Preparing for Yule

[Elyscia Demarais]

Elyscia had gotten ready for the Yule ball fairly early. She had been a part of the committee that planned and decorated for the ball, so she wanted to make sure everything was perfect and all of the final touches had been made.

She knew a lot of the ladies planned on wearing red and green gowns for the holiday, so she decided to be a little different and wore a Champaign- nearly gold gown that had a shear textured overlay, nearly looking like it sparkled. The sleeves were shear and could see her slender arms through them. Around her waist was a gold belt. Her long brown hair flowed loosely to the middle of her back and she wore a paper-eucalyptus crown that Anemone had made for her.

When she arrived in the ballroom, she wandered around quietly inspecting all of the decorations and the work that had been done. It was lovely and she was pleased with how everything had turned out.

Elyscia just couldn't help but feel nervous, however, and she didn't know why. Her sister, Cassandra, would be there with her, so the evening wouldn't be a complete bore. But she wasn't entirely sure what to do with herself currently. She was engaged but had only met the man once and it had been a disaster. He left suddenly (she had heard it was because his brother died)  and she wondered if she had heard of the passing of King Edward and if he would even return. She wouldn't blame him if he didn't, but at least sending word would help put her at ease. Her whole life felt as if it were on hold and she was afraid to enjoy herself because if she found someone else that she ended up caring for, and Kaiden did return-- well, she figured things would get tricky and too dramatic for her liking. So she simply just waited around. Either for his return or his word that he would not be.

As she wandered around the room, she quietly and carefully made little adjustments here and there, humming to herself as she did so. The ball would be starting in about a half hour or so, and she imagined that people would start arriving soon.

[for Kaiden Dellario]

[Kaiden Dellario]

Kaiden had been quite busy. His brother's unexpected and untimely death had put quite a lot of things on hold. His adventures, his military career, his time in Tresteria, his engagement. The man hadn't forgotten about any of these things.

He had intended to returned sooner. A month ago. With that intention in mind, he hadn't sent word. He should have, very likely, at least deigned to inform the woman he was tentatively engaged too, an arrangement made by the King himself. Despite the justifiable distraction of tending to his family and other concerned that, however, Kaiden found he was a little embarrassed with himself and in the market for forgiveness.

Tresteria was in a much less organized state when he returned than when he had left. He learned quickly enough upon debarking that the King was dead. The actual stories he heard of the event differed drastically but all of them centered around the wedding of Aric and Alexandria and Edward being murdered. Some say he'd gone mad, some say he was poisoned, no one agreed on who did it, most agreed he had deserved it in the end. Kaiden hadn't had much of an opinion on the man. Compared to the king of Ithias, he was not such a grounded nor such an honest man. But until the stories surrounding his death alluded to it, Kaiden hadn't thought him a particularly evil man. Perhaps this would be better for Tresteria. For the Prince.

Through all of that, however, Kaiden saw an opportunity. As a foreigner, he wasn't so naive as to expect a regency. His family was important enough on Ithias, cousins of the monarch. He was a well respected and well known soldier in his own right in Tresteria, enough that the King himself had offered the hands of one of his cousins. Still, it would take a lot more work to reach that height. But there was more opportunity there.

Regardless, it started with an apology and a gift.

The nobleman made for the royal castle, somewhat resigned and tired from his travels. He requested to be presented to Elyscia Demarias and found himself in the entryway to the hall. He had...forgotten about the Yule celebrations. He wasn't from here.

"Lady Demarais?"

[Elyscia Demarais]

One of the servants had approached her, offering her one of the hors'deourves that would be passed around throughout the event. She gladly accepted and stuffed it into her mouth, not thinking anyone else was around. She hummed a sound of delight at the taste of it and nodded to the servant as if approving of it. The woman walked off and she suddenly heard the voice call for her from behind.

