She's hard to read...

4th Domusdae, the 27th day of the month of Semens (Sem), the 3672nd year of Salvation's Landing

‘I know what she’s asking, but I have no clue why she’s asking…’ Reglin thought to himself as he tried to formulate some sort of plan. He could keep things vague. Maybe that could work.

The Princess had tilted her head and had this look to her. Her natural aloof nature made everything so ambiguous. Sighing quietly, Reglin decided to stop trying to read her and just go with it and see what happened.

“There’s always been special women in my life. I have a loving family that includes three women. I plan to see them as soon as my duties will permit me.” Pausing a moment for effect, “But the single most impactful woman in my life to this day would be the Magistricia.”

Softly nodding in agreement, “She has done a good deal for you. Even I know that much, and I haven’t been a part of your life for over a decade.” Yelena gave a sheepish smile to Reglin then, “Though I did ask about you every now and again when I would meet with Tabitha…”

Reglin made a mental note that Yelena just referred to a woman of no small import by her given name and not title. That was interesting, but he had to poke that tidbit of information she just gave, “Oh? We had less than a dozen opportunities to play together if I recall. Did I really make that good of an impression?” Reglin attempted at a faux smug smile for the Princess.

Of course, once again, her reaction was not what Reglin had expected. He had expected maybe an embarrassed smile, some color in her cheeks, and maybe some denial. Instead, Yelena’s eyes grew melancholy, “… Yes…”, the word was so quiet and sad, Reglin’s heart broke a little. The sadness in her eyes lifted a little when she looked in the Guardsman’s face, a faint smile forming even, “I don’t know if you realized this or not, but I… I do not really do w-well with most people.” She gave a small, self-derisive snort at that.

Giving a somber nod at that, Reglin tilted his head in thought, “I know that you and Katya never got along. Maybe… Maybe, you just don’t fake it as well as everyone else? I don’t know… You’re honest. I mean, why in the Gods would you be saying this stuff to a man you’ve talked to so little, and then only as kids?” He smiled at her, hoping she received the caring that he felt, “I’m honored and glad you have, but I can’t help but feel sad that you had no one else to help you through things.”

Her smile widening at him, “You are sweet to think that, but court does not seem to coincide with someone like me. I realize that I am too… sensitive? Maybe that is the best word. I just cannot seem to put on the false veneer that so many nobles do…” She gave a very human shrug, looking chagrinned. Reorienting herself, she took a deep breath, “But we have gone far afield, have we not? I know you care for Mistress Tabitha and the women of your family. But you know what I was getting at, Guardsman Reglin. Was, or is there someone special in your life? Someone that speaks to your heart?”

Her last question made Reglin snort in spite of himself, causing Yelena to raise a brow, so he continued, “Well Your Highness, it seems I have been blessed or cursed, depending on how you look at things… To have a heart that likes to speak to all kinds of people…” That seemed to pique the Princess’ interest.

“Really now? Are you such a cad as that now days Reglin? Can not one woman sate your desires?” Hearing those words, even in jest, from the little ethereal Princess made Reglin take account of himself.

Giving a chuckle of self-deprecation, he shook his head, “That is not even remotely the case, Princess. It’s just, I tend to care about people easier than most, I guess. At least, that’s what Tabitha seems to think.” Reglin kept it vague. That this was all due to an inherent character flaw and not some strange power of his, “And I think, with putting forth those feelings, people feel safer in reciprocating them… Especially as of late.” The last part slipped out and Reglin yelled at himself for being so sloppy in his words.

Now the face that so often looked like it was seeing into other planes of existence was honed in on his, “Oh? Have you been a popular new resident in the palace? I would act surprised, except I saw my sister and her little court of friends. Even from the distance I was at yesterday, I saw many eyes looking at you. While you looked to me, with just glances I knew that you were intriguing to them. Perhaps sport?”

This talk from her had Reglin off balance, “I-I guess… I’ll admit that Princess Katya’s demand for me was odd. And the fact that the comments about my base ranking in society were so limited was also odd.” He shook his head in puzzlement.

The Princess let out a laugh that sounded just like it should Reglin. It made him think of chimes, “Reglin… I know you are not that dense. We have talked enough this day for me to know that. You did not receive any blows to the head while at war that would reduce you to that of an idiot…”

Eyes darting about nervously, “Ooookay… So, I am not an idiot, you say. All I was trying to say is that maybe I put my feelings out there and in turn, people return theirs?”

