Ladies and Captains

Adanita started feeling ill from the moment that porcelain witch entered the ballroom.

But she kept it together.

She had to spend time on the podium with her, kneel in front of that monster, and then look her in the eyes as she received her title and her own city from her white hands. Her eyes were like black voids, sucking her into total darkness and she felt a horrible feeling in her heart. As if she was freezing and burning, all at once. She felt sick to her stomach, she felt almost as bad as the day she woke up from her death.

But she kept it together.

And- and Rosamund was parading around the ballroom with her on his arm, chatting with people until Alberic came, carefully steering them away from her. And now they were dancing together. And talking. Too quietly for anyone to see, but she knew they were.

And it was just too much.

Of course she knew it meant nothing to him. Of course she knew he planned to have a word with her and see if it could all be resolved before it escalated again. Of course she knew he was a sweet, smart, responsible, and kind man.

But she also knew that the Duchess was a master manipulator.

And the idea of her talking to him, telling him who knows what - it made her sick.

But even she couldn't fight against Rosamund's intense devotion to his younger brother's well-being. There was no way Rosamund could be turned against him. He was overconfident, sure, perhaps he could think he could later outplay the Duchess. But it wasn't fair to think this way about him, not when he spent every second of every day making sure she knew his priorities.

And he cared about her.

He wanted to keep her safe. Return the favors she did for him. He proved it with every little thing he did. He proved it his first night in Hannau Cove, letting her sit down with him and talk. And understanding her. And giving her all the time she ever needed.

And she loved him for it, for the patience he showed her. She trusted he wouldn't change his mind now.

Besides, she didn't do anything this time around. That horrible woman didn't even know her, there was no reason for her to be so afraid. She was just sick. She needed a moment to get her thoughts in order. Rosamund wouldn't mind her stepping out. She waved to Teo to take over for her and marched outside into the gardens. She just needed a moment. She was keeping it together. She was fine. No, she wasn't-

"Hey."

Adanita jumped.

Some little lady- no, Mislav Verlice's eyebrows shot up in surprise from her reaction. It took her a moment to recognize her, now that she had changed into a large frilly yellow evening dress and tied her long braids into a high bun. She held two glasses of wine and offered one to Adanita.

"I, uh, I'm sorry for startling you, Captain Vervain."
"I-it's fine. I'm fine."
"Right," she said with a small frown. She quickly looked around at the few people that were also getting some air. So far, they didn't attract attention. Most of the people were focused on the start of the ball, after all. "How about we go for a walk? Get some air? I was hoping for an opportunity to speak with you."
What a coincidence, she hoped for the same. Not when she was so close to another fit of panic, but there was some proverb with gifted horses. "Aye." She accepted the glass from her.

Mislav shamelessly placed her hand on her elbow and started leading them deeper into the garden, away from the people. Adanita allowed it. She was curious to see where they'll end up and wanting to get away from the ball.

"You know," she quietly said, "you shouldn't let them see you cry. They'll eat you alive."
"I wasn't about to-"
Mislav raised her eyebrows at her, stopping her quite efficiently.
Adanita took a deep breath, calming herself down before she tried again. "Speaking from experience?" she asked.
"Yeah. I'm not the type for these events. I can make it through, but I always feel like I must stay on my toes. They're like wolves, just waiting for an opportunity."
"Hah." As if she didn't know. She took a sip from the glass and was surprised to realize it was- "Juice?" she asked.
"Shh, don't tell anyone," Mislav brightly said, hushing her up as if she found out some huge secret. "Some people tend to get awfully drunk at these events, despite being here on business. But I know Rosamund always prepares drinks without alcohol for the children attending. So if anybody tries to talk to me, odds are good I am the more sober one."
"Very clever," she said.
"Thank you. You'll know the situation is serious if Rosamund does the same," she helpfully added.
"How often does he do that?" she asked.
"Hm... About half the time? Usually we save getting drunk for afterparty, and only if the event was really bad. You look like you could use one. What got you so upset?"
"Do you really expect an answer? We've only just met."
"Oh. Hm. Right. I forgot the first rule of getting to know people," she said. "I should've brought you wine."
Adanita started chuckling.
"You will excuse me if I'm rusty. I usually leave diplomacy to Rosamund," Mislav continued with a smile as her chuckle grew into a laugh. That was the type of humor one developed only if they spent too much time around him. Adanita appreciated it.
"Aye," she said. "Me too. Did Rosamund teach you to take advantage of people when they're drunk, too?"
"Oh, no. I learned that on my own."
"That was incredibly direct," she said.
"I'm sorry. I was born shameless."
"Hah! I see why the two of you get along."
"Hardly. We bicker constantly when we're alone. We already had an argument today, I'd say we're the best of friends when there's an ocean between us. Maybe two, just to be sure."
Adanita let out another laugh.