Startled, she let out a small shriek and quickly turned, not sure who or what to expect but to see Kaiden was the last thing she had expected. She froze, drawing a hand up to her mouth to cover it as she tried to finish chewing what was in her mouth, currently unable to speak, regardless of whether or not there was food stuffed in there. It gave her a moment to think, and when she was finished, she removed her hand and smiled. Her lips parted but her voice cracked briefly. Elyscia cleared her throat and smiled again. "Excuse me." She let out a nervous laugh, "My lord Dellario... You are back?"

She tried to push down her nervousness and the slight disappointment, (or maybe it was confusion?) and replace it with a polite and cheery mask as she moved a little closer to him so she would not have to speak loudly to be heard. "Just in time for the Yule Ball... If you would like to attend?" It was quite obvious in the way that Elyscia was dressed, that she was planning on attending. But she wasn't sure when Kaiden returned, had it been a while ago, or was he just returning now? He looked tired. Her smile faltered slightly. "I'm sorry... When did you return? Surely you had a long trip and would rather rest than join in on our silly traditions..." She waved her hand as if motioning to the decorated hall and dismissing it. She forced a smile and looked away from him, biting down on her lower lip, mostly because this was so horribly awkward for her and she was rambling.

Elyscia forced herself to look back at him and she smiled as if whatever she had just rambled on about hadn't happened, "how are you, my lord?  Welcome back." 

[Kaiden Dellario]

He was...a little bit alarmed at the sound. And embarrassed. There was an instinctive urge to make a terribly crude and possibly cute joke about her eating habits and her mouth being full but she seemed nervous already and they didn't really know each other and this was a public hall. Kaiden decided to keep it to himself. The nobleman waited in the awkward silence as she finished her snack, a bit of an awkward smile on his face to match her nervous laugh.

This was starting to feel familiar. Hadn't he mangled their first meeting in a similarly awkward manner?

Kaiden nodded rather than answer verbally, again not sure about his sense of humor compared to this near stranger. Of course he was back, he was standing here. She didn't seem particularly excited. Not that he had expected as much. In fact, that she hadn't run away upon seeing him was a good sign. "Tonight, I take it?" He glanced at her dress, lovely, sheer, drawing the eyes up to her equally lovely face and then the man looked down at his own clothes. Nice enough, certainly, and not the travel leathers he had worn as he had stopped by his home first to make himself presentable, but his current attire, while neat and appropriate for court, was not designed for a formal party.

He wasn't a pushy conversationalist by any means and preferred to consider his words. By the time he finished his evaluations, she was asking him about when he had returned. That seemed slightly more pressing to reply to, all things considered. "This morning," he said quickly. "I only just returned from my home." Well, that was vague. "From my manor here. I wanted to apologize for my lack of attention to our engagement. My brother's untimely death left rather a lot to...see to." He had some choice words for his brother about the deals the man had entered into but that was neither here nor there. The man stepped forward and pulled a small box from a pocket and presented it to Elyscia. "I never gave you anything to commemorate our engagement, everything happening so quickly." When she took the box, he added. "If that will be continuing?" Even he wasn't sure exactly where that left them, but he did feel he owed her something.

"I am a little tired but well, all things considered. Yourself?," he asked, trying to smile a bit more confidently.

Should the lady open the box, it contained two pieces. The first, of course, a ring. It was a delicate thing crafted of new bronze shaped in slender intertwining twigs, the ends of a few set with pale aquamarine gemstones. There was also a matching necklace, in the same brilliant bronze, reflecting a few connected branches. It almost matched her current attire. He was actually grateful her color scheme was a bit more in the yellows and brass tones or he would have felt a little on the nose.

[Elyscia Demarais]

She was actually mortified that Kaiden had caught her with her mouth full of food. Was it considered unlady-like? In her defense, however, he had caught her off guard and she was unsuspecting. Still, she was rather embarrassed but tried to hide it as best she could. Though, maybe the redness of her cheeks and the light pink blotches that were growing up her neck would give her away. Was it suddenly warm in the room?

