On a Pedestal

After an unappealing show, put on at the private theatre in the grounds, today Tracey had to attend a lunchtime event, again wearing an embarrassingly small dress, while interacting with a sortie of other guests, which was somehow even worse than enduring the attempted comedic play, that had run late into the previous night.

Tracey stepped past another group of overweight, self-entitled, much older and disregarding nobles, leaders or other officials, who casually looked her up and down with hungry eyes, even while they stuffed handfuls of delicacies into their yapping mouths. It was supposed to be a special lunch event, but with what was going on around her, Tracey was feeling slightly ill, a different illness than she felt about death, but not too dissimilar and her appetite had vanished.

This is so... different than anything I've ever done before... I don't like it at all...!

She tried to slip by a group to locate Amanda again, since they'd been purposefully separated amongst the large and loud gathering, and with Shizuka stuck to the sidelines, her allies were in short supply here.

"Ah Miss Hero..."

A military man in mostly red stepped before her to get attention, blocking Tracey's escape.

"Uh yes...?"

Tracey paused and held her hands before her, trying to cover up just a little more, especially when he leered down at her as he did.

"I hear you performed well for our Empire. Not one but two sizable towns fell to your prowess..."

He patted his red and gold decorated top, bringing attention toward his fancy uniform, while staring below Tracey's eyes at her thin and snug, sparkling light-blue dress.

"Now you do know who I am right?"

"Uh afraid not sir..."

Tracey tried to be polite, as a passerby clipped her sword's covered end and continued on without apologising.

"I'm the famous General who repelled the Ignimas invasion."

He boasted with a grin under his speckled hair covered face.

"Dallas Ardilonly, from Ipswich..."

The name sounded slightly familiar, perhaps the leader who sacrificed most of his men in a narrow gorge, in a needless battle, some time before she'd even been born.

"A real pleasure to meet you, finally."

Tracey needed to slightly back away as he pressed a little closer, as she looked for a reason to get away, again.

"Are you perhaps looking for someone?"

He'd finally gazed at her face, seeing she searched for some help.

"Why yes actually..."

"Then how about me...? With your skills and my intellect... Imagine our lineage!"

Lineage...! As in...!? No way... he's older than my dad... nu-uh...!

"Oh no, I didn't mean..."

A different and wider man intervened.

"She'd never go with you... would you love?"

Love..?.Uh...!

"Why not?"

"You're not Nobility like me Dallas..."

Tracey slowly backed away, letting the new argument be, before bumping lightly against a strongly make-up coated lady.

"Oh sorry..."

"Huh... no manners, as expected of a brutish... thing."

Tracey held her tongue, and v-lined for a break in the gathering to get away.

Here I thought that Senator was rude...! I did say sorry...

She partly hid behind a couple more, followed them to near the edge, and then ducked behind some floral decoration along the huge brightly lit room, away from all the activity near the tables, to hide even more.

What am I even doing here...? Meeting with these... are they even people...?

It felt more confronting than a battle, but even with her trusty sword by her side, that she'd made sure to hang onto tightly, she felt so out of depth and isolated in the mass.

Apparently she hadn't escaped everyone's eye, as a couple of dolled up young women, about her age, tottered up to speak with the 'main attraction' of the day.

"Good idea, you can see all the prospects from her Miss Hero!"

"So smart!"

"Prospects?"

Tracey wondered, cornered against a wall, not for the first time.

"Yes... you are single of course... it's such a burden I know... but you have many fine suitors to choose from here."

The teenager held back a visible shiver.

Is this what's going on here... They want me to be a part of this...?

"You're so lean Miss Hero, is it because you've taken up the sword?"

The ditzy and plump one asked, looking at Tracey's thin and almost showing waist.

"Um... I exercise a little... you know - running..."

They looked completely perplexed with the idea, before giggling to each other.

"Running... so quaint..."

Tracey let them prattle then, as it was better than being treated like some prized cut of meat, until one more arrival appeared.

"Welcome his Excellency - Emperor Lockland Vale."

The room gave pause and hushed considerably, as the short and slightly pudgy Emperor wandered in under a thick red cape, quite late for his own event.

Tracey had met with him before, only for a handful of seconds, as he bestowed the 'Hero' title upon her, and disappeared without another word. But a collection of much older and unhappy advisors slipped in behind him, and they had the same sour expressions as before, as they all waited for him to take the high, grand and overseeing seat, before the rooms noise returned.

Amanda had found Tracey during the pause, and shooed the other women away to stand protectively before the less covered teen.

"Are you alright, you look a little pale."

She asked, sweeping the thick dark-blue dress back from her heels as she stepped back.

"I'm... fine now..."

It's not fair... she gets such a fabulous gown, and I've only this thin...

One of the many attendees suddenly appeared beside them both.

"Miss Spikelet, his Excellency wishes to speak with you."

The man didn't even wait for an acknowledgment before skittering off, while Tracey worried that he too was after claiming the 'Hero' as his own kind of prize.

Amanda could at least stay near as she slowly made her way, to a small stool that was placed below and before him, but as she reached it he spoke to her.

"Ah the person of the hour..."

He smiled her way, with welcoming arms.

"Come a little closer."

His guards, standing directly over his small shoulders got a little fidgety, as she did get near as instructed, but also was carrying her sword.

Not like they could do anything to stop me if I was intent on harming this spoiled ruler...

"Your idea to appear before me in such a... provocative dress is a big fail... sorry."

Tracey of course had picked the least revealing outfit provided, that had still made her uncomfortable, and bringing light to it made her feel more embarrassed, but it may or may not have been his doing, so she did her best to brush his comment off.

"That was not my intent, I assure you..."

He leaned forward a little and whispered to her next.

"If you fail to entertain me again... you'll lose your petty life... Hero."