<div style="text-align: center"><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua'">Ellanore saw the slight change of expression when he was about to place the cigarette between his lips, she could tell he smelled her. She heard that their sense of smell is sensitive. Just a bit of the contact that her lips had with the butt of the cigarette was enough for Valentine to realize it. With his cigarette next to her face, when he looked at her in a questioning manner about this, there was a witty smirk on her face, the cigarette she held didn't have a lipstick mark, she only took a smoke from it when Valentine looked at her and that it was clear that this was intentional. When he took a smoke anyways from her cigarette and didn't show any intention on returning it to her, Ellanore was simply glad that it got to be like that. Donovan, however, though amused by this exchange without even words, he was well-aware that Ellanore is playing a very dangerous game.<br/>
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He rose his eyebrow as Valentine got up and left, Ellanore didn't budge from the spot, she simply took a long drag of the cigarette before her eyes meeting Sebastian's as he spoke to her. She gave the wolf a smile and nodded. "I understand. I sensed that he's rather tense, I cannot blame him. This is a very big change for all of us. And I, I'm enjoying this." she said with a grin.<br/>
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"Ellanore was growing quite bored since her royal training was quite successful, only the true Queenly responsibilities have left. She has expressed her interest in your kind." Donovan couldn't help but to add and Ellanore chuckled.<br/>
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"I can speak for myself, dear brother.</span>"<br/>
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Donovan shook his head as he added. "You're a daring and cunning woman, someone has to make sure you don't start <i>something</i>." to which Ellanore rolled her eyes, but Donovan quickly added. "Also, I might be leaving Nuverus to the Den."<br/>
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The change on Ellanore was obvious. Smile was gone, unpleasant surprise was written all over her face. "What for? Is it a part of the deal with the Alpha?"<br/>
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Donovan looked at Sebastian. "You'll have to excuse us for a moment, Ellanore will return in a moment." he said and made it known to Sebastian that he already knew his intentions, but he didn't show any signs of over protectiveness or hostility. Just a sign that he's onto him - and given Donovan's profession, it meant that he's watching Sebastian how he approaches his sister. Despite his possible absence, Donovan had loyal men in the mansion, which meant that he will still be around Nuverus, despite being physically absent.<br/>
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He stood up and helped Ellanore to stand up as well, offering her his arm as they walked out of the dining room. They left the hallway towards the throne room, which was empty of visitors, only guards being around. "I will be away, but I don't want you to worry..."<br/>
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"You said that you'll look after me. Who'll save me from Varus' constant nagging in public?" Ellanore furrowed her brows and Donovan smiled.<br/>
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"Don't worry, I'll let Alissa know to take it over in my place. As for Varus, what was that about?" he smirked and pointed to the dining room. "You're an engaged woman, do you want to anger your father, or even worse, your mother, even though I know she doesn't like him."<br/>
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Ellanore huffed and avoided eye contact with Donovan. "I'm... I don't know." she shrugged and looked down, running her fingers over her long red nails, distracting herself. "He seems interesting and handsome, the wolf is different from anyone I've met and I haven't done things like this in a long time. Varus has become far too much. Everything I do with and for him is an obligation and responsibility."<br/>
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Donovan rose his eyebrows. He knew that her and Varus once had a rather radiant and real romance. It's been a good while since they started being together, only for it to change through time. He could see Ellanore sitting with him and her eyes just absently staring off into distance while Varus would do all the talking. Donovan thinks he talks far too much for a man and Ellanore clearly showed disinterest in men who are all talk. He saw how excited she was with the non-verbal exchange with the Beta. "I never liked him that much, but you were really something before. He still buys you things, surprising you with visits..."<br/>
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"And ruins my night with each visit, because I made other plans." Ellanore said with annoyance.<br/>
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"What plans, you usually are just present in courts as a part of the training and being all pretty for nobles." her brother asked with a chuckle.<br/>
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"Well, plans to do anything without him, alright Donovan? I thought we'll have what mother and father have, but mother was never annoyed with father. She always gets all... Giddy and excited when they're out of the sight of visitors and nobles as if they're still a young couple. I dread thinking about being married to Varus who'll always speak and never let me finish a sentence. I just never have the energy to speak up or even to argue with him. I just... Don't care." Donovan took a deep breath after Ellanore explained what it's like.<br/>
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"Look, you're a bit late. Before I leave for the Den, I'll speak to mother about possibilities. You should've told me this before. If you can't argue with him, then it must be bad. I know you'd cause inferno with anyone else if something happened bad." it made Ellanore smile briefly, but she was generally sad about it. Donova kissed her on the cheek and turned away. "Gotta run and do more dirty work. You behave yourself, little sister." he said as he walked out of the mansion and Ellanore huffed before turning back towards the dining room.<br/>
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She walked back into the dining room and returned to her seat with Victor just watching quitly and Felicia tilted her head at her daughter. "Where's Donovan?"<br/>
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"He said he needed to check something about the situation with Alexandrians. He wants to deal with it before he leaves Nuverus."  Ellanore, may or may not be correct, but she had his back nevertheless and Felicia believed her, satisfied with the answer. Ellanore looked at the cigarette butt pressed in the plate, the one she shared with Valentine and took a drink from her glass.​</div>