To Court a Princess (Semi-Open; TG me)

[Ghant]

Papa Nate

“Uncle!” Maria said, showing excitement. “Yes, very strange seeing you here. Though a very welcome surprise,” she grinned to him. “I’m doing wonderful, thank you for asking. Very pleased that father has finally let me travel on my own for once,” she told Emperor Nathan. “He hadn’t mentioned that you would be attending, only that a handful of your children were,” she said flashing a smile to him once she finished rambling on.

“Consider it a surprise appearance,” Nathan chuckled. “I am surprised your father eased up on your account…I never took him as the sort to let you out of his reach. In any event, I can’t say I feel the same about my own. Sara, Valerie, Diana…at first I was alright with it, but then once they were gone, I was gripped by terror. For the life of me I can’t let those girls go without being under my watchful eye. Especially with so many ambitious princelings running amok.”

Justin coughed slightly causing Maria to snap out of her spell. “Oh, I’m so sorry. This is my cousin, Uncle,” she said introducing Justin. “Justin, Lord of Vindóbona.”

The boy looked like Jason, that much Nathan could observe. Looks like the brother-in-law has been dipping his pen in the family ink, the Emperor of Ghant smirked at the thought. Justin’s mother was a foxy woman though, so perhaps Nathan couldn’t necessarily blame Jason for that. It wasn’t like Nathan was free of such vices himself…

“An honor, Your Majesty,” Justin told him as he nervously extended his arm to shake the Ghantish Emperor's hand.

The Emperor looked at Justin’s extended arm like a chameleon might look at something trying to poke it in the belly, but then Nathan smiled and extended his own arm to shake it in return. “The honor is mine, Justin.”

Maria quickly took over the conversation again, not unlike her father, Nathan thought. “So, Uncle, how has Ghish been? It's been awhile," she finished with a cunning smile.

“Ghish is Ghish, never a cold fish,” Nathan laughed as he scratched his chin. “Ghant is no country for old men, let me tell you. Being 38…everything starts slowing down a bit. I can’t eat the same as I used to without getting fat, which sucks, and children…so many children, running me ragged. Most of them are well behaved, your cousins especially. Others are a pain in the butt, but you know which ones are, I’m sure.”

Considering his niece for a moment, Nathan asked, “so, Maria, would you care to dance? I am sure you wouldn’t mind Justin…in fact, I have several cousins in attendance on my mother’s side…those curvy redheads over there,” he said with a grin as he extended his hand to his niece. She was thoroughly attractive, no doubt, so he had to focus on the fact that she wasn’t really in his target demographic…too young, far too young…

Baby Nate

"I must say, I think myself and your sisters may get on splendidly, though I will admit that I am quite glad just now regardless." Princess Claire blushed and grinned, under the spell of Le Bebe, as the Crown Prince was called in French. Baby Nate, for his part, felt like a spider with a fly caught in its web. It would have to crawl along the length of the strand until it arrived at the creature caught in its snare, and then bite…

“I must admit, my princess,” the Crown Prince said softly, a tender brush of her arms with his deft hands, “that I think we could get on splendidly. Perchance you feel the same way…that we could get on?” More like you could get on, he smirked. Truth be told he found himself fancying this lovely Vannosian Princess of the highest rank and station. Should a girl might be truly worthy of his affections…but there was plenty of time to gage that. We’ll see if she has what it takes.

Claire continued. "I do hope to find a bond as strong as that of my great-grandparents. Grandmother Teresa was a most wonderful woman, and the tales she would tell of her courting by my great-grandfather were some that I shall never forget - or stop fantasizing about for myself, truly." she smiled once again, the expression coming easily. "I do so hope to find such storied love, some day. It would be so very like the stories."

“…You may not have to look very far…what you seek might be right under your nose,” Baby Nate mused in soft, soothing tones. “All you have to do is reach out and take it while it is there for the taking. As for me…well, naturally I am a Prince that fancies passion. My mother’s family are the mighty House Dakmaran, a dynasty known for lovers. Uncle Martin and Aunt Maria, then Uncle Michael and Aunt Jocasta…lovers consumed by their passion for each other. I think my story could be the greatest of all, provided I find someone worthy of legend. Which, I might not have to look very far to find,” he finished, before pulling Claire even closer to him as they continued to dance. And now the spider has delivered its venom, Baby Nate smiled profusely.

John

Oh gosh, I must find something to do with myself… Prince John of Ghant, despite being second in line to the throne (after Papa Nate and Baby Nate), was quite overshadowed by both large personalities. John kept quiet, focused on school and his various hobbies and intellectual pursuits, and did what he could to avoid his older brother, who treated John like his personal pet.

John was a short, thin boy with thick black hair and deep blue eyes, by most accounts cut and by even more accounts exceedingly intelligent. He was more at home in the Palace library then he was in the ballroom, but alas, he was a High Prince of Ghant, and as such certain things were expected of him. So he feigned interest and went along with the façade of Princely caliber.

The younger Prince of Ghant also had a keen eye for people, and a sharp enough memory to remember who they were. In spite of his shyness and natural introversion, he noticed two people that struck him as intriguing and without pleasant company, she he gulped and approached them both…a boy and a girl, both older then he was. The girl he identified as the eighteen year old Princess Daniela of Azura and Montemayor, and the boy being the sixteen year old Prince Aurel of the same country.

Upon his approach, the sagely Prince John, beyond his years, bowed courteously and introduced himself in his monotone, socially awkward manner that Baby Nate was never like to let him forget. “Greetings, your Highnesses,” he began. “Might I have the pleasure of introducing myself as Prince John of Ghant, second son of Emperor Nathan IV and Empress Sophia. It would appear as though you could do with some company, and perchance you may be interested, I can introduce you to our entourage, which includes many of my lordly cousins,” he gestured towards the curvy red head girls that were gossiping in a cluster. A few of them made shy glances towards Aurel, to which John couldn’t help but blush slightly at the sight of. I wish girls did that with me, he sighed lightly…

Paul

Catherine slapped Paul’s arm playfully at his compliments, blushing and laughing lightly. "It’s enough trouble finding men outside of Vannois, let alone outside Audonia. I am quite glad that such men as yourself have made the trip." She winked, somewhat sly, as he spoke again.

“Well, there were many people here that I was hoping to catch up with as well,” Paul told her, finding an opportunity to share with Catherine his pedigree. “As you may be aware, my aunt Seraphina is married to Crown Prince Augustin of Azura and Montemayor, and his youngest brother Aurel is here. I savor the chance to ask how my young cousin Robert is, who will one day be Emperor of Azura and Montemayor. I also have an Uncle married to Annemarie of Luxew, and as you know there are plenty of those here tonight as well. Although between you and me, I cannot for the life of me figure out how they are all related. They are like House Voor back in Ghant…there are swarms of them!” he laughed.

Cathering spoke of her great-grandmother. "Ah, Grandmother Teresa. Her 'interesting views' extended far beyond the dance floor, as I'm sure you know. Her sense of humor was sadly not inherited by Audric - personally I'm holding out on his firstborn to be half so hilarious. It would do for a presence such as that at so many stuffy meetings and balls we attend."

“Well, as Teresa always said,” Paul began to say with a wry grin, “her favorite thing to do in all the world was attending balls…”

Sara & Valerie

"Well, madams…We were hoping…That you would consent…To a dance…Or two…" Jean and Harold stammered.

"Or really as many as you wish." Jean ended the back-and-forth with his cousin with a broad grin. "Or none, if that is your wish, as well. We exist to provide entertainment, Your Majesties."

Valerie was quick to respond. “…I wish for it to be so,” she said as she turned flush and extended her arm to Jean without hesitation. “By all means, entertain me, if you dare.” Princess Val, as she was called, enjoyed dancing, especially with cute boys that she could work her charms on. She wanted to be like her mother, able to cast spells upon whomever she chose. “Be prepared, however, for you may find yourself entertained as well,” Valerie grinned.

Sara, meanwhile, nodded gently and extended her arm to Harold, all the while sighing internally at her younger sister’s teasing mannerisms. “It would be a pleasure to dance with thee, my lord.” Sara was far more reserved then Valerie, and less concerned about her allure and more concerned about dignified prestige that came with being Princess Imperial of Ghant. The charms, she believed, would be a given provided she exercised a ladylike disposition at all times. “I savor the opportunity for a dance, if you would show me to the floor.”

[Lacus Magni]

Maria

“Consider it a surprise appearance,” Nathan chuckled. “I am surprised your father eased up on your account…I never took him as the sort to let you out of his reach,”

“You have no idea how much I had to beg father to let me come, Uncle,” Maria laughed. “He simply refuses to let me grow up.”

God, look at little Justin try and show he’s a man for shaking Uncle’s hand, Maria cringed through a smile before she asked Nathan how things in Ghish were.

”Ghish is Ghish, never a cold fish,” Nathan laughed as he scratched his chin. “Ghant is no country for old men, let me tell you. Being 38…everything starts slowing down a bit. I can’t eat the same as I used to without getting fat, which sucks, and children…so many children, running me ragged. Most of them are well behaved, your cousins especially. Others are a pain in the butt, but you know which ones are, I’m sure.”

“Oh, Uncle,” Maria smiled, running her hand along his arm. “You hardly look 38. Dare I say, as handsome as ever?” she grinned yet again to Nathan. "And I do believe my little cousins are the best behaved. You know how my Auntie Bella is first hand."

“So, Maria, would you care to dance?” he said with a grin as he extended his hand to his niece.

“Gladly,” Maria eagerly grinned right back to her Uncle Nathan while taking his hand. The Latin Princess shooed the little Lord away as she began to walk with her Uncle to the dance floor. “Sorry if Justin was a little odd, father made me bring him and Constantine,” she laughed as her second cousin walked away.

“I must warn you though, I’ve never been much of a dancer. You may have to pick up some of my…slack,” she said with a coyful laugh to him, casually looking around the hall.


Constantine & Leo

Of course I would have to run to the restroom right when I get here. I knew I shouldn't have drank all that pop on the plane, the young Latin Prince Constantine thought to himself as he walked back out to the ball room. He looked upon the room, first seeing his older sister talking to their uncle, then to the various other princes and princesses doing what they do at events like this, which Constantine never had much interest in. He noticed his young cousin, Princess Diana of Ghant, across the hall with her two older sisters.

Lastly, he saw his cousin, the Ghantish Prince Leo, getting something to drink. Constantine had met Leo on a handful of occasions, but the two weren’t necessarily close. “Hello cousin,” Constantine said to Leo, causing him to turn around.

“Constantine, I didn’t know you were going to be here,” Leo replied.

“Maria begged father to come,” Constantine plainly told his cousin. “So he insisted that I go as well,” he let out a small laugh. “Why are you just hanging around here?”

“Trying to stay clear of my half-brother,” Leo laughed sipping his refreshment. He recalled how his mother advised him to simply stay away from Baby Nate, as no good ever came from the two half-brothers interacting. “And I don’t really care much for dancing,” he laughed again.

“That’s why I snuck a book along,” Constantine laughed with him. “Grandfather wrote it actually, but it doesn’t look like it was ever published. I think he titled it the Emperor’s Ha…”

Then his second cousin the Lord of Vindobona walked past the two young princes and cut Constantine off. “All these beautiful princesses and you brought a book along. Such a nerd, Costas,” he said continuing to walk right past the two boys, messing up Constantine’s hair.

“Because I see you talking to one right now,” Leo quickly said in defense of Constantine as the little Lord walked away. “Who was that?” Leo asked.

“My second-cousin, I think he’s just jealous your father is dancing with Maria,” Constantine said half-jokingly. “He has the biggest crush on her,” he stated causing Leo to laugh.

“Oh hey, sister,” Leo said to his younger sister, Diana, as she approached them. “You remember cousin Constantine don’t you?” he asked his younger sister Diana. Diana was a girl of eight, long dark-brown hair and equally colored eyes, just like her mother.

“Hello, Constantine,” the eight-year old Diana smiled to the Latin Prince.

“Nice to see you, Diana,” Constantine said to the young Princess.

“What are you talking about,” Diana curiously asked the boys.

“Just about how we feel out of place her,” Leo joked to her. “Luckily you have Sara and Val," to which Diana nodded.

“Those are your half-sisters, correct?” Constantine asked Diana, looking out to the dance floor seeing them already paired off.

“Yes,” Diana giggled. “I can introduce you later, if you want.”

“That’d be great,” Constantine replied before again looking out to the dance floor seeing how the other princesses compared.

[Ghant]

Papa Nate

“You have no idea how much I had to beg father to let me come, Uncle,” Maria laughed. “He simply refuses to let me grow up.”

That made Nathan smirk. I don’t think he will ever let you come. “Well, we will have to reassure him then. No doubt, he will use this event as a litmus test to determine if you are able to…come…to more events like this in the future. So let’s make it a good one, then his mind will be put at ease.”

“Oh, Uncle,” Maria smiled, running her hand along his arm. “You hardly look 38. Dare I say, as handsome as ever?” she grinned yet again to Nathan. "And I do believe my little cousins are the best behaved. You know how my Auntie Bella is first hand."

All too well, Nathan thought with a gulp as Maria ran her hand along his arm and called him handsome. What is with me and Latin women? “You are far too kind,” the Emperor of Ghant blushed, in spite of himself. “It’s not often that I get compliments like that from women as young and beautiful as you.” Don’t encourage her dammit.

When he got around to asking her to dance, she responded by saying “gladly.” Maria eagerly grinned while taking his hand to go to the floor with him. The Latin Princess had to shoo Justin away as they made their way. “Sorry if Justin was a little odd, father made me bring him and Constantine,” she laughed as her second cousin walked away.

“I can see why,” the Emperor observed as they began to dance. “A lady such as thee shouldn’t go unattended by male escort. He might be odd, but he is young…God knows I was when I was his age. I had every eligible girl from Ghant seek my favors for many a year, imagine how awkward that was. Needless to say, I learned fast,” he told her with a smirk.

Maria said to him on the floor that, “I must warn you though, I’ve never been much of a dancer. You may have to pick up some of my…slack,” she said with a coyful laugh to him, casually looking around the hall.

“Yes, of course.” Looking down at their feet, he placed a hand on her lower back and another in her hand. “The hardest part is the feet, learning how to step in motion with your partner. Like a lot of things that require two people, there is a certain degree of synchronicity to it, knowing what the other person will do and how they will respond to what you are doing, and going from there. See?” he asked her as they danced. “It helps to go slow at first while you are learning, and then ease into the rhythm. It will come eventually.” Jesus fucking Christ, why did that explanation sound like having sex?

Blanche

Princess Blanche of Ghant was the sort that always made an entrance, not because she preferred to, but that was her habit. The eldest child of the Emperor of Ghant and his Ohaide Dominique of Vannois was dressed in a floor-length gown of blue with a white sash accented with black and teal, making the ten year old princess look older then she really was. She had long brown hair and sparking blue eyes to boot, and a wicked grin that she was known by. Fair skinned and lightly freckled with a supposedly cute nose, she was certainly up there with her half-sisters Sara and Valerie, although others regarded her as lesser then they because her mother was not Empress Sophia. No matter, I can still make a big splash.

“Great-Grandmother,” Blanche stammered, “come on, the ball is already underway.”

“Yes, yes dear, I know,” the venerable Empress Teresa of Ghant told her great-granddaughter. “You shouldn’t forget that I am one hundred and six…it takes me eons to do anything. Why, the other night I had to pee, and that took me nearly half an hour.” the Dowager Empress was an old, shriveled thing, a frail bag of bones with skin like paper, wispy white hair and crystal blue eyes that looked out from a face that looked not long from the grave. She wore a simple, comfortable white gown that was easy to get on and off…some things never change. “There are days that I wish I never went swimming in that pond in Axionnes. I got some of that water in my cooch, and now I won’t die.”

“…That’s lovely, great-grandmother.” Blanche helped her along, the old woman inching her way along in a walker. It was a gift from Blanche…a deluxe two button folding universal walker with five inch wheels. They slowly made the voyage from Teresa’s chambers to the ballroom, whereupon arriving, Blanche saw her half-sister Diana and half-brother Leo talking to the Latin Prince Constantine.

“Oh my, isn’t he cute?” Teresa giggled. “Little Constantine. Reminds me of Theodosius, who ensnared my precious Antoinette…”

“Yes, Great-Grandmother…I am aware of both,” Blanche giggled in return, as she looked ahead. When she was within earshot, she could hear her brother say to Constantine…

“Just about how we feel out of place here,” Leo joked to her. “Luckily you have Sara and Val," to which Diana nodded.

“Those are your half-sisters, correct?” Constantine asked Diana, looking out to the dance floor seeing them already paired off.

“Yes,” Diana giggled. “I can introduce you later, if you want.”

“That’d be great,” Constantine replied before again looking out to the dance floor seeing how the other princesses compared.

“And me,” Blanche said as she drew close enough. “Silly Connie, how could you forget about me?” the Ghantish Princess did a curtsey, and introduced Teresa. “Leo, Diana, Connie, you know my Great-Grandmother Teresa, don’t you?”

“They better,” Teresa teased. “And don’t even say ‘I thought you were dead.’ Just because I have been resting quietly doesn’t mean I am dead. When I die, you will know, trust me dears. I used to tell your Great-Grandfather that I wasn’t going to go from the world easily, or not on my own terms.” Looking at Constantine, she commented, “oh look at you, you dear sweet boy. You know my great-granddaughter Blanche, don’t you? Aww, isn’t she a sweet little thing?”

Blanche’s cheeks went a shade of crimson and she sighed softly while looking to Leo and Diana with an amused look on her face. “What can you do, Great-Grandmother? What can you do?” she asked rhetorically, and with a shrug.

[Lacus Magni]

Maria

“Well, we will have to reassure him then. No doubt, he will use this event as a litmus test to determine if you are able to…come…to more events like this in the future. So let’s make it a good one, then his mind will be put at ease”, the Ghantish Emperor told her.

“I do hope you’ll tell him I’ve been very good…on my very best behavior even,” Maria replied.

Talking of her second cousin, Nathan smirked, “I can see why…A lady such as thee shouldn’t go unattended by male escort. He might be odd, but he is young…God knows I was when I was his age. I had every eligible girl from Ghant seek my favors for many a year, imagine how awkward that was. Needless to say, I learned fast.”

