Midsummer's Ball (Calmay)

[{{Roxï-kun-+]

swaying to my own sound
Flashes in my face now

I stood off to the side in the great ballroom as music played and blue bloods danced with partners. I hadn't wanted to be at the Summer Ball and had been planning to sneak out but, of course, to no luck. My eyes scanned over the crowd, remembering that not only nobles were present as well as some townspeople from the kingdom were here as well. A small sigh of boredom threatened to come from my lips and I held it back, knowing my dear parents were probably ready to pounce on me for anything I could do wrong. Which, like most people knew, was many things. I wore my long multicolored hair in a beautiful style thanks to my favorite lady-in-waiting, though I could say less about my dress. I had nothing against but, well, it wasn't my kind of dress. Actually, I just didn't like dresses in general. This dress was floor length, the proper length for nobles, and was at least black in color. It had no straps and a skinny and silver sparkled midriff before fanning out lightly at the waist in waves of the black material. A silver ribbon choker was around my neck and a small amethyst heart hung from it. I really did prefer commoner dresses, which were shorter and didn't fan out, and pants. Though if I had shown up in either, it would have been scandalous to the Carlington name. Many had offered to dance so far, all nobles, though I had sent them away with the excuse of not feeling well. I didn't like to dance almost as much as I did not like dresses and these pointless balls. And I had no real reason to even have to be here since I had renounced my place in the royal family. I was still a princess of Daika but I would never take up the throne. My sister would do a much better job then I would and I didn't exactly like a Royal's way of life. I pushed away from the wall I had been leaning on and started to walk toward one of the doors to the outside. On my back was someone's gaze, probably my mother, and I felt as if it was burning a hole right between my shoulder blades. The set of doors were open, of course, and outside stood one of the small gardens, this one full of roses in dark colors such as blood crimson. The smell took a while to get used to and I didn't really enjoy it. I liked the more calm scents of carnations or lavender opposed to the strong annd overpowering smell of these. How could people stand to sniff the plants so closely whenever they passed? My nose wasn't even stronger then most people and they made my head hurt after only an hour or two among them. Even still, I sat on the rim of a babbling fountain in the center of the roses, in plain sight so my overbearing parents wouldn't believe me to had run away.

Make you say

Oh My!

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[Calmay]

I finished yet another dance with yet another female I could not remember the name of. I think she was the daughter of some noble here. Not that I cared much about it. My parents had forced me to come as a sign of good will among the countries. They knew I did not want to go and that I would not enjoy it and yet they sent me. All I had been doing the while night was dancing with a bunch of girls who saw me as a prince. It did not help that I stood out among the crowd. Few people wore his family's colour here. It was like they knew I was coming and wanted to me stick out among the crowd. I was going to have to make sure that I avoid this in the future. All I wanted was to have a nice conversation with someone that did not just wan to dance with me because I was a prince.

I slipped into the crowd when I noticed more females wanting to dance with me. There had to be other people they wanted to dance with. My legs were already starting to get tired. Normally I would get some breaks between songs, but not here. I was just one after another. I needed to get out of the area before I ran into another person who would request yet another dance. I made my way through the crowd as if they were not there. I had spotted an open door and a temporary escape from this ball. I made my way to it without making it look like I was desperate to get out. It was only when I reached the doors that I realized that there was already someone out there sitting in the guard. I went out anyway.

I noticed the roses and chuckled. They were all dark and has the feel of the kingdom. I walked towards the princess. I knew she was a princess, after all it would be embarrassing for the prince of Sanchu to not know the names and appearances of other nobles in the land. "Mind if I join you?" I asked while still standing. I did not want to intrude on the princess' alone time if she refused. Though I really did not want to go looking for another place to relax.