Yelena leaned in and patted Reglin on his knee then, looking genuinely amused, “I am going to speak unfitting of a Princess right now. Please do not hold it against me.” Reglin have quick nod, “It… It may be as you say. Perhaps your heart does make others more comfortable around you.” The smile on her face grew wider then, “Or perhaps it is that you are a gorgeous man that is new to the palace? I mean, even I have to take notice of you. And I have not had thoughts such as those for some time now. I will be honest with you. You look almost nothing like how you did when you left. I remember a boyish looking teenager of a height with Mistress Tabitha, who was cute enough I suppose. You also had a look of evergreen optimism that cast you in a younger light. That Optimism is still there, but now I have through some other layers to you... And there is this other thing. It is how you carry yourself. The way you lean in, lean out, the way your eyelids mask your eyes at times… It is very… enticing?” At that, the Princess looked over his shoulder for just a brief moment.

Reglin turned his head to follow where the Princess was looking and saw Oliyah. The handmaid looked at him for a moment. Then. With her eyebrows raised and lips turned down, she shrugged, “S’pose so…” before looking down and going back to her needlework. The whole interaction was absurdly funny that Reglin’s confusion turned to chuckles before shrugging.

“I… I guess that could be… something to do with i-” he tried to get out before the Princess uncharacteristically interrupted him.

“And you have not even taken into account that you return to us from the front lines of battle. There are many who look at you as a battle-hardened soldier. A man who has acted with courage and valor. That is yet another attribute to your character that a woman may desire… Though it has a bit of an attractive flavor, I must admit that one is not high on the list with me.” She listed off all these concepts in her dreamy speech pattern while looking off at some flowers, not realizing just how flushed Reglin’s face had become.

Clearing his throat, Reglin attempted to break this current topic up, “Okay, okay… I guess I have more things going for me than just my ‘caring heart’… my mis-” but she wasn’t done evidently.

“I would go so far that if you were a noble of nearly any standing, you would have that court of Katya’s all flustered and swooning…” She chuckled at that, “I would actually find that amusing. Those women turned about for once… Well, they are not all bad. In fact, I would go as far as to say that most are decent. They just play the court game where my sister is the queen of her court, second only to our mother obviously.” She really was not to be deterred from this path of thoughts obviously, so Reglin just remained silent and took in what she was saying, trying to ease the heat in his face. She just kept going though, “Then I would not feel so bad for the ladies either. Sure, they would be played about and led by their noses. But I do not think that you would do such a thing to spite them… They would more than likely end up seeing it as a competition of sorts.” That caused the Princess to think for a moment, “Hmmm… I do not know if I like that idea. If a competition comes of it, Katya will not be able to resist…”

Reglin had had enough, his voice perhaps a bit louder than he had intended. “Okay, I think you might be forecasting a bit much there, Yelena. After all, you brought up nobility being a prerequisite. So, that ends that really. Plus, I definitely do not want competitions… It seems rather sordid, doesn’t it?”

That raised the color in her cheeks, her mind going onto further tangents, “I suppose so… Various noble ladies vying for your attention. Debasing themselves further and further in hopes of your favor…” The Princess was most definitively going down a sordid path of thoughts. But Reglin didn’t think that he played as big of a role in it as much as the thoughts of the other noble ladies. Indeed, Yelena was a hard one to read. She recuperated her thoughts and cleared her throat, “But if that were to ever happen, you surely must have the aptitude in the requisite arenas to make them dance to your tune. You’ve had lovers, I assume?” it seemed that her thought path back was a slow one and they were to stay her a bit longer.

Reglin’s eyes were wide at her candor. He had to take a sip of wine to wet his mouth. Luckily, the wine was watered for travel, meant to offer some relief to thirst. Swallowing, he had to trudge forward, “I… I have been with a woman intimately, yes…”

Yelena raised her brow at the curt response, “Just A woman? That is all?” She looked at him disbelieving the idea.

Nodding, Reglin offered a bit more, “It is… You see, I hold these ideas of romance, I guess? I’ve never felt the need to be with a woman just to be with a woman.” He gave a minute shrug of the shoulders, “That’s why I hadn’t lain with a woman before returning to the Capital.”

A gleam shown in the Princess’s eyes at that, “So it was very recently on top of that even? Interesting… I would wager a bet that the person is of the palace then. If you hold such import on emotion, you would not have bed some serving wench in the city… A puzzle.” Her voice trailed off in speculation before asking something else, “That is a heavy price you put on carnal knowledge, Reglin. I have heard that sometimes a tryst is just what it is and all that is needed. So how do you know if you are truly aligned with someone in such a romantic way?”

Having to gather his thoughts, Reglin looked into his cup of wine and took a sip again. “Well, recently I was given a mental exercise of sorts. One the made me take true stock of my feelings of those around me. It was eye-opening. It is how I came to realize how protective I am of you…”

Yelena once again interrupted, “You are trying to read auras?” her voice had turned excited, then a quick look of regret showed on her face before she coached it back to a smile.

‘Well, that was confusing…’ Reglin thought. Though he shouldn’t have been surprised given the participant in this conversation, “Ummm… yes… Well, I guess since you know of the exercise, you might know what can be seen. I’m not so schooled in it yet that I can do it quickly. But I think reading auras will aid me in knowing whose door I should lay my heart at, if that makes sense.”

