“Belle, I have some questions that need to be answered if you can.”

"I'll endeavor to answer what I can and search for answers if I cannot!"

She looked at him with earnest eyes, but she had really relaxed since she had started coaching him on his facial expressions, and his general physical capabilities; they'd had to empty one of the bigger rooms in the wing and turn it into an indoor workout room. 

“I don’t understand, master, why can’t we use the knights' training grounds?”

He winced rubbing the back of his head, “Yeah… the knights and I don’t really have a good relationship with one another, and I’d rather not have anyone knowing I’m training it wouldn’t be proper since I’m not being trained by a family knight it would be considered rude to the knights if I did.”

“That’s stupid.”

“It is, but it’s the way things are and I don’t have the time, nor the motivation to change it.”

She had become a lot more candid and it seemed that under the politeness and earnestness, was more earnestness and a fun loving kid. She was still utterly polite but at times she would switch into her northern accent and it was adorable.

She still had a frown on her face as she fixed his posture she was a real taskmaster and terrifyingly strong and competent, “My old man was knights guard before he retired to the northern province, he actually saved the Master and was gifted with land and the title of Baron because of it, he wasn’t the strongest, but he was the most reliable person there. He taught me and my siblings everything he knew because he said that any strength we can have is good for our future!”

She was really very talented at least from what he could tell, as she swung around the sword he looked on in awe.

“Why didn’t you join the knights guard? They pay better and you seem to have talent for it.”

She froze and looked down with a sour expression, “That’s very kind of you master, but though the knights guard has opened itself up to all genders, only those with a lot of money or with good recommendations can actually join.”

He fell silent at that as she set down the sword, and he sighed walking to her he patted her shoulder, “Alright, sorry about that.”

She froze and shook her head, “Thank you, but it’s nothing to apologize about. I now realized some things by coming here, so I don’t regret it.”

He grinned, “Honestly fuck the nobility of knights, being noble really doesn’t mean shit, from what I understand about most militia groups is that very few are actually good people, most are average and alot are rotten. Being a good person will always be better than being noble.”

She blinked in surprise and then she laughed, “Oh jeez, that sounds mighty treasonous ya know!”

He twitched, “Don’t tell anyone I said that in fact, the wind said it not me.”

She shook her head and nodded, “Of course master, it was that damned wiley wind!”

She continued on with his teachings and he nearly cried, learning how to fight was so much more work than he remembered this kid had shitty stamina, and strength from his memories he never did much other than study and lay in bed, he barely remembered to eat properly and it showed as the months passed and he grew almost a foot in height and gained actually muscle.

The height and weight difference though did not help in his endeavor to make himself look more approachable, and charming.

“This may have hindered our goal of making your face less scary.”

Belle winced, Aster responded sarcastically “Ya think.”

“But at least your stoic expression looks… fine? Well at least it looks neutral, intimidating, but more in a ‘this is just how you look’ kind of way rather than ‘I’m plotting to take down the nobility’ kind of way!”

He closed his eyes and rubbed the furrow between his brows as he sighed, she patted his shoulder with gusto, “Thank you for the kind words, but honestly I think this is fruitless endeavor, I think maybe my face will forever just look vaguely villainous regardless.”

“Well… we tried and that's what matters! Buck up young master! For this solstice ball will be your debut on your new countenance!”

She straightened his suit. She had begged him to get a new one, but he had firmly said no, in the end he had compromised on a new overcoat. 

A knock interrupted her pep-talk and Belle straightened up as she headed for the door, her face falling into a stoic pleasantness, “Yes.”

“The young master is requested to hurry up and meet the Master and Mistress in the entrance hall.”

“He will be there momentarily.”

“He is-”

“He will be there, momentarily.”

The maid straightened up as the door shut in her face, Belle sighed, “You really don’t have to pick fights with the staff, it's not their fault.”

“You’re too kind, master, may I recommend the green sapphire droplets. Their cool tones will go nicely with your complexion.”

He sighed and nodded as he chose them and put them on, patting her shoulder as he passed, “Stay out of trouble.”

“Of course you can count on me!”