[{{Roxï-kun-+]

swaying to my own sound
Flashes in my face now

As I sat on the cold stone of the foundation I stared out at the surrounding lands, wanting to be free from the stupid summer ball. Not only was I stuck in a dress and soon to be forced to dance by my parents but the best place I had found to get away was a rose garden right outside the ballroom. I was shocked from my thoughts, jumping slightly as someone asked me something. I turned towards an unrecongized noble and nodded silently. I stood from the stone of the fountain and moved towards the dark red roses as if to look at them. I had said yes to be polite but I deeply hadn't wanted company from another one of the idiotic blue bloods that had continued to ask for a dance. Though this one seemed either different or just tired. With a glance up at the moon, I wondered how long it would be until the guests left and my parents retired to their room. That way I would be free to leave the castle and free from this cursed dress. I took a glance at the person that had joined me in the garden to recongize his face now. The prince of Sanchu? I had to think for a moment and decided that I had been right. Perhaps I was finally remembering the other faces of the Kingdoms' royal families. But why would the Sanchu family be at such a small ball? Perhaps my parents had invited them to show our kingdoms peace were being upheld. I brushed of of my heads across the blooming head of rose to feel a small bit of skin tear. I winced slightly, not having been expected to been caught by a thorn so close to the bloom. "Stupid roses.." I muttered under my breath and the noise of the ball's music. I turned back to the prince, wondering why he would be staying away from all the young ladies even though some of them continued to turn their heads toward him before back to the group they were huddled in, giggling with pink cheeks. I hated girls like that, even though this was totally off the subject. "Why is the prince of Sanchu out here instead of in there with the girls that seem to be talking about him?" I asked, nodding my head towards a big group of girls that were giggling at that moment.

Make you say

Oh My!

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[Calmay]

I was glad she nodded. I was quite sure that there already was a group of girls wanting to ask me to dance. If she had said no then I would have been pulled into the group with no chance to escape until the end of the ball. At least they would not dare interrupt a conversation between two members of royal families. At least that was what he was hoping for. I sat down in the same spot she had been sitting in. I would have preferred to lay down however doing that seemed like a terrible thing for a prince to do. So I remained sitting. I kept my gaze on the princess not wanting to even make eye contact with those in the ball room.

When she finally turn around and looked at me I could not help but notice her hand was cut. Most likely from the roses. One had to be careful when dealing with them. After all, all beautiful thing had thorns. Some just might not be visible, well at least that was what my tutor taught me. I pulled out my under shirt and ripped the bottom off to make a makeshift bandage. I tucked the remainder back in. No one could even tell the difference. I got up and took her hand. I wrapped the torn cloth around her wound. I had not even realized what I was doing until after I was done. I took a step away from her. "I apologize. I did that without thinking. You are free to remove it if you want." I turned around and looked at the girls. She had asked me why I was not around them.

The answer was simple, I hated being around people like that. Just because there was a rumour around that my fiancée would most likely not be from Sanchu, it gave the no right for the females to flock around me. It was not like my opinion was important. After all it was up to my parents to decided and announce that. Though they have asked me my opinion in the past. They just want to dance because I am a prince. They really only care for the title I have. I really have no intention to be acquainted with people like that, was what I wanted to say but instead I said, "There still is plenty of time to spend with them. But for now I would like a rest and get a chance to speak with you princess." I smiled at the girls and then turned back to the princess. I could just imagine their reaction the the smile. Giving them a chance to believe that I just might be interested.

[{{Roxï-kun-+]

swaying to my own sound
Flashes in my face now

I let the prince take my hand and wrap the strip of cloth around the welling up cut, staining the bandage with a small dot of blood. I was surprised at this act, seeing as most nobles didn't even know how to handle blood and never would rip something of their own to bind such a small cut. I replaced the surprised look while the prince was turned around back into my normal expression. "No need to apologize. Thank you." I thanked, looking back into the ballroom. My gaze was drawn by a certain dress and I found my eyes meeting my mother's and before I could do anything else she sent me a strict look, almost a glare to stay in line, and turned away to speak to some other nobles. I glared at her head for a moment before turning back to the group of girls, some of which had just squealed. I caught the prince's words and one of my eyebrows raised slightly. "To talk with the black sheep of the Carlington family?" I asked, taking my gaze from the giggling girls to the prince of Sanchu that stood before me. It was rare that people interacted me even outside of the palace. Inside of the palace only my ladies-in-waiting and my family usually spoke to me along with the servants that had been newly recruited. One of the reasons were because all of the old servants spoke of my temper tantrums. My powers hadn't exactly been under control when I was little and it only made it worse when I was mad. Those who had been present avoided me entirely and usually told the newer recruits, which then never looked me in the eye. "Did one of your friends put you up to speaking with me?" I asked calmly, eyes now watching as the blue bloods danced.