At his question about the ball being tonight, she raised an eyebrow at him as if questioning, what ever gave that away? but she nodded in response. She caught him looking her over and then himself, and she figured he was considering his own attire and whether or not he was dressed appropriately for the event. "I... Don't think anyone will care if you are not dressed up completely." She gave him a genuine and reassuring smile.

He returned this morning, and he was already here seeking her out? Elyscia wasn't entirely sure what to think about that, except that it made him seem respectful of her and that he hadn't forgotten of the arrangement or her. Had he even thought of her while away?

In all honesty, she was a little shocked that he did return, and that he was here in front of her. He had every reason to leave and not come back. Their initial introductions had been horribly awkward and a disaster, why would he wish to return? What was even more surprising to her, then, was that he was suddenly apologizing for his lack of attention to their engagement. Her brows furrowed in confusion and her lips parted to say something, but Kaiden seemingly wasn't finished. Her lips pulled into a tight line and she nodded in understanding. "I was sorry to hear about your brother." She lifted a hand to rest on her chest in an endearing, sympathetic notion because she truly meant that. It would seem they had something in common now--They both lost someone in their family recently.

Her green eyes watched as he stepped forward and handed her the box. She looked at him curiously and with a confused expression. "You didn't need to get me something..." She took the box and held it for a moment, her eyes studying him after he questioned if their engagement would be continuing. The question rendered her rather speechless and her breath caught in her throat for a moment. "I..." Her voice cracked slightly, and she wasn't really certain how to respond to that. So, she just sort of stared at him for a long moment, as if doing so would create words for her to speak.

Finally, she looked away from him and down, her eyes staring at the box in her hands. She could feel her skin on her face and neck burning. Why was it so warm in here? "...I did not think... I had a choice?" King Edward had made it quite clear that she didn't. With her brother being banished from Tresteria, and both her parents dead, it was just her and Cassandra. Cass was already married and perhaps leaving to live in Aralore once her husband died. Elyscia had nothing left to her name, and so marriage was her only option to keep any sort of life for herself.

When he answered her question, she returned her gaze to him and nodded. "Perhaps you should get some rest. I'm... Surprised you came here before doing so. To see me?" She looked at him curiously, her question a bit lacking in confidence because she did not want to come across as conceited or that she expected him to drop everything to find her and apologize for his lack of attention to their engagement.

She looked back down at the box and smiled softly. It was endearing that he had thought to get her something and she felt guilty that she hadn't done the same. "I'm sorry-- I did not get you anything." She looked back at him apologetically. "I honestly... Wasn't sure if you would be returning... Especially after hearing of the king's death?" Elyscia wasn't sure if he heard, but she'd be surprised if he hadn't--It was all anyone was ever talking about.

Her slender fingers opened the box carefully and she allowed her eyes to linger over the ring and necklace. They were simple, elegant, unique, and beautiful. Exactly something that would catch her attention over all the fancy, larger jewels. Most noblemen flaunted that around by giving large, expensive, flashy jewelry, and she found herself appreciating that he hadn't. Green eyes lifted to look at him again and she smiled. "They are beautiful and lovely... Thank you."

[Kaiden Dellario]

As funny as it was, he decided maybe it would be best to be a little more...appropriate. He was still a little worn out from the events of the past few months anyway. "Oh, good." He did like dressing up. But he wasn't certain he had time to return home just to change.

Kaiden nodded gratefully. He had not been close with his brother. Not recently, anyway. But it had been some of the last close family he had. All the more reason to come back here. He was someone here, not because of his relation to the royal family, but because he had earned it.

Whether he needed to get her anything was irrelevant to the gift. Whether they were still engaged was also irrelevant. She very definitely didn't need to get him anything either. He had intended to do something before and messed that up so now he really felt like he ought to do something. She was right though. At the time, she had not had a choice. And he was still interested in the advantage to marrying into a member of the royal family. Even distantly, she was important. "I respect King' Edwards wishes. However, since he passed, I see no reason to continue should either of us have reason not to." Kaiden studied her for a moment. He wasn't about to put up with a frustrated wife that hated him, after all.