The corner of his mouth twitched as if he wanted to smile, but he ordered his expression into placid stoicness and walked out.

He nodded to the maid who ignored him and walked on, he rolled his eyes and followed after her.

He bowed to his father and mother and boarded the carriage with them looking out the window in contemplation, ‘If this thing gonna last maybe two weeks, then… add to that three day safety I’ll have to make a meeting with that guy on Thursday…’

He could feel the sweat appearing on his skin as he rubbed his arm in annoyance at the thought of wasting weeks on an annoying ball. He couldn’t even make any meaningful business connections since he was still a son of the Marquis any business dealings would need to be pre approved by him and any actual rights would go to him or the Rosewood estate.

Good if you didn’t want the responsibility if it failed.

Bad if you wanted everything you did to be controlled by the old man.

It was gonna be a very long ride to the Estellan Villa, and he was not gonna enjoy any of it, ‘Well at least the food will be good… probably.’

.

.

.

“Should we really be here? I mean he is the middle child, but he’s still a high nobility. We could get our hands cut off at best and our heads at worst!”

The woman with mismatched eyes rolled them as she continued searching though the study, “Please as if it would actually matter if they found out, you know how secretive the Rosewoods are, nobody outside the house knows about how the middle brat is treated besides, this was asked by the favorite child and we’ll get away with it because we won’t get caught.”

They searched and the woman let out an exclamation as she held up a bundle of papers, “So the little brat did have something. I thought that child was just throwing a tantrum, but I guess she wasn’t kidding around this time.”

The man looked around nervously as he set everything back in place, “Is that it can we go? This place is giving me a headache.”

She clicked her tongue, “Fine let’s go we’ll have to look this over, fucking kid may not be anything special but the brat ain’t stupid.”

They left.

From behind a ceiling plaster a head peered out and flipped onto the ground, dusting off her skirts Belle frowned.

“I almost messed up. I really should do better in trusting the master when he says things, he tends to be right.”

.

.

.

“Ah! My friends it is so very good to see you once again!”

The old man laughed along greeting the other with a deep bow, his wife curtsied deeply and elegantly and his children followed suit.

“Greetings light of our land, the setting and rising sun, blessed be your days.”

The other man laughed, as he dragged the old man into a firm hug, taking his wife's hand and giving it a kiss. She gave a proper nod as she purposely made her cheeks rosy, a heavy hand landed on the eldest son's shoulder and a warm hand landed on the youngest girl's head.

He patted the middle child's arm as an afterthought, a smaller smile on his face before he moved onto his old friend, “Leon you old man, you've been spending more and more time at home, are you dying or are you just getting old!”

“Both mean the same thing, your highness.”

The blonde man laughed as both walked away, his wife turned to Titania and dragged her away by the arm though it was with barely the polite pause to greet one another the blonde woman smiling like a girl and his stoic faced mother’s countenance softening at the light of the blonde woman.

“S-sir Tiberius! If I could have some of your time to discuss something…”

The prince, generally an elegant and handsome young boy, tripped over his words at the sight of the eldest Rosewood child, he nodded stoic as ever, but face softening at the sight of the young boy. His sister… had already left her faux pas forgiven because of her age and future prospects.

Last left was the middle child, who looked over and just moved on after everyone had left to do their own things.

Aster had a very carefully constructed stoic mask as he walked to the refreshments table, ‘AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!! I’M FUCKING TIRED, MY ASS HURTS, CARRIAGES SUCK, I WANNA SLEEP, GIVE! ME! FOOD!!!”

He reached the table and nearly sobbed all that was there was finger foods and sweets.

He hated sweets, especially if he hadn’t eaten prior to them, he let out an imperceptible sigh as he picked up a single egg tart, likely the most savory thing on the table other than whatever rich persons finger foods there were, those didn’t look like pigs in a blanket or devilled eggs. He was not looking forward to this night, technically speaking people shouldn’t leave the hall until at least sunrise so he was preparing to simply die.

A lie, but he wished.