Make you say

Oh My!

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[Calmay]

I was glad that she had not been angry. I had acted off of reflex something I was normally good at holding back. Some how I had not been able to stop myself. I sat back down feeling much better that my reaction did not do something bad. I relaxed and looked at the princess. I knew that she was the black sheep, but it had not mattered to me. I had actually hoped that someone who refused the throne would be easy to talk to and not like anyone else here. But it looked it was not going to be as easy to talk to her as I had hoped.

I could not help but laugh when she asked if one of my friends put me up to this. Even if I had friends I would never do such a thing. "Nothing of that sort. To do that it would require me to first have someone I could call a friend. You seem to forget how shallow nobles could be." I had made sure to say that quite enough that no one else could hear that. It was true for him, though he was not sure if it was the same here. Though it seemed to look that way. "I thought I might be able to talk to someone that had no intention of taking the throne." I was about to say more but I stopped myself. I had to make sure to not say to much just in case someone could hear me.

I got up and started to make my way to the ballroom. If she did not want to talk to me there was no was no reason for me to stay. I really did not want to return and deal with them. Maybe I could find some noble to talk to between songs and talk politics. At least that was better then dancing with the girls. The problem was finding a noble without a daughter that he could marry. Well it was better then talking to someone that was suspicious about anything he said. "If you want to talk just ask for a dance. I will be happy to oblige. No questions asked."

[{{Roxï-kun-+]

swaying to my own sound
Flashes in my face now

I felt my stomach drop a bit in disappointment for a moment as the prince began to laugh at my question. But a moment later, as he told me that no, he wasn't here because someone had told him to talk to me as a joke, I felt better and maybe even relieved. Perhaps not all blue bloods were like the snotty way I saw them. Actually, I was pretty sure that those were the majority of them. And inside of the high circles there were those of my minority, hiding. "Trust me, I could never forget how shallow they are." I said, gaze drifting towards my mother before I could stop it. I closed my mouth, teeth putting pressure on each other as I kept my jaw closed. No I couldn't say that my parents were the reason I was here, in a long dress no less. My parents were the reason for a lot of things in my life. My hair was long because my mother saw nothing less as being fit for a princess. I had tried to cut it myself countless times though I never actually got to. I had only two victories against my parents. The first was that I was able to sneak from the castle whenever I wished, at night at least, and be able to not be captured. My second victory was only being planned. A small smile appeared on my face without my consent and I hid it carefully, not wanting the prince (who could easily tell whoever he wished) to know I was planning something. And even though I knew he probably wouldn't tell anyone, it still could happen. My plan, which would actually be quite easy, was to flee from the palace to never return. The two things I still needed to think about were the timing and what would happen afterword. I couldn't just leave the Kingdoms. What was beyond this place? The furthest I had ever been was the city of Obscur and that was still in my own kingdom. My only weapons were the shadows and two daggers. I shook thoughts from my head just as the prince stood up to leave. I looked away but instantly the shadows on the garden floor caught his feet for a moment as if to stop the prince. My hand twitched and they released. It really had only been a split second and he couldn't have told that anything had happened.

Make you say

Oh My!

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[Calmay]

I had not seen her smile or anything she did, after all my back was turned to her. I was focus on the ballroom using by shadow sight to find nobles I can talk to and plan the best way to get to them. I was planning to return to the ball. Though it did not matter what she did unless she told me to stay. Oh and how I was wishing I would be able to stay. However I was not going to intrude on the princesses alone time if she did not want me there. Of course that all changed in a brief second when I felt something grab my feet. Normally I would not have noticed, I only did because I had been connected to the shadows looking for something. I looked down and saw nothing. What was I expecting to see the princess grabbing my foot telling my not to go. Like that was going to happen. However I turned around and looked at the princess.

I was going to ask what just grabbed me, but I was not even sure she was responsible for it. I walked back to the fountain and sat down. "On second thought I shall stay for now. I need a break anyway." I looked at the girls waiting for me and mouthed an apology as if I was regretful that I was not joining them. Of course I was not. I looked at the princess and smiled. "What made you think I had friends here. I'm a prince from Sanchu. Meaning that they would still be there not here in this ball."