"To see you," he affirmed, still a bit apologetic. He had not really thought about her. Well, he had a few times, when he recalled briefly the live he would be returning to. But he had been distracted and after one poor introduction that he had gone over quite a few times in his head, he had determined that it was a poor reflection of both of them. Which left him back to square one, without much to go on.

He simply smiled and shook his head as she mentioned not getting him something. "Ah, it is my turn to feel for your loss, my lady. I had heard some stories. I am uncertain what to believe..." It was an open invitation to explain should he wish, but certainly that was a conversation for another time. So were his other questions about the state of the kingdom. Perhaps after the Yule Ball.

It wasn't a proposal by any means and Kaiden didn't expect her to wear the ring all the time. He'd very much prefer to get to know her before something of that caliber. The jewelry was certainly expensive. Not extravagantly so, but it was rather fine metal working courtesy of his homeland. Exotic, if nothing else. He would have offered to help her put them on, if she wished but he still felt...awkward. He made a different offer instead. "Might I escort you tonight, Lady Demarais?"

[Elyscia Demarais]

Those same awkward emotions and feelings were swarming her mind currently as they stood there. They knew nothing of each other, yet, Elyscia still felt she owed the man a chance, especially since he returned and was standing in front of her, giving her beautiful jewelry. She imagined it was made in his homeland because it did not appear to be Tresterian. He wouldn't know this, but she sort of appreciated that more than anything.

Kaidan was admitting that he respected the king's wishes to marry. I see no reason to continue should either of us have a reason not to. Bright green eyes widened slightly as she looked at him with a bit of surprise. Elyscia wasn't really certain on how to respond to that. She wasn't sure what he meant. Was he asking her if she had moved on? Had someone else in her life she was more interested in? Had a life that didn't need him involved? She wondered the same about him, only he seemed to still want the marriage. Maybe? Was she sensing that correctly? It was all so confusing to her. She realized she hadn't said anything in response--mostly because she did not know what to say. "I..." She hesitated, the expression she wore made it quite clear that she wasn't sure. "I do not wish for you... or myself to be unhappy? Forced into something we hardly know..." It was the only reason, at the moment, that she could think of to continue on with their engagement. Or at least postpone it so they could perhaps get to know one another and see if it was worth pursuing.

Her featured softened a bit as he admitted he came here to see her, that apologetic tone in his voice. She smiled, turning her gaze down and away from him as she looked down at the jewelry in her hand. It wasn't until he mentioned her 'loss' did she return her attention to him. It was hardly a loss. The man had gone completely insane and had hurt quite a handful of people. She frowned and decided that this was not the place to speak of the matter, so she just nodded, "thank you, my lord. It was a bit shocking and there are quite a few rumors going around." She would at least confirm that there were several versions of what happened to swarm the palace grounds.

Green eyes shifted back down to the jewelry and she was about to ask if he would mind putting the necklace on her, but instead, he was asking if he could escort her. She, once again, looked at him with a bit of surprise. Her lips pulled into a smile and she nodded. "Sure." Elyscia studied him for a brief moment before she spoke again, "so then you will come?"

She looked back at the jewelry and smiled, her cheeks turning a light shade of pink before she glanced at him again. "Would you mind?" She pulled the necklace out of the box and held it out to him. "I think it matches my dress quite nicely... And if you are willing to escort me, then I would at least like to wear it." After he'd take the necklace, she turned around and pulled her hair out of the way and over her shoulder, exposing the back of her neck so he would be able to get the clasp on without her hair being there. "Thank you, by the way." She couldn't remember if she thanked him for the jewelry yet. Her mind felt like such a whirlwind of thoughts.