“He’s the same way,” Maria nodded. “Awkward as ever around most other people and especially girls. Though he’s much more comfortable around me, family I guess though,” she smiled. “Personally, I enjoy that sort of attention. Though I don’t think you’d find that particularly surprising,” she grinned.

Then Maria commented on her subpar dancing skills while the two began to dance, prompting her Uncle Nathan to explain it to her. “ Yes, of course,” he began, placing a hand on her lower back and another in her hand. “ The hardest part is the feet, learning how to step in motion with your partner. Like a lot of things that require two people, there is a certain degree of synchronicity to it, knowing what the other person will do and how they will respond to what you are doing, and going from there. See? It helps to go slow at first while you are learning, and then ease into the rhythm. It will come eventually.”

“Let me just follow you’re lead then, Uncle. You seem to have quite the erhm handle on this sort of thing,” Maria replied, trying to follow Nathan’s directions, slowly moving her feet and attempting to move along with him. “Oh, so just ease into it, do we?” she gripped his hand a bit tighter now, elegantly closing the space between the two of them when the dance permitted. “Is that better?” Am I completely over-reading this or did it just sound like he wants to…with me, she thought to herself while sporting a large grin.

“Did you know that you are my favorite uncle, Nathan?” Maria asked the Ghantish Emperor. “I fondly remember the times we've had family visits. My first visit to Ghish with father and the tea party I had with your cousins there when I was little. And who could forget your many travels to Castellum and the conversations we had. And tea we shared with Aunt Bella and your daughters," she went on. "You're much more personable than most of my relatives spouses,” she finished with a bright smile as they danced, Maria making sure there was little space between them.


Constantine

“And me…Silly Connie, how could you forget about me?” the Ghantish Princess Blanche suddenly appeared before Constantine and his cousins. “Leo, Diana, Connie, you know my Great-Grandmother Teresa, don’t you?”

“Your Highness,” Constantine smiled to Blanche in an official tone. Like his father, Constantine often addressed those who held them by their title, even if he was familiar with them; unlike his father, Constantine did so because he thought it was proper, not to make himself feel special about his own standing.

“We do, Blanche,” Leo said for him and his younger sister.

“Hello, Your Highness,” little Diana greeted Teresa with a large smile.

Constantine did his best to hide a laugh while Teresa spoke, “And don’t even say ‘I thought you were dead.’ Just because I have been resting quietly doesn’t mean I am dead. When I die, you will know, trust me dears. I used to tell your Great-Grandfather that I wasn’t going to go from the world easily, or not on my own terms. The she turned her focus to Constantine. “Oh look at you, you dear sweet boy. You know my great-granddaughter Blanche, don’t you? Aww, isn’t she a sweet little thing?”

“Thank you,” the Latin prince smiled. “Yes I do,” he responded to Teresa with shyness about him, “she’s umm very lovely.” Father would be angry with me if I didn’t dance with at least one princess at this ball. Maybe I should get it out of the way now.

“You two should dance!” Diana said excitedly.

“Diana,” Leo said abruptly. “You can’t just say that.”

“Why not? They’re not dancing with anyone right now, so they should together,” Diana rebuffed

“Well then, perhaps you would like to dance with me,” Constantine asked Blanche, feeling his hand had been forced by Diana.

[Ghant]

Papa Nate

“I do hope you’ll tell him I’ve been very good…on my very best behavior even,” Maria replied.

The Emperor of Ghant laughed, and shook his head. “I can’t exactly lie to him, not after how long it took me to earn his trust in the first place. If you want me to tell your father that you were on your best behavior, then that’s how you need to behave.”

Regarding her second cousin, Maria nodded, saying that “He’s the same way…Awkward as ever around most other people and especially girls. Though he’s much more comfortable around me, family I guess though,” she smiled. “Personally, I enjoy that sort of attention. Though I don’t think you’d find that particularly surprising,” she grinned.

“Oh but I do find that surprising. After all, I am sure it can get annoying to receive too much of it too often.” Nathan had never known her mother, but from what he knew of her, he could tell that Maria bore a resemblance to her. Something I am sure Jason has noticed as well. It must have been like being haunted by a ghost.

As they danced, Maria made a suggestion to him after he elucidated on the mechanics of the dance. “Let me just follow you’re lead then, Uncle. You seem to have quite the erhm handle on this sort of thing,” Maria replied, watching her feet as she took her steps. [i]“Oh, so just ease into it, do we?” she gripped his hand a bit tighter then, elegantly closing the space between the two of them when the dance permitted. “Is that better?”

With Maria practically pressed up against him, he put a hand on the small of her back and held her hand firmly with his, but only after she gripped it. “Yes…much better. Just remember your footwork. The rest will take care of itself.” In order not feel aroused, he had to think of his grandfather, which usually did the trick. Sorry grandpa Ray…

Then she spoke again, of something least expected. “Did you know that you are my favorite uncle, Nathan?” Maria asked him. “I fondly remember the times we've had family visits. My first visit to Ghish with father and the tea party I had with your cousins there when I was little. And who could forget your many travels to Castellum and the conversations we had. And tea we shared with Aunt Bella and your daughters," she went on. "You're much more personable than most of my relatives spouses,” she finished with a bright smile as they danced, Maria making sure there was little space between them.

Nathan nodded as he was ever mindful of his predicament, while dancing with her in a very close manner. “I did not know that, but I can’t say I am surprised,” he told her with a laugh. “I am fond of those memories as well. You were always such a graceful and dignified lady, charming and a natural beauty. Perhaps I am so personable because I know what it’s like to live a life of impersonability. The absolute last thing I would want you to remember me as would be an aloof stiff with a stick shoved so far up my ass that it’d be a wonder my feet even touched the ground.”

Blanche

“Your Highness,” Constantine smiled to Blanche in an official tone, although such a formality made Blanche slightly narrow her eyebrows. Like her father, Blanche had little appreciation for such things, preferring to be casual.

“We do, Blanche,” Leo said for him and Diana.

“Oh do you now? Well then…” Blanche shrugged casually, while lazily examining the room.

“Hello, Your Highness,” Diana greeted Teresa with a large smile.

“Oh, hello dear,” Teresa cleared her raspy throat. “You must be my great-great-great niece, seeing as how I am your great-great-great aunt. Did you know that your great-great-grandfather was my older brother? And your sister Blanche is my great-grandaughter in addition to my great-great-great niece, seeing as how…”

“Diana understands well enough, gram-gram,” Blanche cut in politely with a smile. She was aware of how her mother and father were second cousins once removed, although such a relation bore little noticeable effect on herself or any of her siblings.

Constantine responded to Teresa’s earlier quip about being mistaken for dead. “Thank you,” the Latin prince smiled. “Yes I do,” he responded to Teresa with shyness about him, “she’s umm very lovely,” he said of Blanche, causing her to blush.

“You two should dance!” Diana said excitedly, causing Blanche to blush again and look away almost embarrassed. Damnit Diana.

“Diana,” Leo said abruptly. “You can’t just say that.”

“Why not? They’re not dancing with anyone right now, so they should together,” Diana rebuffed.

“Well then, perhaps you would like to dance with me,” Constantine asked Blanche, no doubt feeling compelled by being put on the spot.

Blanche had to consider her options for a moment, although she felt as though her hand was forced. Father says that it is unladylike to refuse an eligible gentleman of such high station for a dance. Blanche was well aware of the Empress’s scheming to see one of her eldest daughters, Sara and Valerie, wed to Constantine, given the prestige of such a match. Blanche, meanwhile, considered by all accounts a lesser princess, was left with few prospects. Even in Vannois there were those that looked down at her and her mother especially, something that greatly annoyed the Princess of Ghant.

Remembering her manners, she did a curtsey and extended her arm. “It would be my pleasure to share a dance with thee, Prince Constantine. I am sure my sister wouldn’t mind watching over great-grandmother in the meantime,” Blanche said with a sharp look towards Diana.

Teresa giggled and grinned sheepishly in response. “Yes, Princess Diana can keep me company while you two go dance.” Blanche had to wonder if Teresa was trying to posture her with the princeling in order that she could ascend some high station…twould be a waste of time. For while her father was the Emperor of Ghant and her mother a Princess of Vannois, her mother was an Ohaide, and Blanche lacked the sort of…proper birth that she would have required to be of any interest to Constantine. Not that she wanted to draw that interest anyway…he wasn’t really her type, in addition to the fact that she did not possess any such aspirations.

“So, Prince Constantine, let’s see what you got,” Blanche teased him as they went out to the floor. She was mindful of his bashfulness, and assumed an easy posture for dancing that wouldn’t make him feel awkward and certainly wouldn’t give anyone reason to suspect that he was clumsy, which he could very well be. “A Latin Prince such as yourself must be a capable dancer…” even if he wasn’t, it wouldn’t serve as too much of a deterrent. Jason won’t deny him the throne because he can’t dance. If anything it was a luxury skill.

She strode the line between being too proper and being too intimate, electing to loosely grip his hand, while the other rested on his back. There was space between them enough for either of them to not feel too close, and Blanche shifted between watching her feet and Constantine to gage his reactions. She tried not to blush and tried not to behave too shyly, favoring a bolder posture to avoid awkwardly fumbling around on the floor. “Dare I wonder what sort of dancer your father is…he seems like the sort that is capable but would rather not. My father…he enjoys the dance and is quite good, but not the best. He’s the one that always says that there is always room to improve and better yourself.”

Blanche would shoot fleeting glances around the room to see what she might be able to see amongst the crowd. Of course there was Teresa talking to Diana about only God knew what, while her Vannoisian relatives went about their business. She also spotted some folks from Axionnes and Azura and Montemayor…the Audonians are out in force it would seem. For good measure, Blanche exercised some dancing maneuvers with Constantine, eager to show off what she knew.

“…Have you given much thought to future potential matches?” Blanche began to probe, eager to hear what he had to say. “I know you are still young, but people are already talking about that. Do you get to choose or will your father do that? Forgive me for not really knowing how it works down there. I know your dad got to choose for himself…most of the time, if I recall correctly.” Blanche couldn’t imagine being told to marry someone that she didn’t want to marry. No way. But then again, Blanche couldn’t imagine being told to do anything that she truly didn’t want to do…

[Leasath]

Audric

"Your Majesty, a pleasure as always.."

"Of course. I always look forward to visits from Charluçon-Roanne, Alex." The Emperor of Vannois shook hands heartily with Alex, known more commonly as King Alexandre XX Gérin-Piaget, of the northwestern continental Kingdom of Charluçon-Roanne. The man was also a cousin of Audric, if rather distantly, through a descendant of his great-aunt the Duchess of Saint-Sernin whom his younger sister Catherine was named for.

The two got along relatively well, or at least as well as an Emperor and one of his principal vassals could get along; it was usually they and a handful of others - the Grand Dukes of Épinau and Besangues-Épibéliard, the Duchess of Balême-Belthune, and a few select lower nobles - that gathered round and held court at the various functions of the realm, and when Audric was pressed to invite various nobles to Cléricot for whatever reason Alexandre Gérin-Piaget was often on the guest list.

"I should hope that you'll not look down upon my in-laws courting your sister; I could not stop them." Smiling benignly at Audric, the elder King - in fact only 30, though this was a decade older than his Emperor - gestured behind him at his wife, Mariette of Génin, and her brother the Duke of Maitoise-Vinyonne, Gaétan. The latter, 22 years old, on the stockier end of the spectrum but in possession of rather striking facial features and a sizable grant of land, was making an attempt at throwing off his sister in favor of seeking out 'literally anyone else to speak with, you harpy.'

Ah, yes. Gaétan was easily frustrated. Maybe not the best choice for the willful Catherine, hm?

"Never, Alex. He is a good man." Audric's small smile became a touch strained, and he excused himself rather quickly in favor of finding more interesting conversation; perhaps with his great-grandmother.

Marie-Claire

Claire bit her lip, looking through her eyelashes at the Crown Prince of Ghant.

"You... You are far more interesting than the boys - and they are boys, at that - of Vannois." She continued, after a pause, "I do hope that you are correct in your assumption... I would be greatly pleased to find what I seek, as you say, so close to home.."

Claire's mind raced, and already she was forced to quash the thought to run, find Audric, demand that he open marriage negotiations with Nathan of Ghant. Conduct quite unbecoming of a Princess, that, she thought, but the temptation was considerable. Usually the boys drooled upon her, whether for her dowry, her looks, or her station. Rarely was she able to hold intelligent conversations with the boys who had grown up in Vannois and had their whole lives to dream of marrying a Princess, becoming the Emperor's right hand in the manner of Philip of Orléans and Louis XIV and XV. This was a decidedly different experience, and Claire found that she absolutely adored it.

If not Nathan, then maybe another foreign prince... They do seem to be such better options...

Catherine

"Audric is especially close to her; the closest any of us got to speaking the lingua franca of Ghant was when he had half a conversation with her at the Christmas a few years after father ascended to the throne. He also got to listen to all the good stories - probably why he's so quiet nowadays, absolutely traumatized from a young age." Catherine giggled at the thought - her stoic older brother, wide eyed in shock, listening to their great-grandmother go off on some old Vannoisian noble that had been dead for 20 years - and had pissed off Teresa righteously at some point during her reign as Empress or Dowager - and held in some regard nowadays. Definitely not thinking of the last Duke of Périseau, certainly not, Catherine thought, her smile broadening at the thought.

[Ghant]

Paul

While they danced, Princess Catherine explained her knowledge of the Dowager Empress, how had been Dowager for close to forty years. That’s quite a long time, he thought with a smile. "Audric is especially close to her; the closest any of us got to speaking the lingua franca of Ghant was when he had half a conversation with her at the Christmas a few years after father ascended to the throne. He also got to listen to all the good stories - probably why he's so quiet nowadays, absolutely traumatized from a young age."

Paul laughed, and grinned afterwards as he held Catherine in a respectable dancing posture. “Many of those stories have been circulating around Ghant for many years…they are certainly not for everyone, children especially. She has always lacked certain filters from what I gather, but always means well.”

Taking the time to look around the ballroom, he noticed something that caught his attention, which he brought to the attention of Catherine posthaste. “…It would appear as though the Crown Prince of Ghant and your sister are getting along quite nicely…look at how they are dancing! Perchance love is in the air for the heir?” Given the politics of both Vannois and Ghant, should something come of a Bebe and Claire match, Paul doubted that Audric would see the essentiality of another Ghantish match involving Catherine. Or, if something were to transpire between myself and Catherine, and should Bebe fancy Claire, well…knowing Bebe, he will find a way to get what he wants. He always does…one way or the other…

Baby Nate

Bebe watched as Claire bit her lip and made what appeared to be shy eye contact with him as they danced. A boy never shy around ladies highborn and eligible, he held her close to him, enough to where she could get the idea of his interest, which while there was admittedly reserved. For there were more girls that wanted to be his bride than he could keep track of, and it would be foolish to cast his net so soon. Best make her work for it if she wants it. The idea of girls competing for him to prove their worthiness was quite exciting.

"You... You are far more interesting than the boys - and they are boys, at that - of Vannois." She told him, continuing after a pause, "I do hope that you are correct in your assumption... I would be greatly pleased to find what I seek, as you say, so close to home."

Grinning and flashing his straight white teeth, Bebe leaned in a bit closer and caressed the soft skin of her arms with his smooth, princely hands. “I wouldn’t be a very good Crown Prince if I wasn’t more interesting than the boys. I have an Empire, and millions of people that will one day look to me for leadership and guidance…for shame were I not as interesting as you say! I would have you know that I am trained at arms, with sword and lance. I would best a thousand of your boys and place a wreath of roses upon your head. Then you would know that of all the girls in all the realms of men, twas Princess Marie-Claire of Vannois that earned the distinction of mine affections.”

Even still, there was something about Claire that made Bebe’s mind race, and his heart beat faster. The temptation was there to immediately, upon returning to Ghish, seek out his mother to demand that she open marriage negotiations with Audric for Claire’s hand. Conduct unbecoming of the Crown Prince of Ghant, he thought. All the same, it didn’t hurt to plant some seeds, if only because…I like her far too much already to not convey my feelings. Ever the quick thinker and well versed in poetry, he thought he would try his hand at something new…

“Claire, the fair, skin so smooth and long of hair
None as splendid, thine beauty quite rare,
So eloquently furnishing your clever stare.
You look through me with your saccharine eyes, from face so fair,
And i'll never forget you, of this I swear.
Even after a thousand years, my lady Claire.”

[Lacus Magni]

Maria

Her Uncle Nathan shook his head with a laugh. “I can’t exactly lie to him, not after how long it took me to earn his trust in the first place. If you want me to tell your father that you were on your best behavior, then that’s how you need to behave.”

“Oh?” Maria questioned. “I’ll just have to make sure that you have absolutely nothing but great and wonderful things about me then,” the Latin Princess smiled.

After dancing for some time, Maria adjusted herself based on Nathan’s suggestions. She was practically pressed up against him, holding his hand tight. “Yes…much better. Just remember your footwork. The rest will take care of itself,” he told her.

“Right,” she nodded as she looked down to her feet. “I’ll try not to stomp on your feet, Uncle. Wouldn’t want to…put you on your back with my fumbling feet,” she grinned.

While dancing, Maria explained to Nathan how he and Isabella were her favorite Uncle and Aunt, reminiscing on the nice things he had done for her. “I did not know that, but I can’t say I am surprised,” he laughed. “I am fond of those memories as well. You were always such a graceful and dignified lady, charming and a natural beauty. Perhaps I am so personable because I know what it’s like to live a life of impersonability. The absolute last thing I would want you to remember me as would be an aloof stiff with a stick shoved so far up my ass that it’d be a wonder my feet even touched the ground.”

“No…no, I’d never remember you had a stick up your ass,” Maria giggled. “You’re to cool of an uncle and I’m sure father for that matter. And besides, with as many wives or Ohaide as you have, I have no doubt that you excel at a…uh great many things,” she grinned looking down him, before she softly pushed up against him while they danced. “I could desperately use a drink. You know that Vannoians don’t have a minimum drinking age, maybe we move away from this dance floor and grab something?”