[{{Roxï-kun-+]

swaying to my own sound
Flashes in my face now

I started to move away towards the outlining forest of the palace ut I saw the prince freeze as my shadows released him. My eyes widened and I stopped to look at him. The prince looked down at the ground before turning towards me with a question in his eyes. By this time the surprise had been carefully guarded from my face. Instead I looked at him questioningly as well as if I didn't know what he had felt. I nodded my head silently when he said he would stay and when his back was to be for a few seconds I studied him. He appeared human, so how had he felt or seen my shadows? Sure, they weren't invisible. But that had just been for a split second and he hadn't been looking near the ground. I chewing my bottom lip and moving my gaze to the disappointed crowd of girls. Most were frowning while others were excitedly giggling and talking still as if more happy that the prince had acknowledged them then sad that he hadn't actually come to them. "By friend I had meant another noble from either Daika's court or someone you had brought along. If you hadn't guessed by now, people from this Kingdom either are afriad of me or dislike me." I said, cursing myself metally again. Why did my mouth seem to hate me? Why had I told him people were afriad of me! Even though it was true, seeing as the servants were gossipy, that had given away she wasn't like the rest of the royal family. While the other princess (her sister) and her parents were human, I had gotten my powers from my grandmother. She had passed them to me at birth so I could have them before she died. My appearence had changed as well, raven hair changing to its odd coloring and normal colored eyes turning to purplish pink. I looked at the ground, mad at myself for admitting people were afraid of me. While I had been young and my powers had been uncontrollable, the shadows had a ... habit of attacking servants that came too close to me. I began to chew on my lip again while my gaze shifting to the dancers. "And anyway, you should go dance. Your very popular among the Daikans." I said, releasing my lip and looking back at the prince as he sat on the fountain.

((You wouldn't believe how many times I tried typing this o.o))

Make you say

Oh My!

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[Calmay]

I kept my gaze on the princess, it was not like I had anything else to look at. I could not help but wonder why they were afraid of her. She looked like a normal girl to me. Well apart from her hair colour. But who was I to judge about that. I could change my hair colour to anything I wanted. Not that I was going to do something like that in front of so many people. Though I could not help but wonder if it was connected to what ever had grabbed me on the foot. Though it looked like she was not going to elaborate on what she said. No it looked like she was angry at herself for what she just said. "I just got here this afternoon so I had not heard of anything like this. Not to mention I am not a Diakain, so how am I to know such things. All I know is that you are the princess of the royal family and from the looks of it dislike social gatherings." I raised my hands to the side and shrugged. I smiled at her noticing that she had been biting her lips the whole time. I did not want to her to be nervous around me.

When she told me to leave the smile faded from my face. Like hell I was going back into that ballroom. For a few seconds my mask fell and a scowl could be seen on my face. I quickly hide it away hoping that no one noticed that the thought of returning the shallow girls disgusted me. I looked at the princess and then at the sky. "Why don't you just say that you want me to leave. Well most likely run into each other later seeing that I am staying in the castle during my visit here." I would have left at the comment, but I had no where to go except the ballroom and that was not something I had any desire to do. So I sat there looking at the princess not moving an inch. She could leave if she wanted. My stubborn side was showing and truth be told I could have cared less.

[{{Roxï-kun-+]

swaying to my own sound
Flashes in my face now

I let a few moments of silence hang in the air after the prince's last statement. Opening my mouth after those moments, I was cut off by a clock's tone of midnight. The ball would be ending soon and my mother didn't expect me to have stayed later then eleven. I looked down at the ground, chewing on my lip before letting out a mumbled excuse for leaving. "I have business to attend to. Good night." I mumbled loud enough for him to hear before turning away from the prince and going into the ballroom. I made my way along the walks, not looking back at the rose garden or at the group of girls now moving towards the prince with determination. Or at least I thought they were heading that way, though I couldn't be sure. I went through one of the side doors and through the now empty kitchen seeing as all of the food had been eaten earlier and it was much too late to make more if the guests were expected to leave soon. After going through more doors and hallways I finally ended up in my room, thankful that my ladies in waiting were down in the ballroom still. I sat in front of my mirror, staring at the complex updo my hair had been put into. How was I even supposed to get that out? After staring at it I decided that since a hat would be over it. I carefully took off my dress, laying it on my bed, and dug out my male commoner clothes out. A pair of black pants along with a red tank top and a black hat. After digging around for a while I also dug out some bandages. After binding, getting dressed, and wiping my face clear of make-up I was almost ready to leave the castle. The music had stopped by now and I was sure that everyone was either in their rooms or on their way home. But as I looked out my window I realized that my father's gardener was taking care of the flowers for some odd reason, probably to see if I was trying to sneak out. I opened my door, looking around at the hallway before stepping out and putting the hat over my hair to cover it. I quietly walked away from my parent's and sister's chambers, instead walking down the guest hallways. I smiled, thinking how easily I was getting away even though I wasn't even using my window. That is, until I rounded a corner only to run into someone.