"He told me about your conspiracy."

Her smile dropped immediately. She looked down at the little lady. "I don't think you should call it that," she quietly said.
"But that is what it is. Unless you'd prefer me to call it a legal experiment? An exercise in treason, perhaps? It has 'Rosamund's idea' written all over it, but I am very curious to hear how he managed to convince you to go along with it."
"He has a way with words," she said, trying to avoid answering.
"And his opponents usually have a way with brains."

Maybe she should kick her. She looked like she would go a decent distance, especially in that dress. She'd fly like a dandelion seed in the wind.

"Too rude?" Mislav asked.
"Aye."
"I apologize. You are right, I'm not playing it fair. I am sorry." Mislav gently squeezed her elbow. She wasn't a mind reader, but her shame seemed genuine. After a few moments of consideration, Adanita decided to let it go. It's not as if she was any more rude than an average noblewoman. In a way, she appreciated she didn't try to hide it with flowery language.

"You have to understand," she continued. "This is terrifying to me. I thought he died. And now he's here, with a once-wanted-criminal, asking me for money and support for openly defying the Bretonian Crown? I thought this would be like a retirement for him. A peaceful job, far away from the court intrigue. But no, he shipped the whole damn circus with him."
"I didn't mean for this to happen," Adanita said quietly. "I'm sorry."
"Oh, please. I have more brain than to blame you for everything, especially since neither of you explained what the hell is going on. Rosamund doesn't get into messes by letting others drag him around. Whatever you two are up to, a part of responsibility is still on him. Most of it, knowing him."
"Heh. I don't know about that."
"Hush. I refuse to allow your mood to worsen when you're already upset. We still have a party to return to."

Adanita decided to let it go.

She stopped walking as they reached a bench concealed by bushes on three sides. If it was up to her, she'd continue walking, but the dress that Mislav was wearing didn't seem like it was made for the gravel road of the garden. Adanita decided to be considerate and sat down in a relaxed position, resting her arms on the back of the bench. Mislav gave her a smile, but she continued standing.

The night was already falling. The full moons were lighting up the path for them, filling the world with long double shadows and shimmering in the colorful beads that Mislav left in her hair, her large round glasses, and her earrings.

"Nice dress," Adanita tried. "It looks good on you."
"Thank you! It has pockets," she said, putting her free hand into one of them. They must've been very carefully sown into the fabric. Adanita didn't even notice them.
"I wouldn't have expected you to wear one, considering the clothes you arrived in."
"I usually don't try to overshadow the host. Unless they really anger me. Today is supposed to be about Rosamund and you. I love what you did with your outfit," she said. "The people came here expecting the fearsome Pirate Queen and you gave them your all. You look... absolutely stunning."
"Thank you," she said. It seemed she wasn't direct only with insults, which was nice.
"That being said," she continued, "I'd like to know why we are here and not in there. Who got you so upset? Was it that prick, Alberic?"
"What? Oh, no. We are allies, actually. I think. I- well, he said he will support us."
"Really?! Is that why he's here? I thought he hated Rosamund and I, perhaps I should stop giving him a dirty look when we return... ah, there we go."
Adanita laughed. Mislav sipped her drink with a smile, giving her some time to get it together. So she wasn't rude only with people below her in status. She was just... like that. She wondered how they'd get along if Adanita had met her in her previous life. But back then, Rosamund was dead. Mislav had no reason to be here. In fact, she probably hated her back then. Her mood quietly became more somber again.

Oh, no. She was doing it again. She shouldn't think about it too hard. Not now, during a highly important event. It was in the past and this was now. She can handle herself. She can keep it together.

"I'm upset because of Duchess Almukantarat," she admitted. "I don't feel well in her presence."
"Oh. I, uh, take it you know her well?"
"In a way, aye. You?"
"Barely. I don't think we spoke more than once. She certainly left an impression, though."
"That bad?"
"I don't know how to describe it, to be honest. She is very beautiful, but I've never met someone whom I didn't want to be noticed by that badly. She just felt off to me."
"Aye. She's off."
"Would you like to get some booze and gossip about her after this?"
That sounded downright therapeutic. "Aye. I'd love that."