[Kaiden Dellario]

Her silence led him to believe either she didn't understand or she didn't wish to continue their engagement. Except she had accepted his presents. Not that that was binding by any means. "I wouldn't wish unhappiness on anyone," he agreed. "Perhaps, for now, we don't need to set any dates? And being that I am home, we can get to know each other properly?" Certainly her relation to the royal family was attractive. But to ignore it would be like saying her beauty wasn't attractive. There didn't need to be other reasons to marry, being that they were nobility, but Kaiden would prefer they not be unhappy. He would prefer they both be happy. Maybe that was a little unconventional, but so was any previous promise, now that the King that had made that promise was dead.

He wondered if he should propose to her more dramatically on the spot. But this was already awkward. It might be best to save such things for whenever they were ready for a date. If they were ready.

It was hard to read her when it came to the old King. She didn't give very much away, on her feelings of the events. But he imagined he would hear enough about it later. Until then he still wasn't sure what to think.

"Of course. When are the festivities to start?" Kaiden stepped forward as she mentioned the necklace, smiling slightly. He took it from her and carefully looped bis arms around her neck briefly to attach the clasp. It did mean a lot that she asked. "I promise the matching is a fortunate accident," he joked a bit more easily. He took half a step back but stayed a bit closer to her.

"You're very welcome, my lady," he said. He glanced around the space. Besides a few servants it was still just the two of them. "Perhaps we can sit down somewhere and get to know each other for a moment? If I'm to introduce you as my fiance, I should like to talk frankly for a moment. Unless you are busy?"

[Elyscia Demarais]

Elyscia wasn't totally dismissing him or their engagement, she just wasn't certain of it. She did not know Kaiden and if he had good or bad intentions. Cassandra had been forced to marry someone far too old for her, but he was a kind man who treated her very well. While she cared for him, she had been denied the ability to be in love with someone--to start a family. These were things in the back of her own mind that worried her. She did not want to give up her life for marriage.

She couldn't help but smile when Kaiden spoke, agreeing with her. She nodded to him, her smile remaining on her lips. "I like that idea very much..." Her green eyes lifted to meet his own and she pulled her lower lip inward, biting down on it slightly as she was feeling nervous. "Thank you, my lord... I appreciate that you are willing to give this more time..."

As he fastened the necklace around her neck, she remained quiet, not yet answering his question about when the ball would be starting. At his comment on the matching being a fortunate accident, Elyscia laughed and turned around to face him again. Her hand lifting to touch the necklace. "How does it look?"  Her eyes turned downward towards the box still in her hand, where the ring was, and she wondered if she should put it on or not.  He had not specified if it was her engagement ring or not, and she felt too foolish to ask.  But without knowing, she wasn't certain which finger to wear it on.  She removed the ring and set the box down on the table and pondered for a moment as she stared down at the ring in her hand.  Finally, she placed the ring on her right ring finger and smiled, inspecting how it looked on her hand for a moment before looking at him.  "I will move the ring to the proper finger once we know for certain if marriage is something we both still wish to pursue... If that is okay with you?"  

Her eyes followed his as he glanced around the room, but they were quick to return to him as he spoke again. For a brief moment, she considered it, looking back at the room to see if there was anything that she really needed to do. "I'm sure I could spare some time for you. The ball doesn't start until dusk," she finally answered him, smiling softly at him. "Did you wish to sit in here, or go somewhere else?"
There were tables set up around the room that they could sit at, but the servants were still working around the room to get things ready and she wasn't sure if he would mind having them around or if he preferred a quieter setting.

[Kaiden Dellario]

Though neither of them could know it in that moment, they shared a lot of the same concerns. Likely to different degrees, but they were thoughts that would need tending to eventually. He didn't have the same experience she had in her sister but he didn't want to give up his life either.

Kaiden found the silence a little awkward again. But he was starting to realize maybe they were both trying a little too hard in the moment. The man took jer invitation to look her over and smiled. "Lovely," he admitted simply. Best to give Elyscia time to think and not stress overly. She was doing quite a lot not to offend him, what with accepting his escort and wearing the necklace. She considered the ring now too and he had to bite his lip to keep from telling her she didn't need to. Maybe it was best to leave it vague for now. And it was her ring to decide to wear or not wear. "Or I'll get you something else if I really like you," he joked hesitantly.

