The worst part of the war, perhaps, was that Aven had been caught completely unawares. With their pants down, so to speak. They had had a treaty with Farrantil, and so had had little to no guardposts along the shared border. This meant that when the attack came, Farrantil had marched deep into Aven by the time Evander's father had been able to muster the troops enough to give any real resistance. That was why the war had gone on for so long. Evander's father, Theodore, had been killed three years into the war, leaving Evander to lead for the next four.
As a Sceivanian, it was difficult when it came to the war in Aven. Dacian recalled also being worried about the east border with one if their own enemies as tensions began to rise around the time Farrantil invaded Aven. His older brothers and brother-in-laws had to go and protect their own border. Their king was focused on trying to prevent them from facing a fate like their allies all while attempting to secretly send support. Most of his earlier memories about it were foggy since he was only sixteen and could finally read a whole Avenian paper without much trouble. He started to read a lot about the country, getting incredibly fascinated with every page he read, but his heart always sunk at seeing the latest on the war. It felt crushed at hearing about the towns and villages being destroyed or seeing the ambassador grieve. He wondered if his heart is staying afloat or sinking deeper. What is King Evander's heart doing? Floating or sinking?
Evander was doing his best. Whether he was floating or sinking now…well. He was doing his best to stay afloat, but with the monster always clawing for release, it was like trying to swim with bags of bricks tied to his feet. He could stay above the water for a while, but eventually he would slip beneath the surface, exhausted. It was already happening. This ball was his last gasp above water, he could feel it in the way exhaustion pulled at him, the way the beast roamed just beneath his skin, waiting eagerly for his control to slip even for a moment.
So much was floating around in his mind, and it made the ability for his mind to drift away more feasible. Dacian was only able to get back to the present when one of the ambassadors in his little circle laughed. Though he was not sure what was going on, he managed to force a small chuckle. He pulled out a handkerchief his mother had given him, then used it to lightly dab against his forehead. In the corner of his eye, he was able to see the king from afar. To him it was clear that he was struggling, but with what? How is nobody else noticing or are they just ignoring it? The king's words replayed in his mind and yet it only made him feel worse about the while situation. He really wondered he could do, if he was able to in one way or another.
The ball was beginning to start in earnest now, as Evander had spoken to many of the people there already, and the wide expanse of the dance floor was slowly beginning to fill. Evander himself was not yet dancing; who knew if he actually would? Too often, whoever he danced with got the wrong idea and thought of it as akin to a marriage proposal, considering he was a young, handsome, single king, without any sort of engagement at all.
When he realized that the dancing portion was about to begin, Dacian had walked to the side away from the dance floor. While he loves dancing, despite always watching his feet, he really does not have anyone to dance with. He isn't close with anyone yet for him to go and ask. If he were to dance with someone, there would be a good chance that he'd engage in a conversation with them. He isn't sure if many like that or not. Probably not.. Besides, it is quite lovely to just stand back and watch. Thankfully there were others who were doing the same.
Evander stood to the side, quietly conversing with one of his advisors; a short, older man with a thick mustache and short, close-cropped hair. Evander, taller than the man by a full head and shoulders, bent just a little so as to be able to speak with him easier, a calm, placid smile on his face as he spoke.
Dacian could feel the corners of his lips spread further apart as he watched people danced. The mellifluous music filled the air. Beautiful dresses swaying. His eyes lit up as he observed from where he stood. It felt as if he was staring at a moving painting. The scene is just so goregous to him and it made him reminisce about the ones back at home. If only he did have someone to dance with now, that would be even better.
(gonna have someone approach Dacian~)
One of the young noblewomen approached Dacian with a shy smile on her face. "Would you, ah, care to dance, ambassador?" she asked. She had pale brown hair bound back into a bun, and a long, emerald dress. A necklace hung around her neck. The only incongruous part of her was the scar that arched from the left side of her jaw all the way down her neck and along her shoulder.
It was like as if the spirits above were listening to him. He noticed that the noblewoman was walking up to him. She looked beautiful and her dress was lovely as well. At first, he took a glance around the ballroom. When his eyes laid back on the noblewoman, he nodded in response to her question. Dacian held out his right hand and said, "Of course, it would be an honor, my lady."
She took his hand, a soft smile on her lips. "My thanks." She said. "I'm Celeste Marin, by the way, though I'm afraid that I cannot quite remember your name?" She didn't say it as an insult, just as something she had forgotten and needed to be reminded.
Dacian had only taken a few steps closer towards the dance floor before stopping. Turning his head to look into Lady Marin's eyes, he smiled, "Well, it is a pleasure to meet and to dance with you, Lady Marin." For a second, he chuckled but gave an understanding nod. "No worries, my lady, you are not the first to say this. I am Dacian Alexandrescu of Sceivania, obviously."
