#ikepri doesn't have a set 'fantasy' or 'historical' setting

[krys-loves-otome]

'Tis the Season for Love CCC: Fake Christmas Date

It was only supposed to last for one hour. Long enough for her to mingle at the Royal Christmas Ball, to quell any rumors about the King's death and about her being the next Belle, and short enough that it wouldn't be considered rude if she just suddenly up and left. To return to the comfort of her books as Rio made some peppermint tea while the night came to a quiet, uneventful close.

Three hours later and she was just about ready to tear both her own hair out and Nokto's.

If she wasn't been stared at for being a fresh face amongst the nobles, she was being stared at with a stink eye for whose arm was resting in hers.

To be a woman on Prince Nokto's arm, Seventh Prince of Rhodolite and known Lothario, carried with it a meaning. A meaning Clara was coming to find she didn't like. Not very much at all.

"Smile," Nokto whispered, his own grin tugging uneasily at his lips. He wasn't too thrilled about smiling this much either. "Just for a little while longer."

Whether that was meant for her or for himself, Clara wasn't sure. The red velvet of her dress crinkled as she stood taller, facing the next noble coming towards the two of them, plastering her own smile to match the prince.

-------

Another challenge down, who knows how many more to go!

This one, when I saw the prompt, I immediately thought of Nokto and Clara, especially with his fake married plot and whatnot.

Clara's dress was inspired by the Beauty and the Beast Christmas sequel where Belle wears a red dress in the end and I took inspiration from that.

As for Nokto's outfit, it's really a time period match for Clara's 1700s-ish inspired dress and I took his formal wear colors. He's wearing a red ribbon to match Clara's dress while her trimmings and edgings are the same blue as his coat. Not completely matching each other, but just enough to show that feelings might be starting to blossom(?),

Thanks again to @voltage-vixen and @xxsycamore for hosting the event and I hope to see y'all in the next entry!