The Coming of Age ceremony is everything in a young nobles life. It celebrates their highness’s ability to marry and carry on their family legacy. The ceremony can be many things, it can be a simple gathering of family, it can be the unofficial announcement of their highnesses marriage. But most nobility simply have an event where any looking for a spouse can meet their highness and hopefully begin courting them. Today is your coming of age celebration, as the oldest to inherit the kingdom, your family has made it clear how important it is that you find suitors to court you tonight. They’ve made it clear that it doesn’t matter, their family name, their reputation, you’ve already set to inherit the throne, all you need is a spouse to solidify that fact. You are an Evercrest, your family name already holds a lot of value as a potential spouse to many so, lucky for you, you get to be a little picky with your choices tonight. Unfortunately for you, this means you’ll be talking with suitors all night at an event that you are dreading. The Coming of Age ceremony is almost like a test for many. A rest in what you’re willing to do for your kingdom, your family. To some the ceremony is an exciting thing, a sign of their own independence. To many the ceremony is a harrowing thing, you fall under the latter personally. As exciting as it may be to find a spouse of your own and be courted, it also seems too soon to even think about it. You’re still reeling from the idea of running the kingdom one day, now you’re to be married as well? It’s ridiculous is what it is. You're an Evercrest, which means a lot, it means you come from greatness, it means that your family is first priority. But most importantly, it means that you must prove yourself to be a worthy heir and tonight is your chance to do just that. THE BALL So far you’ve talked to at least a dozen suitors, all looking and acting the exact same. They all wear the same tailored suit and make riveting conversation on the history of your country. Sometimes they’ll switch it up and speak on the political benefit of merging your family names. Because nothing says ‘marry me’ like monetary and political union. It’s only lucky that other young nobles are here to court each other as well, it takes more eyes off of you and instead onto the potential gossip of who will be courted or even marry first. For example; the conversation between the heir to the Ashford throne and the heir to the Collingsworth throne make for a perfect distraction for you to step away from the ball and hopefully find two seconds of peace. Unfortunately for you, it looks like someone’s already beat you to it. Standing on the terrace is, what looks to be a younger man, currently nursing a silver flask. As you get closer, you recognize him a Maddox Hawthorne, second in line to his father’s throne and rumored to be a bastard child. Of all the people here, he the most reason to not be here, especially considering that his brother who is first in line to the throne is already attending. You’ve met Maddox before, not a bad interaction but it was an interesting one for sure, he’s most definitely unlike the typical prince. Maddox finally takes notice of you creeping behind him and decides to speak up, he’s already crashed a party so why would he stop at talking to a soon to be courted heir. He takes another sip of his flask before pocketing it and straightening out his suit. “Well- you look like you need rescuing…or a drink.”