The old man took a step forward and stroked Aris's shoulder. "So... do you love me yet?" he asked.  "What does your mind say?"<br/><br/>The guards around the angel giggled, with some of them jabbing each other mockingly.<br/><br/>"She's drunk!"<br/><br/>"Do you think she'll loosen up?"<br/><br/>"With who?"<br/><br/>-----<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">Back at the other mansion</span><br/><br/>Ashton stood silently, staring at the horses in the stables of her domain.<br/><br/>She did not expect the day to come. The young lord had awoke early this morning, just to think. Even her steward did not catch her awake, but his thought processes were too alien for her to figure out whether he already had.<br/><br/>"Dear God," Ashton mumbled, then sighed. She leaned back against a wall, staring at a white horse even as her thoughts were elsewhere. What would the world think, of a young girl, who took her place amongst the kings and knights through blood?<br/><br/>Her eyes refocused. Turning around, she turned face-to-face to a smiling, upside-down Silas.<br/><br/>"WAAGH!" she screamed, jumping back.<br/><br/>"Hey, Sir Ashton." Silas smiled cheekily. "I just wanted to see the horses."