"Wherever the lady prefers," he said. Here or elsewhere didn't bother him. Servants weren't going to disturb any conversation he might have. He wanted to be a bit more...casual. Less proper. Because he felt more than a little awkward.

[Elyscia Demarais]

Elyscia smiled a little when he admitted she looked lovely with the necklace on. It wasn't the most enthusiastic compliment ever, and she wondered if he had just said it to be kind, but she wasn't certain if anything more would have made her feel a bit uncomfortable, so she appreciated the simpleness of his compliment.

However, at his hesitant joke, Elyscia looked at him with eyes widened slightly in surprise, mostly because she hadn't expected him to say something of the sorts. She wasn't really expecting anything from him but felt flattered he was thinking ahead. She took a deep breath and rather than get dismissive or offended by it, she decided to joke along with him, her tone obvious that she was, "it's not very hard to like me..." She laughed softly then shrugged her shoulders. Elyscia hardly ever spoke highly of herself, but she liked to think that she was a genuine and kind woman that was easy to get along with. Their initial meeting had been on a bad day, caught her off guard, had been horribly awkward and she wasn't in the right state of mind. They had gotten off on the wrong foot, perhaps.

As Kaiden left the decision up to her on where to go, she glanced around the room and thought for a moment. If they stayed here, there would be others around and safer, perhaps. But, on the other hand, going for a walk might be distracting enough to ease some of the awkwardness between them. She looked back at him and spoke quietly. "It might start to get louder in here with them preparing and setting things up. Maybe we can go for a walk and find a place to sit?"

[Kaiden Dellario]

Kaiden worried he'd said something wrong with the joke, from her expression. Certainly he was being a little...unorthodox, but being polite and proper with a stranger who might one day be his wife...there was only so much of that he could take when things were so awkward. He had simply meant it for what it was. He returned her brief laughter with a smile. "I hope I'm not too hard to like either?" Kaiden didn't think so, but he had been away for a while and any friends he had had were now distant. He supposed that was his own fault. Or is brother's.

Of the little he knew of Elyscia Demarais, she was a quiet and gentle woman. It wasn't saying very much, perhaps, but it certainly didn't suggest she would be difficult to like. Provided he went about things a bit more proactively. And with less drinking. He'd been his own sort of nervous upon meeting her the first time and also caught off guard. Regardless, it was a moment he decided to dwell on. This time, as strained as the conversation was, it was a lot better.

He nodded. "A walk sounds splendid." A place to sit down even better, especially with the prospect of a ball and socializing and dancing in his future. But he wasn't that exhausted. Kaiden offered Elyscia his arm, that he might accompany her more directly. A bit formal, but also much more closely and personally, in a way. He would let her lead, however, since she knew the castle better than himself.

"I understand you are a lady in waiting for the Queen Mother. I imagine that has been...trying recently?" It wasn't a very deep question, perhaps, but it was a start. He realized Eleesa was not the Queen, but she was still attached to the royal line by way of her sons. Nor was he certain how close Eleesa had been to the late king. If Elyscia's response to his condolences was any indication...not very, at least at the end.

[Elyscia Demarais]

Elyscia smiled at him and tilted her head to the side a bit as if studying him. "Hmm. We shall see," she lightly joked. At first impressions, she did not think she would like him much afterward. But he seemed a bit different this time around. In all honesty, she did not know what to think of him now. He hadn't really shown her much of his personality, except that he was thoughtful and kind, maybe even a little quiet himself. But she knew she could be totally off about him.

As he offered his arm, she smiled and took it, looping her arm around his and began their walk, feeling a bit awkward so close to the man she hardly knew and was to possibly marry. A moment of silence lingered between them before Kaiden decided to break the ice and began to ask questions.

