Start of Succession Gala
"Looks like you are all prepared Master," Natali said, looking at Ryker with satisfaction. He is wearing a white dress shirt with a black over him. For his lower wear, he has a black dress pants with black shoes.
"Looking good Ryker. It's a shame we can't join you tonight," Ina said sadly. He did not want them to get involve with the succession competition. As long as they don't know who he is close with, there won't be any attempt on them, plus there are some serious security around the mansion.
"Still, I don't know you will be joining me, Natali," Ryker said. The servant wear her regular attire, thought there seem to be more decoration on it.
"Yes, after all, I am still a servant of the palace. I only send here by the King to help the Crown Prince maintained this mansion," she said with pride.
"In that case, let's get going,"
-x-
Their method of transport is by using a carriage, prepared by the Crown Prince. With how it was beautifully decorated, with gold and silver covering it.
As the two sit down, they talked among themselves.
"So, what will you do tonight, Natali?"
"I will escort you and led you to where you need to go. I will also help with your drinks and make sure your every need is satisfied during the Gala,"
"Hhmm, so, why you and not anyone else?"
"Mostly because I am the most senior servant the Crown Prince that is outside and the fact he consider you to be his strongest ally in the succession competition,"
"In that case, I will make sure to live to his expectation,"
As the two char, they reach the palace, to which a servant open the door before Natali exit first, followed by Ryker. As he watched the decorations all over the palace area, he had a grim smirk on his face.
After all, this will be the first formal affair he ever had, with the closest this to it being the date with Sophia, so he has zero experience. He is glad for the lesson or he would make a fool out of himself. And Lariz.
-x-
"So, should we met with the Crown Prince first, Master?" Natali asked, walking in front of him.
"Let's wait for a bit, when he is not surrounded by nobles trying to get him on their side," Ryker exclaimed, already seeing him being surrounded by the wolves- he meant nobles.
"True, we don't want to break any relation between the Crown Prince and the nobles. Let's get to the buffet table and have some refreshment and pastries," she said before easily weaving around the other guest.
Ryker decided to follow her, just at a slower pace or he would likely bump into someone. When he get to the buffet table, the servant already prepare a plate of desserts on a plate before walking in front of him.
Ryker smiled as he took one muffin and eat it. As he begin to eat, he watched the nobles conducting themselves. He also spot several people looking like they are out of place, likely, the supporters of the other people in the succession competition.
He then slowly walked away, heading towards Lariz, who now have less people around him. When he get close, he greeted the other man, "Hello, Your Excellency," Lariz has a large smile as he turn around.
"Looks like you made it, and you brought Natali as your private servant for the event," he said, eying the servant who had help him keep the mansion clean and respectable to his guests.
"Yes, I need some help in case I forget some formalities," Ryker replied before taking another muffin.
"If that is the case, then I don't mind," Lariz said before eying a large area filled with people.
"That's the dance floor. Only when there are dances the area will be vacated to allow people who want to dance, dance to their heart content," he explained.
"Will there be any dancing, because I suck at it," Ryker said truthfully.
"Unfortunately so, the Gala have dances as one of the event, and it is also a good place to show how well ones conduct is," Lariz said, making Ryker sighed in pain.
"Unfortunately, you cannot dance with your servant for this one. After all, with their clothing, it is not appropriate for them to do so, as they are the one that make sure the entire thing running," the other man said when he looked at Natali.
"Curse it, so, who can I dance with?" he asked.
"You have to ask anyone else, but it usually between opposite sex. So, you have to find another woman to dance with," Lariz said, making him rolled his eyes.
"Don't say it like I am cheating," Rykee mumbled before he prepared himself to avoid having to dance.
As he take some refreshment, one of the King's man began to announce the dance floor had been opened, causing him to wince. As he watched more and more people began to take the floor, he began to painfully realize how alone he look.
He decided to go to the buffet table and took some more desserts, after all, there are some people who possess less skill than him in dancing. Yet, as he weave through the crowd, a hand grabbed his.
He turned toward the person and have his eyes almost bulging. Right in front of him is one of the woman from the image the King had shown him before, his daughter, Dory.
The princess wore a sleeveless red dress, with halter neck. She also has an encrusted blue gem necklace, that complimented her eyes.
"What do I owe Her Excellency grace this evening?" he asked, going the polite route as he was not sure of the personality of the woman in front of her is.
Dory merely cocked her brows before asking him, "Are you a part of my eldest brother faction?"
"Well, I am not a part of his faction, but I am his allies for the succession," he explained.
"What is the difference?" she continued asking.
"I support him, but I am not his subordinate, well, I am his subordinates until I left the Kingdom," his answer make her look slightly confuse.
"What do you mean by that?" he merely smiled at the princess.
"I am a traveler, searching for something. This Kingdom is just one of the stop I make," he told her. After all, it is the truth and it did not divulge a lot of his plan.
"Hhhmm," seeing her seem to be thinking about something, Ryker was about to leave when the princess' grasp tighten.
"Would you have a dance with me?"