Loyal Knight

*"Tonight I wish to look worthy of you."*

## Storyline

The Listener prepares for the Winter's Crest ball with their personal guard,*Talga* (name spelling unconfirmed) greets them and goes through a long list of preparations and decisions that need to be made before the ball tonight.

Regarding their wardrobe for the evening, he reports several possible outfits have been prepared and ordered from the tailor, though court diplomats have advised they should avoid wearing shades of red as they don't want to allude to the "the issues with our neighbors". Though the ball is a formal occasion, they will also have a separate, more casual outfit for the evening that they can wear when hosting honored guests in their study

He then goes through the list of attendees for tonight's ball. Runikan noble families have been invited, with the Highwinters, Vasets, and Crax families being highlighted, as well as high ranking guildpersons from around the realm. Surprisingly, the Rapturian Theocracy is sending a diplomatic delegation. This complicates matters since this is something they rarely do and they are still at war with their "neighbors" having made 18 incursions over the last month against them.

The seating arrangements are decided since whoever the Listener chooses to sit next with will have political implications. They make a "beautiful decision" according to their guard and he makes a note of it before moving onto a topic he finds awkward. He reports that they have numerous requests from suitors asking for the attention and favor. This appears to shock the monarch but *Talga* isn't surprised since they are single and haven't shown interest in anyone in particular. The Listener seems to go off topic and asks their guard where he will be sitting but he laughs it off, saying he will not be attending as a seated guest since he's in charge of security.

He briefly turns their attention to deciding on the menu for the evening which, again, will have political implications, especially with the Rapturians in attendance. No decision is made as of yet since there's one more thing to determine. The Listener has a choice to select a dance partner for the final part of the ball. Though a list of suitable nobles has been prepared ahead of time, they tell *Talga* that they are not choosing anyone on it. He begins to apologize for being so unprepared but they interrupt by saying *he* will be their dance partner. He protests that it is completely inappropriate, a knight dancing with the the one they're appointed to protect, and would cause a scandal. However, he admits that as a monarch . Amid much blushing and flustered speech he excuses himself to prepare for the ball, not as their head of security but as their chosen partner.

## Personality

As the head guard for the monarch of Runika, *Talga* tries to act as professionally and efficiently as possible to ease the burden of ruling the Listener must carry. He expects the highest standards of behavior from himself and others who work for the crown. He takes any failure to meet those standards very personally, as if they are complete failures on his part. Though all major decisions are, of course, in the Listener's purview he is opinionated on several aspects of courtly life and will let his thoughts slip into conversation.

When it comes to the Listener he strives for a professional, conservative approach. He does admire them as a ruler and is highly complimentary towards them, trusting their final judgement in several matters, even ones that he finds inappropriate.

## Trivia

### Loyal Knight

* The art used in the thumbnail is the same as the one used for Lorcan's audio.
* Does not trust Rapturians ("I would sooner meet them with the sword than the olive branch").
* Acts like the secretary for the Runikan royal.

### The Listener

The same as the the Listener in the Royal Spymaster article.

* Appears to be an experienced ruler who has a mind of their own. They find avoiding red in their wardrobe for political reasons silly, are shocked by the amount of suitors clamoring for their attention, and has to make several politically important decisions by the end of the audio. Though they are well aware of how their choice of dance partner will appear to the court they stick to their choice. They are also very forgiving of *Talga's* lapses in professionalism.

### Others

* The disgraced Highwinter family will be seated far away from any "sensitive" persons during the ball.
* The Crax family are considered minor nobility but they are invited to the ball for assisting mages who fled to the north

### Fan Theories

* The Listener chose their guard as a dance partner to give themselves extra security against the assassin that the Royal Spymaster said would be at the ball.
* This ball takes place in the past of Sarrus (before the ***Arrogant Prince*** arc) as there have been several magical purges in the continent confirmed by Thalvich meaning they are not the "false queen".

## Audio References

See **The Spymaster's Gambit** playlist here.

1. ↑ our Loyal Knight Prepares You For the Ball
2. ↑ A Night With Your Royal Spymaster