Golden Leaf Ball

Chateaux des Fleurs, Noveaux
          Satine was close enough to the woman to notice how she tried to avoid contact with others and then noticed the all too familiar fight to stave off crying. That kind of look was familiar for some of Satine’s children, the reason though was one that Satine’s husband had endured throughout their life together. He had always been a stalwart supporter of hers and when he passed Satine truly felt as though a light had gone out in her life. The impact, some might say, was quite heavy with the Empress being a bit more of a recluse in the last decade or so of her reign. They wouldn’t be wrong, that much Satine would confirm sometime later in life, she mused that perhaps writing her memoirs in her retirement would be a good way to past the time at her villa in Estel. She approached the young woman, picking up a couple glasses of brandy on the way, Satine believed champagne might not do the trick here.

          “This might help,” She said offering a glass to the woman. Satine took a moment and attempted to remember the woman’s name when she was introduced to her near the beginning of the festivities. “Abigale is it? My husband went through the same things as you. Would you like to go somewhere more quiet and private?” Satine offered motioning to a little gap in the hedges not more than fifteen paces from where the pair stood. “A nice garden is through there, I’ll come with if you want.” Satine offered. True some might say the job of the hostess was to be at the festivities themselves but Satine belived that the wellbeing of her guests was the most important thing and if that meant making sure this woman was helped by going away from the others then so be it.

          Meanwhile the young Queen of Mitan, Hyperia, had brought a guest to the ball. His name was Ollivier Bast, the twenty-four-year-old Duke of Lienne who, two years’ prior succeeded his father after the prior’s death from cancer. The young man with nearly white hair and a killer smile was beaming. He and Hyperia were courting though neither called it that and instead referred to it as ‘refined company’. “Oli” Hyperia said with a devilish smile knowing full well the other didn’t much appreciate being referred to by such a childish pet name. Then again they had been friends as children, playing together whenever his father visited her father’s court in Lieu-de-Lys. “Could you get us some champagne please?” She said batting her eyes at him.

          “Fine” He said with a sigh before heading off in search of something to water down her ego with. Ollivier noticed some people here and there that he recognized but beyond the borders of Mitan he was mostly lost for the who’s who of Noveaux let alone the international stage. Sure he knew the President of Sekia and Director of Eraphalia, least he knew of them because of the coming Prosperity Accords. Once he had indeed fetched the champagne he lingered a bit and scanned the crowd for anyone that he should probably talk to prior to seeing to Hyperia’s thirst. He lingered for just a bit longer before returning and handing her the champagne with a smile.