Chapter 150 - 148: Beautiful Young Lord.

Chapter 150: Chapter 148: Beautiful Young Lord.

Drogger Noog has never much cared for parties.

He goes to them, because as one of the highest ranking soldiers in the kingdom, it’s expected of him, but as much as Ynoro tries to help --and he tries --he never really enjoys himself.

For most men, parties and the like are about drinking until they’re stupid, winning favour with those who have what they don’t, or finding a pretty face to spend the night with.

For Drogger, who can’t get drunk out of his mind lest his behaviour reflect poorly on his king, isn’t interested in having his way paid for him, and who doesn’t share his comrades’ crippling desire to fraternize, it’s an evening spent in relative discomfort.

​Of course, he attends each and every one he’s asked to without complaint, and spends the night doing his solemn duty, as his king would expect of him.

That is to say, he shows up on time and suitably dressed for a man of his position, even if the clothes still feel garish and a little much ; he makes small talk with all those he should, praises the food and splendor when prompted, and (and this is more of a personal preference) does absolutely everything in his power to avoid accepting an invitation to dance.

​Believe it or not, that last one is the most exhausting.

​Men can be particularly persistent when they think they can marry their daughters off to a foreign captain, and Drogger only has so many excuses for why he can’t escort one to the dancefloor.

On the odd occasion he’s run out of them, and he’s sure it was a mortifying experience for all involved.

He’d rather not repeat the experience in front of his king.

​He’s certain Gurdet would enjoy every second of it.

​Heavens above, he’d probably command him dance with his own daughter just to prolong his misery.

​Immediately, Drogger has to chastise himself for thinking such a terrible thing. The princess, in all his dealings with her, has been nothing but kind, and obviously being offered a dance with her would be an absolute privilege.

Tonight, dressed in soft yellow and wearing a crown of gold and crystal, she looks especially radiant, and eligible bachelors (and some ineligible ones) from all over are already forming a less than orderly queue to get their chance.

He’s actually a little surprised to not spot Ynoro amongst their numbers.

​There’s still time, he supposes. The night’s still young.

The couple they’re supposed to be celebrating haven’t even arrived yet, and Drogger is sure that no one would be overly surprised if neither of them do.

There is, however, a face missing from the swirling crowd that Drogger was expecting to see here tonight.

​Rogard’s Father’s here already; drinking and laughing with the foreign lords like they’re old friends but as of yet, there’s no sign of Rogard Spidra.

​Not that Drogger’s been looking for him. Much. Just a cursory sweep of the ballroom every now and then, as a good captain should do.

But he’s clearly not been nearly as subtle or aloof as he thinks, because he gets called out for it before too long.

​"So," Ynoro prefaces conspiratorially, startling Drogger out of his skin as he materialises at his side.

It’s not like Drogger has anything to hide , per say, but he hurriedly averts his gaze from the crowd as Ynoro takes great pains to track his line of sight. "...Is she coming tonight?"

​"...What?" Drogger has known Ynoro for a long time but he still doesn’t understand how his mind works at times.

"Who?"

​"The girl," Ynoro replies, matter-of-fact.

​"...The girl," he parrots flatly, immediately feeling like he’s missed something. It’s a common occurence with Ynoro, who seems to love the drama of keeping half a conversation to himself.

​"The girl , Noog; the one who’s on your mind!" Ynoro emphasises theatrically, and heads off the incoming denial with a swift jab to the chest as he adds, " You have been distracted recently, my friend; don’t think I havent noticed."

​It’s incredible and utterly baffling, how a man can be so alarmingly perceptive, and at the same time, entirely off the mark.

​Because while he would love , so dearly, to say he has no idea what Ynoro is talking about, he does.

​Unfortunately, he knows exactly what he’s talking about.

​Except that it has nothing to do with a girl, and everything to do with the flash of gold that crosses his mind unbidden. But he’s not going to tell Ynoro that.

If he’s under the impression that he’s hung up on some girl, then he’s perfectly happy to let him go on thinking as much. Which he’s guaranteed to do since Drogger hasn’t denied anything.

​" --It’s perfect, don’t you see?" Ynoro croons, arm around Drogger’s shoulder as he paints the picture for him; comfortably oblivious to his friend’s reluctance to join in as he sweeps an arm across the glittering ballroom,

"The stars are out. The moon is high. Can you feel that ambience ?? It’s a night for love , my friend; mark my words."

​Drogger doesn’t point out that Ynoro feels that way about most nights.

Not because he knows it’ll just wash off Ynoro like water off a duck’s back, but because that’s the moment his traitorous wandering eyes find what they’ve been seeking since the moment he arrived.

​Even with the bruises, Rogard Spidra still manages to turn heads. He’s always had that kind of gift --always possessed the kind of looks that just stand out in a crowd; the kind that are difficult to ignore or deny.

More difficult for Drogger to deny as of late, especially to himself.

Because the soft shape of the youth he’d known and trained is gone now, worn away by the years, and carved into a striking young man that, to Drogger’s ongoing concern, is never too far from his own thoughts.

​Tonight, all in white, trimmed with blue, he looks particularly...

​... Distracting .

Drogger honestly wouldn’t be surprised if he had women flocking to him all night.

Clearly, Ynoro is of the same opinion.

" --Better find your sweetheart before she sees him," Ynoro warns seriously, because even though Rogars arrives alone, it’s only a matter of seconds before he has a young woman on each arm, and a horde of others vying for the chance to be next.

"One look at him and you won’t stand a chance. No offense."

"None taken," Drogger replies dryly, because for not the first time tonight, Ynoro is far more right than he knows.