The Princess nodded, “I suppose it would be a tool. But we all change all the time. Reading someone’s aura one day might make you decide to disqualify someone from your attentions, and you may never know how wonderful that person could have been with you.” She sounded truly sorry for both Reglin and the hypothetical woman that was tossed aside by Reglin’s readings.

That made Reglin smile wide and chuckle, “Relax, my Princess… I have only read someone once in practice. And I said it was only a tool. Not the be-all, end-all of my decision-making process… No hearts have been broken as of yet. Not by me, in any case…”

Yelena looked lost in thought, so Reglin took the opportunity to get up and stretch. Her eyes looked up to him for a moment inquisitively and when he just said he was going to start the packing, she just nodded, finished her wine, and handed him the cup. She got up and stepped off the blankets, still gazing off in thought. Oliyah and Reglin took that to mean to continue on, and so they did, packing up everything in an orderly and efficient manner. Reglin was surprised to her Oliyah offer him a ‘thank you’ for his aiding her.

All packed up and the daylight starting its retreat, it was time for the trio to be on the road. Reglin assisted to the women into their saddles, despite some protestations and hopped into Vredii’s saddle. He liked this horse quite a bit. He would remember his name for certain.

Their way back was quiet, both in the noise of their surroundings and in their conversation. It was as though they were all talked out. That was fine with Reglin. As much as he liked the Princess, he was tired of talking about himself and that was all she was interested in this day seemingly.

When they made it back to the North Gate via the Summit road, Halern and Nimit stood there waiting. They saluted the Princess once more and offered the expected niceties. Once that was over Hal turned to Reglin, “Well, that’s a point in my book for bringing back Princess Yelena unmolested, Goldy… Good work.” the condescending ribbing made Reglin smile before he saluted the guards.

“Carry on, Guardsman!” Reglin mocked them with an order befitting a superior, which caused them to chuckle as Reglin led the procession toward the stable.

“I do not think I will ever understand military humor… And you never told me why they called you Goldy?” Yelena spoke as they entered the stable. Stablehands came around to grab reins.

“I didn’t? Must have slipped my mind. Perhaps another time, Your Highness. It is getting late in the day. I don’t know about you, but I am not used to being the saddle that long.” He said as he dropped out of it, “If you wish to ask more questions of me Princess, please just call on me.”

Yelena looked as this suspiciously, “Oh, I’m sure Guardsman… You have given me a good deal to think on though. And for that, I thank you for your company this day. May you have a pleasant evening.” She was still looking at him through narrowed eyes though, making Reglin smile.

“May you enjoy your evening as well, my Princess. Thank you for allowing a guardsman like myself to speak so freely on such lively topics.” He thought that bit would endear her to the stable help, which is something Reglin was more than happy to provide. “I bid farewell to you, Princess… And farewell, Lady Oliyah.”

To her credit, the handmaiden’s head actually rose to regard him with the slightest of smiles and nods. Reglin chose to take that as a ringing endorsement and turned to head out to the Watch room.

~This is knowledge for the Reader~

The Affection Multiplier

~Mana: 251 (+39) 290~

~Mana Channels: ~Labiae Passionii (Lips of Passion) free, ~ Corpu Vigorii (Vigorous Body) 100, ~ Uirtau Proelium (Martial Prowess) 100, ~Mensu Lucidae (Bright Mind) 100, ~ Tactu Beatae (Blissful Touch) 100, ~Plurem Amatrixae Normalii (The Normalcy of Many Loves) 500, ~Corpu Libidaem (Lustful Body) 100, ~Corpu Spectabilum (Intimidating Body) 100, ~Mentulae Potencii (Potent Cock) 150

~Tabitha~ Affectionae: 100 Erosii: 88 Libidae: 100 (Effective 42)
~Lim~ A: 37
~Boll~ A: 23
~Grahm~ A: 33
~Day's Shift Guards~ A: (+19+4)(+23)
~Lina~ A: 34
~Asha~ A: 70 (+3) 73 E: 17(+2) 19 L: 27(+1) 28
~Princess Katya~ A: -52
~Maiden Caterina~ A: 18 E: 1 L: 2
~Maiden Gwynfuir~ A: 15
~Maiden Erynna~ A:5
~Lady Wilmyna~ A:17 L: 5
~Maiden Freighla~ A: 11 L: 3
~Lady Falina~ A: 12
~Maiden Deela~ A: 9
~Lady Vidala~ A: 6
~Maid Camilla~ A: 6 L: 4
~Night's Shift Guards~ A: (+6)
~Govren~ A: 2
~Princess Yelena~ A: 45 (+21) 66 E: 0 (+3)
~Maiden Oliyah~ A: 4(+5) 9