Anjou

She was enchanting. The epitome of elegance and beauty as she sauntered past, lifting a delicately gloved hand to mask a polite giggle amongst her company. Her hand---fastidiously tucked in black lace--- fit matchingly with the frills of her crimson dress. The man captivated by her---completely unaware of his bewitchment---sat distracted from his own entourage. Only when his colleague jutted his side with a hilt of silver, was the spell momentarily broken.

“My most sincere apologies for diverting the conversation, however, might you know who that woman is?”

The other man gave an exasperated sigh, tucking his accessory beneath his arm as he peered across the street---stealing a glance. He too, paused for a moment; for she was breath-taking, and easily roped him into the same spell.

“I believe she is Miss Jeji,” He spoke to no one, for it was clear his attention was no longer on his companion nor his lunch. The women across the road seemed to have felt their gaze---the next moment their eyes flickered with curiosity as they locked. The gentlemen---both enraptured frozen, moved not one inch. One of the women leaned in and whispered something to the scarlet lady while the other made an attempt to continue the previous conversation. Confidently, she turned to meet their eyes once again, only this time with a flirtatious touch as she confronted their apparent interest.

“Bellivosi, it’s rude to stare,” quickly the initial man looked away, his tone scolding, with his ears flushed red at having been caught so rudely gawking.

“You worry too much, Anjou,” reaching up, Bellivosi tipped his hat to the woman, earning an eruption of whispers and quiet laughter as the woman continued down the road. Smiling proudly, he looked to his friend, leaning back in satisfaction. Though he was met with an annoyed glare from across the table.

“Why must you do that?”

“Do what?”

Anjou paused to tip an imaginary hat--- copying Bellivosi's gesture; “That.”

“It was the polite thing to do after she caught us,” Bellivosi spoke nonchalantly, giving a shrug as he returned to the tea momentarily forgotten.

“No no no,” he waggled his finger, now beginning to irk the other. “You simply cannot stop yourself from being interested in what I show interest in. Do you remember the gala three summers ago?”

“The one my father hosted?”

“Precisely.”

“What of it?”

“I had been dancing with a lovely girl all night, and the moment I stepped away to fetch her a drink, I find you walking her to the courtyard. After that, she wouldn’t dare shoot me a glance and was happily clung to your arm. You and I both know you had no interest in dancing with her until I had. Once I'd given up pursuing her days later, your interest in her had completely gone and you left her in anguish. I remember a very cross duke having some nasty words with your father not long after.”

Bellivosi rolled his eyes at his friend and chuckled mischievously. He carefully set his teacup down on his little saucer and began to stir deep in thought. He furrowed his brow and stared intently at his tea, then he continued “You’re being ridiculous, you merely stumbled around with her for a few and suddenly you were hopelessly in love. If you had gotten the chance to know her like I did you’d certainly be thanking me.”

“That isn’t the point,” Anjou felt his anger beginning to boil. He sighed deeply and spoke again, trying to level his temper. “You do this every time I show interest in courting someone. I am nicely asking you, as a friend Bellivosi, to not pursue the same woman this time.”

It was such a simple request, and the decent thing for a friend to do. Though seemingly insulted, Bellivosi’s gaze hardened.

“I refuse to not follow my heart. I say let the better man win her affection.” Standing, he collected his things, and paid for his tea along with his meal. Though it was clear Bellivosi would have the last word;
“You wound me, Anjou, I consider you like a brother and you sit there, blaming me for your ill-luck with romance.”

With that---and a sweep of his tailcoat--- the two once men parted ways as friends, and walked onwards as rivals.

The courtship of a man--- to one simply observing--- is a competition of pompous flattery. He will attempt to win the affection of a lady; with the use of gift giving, showers of compliments, letters of poetry and heartsong, and (if necessary) chaperoned walks through courtyards.

Poised at a desk with a quill in hand, a man sick with love, addressed a letter to that of Miss Jeji. He poured his heart onto parchment in ink--- hoping to beguile her with his romantic gesture.

While Anjou handed his letter to the postman, his adversary took a far more direct approach. A bouquet of roses in hand, Bellivosi strode to the front door of his beloved. He was greeted by a maid, who peeked through the doorway at the grandiose man. She seemed unimpressed, however fetched Miss Jeji per his adamant request.

As alluring as their first encounter, she greeted him politely with a coy smile. Though her reaction---much to the pompous man's surprise--- was far more reserved and tame than he was expecting. Though when handed a letter signed from a secret admirer, and stamped with a glittery red seal--- did her face brighten in excitement.

Bellivosi was stunned, embarrassed by his gift being shown far less interest than words on paper. He was to ask the woman on a walk through the town with the intention to purchase her a lavish gift--- though before he could, she bid him farewell and retreated with her postage behind a now closed door.

Inside, she thanked her maid with a curtsy then scurried to her chamber to read the contents of her letter. It was poetry, the heartache of a man so in love for her penned permanently for her to enjoy. She felt giddy---her own chest ablaze with flutters at the words of her admirer.

Quickly sitting at her desk, Jeji began her response---her cheeks a warm flush of pink. While outside, a humiliated Bellivosi planned his next course of action against who he knew to be the sender of that dastardly letter. To both gentlemen, this was only the beginning


Credits to @noonchi