As morning sun rose, the pair roused from their sleep. Last night's passion and the humid climate had left them sweaty and sticky. Leon was first to wake. Staring at the sleeping face of the beautiful woman beside him, he brushes his hand through her red locks. The slight motion makes her eyes trembles as she wakes.
"Good morning" he joyfully calls out to the now awake woman.
"Ah, Good morning Leon" she ruffles her unruly hair as she greets him.
"Shall we go again?" he cheekily asks feeling a little energetic this morning.
"That, uh-wait. What time is it?" with a startle she gets off the bed. Pulling open the rooms curtains, she quickly starts rushing seeing the sun was already closing in on its peak.
"No, Leon. The competition will be starting in less than an hour and we got rather sweaty last night. I want to shower before it" not having much time she starts getting herself ready, collecting her clothes.
"Alright I will join you" Leon remarks, feeling he could also do with a wash.
"Mmm, let's go then" not wanting to give up the opportunity she agrees, as the two grab their clothes and go wash.
With the two feeling refreshed, they exit the courtyard and begin heading to the nearby hills that is the designated meeting point. Along the way, Leon brings up last night's talk.
"Hey, can we talk about what I said last night?" Leon asks as they exit the city.
"You mean about how you wish to create your own family?" she voices with a slight sourness. While she understood the circumstances, she still couldn't help but feel a little dejected about it.
"Ah yeah, that's the one" Leon flashes a slightly guilty smile.
"Hmm. I suppose I will allow it, but there will need to be some ground rules" she answers seriously having thought about the topic much of this morning.
"Ground rules? What are you proposing?" Leon waits carefully for her to speak.
"One, you have to inform me of any partner you plan to take and you can take no other Reinhardt" she responds lifting her right index finger.
Leon responds by nodding. 'That seems reasonable enough'
"Two, the hierarchy will be decided by us women, you don't involve myself" she states her next rule.
"I suppose as long as everyone is treated well, I won't try to force it"
"Three, you look after my personal 'needs'" she responds to last one with a slight blush.
"Haha, alright I can do that" Leon laughs softly to her final 'rule' knowing he will likely enjoy attending to her 'needs'.
Having walked for roughly half an hour East of the city, the flat landscape begins to quickly change from the previously flat lands to patchy hills. A series of iron barks and various other gums begin to stand out in the background slightly to the South. Around the largest hill in the area a large crowd begins to gather. Seeing them still congregating there, Hela lets out a sigh of relief. "Looks like we managed to make it in time".
"There must be at least a couple of hundred people here" Leon exclaims gazing around at the gathered figures, many groups chattering loudly. From his quick scan, it had seemed that most of the Reinhardt family members had gathered at the centre of the crowd, with the outsiders standing on the outskirts. Among those gathered it seemed that all of them were between the range of 16-29 years of age, many of them on the younger side of that.
"Every bachelor of importance is here trying to their luck to marry into our great family. As for the family members, each of them is looking to increase their own standing within the family" she declares proudly.
Before Leon can voice a reply, he sees a couple begin to walk out from the other side of the hill. The noise of the rowdy crowd quickly dies as the pair come forward, several servants and knights follow behind. Leon recognises the male of the pair to be the man from the ballroom speech, Octavia's father. Taking a step forward, the crowds eyes become drawn to him. With an assertive tone he greets his guests "Welcome everyone to the Reinhardt's Rose Festival. It has once again come time for the younger generations to stake their claim on the future. For our guest, I hope that you are able to use this opportunity to join us Reinhardt's hand in hand. For that very reason, the Rose Festival was created, allowing the nobles of other houses to make friendships and partners with this house".
Turning his head behind him, he gestures to one of the men behind him to come forward carrying a case. Kneeling beside him, he opens the case. Picking up the clear crystalline rose, he begins speaking once more. "As for the rules, it will be rather simple. One hundred of these roses are spread across the hills and forests of this region" showing the intricately made rose to the crowd he turns to the woman beside him. Handing it to her the rose turns a deep red hue. As she steps closer to show the effects, Leon takes a good look at her.
"Who is she?" he asks Hela. The woman was missing a chunk of her right forearm, with the rest of it covered in nasty scars. Yet apart from her obviously battle worn body she was a mature beauty that radiated power.
"That would be my aunt Minerva Reinhart and current leader of the Reinhardt. You can also say that she is the strongest in the family" Hela answers seriously, watching the woman above her.
"How did she get that injury?" Leon whispers back, not doubting that she is the strongest given her aura and demeanour.
"In battle with the Eastern barbarians is what I heard. It is likely the reason she is looking to step down. Now hush." With people starting to turn their eyes to her she quickly answers Leon's questions.
"Roses can also be obtained by the stealing of red roses, which-" before the man can finish a woman a few years younger than Minerva comes forwards and grabs the rose from her hand. The rose turns blue as she does so.
"As you can see the rose is now blue" the woman who you could mistake for being in her early thirties cheerfully waves in front of the crowd.
"So, the commotion has brought mother forward now" Hela mutters under her breath as the woman continues speaking.
"As the Reinhardt's cannot gather the crystalline roses it will be up to you young lords and ladies to gather them. Those of you who manage to gift them will be sure to gain some recognition. In such a fashion I was able to meet my third partner. Good luck everyone!" Seeing Octavia's father slightly mad about the intrusion she speeds up her speech.
"Hmph. Now rewards will be given to the family members that collect roses and the result of this event may change your standing within this house. As for everyone else, your efforts will not go unnoticed. Now in a second a map showing everyone's starting point will be put up. Good luck everyone." With the man having finished his speech he and Minerva walk behind the hill.
Slowly the crowd makes it way forward to the top of the hill to look at the posted map. Leon and Hela follow suit. After a few minutes, Leon is within sight of the post in the ground with the painted canvas. On it is a rough sketch of the surrounding areas with red crosses and names next to them signifying the person's position.
Leon eventually finds Hela's name but she speaks first "we are over to the South East. Let's go" grabbing hold of Leon's hand, she pulls him along to their starting point as the rest of the crowd disperse, heading towards their own starting areas.