‘This isn’t even a fun party, at least if I were at the manor I’d be able to leave and head to sleep, or go to the nearby town to play around in the square or a bar. Anything would be better than shitty music and the scent of snakes in the air…’

It was at these moments he absolutely missed his old life, sure he was poor as shit and had a terrible relationship with his parents, but he had his siblings, and friends, and a job he actually tolerated and his own space. Plus the ability to leave places if he wanted to.

‘Ah, freedom, how I miss thee, then again… money.’

He chewed on another tart, finishing it quickly as he wiped the crumbs from the corner of his mouth. He was making rounds saying hello where he had to because of obligations though none were too enthused by him, but he was the only one who was available at the moment to do it.

He made his way again to the table and nearly smiled as there was still one egg tart left.

He reached for it, but a small and feminine hand bumped into his reaching for the same one, he blinked and made the right decision, he turned to the younger girl and gestured to it, “Go ahead Miss, I’ll just grab something else.”

He bowed and she blinked in surprise, but nodded in thanks.

She looked around surreptitiously and he nearly cooed, ‘How cute… and vaguely worrying, but she’s probably trying to sneak more sweets than she should, been there done that sister!’

He stepped in front of her, hiding her from view, and she paused as she looked at him with wide eyes, he made a hurry up hand motion and she nodded, stuffing her mouth with the tart, he really wanted to pinch her cheeks. She was so adorable.

He saw a woman stalking up to him and heard a squeak behind him he played dumb until she was right in his face, “Excuse me young man, but can you move!”

He blinked and pointed to himself though obviously he was the only person she could be talking to behind his back he made a hurry and go motion with his hand and a small hand gripped his in thanks as she disappeared into the crowd.

He was currently distracting the woman, sharp eyes and scary expressions seemed to work wonders on old ladies, “I’m sorry did you say something madame?”

“I-I said if you can please excuse me young lord I wish to get behind you.”

She curtsied and he looked at her with narrowed eyes, mouth curled into a sneer, before smiling sarcastically so much so the older lady winced, he moved, “Sure go ahead.”

He drank from his cup as he continued on his walk, dropping the empty cup on a passing tray.

‘Well at least that was interesting, I guess being ignored had its perks, hope the kid isn’t throwing up eating too many sweets was definitely bad… well she isn’t my kid so whatever.’

.

It was on the third day of what these rich motherfuckers call a party that he realized he was being watched, he sighed as he set down his drink and walked out into the nearest empty lounge. Stretching out he groaned as he heard his back crack, ‘I am too young to be having this stiff of a back…’

“I know you’re there you can come out, ignore the face that's just how I look.”

Stepping out from behind the curtain was the little girl from before, she looked adorably elegant and nervous, “H-hello again young lord.”

She curtsied elegantly despite her age, he bowed back, “Greetings young lady, is there anything I can do for you?”

She blinked those big red eyes, she looked like a rabbit, shaking her head, “I simply wished to thank the person who saved me that evening three nights ago, I understand you may have gotten in trouble with Nanny Matilda.”

He grimaced slightly and she flinched at the sight of him, so he school his face, falling to his knee he bowed his head, “No worries young lady, this one was glad to help you in your endeavors everyone should get the chance to eat those delectable egg tarts. How did you like them, my lady?”

She giggled behind her hand, “Oh they were yummy- I mean they were delicious!”

Her cheeks turned rosy at her childish misstep, he nearly smiled, but held back, “I agree they were yummy, I enjoyed them very much as well.”

She smiled with thanks, but seemed to gather up whatever nobility and dignity she had, which seemed to be more than enough as she responded with a nod, “Quite so my lord, I simply wished to thank you, but I must be on my way.”

Hand on his chest and still on his knee he bowed his head once again, “Of course my lady. I thank you for your consideration and look forward to your future endeavors.”

She stilled for maybe half a second, but nodded and left the pink gown swishing behind her.

Once he was sure she was gone he covered his mouth as a grin bubbled up onto his face, “That was literally the most adorable thing I have ever witnessed, she was so proper! Like a princess!”

Then his eyes widened.

“Was she a princess?! I need to fucking study these people more…”

Another day of the Solstice ball passed without much incident.