~Subtle Hero~
Emma found out that Dylan was the son of Kristoff & Anna, whom she had never met. She did remember her father telling her stories of the two, having been friends with them at some point in his past. Dylan was goofy, but he had a knack for making her laugh. He was a bit sheepish in general, but she found he quickly made her feel at ease with not only him, but herself. A quality she could get used to.
She was enjoying her final dance, until she saw Red and Graham talking with her parents. She wondered what they could have found, if anything, having been sent after a man who mysteriously showed up near the castle. She tried to gauge her parents' reaction to them, what they were saying, but her father was unreadable and Snow kept a warm smile plastered on her face. Whatever news they had learned, Emma would not find out simply by being nosy.
She didn't have time to ponder the notion, as the dance ended. She curtsied in what she hoped was the appropriate one, grateful her task was finally over. Though what came next wasn't much better. The most appalling thing: A Royal Dinner. One where she was required to eat as little as possible, in the most attractive manner she could muster. And she was famished. She just wanted to grab a turkey leg and gnaw on it.
As she made her way to her spot at the monstrously large table, between her father and Belle, her thoughts turned to the arrival of Red and Graham, desperately curious if they were missing a day as well. Though they hadn't been present for most of the dancing, they did stay for dinner.
After the meal, she was absolutely still hungry, yet she was expected to mingle with the crowd back in the ballroom. Particularly the batch of young men who were, apparently, hopeful to woo her. She was expected to dance with anyone who asked her to. She was also expected to choose someone to court her, though she was allowed time to name her choices in men. Once named, any could come to court her, and any could duel whoever else she had picked. Emma didn't much care for the idea of having multiple suitors, but it did save time in the long run. Especially if they dueled.
Perhaps she should pick several at random and see what happened.
She got along best with Dylan. Chatting with him felt easy, and he was boyishly cute. A prince, though not directly in line for a crown of his own, made him an ideal match. She just couldn't feel... it. Whatever it was, the bacon Chio had referred to. She wondered if that was any fault of the Captain's recent presence in her life. She knew if that damn pirate weren't here, she'd choose Dylan. No one else had come close to making her smile, or laugh genuinely.
Savas was perhaps the eldest bachelor there. Son of Abigail & Frederick, she of course knew both kingdoms would benefit from their union. He came off as overly assertive, though. Something Emma was not fond of.
She managed to spend, least, five minutes with each suitor away from the dancing. She chose to linger a bit longer with Dylan, in an attempt to cut Savas' time shorter. With Savas, each attempt to gracefully step away came some segue into another topic she found little to no interest in. She had more to accomplish than speak to this one man. She was on the verge of insulting him, when a hand gently touched her elbow.
"Apologies, Princess." Hook was at her side, already guiding her away from the man. "Your mother has requested a moment with you."
Emma excused herself before allowing herself to be guided. "What does she want?"
"Hmm? Oh yes. Had to come up with something believable."
He had made it up. Part of her could just kiss him then and there, the other part was not happy with his interjection, having no right to just barge in on her personal conversations like that.
"You had no right!" She spat under her breath, managing to keep a proper smile on her face.
"Had it been someone you enjoyed the company of, like Dylan, I would not have intervened."
Despite the lie, he did bring her to Snow who had a question on her face.
"Don't ask." Emma grumbled. She was surprised when the pirate discreetly hooked over a pouch. How he managed that left her both impressed and curious. Upon opening it, she found several coin sized yellow disks. She eyed him sideways, raising a brow. "Pirate treasure?"
"Don't give me that look, Swan." He wasn't even looking at her, instead looking off into the crowd. "It's food. You eat it. I know you're hungry after that display at dinner."
Emma didn't have to look at her mother to feel the wide, beaming smile and flushed cheeks of pride at the exchange.
"What kind of food?"
"It's dried fruit, from another realm. It'll help with the hunger pangs until this event is over." She examined the disk shaped fruit, not sure if she should try it. She was impossibly hungry, though. "Just try something new, love. It's called trust. You'll like it."
He gave her elbow a final squeeze before walking off. She tried it, discreetly. It was sweet, and chewy. She actually didn't mind this dried fruit, though whoever thought up such an idea? To dry fruit?
"Well, that was thoughtful. And he saved you from Savas." Emma looked at her mother in surprise. "Don't start with me, Emma. Everyone, aside from Savas, can see you're not… interested in the man. You do have a hidden pocket in that dress, by the way. I know how much you love those."
"Why is Savas… the way he is?"
Snow sighed. "I wish I could say. His parents may be true love, but they're also a bit odd. Something must have happened after King Midas' passing." She shook her head sadly. "I just hope they're alright."
"Why wouldn't they be? They're the wealthiest kingdom in the realm."
"They were. But that doesn't stop the Rumor Mill."
"What rumors?"
"You had better get back to mingling, my little swan." Snow moved to kiss her forehead. "At least pretend to get to know these men. They've all come a long way to see you."
