Nela, Prinzessin von Zieselhaven und Elms.
Terrace of Jagdschloss Rehkitzsprung, Herzogtum von Dorch, Teressien.
The evening was beautiful: Warm, but not hot, allowing for Informal Wear to be applied.
Of course, there were the obligatory cocktail dresses and pantsuits around, as far as women's fashion was concerned, and I, with my long, violet hair and violet eyes, had opted for a white blouse and a deep purple jacket over it, together with a skirt, that reached a bit deeper then the middle of my thighs, in the same colour. A pantyhose and shoes with light heels completed the ensemble, mostly. I also wore a little necklace of silver, the pendant resting on my collarbone, a slight bit above my chest, a sapphire set into it - a gift from our host tonight, Malte, the Herzog of Dorch.
The Jagdschloss Rehkitzsprung was spiffed up quite a bit - and it was a nice place already, mind you. The Klopferwald was a nice scenery and backdrop, the temperate broad-leaf forest with its oaks and elms and maples and so on being in the distance - the Ducal Hiking Trail vanished in there, which I had walked a few times.
Anyway, on the Terrace, a little bridge and a small river separated us from that forest and its animals.
The terrace itself was of flagstones, directly adjacent to both the Main Building and the Guest House. Both buildings, and the majority of the buildings around here, had that rustic charme of timber-framing, wood and brick working together to create a nice atmosphere, that reminded of the Old Towns all over Teressien.
Along one side, there were tables set up with the buffet, as well as a fireplace, Hausmädchen and Butlers were hard at work to put up the finishing touches. A few of them went around and distributed drinks of water and tea, the alcohol would come out after the opening speech. As this was a hunting lodge and the corresponding party, there was also venison, which I might have a taste of later... and there were small tables around for people to sit, some already doing to, a dance floor and a lot of other ways to entertain oneself.
Foreign Hausmädchen, I had, for example, spotted for example at least four Kyrenaian Handmaidens, were either integrated into the existing structure or set to wait onto their employers.
I was chatting a bit with one foreign guest or the other, when someone tapped a glass twice with a small spoon, the ring making people silent and turn towards Malte, the Herzog of Dorch and our host, his wife standing next to him. I also spotted Vin and Heda, his children, nearby.
As it was, the Duke, a blonde man with blue-green eyes in mid- to late-forties, cleared his throat.
"Good evening, everyone.", he began with a smile, "And welcome to Jagdschloss Rehkitzsprung. It's a pleasure to have you all." Agreeing murmurs and expressions of gratitude flowed for a moment, then the small crowd was silent again. "Now, allow me to speak a few words before we start with the fun part of the evening, I'll make it short, I promise!" Giggles and small laughs came. "I just wanted to take this moment to thank the skillful and valiant huntress, who hunted the two rabbits and the fawn, which we will enjoy tonight among other delicacies, it was in fact a young woman from our midst. Miss Saighead, thank you in the name of everyone."
Isla Saighead of the Tribe of Westmeath bowed her head lightly as applause came up, her wearing a cocktail dress and her silver hair bound back, her blue eyes shining - she looked innocent enough to not be the huntress, but the prey, but apparently, she had gotten the job done.
"I also want to thank Miss Leni Horstenau and her staff of Hausmädchen, to my knowledge with some additions tonight, for preparing this feast and all that is in it.", the Duke continued and another round of applause came up for the Hausmädchen and their leader, a woman with black hair and purple eyes in a uniform of maids. "Now, let's raise our glasses..." He said and indeed raised his glass. "...and let's have a toast - to the many lands we came from. To their prosperity and to the health of their people."
"To health!", some repeated, raised their glasses.
I bowed my head lightly and with that, the party was on!