"Good. Because I do have more questions for you."
"Aye? Such as?" she tiredly asked.
"I am being hounded by letters from my friends ever since I returned to Bretonian waters," she said. "We'd all like to know how you managed to catch Rosamund."
"Catch? You don't mean- we are not lovers! Gods."
"Oh? Am I out of the loop again?" Mislav asked with a smile.
"We've never been lovers!" She was blushing. She was an adult woman and she was blushing at the idea- damn it. At least it was night.
"How can it be? I've never seen him as happy as he is when he looks at you. You should've seen the way he looked when you were dueling those fools."
"Wait, really?"
"Absolutely. I honestly thought you were a couple. And you're blushing as we speak. I'm not blind, you know."
"I didn't expect you would need glasses," Adanita said, trying to change the topic.
"Oh, most people tell me that. But I'm blind as a bat without them."
"Is that so?" It seemed she fell for distractions all too easily. Good. "I also need glasses, for reading," she admitted. "The idea of getting them seemed a bit embarrassing, to be honest."
"Nothing embarrassing about correcting your vision, I'd say."
"How do you wear them during storms on the sea?"
"Eh... I wear them and pray," she admitted.
"But how do you see?"
"You tell me," she said. She took them off and offered them to Adanita.

Adanita hesitated for a moment before taking them and carefully putting them on. The glass was thick and it made her feel as if she was deeply underwater. The world was wobbly and distorted and looking around gave her one hell of a headache. She quickly took them off, blinking a few times to get back to normal.

"That bad?" she asked.
Mislav shrugged, taking her glasses back.
Adanita leaned back in her seat again. During a real storm, the visibility would be low anyway. Glasses or no glasses really made no difference, but she supposed that wearing them even when they were dripping with water from the sea and the rain would prevent the woman from tripping over her own ropes.

"In any case, I am glad. You seem as a good influence on Rosamund. If he's happy, I'm happy for him, too."
"Were you in love with him?"
"No, I don't think so. He is just a very dear friend to me. But he is very handsome."
Adanita smiled, agreeing. "Do you really think he might be in love with me?"
"I might be wrong, if you are sure there is nothing between you. But I think he really cares about you."

"I think... I am in love with him," she admitted.

Mislav gasped. "And you're sitting here instead of dancing with him? While he is dancing with that Duchess?! This won't do. Come on, get up, we're going back."
"What?"
"Let's go! If he can dance with another lady during an event that celebrates the two of you, you can do the same." The little lady got up and straightened her dress before offering her a hand.
"This has to be the strangest way somebody asked me for a dance," Adanita said.
"Well, I suppose. But look at it this way. If we dance, you might have some fun, which is the worst case scenario."
"And what would be the best?"
"He sees you've returned, throws the Duchess out, and dances with you all night long?"
"How optimistic."
"Well, that was mostly a joke. But considering how much he cares about you, and the fact that she seems to be a threat to both you and Lilac, you can be sure he is up to something. I'll be very surprised if she's not taken care of by the time we return."
"What do you think he'll do?"
"Who knows? Something creative, I'm sure."
Adanita let out a laugh and accepted her hand before getting up.

"Should I lead?" she asked as they were walking back.
"I don't mind either way."
"I thought, because of the height difference..." Mislav was about as tall as Lilac, that is to say, considerably shorter than Adanita.
"Whichever you feel more confident with. I don't imagine you had a lot of dance lessons in your life?"
"I did, actually. Rosamund taught me," she admitted with a smile.
"Gods, that is about the most romantic thing I've heard in my life."

They passed by Alberic, who was angrily marching out of the ballroom. He was holding his younger brother by the arm. The young man was in a lot of pain, but both of them kept silent as they passed them by, Alberic only briefly giving them a nod.

Strange.

But not her problem. Not tonight. Adanita offered Mislav her elbow and led her to the dancing floor. Fellow ladies, fellow captains, fellow friends of one extremely unhinged man. Somehow it was comforting to dance with her. It felt as if she made a good friend. She politely bowed to Mislav, who gave her an overflourished curtsy. Mislav accepted her hand with a bright smile, and she noticed both of them had rough hands from sailing. Adanita politely hovered her hand over her waist instead of grabbing her, and she placed her hand on her shoulder. They began to dance, Mislav easily following her movements.

"Considering our outfits, I'd say we look at least as good as Rosamund did when he was dancing with that woman," Adanita quietly said.
"I'd say we look even better. You are beautiful. And you'll match with Rosamund, him in white and you in black."
"Do you see the Duchess anywhere?"
"No, and I don't think you should worry about it. If I were you, I'd be looking for Rosamund," she brightly said. "Or at me, if you'd like to make him jealous~"
She laughed.

"Ah, there he is," Mislav said. "I think we're leaving quite an impression."

Adanita glanced towards him and couldn't help but smile at the way he was looking at them. She quietly chuckled, feeling warmth in her cheeks, before looking down at the smiling lady she was dancing with.

˚ʚ♡ɞ˚