"Obviously." She echoed with a laugh, following him out onto the dance floor. "It's nice to meet you, Ambassador Alexandrescu." Her smile was soft and easy as they began to dance.
Dacian laughed alongside Lady Marin. With a gentle beam, he bowed his head before they began to dance. "I must thank you for asking to dance with me," He said. "Personally I thought I would not be dancing tonight." It was not long till his eyes did wander down to their feet. The only thing he hated about dancing was the worry of stepping on his dance partner's toes. Though, he gazed back up at Lady Marin, smiling.
She let out a quiet laugh. "Ah, well, I'm pleased you accepted. Most men would consider me far too forward, to approach them like that." She herself was a fair dancer; at least, she had yet to trip on her dress or step on Dacian's toes, so she had least had that advantage.
"Too forward…," He whispered to himself. His brows shot up in curiosity. Suppose that he cannot fully understand why, but he blank. Dacian shook his head. "Never mind them. It is best to be forward and direct, that way you can stand your ground, my lady," He stated. After offering a beam, he went back to focusing on his steps. "Besides, there is nothing wrong with asking them. You are a beautiful and kind lady after all."
She smiled again. "Many thanks for the compliment, ambassador." She replied, inclining her head to him. She continued to dance with him, calm and quiet for a while.
He gave a slight head bow in response. Dacian glanced up, briefly looking around at the others on the dance floor. In the mist of a crowd, he saw the king for a second. Pulling his gaze away, he glanced back down at his feet. As the new moments passed by, he danced along with her and enjoying the music that played along. And though he kept making sure that he wouldn't step on her, he smiled, enjoying himself.
Evander eventually got out onto the dance floor, dancing with one of the ladies of the court. He was quiet while he danced, not making much conversation with his dance partner. He didn't need to, nor did he very much want to.
Every now and then, Dacian would glimpse over at the king. He was not sure why, but he felt as if he had to. It most likely was just the worried that has been in him since he first arrived. Shaking his head, he went back to focusing on dancing. Focusing in hopes of calming his worries down. On the other hand, he couldn't help but pray internally for King Evander. Maybe that is all he can do for him.
As the song drew to a close, Lady Marin manuevered back towards the edges of the crowd. "I should not take up all of your time, ambassador. Be assured, though, that many of the lords or ladies here would be perfectly accepting of dancing with you, should you ask." she curtseyed as the song ended.
Dacian bowed after giving a quick grin. "Indeed, I shall remember that. Again, thank you very much, Lady Marin," He said. A few strands of hair fell in front of his field of vision as he stood back up. Letting out a gentle sigh, he did his best to tuck them away before walking away before the next song began.
Evander finished his dance as well, and left the dance floor to stand at the side, quiet and contemplative as he watcehd those who were still dancing. Even if he didn't find these balls as enjoyable as many others did, he liked to watch those who were. It was a good reminder of why he had done what he had done.
Standing off to the side again, he kept on watching just like before. He did watch the others that were still on the dance floor, but his focus tend to wander around at the ones who were on the sides like him. With his arms crossed, Dacian was gazing around, looking at some of the other ambassadors. Lady Marin's words replayed in his head, though he was still unsure of who he could ask to dance with him.
Evander eventually spotted Dacian again, but was unsure if he should approach the ambassador or not. It would be rude to not speak with him again, but right now, most people were dancing, and he wasn't sure if Dacian would be interested in that.
While he let his eyes wander around and about, they laid back on King Evander once again. He had to squint a little to see him, but he found him. In a way, he found it odd that the king was alone, especially now at a ball like this. Dacian bit his bottom lip, unsure of what to do, and yet found himself ambling over. "Not much of a dancer, Your Majesty?" He asked as he stood beside.
Evander looked up. "Hm? Ah, no, not really." He replied, flashing a faint smile towards Dacian. "I'm not as great at it as many of my court are."
"Really?" Dacian turned slightly to look at the king, but his gaze lowered to the floor. A small trail of laughter escaped from his lips while his right index finger tapped against his leg. "I am surprised, usually great fighters are able to be great dancers. Maybe it just is myth I heard," He shrugged, chuckling again. "Do you enjoy dancing though, Your Majesty?"
Evander laughed a little bit. "Ah, well, I'm not one of them." it was a lie. He was a good dancer, he just didn't generally enjoy it, because, well, his enjoyment of it was based generally on who he was dancing with. "I enjoy dancing with the right partner." he said after a moment, not seeming to realize that the statement could be taken as flirting.
All Dacian was able to do was smile as the king laughed. For some reason, it made him happy seeing King Evander in such a state. "Ah, I see." He gazed out onto the dance floor, going back from observing the dancers to the king. His eyes widened as his cheeks lightly flushed. And though his mouth was open, he wasn't sure what to say. He shook his head. "Well, would you like to dance with me then, Your Majesty?" He asked. "I suppose I dance well, though due to my position as an official, it is up to you."