((Sorry for the shortness!))

Make you say

Oh My!

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[Calmay]

I watched the princess leave and got up myself. It was pretty late and I could see the ladies approaching me now that the princess was gone. It was obvious that they were now trying to get the last dance. I smiled at them as they approached and surrounded me. Now if I was in a good mood I would have selected the most beautiful in the crowd, but I was not. I was irritated and tired. "Now ladies there is no way I could choose just one of you for the last dance. I was hoping to save that for one of the princesses. I sure you understand that I feel sad being rejected by the princess. So I'm going to excuse myself for tonight. I will be in Diaka for a while, so we could meet up on a one to one basis if my schedule allows it." I made it out of the circle, but I could their sighs of disappointment. Well at least of those who knew that they could not meet up with me later. I politely said my goodnight to the king and queen and left the ballroom.

I was done with the noble life for tonight. Now all that was left was to get back to my room and find a way to get rid of the escort my family had set up for me. Well I would deal with that all one step at a time. I made my way through the halls having quickly memorized the way back to my room. I entered my room and saw it the same as it was before. My room was for myself, but the rooms next to mine had my guards. I was not going to lie to my self any longer, they were my guards, not escorts. They were there to make sure I did not escape the castle during my stay here. I quickly changed out of my outfit and into something more causal. No one had seen me pack the outfit so they had no idea I had it one me. I was no wearing a long sleeved black shirt and dark grey pants. The fabric itself was low quality in my standard but it did not bother me. Anything to make me fit in better in the crowd. I put my old outfit away and made my way to the door. I opened it as quietly as I could, which surprisingly was very quiet. I left the room and silently closed the door. The second I closed the door I made a dash through the hallways. I knew my guards would noticed soon so I needed to hurry.

I slowed down as I approached a corner and bumped into someone. I was about to apologize when I heard a door open. I did not need my sight to know it was my guards. I pulled the from the direction they came from. I changed my hair length and colour and some of my features without thinking. I kissed the person as I heard the guard approach. He looked at us and then around. He was clearly bothered by what he saw. He continued his search and I released the person from the kiss. It was then that I realized that the person I kissed was a male. I paused, and then realized that not only had a I kissed a male, but changed my appearance in front of that person. I could change back, but what was done was done. The princess I seen one of my abilities. Pretty soon others would know about my somewhat shapeshifteric abilities. I looked at him. "I'm quite sorry for that. I needed to get away from them as fast as possible. It was the only think I could think of." I hated using such methods and this was they only reason why I apologized to others. I looked at the boy again and realized that the boy was not a boy, but a girl. And not just any girl, but the same princess he had been talking to earlier. "Princess?"

[{{Roxï-kun-+]

