Noting Adaria's change of pace, Enzo shifted his searching gaze to the young princess. Her focus was on the card table. The way her eyes narrowed -indeed, the way the whole of her seemed to focus on the players- belied the cunning mind behind them. She'd shown some of that at the Archon's ball, but Enzo had interpreted that more in the political sense at the time. A noble, to say nothing of one of royal birth, must needs have a half measure of cunning at least. But this was sport. He was not much of a gambler himself, satisfied with casual games amongst friends from time to time, but his partnership in The Blind Eye had taught him a thing or two about recognizing and encouraging those who sought the thrill.
"But is he holding his breath in hope or deceit?" Enzo whispered back. When her eyes raised to his, the dealer's voice carried to them, congratulating the man she'd predicted. Enzo's smile widened and he inclined his head slightly to congratulate her. "Well, done."
His eyes resumed their search for his partner in business, past dice tables and the like. At her questions, Enzo chuckled, looking back down at Adaria as he shook his head. "My regard for myself is healthy enough to survive such a blow, do not worry."
Indeed, having her by his side had already done him the favor of turning the right sort of heads. The Blind Eye and its patrons alike were discrete enough. No activity within these walls, save the most outrageous of scandals, would be revealed. But who was seen with whom would always circulate. It had begun at the ball, but a repeat association with a visiting royal would certainly give pause to any who would think to speak ill of Enzo or his house now. It wasn't much, but every opportunity counted.
"Ah, I think I see him." Enzo said, spotting a familiar pattern of fabric rounding a corner toward another more private area of booths. "This way."
Enzo again weaved his way through the tables and people with the ease of a man entirely comfortable in his environment. As they came to the corner and the next area came into clear view, Enzo saw that his guess had been correct. Only a few paces away, Quinn was shaking hands with two men who seemed vaguely familiar, but whose names escaped Enzo's memory at the moment. As they walked away, Enzo raised his free hand to catch Quinn's eye and then led Adaria to him.
"I hoped you'd be here tonight." he said, coming to a stop in front of his business partner. Enzo then turned to Adaria, gesturing to his friend. "May I introduce Quntilian Frey. Everything you might like about this establishment is entirely due to his expertise." Then, to Quinn, "The..." he paused for emphasis, knowing that Quinn was already aware of his companion's true title. "Lady Adaria."
@Quintilian Frey
@Adaria Campana
"But is he holding his breath in hope or deceit?" Enzo whispered back. When her eyes raised to his, the dealer's voice carried to them, congratulating the man she'd predicted. Enzo's smile widened and he inclined his head slightly to congratulate her. "Well, done."
His eyes resumed their search for his partner in business, past dice tables and the like. At her questions, Enzo chuckled, looking back down at Adaria as he shook his head. "My regard for myself is healthy enough to survive such a blow, do not worry."
Indeed, having her by his side had already done him the favor of turning the right sort of heads. The Blind Eye and its patrons alike were discrete enough. No activity within these walls, save the most outrageous of scandals, would be revealed. But who was seen with whom would always circulate. It had begun at the ball, but a repeat association with a visiting royal would certainly give pause to any who would think to speak ill of Enzo or his house now. It wasn't much, but every opportunity counted.
"Ah, I think I see him." Enzo said, spotting a familiar pattern of fabric rounding a corner toward another more private area of booths. "This way."
Enzo again weaved his way through the tables and people with the ease of a man entirely comfortable in his environment. As they came to the corner and the next area came into clear view, Enzo saw that his guess had been correct. Only a few paces away, Quinn was shaking hands with two men who seemed vaguely familiar, but whose names escaped Enzo's memory at the moment. As they walked away, Enzo raised his free hand to catch Quinn's eye and then led Adaria to him.
"I hoped you'd be here tonight." he said, coming to a stop in front of his business partner. Enzo then turned to Adaria, gesturing to his friend. "May I introduce Quntilian Frey. Everything you might like about this establishment is entirely due to his expertise." Then, to Quinn, "The..." he paused for emphasis, knowing that Quinn was already aware of his companion's true title. "Lady Adaria."
@Quintilian Frey
@Adaria Campana
01-10-2025, 03:41 PM
