5/20/2025, 10:55 PM
His efforts at apology, at navigating his perceived sin and resulting penance appropriately did not fall onto deaf ears. But it did falter and fizzle in the face of the huntress' sharp, icy gaze as she rebutted Francis' smothering.
An elk in a snowstorm was a feat he wasn't going to fail to take seriously. Francis found his expression faltering. The gilded mask of the golden prince, guilty but determined to charmingly whisk her away from her worries, slipped. Uncertainty revealed itself in the gaps; in the furrowed dip of his brows, in the pensive set to his mouth, in the expressive depths of his amber gaze, lingering on Takala's cooler features.
Don't apologize, and he snapped his jaw shut in response, for he'd been about to do just that. It was his fault she was hurt like this, that he'd had her cooped up recuperating instead of seeking her home. Even if it was a futile effort, as he so believed, he wanted to believe in Takala's ability to somehow reshape her fate to succeed all the same. The man lifted his chin, a considering frown creasing his expression as he mulled over her decree. She was as she said: a skilled hunter, with experience that likely rivaled his own. He had seen her in action and knew her skill to be formidable, and he recognized that acting otherwise due to an accident outside her control was rude.
I will apologize, but only for the insult I've caused. You are right, of course, my lady.He met her gaze, and allowed the sincerity with which he delivered his apology to gleam within.
He wished he could remove the blame she held upon her shoulders, for he did not wish to see anything he knew to be so vile weigh her down, but Francis didn't know how - not without being an entire hypocrite, for he'd gladly shoulder the blame instead and didn't quite realize how to absolve them both of it. He put the issue out of his mind, and determined to instead focus his efforts on avoiding his prior mistake: underestimating the lavender lady.
Very well - I shall give you the grand tour, if you'll follow me?The prince sidestepped toward the door, tail swaying behind him. He was looking forward to showing off the castle, in truth - he'd put quite a bit of work into making it comfortable for wolfkind, and they didn't often have guests.
