Connell Rykaer "Ry" Whelan
"What do you mean you won't be attending?" The Dutchess' trill voice assaulted Ry's ears as he leaned back on the couch. She pinched her lips into a thin line at the sight, a warning sign of building rage. Uncomfortable, her son pushed herself further into the cushions. Maybe if he kept going then he could escape the fury that was about to pour out upon him. He hadn't planed to tell his mother about his skipping out of the ball. In fact, he hadn't planned to see her until breakfast the next morning. However, she had burst into his room flanked by servants, a pleased look on her face. Now that pleasant attitude was quickly dissipating along with his chances of survival, "Over my dead body will you miss this ball, Connell Rykaer Whelan. Many important dignitaries plan to speak with you. Will you shame me by making me a lair? Hmm? Must I also mention to you, ungrateful boy, that I took the time to hand pick your outfit for tonight? I've also invited multiple families with potential wives for you to mingle with. Will you let my efforts go to waste, boy? How could you do such a thing to your mother?" Her cheeks blazed red with anger as she reached the end of her speech.
The servants in the room shifted uncomfortably and struggled to hide their grins. Ry shot them a cold glare and they quickly shuffled out of the room, leaving the clothes and other items. When they were gone, he looked at his mother in exasperation, "Mother, I'm not twelve. The years of match making are over. I'm a grown man."
The Dutchess scoffed down at him and turned her back to him, "I know that! But I don't care how old you are, you will still mind your mother. I didn't come all the way to Bruston for you to refuse to come to the ball celebrating our arrival. How ungrateful..." She whipped back around and, quick as a viper, her hand shot out to grab his ear. He yelped in surprise as she yanked him to his feet and pulled him over to the traditional Asmenian clothes on the bed. He frowned at the high collared shirt, wrap and pants. Rykaer gritted his teeth when she released him and bared his feet at her, ready to snarl. She cut him off however, "Put them on. I expect you to be down in the grand ballroom in one hour."
His mother swept out of the room as quickly as she came, slamming the door behind her. Ry rubbed his ear, face set in a half snarl of shock. He shook his head with a disbelieving scoff, "Crazy old bat..." It took him less than an hour to ready himself with the help of the servants so he headed down to the grand ballroom right away. He wasn't going to take the chance of sitting down and dozing off. He might never wake again if his mother got a hold of him.
Most of the guests had already arrived by the time that he approached the doors. Rykaer yanked at one of his cuffs as he sauntered into the lively ballroom. The people laughed and danced to the jolly music while the serves passed by handing out hors d'oeuvres. Some men approached him with smiles and struck up a conversation to which he nodded politely and fake interest. Then they clasped him on the back and kept moving. Woman giggled as he passed, but he paid them no attention. At some point he caught his mother's eyes and almost threw up at the smug look she gave him.
He headed to edge of the party, content to sip his drink and not entertain anymore nobles. The ball raged on without him and quickly he became bored of watching others dance and drink wine. The noble skirted around the outsides of the circle in an attempt to leave. However, as he neared the door, a flash of brown hair caught his eye. A smile spread across his face, "The healer." He backtracked through the ballroom as quickly as he could, trying to keep sight of her.
When he caught up to her, he slowed his gait and approached quietly. Her back was too him and for a moment he was afraid it wasn't going to be her, yet something about the way the woman walked told him otherwise. The noble cleared his throat and purred down to her, "Excuse me, miss. May I have this dance?" His shawl swooshed around him as held out his hand to her.
(I kind of imagined his clothing to look something like this. XD)