Don’t answer any questions too specificly
Don’t talk to anyone for too long
In short, don’t be yourself.
The tides after tides of advice she’d been given before entering the first official ball since her coronation hadn’t done anything other than make her even more anxious. This was her first public appearance, after all - even if it was mostly contained to her fellow former Shepherds, the handful of surviving Ylissean nobles and a half-dozen foreign dignitaries. She’d been a few moments away from just telling her advisers to dress up as her and do it themselves, if it wasn’t for the significant backlash she might create without their help. Gods, she didn’t know where to even begin with half of these people.
The doors swung open, and she forced a smile onto her face as she stepped down the stairs as daintily as possible, trying not to look too much..herself. She couldn’t be herself at events like this, she had to present a more regal tone.
That would only last a few months, most likely, but they stressed the need to keep one up for at least today.
Steered away from her friends by another nameless adviser, she found herself face-to-face with one of the visiting diplomats, her smile growing weaker and weaker as she realized that she wasn’t meant to have any fun at her own ball, but rather spend it working.
“Hi - uh, I mean…welcome to Ylisse, my friends. I - uh, we - hope your trip was not too arduous…”
Next to her, the adviser decided to change his opinion of how long the ‘noble tone’ would last from ‘a few months’ to ‘midway through this conversation’.
The redhead seemed just mildly displaced himself, although the beautifully knitted red scarf around his neck seemed to give him at least a small sense of formality. Moreso than the long hair that was tied back or the fact that he seemed to be holding back some.
Xane found himself wondering why he’d even bothered to show up now. Perhaps it was curiosity in regards to the remaining child of Naga, especially since Tiki herself had become involved with the battle against Grima. Maybe it was because he just wanted to see how the humans were managing, or it could have even been boredom.
Regardless of what it was the dragon now found himself face to face with the Exalt herself, although she appeared quite young for the role and seemed quite uncomfortable in such fancy wear
“Not arduous at all, my lady... erm... Cynthia, was it?” A soft chuckle. “Sorry, I haven’t managed to learn everyone’s names yet, but starting with the Exalt ‘erself is probably a good place to start.”
“Sorry, I suppose I should’ve introduced myself first. I’m a representative from a few lands away, you may call me Xane. I’m actually a bard, but most of my people aren’t the social type like I am. We’re hoping to establish relations with your country again now that Grima’s threat is gone.” Gods, he was winging it here and he hoped to hell it wasn’t obvious. Still, this was really the Princey’s distant descendant, huh?
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