An entourage of Royal bearing...

4th Litordae, 25th day of the month of Semens (Sem), the 3672nd year of Salvation's Landing

It was time to make his way back to the Watch room for the pass down of the Day shift to the Evening shift. So Reglin made a circuitous path around the hedge maze at the back of the courtyard and turned the corner around the tall, bushy hedge and found himself just twenty feet from a rather large cadre of women dressed in noble finery. Trying to gather himself quickly, Reglin made out ten in the group, but only four that were dressed in noble fashion. The rest were what he assumed to be handmaidens to the four noblewomen. And one of those four noblewomen was Princess Katya.

She was perhaps more beautiful now than when Reglin had left the service of the palace as a messenger. She was tall for a woman of the region, only a hand or so shorter than himself, 'perhaps 5'9"?' he thought to himself. Her hair was a dark brown, near black, much like her mother's, and she wore it multiple intricate braids that then came into one braid that hung to the middle of her back. Her face was without fault, with a dignified, slightly sharp nose and brows that were meticulously cared for. Below those were dark brown eyes that always seemed severe or even cruel in Reglin's experience. But right now, talking among her near peer, she held a smirking half-smile. Her dresses were a hunter green with golden embroidered trim along with white petticoats. The cut of the garment was on the cusp of impropriety in the capital of Polivandria, daring to show the barest bit of cleavage, in which Katya had a pleasant amount of. It then tapered at the waist before flaring out at the hips, obscuring her actual hips.

This young woman had made Reglin's adolescence and teenage years trying. Whenever he had come across her in his duties as a messenger, she had always produced a kerchief to hold to her nose and made some comment about the smell of swine or the like. She would talk about the uselessness of the lower class in or around the city, knowing that he came from perhaps some of the most impoverished. She was always petty and spiteful in Reglin's eyes, and he had no idea why. Many a study session with Magistricia Tabitha were spent initially cheering him up. But her barbs would never hold long on him. Tabitha had always referred to Reglin as 'irrepressible'. That bad tides washed off the rock of his shoulders, never burdening him for long. And she was right. But if there was anyone in the palace that Reglin had a poor opinion off, it would be this woman, no matter how lovely she may be in appearance.

The women did not make immediate notice of him as he came hustling around the hedges, giggling and tittering amongst themselves about some unknown topic to Reglin. But to play it safe, he did what protocol demanded and saluted, fist to heart with a bow of the head. Surprising himself with how loud and clearly, he spoke, "Good Afternoon, Princess Katya." He might have been able to keep on going, but he would not be seen as shirking his manners to royalty.

All giggles and all titters ended abruptly, and all eyes turned to look at Reglin. After giving his customary bow, he could have stayed in that posture with his eyes down. Many did. But it was not a rule that needed adhered to, and there was something inside Reglin telling him, 'You will not cower! You will not bend! You will stand proud!' and so he did, focusing his eyes on the princess.

Her eyes gave the faintest of squints, looking as though she was looking to figure out something as they fell onto Reglin, the smirk remaining while doing. After a few moments of staring at each other, Katya's eyes opened in the slightest bit of alarm, more than likely in recognition truly, and her smirk slid away to a smooth, cool visage that betrayed little after that.

All during those quick moments, the princess's entourage did not take long to start remarking on the new guard, giving their opinions whether favorable or ill. But One of the ladies eyed him with open appraisal. She was exceedingly tall for a woman, standing near 6' if Reglin were to guess. She would not have to crane her neck if she were to look into his eyes. Her hair was blonde to the point in which it was the color of ivory and was worn in a simple braid. With brows that matched her hair raised in that judging look, blue-green eyes took measure of Reglin. Add onto those traits a fair complexion and she looked to be from the Northern shores of Polivandria. If those characteristics did not give it away, the style of her dress did. The style obviously inspired Katya's own dress but was a dark midnight blue with silvered embroidery. But the distinguishing factor was the cut of the bodice. It swooped quite low, looking as though the lady's enormous breasts would burst forth with too deep a breath. Truly eye-catching, Reglin had to admit. This woman looked like she could handle herself. She had wider shoulders that looked to be well-muscled when coupled with a narrow waist and wider hips from what he could gather beneath her petticoats, she was the epitome of an hourglass figure in an almost **** manner.

"That is a well set up man, there ladies." Reglin heard her say to the others in the northern shore accent, "There are not many of his height and shoulders around this City. And your southern cities rarely have any such as he." Her plain speak clearly made some of them uncomfortable as the giggles and titters came back with hints of nervousness.

"Wilmyna, do not base yourself in such a fashion. I know your people in the north hold much regard for strength, but there should be some limits, I would think." the princess said to the Northern lady, but her eyes never left Reglin's as she brought a hand to her face and covered her nose with a kerchief, the taunt she had used on him for so many years. "Surely, just because a farmhand can toss bales of hay about with ease, it does not make him worthy of your company..."

Lady Wilmyna did not seem to be on the same page as the princess though, "Oh, I don't know... Would I marry the farmhand? No... But would it be nice for a night to feel those rough, strong hands on me?" and she left it at that with sly smile. Many the girls gasped at the notion the Northern lady put forth in such a scandalous fashion. But, to her credit, Wilmyna did not show the slightest bit of blush at it.

The princess had endured this short scene long enough apparently. Still covering her nose with a hand, she spoke with the authority of Royal blood, "That is more than enough of that fancy, Wilmyna!" Throughout all of this, Katya was boring holes into Reglin with her eyes, perhaps hoping to set him afire with the gaze. "Guardsman, you may go. Carry on with your duties..." And just like that, she turned her head and Reglin was no longer in her world.

Utterly dismissed, Reglin gave a bow to the inattentive princess and those that were still paying him some attention, including Lady Wilmyna. That confident spark was still arcing through him as he rose from his boy, he made direct eye-contact with the Northern lady. Scandalous words might not make the woman blush, but apparently Reglin's eyes lingering on her for a mere moment of two managed to do the trick, bring color to her cheeks, neck, and even that wondrous cleavage. And the Lady noticed herself, quickly away from him.

Reglin unconsciously let this last interaction be the main thing he took away from all this, once again not letting the insults that the princess had laid on him gain purchase. Once again, he was 'irrepressible'. And so, on he went to the service door in the rear of the palace.

~This is knowledge for the Reader~

The Affection Multiplier

~Mana: 268~

~Mana Channels: ~Labiae Passionii (Lips of Passion) free, ~ Corpu Vigorii (Vigorous Body) 100, ~ Uirtau Proelium (Martial Prowess) 100

~Tabitha~ Affectionae: 78 Erosii: 12 Libidae: 10
~Lim~ A: 25
~Boll~ A: 13
~Grahm~ A: 26
~Lina~ A: 29
~Asha~ A: 25 E: 2 L: 2
~Princess Katya~ A: -63
~Lady Wilmyna~ A: (+4) 1
~Princess Katya's Entourage~ A: (+11)

Achieved: Flipped the Script -You have swayed someone from not liking you to looking at you in a favorable light (+50 mana)