Constantine

After asking Blanche to dance, the two stepped out onto the dancefloor. “So, Prince Constantine, let’s see what you got,” the Ghantish Princess teased the Latin presumptive heir. “Dare I wonder what sort of dancer your father is…he seems like the sort that is capable but would rather not. My father…he enjoys the dance and is quite good, but not the best. He’s the one that always says that there is always room to improve and better yourself.”

“Father, dance?” the Prince smiled. “You should have seen him at the wedding. I think most would have laughed at him if he weren’t Emperor,” he laughed thinking of his father’s dancing abilities. “But I have danced a few times, Princess,” Constantine said quietly, yet loud enough to be heard. “Father has allowed me to enter into other artistic pursuits in lieu of dancing lessons,” he explained as he stepped along with Blanche, only stepping over himself a few times at the beginning. “I can tell, your father does appear to be a talented dancer,” he looked over to his sister, who was dancing with the Emperor of Ghant.

Soon, Blanche steered the conversation to more serious matters. “…Have you given much thought to future potential matches. I know you are still young, but people are already talking about that. Do you get to choose or will your father do that? Forgive me for not really knowing how it works down there. I know your dad got to choose for himself…most of the time, if I recall correctly,” she asked.

Constantine truthfully hadn’t given much thought at all to his future marriage, instead spending the majority of his time reading books he would steal from his father’s study. “I probably know about as much as you in those regards, Princess,” he attempted to explain as best he could. Though given my parents divorce, I can’t imagine father having good memories of arranged pairings. “Father was able to choose two out of the three,” the Prince joked. “If I had to guess, I don’t think he would, but I’m not sure. What about you?” he inquired. “Have your parents lined anything up?”

[Ghant]

Papa Nate

“Oh?” Maria questioned her uncle regarding what he might tell her father. [/i]“I’ll just have to make sure that you have absolutely nothing but great and wonderful things about me then,”[/i] she finished with a smile.

“…We’ll see about that. Although, you never struck me as a particularly naughty girl, so I am sure that shouldn’t be a problem.” I have been surprised before, however… Maria adjusted herself during the course of the dance based upon his suggestions. She was practically pressed up against him, holding his hand tight…a reality that didn’t go unnoticed by him. Young, beautiful and provocative as she was, he had to mentally distract himself in order to avoid the sensation of arousal, which given how firmly pressed against him she was, might not go unnoticed by her. That could be awkward.

When he suggested to pay attention to her footwork, she responded with “Right,” nodding as she looked down to her feet. “I’ll try not to stomp on your feet, Uncle. Wouldn’t want to…put you on your back with my fumbling feet,” she grinned.

Fuck it, might as well play along with whatever game she’s trying to play. “You say that as if I am not used to being on my back. Fumbling feet are one of the last things that put me in such a…position. My feet are larger, and I am quite prone to clumsiness. If you are not careful with your feet, you might be the one that ends up on your back…”

After Maria told him that he was her favorite uncle, he explained his thoughts on the matter, and then she responded. “No…no, I’d never remember you had a stick up your ass,” she giggled, causing him to do the same. “You’re too cool of an uncle and I’m sure father for that matter. And besides, with as many wives or Ohaide as you have, I have no doubt that you excel at a…uh great many things,” she grinned looking down him, before she softly pushed up against him while they danced.

…Now she’s checking out my wares, Nathan sighed internally. This was a dangerous predicament. It could have just been playful innuendo not meant to convey real interest. If that were the case and the Emperor were to initiate a sexual interest, and should she not reciprocate, that could turn out very badly for him. It could ruin his relationship with Isabella, with Emperor Jason, damage Ghant’s reputation…so on and so forth. No, the best course of action would be to let her do all the heavy lifting, and then we can cross whatever bridge that leads to, once we get to it. “Yes, excel in a great many areas I do. There are also as many areas that I do not, and I always try to find ways to improve. As your step-mother always says, only a fool thinks himself adequate the way he is.”

He didn’t push her away or otherwise move when she danced in such a way that she was pushed up against him, dancing with her in a likewise manner. Although by this time, he couldn’t really hide his arousal. Fortunately for the Emperor, she gave him a way out, although if she were apt, she would have noticed it by now. “I could desperately use a drink. You know that Vannoians don’t have a minimum drinking age, maybe we move away from this dance floor and grab something?”

Thank God for that, he thought with a nod and a smile. “Yes, let’s go get something to drink. Empress Teresa did once say that Vannois, like Ghant, by not having a minimum drinking age, demonstrated the hallmarks of great civilization.” Having said that, the Emperor began to shift away from the floor, with her hand still in his while he went off to find drinks.

Blanche

“Father, dance?” Prince Constantine smiled. “You should have seen him at the wedding. I think most would have laughed at him if he weren’t Emperor,” he laughed thinking of his father’s dancing abilities. “But I have danced a few times, Princess,”

“And yet, if I recall correctly, Bebe laughed at him all the same,” Blanche giggled. “Your father has a strong dislike for my brother. Shame as I would be to admit, I hope that their reigns do not coincide, otherwise I dread how that might sour relations between our nations.” Blanche didn’t think Bebe would make a bad Emperor…just a more rigid one than father. Which, depending upon the observer, could be a good thing or a bad thing.

Constantine said quietly, yet loud enough to be heard, “Father has allowed me to enter into other artistic pursuits in lieu of dancing lessons,” he explained as he stepped along with Blanche, only stepping over himself a few times at the beginning. “I can tell, your father does appear to be a talented dancer,” he looked over to his sister, who was dancing with the Emperor of Ghant.

Blanche looked too, and she flashed a great look of surprise. “I had no idea father was going to be here! He said he wasn’t coming…so he must have made a surprise appearance!” she felt better that he was here. Her mother was not well liked at court from what she had gathered, and Blanche suspected that neither was she by extension. My kinfolk will be less likely to insult me with my father being present. “In lieu? There is no substitute for dancing for those in high stations. Think of all the balls you will attend, all the ladies you must entertain. How might you accomplish this without such skills? Father told me that had he not been so skilled a dancer, he might not have been able to earn the hand of the Empress.” Although had he not, my mother might be Empress instead, and then I wouldn’t be looked down upon by this lot.

In a similar vein, the subject of courtship was broached. “I probably know about as much as you in those regards, Princess,” he explained. “Father was able to choose two out of the three,” the Prince joked. “If I had to guess, I don’t think he would, but I’m not sure. What about you?” he inquired. “Have your parents lined anything up?”

In spite of herself, Blanche laughed. Thus far she had managed dance appropriately just like her lessons instructed her to, allowing him to lead and adjusting when he overstepped, and had avoided saying anything stupid, which she was prone to do from time to time. But to that, she did indeed laugh. “Well, as they say, two out of three ain’t bad. In all seriousness though, I don’t think mother concerns herself with those things all that much…she certainly didn’t as far as her own prospects were concerned, let alone mine. Father thinks it is far too soon for that sort of line of thinking…he says that such thoughts shouldn’t be made into serious conversations until a girl has bled, and I have not bled yet, thankfully. Messy business that is, be thankful you don’t have to experience that.”

She thought a bit more, and then continued. “I don’t really mind actually, that I might not ever be considered seriously by any of the highest of the highborn princelings of the world. I would rather enjoy my freedom, and in time marry for love like mother did. Although that seemed more along the lines of convenience. “I don’t get as upset about a lack of interest like Emma does…the way carries on, you would think she is the Princess Imperial, and not Sara!” But she isn’t…she’s just another girl who bares the title of Princess in Ghant…and bastard everywhere else…

[Lacus Magni]

Maria

“…We’ll see about that. Although, you never struck me as a particularly naughty girl, so I am sure that shouldn’t be a problem,” he told her.

"I'm simply an angel. Just ask my father, my brother or even Justin over there," she laughed. "Anyone you ask will tell you the same thing."

“You say that as if I am not used to being on my back. Fumbling feet are one of the last things that put me in such a…position. My feet are larger, and I am quite prone to clumsiness. If you are not careful with your feet, you might be the one that ends up on your back…” he said commenting on their dancing ability.

“Is that a position that you’d like for me to be in, Nathan?” she poised to him. “Clumsy as you may be, I’d be surprised if it were your dancing that got me on my back,” she playfully shot back at him.

Maria then reminded him how he was her favorite uncle and why that was, while she proceeded to check him out in perhaps the least subtle way possible. “Yes, excel in a great many areas I do. There are also as many areas that I do not, and I always try to find ways to improve. As your step-mother always says, only a fool thinks himself adequate the way he is,” he told her as she continued to dance closely with him.

“I still find it odd referring to Marsella as my step-mother,” Maria brushed off how quote of her latest step-mother. “Or anyone for that matter. She is far more palatable than Sophie and I’m pleased that my father is happy, but I just don’t know about her. I mean, she seem's nice enough and has been very accepting of me and my siblings. I don't really know how to explain it, you know?”

At this point in their dance, she noticed that he was becoming aroused so she asked him to get a drink. He’s certainly playing along and dropping enough hints. I think he wants me, she thought. “Yes, let’s go get something to drink. Empress Teresa did once say that Vannois, like Ghant, by not having a minimum drinking age, demonstrated the hallmarks of great civilization.”

“I won’t lie, it’s part of the reason I wanted to attend this ball. Father and Marsella only let me have wine on occasion and for special dinners. Well, except for when I beg the guards to find some for me when I have some girl friends over,” she told him while she pranced along the dance floor, holding his hand tightly, on her way to get a drink. I wonder if a few of these will make him bolder. “Here’s what I think,” she began, nearing the bar. “We finish these drinks quickly, get another and find somewhere a bit…quieter where we can talk about everything that has happened since we’ve visited.”


Constantine

“And yet, if I recall correctly, Bebe laughed at him all the same. Your father has a strong dislike for my brother. Shame as I would be to admit, I hope that their reigns do not coincide, otherwise I dread how that might sour relations between our nations.” Blanche giggled.

“He does, I don’t think he would have even invited your brother if it were not for Empress Marsella’s friendship with Empress Sophia,” Constantine nodded, not wishing to tell Blanche things that she may say to the Crown Prince. “Things would be chilly, yes, but I don’t think even my father would do anything rash if your brother was to become Emperor. Though, forgive me if I am out of line, but the Crown Prince does seem to enjoy using his words against people.”

They continued along, Constantine slipping up on occasion, but not enough to embarrass himself or Blanche. “In lieu? There is no substitute for dancing for those in high stations. Think of all the balls you will attend, all the ladies you must entertain. How might you accomplish this without such skills? Father told me that had he not been so skilled a dancer, he might not have been able to earn the hand of the Empress,” she told him.

“That is true, Princess. I have no doubt there will be a great many balls to attend in the years to come,” he began. “But I don’t think I’d want to be with someone who would look down on me for inadequate dancing abilities. No instead, father has encouraged me to learn music, play instruments like violin or cello. It’s…calming.”

”Well, as they say, two out of three ain’t bad. In all seriousness though, I don’t think mother concerns herself with those things all that much…she certainly didn’t as far as her own prospects were concerned, let alone mine. Father thinks it is far too soon for that sort of line of thinking…he says that such thoughts shouldn’t be made into serious conversations until a girl has bled, and I have not bled yet, thankfully. Messy business that is, be thankful you don’t have to experience that,” she told the Latin Prince after they began discussing if their parents had begun arraigning matches for them.

And that one is my mother, he thought trying to ignore his irritation so that it would pass, allowing her to continue.

“I don’t really mind actually, that I might not ever be considered seriously by any of the highest of the highborn princelings of the world. I would rather enjoy my freedom, and in time marry for love like mother did. I don’t get as upset about a lack of interest like Emma does…the way carries on, you would think she is the Princess Imperial, and not Sara!" she kept on saying.

“Not seriously considered because of the circumstances surrounding your father’s marriage to your mother?” Constantine guessed. “From what I have seen, you should be grateful that your parents were able to marry someone that they love. Not all are so lucky,” he told her, beginning to think on the things he had read from his grandfather’s book and great-grandfather’s journal. “It’s good that you have the set of mind. I’ve read a great deal of my grandfather’s own books and writings. He says that ‘you have power over your mind - not outside events.’ He says that is where we get our strength. Seems you are finding your strength, Princess.”

[Ghant]

Papa Nate

"I'm simply an angel. Just ask my father, my brother or even Justin over there," she laughed. "Anyone you ask will tell you the same thing."

That response was enough to cause Nathan to throw his head back in laughter, if only because it sounded so ridiculous. “Yeah, I am sure all three of them can offer totally objective character assessments. If I wanted to know for sure, I would just ask Marsella,” he grinned.

At the Emperor’s joke regarding ending up on one’s back, she asked, “Is that a position that you’d like for me to be in, Nathan?” she poised to him. “Clumsy as you may be, I’d be surprised if it were your dancing that got me on my back,” she playfully shot back at him.

“Well, you know me well enough by now to know that I would only want you on your back if that’s where you wanted to be,” he responded playfully. “What I want is what you want. That’s always worked out pretty well for me. I believe there’s a song that articulates it well enough…Any Way You Want It.”

Then came up Marsella, which admittedly wasn’t one of Nathan’s favorite subjects of conversation…which had come up more often since she became Latin Empress. “I still find it odd referring to Marsella as my step-mother,” Maria explained. “Or anyone for that matter. She is far more palatable than Sophie and I’m pleased that my father is happy, but I just don’t know about her. I mean, she seems nice enough and has been very accepting of me and my siblings. I don't really know how to explain it, you know?”

“Well, you are right that she is far more palatable…she is a seasoned politician, and a Doctor of the science. I have known her for close to twenty years now…and I know that she is quite enigmatic. She is a master of presentation, and a gifted mind when it comes to courtly intrigues. In fact, I should also mention that I have never seen anyone as good as she is at poker. That poker face...she’s hard to beat, at anything. She didn’t get to where she was by being altruistic. She is where she is now because she’s a player. She will make your father happy, and be very good to you and your siblings, this is true, and she will treat you better than Sophie did. But don’t forget what she is, Maria. A mastermind, for lack of better words, always one step ahead of everyone else, always hitting a curve or an angle with a card up her sleeve, and she will undoubtedly restore a great deal of credibility to your father’s reign during its latter stretch. But she’s a player too…and a far better one than I could ever dream of being.”

The key difference between himself and Marsella as far as the Emperor understood was that she was far better at things like image management and damage control. Nathan had reigned long enough (twenty-nine years by now) to know that he was mocked openly by many of his lords, shown disrespect and handled with kid gloves by even his Privy Council. Marsella, on the other hand, was respected, and even feared in some circles. At this point in his life though, Nathan hardly cared. Joke’s going to be on all them once the Crown Prince comes of age. The so called Baby Nate was shrewd, cunning and at times ruthless, and the lords of Ghant were in for a rude awakening if they thought their antics would fly with the son as they had with the father.

On the matter of a lack of a drinking age in Vannois, Maria was candid in her response as she and the Emperor left the floor. “I won’t lie, it’s part of the reason I wanted to attend this ball. Father and Marsella only let me have wine on occasion and for special dinners. Well, except for when I beg the guards to find some for me when I have some girl friends over,” she told him while they went to the drinks area, their hands still entwined.

“That’s rather unfortunate. Wine is a crucial element of any proper highborn dinner…I find it surprising that you don’t have some more regularly during such occasions.” Shame as he was to concede, it wasn’t wine that was on his mind. At the wine table, Nathan poured them each some Vannoisian vintage, known for its quality.

“Here’s what I think,” she began to say as she neared the bar. “We finish these drinks quickly, get another and find somewhere a bit…quieter where we can talk about everything that has happened since we’ve visited.”

Nathan was still a bit skeptical of the notion that she was trying to fuck, and he was inclined to take her at her word that she just wanted to confide to him in private. So he shrugged as he offered her a glass of dark wine, and then poured one for himself. “I think that’s an agreeable enough plan. I don’t get to see you that often, so of course I would entertain a…private audience after a few glasses of wine.”

Blanche

Constantine’s response didn’t surprise Blanche in the slightest. When it came to Jason and Bebe, there was no love lost between them. “He does, I don’t think he would have even invited your brother if it were not for Empress Marsella’s friendship with Empress Sophia,” Constantine nodded. “Things would be chilly, yes, but I don’t think even my father would do anything rash if your brother was to become Emperor. Though, forgive me if I am out of line, but the Crown Prince does seem to enjoy using his words against people.”

“He just holds people’s feet to the fire. He’s a bit rough around the edges, sure, but it’s not like he goes out of his way to mess with people for no reason. I mean, he’s kind enough to me and our sisters, so he can’t be that cruel.” Blanche was mindful of her steps, and of the fact that Constantine wasn’t the best at dancing for a boy his age. “Your father would have insulted the Imperial Family had he not invited Bebe, so he had little choice in the matter, but fortunately for everyone involved, Sophia watched him carefully the whole time.”

Constantine did have a different opinion on the importance of dance mastery. “That is true, Princess. I have no doubt there will be a great many balls to attend in the years to come,” he began. “But I don’t think I’d want to be with someone who would look down on me for inadequate dancing abilities. No instead, father has encouraged me to learn music, play instruments like violin or cello. It’s…calming.”

“Well, that certainly isn’t a bad thing. John plays the piano well enough, and he isn’t very good at dancing either. Right now he is probably somewhere on the edge, spectating and meekly twiddling his thumbs. I don’t think a lady would look down on your for it, but that would be one less thing you could do to impress them. Then again, you are the heir to the Latin Empire, so how much more impressive would you need to be then that?” she giggled.

“Not seriously considered because of the circumstances surrounding your father’s marriage to your mother?” Constantine guessed.

Blanche let out a sigh of dismay. “Exactly that, my Prince. I may be a Princess in Ghant, but here in Vannois, for instance where my mother is from, I am considered a bastard. I would not even have been welcome here at all had it not been for my great-grandmother. They won’t insult me openly while father is here, but if he wasn’t, I would be treated like some common urchin. Sure, I could complain to my father if he were absent, but what could he do? Complaining can only do so much…it can’t make people treat you differently, not when their minds are already made up.”

“From what I have seen, you should be grateful that your parents were able to marry someone that they love. Not all are so lucky,” he told her. “It’s good that you have the set of mind. I’ve read a great deal of my grandfather’s own books and writings. He says that ‘you have power over your mind - not outside events.’ He says that is where we get our strength. Seems you are finding your strength, Princess.”

