Duke Nickoladze Evercast rode in a carriage to the Andein City. He sat up striaight, his hands on his legs, and his chin raised slightly, swaying with the bumps and shakes of the wheels on an old road. He remembered visiting Andein City when he was younger, and, he wasn't sure if it was because of his youth, or, if Andein was as majestic as he remembered; But the city had faded in beauty, he observed passively as he watched out the window.
He was beginning to think the former though, as his son, Antony figited, climbed on his knees and looked out the window with wide eyes. "Father!" He gasped, gawking at the intricate architecture Andein was most famous for.
Nickoladze smiled a little and glanced over, before adjusting his cuffs.
"Sit, Antony before you end up rolling out of the carriage." He warned, although it was light. He knew he was soft on the boy, but maybe that was because Antony almost always obeyed without quip. Antony did as he was told and sat down, but he still peered out the window.
"Are we almost there?"
"Almost." Nickoladze said. "We will stop in South Quarter. Hopefully, my great uncle's estate isn't too dishuffled."

He had aquired the deed to his great uncles house in a will. And after that, he decided to take Antony to move to Andien for awhile while he cleared his head. He had a lot on his mind, and he just wanted to get away. Plus, rumor has it politics are strong here. He shouldn't have a problem finding a job.

It was a difficult decision to pull his son away from his home. He had grown up there his whole life. But ever since his mother passed, it just wasn't the same. But that was years ago.
Nickoladze smiled a little, glad that there wasn't a stone, corner, shop, or item that reminded him of Gloria. He just wanted a fresh start. So far so good, he thought.

He heard murmurs in the street and faint whispers of his name. He wasn't sure why the news of his arrival was popular enough to merit discussion...perhaps his great uncle was more famous here then he had thought.
Or, more weathy.

Lyra was wandering the market when the news of the Duke's arrival reached her. She glanced up, slowly putting down the fabric she had been looking at as the man that had run up told the merchant the news.
"Sorry miss, you'll have to come back later," the merchant said, forgetting to recognize her.
Lyra didn't mind though, really. She would rather it was that way with the people in the town. She didn't like it when people called her by her title, and she would rather have the potential for friends.
She nodded to the man and walked away, towards the main road through the town. Her blonde hair was tinted with a light strawberry color, and it blew out behind her as people rushed past her to get a look at the duke and his fancy carriage.
Finally, she reached the road and spotted the carriage. She watched it roll by, the driver having to slow the horses as the crowd pressed in. She smiled a bit at how excited the people felt.
But she knew her father wouldn't be too pleased. Earl Trevisan had worked hard, with the late Duke Evercast, to do all he could for the city, but despite everything they had sacrificed, the town was beginning to crumble.
Lyra licked her lips and turned around, walking away from the crowd. She thought it would be best to check on her father.

Nickoladze frowned; now he was quite taken aback by the crowding. He moved up and pushed the curtain aside to take a look at the drive. He frowned.
"Unexpected."
"What did you expect, my, Duke? Your uncle passed a year ago, the city is crumbling. Your weath will work wonders on their economy."

Nickoladze, of all men, understood the power of money. He was a politician after all. and honestly, he didn't admire his own weath. But he was having trouble finding places to put it, these days. He had everything he could want. Property, plenty of food. The finest furnitures and clothing. Books; a lot of books....
And still his savings grew.
Perhaps Andein wouldn't be a bad place to invest in, seeing how desperate its people were. He smiled and nodded. "Ah." He said simply. "Well, as soon as I establish myself, I will see to it that I do a fair share of shopping." He chuckled, before pulling back into the carriage and sitting down.
At least he didn't mind shopping....

Lyra went home and slipped up to her father's study. They lived in a small, but pretty castle a little ways away from the main buildings of the city. Their family had been in Andein for centuries.
But it wasn't long before her father's frustration was pointed her way. He wasn't an angry or cruel man, but sometimes the pressure grew too heavy for the man. Lyra understood though, and left him to clear his mind.
She busied herself for the afternoon around the small castle, but soon, their one maid came to her and informed her Earl Trevisan wished to invite the new Duke to supper.
"Hire a messenger for the invitation then," Lyra answered quietly, busy in the drawing room.
"He requested you carry the invitation personally, miss."
Lyra sighed and slowly put down the charcoal stick she had been sketching with. "Alright. Where is he staying?"