Her small smile slowly faded and she nodded. "Yes, a bit trying. The queen has been rather upset for several reasons and rightfully so." Her shoulders lifted and fell in a quick shrug. "She is trying for regent so that she can hold the throne for her son and not allow just any corrupt man to teach her son wrongfully... But, the council doesn't want a woman on the throne." She sighed quietly and glanced down at the floor. It was frustrating no less--at least to be a woman in Tresteria.

She fell silent again for a moment before she turned her gaze and looked up to him, realizing how much taller he was than she. He nearly towered over her, and she couldn't help but let out a small laugh to herself. Then again, nearly everyone was much taller than she was.

"So, now that you are back in Tresteria...What do you have planned for yourself? Will you continue on in the military?" She looked up at him interested in his answer. "What is your home like? Do you miss being there?"

[Kaiden Dellario]

He was almost relieved she accepted his arm. It made things...less stiff between them, at least in his mind. Physical contact was comforting, even from a stranger.

His instincts about his question had been correct. Kaiden found himself in an interesting position at Elyscia's words. On one hand, he was a stranger to this country from a place with slightly more freedom for women and he was attempting to break traditions to prove himself. On the other hand, he was a man who valued traditions. If the Council wanted to stick to tradition, then he respected that. But it was also frustrating. He could tell his fiance felt quite strongly about it and since he wasn't certain how best to explain his own thoughts, he tried to keep it simple. "Perhaps, if that fails, she can find other prospects? Stack the deck in her favor. If the Council is going to select a man, one she trusts?" He couldn't imagine the idea hadn't crossed the queen's mind. But he felt it was a way to both offer his opinion and withhold it at once. Beyond that...he wasn't sure what to say except give her an unhelpful concerned look.

Her laughter after a moment confused him. He glanced at her and caught her look. He didn't think she was laughing at him but...he wasn't sure.

"I came her for the military," he confirmed. "And for now I intend to." Simple easy. He intended to talk to more people before he made up his mind. Perhaps it wasn't a very interesting or detailed answered. But sometimes things were simple. "Ithias?" Kaiden shrugged. "I don't have much by way of direct family. Cousins of course," he snorted softly. "But it's a lovely place. Quiet. Maybe a little too much. That was part of why I came here. A lot more adventure out in the world." He smiled, tone becoming much easier as he spoke.

[Elyscia Demarais]

Elyscia did not want to think about what things would look like if Eleesa was unable to claim the throne herself. At Kaiden's mention of her failing and his suggestion, Elyscia frowned and looked down at the floor, falling silent in thought. The thought of it all nearly made her sick to her stomach. King Edward had gotten bad--but if the regency fell into the wrong hands...Well, it was hard for her to even imagine. She felt for Queen Eleesa and her sons, and it pained her for what they were going through.

After a moment, Elyscia finally lifted her head and nodded. "Yes... My cousin, Triston deGrey... He is going to be trying to get regency. He is a good man and we are all sort of hoping for him. For young Edward's sake too..."

She listened as he confirmed he'd be continuing on with the military. It would mean she would not see a lot of him, she found herself thinking. The main base was on a separate island unless Kaiden was stationed on the smaller base here. She didn't ask, for now, not wanting to seem so eager to get rid of him already. She needed to keep reminding herself to be kind and to give him a chance. He deserved another chance.

Ithias sounded nice, and at first, she wondered why he would choose a place like this over his home. Elyscia felt that she would prefer the lovely quietness. But then Kaiden explained it was too quiet for him. She smiled softly and nodded. Yes, she was sure there was a lot more adventure out in the world, none that she had been able to see, unfortunately. "Do you have plans on continuing to travel elsewhere around the world?" She lightly questioned him, curious about his intentions and whether or not he planned on sticking around. She sighed quietly, "I have never left Tresteria before... I've always thought it would be nice to visit other lands. But, I'm afraid I don't think I am made much for the ocean." She laughed and shrugged her shoulders. The sea scared her, and she had a feeling that was Cassandra's fault--her poor sister was petrified of the ocean and sailing, and by association, Elyscia had only really heard horror stories.