“Emperor Olybrius was a wise man, good and true,” she smiled. “Depends on who you ask though. Is it right that someone that is already married marries another, and another, and another? I often wonder how the Empress feels about that, great beauty that she is. I personally couldn’t help but feel a sense of inadequacy, but then again, she is Empress and mother to the Crown Prince. Those things are her strength, no doubt. Whereas mine…perhaps my charm and wit,” Blanche laughed, swaggering over her own perceived attributes.

[Lacus Magni]

Maria

He playfully responded when asked he if wanted her on her back, neither confirming not denying. “Well, you know me well enough by now to know that I would only want you on your back if that’s where you wanted to be. What I want is what you want. That’s always worked out pretty well for me. I believe there’s a song that articulates it well enough…Any Way You Want It.”

Maria took a moment to respond. She wasn't sure if he was simply playing along or being serious. "And where is it that you think I want to be, Nathan?" the Princess mused softly.

On the topic of Maria’s new step-mother, the Emperor spoke to her about Marsella. It seemed more of a warning than anything to Maria. To the Princess, the elaboration on Marsella perfectly put to words the things she had started to notice over time. “I have heard similar things about my father, at least that its how he was until my mother died. I overheard my Aunt Eirene say that father is simply a shadow of himself since then,” she said with sympathy. “I never had reason to worry about Sophie’s influence over him. I know father never really cared for her, but he does care for Marsella. Do you think she would ever abuse my father’s trust,” she asked somewhat worriedly.

“That’s rather unfortunate. Wine is a crucial element of any proper highborn dinner…I find it surprising that you don’t have some more regularly during such occasions,” he continued their discussion of the drinking age in Vannois.

“It is what it is I suppose,” she shrugged. "He has odd reasons for the things he does sometimes. Perhaps he is trying to teach me moderation or something."

Then Maria proposed that they grab a few drinks and find somewhere more private to catch up. “I think that’s an agreeable enough plan. I don’t get to see you that often, so of course I would entertain a…private audience after a few glasses of wine.”

“Great!” she let out a large smile before drinking from her glass. “Oh my,” she coughed. “That is strong. Either that or I’m a lightweight. Here, we should just take the bottle with us,” she grabbed it with a laugh, trying to lure the Ghantish Emperor out of the dancing hall. “We shouldn’t have a difficult time finding a quieter, more friendly setting to carry on our uh...discussion. Though I hope Emperor Audric won’t mind us sneaking away from all the commotion,” she stood in front of Nathan, making sure that he could get a good look at her figure. Give him a good look, finish this bottle and see if he makes the first move once we are away from these people.


Constantine

“He just holds people’s feet to the fire. He’s a bit rough around the edges, sure, but it’s not like he goes out of his way to mess with people for no reason. I mean, he’s kind enough to me and our sisters, so he can’t be that cruel. Your father would have insulted the Imperial Family had he not invited Bebe, so he had little choice in the matter, but fortunately for everyone involved, Sophia watched him carefully the whole time,” Blanche told him, helping compensate for his missteps whenever he made them.

“You’ve probably seen or read about some of the things my father has done. I’m sorry to say, Princess, but I don’t think my father would have cared if it were viewed as an insult,” Constantine hinted to his father’s recent actions towards the Church, and his past indifference at who and what he insults, though nearly stepping on her foot. "Woah, that was close. Sorry about that."

“Well, that certainly isn’t a bad thing. John plays the piano well enough, and he isn’t very good at dancing either. Right now he is probably somewhere on the edge, spectating and meekly twiddling his thumbs. I don’t think a lady would look down on your for it, but that would be one less thing you could do to impress them. Then again, you are the heir to the Latin Empire, so how much more impressive would you need to be then that?” she giggled.

“I’m not heir,” Constantine was quick to correct her. While the first-born son of the Emperor, it was presumed that Constantine would succeed his father, but the Prince knew that it was not a guarantee and was always one to make sure not to inflate his standing to others. “Succession is different in Latium, I have just as much of a chance being Emperor as Michael or even any of Empress Marsella’s sons should one be born.” Though even a simpleton would be able to see that, at his young age, Michael is most certainly unfit to rule. But it is wrong to speak ill of my own brother, even for his faults, in front of others, he internally brushed off the thought.

When Constantine asked Blanche if he feelings of her standing we based on the way her father and mother were married, she confirmed as such. Going on to tell him the horrible way she was treated in her mothers homeland. “Father had similar feelings about your brother and sister, my cousins, before they ever visited Castellum. Then they came, and accepted them, even if he didn’t approve of the circumstances surrounding their birth.” In fact, before their visit, I overheard him calling Leo a bastard boy dozens of times.

“Emperor Olybrius was a wise man, good and true. Depends on who you ask though. Is it right that someone that is already married marries another, and another, and another? I often wonder how the Empress feels about that, great beauty that she is. I personally couldn’t help but feel a sense of inadequacy, but then again, she is Empress and mother to the Crown Prince. Those things are her strength, no doubt. Whereas mine…perhaps my charm and wit,” Blanche told Constantine with a smile.

“Thank you, Princess. He appears to have been very wise indeed; I wish I could have met him,” he said of his grandfather. “I mean, I would guess that she isn’t to happy…at least based on how my own mother reacted to all the stories and rumors of my father in the press,” he guessed, thinking it probably not polite to comment on the morality of having multiple relationships. "I'd agree, charming indeed, Princess. Perhaps another strength would be how mindful you are of your surroundings."

[Leasath]

Catherine

“…It would appear as though the Crown Prince of Ghant and your sister are getting along quite nicely…look at how they are dancing! Perchance love is in the air for the heir?” said Paul, glancing at the Crown Prince and her little sister.

"Interesting... Maybe I shall inform my brother of this development, in a while. Of course, he wants us to find our own love - within reason - but if she could find that with a Ghantish Crown Prince, well..." The side of her mouth quirked up into a sort of half smile, almost melancholic. Audric would only allow one Ghantish match if he could - there was no reason to give both of his sisters to one nation unless she truly pushed him. "I'm sure he'll be happier with this, actually - little Claire was quite infatuated with a Prince of Tatoise - only the third in line, mind you - Raphaël d'Hébras-Lozé. An admirable boy, but he stands to inherit little and of power? He'll have none, within and without the Empire." She shook her head then, blinking, and smiled fully. "I would quite like closer relations to the Ghantish capitol myself, anyways; I'm sure it's quite lovely to visit."

Marie-Claire

Listening to Nate's quiet poem, Claire felt her heart palpitating. Her smile stretched, larger than before, a full-blown grin - something she often suppressed in favor of a more acceptably sized smile. Her eyes shined as she looked at the Crown Prince.

"Il n'y a qu' un bonheur dans la vie, c'est d'aimer et d'être aimé.." She muttered, reverting to French for a moment in her awe. "I- I do believe that if it were appropriate I would kiss you now, monsieur." She leaned towards him, resting her forehead on his shoulder for a moment before giggling giddily and standing straight again, only allowing a moment of weakness.

Audric

"Votre Majesté..."

"Euh, bonjour Séraphine. Emperor Audric greeted the older woman - likely about 40, though it was hard to tell with the rich and famous, what with their capability for facial alterations - and immediately asked her to dance. The vicomtesse de Vitroluçon (and a primary character in the day to day running of the Whisper Palace as the castellan) was wearing a stylish blue-and-black dress, though it still managed to be rather bright. Taking her hand, the Emperor led her out near the middle of the floor, glancing at his sisters and nodding politely at his various vassals and the foreign delegates in attendance. Once they were set dancing - and rather shockingly well, considering how Audric seemed to treat frivolities such as dance - the Emperor raised a brow.

"I'd ask that you do keep this short, ma chére - I ought to dance with Kailey sooner than later." The Emperor whispered, keeping a satisfied smile on his face.

"Of course, of course." She looked around, seeing that they were relatively unobserved - at least, as much as the Emperor of the largest monarchy in the region can be - she spoke in quiet, clipped French tones. "Your great-grandmother the Dowager has brought one of Dominique's bastards - not necessarily surprising, but it seems she has clamped onto the son of the Emperor of the Latin Empire..." Spotting Audric's raised eyebrows, she nodded and continued. "I doubt he knows of her standing within the Empire, of course. Moving on - Princess Marie-Claire has latched on with the Crown Prince of Ghant, and Catherine is alongside Prince Paul of Ghant." The Emperor nodded, taking in this information.

"I noticed the Emperor of Ghant himself arrive?"

"Oui. He has been speaking to the Latin delegation."

"Very well. I shall approach at some point, but with the attendance of Blanche..." He shook his head, his eyes the only sign of the minor revulsion he felt at the inclusion of his bastard cousin. Leaning to kiss the Vicountess' hand, he spotted Kailey and cut in, beginning a conversation of little importance with her while he turned things over in his head. Seeing that he was distracted, Kailey put her efforts into people-watching, aiming to spot any major errors in decorum for the usually on-point Emperor.

So Claire and Bebe... I ought to capitalize, should he truly be interested... was a passing thought, before he focused on the attendance of Blanche. If not for grandmother, she would be out. I am sure she is a good child - I have heard as much from visitors to Ghant - but it is truly unacceptable to give a bastard daughter a place of honor at a grand ball... unless my hand is forced. Taking a moment to damn his beloved great-grandmother, and his troublesome cousin - thank God she had the forethought to not attend - he shook the thoughts, instead reveling in the feeling of holding his beautiful betrothed near.

[Ghant]

Papa Nate

Maria took a moment to respond. "And where is it that you think I want to be, Nathan?" the Princess mused softly.

Grinning, Nathan replied, “somewhere where your father can’t see you. Isn’t that why you are here?” Thinking for a moment when she asked him about Marsella potentially abusing Jason’s trust, he shook his head. “No, I don’t think she would do that. Why would she? Marsella is a woman of tact and discretion. She wouldn’t jeopardize her position by crossing him.”

“Great!” was her response to his agreement to her plan, causing her to let out a large smile before drinking from her glass. “Oh my,” she coughed. “That is strong. Either that or I’m a lightweight. Here, we should just take the bottle with us,” she grabbed it with a laugh, trying to lure the Ghantish Emperor out of the dancing hall. “We shouldn’t have a difficult time finding a quieter, more friendly setting to carry on our uh...discussion. Though I hope Emperor Audric won’t mind us sneaking away from all the commotion,” she stood in front of Nathan, and her figure didn’t go unnoticed by him.

“...I...uh...don’t think Audric would take exception to that, my Princess,” Nathan assured her, allowing her to lead him to wherever it was that she wanted to go. “Besides, he has more pressing matters at hand to attend to.”

“Mhmm,” she nodded, grabbing a bottle of vodka before she led him out of the hall. “How long do you think this will last us, Your Majesty? I bet you have a very strong tolerance,” she asked, searching for a vacant room once outside of the noisy ballroom.

Examining the bottle for a minute, he answered, “all night, from the looks of it. And yes, you could say that. After a while of doing the same thing, you sort of build up a high level of endurance, allowing you to pound more and more of it.” Good grief with this innuendo. It wasn’t deliberate, more out of habit.

“I think I could make it all night. Though I’ll just have to see your level of endurance for myself,” Maria giggled. Well he’s not exactly being subtle. “Here, this room looks good for us to catch up in,” she grinned, walking into the room.

Nathan stepped inside, noticing that it was, in essence, a bedchamber. “This seems rather convenient and accommodating,” the Emperor observed as he approached and sat down on the bed. “I wasn’t expecting to find myself in chambers so quickly.”

“It’s quite lovely. Here, come sit, Nathan. It’s very comfortable,” she plopped down on the bed, enticing him to sit next to her. Then she took a pull from the bottle she took from the ballroom, causing her to let out a soft cough from the drinks strength.

Not saying anything, he got up, and went to sit beside her on the bed. “Not used to the strong stuff yet are you? Ease into it,” he encouraged her. “Don’t try to take in too much all at once.”

“That’s some...umm good advice,” she smiled. Well if he’s not trying to get with me, I don’t know what he’s hinting at. “I hope you know how much I value your advice. I’ll certainly ease into the next one.”

“So...what did you want to talk about?” Nathan asked his niece benignly as he put his hand on her back. “Must be pretty important if you wanted to get a room for it…”

Maria took notice of his hand finding its way onto her back, which prompted her to inch closer to him. “A few things…” she began to twirl her hair. “...like family, yes family.”

“Alright,” Nathan nodded, leaning in closer and rubbing her back. “What about?”

“Well actually, before that. Do you consider us friends? I know that I have been very fond of you..r friendship.,” she shyly began.

“...Yes, of course,” Nathan assured her, now gently scratching her back. “I place a great deal of value on our relationship...it means a lot to me.”

She placed a hand on his leg. “You never talked down to me when I was younger, but more like an equal. I think that’s what has always drawn me to you...”

The hand on his leg didn’t go unnoticed, and Nathan responded by putting his other hand on her leg in turn, while still scratching her back with the other. He was facing her now. “I try to talk to everyone like they are intelligent, until they prove to me otherwise,” he chuckled. “I know it can be frustrating, being young and wanting to be taken seriously as an adult. Nobody likes being coddled.”

“I guess I didn’t prove otherwise then,” she grinned, inching her face forward, as if she were waiting for him to kiss her.

“No...not yet anyway.” The fact that she was inching her face forward didn’t go unnoticed either. He was already quite inebriated, his inhibitions lacking. In spite of his better judgement, he leaned forward and pecked her on the mouth. “...I shouldn’t have done that.”

“What’s wrong?” she innocently asked, face turning red now. “Am I not pretty enough?”

“...If your aunt, or your father ever found out...things would not turn out well for me,” Nathan said, feeling flush all the same as he felt a hand creep down her back and the other up her thigh.

“They won’t. I swear it, truly,” she placed a hand on his chest, still red in the face. “I’m ready.”

That was enough to make him feel more at ease. He leaned forward again and kissed her more thoroughly that time, in a style that Vannois was famous for. “...Ready for what?” he gasped as he stroked her lower back and thigh during the process.

She kissed him back, though her inexperience was showing. “For my first time,” she pulled back, not thinking anything of what she said. “All my friends said it is better with someone who is more experienced,” she tried to unzip her dress.

Oh, shit… “You are a virgin? Well…” Fuck. “...The Empress and I lost our virginity to each other, way back in 06. Neither of us were experienced, or really knew what we were doing. But it was memorable, all the same.” Nathan kissed her neck and caressed her a bit, before looking her in the eyes. “If this is what you want, then we can do this. But just know that once it’s done, it cannot be undone. If you want to do this...do it for the right reasons. If that’s the case, then I will even help you take off your dress,” he grinned.

“I...well I’ve never been with anyone before,” she stopped momentarily at her dress zipper. “I mean I think that’s what I want and even what you wanted based on what you have said and how we danced out there. I...I don’t know,” her face grew even redder now at the thought of embarrassing herself. “I’ve always had a crush on you, Nathan. Since I was a little girl.”

“It’s hard not to want this,” Nathan nodded, still nuzzling her neck. “You are young and beautiful and charming and sweet and gentle. You would make any man happy and lucky to have you, Maria. I just don’t want you to end up regretting this. The choice is yours,” he smiled as he even took her hand...the one that was on her dress zipper. “But you have to make it.”

Maria looked at him for a moment, and then down to her lap. She felt as if he was certainly something she wanted for as long as she could remember, even if only just a dream to her. “...but how do I know if I’ll regret it or not at this moment,” she looked him in the eyes, nearly expecting him to confirm her own inner thoughts that were on the tip of her tongue. “Things are going to be weird between us from now own, aren’t they?” she added in a worried ramble.

“You won’t...that’s the risk that you have to take. Things don’t have to be awkward between us, now or ever. After all, you did swear to me that it would always remain our secret. If it’s something that you like, then you can be glad for it, and maybe we can do it again sometime. Or, if you don’t, then it never needs happen again.” Seldom in the man’s life was he ever so torn...so guilt ridden. He had never slept with a woman more than a few years younger than he was, let alone the niece of his ohaide. He tried not to remember Maria as a little girl running around in the palace with his little cousins.

Maria again took a moment to think, still completely unsure of how to proceed. Dozens of things ran through her mind; like if it would be bad not to continue since she lead him on, what her father would think or do if he were to ever find out, her Aunt Bella, and oddly enough even the Empress Sophia. In spite of that, she leaned in to kiss him again, though the uncertainty strongly lingered in her mind.

...She is still uncertain. The best policy, he determined, was to play it slow and see how she reacted. So he merely contented himself to kiss her back, and stroke her hair. If she was ready to take a leap, he would know.

The Princess made a labored attempt to unzip her dress again, still kissing the Emperor. When she managed to nearly unzip her dress, she pulled back. “I can’t do it. I just can’t...and you’re married to my Aunt,” she began to explain, while her eyes started to tear up. “I’m so sorry.”

...I figured as much. Nathan held her close, continuing to stroke her hair and caress her back. “It’s ok...don’t be sorry Maria. It’s alright, really. You just aren’t ready, and that’s ok. There’s no shame in waiting until you are for sure.” In a way it was a relief...the anxiety of being discovered would have been great.

“I don’t even know what I was thinking. This is utterly embarrassing,” she wiped a tear from her cheek. “Please don’t tell anyone…”

“I promise I won’t,” he assured her. “And don’t worry...it isn’t as embarrassing as you think. Imagine how embarrassing it would have been if we had sex, and then afterward you came to regret it. Here...no harm, no foul,” the Emperor smiled. “We can talk some more, or get fixed up and return to the ball.”

“We should get back to the ball,” she suggested. “Thanks for being so kind, Nathan. I doubt most would have been so in similar circumstances.”

To that, the Emperor could only nod in agreement, as he tried to tidy her up and help get her dress back in order. “Perhaps so, my dear...perhaps so.”

Blanche

“...Don’t worry about the footwork so much,” Blanche said to Constantine as she side stepped his overstep. “Just try to adjust, that’s really all you can do.” Thinking about what he said about being heir, she shrugged. “Who else? When has a daughter been declared heir over a son? You seem capable enough...the obvious choice,” she smiled.

