[SRP] Bernese Ball

[Lavi]

The dress cut and sewn for her was indeed pretty, but it was not to Cecily's taste. However, she could not deny that it had its savory elements. It glittered in harmony with the jewelry supplied to compliment it, drawing the gazes of the other patrons. The lines it drew with her body were exotic without exposing too much skin, the latter Cecily appreciated. She caught a glimpse of Satsume's discomfort and could not help but smile. A smile that was short lived, since Faren finally caught up with her.

"You look stunning!" Faren exclaimed, taking her hand. Cecily wanted to roll her eyes, but managed to close them to match her fake smile.

"At least your sense of fashion exceeds your choice of praise," she replied.

It was a calculated phrase: Cecily knew that Faren would take it as friendly banter (which he did). A slight ruckus from what sounded like a flustered Satsume turned her attention away from the Bernese lord. The distraction was welcome for shifting the subject away from herself, for once.

"I would have expected time in my company would have taught you a thing or two about treating a lady," she teased Satsume as he stood by her side. She beckoned him to lean in for her to whisper.

"You would look great without the face of an impending panic attack," she quietly consoled him. "Relax. I will shield you on this battlefield."