<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="color: #BFBF00"><span style="font-size: 150%; line-height: 116%;">Hector Karembeux</span><br/><span style="font-size: 120%; line-height: 116%;">The son of Sir Damian</span></span></span></div><br/><br/><div style="text-align: center;"><a class="postlink" href="http://i1343.photobucket.com/albums/o793/Galvin_Fugazi/6bbbeb79-fa04-4652-b13f-3d557c14a060_zps5c5dbdf8.jpg">[ img ]</a></div><br/><br/><div style="text-align: justify;">Hector had stiffened when he realised who was speaking in the next box. Sir Abel and Lady Iris. He got up from his knees and stood there kind of nervous and uncomfortable. This whole thing was not going down like expected and he just hoped that he wouldn't have to face some drama here.<br/><br/><span style="color: #80FF00">"Iris...I'd like to introduce you to your betrothed, Sir Hector..."</span><br/><br/>Hector flinched by the proper but kind of rough introduction. He would have told her not in the first place, would have liked to talk to her first, make her comfortable around him, before breaking the news. This way was kind of a shocker. And it made it not easier for him to decide what to see in her: The daughter of an enemy or the beautiful, lovable woman she surely was. Hector made a step forward and bowed to Lady Iris.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF8000">"I'm sorry, Lady Iris, this is not the way I would have liked to meet you, neither is it the way I would have liked to break the news to you. I know that it must be quite the shock to learn that you are treated like some prize in the game of allies and I would never want to feel you like that..." </span><br/><br/>Hector could see the nervousity in her eyes and something else. Fear. She may have heard of him, may have heard of his hate for his enemies and she feared him. He didn't want her to fear him. They would either give up on this or they would find some base to build a house on it. But fear was none of it.  <br/><br/><span style="color: #FF8000">“I...I guess you have learned something about me, heard some rumors. I have to admit that they may all be true, especially when it comes to my position towards my enemies, but I want to assure you, that I don't want to see this fear in your eyes everytime our paths cross. It may sound already as given that we will marry, but it is not. I admit that I am kind of torn right now, not knowing what to make out of you and I believe you feel the same. I would like to spend some time with you, Lady Iris, talk to you, sort our differences out and if there is something acceptable, something we may agree upon then I am in it with all my heart. But if there is still only fear and a sense of performance of your duties towards your brother...then I honestly would prefer to back out of this arrangement. I am not the one born to make you unhappy, Lady Iris.”</span><br/><br/>Hector had kept the distance all the time, not allowing the fear in her eyes to end in panic. She was a beautiful young woman, she deserved to be happy.</div>