“Thank you, Princess. He appears to have been very wise indeed; I wish I could have met him,” Constantine replied to Blanche about his grandfather. “I mean, I would guess that the Empress isn’t too happy…at least based on how my own mother reacted to all the stories and rumors of my father in the press,” he guessed, thinking it probably not polite to comment on the morality of having multiple relationships. "I'd agree, charming indeed, Princess. Perhaps another strength would be how mindful you are of your surroundings."

“...A girl in my position must be. For I am constantly made aware of who I am,” Blanche pointed out, but not without a sigh. “Actually...why did your grandfather get declared heir over his older brother? Gosh, that must have sucked for him, getting bypassed for his younger brother!”

“That’s kind of you to say, my mother always told me never to assume that I was guaranteed the throne though,” Constantine replied. “My grandfather had two older brothers, but one of them was from great-grandfather’s first marriage. I suppose he just thought grandpa Olybrius was the wiser choice. It’s not that unheard of in our history for something like that to happen,” he attempted to explain. “My great uncles have never seemed, at least publically, to be overly bitter over the decision. Out of curiousity, do you think Emperor Nathan would select a different heir if he had the choice?”

“Well, your grandfather was the son of the previous Emperor’s daughter, so he had a strong claim...stronger than his older half-brother,” she knew that much of Latin history. “And no, I don’t think he would. Bebe might not be the Emperor he would want, but I think he is the one that he needs.” Of course, that was a lie. Truth was, she didn’t know, but that seemed better than speaking against him.

“He was, and Empress Diana was also the first woman to rule in her own right,” he told her even though she didn’t ask. “Well, your brother seems to have a sharp mind and for better or worse makes his opinions heard. I’m sure he’s more than capable,” he added with honesty. “And I haven’t stepped on your feet yet, so I must be doing something right.”

“...Or I am just apt at avoiding getting stepped on,” she laughed. “People don’t like him because he just refuses to kiss anyone’s ass. He says it how he sees it...which is usually how it is. I remember when he told your father that the Empress left him because he couldn’t honor his vows. He got mad...perhaps because it was true? How many men in all the world can you honestly say wouldn’t be afraid of calling it how it is with even the most powerful of men?”

“I remember that day too, Princess. My parents hardly spoke to each other from that day forward,” he said before speaking more on the topic. “Though being as bold as that is a quick way to earn enemies.”

“Bebe says that this is a good thing, for enemies who reveal themselves are enemies identified. Knowing who your enemies are, he says, is half the battle. The rest is waiting for them to strike, since they who lash out are vulnerable, and can be dealt with.”

“It also creates enemies out of those who might not have been one to begin with,” he quickly added. “And why create more enemies for yourself?”

“Some people are worth being friends with, and some are not. If a friend could so easily become an enemy, was he really ever capable of being a good friend to begin with?”

“That’s a fair point. But if someone is willing to work with you and is playing along with their role, so long as you recognize the potential they could act treacherously, it is best to not force their hand,” he stated, almost stepping on her foot again when he noticed his sister re-enter the ballroom.

Blanche noticed the same. “...Your sister is fond of my father,” she observed. “And he of her, I have heard it oft said.”

“How do you mean, and from who?” the Latin Prince inquired.

“Father says she is a pleasant girl. She seems to appreciate his kindness,” she shrugged. “I feel sorry for your sister...cooped up like she is all the time in Castellum. This must be rather refreshing.”

“It’s not as bad as she makes it out to be. And she’s heading away to university in the fall, Galata College in Constantinople,” he replied. “But she did beg our father to allow her to come here. He almost didn’t let her travel.”

“...I didn’t have that much trouble. Great-grandmother invited me to come and visit her, and said that I could go back with my family,” she explained. “Seemed like a good time to me, so here I am.”

“Probably a silly question, but have you been to Vannois before?” Constantine asked, only through their prior discussion of her standing in the country.

“Nope, first time. That is why I was so excited to come out this way!” she wasn’t so naive as to not know the reason why this was her first time in the country.

“I can tell,” he smiled. “By the time you leave for home, I’m sure you’ll have changed some opinions.”

“...Opinions on what?” she wondered.

“Well, earlier you said that you wouldn’t have been welcome if it weren’t for your great-grandmother and father being present. I only meant that, your charm should be able to achieve that one its own,” he clarified.

“One would think, but Vannoisians can be a fickle and obstinate lot. I doubt there is much that I could do to prove to them that I am worthy of respect,” she frowned.

“That’s unfortunate for them if they are too stubborn to change their opinion over a family member they’ve never met. Their loss,” he attempted to cheer her up.

Nodding and noticing that their dance was near its conclusion, Blanche inclined her head. “I would certainly like to think that, your Highness. If you would excuse me, I ought to speak to my father.”

“Of course, Princess,” Constantine nodded. “It was an honor to dance with you, even if you were correcting all my missteps.”

“...Life’s a dance you learn as you go,” she curtsied. “Until next time.”

Paul

Catherine’s response to Paul bringing up Claire and the Crown Prince was one that he found most intriguing. "Interesting... Maybe I shall inform my brother of this development, in a while. Of course, he wants us to find our own love - within reason - but if she could find that with a Ghantish Crown Prince, well..." The side of her mouth quirked up into a sort of half smile, almost melancholic in appearance. [i]"I'm sure he'll be happier with this, actually - little Claire was quite infatuated with a Prince of Tatoise - only the third in line, mind you - Raphaël d'Hébras-Lozé. An admirable boy, but he stands to inherit little and of power? He'll have none, within and without the Empire." She shook her head then, blinking, and smiled fully. "I would quite like closer relations to the Ghantish capitol myself, anyways; I'm sure it's quite lovely to visit."

“It is quite lovely, especially this time of year, and it would be made even lovelier by your presence,” he informed her with a smile as he gave her a graceful spin, his hands carefully guiding her along her hips and lower back. “The Crown Prince doesn’t lack for options. There has even been talk of Kailey’s younger sister Tara. And besides, in Ghant the oldest sister gets her choice honored should it come into conflict with a younger sister. So, maybe Claire shall find herself with this Prince of Tatoise, and you shall find yourself with far greater prospects as befits your station.” Catherine touched on something that may well end up dooming Paul’s suit of her. Bebe was Crown Prince of Ghant, and Paul wasn’t. Sure, his brother was in Cardo, his sister was in Baclow and his aunt was Crown Princess of Azura and Montemayor, but what was Paul? Nothing…no grand claims to match Bebe. And Audric wouldn’t let an opportunity to seat his youngest sister on the Obsidian Throne when the alternative was a Prince of Tatoise only third in line. Catherine would then be compelled to find another match, while Bebe got the spoils…as usual.

He pulled her close with deft hands and zeal, his interest in the Princess of Vannois growing ever stronger even still in spite of Bebe. “Don’t let your sister claim all the glory, my Princess. You are older…don’t let her forget it. Assert your prerogative if needs be, and take what you want. That’s what Teresa did, after all. And she never regretted it. Lesser ladies might have stood meekly by while what they wanted slipped through their fingers. But not she…once it was within her grasp, she reached out and ensnared it, and never let go.”

As much as he wanted to kiss her or convey his affections, he didn’t, if only because he didn’t want to come on too strong and drive her away. All he could do was make a good impression, and see how she responded. He wasn’t about to take any unnecessary risks. Not like Bebe anyway…

Baby Nate

Like a spider watches a fly caught in its web, Bebe observed his quarry with increasing interest. She smiled stretched widely into a grin, and her eyes shined. "Il n'y a qu' un bonheur dans la vie, c'est d'aimer et d'être aimé," she muttered, in French. "I- I do believe that if it were appropriate I would kiss you now, monsieur." She leaned towards him, resting her forehead on his shoulder for a moment before giggling. Then she stood straight once more.

Now is the time to strike, he thought with a burrowing gaze. Having already learned enough French to speak it, he smiled, and surprised her with it. “Je suis le prince héritier, permettez-moi de décider ce qui est approprié.” (I am the crown prince, let me decide what is appropriate). Then, he put a hand on her back to pull her close, and another on her soft chin, and closed his eyes before planting a gentle kiss upon her lips. He lingered there for a moment, savoring the moment before pulling back just a bit, reopening his eyes. “Si vous souhaitez vous souvenir de moi, rappelez-vous ce baiser” (If you wish to remember me, remember that kiss).

The Crown Prince outdid himself with that masterstroke of social ingenuity, knowing that he had enchanted her with ease. He was only eleven, going on twelve, and already he felt like a man, a gentleman and prince of the highest order. She knew it, he knew it, and so did the rest. He was better than whatever lowly princelings attempted to win her affections. Not only was he grander, but also more intelligent, more politically astute, and of greater ability. Bebe had dreamed of it before, of great tournaments, tilts and melees. He wasn’t intimidated or scared of anyone, he would break a lance against any champion, and send any hero to the dirt. Then he would place the wreath of white roses upon any lady’s head that he so desired, because he was the champion, undefeated.

He would ride, and fight, for whatever he wanted. He would not be dissuaded, or bested…only he would emerge triumphant. Bebe would reign long and well atop the throne of his dynasty, and restore to it the dignity, honor and respect that it deserved. None would dare cross him or undermine his rule, and he would not only demand what was due to him, he would earn it, by worthiness of his deeds. He would take one woman to be his Empress, and sire children upon her as magnificent and worthy as himself.

…And just now I am thinking that is Claire of Vannois, if only because she stimulated him in ways he never expected. She made him feel alive…and aroused. He didn’t need to be like his father, with his myriad whores and glorified mistresses, entitling bastards and giving them the false illusion of equality. None of them are equal to me. Claire was though…could be. Maybe. She could dominate court the way that Mother did, without having to suffer being dishonored to her face. No, Claire could obliterate any who dare take what is rightfully hers! Bebe would enjoy that…

Peter

Prince Peter didn’t have the opportunity to talk to Audric about Catherine’s hand…until now. He was apt enough in the realm of courtly politics to know that with the Crown Prince dancing the way he was with Princess Marie-Claire, his hand was forced. I have to approach Audric now, if I am to have any luck arranging a match between Paul and Catherine. He had been successful thus far, helping get his younger sister Seraphina together with the Crown Prince of Azura and Montemayor, as well as his son and Cardo and his daughter in Baclow. His wife, Lady Amie Voor was helpful enough, but he was a Gentry, and they had to be on point and take the reins of such affairs. Which Bebe is already doing no doubt.

He caught Audric during a lull, after he finished dancing with one woman, and was taking up conversation with Princess Kailey of Pauldustllah, his betrothed. Upon approach, he ahemed slightly, just enough to get his attention. “Your Grace, Your Highness,[/i] Peter inclined his head to Audric and his betrothed. “I wanted to thank you for inviting us to attend this ball in your sister Catherine’s honor. It has been an honor and a pleasure thus far, and surely it is indicative of your majesty.”

Not wanting to beat around the bush, he broached the topic head-on. “I feel as though I must inquire about what considerations you wish to make for your sister Catherine’s hand. It is with great humility that our own Imperial House expresses a sincere interest in a match with your own…as you can see, my second son Paul is of an age with Catherine, and as of now they dance. Don’t they seem lovely together? Embroiled in rich conversation I do not doubt…”

There was a masculine laugh that emerged from behind him. “Already trying to fetch an imperial bride for good ol Paul?” The Emperor of Ghant asked upon approach.

“…I was only making small talk, cousin,” Peter nodded.

“Oh yes I am sure of that. Tell me, Peter, you were tasked, by me, to keep eyes on my daughters at all times. I wonder, where are they now?”

“…Sara and Valerie are dancing at the moment, Diana is with Teresa, and Blanche…is right there,” Peter nodded towards her as she approached, and embraced her father.

“Dancing with who?” Nathan asked, with narrowed eyes as he wrapped an arm around his daughter.

Peter stammered. “…Some Vannoisian boys…”

“What Vannoisian boys?” The Emperor was unamused.

“I don’t know.”

“Go find out. I have business to discuss with Audric, from one Emperor to another.”

“As you say,” with that Peter inclined his head, and walked away. Nathan turned to Audric and smiled, with a hand still on his daughter’s back.

“Forgive me Audric, but I know well enough how ambitious Vannoisian lordlings are, especially with high-ranking foreign princess in their midst. Boys and girls of a certain age can become vulnerable, and I do not wish to see my daughters fall prey to those who might take advantage of them.” Nathan turned to his daughter, who stood meekly, silent and still. “I take it you know of my daughter Blanche,” he said with a smile. “Go on, don’t be shy, dear.”

Shly, Blanche offered Audric a very proper curtsey. “Votre Majesté,” (Your Majesty) she spoke in good French, whilst dipping with a straight back and a gentle incline of her head. “Un honneur de vous rencontrer.” (An honor to meet you). She gave a similar curtsey to Kailey.

“French is such a beautiful language, is it not?” Nathan asked. “I encourage my children to attempt to learn it, aside from the standard Latin and English. Compared to Ghantish, every language is easy to learn. Blanche here is a fast learner…she caught on quickly. She’s also learning to play the harp…isn’t that right?”

“Yes, father…tis true,” Blanche responded meekly. Normally a bold girl, she seemed rather muted in the presence of Emperor Audric.

Nathan puckered his lips, as he was aware of why that was. “I wanted to speak to Kailey about her sister, Tara,” he spoke directly then. “As a potential match for my eldest son and heir, Nathan the Younger. Or perhaps my second son John. Has your father or your aunt expressed any interest in such a match?”

There was also of course the prospect of the Crown Prince and Marie-Claire, which didn’t go unnoticed by the Emperor of Ghant either. “I suppose your youngest sister and the Crown Prince is another option, although I doubt you have given that much thought this evening, seeing as how it is for Catherine and her respective prospects. Either way, I want relations between Ghant and Vannois to be good. Your cousin Dominique has done much to ensure that I have an interest in strong relations. It is my hope that you share this interest.”

He had to put it bluntly. Dominique’s foul treatment at the hands of her family in response to her and Nathan being together was enough to put him off of the Vannoisian court, which he believed would grow more arrogant after Teresa passed…which was more than likely coming soon. He stroked his daughter’s hair as she stood beside him, and watched…and waited. Let’s see if you are foolish enough to insult my daughter to her face while I am beside her. That certainly would make Ghanto-Vannoisian relations far easier to peg down…

[Leasath]

Catherine

The young Princess smiled, lips thin. "Audric loves me, Paul - but not enough to deny a throne for my sister, should that prospect exist.." She sighed. "Though who knows. Young girls affections are fleeting - by tonight, who knows; little Claire may not even remember her dances with young Nathan in favor of another boy." And I would thank God, the Departed, and the Seven, just to be sure..

Looking round for a moment, Catherine's eyes almost seemed to bug out of her head when she caught sight of the Emperor of Ghant introducing his daughter - his bastard daughter - to the Emperor of Vannois. The Princess resisted a near-stumble, keeping in step with Paul, smoothing over her first near-major error of the ball with a patented, if quite fake, smirk.

"Emperor Nathan seems a pleasant enough man..." She murmured, in an attempt to play off her somewhat prolonged look at the man. "I am sure that you would affirm this opinion, as his relation?" The Princess grinned once again.

Marie-Claire

The dance was nearing its end, and Claire was near panicked at the thought. This delightful young man that held her close, that had just kissed her - not her first kiss, no, but the best? Most certainly - would likely find a new partner. It was a depressing thought, but the little Princess made a quick decision to enjoy his presence anyway.

"Your French is admirable, Prince - and your kiss just now was quite the most wonderful I have ever experienced..." She looked around. "... Though that may be due to the setting. Exhilarating." Her grin did not waver - Did she really think Rapha a man before all this?! - and her tone of voice was terribly pleased. "Irregardless of the rest of this ball - we must arrange more meetings, in future."

Audric

"... And so I told the older claimant that the vicomte de Roumiers would be wholly uninterested in his cigar collection, especially considering that they held not a single Palmerian vintage.." Kailey giggled lightly at her husband-to-be, who flashed a broad grin at her before turning to the Ghantishman before him.

"Your Grace, Your Highness, Peter inclined his head to Audric and his betrothed. “I wanted to thank you for inviting us to attend this ball in your sister Catherine’s honor. It has been an honor and a pleasure thus far, and surely it is indicative of your majesty.”

"Quite. I thank you for your consideration, and your attendance..." The man spoke again, mentioning the young man dancing with Catherine at the moment - Only a few years younger than I, yet I call him 'young man.' Kailey's right - I am old. - before the arrival of the Emperor of Ghant himself and - one of Dominique's daughters.

Though he did not react outwardly, Audric of Vannois was shocked at the foreigner's gall. This slight would make the rounds throughout Vannois by the morrow - a bastard being directly introduced to the Emperor of Vannois. The Emperor himself had never really thought on reform for the various bastards of the realm - monogamy was important to Vannoisians, noble and common, and so there were few - and so his perceived bigotry against the young woman was likely less so than the actively conservative lords and ladies of the realm. However, his knowledge of Vannoisian customs was unparalleled. To bring a bastard before any lord - especially a bastard relation - was one of the greatest insults any could bring about against a Vannoisian nobleman. That Nathan was foreign gave him some leeway, but this was an incident that would not be forgotten even with the entertainment brought by the beloved Empress Teresa.

"...d girls of a certain age can become vulnerable, and I do not wish to see my daughters fall prey to those who might take advantage of them.” The Vannoisian Emperor caught the last bit of Nathan's sentence, realizing who he was talking of, and shook his head. While he was still slightly shellshocked at the insult he had taken - I do wonder what I have done to this Emperor to so deserve his ire. - he nearly laughed.

"I beg you do not worry, Nathan. I assure you that the young men dancing with your daughters are of high birth and high honour, even if they are rather the biggest jokesters of this court..." He trailed off slightly, as Blanche was introduced. The girl looked as shocked as he was, and for half a second he felt some modicum of camaraderie with the girl before recalling her unfortunate position. He resisted a sigh.

"Votre Majesté. Un honneur de vous rencontrer." She spoke, and Audric knew that he would have felt bad for her if her state was within his control. Had she been born in Saint-Nazaire, or Cléricot, and become a ward of the Emperor - bastard or no - she would have been legitimized, or her mother married to the father. She would not have to suffer so in her mother's homeland.

But of course, this was not the case.