Lyra was directed to old Duke Evercast's estate and then led to a sitting room by a servant. She stood patiently in the room, looking over the faded tapestry on the wall. She wore a pretty, although simple, dress in a soft tan color, with a light green sash around her waist that brought out the color of her eyes.
She clasped her hand together behind her back as she studied the picture, her strawberry blonde hair falling down her back in soft waves.

A few hours went by and Nickoladze let Antony run around his new house, exploring. But when his son stumbled into the sitting room and saw Lyra, he rushed upstairs to tell his father.
Nickoladze was preoccupied cleaning the study, first and foremost. That was his priority, far over that of a bedroom or kitchen.
"Father, there is a girl waiting for you. The servant said she was the Earl's daughter."
Nickoladze raised his eyebrows. He felt a bit blind today. Many things were catching him offguard.
He quickly adjusted himself, pulled on his cape and came down the curved staircase into the sittingroom.

"Lady Trevisan!" He said, moving over swiftly and with grace. He knew who she was...he had done his research before coming here.
He smiled brightly, his teeth clean and his blue eyes bright. His soft plum colored cape flowed behind him. He took her hand gently and kissed it in respect, before cupping his other large hand over it and leaning over her, dropping down slightly to meet her eyes. "By what means do you owe me this pleasure?"

Lyra smiled a bit and managed a curtsy even with his hold on her hand. "Duke Evercast," she said softly. "My father wished to invite you to supper with us. If you are not too busy getting settled in tonight, that is."

Nickoladze smiled and nodded. "Of course of course. It would be foolish to decline the Earl's invitation. I accept, graciously. May my son accompany me? Or does your father wish a private counsil?"
He had to ask these things. Although his son was mature and well-behaved for his age, he was still, only eleven.

Lyra smiled a bit. "Of course," she said quietly. "He is more than welcome as well." She slowly pulled her hand free of his grasp, a bit nervous so close to him. "Shall we expect you in say... an hour?"

"Yes. I'll make sure we are both collected enough to attend. Thank you milady for the invitation." He bowed respectfully. He didn't care who was lower or higher in rank, honestly. He bowed to most; he was a very generous man.

Lyra nodded and curtsied to him. "I will see you then," she said. "My lord." She slipped out of the room, letting herself out of the estate. She headed home and informed her father that the duke had accepted their invitation. Then she told the maid, and started helping her prepare the food.

Nickoladze, wanting to make a good impression fussed over his son relentlessly all the way over to the castle.
Antony had been patient, but was starting to get a bit annoyed by his father's rough adjusting hands. They fixed his tie, hair, jacket, tunic, boots. He fussed more then his mother had.
"Daaaad." He finally whined.
"All right all right." Nickoladze said softly dropping his hands. He sighed and moved to the large doors. He wasn't sure if anyone would show him in or if he had to knock.

Lyra quickly wiped her hands off on a towel, having been watching out the kitchen window. She hurried to the front doors and opened them for the Duke and his son. She smiled and curtsied again. "Welcome, Duke Evercast," she said softly. "Please, come in." She stepped aside, gestured him in.
The maid had apparently followed her, having wanted to stop Lyra. She'd been making the rolls, but the earl's daughter had rushed off before the maid could tell her she had a small smear of flour on her cheek.

Nickoladze found this adorable, and he simply made a gesture to his cheek and then hers. "Pleasure." He said simply.
Antony looked around and kept quiet, listening and looking to see if there were any kids his age around. The last thing he wanted was to be stuck at a stuffy dinner all night with only adults.

Lyra blinked at the gesture and quickly wiped at her cheek, although her skin started coloring quickly. "My father is just in the sitting room, if you would like to join him," she said, gesturing to the room just a little ways down the hall and to the right.
She glanced at Antony though and smiled. "Maybe the young master Evercast would want to give me a hand with something? I just can't seem to get the frosting right for our dessert..."

Nickoladze smiled as Antony looked up to him.
"Just keep clean." His father directed, before pushing his son along. Antony grinned and rushed over to Lyra. He was quiet tall for his age, as his father had been.

Nickoladze proceeded into the sitting room, seeing the Earl and greeting him with a bow and a smile, before moving over for a handshake. "Ah! It's a pleasure to finally meet you. I've heard quite a bit about you."