swaying to my own sound
Flashes in my face now

I looked up at the person just as a door opened not too far off. I was about to say sorry and run off in some random direction seeing as the prince was staying somewhere around here. My eyes widened as I realized that this person was just who I had been about to run from. Why was the prince in the hall at such a time? Footsteps sounded and the prince in front of me was replaced by someone else almost as if -- no, not almost as if. Somehow the blue blood in front of me wasn't human. Was that how he had seen or felt my shadows. Just as I was about ask him both of these important questions my lips were covered with his own. My purple-pink eyes widened again and I stood frozen as a guard looked at us with a shocked and clearly unpleased expression. Blood rushed to my cheeks as the guard rushed off and the prince pulled away and looked at me as if just seeing me. I almost let out a sigh of relief when I remembered that no, I no longer wore my gown and had replaced it with male clothing. Instead I made my made cheeks return to a semi-normal color and nodded absently as he apologized. My head hung down slightly, a shadow cast over some of my face. Surely after only speaking for a short time he wouldn't remember me that well. I normally didn't have this problem seeing as the citizens of Daika Kingdom rarely ever saw me except at the battle arenas. Even then my hair was down and my ladies in waiting forced me into wearing make up. No, only my sister could actually recognize me in this state. After all, she had seen it before. My parents, well, they would deny this was me to the general public, even the servants. But if I was caught at this point, disguised as a male commoner, my parents would realize how I was escaping the palace. Then I would never be able to get out of this god awful place for good without being in a casket or in a wedding dress. As the prince said that one stupid word I kept my head down. No, I wasn't a princess. I carried the title still even though I had renounced my place and now held so little power. I didn't act like a princess. So technically it was right that I didn't respond. Instead I slowly looked up a bit, eyes meeting the ones of the prince's. I was not going to be found out by this noble no matter how different he seemed from most nobles. "I have no idea what your talking about." I mumbled quietly before pushing past the prince, my head low again. I was not a princess, even if I was stuck in the stupid palace.

Make you say

Oh My!

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[Calmay]

I held back a chuckle when I heard the princesses response. By now I was quite sure she was the princess. Why deny it, it was not like I could just call out a guard to tell them that the princess was leaving without exposing my secret. Not that I was going to tell her that. The one think I was sure was that I was going to get her to admit that she was the princess and I was not wrong. So I followed her. That and if the guard passed by me again and did not see the princess he would become suspicious of me. I was not going to get caught by them. I had a job to do in city. Something I could not trust anyone else to do. And tonight was reconnaissance night. I was not stupid enough to just jump into a trap if one was set up. I walked beside her keeping at her pace.

"So princess where are you going so late at night? I'm pretty sure it's not to see another male." I made sure to say princess. And I would until she admitted she was. It was quite easy to do and a lot of fun. Though I guess it had to do with the fact that she was denying that fact that she was the princess. "I forgot to thank you for talking to me. If it was not for you I would of had to dance with those insufferable ladies until the end of the ball." I kept part of my gaze on her and the other on where I was going. "Oh I hope you don't mind that I told the ladies that I could not dance the last dance with any of them because I was depressed that you rejected to dance that dance with me." I smiled at her wondering what her reaction she would have to my words.

[{{Roxï-kun-+]

swaying to my own sound
Flashes in my face now

To say the least, my mood was suddenly spiraling downwards. Not only had the prince bumping into me -- not to mention the kiss -- but now he was following me? How exactly could I calmly say that I was sneaking out of the palace cross dressing just to get some space from the nobles? My eyes glared ahead as we went down the empty hallway. I was sure he was trying to annoy me at this point. Don't call me Princess. My name is Reno, no matter how often my parents insist on calling me Princess Akia." I said, becoming angered at the fact that I had to have admitted being the princess. Even if I wasn't in my mind I would always be in everyone elses', of course. "Maybe I'm really male and I was just cross dressing earlier. You'll never know." I said, a smile flickering across my face. It wouldn't be the first time a high born noble had been cross dressing to appear as a princess or prince. Still, it was far fetched at this period in time seeing as these incidents had happened quite a long time ago. I didn't respond to his thank you, instead keeping my gaze mostly in front of me. I had a feeling that the prince was getting some amusement out of this and really didn't feel like giving him any form of entertainment while he stopped me from leaving. It wasn't like I could just walk out the front door. My horse was in the stables far from the others and from the front door, instead being closer to my window. I shrugged at the prince's last statement and started to wonder how I could get away from him. Even if I knew about his abilities he was not going to learn about my shadows unless he absolutely had to. And at the moment he certainly didn't need to know. "Much worse has been said about me." I said, looking the prince in the eye now. I was becoming comfortable like I always did in these clothes. Commoners had it so lucky to able to wear pants and normal shirts and even not-floor-length skirts. Nobles saw short skirts as slutty and much other worse things I could say. I hated skirts either way but it was just plain stupid for blue blooded women to always have to wear long gowns and dresses. "How about I tell you where I'm going after you tell me about your little abilities hm?" I said, giving him a cocky smile about being about to just turn his questions against him. Not that I was actually going to tell him why I was heading where I was. No, he would probably leave instead of telling me about the appearance change.

MAKE you say

Oh My!

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