"Bienvenue à Vannois, mon cher." [Welcome to Vannois, my dear.] He looked sidelong at Kailey for a moment, then smiled slightly at Blanche. If he was doomed to this, then he would embrace it.

"It is good to meet you, Blanche. I have heard of you from the Dowager Teresa." Kailey smiled at the girl - she was not Vannoisian, at least not yet, and so her comprehension of what Nathan had done was less clear. At the mention of her cousin, she nodded politely, deferring to her aunt the Queen; she knew her husband-to-be had contemplated a match between Claire and Bebe if the young girl had been positive on the subject, and respected that. At the mention of Dominique, however - her eyes widened, and she was sure she saw Audric's right eyebrow raise a hair.

"Yes, Dominique always had a way with people." The Emperor's tones were clipped, if not unfriendly. This was a topic he was wholly unwilling to address unless it seemed likely that Nathan would marry Dominique. Until then, his cousin was utterly shamed by his failure to do so, and by the many moderate and conservative lords and ladies of Vannois. "It is as ever the goal of Saint-Nazaire - and of course Cléricot - to curry the best of relations with Ghant; I am glad you share that sentiment." Taking a moment to think, Audric briskly contemplated a way to play off this meeting with Blanche to his vassals in the best way possible before returning his attention to those before him.

[Ghant]

Paul

Catherine smiled, as she continued to dance with Paul, who even still quite enjoyed her company. "Audric loves me, Paul - but not enough to deny a throne for my sister, should that prospect exist." She sighed. "Though who knows. Young girls affections are fleeting - by tonight, who knows; little Claire may not even remember her dances with young Nathan in favor of another boy."

“…I wouldn’t presume to know the hearts of young girls, my Princess,” Paul smiled in return. “I would only presume to know that should she decide to spurn him for another, then that would be all the better for your own prospects, should you favor a…Ghantish suitor.” He left it vague as to avoid the appearance of coming on too strong, but it should have been obvious that he was the match.

As they danced, she suddenly seemed distracted, nearly missing a step which she quickly compensated for. Paul didn’t mind, as nobody was perfect when it came to their steps. "Emperor Nathan seems a pleasant enough man..." she murmured, in an attempt to play off her somewhat prolonged look at the man. "I am sure that you would affirm this opinion, as his relation?" The Princess grinned once again.

“I would affirm it, yes.” It seemed out of the blue, but then again the Emperor was a great person of interest for many highborns, as he had experienced many adventures, was charming in his own way, and quite peculiar. “He cares a great deal about family, and about respect.” Looking in that direction then, he noticed the Emperor with his daughter Blanche, speaking to Emperor Audric. “Do you have much of a relationship with your Vannosian kinfolk in Ghish? Princess Blanche is a fixture at the court of Ghish, much loved by many. She even bears an uncanny resemblance to your younger sister…” the sudden thought of Bebe wooing a girl that looked like his sister made him nearly snigger. I wonder if Catherine will notice the same…

Baby Nate

The dance was nearing its end, and Bebe was quite disappointed at the thought. This delightful young lady was puddy in his hands, and he had just kissed her…not his first kiss, no…but the best? Absolutely, and yet, he was the Crown Prince of Ghant, and so new partners to dance with were to be expected of him, as for her as well. It was a depressing thought all the same, since he doubted very much that there was anyone else present worthy of his attention.

Claire spoke to him. "Your French is admirable, Prince - and your kiss just now was quite the most wonderful I have ever experienced..." She looked around. "... Though that may be due to the setting. Exhilarating." Her grin did not waver. "Irregardless of the rest of this ball - we must arrange more meetings, in future."

“I would like that a great deal,” Bebe nodded in agreement, “and the feeling is mutual, my Princess. Loathe as I may be to admit, an occasion such as this necessitates a certain degree of mingling and entertaining of other young lords and ladies. Yet, after you have grown bored of them, please seek me out, and then we can enjoy each other’s company once more. Then we shall see if another, even greater kiss awaits.”

With that, he bowed courteously to Claire and took her hand, kissing it upon the back and stroking it gently with his thumb, before smiling and walking away…straight in the direction of Emperor Audric, without hesitation.

Papa Nate

"I beg you do not worry, Nathan, Audric spoke to his Ghantish counterpart, better to put his mind at ease. “I assure you that the young men dancing with your daughters are of high birth and high honor, even if they are rather the biggest jokesters of this court..."

Kailey looked at Nathan and Blanche, and then addressed them. "Votre Majesté. Un honneur de vous rencontrer." Audric followed that up with, "Bienvenue à Vannois, mon cher," [Welcome to Vannois, my dear,] to Blanche, who smiled meekly in response.

“Thank you, your Majesty,” was Blanche’s response. Nathan knew her well enough to know that she was nervous, anxious, apprehensive…a bit scared perhaps.

"It is good to meet you, Blanche. I have heard of you from the Dowager Teresa." Kailey smiled at the girl, to which Blanche smiled back.

“I thank you, your Highness, for your warm welcome.” Blanche did her best to appear austere.

"Yes, Dominique always had a way with people." Nathan watched Audric carefully, for any signs of disrespect. In Vannois, Blanche might have been considered a bastard, but in Ghant, she was a legitimate Princess of the Blood, and Nathan even had a marriage writ for himself and Dominique…even though he had a few of those with some other women, beginning with the Roman Gaudentia Ovida. "It is as ever the goal of Saint-Nazaire - and of course Cléricot - to curry the best of relations with Ghant; I am glad you share that sentiment."

“I am glad that you are glad, Audric,” Nathan gave a curt nod in recognition of his kind words. “And yes, my wife Dominique certainly does.”

“…What are you two boys puffing your chests about, hm?” Teresa probed as she approached in her walker. “The both of you look like elephant seals in rut.” The Dowager Empress looked at Nathan and Audric with narrowed eyes, as if she was aware of the situation.

“Your Grace,” Nathan inclined his head. “A pleasure to see you in good form.”

“Good form? Hardly,” Teresa shook her head. “I am a hundred and six? Do you know what that means? If I get cut, dust falls from the wound. Still, I was looking for my precious…”

Blanche beamed. “Yes, great-grandmother, I am here.”

“Good. Let’s go, if you would attend me dear. Let these imperial elephant seals pound their chests while we go have fun, eh?” Teresa reached out with a shriveled hand, and Blanche took it, but only after curtseying once more to her company.

It wasn’t long after Blanche went off with Teresa that Bebe emerged unto the group. “I didn’t know you were here, father.”

“Indeed I am. Surprise appearance, if you will…”

“Fantastic.” Bebe inclined his head towards Audric. “Your Grace,” before turning to Kailey. “My Princess,” he told her as he kissed the back of her hand. “If your sister Tara is half as beautiful as thee, then I should be very fortunate for the opportunity to court her. Although, she wouldn’t be alone in receiving my attention.” Turning to Audric once more, Bebe puffed up his chest. Like an elephant seal. “Your Majesty, I would request the privilege of visiting, writing and perhaps in time, speaking for your sister, Princess Marie-Claire.”

Nathan looked at his son and closed his eyes for a moment. Then he responded. “Need I remind you, son, that you and she are both only eleven…”

“Irrelevant. Who better than I? There is not a princeling more noble or worthy than I. Your concern is appreciated, father, but I didn’t intend for it to be a discussion. I fancy the princess and wish to see her more often. Best to cultivate those seeds of interest early.”

“As long as I am Emperor of Ghant, there will always be a discussion.” Nathan felt irritated at the boy’s impudence.

“Then have one with mother if you dare. Let’s see what she thinks.”

Clever boy. Bebe always seemed to know when to play the mother card, especially against the Emperor, much to the latter’s chagrin. “See what Emperor Audric has to say.”

“I intend to.” Bebe cast his intense blue eyes upon the Emperor of Vannois, and grinned widely as if to appear cute. The boy irritated his father, and yet, the Emperor of Ghant suffered him all the same, if only because what choice did he have? For while the boy wasn’t malicious, wicked or evil, he was haughty, petulant and arrogant. And spoiled. If he wanted something, he got it, because nobody that could deny him would. Except for me, Nathan thought, even though he was hard-pressed to ever act on that…

[Leasath]

Catherine

“Do you have much of a relationship with your Vannosian kinfolk in Ghish? Princess Blanche is a fixture at the court of Ghish, much loved by many. She even bears an uncanny resemblance to your younger sister…”

The Princess grimaced. However much these Ghantishmen claimed to know, they seemed utterly ignorant of Vannoisian customs. Afraid that the outright truth might offend Paul, she sighed.

"Our relations with our Ghantish cousins are strained at best. You must bear in mind that, in Vannois, monogamy is vital to our culture; illegitimate children-" She was sure not to outright mention bastards as such, "-are few and far between, and when they come up, often they are secreted away and rarely if ever brought to court..." She glanced towards Blanche and her brother again, worriedly. "This may be one of the first times, ever, that a non-legitimized child has been presented to the Emperor himself... Undoubtedly the first time in public, at the least. It will not be forgotten."

Marie-Claire

After bidding adieu to the young Crown Prince, the young Duchess of La Couronne nearly skipped away (though she limited her movement to tolerable levels of excitability; she was at a Royal Ball, after all), quickly coming into contact with a cadre of young nobles of Vannois; Lady Marie-Françoise de Créquy of Soibonne, Lady Roselyne de la Tour d'Auvergne of Compiègne‎, and prospective future Duchess of Balême-Belthune, Jacqueline-Noëlle Rochette. Each was around the same age as Marie-Claire, and spent much time at court as appropriate friends of the Princess near her station. While Marie-Claire really considered only the young Lady of Soibonne a real, close friend, knowing the others did not hurt; rather, close relations with a future Duchess with holdings near to La Couronne could one day come in handy.

"Oh mon Dieu!" [Oh my God!] Marie-Françoise's eyes fluttered dramatically, and she clung to Claire's arm as she walked up, giggling. "The Crown Prince of Ghant! What a heartbreaker!"

"Tais-toi, cher," [Shut up, dear] Roselyne cut in, her smile thin-lipped, as she looked at the Princess. "If little Marie-Claire can catch herself such a handsome Prince, we oughtn't get jealous... At least, not too jealous..." Her grin was suddenly feral for a moment, unnerving on the face of one so young, before it became childish and bright again.

"I have done no catching - Nathan of Ghant is no fish!" Marie-Claire cried, her voice mock-serious, before bursting into giggles. "He was rather wonderful, though..." At that, Jacqueline-Noëlle (commonly referred to as just 'Jacqui') faked gagging, while Roselyne and Marie-Françoise cooed at the Princess. She resisted the urge to throw her face into her hands, and faked a suffering glare at the lot of them before excitedly recounting her dance with the Prince.

Audric

The Emperor of Vannois greeted his great-grandmother in his usual manner - faux-smile that she taught him plastered onto his face, which she surely noticed but thankfully wasn't about to comment on - and resisted the urge to curl his lip at the mention of Nathan's "wife" Dominique. Did he not know what he had done to her? To her family, her brothers and sisters and mother and father who had lost a daughter and grandchildren due to an Emperor's lust and the culture they lived in? No. Audric was sure that this thought rarely, if ever, crossed the mind of Nathan of Ghant.

He had too many ruined "wives" and bastard children to contemplate just one, surely.

He nodded his head towards the young Crown Prince of Ghant, seeing in him only his father as he spoke to Kailey of her sister, and resisted the urge to raise an eyebrow when the self-confident boy turned to him.

"Your Majesty, I would request the privilege of visiting, writing and perhaps in time, speaking for your sister, Princess Marie-Claire." Nathan immediately turned to his son, admonishing him, and giving Audric a moment to think. A few minutes ago, this choice would have been reasonable; what could hurt, giving the Crown Prince supervised access to his little sister? But the bringing about of Blanche and the various mentions of Dominique - Was Nathan trying to gain my ire? - had worried him. The likelihood that the Crown Prince was so like his amorous father was distinct and terrifying considering that Marie-Claire could be shamed in so despicable a manner as to be shunned in favor of whores and concubines.

After the Emperor of Ghant was thoroughly beaten by an 11 year old boy through simply bringing up the Empress herself - That poor woman... - the duo turned to Audric.

"See what Emperor Audric has to say.”

“I intend to.” The Crown Prince looked towards Audric, who's face remained impassive, the corners of his mouth upturned slightly so as to appear amused.

"An interesting proposition, young Nathan." Audric murmured, looking the boy up and down. He nearly shook his head, but promised himself that he would engage his closest advisers on this prospect as soon as was possible instead. "Perhaps. I must consult my sister, of course."

[Ghant]

Paul

The Princess grimaced at Paul’s inquiry, and then sighed. "Our relations with our Ghantish cousins are strained at best. You must bear in mind that, in Vannois, monogamy is vital to our culture; illegitimate children…are few and far between, and when they come up, often they are secreted away and rarely if ever brought to court..." She glanced towards the Crown Prince. "This may be one of the first times, ever, that a non-legitimized child has been presented to the Emperor himself... Undoubtedly the first time in public, at the least. It will not be forgotten."

Paul nodded, knowing that this was a sour subject, and could have already condemned his own aspirations towards Catherine. God damn it Nathan. If he lost Catherine because of the Emperor of Ghant’s follies… There will be hell to pay. “…I am sorry for that, please forgive me for introducing such an unpleasant subject of conversation.” The dance seeming to come to its end, he asked her, “perhaps you would join me for a few drinks? I do not wish to take up too much of your time that might be spent entertaining other lords and princes…I just find your company very pleasing, my Princess.”

Sara

Princess Imperial Sara and High Princess Valerie had concluded their dances with their respective young Vannoisian lordlings, and afterwards regrouped, both quite eager to share their experiences, and their observations of their brother the Crown Prince’s dance with Princess Marie-Claire of Vannois.

“Did you see them?” Valerie asked, excitedly. “She had him wrapped around her finger! Wow!”

…Or he had her wrapped around his. “It is as you say, perhaps, that Marie-Claire has enchanted our dear brother to a large degree. This is good…he could use a bit of cheering up, wouldn’t you say?”

“Certainly, sister…perhaps we should seek her out and introduce ourselves? She may be our sister-in-law some day,” Valerie beamed.

Sara was far more apprehensive. Far more observant than Val, she studied their father’s introduction of their half-sister Blanche to Emperor Audric. A grave error. Their father meant well, that she didn’t doubt, but he was also ignorant and petty about such things, and that could cost Ghantish interests dearly down the road. That will not do. “…Perhaps we could, but if she is in conversation I do not wish to interrupt.”

“Don’t worry…there will be none of that. I see her over there with some other girls. Let’s go.” Having said that, Valerie darted in that direction, forcing Sara to follow, despite her better judgment.

When they got close, Valerie took her first opportunity to introduce her and her sister to Marie-Claire and her companions. “My Princess, and ladies,” Valerie curtsied. “May I present myself as Valerie, High Princess of Ghant. This is my elder sister Sara, Princess Imperial of Ghant.”

Sara curtsied similarly, with all the grace and charm that her mother taught her. “A pleasure to meet you, your Highness, my ladies. I hope my sister and I are not interrupting…”

Baby Nate

"An interesting proposition, young Nathan," Audric murmured, looking the Crown Prince up and down. "Perhaps. I must consult my sister, of course."

“Naturally, Your Majesty. Your consideration is the highest honor,” Bebe smiled politely.

“If you would excuse me,” the Emperor of Ghant said with a slight look of insecurity towards his son and heir. “I suddenly find myself needing to use the restroom.” Emperor Nathan inclined his head and walked away, while Bebe watched him leave. Yes, leave, you indignant fool. Now I have to clean up the mess you left behind, just like mother always does.

Once Nathan was well enough away, Bebe looked around, and swallowed hard, before inclining his head towards Audric, and looking him square in the eyes. Then he addressed him in French. “Je me trouve à parler français, mon père ne fait pas. Pardonnez mon père. Il est ignorant de vos coutumes, mais je ne suis pas. Permettez-moi de rectifier ses insultes, Votre Majesté. Je ne voudrais rien de plus que de me faire un digne prince prouver. Je prends mes vœux au sérieux.” (I happen to speak French, my father does not. Forgive my father. He is ignorant of your customs, but I am not. Allow me to rectify his insults, Your Majesty. I would want nothing more than to prove myself a worthy prince. I take my vows seriously.) Then he put his right hand over his head and continued, in Ghantish. “Jainkoaren eta gizonen aurrean.” (In the sight of God and men) It was a famous enough saying…one that he suspected Audric knew, assuming Teresa said it often enough around him.

[Leasath]

Catherine

“…I am sorry for that, please forgive me for introducing such an unpleasant subject of conversation.” Paul spoke, and Catherine lightly bit the inside of her cheek as he continued, “perhaps you would join me for a few drinks? I do not wish to take up too much of your time that might be spent entertaining other lords and princes…I just find your company very pleasing, my Princess.”

"I... do not see why not. And, please, do not apologize. Though I wish that your party had versed itself at least lightly in our customs before traveling to Vannois, I assure you, I do not blame you." Smiling lightly at him once again, she steadfastly averted her gaze from the direction of the Emperor of Ghant and instead walked with Paul towards the refreshments, spotting a wine she quite liked that came from her little sister's Duchy. "I do thank you for persisting in your conversation with me; I know that just now it seems to have gotten rather more difficult with our most recent topic, but you are truly an interesting man." Her smile almost faltered when she spotted Claire's excited ramblings about the Emperor of Ghant's son - The poor girl isn't completely ignorant - or has Audric really hid our cousin's failings from her? - but shook her mind of the thought in favor of the possible prospect that was Paul, especially if Audric would keep his head on his shoulders and deny the womanizer's son the chance to defile their youngest sister.

"I do believe we haven't talked much about your close family, have we?"

Marie-Claire

The Princess and her ladies were presently giggling, hands over mouths in attempts to staunch their amusement, though as the Princesses of Ghant drew closer Jacqueline smacked their arms lightly and they were relatively sobered up for their fellow young ladies.

