"So, I see you decided to come."
Oriana could only sigh.
Why would you need to say that? He could see her standing right before him. Obviously, she had decided to come.
Not to let the emotion show on her face, Oriana looked into the man's face and gave the obvious response back.
"Of course. An invitation to the ball of the year. How could I say no?"
"That's the only reason, is it. You didn't decide to come because an incredibly handsome man before you had asked you to come." He said with a smirk on his face.
One that Oriana really wanted to wipe off.
She couldn't be bothered to get into the fact that he had given invitations out to multiple women. Was it possible that the other women had already said no to him?
Either way, she already had an answer for the man.
"No, not really."
His smirk faltered a bit, but he managed to catch himself.
The problem was that, while Oriana really didn't want to deal with this man, and would so enjoy just putting him down, she did have an…image to uphold as Lady Orifake. So, she could not go too hard, lest there be talk, and cause this persona to outlive its usefulness.
So, she had to give him a bone, in case anyone could hear their conversation.
"But, I am open to having my mind changed about my reason for being here," she said coyly, fluttering her eyes a little.
"Good, well. Since it is a Ball, how would you like to dance with me? We can get quite up close and personal on the ballroom floor."
Oriana could practically see the saliva dripping from his mouth. Well, it wasn't really there, but the way he eyed her up, she felt like it would be.
"Screw this. Whether my image is affected or not, there is no way I am dancing with him after hearing something like that." She said to herself.
Sure, she had changed her turn rather quickly. But for someone inciting chaos in the world around her, being chaotic in her choices wasn't so hard to fathom.
She quickly glanced around the room, looking for an out. Whether it was another dance partner, a door to the powder room, or even just a guillotine at this point, she felt like she would take it.
But thankfully, the guillotine was not needed, as she found her out.
Sitting nearby was a lovely lady, looking out at the ballroom floor and sighing. For whatever reason, she had no partner to dance with either.
And so, turning to the man, whom she still didn't actually know the name of, she responded to his request.
"I am sorry. I am unable to give you my first dance. A dear…friend of mine has already asked me. So, you will have to wait for the next one."
The man looked a little surprised at that, as if he had never expected to be the…second choice, for lack of a better word. But, to him, at least what she had said was not a 'no', so he conceded.
"I see. Well, I will be sure to come and find you after your first dance is over, to show you how much better your second will be."
Wanting to get out of there as fast as she could, she curtsied and then headed past the man towards the woman.
Thinking back, she could have said no full stop. But, where was the fun in that? Here was a man who thought he was the Goddess's gift to women. So why not make him think he is going to get what he wants, and then just take it away from him? So much better than just outright refusing him.
As Oriana approached the lady, she saw that she was still just looking around and sighing.
Oriana had noticed a few of the other singles had headed towards the lady, while she was fending off the ones that approached her, but like herself, it seemed the lady had sent them all away.
Here's hoping she doesn't do the same to her.
"Afternoon, my lady. What are you doing sitting over here instead of dancing?"
The woman looked up at Oriana, Lady Orifake, with surprise, not having expected anyone else to talk to her after warding all the single men off.
"Hello, sorry, I err, just don't really feel like dancing."
Oriana sat down next to her.
"Well, that is a shame, because I am certain that you would look stunning on the ballroom floor. My name is Lady Orifake. May I have the pleasure of knowing your name?"
Lady Orifake held out her hand, greeting the woman, who ended up with a rosy blush adorning her cheek.
"Eleanor, Lady Eleanor," she said as she held out her hand, which Oriana took, and then planted a kiss against.
"Nailed it. A noble greeting, just like I'd heard." Oriana thought to herself.
It was a noble greeting, but one that was mainly for lovers or suitors greeting one another. It turns out, her friend back in the forest forgot to mention that part when she told stories of princesses and princes.
"So, why are you sitting all alone here, and not dancing?"
Lady Eleanor looked away bashfully from Oriana, out towards the ballroom. But where Oriana thought she was looking at someone dancing, it turns out she was looking at someone on the opposite side of the room.
More specifically, the Marquise, who has a fascination for all things Sir James Kraven.
"That is my father. Normally, he is quite doting, unless he is fawning over the hero James Kraven. Like he is doing now."
Oriana looked over and saw the man practically studying each and every picture, taking in all of the detail. He even spoke to the servants and made offers on several of the pictures.
"I'm honestly too embarrassed to get up and dance. Who would have thought pictures of him would be at the princess's debutant ball? I know many people are talking about the decorations that adorn these walls, but I know some are talking about my father, and by extension, me. It just does not put me in the mood to dance."
Oriana looked at her father and then back at Lady Eleanor.
"You know, rumours and gossip are like illusion magic. They seem real, draw the eyes and ears on occasion, but have no substance and very quickly disappear before you know it. Or when something real walks through it," she said as she shrugged at her last statement.
"…That is quite the analogy."
"All I am saying is, why care about other people gossiping and spreading rumours about you or your father. Sure, it may hurt in the moment, but before long, they will move on to someone else. And besides, why should other people be the reason for you not having fun? I mean, look at your father."
Lady Eleanor followed Oriana's gaze back to where her father was now remarking on a picture of Sir James Kraven holding up the head of a cyclops that he had slain.
"He doesn't care what others think about him. He found a hobby, love in his life, and he is enjoying it. So what if other people talk about him? To me, it sounds like they have nothing else worth talking about in their own life, that they have to do so about what other people do, just to seem interesting."
Lady Eleanor thought about it for a while, just looking at her father, and seeing the smile on his face as he critiqued the painting.
Before long, it seems that Oriana's speech had hardened her resolve.
"You're right. Why should I care? This is a Ball, and I should just enjoy it," she said as she smiled at Lady Orifake.
Who responded by holding out her own hand, which Lady Eleanor took hold of as they walked towards the ballroom floor.
---
Standing among the other nobles, the previous song was coming to a close, and the orchestra were starting to prepare for the next.
Everyone was waiting in anticipation of the next dance. Some had switched to other partners, others left to give their legs a break, and some remained, hoping for another dance with their current partner.
Looking around, Oriana could see the princess dancing with a man who looked to be around her age. Possibly her fiancé or something.
Off to the side, the King still looked distraught as he spoke to his wife about how terrible it all was.
The Queen, however, wasn't having any of it. If anything, it almost looked like she was half asleep, having to listen to him complain.
While he was having a rough go of it, for the rest of the guests, while the decorations had caused a fuss to start, things had slowly mellowed out for the time being.
And while this may not be Oriana's preferred state of things, she figured she may as well enjoy it.
And to do so with the lovely Lady Eleanor.