The Masque of the Red Death [Open and ACCEPTING!!]

[Nick_austin90]

"Even then, a lady should not be out past midnight," Nicholas insisted. "Will you retire for the night?" He asked. "Or is it that you cannot leave me here with all the other guests?" He teased.  

[Rin128563]

"No it's just that i can not go until all the other guest go to there rooms and retire for the night. You see it would be rude of me to do so and leave my guests alone," Scarlet looked up at him and smiled.  

[Nick_austin90]

"If you must, my lady." Nicholas relented. In a while, they were both quiet. And it was the duke who broke the silence.

"Your Highness, I have long not seen my face and I had come to resent it. How is it that you can say my face is far from disgusting? How is it that you do not think that my face is horrible since it belongs to a killer?" He asked those questions in a voice barely higher than a whisper. He intended not for her to listen but-  

[Rin128563]

"Well I don't consider you a killer at all," Scarlet spoke in the same low voice and paused. She continued, "One does things in certain situations, situations that are hard to get past. You did what you had to, you had to survive and you did what ever it took for that to happen. If deep down inside you wished things were different and you didn't kill anyone, then you are truthfully forgiven." Scarlet broke off and gazed up at the ceiling thinking.  

[Nick_austin90]

"Forgiven," he muttered as he kept his gaze to the floor. "I don't think one such as I deserve forgiveness. I-I had killed in rage and I was aware of what I was doing," he said in a tone filled with regret. He said it in a low voice but if there were people around they might have heard him.

"Princess, are you not afraid of me? I am a cold-blooded killer," Nicholas asked.  

[Rin128563]

Scarlet looked back at him and saw how regretful he was, "Like i said you would only truely be a killer if you had no regret no remorse." Scarlet placed her hand on his shoulder and smiled at him. When he asked that question Scarlet chuckled, "There is no reason for me to fear you, besides like i said i don't really think your a killer."  

[Nick_austin90]

He sighed. Such a pure heart, he thought.

"Have you always been this optimistic, my lady? You seem to see every goodness there is behind everything." He asked.  

[Rin128563]

"Yes i am, i've always been like this," she chuckled and smiled at him. She wasn't like normal princesses, she never let her parents spoil her, she always played in the dirt, basically she did everything normal princesses would hate doing.  

[Nick_austin90]

Nicholas chuckled. "You are what common people would call down to earth. I am very glad to have made acquaintance with you, my lady," he said. "And you are not by the slightest driven by desire. I respect you very much, your highness," he bowed.

"Ah, the musicians have stopped and the guests are leaving. Shall I escort you, my lady, or does Miss Nymphadora has an appointment with you? I shall not like leaving a fair lady walking on her own to her room even if the castle is yours," he bowed again.  

[Rin128563]

Scarlet smiled and thanked him. She looked around, "Well it seems Nymadora has gone to sleep." She chuckled and began to walked toward her guests. "Before i go i have to make sure everyone finds their rooms and have no problems," she explained to him when he caught up to her to walk beside her.  

[Nick_austin90]

"I believe the recent guest would not have a room. I myself had yet to clarify my own sleeping chamber," Nicholas chuckled. His mood had brightened considerably after his confession and after meeting the uninvited guest. He felt lighter than he used to be and it felt good to him.  

[Rin128563]

"Oh well i'll get right on that, wait here," Scarlet walked over to the main butler and asked him to locate the recent guest and tell them where there rooms where. He nodded and began to gather some maids to help him out. Scarlet smiled and thanked him then walked back over to Nicholas. "Well how about I show you where you will be staying," she smiled.  

[Nick_austin90]

"Thank you, my lady. It would have been alright if you had just one of the maids to show me," he bowed. "But it is a great honor to have her highness escort me. In return, may escort you to your chamber later?" he asked.  

[Rin128563]

"Sure why not," she chuckled and then lead him to his room. She walked up the winding stairs with Nicholas by her side. Once they got to the end of the hall she opened the door and showed him his room. All the guest were given wonderful rooms almost as great as the rooms the royals had. "Well this is your room." She then pointed down the hall were a big fancy decorated door lay shut. "Thats my room so if you ever need anything don't be afraid to knock," she smiled and then hoped he would like his room.  

[Nick_austin90]

"I believe this is the grandest room I've ever been to. The designs are exotic," he said as he touched a figure of an elephant on the reading table carved out of wood.

"I believe this figure comes from India. Am I correct? Pray tell who arranged the rooms? I would like to compliment the person," he turned around.