"May I present myself as Valerie, High Princess of Ghant. This is my elder sister Sara, Princess Imperial of Ghant.” One of the girls spoke, as both sides gave and received curtsies all around. “A pleasure to meet you, your Highness, my ladies. I hope my sister and I are not interrupting…”

"Of course not, of course not. I am Marie-Claire, Princess of Vannois and Duchess of La Couronne; these are the Ladies Marie-Françoise de Créquy of Soibonne, Roselyne de la Tour d'Auvergne of Compiègne‎, and Lady Jacqueline-Noëlle Rochette, heir to the Duchy of Balême-Belthune." Marie-Claire introduced her friends, smiling in a reasonably genuine manner. "You are the Crown Prince's sisters, of course. He is rather delightful." Roselyne stifled a giggle at her word choice, but otherwise the girls were the picture of respectful courtly behavior.

Audric

“If you would excuse me,” the Emperor of Ghant said, with a rather uncomfortable look at his son. What is their relationship, I wonder. “I suddenly find myself needing to use the restroom.” Audric was happy to see the back of the man, inclining his head respectively before turning to see the Crown Prince still attending him. The boy seemed to come to a decision, and spoke directly to Audric. I cannot fault his determination..

“Je me trouve à parler français, mon père ne fait pas. Pardonnez mon père. Il est ignorant de vos coutumes, mais je ne suis pas. Permettez-moi de rectifier ses insultes, Votre Majesté. Je ne voudrais rien de plus que de me faire un digne prince prouver. Je prends mes vœux au sérieux.” (I happen to speak French, my father does not. Forgive my father. He is ignorant of your customs, but I am not. Allow me to rectify his insults, Your Majesty. I would want nothing more than to prove myself a worthy prince. I take my vows seriously.) The young Prince spoke, and Audric was reasonably shocked. He had not expected such maturity from such a young boy, though he should not really be that surprised; the Ghantish were a species all their own, some idiotic, some geniuses, and some just special as with his great-grandmother. Audric's train of thought was stopped as the young man spoke in Ghantish. "Jainkoaren eta gizonen aurrean.” (In the sight of God and men)

At this, Audric nodded respectfully, recognizing a saying Teresa used relatively often - not as often as the profane-laden innuendos, of course, but often enough. However, instead of responding in kind, he moved straight to the Crown Prince's prior words.

"Cela me surprend que vous, un bon jeune homme vous-même, reconnaît l'erreur de votre père alors qu'il semblait avoir pas du tout." (It surprises me that you, a quite young man yourself, recognizes your father's error whereas he seemed to have not at all.) The boy seemed to want to be taken seriously, and if he told the truth then there was little harm in doing so, though a prospect of marriage to the child of a man with binders full of "wives" was still unsavory to the Vannoisian Emperor. "Bien sûr, il faudra bien l'acte de racheter l'image de Ghant dans la cour du Vannois. Cette journée pourrait briser beaucoup des progrès réalisés par la douairière." (Of course, it will take quite the deed to redeem the image of Ghant in the court of Vannois. This day could shatter much of the progress made by the Dowager.) Audric shook his head - to himself, really - before turning back to Bebe, his eyes flashing slightly. "Vous ne comprenez ce qu'il a fait, non? Êtes-vous le seul de votre parti qui fait comprendre?" (You do understand exactly what he has done, no? Are you the only of your party that does understand?)

[Ghant]

Paul

At the prospect of a break for drinks, Catherine said, "I... do not see why not. And, please, do not apologize. Though I wish that your party had versed itself at least lightly in our customs before traveling to Vannois, I assure you, I do not blame you." Smiling once more, they walked together to where there were some drinks.

“They say that Vannoisian wines are the finest in the world,” Paul observed. “I will have to savor the taste.”

"I do thank you for persisting in your conversation with me; I know that just now it seems to have gotten rather more difficult with our most recent topic, but you are truly an interesting man." Catherine still held her smile.

“You are most welcome,” he told her as he poured them each a glass. “And I am glad you think so…although, you are quite interesting yourself. The eldest daughter of an Emperor and the sister to another. All the lords and princes of the world would fall over each other just to catch a glimpse of you, and yet here you are, talking to me. I can think of no higher honor, my Princess.”

Catherine posed him a question. "I do believe we haven't talked much about your close family, have we?"

“On that we have not, my Princess.” Paul took a methodical drink of his wine, and thought of how he might explain. “I am the second son of Prince Peter of Ghant and Lady Amie Voor, themselves a great house from Gaemar, with lands rich and bountiful. My father is the eldest son of Prince Robert of Ghant, who was the fourth son of Emperor Michael…Teresa’s brother. My older brother is the King of Cardo, and my younger sister is the Crown Princess of Baclow. My Aunt Seraphina is the Crown Princess of Azura and Montemayor, and then there’s me,” he laughed. “My grandmother, Lady Cerenna Lianu, is said to be one of the greatest matchmakers in the recent history of Ghant. Growing up, I never believed it…until I saw what she did with her children and grandchildren. Only the fourth son of an Emperor of Ghant, and yet, my grandfather has begotten a line of Kings and Emperors that surpasses even the main line of Emperor Nathan.”

Paul took another drink, before finishing answering her question. “My second cousin has squandered himself, of that I am sure you are aware. But the rest of our house refuses to be dragged down by his follies. Myself especially…I focus on trying to better myself at every possible opportunity. I excelled at school, and I learned many a foreign language…like French.” Suddenly an idea popped into his head.

“Par les soirs bleus d’été, j’irais dans les sentiers,
Picoté par les blés, fouler l’herbe menue:
Rêveur, j’en sentirai la fraîcheur à mes pieds.
Je laisserai le vent baigner ma tête nue.
Je ne parlerai pas, je ne penserai rien:
Mais l’amour infini me montera dans l’âme,
Et j’irai loin, bien loin, comme un bohémien,
Par la Nature, heureux comme avec une femme.”

(Of the blue summer eves, I'll walk along the paths
Slashed by the wheat blades, trampling upon the fine grass,
Dreaming, I will smell the freshness at my feet
And I will let the wind bathe my uncovered head.
I'll say nothing at all, nor will I think at all,
Yet this infinite love will rise to fill my soul.
Then I'll go so far away, like a bohemian
Amidst nature, happy as if with a woman.)

“…I also like to play water polo and cricket,” Paul finished, with a wide smile, blushing a bit. “How about you?” he asked her as he took up his wine glass again, letting the vintage wash upon his lips. Is everything in Vannois so fine?

Sara

Marie-Claire was quick to respond. "Of course not, of course not. I am Marie-Claire, Princess of Vannois and Duchess of La Couronne; these are the Ladies Marie-Françoise de Créquy of Soibonne, Roselyne de la Tour d'Auvergne of Compiègne‎, and Lady Jacqueline-Noëlle Rochette, heir to the Duchy of Balême-Belthune." Marie-Claire introduced her friends, smiling in a reasonably genuine manner. "You are the Crown Prince's sisters, of course. He is rather delightful."

“Indeed he is,” Sara beamed a white smile. “I just danced with Harold, Comte de Parim, while Valerie danced with Jean of Alès.”

“Lord Jean is very charming,” Valerie blushed profusely.

“Indeed, and Harold is quite the young gentleman himself. Perhaps you ladies know of these two?” Sara was discreet in her interest in court intrigue, but if her brother had designs on Marie-Claire, it was best to begin the process of gathering knowledge, both about the Princess and her companions.

“Tell us about them, and we might tell you about our brother,” Valerie smirked.

Baby Nate

Audric nodded respectfully at Bebe’s words, and proceeded to respond in French. "Cela me surprend que vous, un bon jeune homme vous-même, reconnaît l'erreur de votre père alors qu'il semblait avoir pas du tout." (It surprises me that you, a quite young man yourself, recognizes your father's error whereas he seemed to have not at all.)

“Ma mère a passé la moitié de sa vie la gestion de l'empire pendant que mon père il gaspillé. Je suis le fils de ma mère. Peu importe, il est négligent, et stupide, et bu. Il boit chaque fois qu'il doit prendre l'avion, afin de faire face à son angoisse. Je possède aucune des faiblesses de mon père ... seuls points forts de ma mère, Votre Majesté. Famille, le devoir et le chef de l'honneur parmi eux.” (My mother has spent half of her life managing the empire while my father squandered it. I am my mother's son. Regardless, he is careless, and foolish, and drunk. He drinks whenever he has to get on an airplane, in order to cope with his anxiety. I possess none of my father's weaknesses...only my mother's strengths, your majesty. Family, duty and honor chief among them)

Emperor Audric continued the conversation in his native tongue. "Bien sûr, il faudra bien l'acte de racheter l'image de Ghant dans la cour du Vannois. Cette journée pourrait briser beaucoup des progrès réalisés par la douairière." (Of course, it will take quite the deed to redeem the image of Ghant in the court of Vannois. This day could shatter much of the progress made by the Dowager.)

Bebe listened carefully, and then responded in turn. “Il pourrait, mais comme le prince héritier d'Ghant, et comme quelqu'un qui vous et votre sœur respecte grandement, et au nom de mon pays, je demande que vous ne le faites pas. Mon père est un fou ivre qui voulait aucun mal et manquait intention malveillante.” (It could, but as the Crown Prince of Ghant, and as someone who respects you and your sister greatly, and on behalf of my country, I would ask that you don't. My father is a drunken fool who meant no harm and lacked malicious intent)

Audric shook his head, looking away before turning back to Bebe, his eyes flashing slightly. "Vous ne comprenez ce qu'il a fait, non? Êtes-vous le seul de votre parti qui fait comprendre?" (You do understand exactly what he has done, no? Are you the only of your party that does understand?)

The Crown Prince of Ghant nodded, and answered in truth. He only had one chance to assuage Emperor Audric, for the sake of his country and his family. So he tried. “Il a présenté Blanche à vous, je sais. Alors que dans Ghant elle peut être une princesse, elle est ici un bâtard. Pour exposer un bâtard à Sa Majesté est une offense grave, ce que je sais aussi bien. La faille de mon père est son cœur, car il est fait doux, et faible par elle, en particulier là où ses filles sont concernés. Je sais qu'elle a crié, en raison des circonstances de sa vie, et pour sa mère. Son plus grand souhait était de voir Vannois, et de vous rencontrer au moins une fois. Un fou ivre mon père peut-être, mais un homme qui veut voir les souhaits de ses filles deviennent réalité, il est également. Teresa accordé ce souhait, si seulement parce qu'elle-même ne tarde pas à ce monde. Et maintenant, il est fait. Nous que les hommes font parfois des choix difficiles pour nos familles de l'amour. Et comme on dit, l'amour est la mort du devoir.” (He introduced Blanche to you, I know. While in Ghant she may be a princess, here she is a bastard. To expose a bastard to his Majesty is a grave offense, this I know as well. My father's flaw is his heart, for he is made soft, and weak by it, especially where his daughters are concerned. I know she has cried, because of her life's circumstances, and for her mother. Her greatest wish was to see Vannois, and to meet you at least one time. A drunken fool my father may be, but a man who wants to see his daughters' wishes come true, he is also. Teresa granted that wish, if only because she herself is not long in this world. And now it is done. We as men sometimes make difficult choices for our families out of love. And as they say, love is the death of duty)

[Azura and Montemayor]

Daniela

I’m going to have to get myself some of this back home… Daniela sat at her table sipping a glass of Vannosian wine that had been handed to her by Aurel, who, although she wasn’t exactly sure, may have already drank a tad bit much. She had intentions to cut him off after he finished the glass he was currently drinking, but she wasn’t sure how he would react. Back home he was much more influential than she was even though he was two years younger. He was third in line for the throne and what was she other than the Emperor’s niece? Sure, her father held the title King of Bohatstvo, but when it came to social importance she wasn’t too far up there when compared to the immediate royal family. At least that’s what she told herself. She thought of herself as being rather close to Aurel, but she knew he didn’t like it when people told him what to do, especially when it was something he didn’t want to do. Although that was present in her mind, she knew the wrath she would face back home if she let him make a fool of himself publicly, so she didn’t mind risking him getting mad at her.

She had decided she was going to tell him, but as she opened her mouth to speak something caught her eye before she had a chance to make any words come out. A younger boy was making his way towards them. At first she figured that he wasn’t going to actually come over to them, but as he got closer she realized he was looking right at them and heading straight for them. Arriving, he spoke in English with a Ghantish accent, “Greetings, your Highnesses. Might I have the pleasure of introducing myself as Prince John of Ghant, second son of Emperor Nathan IV and Empress Sophia. It would appear as though you could do with some company, and perchance you may be interested, I can introduce you to our entourage, which includes many of my lordly cousins.” As the boy gestured to a group of girls standing a few yards away she noticed Aurel taking a look, immediately getting a smirk on his face, but remaining silent.

“Ahoj, Prince John,” Daniela began. “It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance. Mayy I introduce myself as Princess Daniela of Azura and Montemayor, as well as Prince Aurel of Azura and Montemayor.” As she said this she gestured towards Aurel, who nodded and smiled at the prince. Daniela continued, “We definitely wouldn’t mind some company, and although I cannot speak for my cousin, I would love to meet your cousins.”

Cutting in, Aurel turned his attention to Daniela. “I would have no problem with getting to know those in his entourage. “ Turning to John, he continued. “Thank you for your kind offer. It isn’t everyday you get to meet those from another royal family.”

[Leasath]

Catherine

Catherine stood still, shocked to some degree as Paul murmured to her in French. It was beautiful; more beautiful than much that she had heard in her entire life. She leaned forward and, knowing how improper she was about to be, pecked him on the cheek. "Petit a petit, l’oiseau fait son nid..." [Little by little, the bird makes its nest...] She murmured, almost inaudible, before looking up at the Ghantishman through her eyelashes.

"I find you more and more interesting, Prince Paul. Quite.." She continued, "Brother to a King, a future Empress, and nephew of another, not to mention. Quite the pedigree, if I do say so myself." Grinning roguishly, she sipped her wine, pondering the taste for a moment - Definitely from auntie's vineyards in Bahdaan, not sister's - before speaking once again. "My entire family are quite avid football fans; grandfather bought a local club, FC d'Aler, in the late 1980's and we've brought it from the Conférence nationale to Ligue 1... Audric went to nearly every match last season, actually; you would not believe his face after they won the Emperor's Cup and gave him a signed kit." Giggling at the memory, she brought the wine to her lips again. "I personally quite love to read, and to dance, and to have fun - a commodity that becomes ever more scarce as I age, to be sure... Between that and my extended family, I do think this is the most fun I've had in months." She waved a hand now, moving forward. "As you well know, my brother is the Emperor and my sister a Princess in her own right; my father died some years ago, and my mother is somewhere around this ballroom. Other than that, there is not much to speak of for my family; Dukes and Duchesses and Counts and Countesses who's titles hold only the royal allowance and whatever manor my brother has decided they would be settled upon - thankfully, not many here."

Marie-Claire

“Tell us about them, and we might tell you about our brother,” said one of the Princesses - Valerie, I believe - and Claire smiled thinly.

"Harold... hmm... Harold is my 4th cousin, once removed, but also inheritor of the counties of Parim and Caelrys. His Grandmother was Merise of Vere, Emperor Thibault's younger sister. Him and Jean are rather funny, normally; finishing each others sentences and whatnot, though I like to think they plan that ahead of time in an effort to seem clever. Really, they're boys - how clever can they be?" Claire said this to giggle from her cadre of Vannoisian noble girls, before continuing. "As for Jean-Christophe himself, his great-aunt is the Queen of Beaunnet, Marie-Thérèse V, and he stands to inherit the title of duc d'Alès - rather powerful, to be fair, though not so much as when my great-great-grand uncle Franck of Alès held it in rebellion against the crown, no... He lost quite the tidy sum for that.." Shaking her head to free herself of a recent history lesson, she 'hmm'ed. "They're both good friends, some of the only ones that get to live at the Palace for any amount of time... How about your brother, though?" Claire's eyes flashed with interest, and her friends crowded a touch closer to listen in.

Audric

The Crown Prince's words caught Audric somewhat by surprise, but then, he was Ghantish; he should have expected the boy to be special or unnatural in some manner. Listening to the boy speak so frankly of his father, the Emperor of Vannois felt a minor tug at his own heart and memories of his drunken, ra- no, we will not think of that...

"... Et comme on dit, l'amour est la mort du devoir.” Nathan finished, and the Emperor studied the boy interestedly.

"Étions-nous pas à la cour, en public, au palais impérial et entouré de mes vassaux et sujets - je pourrais avoir autorisé une courte rencontre avec la jeune fille." [Were we not at court, in public, at the Imperial palace and surrounded by my vassals and subjects - I might have permitted a short meeting with the girl.] Audric rubbed his chin lightly for a moment, before sighing. "Comme il est, tout effort visant à réhabiliter l'image de sa mère aura été niée, et quelle que soit la cour de Vannois pensé de votre père avant ce soir aura été irrémédiablement aigri par son insulte à moi. Je ne serai jamais condamner l'amour d'un père, mais les folies d'un père? Assurément." [As it is, any effort to rehabilitate her mother's image will have been negated, and whatever the court of Vannois thought of your father before tonight will have been irreparably soured by his insult to me. I will never condemn a father's love, but a father's follies? Certainly.]

Raising his glass to his lips, Audric took a much-needed sip of wonderfully strong wine. Not usually one to drink more than a glass or two per event, he was quite sure he would consume more than a few bottles if the rest of the ball was to pass in this manner. Glancing at Kailey, he smiled thinly at her, handing her his glass of wine as she awaited a servant bearing a new bottle. He looked back to Nathan. "Il me plaît beaucoup que vous êtes à la fois compétents et de compréhension sur ce sujet. Je vais contempler votre souhait à la cour soigneusement ma sœur." [It pleases me greatly that you are both knowledgeable and understanding on this subject. I will contemplate your wish to court my sister thoroughly.]

[Ghant]

John

“Ahoj, Prince John,” the young woman began, introducing herself to Prince John of Ghant. “It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance. May I introduce myself as Princess Daniela of Azura and Montemayor, as well as Prince Aurel of Azura and Montemayor.” Daniela gestured towards Aurel, who nodded and smiled at the prince. Daniela continued, “We definitely wouldn’t mind some company, and although I cannot speak for my cousin, I would love to meet your cousins.”

Cutting in, Aurel turned his attention to Daniela. “I would have no problem with getting to know those in his entourage.” Turning to John, he continued, “Thank you for your kind offer. It isn’t everyday you get to meet those from another royal family.”

