RP CAERDEN: The Sprawling Halls of Remad
"I'm afraid that privilege will be mine," Caerden spoke up. Gliding in, he took Xixi's gloved hand and they whisked off onto the dance floor as the music began to play.
"For a House of ghosts and shadows you've been quite visible lately, what draws the elusive Arashimaru out of the shadows?" Caerden asked as they danced to the steps of the waltz that was all the rage that season. "For that matter, might I ask what it was I signed? You never said when the appointed hour would come for the unveiling."
When the first dance was concluded it would be time for another announcement. When all eyes were on the dance floor Caerden would make his announcement. It was speech he'd practiced over the last few days, honing it to the point where he even had the appropriate stumbles perfected to make it mask those very long hours of practice. The speech would come off as though the words were welling up from Caerden, a veritable fount of justice. "My noble guests, I am afraid I have most dire of news to share. It has come to my attention this evening that a terrible crime has gone unanswered and a killer is in our midst."
That would bring about the rapt silence of complete attention.
"Years ago the former Margrave lost his life in a terrible chain of affairs. Rumors and hearsay swirled, but none of it was proven, that is till tonight. Now that most noble house of Esquire, always wise to secrets, have uncovered the truth. But it was a truth they could not come forward with alone, no, for the culprit of this most foul crime was too influential a man to simply be accused by the House of Esquire. So our lovely Lady Fransica had the wisdom to approach the oldest of estates, the House Remad, and I have taken the liberty to put the pieces into motion."
"So tonight we honor the Margrave... by granting justice to this most noble name."
A spotlight tilted into the crowd and found Enki to leave him standing in a pool of light. It made him look so very alone. "I present to you the Insignia of Margrave," Caerden said, holding aloft the copper and silver ring, the writ of power etched in metal, "It should rest on Lord Enki's finger, and a ring does sit there, but an imposter, a fraud. I have had the master jeweler himself examine this ring and he declares it his work. But still, I do not accuse Enki. I allow our current Margrave to speak. So speak your innocence Margrave."
"And let Lord Ecclesial weigh those words."
Now the Margrave could make his plea. But even the most cunningly crafted of lies was but glass before the House of Ecclesial. Unless Enki was a far more cunning man than Caerden had measured, his words would be wanting, so Caerden would give a sad shake of his head (It was quite mournful, he'd practiced it long enough) and call out to one final lord. "Lord Peon, have your sons take this murderer out of our presence. I have cells that I will make available till proper justice can be dispensed." Once Enki was removed, protesting, silent, it mattered not. Caerden would conclude his long practiced overture.
"The crest of Margrave lies stained in blood, its last true heir proven to be a killer. To salvage the honor of this bloodline, I, Caerden of Remad the oldest of the Endless Halls, shall shoulder the duty to bear the Margrave House and holdings under the mantle of Remad."
It was a bold ploy. There might have been outcries at other times, the merging of two of the most powerful houses was unprecedented, but on this night Caerden had two other lords as willing conspirators. There was also the truth of his words, there was no other heir to Margrave, at least none with a strong claim, and the shock and disgrace of Enki's fall would quell those who would normally act as a fly in the ointment. Caerden was confident of how the evening would proceed, but still he waited. One never knew if complications might arise. Xixi and their contract was proof enough of that.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:32, Fri 21 Dec 2018.