Afterlife of V (Reon)

[Zack Asiv]

Lord Blackburn would scoff.

"We will see if anyone is worthy to become your bride."

Seemed Valerians Father also wasn't catching the hesitations in his actions. Though, someone had.

"Is something a miss?"

Angelonia's voice would reach out to Val for clarifications on if he was troubled by the decision.

[Valerian Blackburn]

Ffffuck, dad, why are you so proud?

Val laughs awkwardly, and Angelonia's voice doesn't help. Why does she have to be so empathetic!

"It's....not a big deal?"

Valerian tries to hide the apprehension in his voice.

"I just... uh... I didn't expect this to happen for a long time. I don't know if I'm the right person for most people. I'm not really... the marrying type?"

[Zack Asiv]

There would be a slight hush over the crowd before Angelonia began to giggle. Eyes would turn to her for a moment before she composed herself.

"I apologize, Young Lord Blackburn. Are you saying you are too much of a playboy to settle down? Or can you not think of it simply as a political alliance and need to find that special someone?"

Angelonia was genuinely curious, she was in no way making fun of him.

[Valerian Blackburn]

Valerian grimaces.

"...while I've tried to kind of... give the former as my image, I'd have to admit it's the second."

He couldn't lie in front of them all. He respected them too much.

[Zack Asiv]

Lord Shadowstar would smile and rub his chin.

"If only my son was so direct."

Lord Versyl and Young Lord Phillip would exchange looks as Lord Phillip turned red in the face from embarrassment. Lord Blackburn would then look at Val.

"Any young maidens catch your eye then?"

The whole time his Royal Highness Sorrel Kaizer watched in mild amusement.

[Valerian Blackburn]

Oh boy. Was that something... between those two?"

If only Val had the time to explore that.

He glances at Angelonia almost by reflex, then quickly looks away.

"Uh... no... I haven't found any who've seemed to reciprocate."

[Zack Asiv]

There is the slightest twitch in the corner of the left eye brow of Sorrel Kaizer.

"Love is a difficult subject, and you may not have the luxury of it in times like this... However, a year is a long time, longer still if you are actively trying to find someone. The decision is made, you will begin courtship ceremonies and negotiations from the selected available families. Lord Versyl, Young Lord Phillip... Please take Young Lord Valerian into another conference room and begin explanations and discussions of the houses available and their available heiresses for the Young Bachelor Lord."

They would rise and bow and move to the door to escort Valerian out.

[Valerian Blackburn]

"I...yes. Thank you, Lords."

Valerian steps towards the door, then gives a deep formal bow. He's a little surprised his dad isn't coming with him. but he must be needed for something else.

Valerian follows the other two out, breathing out a long, tired sigh.

[Zack Asiv]

Once in another conference room they relax. Versyl would scratcht eh back of his head.

"Gahhhh, what a shit show. Sorry Val, but they seem intent on this being the way of things."

Phillip would narrow his eyes a bit and stand in front of Valerian.

"Leave that alone, what was with those goo goo eyes at her highness, huh? She is a national treasure."

[Valerian Blackburn]

"Yeah..."

Val sighs, before his eyes widen a bit with Phillip standing in front of him.

"Yeah, I know that. I've just been impressed at how well she handles herself."

He kind of waves his hand around.

"It doesn't matter, it's not like it'd happen anyway."

[Zack Asiv]

Phillip would back off and go to find a seat.

"I'm the obvious choice to be Her Highness's betrothed. With the Shadowstar and Kaizer families becoming one there is nothing Zekunft couldn't handle on it's own."

Versyl would shake his head.

"By becoming a militaristic nation? Abandoning the way of the pacifist as the Lord Sorrel and the Lady Angelonia have desperately pleaded for their entire lives?"

Phillip crosses his arms.

"Well, still..."

Versyl would look to Val.

"Either way Val, what's the plan? You going to go on dates with a bunch of noble woman over the next year to see if any of them are your true love?"

[Valerian Blackburn]

"Does she like you?"

Val asks, eager to move the conversation away from himself.

Until it... returns to himself.

"I... guess? I mean, I don't really know them that well, all things considered. I don't even know who's single."

[Zack Asiv]

Phillip would interrupt Versyl to answer Val's question. Flicking his head with a hand and giving a small grunt.

"How could she not? I'm the perfect mix of good looking, rich and powerful, brooding, and mysterious."

Versyl slams his face into the table to get the ridiculousness of Phillip out of his mind.

"This is why commoners don't take you seriously Phillip."

He gets a grunt in response. Versyl then looks at Val lifting himself off the table.

"There is a decent list, but let's go with the obvious. Lady Wyndrop is single, and she is the lady in charge of her lands already. Her family owns and controls the current world supply of high quality wine and alcohol. Lady Riddel is also single, I would of suggested her sister, but she is being courted by the Markward heir. There is also Lady Ludolf and Lady Gangolf."

[Valerian Blackburn]

"Ha ha ha..."

Valerian struggles to keep his laughter to a minimum, trying not to be insulting.

He turns to Versyl, nodding along.

"Lady Wyndrop sounds... uh... a little too like me?"

From what he remembered.

"I'm afraid I don't know the last two that well. Lady Riddel is nice enough, but I don't think she'd be interested in that."

Oh, that self consciousness.

"Wait. I thought the Markward heirs were all disavowed thanks to my father?"

[Zack Asiv]

Versyl would nod.

"Thats why I mentioned her, but it's your call man."

Phillip would look at Valerian.

"It's obviously a plot by Lord Marward to marry his bastard son to a noble lady, raising him to nobility and keeping his family in the race. If he without a wife were to claim a new baby suddenly as his heir it'd be strange. So by pulling favors and strings he has arranged the Riddel family to gain quite a bit of power while making sure his bloodline is still nobility."