Thread: A Kingdom in Turmoil  (ThickLeaves x Sketchyequine)

While Charles listened to his recently betrothed his fork continued to play with his food, similarly to how a child might. His appetite was lacking and that wasnt exactly part of his common nature. When he looked to the dish it didnt seem any more appetizing than a mud-pie might look. He took a bite here or there simply to keep up the appearance, but he suffered through the meal nonetheless. He took a small piece of the beef and placed it in his mouth, removing it from the fork and chewing it, all the while his mind continued to process the words she spoke. She was beyond straightforward with her beliefs, she wasnt going to be a Queen that he could tell her plans or how to execute them, she was going to fight him at every turn that he could foresee. He couldnt tell if the current attitude he had was towards the female specifically or the situation that they were locked in. She never did a single thing to him, they had never even met before the wedding, yet for some reason he had this spite for her. He couldnt just hate her for no reason, whether the situation was a horrid one or not. He reached for the goblet, taking a large swig and savoring the sweet summer wine, letting it run its course at attempting to dull his senses. While the comment he made was more or less a joke, he still meant it. When he was a child he wanted parties, and festivals, and gatherings all the time. But something about this gathering just wasnt the same. He continued down the windy road within his head, believing that the hate must be towards everything. Whether he was proud to admit it or not, it mustve been. Well if that isnt the sweetest thing Ive heard you say I dont know what is. He muttered to himself as the female went on her way. While he certainly didnt feel love and affection for the female, he still quite admired her. She seemed like an interesting noble,and she wasnt the common princess that Charles expected to marry. He had expected someone who would do as they were told and sit back while the King worked with his council. Although at the same time he didnt hate Eliza, she was tough as a bull and that was rare in princesses, a quality he admired. Charles sat back at the throne, the fork dancing through the rummaged food as his eyes scanned the crowd. They seem cheerful, happy, content with the arrangement that had happened. With the war at an end, most of the people had the ability to go back to their lives, selling what they could, meeting with who they wanted, living their lives once again. This night proved that to be more than true, the lords and ladies danced and ate and drank to their hearts content almost as if the war never happened, as if hundreds of people didnt die for the feud between their houses. His eyes fell shut trying to stop his mind from racing with thoughts and memories. He knew the situation he was placed in was beyond miserable, yet he couldnt do anything about it. He didnt want to suffer through but his mind couldnt help itself from realizing how his entire life was changed with nothing to say about it. Charles eyes stopped at Eliza and her father as they were dancing and laughing, admiring their ability to see the light in the situation, the happiness in the situation even when Charles couldnt help but feel everything was ripped away from him. His lips twitched for a mere moment, forming the smallest hint of a smile before he pushed it back away. The conflict within him seemed almost more intense than the one between Eliza and himself. He stabbed his fork into a carrot, raising it to his mouth and pulling it off the fork with his teeth. Halfway through chewing the food he dropped the fork, the metal utensil hitting the plate as Charles pushed the chair out from behind him. He rose from the chair and straightened his back. For some reason part of him assumed the attention would divert to him, like he was deserving or needing of it. He cleared his throat and then began walking around the table, making his way to where everyone was gathered and celebrating. Charles approached Eliza, pushing through the nobles to reach her and her father. He wanted to understand and feel her ability to find the light, he wanted to enjoy the party on the same level that she was. Or at the very least try to see things the way that the Blackburns were, it wouldnt hurt him. At least he didnt think that it could, but he had been wrong in the past. The risk in this scenario seemed more than worth it, it could improve relations with Eliza, hopefully in turn with her father as well, and on top of that it could show the public that the pair were a true duo rather than two individuals who sat together. A smile crept to his lips as he cleared his throat once again, this time with the primary goal to get the attention of the crowd, but most importantly his newly betrothed. Eliza, my dear. May I have a dance. His skin felt hot as the words slithered past his lips. He expected a positive response, yet part of him still hoped for a negative one. The tension between them would be rough, and he didnt see an end to it in the near future, but he still hoped for happiness and peace in at least the public eye.