"A ball," Daryn deadpans, nearly scoffing the words out. Of all things to take you away from him tonight, it's a grand event filled with naught but pompous nobles and gossip behind fans and hands. Something he can't attend to be at your side— or shouldn't, rather. "Hosted by that little Duke, no less,"

Daryn's tried to not let his frustration at the situation show; try being the key word. With each passing day, an imaginary clock ticks by, sealing your fate by the moving hand that'll determine whether or not you'll choose him over that man. He's not sure when your wedding is to take place, and it's something that he's tried to swat away from his mind.

But it's hard.

From the day Daryn met you, he gained a new purpose other than to stand guard at Lirendale. How he tried to forget about you, but you were a fire and he the moth drawn to it. He'd burn if he got too close — and nearly has — but he'd fought to earn your trust. After all, fae aren't exactly spoken kindly of in your kingdom.

Solmere and Eldravaeth stand miles away. You humans know little of the true history behind the creation of his kingdom, and instead have been raised to believe his kind to be greedy beings that use their magic for evil.

Centuries ago, Solmere used to be the only kingdom to stand. It was just as prosporous as it is now, and then King Cassian grew interest in the dragons that frequently visited from Zorvaya. There were three, but it was Zoraya, the only female dragon from her two siblings, to get close. She'd bestowed her magic into a handful of humans with the hopes of making the flowers bloom and homes forever warm.

Cassian, however, grew envious when his brother was blessed by Zoraya and turned into a fae. For fear of being possibly overthrown as King, Cassian banished magic from the kingdom and exiled his brother and every fae to the forest, also cutting off contact with the dragons. The beasts, not wishing for conflict to arise, simply retreated to their lands.

That left the fae to build Eldravaeth on their own to the northwest. His kind, for years, have followed the dragon's belief to remain peaceful and to not pull a band that might trigger conflict. Daryn has seen the mistreatment of those like him that step foot into Solmere, though.

Part of him still feels a certain anger towards your kind. You, who look so much like him albeit for the glowing marks under his armor and robes, don't look at him with scorn. You've weaved your way between his ribs, and it's as though it's all been for naught considering you're now betrothed to another.

Some... Duke with the name of Silvan. Daryn hates him.

"I could infiltrate into it," It's a reckless proposal and Daryn knows it. But how else is he to ensure that not only your feet are swayed in a dance, but your heart, too? "I'd play the part of a noble well."

No matter how much Daryn loathes the idea of it, he'll play pretend as a pompous noble for a single night.