth to say something more, but closed it again as Maira gently began pulling her towards the dance floor. They got to the outskirts of the dancing people and began dancing when Maira once again looked over to where her husband and his aunt were. She saw them both coming back into the party and Maira smiled a little to herself. She wondered if Richard would come find her now that the issue seemed to be dealt with.

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Character Portrait: Richard Amore Character Portrait: Maira Sinclair
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Richard quietly makes his way in, following after Rachel for a moment before slowing to a halt, letting her carry on without him. As Richard's aunt made her way back, the prince scanned the room in an attempt to find his counterpart. Luckily, it did not seem to consume a lot of time or much effort, as she had made her way off to the outer layer of the crowd. She also appeared to have found someone to bide her time with, though not with little Anne as he had suggested...though she certainly had not an unfamiliar face...
It was the girl from before. The one with Prince Daniel.

Well, that definitely is going to come back and bite me later on...

Maira's occupation, however, was at least not inconvenient. With the other issues taken care of by his father and the last foreseeable burden dealt with by his own accord, there was nothing requiring Richard's attention. Perfect, considering he really could use a drink after his business with Daniel.

The prince walked around, skimming the edge of the room; excusing himself around the few people whom he crossed. After reaching the table of refreshments, Richard retrieved a fresh cup, chose from the few pitchers of wine, and poured himself a helping. He swished the fragrant drink around in the cup, inspecting it closely and even sniffing it before deeming it acceptable and sipping the bittersweet spirit. It was a rather pointless action, as he was not about to let the quality affect whether he would drink it at a time like this. All that would keep him would quite possibly be anything at the level of-or worse than-a fly in the liquid.
Besides, once again, the cultural epicenter of Southern Donersland delivers.

Alice was more than just a little bit flustered. The two ladies danced together but her mind was still a few minutes behind.

The young lady bit her lip, looking as though she still had something on her mind. Such would be confirmed as she opened her mouth...
...only to close it again. Frustrated, she tried again, closing it once more before the words could come out.

After taking another moment to find the proper wording, she sighed and tried one more time. She succeeds.

"M-Maira," Alice begins, still stumbling over the words. "Richard..how is-...how is he? Like...what kind of~ of person is he?"

She removes a hand from her friend and nervously fixes her silky, blonde hair behind her right ear.

"He seems kind of~..."-

Richard stands, taking small tastes of his wine; savoring it, conserving it. Unbeknownst to him, Anne slowly inches closer. She may have been looking in a totally different direction but she knew what she wanted...the weak points at Richard's sides were the little girl's target...
Just before she could get within arms reach, however, Richard turned and immediately stared down at his younger sister, glaring daggers...


-"...different..."

"ICH WÜRDE AUF JEDEN FALL NICHT, WENN ICH DU WÄRE!"

"I mean...well, haven't you been there before? Like, are all Lingerian boys like that?"