Karkat charged forward for the last tilt of the jousting match, his lance striking true and unsaddling his opponent. They sprawled across the ground while splinters sailed through the air from broken lances, and the Knight of Blood from the land of Prospit thrust his broken weapon to the sky victoriously. It was a bittersweet thing, though. He received his prize money, about two thousand crowns, and a floral wreath to crown the Queen of Light and Beauty. An unmarried knight would usually bestow this honour on a relation or someone he wished to court, but he could not see either of those in the audience… until he spotted her. Who was she, and what was she doing here?
Jade had to see the match. She loved this sport! Jade dressed as a peasant dersite and snuck in through in the back way. Jade was so estatic when Karkat won she cheered with all the peasants. It felt so good to be a regular person and to be treated as one to. She smiles preparing to sneak back before Karkat notices her... Oh god here he comes.
This simple girl, dressed in commoner's clothes, was of an uncommon beauty. He got off his horse just before her, bowing his head and asking, "Milady, would you allow me to crown you as my Queen of Light and Beauty?" Murmurs went up through the crowd. He's supposed to give it to a noble, not a peasant.
Jade blushes. Clearly the knight Didn't recognize her, that was fine with her but, His Queen? She giggles but nods graciously bowing her head. "Yes kind sir I would be honoured," Her Prospitian accent ringing through her words.
Karkat noticed it, but didn't comment, placing the wreath upon the crown of her head and bowing deeply. That done, he got back on his horse and trotted off, leaving the befuddled nobles to ask just what the fuck had happened.
Jade noticed the nobles were pissed she put up the hood are her cloak sneaking to out skirts or the crowd and to the road to Prospit. If her brother discovers she left he'd be furious. She started her brisk walk humming a sweet song not noticing anything.
Karkat soon put on a set of clothes that he wore when he would go out through town, and bumped into a certain young lady as he went down one of the busy market streets. "My apolog... oh my. I didn't expect to run into you here."
"Sorry sir, I'm on my way back to Prospit my brother will be furious if I'm not back in time." She smiles at him brushing off her clothes. "Sir if I may ask you a question... Why me?" She looks up at him.
"Because you didn't have to get all dressed up to be beautiful," he says, offering his arm to her, "And if you don't mind, I would ask you the honor of escorting you back to your home."
"Uhh I don't think..." She looks away blushing shaking her head. "I wouldn't want to put you out of your way." She fakes a smile at him trying to scoot away.
"It's nothing. I came from a town not unlike this one as just a kid with a sword, and now, I am able to crown my own Queen of Light and Beauty. I think I'd rather spend time with the common folk than a bunch of upjumped royals all jockeying for position over one another," he says, clearly unaware of exactly who she was. Dense. Dense indeed.
"What's wrong with royals?" She shakes her Never mind, but if you dislike royals you wouldn't want to drop me off at my-the Prospitian Palace..." She looks away her cover has probably been blown. She blushes looking away.
"Your Prospitian Palace?" He says, quirking an eyebrow at her and folding his arms, "Now I get the feeling there's something you're not telling me."
"I can't tell you here..." She looks him in the eye. "Is there somewhere private we can go?" She says blushing rolling her eyes.
"Sure. I know a quiet tavern not too far from here. The barkeep is a quiet man. Kind of has to be since the Prince of Hope cut out his tongue." He extended his hand to her, asking him to trust her through action, not words.
She takes his hand. "Ampora's an ass." She smiles at him. "I will tell how I know him when we get there." Answering the unasked question "I've never been to a tavern before." She looks ahead expectingly.
"I'll order you a drink, then, something not too strong," The hedge knight responds, going into the tavern and asking for two pints of stout, giving the barkeep a lot more than they were worth. He brings the tankards back over to the young lady and sets one down in front of her, sitting across from her. "Right. So what's the story, morning glory?"
"I'm the Prospit Princess Jade Harley." She gives a nervous smile sipping at her drink.