War for the Crown Gameplay Part 2

"For some, that's the goal," Okerra laughs with Corey. "I've yet to pull it off myself though, supposedly I look too distinctive."

"Ah dunno if mah looks'll stand out," Corey jokes. "But Ah'm willin' ta bet there'll be somethin' that gives me away. Somethin' unique ta me, that other folks here just don't got. Ah can't say Ah kin put mah finger on it though," he grins, exaggerating his accent a little bit for emphasis.

"You could try affecting an accent, though I think some people here might think you're mocking them if you do that," Okerra replies, laughing at Corey's exaggeration of his own voice.

"Nah," Corey waves it off. "Ah'll talk this way till the day Ah die and prolly after. Ah'm a country boy and proud of it. Ah'll just have ta live with folks at these fancy parties knowin' me from a mile away. Oh gosh, however shall Ah cope."

"Take what they would mock you for and wear it with pride like a suit of armour, I've certainly heard worse ideas," Okerra nods with understanding. "And know that you can knock anyone who laughs at you off their horse if you wanted to," he adds, smiling wide.

"That's a comfortin' thought, " Corey nods solemnly before bursting out in a grin.

After a couple songs pass, an elderly woman in her late 60s wearing a stunning green and red gown descends the stairs and enters the ballroom. A surprised murmur spreads through those in attendance, and her face lights up at all the attention as she dances into the room with a spring in her step.

As Corey and Okerra part from their dance Corey glances at the woman who just arrived. "She's stirrin' up a bit of a fuss? Who is she?"

"Duchess Lotheed, our host's aunt. I was not aware she was even present this year. Watch yourself, Mr. Crawford," Baron Okerra replies, his dark eyes trained warily on the newcomer as his arm is taken by a noblewoman for a new dance.

On his aunt's arrival, Sarina notices Bartelby stiffen and fix the older woman with a cold glare, but his gaze returns to its usual polite detachment when he turns back to Sarina. "Another dance, Dame Karthis? Better you than whatever dullard might be trying to curry favour with me."

On a certain level, Corey knows that it's a bad idea. Unfortunately, he's curious, and as Daddy always said, "curiosity might kill the cat, but satisfaction'll always bring 'er back." So he makes his way across the dance floor, approaching as respectfully as he can, and bows what he thinks is probably the appropriate amount to Duchess Lotheed. "M'lady, may Ah have the honor of introducin' mahself, and ask' if Ah might have this dance?"

"But of course," Duchess Lotheed's voice is clear and confident, showing no signs of her age at all. She gives Corey a warm smile and offers her hand to dance. "You're the young man who won the joust earlier, yes?"

"Ah am, yes," Corey nods, taking the Duchess's hand doing whatever it is the Taldan upper class does for dancing with some familiarity. "Corey Crawford. It's a pleasure ta make yer acquaintance."

"Likewise," Duchess Lotheed tips her head. "You caused quite a stir. So how does a young man accustomed to holding a plow or a rake find himself inheriting, in part, the Betony estate?"

"Ah honestly can't say Ah rightly know fer sure," Corey says. "Ah was told one day that Ah'm a distant relative. If ya'd asked me a month ago Ah'da told ya mah family's commoners all the way down but, well, here Ah am."

"I see. Quite the stroke of luck for you," the duchess chuckles. "It's good that you have martial talent, the accolades you will surely earn on the tournament fields will make the transition easier for you. Who even thought to find you and let you know of your heritage? I imagine the other heirs would have preferred if they had just not bothered. My nephew certainly wouldn't have reached out."

"It's actually all a lotta... what's the word? Serependity?" Corey scrunches his brow briefly before continuing. "A lotta things happenin' in the right way at the right time. Turned out Ah ended up meetin' the others 'fore any of us knew anythin' about all this inheritance business, at the Exaltation, and we got friendly, so Ah s'pose it's just lucky they like me enough ta include me." Corey chuckles. "Ah imagine if they weren't so friendly Ah'da prolly passed it up."

"Oh, you were at the Exaltation Gala too? I would say that was a stroke of luck, but this year it regrettably was anything but," Duchess Lotheed offers a sympathetic smile. "Just how did you manage to escape, if I might ask you to revisit that day? I'm sure it was very traumatic."

"Ah was lucky enough the badge Ah had was spelled ta take me ta a safe place," Corey responds. "It wasn't exactly a great day. Ah was luck enough ta meet Kalbio mahself so seein' him killed like that, not ta mention all the other folks who didn't make it out..." Corey shakes his head quickly. "Best not ta dwell on it, right? But if Ah heard right, you were also at the Gala?"

"My husband is a senator, so I was there, yes," Duchess Lotheed confirms. "Our escape was easy enough, however. He's a talented wizard, and so he just took my hand and teleported us back here as soon as that horrid attack happened. It seems magic saved both our lives."

"Ah've heard that magic's a big thing in yer family," Corey nods. "Well Ah'm glad ya did make it out safe, else we'da never got the chance ta meet, and Ah'd've been deprived the pleasure of yer company right now."

"What a charmer," Duchess Lotheed's smile grows wider. "And I'm glad you found your way here, it's nice to finally have an honest conversation."

"Ah am too. Ah figure folks around me are prolly doin' a lot more double talk than Ah'm pickin' up on," Corey admits. "But the way Ah figure, long as Ah don't go makin' promises or deals Ah can't walk back on, Ah'd rather not try and play that same game. It ain't who Ah am."

"You're probably right, but that is an interesting choice to make. Most wouldn't even consider not playing to be an option. I do think your career will be one to watch, and I hope it works out for you," Duchess Lotheed replies. "In any case, don't mind any impoliteness you may receive from my nephew, you're welcome to visit any time I'm here."

"Ah'll have ta take ya up on that," Corey smiles.

"Quite bold of you to ask that, Count Lotheed," Sarina teases gently with a smile. "But I would expect no less from you. I'd be delighted to accept," she says, taking his hand again.