“A pleasure to meet you both, my Prince and Princess, and indeed, my Prince…tis not everyday that one does. If you would follow me, I shall introduce you.” John smiled and led the way, not thinking anything more of it then introducing his family to those of Royal birth from another nation.

…His family wasn’t hard to find, as they were a group of reddish haired nobles dressed in fanciful Ghantish garb. Upon approach, John tapped his eldest cousin Ethan on the shoulder. Ethan turned to meet his eyes, and knew what needed to be done. “Listen up,” Ethan said briskly at the group, prompting them all to turn around. Alright, time for introductions.

“My cousin Ethan Hyla,” John gestured towards the eldest, who was a gangly young man with red hair and blue eyes, and was 23. A gentle face, playful even. “His sister Leona,” a willoy redhead aged 20, shy and demure but with a pleasant appearance in her gown. “Their youngest sister Gemma.” Gemma was 18, and the youngest child of Lord Hyla and Lady Teresa Zuria. John objectively considered her a pretty girl, with long wavy red hair and soft blue eyes and an attractive figure. “My cousin Nestor Zuria.” Nestor was 19, with copper colored hair and eyes, a playful expression. He was strong as well, and well figured. “His sister Fiona.” 16, Fiona was a short and curvy girl, but not unpretty. She was shy though, and blushed before Aurel. “My other cousin Grace.” Grace Zuria, the daughter of his Uncle Christopher, was by far John’s favorite cousin. Grace was 10, lithe and pretty with reddish-brown hair and blue-green eyes, with a mouth full of straight, pearly white teeth. She was as pretty as she was gentle and intelligent, very well read and studious. “My cousin, Jori Haro.” Jori was 22, and quite unremarkable. Reddish-brown hair and light brown eyes, Jori was his father’s heir, but little else of interest could be said of him. “His sister Anna.” Anna Haro was 19, and very much like Jori, with similar looks and similarly mundane, but not unpleasant. “Their youngest sister, Bella.” Bella Haro was 16, and was, in John’s opinion, objectively the most beautiful of them all. She had long full-colored red hair that fell down the small of her back in a combination of parts wavy and curly, and with rich green eyes like a field under a clear blue sky. She had a gorgeous figure that belied her youth, and wasn’t shy in her knowledge of that fact.

The boys bowed courteously, and the girls curtsied in their rich gowns, all saying, “Your Highenesses.” John looked between them all, and Aurel, and wondered if Aurel was like to ask any of them to dance. At events when all were present, it was usually Bella that went first, if only because she always radiated amongst her extended family, beauty that she was. John was shamed to concede that he had stared at her from time to time as boys did, but did his best to purge improper thoughts from his mind. Even with Grace, whom he felt a certain closeness to, but always tried to avoid any romantic affections for.

Paul

Catherine remained still as Paul recited the poem in French, and upon completion, she leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek…which caused Paul to blush crimson. “Petit a petit, l’oiseau fait son nid..." [Little by little, the bird makes its nest...] She murmured very softly, before looking at him once more.

"I find you more and more interesting, Prince Paul. Quite…" She continued, "Brother to a King, a future Empress, and nephew of another, not to mention. Quite the pedigree, if I do say so myself." She grinned before drinking some more wine, and then continued. "My entire family are quite avid football fans; grandfather bought a local club, FC d'Aler, in the late 1980's and we've brought it from the Conférence nationale to Ligue 1... Audric went to nearly every match last season, actually; you would not believe his face after they won the Emperor's Cup and gave him a signed kit."

The Princess giggled, taking another drink. "I personally quite love to read, and to dance, and to have fun - a commodity that becomes ever more scarce as I age, to be sure... Between that and my extended family, I do think this is the most fun I've had in months." She approached him, getting a bit closer. As you well know, my brother is the Emperor and my sister a Princess in her own right; my father died some years ago, and my mother is somewhere around this ballroom. Other than that, there is not much to speak of for my family; Dukes and Duchesses and Counts and Countesses who's titles hold only the royal allowance and whatever manor my brother has decided they would be settled upon - thankfully, not many here."

A smile stretched across Paul’s lips. “…I too, find you more and more interesting, ma princesse. You honor me with your honeyed words and your gentle kiss. Something I shall savor all my life, no doubt.” Finding talk of football interested, he nodded, and asked, “Have you ever played football casually? It is quite fun…I have watched a few matches myself, played casually on the palace green.”

“And what is your favorite book, avid reader that you are? Surely something rife with poetic beauty…that would only be fitting. Mine would be Cyrano de Bergerac…yes, I know it isn’t a book, a play, but one that can be read and appreciated all the same.” Clearing his throat, he recited one his favorite lines from the play.

“Et ce qui est un baiser, spécifiquement? Un gage correctement scellé, une promesse assaisonné au goût, un vœu estampillés avec l'immédiateté d'une lèvre, un cercle rose tracé autour du verbe «amour». Un baiser est un message trop intime pour l'oreille, l'infini capturé en brève visite de l'abeille à une fleur, la communication séculaire avec un arrière-goût du ciel, l'impulsion montante du coeur de prononcer son nom sur les lèvres d'un amant, toujours.” (“And what is a kiss, specifically? A pledge properly sealed, a promise seasoned to taste, a vow stamped with the immediacy of a lip, a rosy circle drawn around the verb 'to love.' A kiss is a message too intimate for the ear, infinity captured in the bee's brief visit to a flower, secular communication with an aftertaste of heaven, the pulse rising from the heart to utter its name on a lover's lip, Forever.)

Smooth, Paul thought with a grin as he took up his glass of wine once more, savoring the taste of it upon his tongue. “I assume you have read, or seen the play, my Princess? Surely that is one that you would enjoy, a story of men doing great things for their lady love, trying to earn her affections. You say there isn’t much to say of your family, perhaps that is because there is more than words can say? Are there any words, in French, English, Ghantish or otherwise, that can adequately convey your noble person?” So smooth.

Sara

"Harold... hmm... Harold is my 4th cousin, once removed, but also inheritor of the counties of Parim and Caelrys. His Grandmother was Merise of Vere, Emperor Thibault's younger sister. Him and Jean are rather funny, normally; finishing each others sentences and whatnot, though I like to think they plan that ahead of time in an effort to seem clever. Really, they're boys - how clever can they be?" Claire said this to giggle from her cadre of Vannoisian noble girls, before continuing. "As for Jean-Christophe himself, his great-aunt is the Queen of Beaunnet, Marie-Thérèse V, and he stands to inherit the title of duc d'Alès - rather powerful, to be fair, though not so much as when my great-great-grand uncle Franck of Alès held it in rebellion against the crown, no... He lost quite the tidy sum for that.." Claire shook her head, and hmmed. "They're both good friends, some of the only ones that get to live at the Palace for any amount of time... How about your brother, though?" Claire's eyes flashed with interest, and her friends crowded a touch closer to listen in.

Sara, true to her word, took to explaining, thankful for the information Claire had provided her. “Nathan, as you know, is Crown Prince, and heir to the Obsidian Throne. In that capacity he is ambitious and studious, for he wants to be a great Emperor, if not the best. Admittedly, he is closer to mother than he is to father, and is our grandfather, King Malibar of Dakmoor’s protégé, learning from him the arts of diplomacy, statecraft, and managing the nobility. He is kind, gentle to his brothers and especially his sisters, and to animals as well. He is smart and does well enough in school, but he is better at history and politics than he is at other subjects. He trains at arms with sword and lance under Master-at-arms Dago Devlyn, and that is one of his great talents, along with tongues and Ghantish history.”

“He is well spoken in French, as it happens,” Valerie began to speak. “All the girls chase him because he is strong and gentle and handsome, but he is not easily forthcoming in his affections. No…only someone really special can win his heart…and once he wants something, he will do whatever it takes to get it.”

“He has many acquaintances,” Sara continued, “but few friends, yet what friends he does have are good ones. Like Crown Prince Galerius of Gaemar and young Lucas Maedros. Our brother is passionate, but also disciplined and noble. I believe there to be few princelings or lords as…glorious as he.” Of course, Sara was exaggerating some of the details, but her and her sister’s telling of their brother was more or less true. She didn’t want to talk him down to all these noble girls that would one day be potential brides, and so it was better, she thought, to cultivate a positive reputation here. Especially since father squandered it…

Bebe

Audric spoke to Bebe in French once more, to convey his thoughts. "Étions-nous pas à la cour, en public, au palais impérial et entouré de mes vassaux et sujets - je pourrais avoir autorisé une courte rencontre avec la jeune fille." [Were we not at court, in public, at the Imperial palace and surrounded by my vassals and subjects - I might have permitted a short meeting with the girl.]

“Oui, une telle chose était inapproprié. Mais hélas, mon père n'a jamais été connu pour son attention au temps et lieu. Je ne peux pas faire des excuses pour lui ... Je peux seulement dire que je étaient empereur de Ghant, je serais attentif aux coutumes de où je me trouvais.” (Yes, such a thing was inappropriate. But alas, my father has never been known for his attention to time and place. I can't make excuses for him...I can only say that were I Emperor of Ghant, I would be mindful of the customs of where I was at.) The Crown Prince sighed, knowing that he, like his mother the Empress, would have to spend time mopping up the shit that his father left on the floor to fester.

Audric rubbed his chin lightly for a moment, before sighing as well. "Comme il est, tout effort visant à réhabiliter l'image de sa mère aura été niée, et quelle que soit la cour de Vannois pensé de votre père avant ce soir aura été irrémédiablement aigri par son insulte à moi. Je ne serai jamais condamner l'amour d'un père, mais les folies d'un père? Assurément." [As it is, any effort to rehabilitate her mother's image will have been negated, and whatever the court of Vannois thought of your father before tonight will have been irreparably soured by his insult to me. I will never condemn a father's love, but a father's follies? Certainly.]

Bebe didn’t mind that. Damn my father, he is nigh useless anyway. “De ses folies, il n'y a pas un homme vivant qui ne l'a pas condamné pour. Je vous souhaite la bienvenue au club. Si vous avez des relations futures avec Ghant, vous êtes libre de les organiser avec ma mère, ou avec moi-même. Je peux être onze, mais je serai en mesure de servir à titre impérial dans mon propre droit assez tôt.” (Of his follies, there isn't a man living that hasn't condemned him for. I bid you welcome to the club. Should you have future dealings with Ghant, you are free to arrange them with my mother, or with myself. I may be eleven, but I shall be able to serve in an Imperial capacity in my own right soon enough.)

Raising his glass to his lips, Audric took a sip of his wine. He looked to Kailey, before handing off his glass to her and turning back. "Il me plaît beaucoup que vous êtes à la fois compétents et de compréhension sur ce sujet. Je vais contempler votre souhait à la cour soigneusement ma sœur." [It pleases me greatly that you are both knowledgeable and understanding on this subject. I will contemplate your wish to court my sister thoroughly.]

Nathan thought carefully of how he would respond, and then he did, carefully still. “Il ya des jours où je me demande quelle sorte d'empereur je serai. Sage, ou fort, ou pieux, ou courageux. Peut-être que tous ceux qui, peut-être aucun. Mais si il ya une chose que je sais que je vais être, il est honorable. Pour moi, il semble que la chose la plus facile dans le monde de garder un vœu qui est assermenté. Je ne sais pas qui je vais épouserait un jour, de donner la couronne de l'impératrice et de porter le prochain empereur de Ghant. Pourtant, quel qu'il soit, doit recevoir ma dévotion totale et absolue. Je me maudire à la neuvième enfer avant que je fais à ma femme ce que mon père a fait pour le sien. Je vous remercie pour votre considération, Votre Majesté, et je vous dis au revoir, jusqu'à la prochaine fois.” (There are days when I wonder what sort of Emperor I will be. Wise, or strong, or devout, or brave. Maybe all of those, maybe none. But if there is one thing I know I will be, it is honorable. To me it seems the easiest thing in the world to keep a vow that is sworn. I don't know who I will one day marry, to give the crown of the Empress to and bear the next Emperor of Ghant. Yet, whoever that may be, shall receive my total and utter devotion. I would curse myself to the ninth hell before I do to my wife what my father has done to his. I thank you for your consideration, your Majesty, and I bid you goodbye, until next time.)

The Crown Prince of Ghant gave both Audric and Kailey a deep bow, and prepared himself to listen to what else they might have had to say. Otherwise, he turned on his heels and left, content to seek out his brother John and his fair haired cousins from Gotorleku…and whatever company they might have been keeping at that particular time.

[Lacus Magni]

Constantine

Prince Constantine had just finished dancing with the Ghantish Princess Blanche and thankfully so. Not so much because she was not pretty enough, on the contrary, Constantine found her to be a very interesting girl to converse with, but more so because of his own anxiety. The Prince had known this to be a problem for him, and through reading his grandfather’s and even at times his great-grandfather’s writings were helping him to work on his apprehensions. Even though he found the latter to be a much more flat and dull.

He found his way over to his cousin the Lord Volaterrae. “Where is your sister,” the Lord asked Constantine.

“She was with the Emperor of Ghant the last I saw,” Constantine began scanning the room. “Walked in not to long ago, I believe.”

“Did you see the way he was dancing with her? I can’t imagine your father would approve of her being alone with him,” the Lord replied.

“I wasn’t paying attention, Justin,” Constantine stated, finally finding his sister. “There, she’s over at the bar.”

“Thanks, Costas,” his Lord cousin tousled the Prince’s hair as he often did to mess with him.

“You’re welcome,” Constantine drolly replied, as his cousin went to approach Maria. Now standing by himself, the Prince found himself a nearby seat to relax, giving his feet a quick rest from his attempt at dancing with Princess Blanche. He looked towards the bar where his sister was sitting, she looked sad, but he was unsure why. Then he looked to the other Princes and Princesses in the ballroom. They were all speaking with each other, like Princes and Princesses would.

“How was dancing with Blanche?” Leo appeared to have just snuck away from the Dowager Empress Teresa, leaving her with Diana. “You did alright, even if you did almost crush her feet a few times.”

“Oh, hey Leo,” Constantine greeted him. “I didn’t do that poorly. By the way, I meant to give you this before Blanche and her grandmother showed up.”

“Great,” Leo corrected his cousin, who looked at him confused. “Great-grandmother.”

“Right, well here it is,” Constantine handed Leo a book, with an old, very worn cover. It wasn’t an overly thick book, yet still looked like it held plenty of words on its pages. He flipped it open and saw Scriptus Commentarioque Q. Claudii N. Theo. F. Com. N Leo Piui Cae. Aug. inscribed on the inside. “I know you like great-grandfather a lot, so I thought you’d like to have this. Parts of it are written in Brithenig, those are during the war though. It’s similar enough to Latin where you wouldn’t have much trouble with it.”

Leo was near speechless. “The Writings and Commentaries of Quintus Claudius Nero, son of Theodosius, grandson of Commodus, Leo Pius Caesar Augusts? Where did you find this? It’s amazing, Constantine.”

“I was digging around my father’s study one day in Ravenna, looking for something new to read. I pulled out from behind a group of encyclopedias,” he replied.

“I don’t know what to say…thank you, cousin,” Leo smiled, ecstatic at the thought of having something written by one of his favorite ancestors and historical figures.

“Don’t think anything of it. You were the first person I thought of when I found it. Beware though, its pretty, uhm gruesome at times,” Constantine told him.

“I’ll just have to hid that from mother then,” Leo chuckled. “Speaking of, how are you holding up? Do you get to see yours often?”

“Fine I suppose, better than Selene at least. And Michael just seems indifferent towards it all; acting out all the time,” Constantine began to explain the effect of his parent’s divorce. “See her every few months, or so we have for now.”


Maria

As soon as Maria reentered the ballroom, she went right for the restroom. Her face was bright red and while she was doing her best to make sure minimal tears fell from her eyes, her best wasn’t enough to contain them. Immediately upon entering, she found a sink and started splashing water on her face. She took a few deep breaths and let out a few more streams of tears, not even thinking if anyone else was in the restroom. After repeating this exercise for a number of minutes, she splashed and dried her face one last before reapplying some makeup and exiting.

Then she made a b-line for the bar. She still felt absolutely embarrassed, even though Nathan had told her not to be worried. Knowing him as she did, she knew that he certainly wouldn’t tell anyone what she almost did and that he wouldn’t act any different around her anymore. Though she still felt not herself.

“Strongest drink,” Maria fiercely requested when she reached a bartender. Waiting no time, she finished it as quickly as she could, her eyes watering and coughing ever so slightly from the strength of the drink. “Another,” she demanded, finishing with equal speed, her eyes watering lesser than the last.

“You should probably slow down with that, cousin,” her cousin, Lord Volaterrae snuck up behind her. “Why so many drinks?”

“Justin, I don’t really have the patience for your bullshit right now,” Maria bluntly stated with a sigh.

“All I did was ask a question, Maria,” her Lord cousin ordered the next round of drinks. “But, if you’re going to drink yourself into an oblivion you might as well do so with some company.” By the time the drink reached Maria’s hand, she finished it immediately. Justin took a sip and looked at her. “I won’t ask what is going on or anything. And you don’t have to talk if you don’t want to,” he whispered to her. “Just please don’t try to look so gloomy right now.”

Maria simply looked at him. She didn’t say anything, only smiled, as his rambling typically did. “You’re such a goof, Justin,” she kissed him lightly on the cheek.

[Azura and Montemayor]

Aurel

The duo stood listening as the prince introduced the group of cousins who were present. Remembering his courtly manners, Aurel , following a curtsy by Daniela, bowed to the group. Taking the lead in the conversation this time, he began, “It is a pleasure to meet all of you, I do hope you’re enjoying your time in Audonia.” While speaking he was primarily looking at Bella, although occasionally looking at the others in the group. He found her very attractive, more so than any of the other female cousins John had introduced, not to mention she also seemed rather close to his age. Despite having a sister-in-law that was a Ghantish Princess, he had met very few members of their royal family and knew even less of those in the extended family. Even though John seemed to know who they were, he highly doubted that the rest knew much about his family. “I am Prince Aurel of Azura and Montemayor, and this is my cousin Princess Daniela.”

Daniela, smiling the whole time, took a moment and also spoke. “It’s a pleasure.”

Turning back to Bella, making eye contact, he began to speak but stopped abruptly. He was going to ask her to dance, but considering he had just met her he wasn’t sure it was appropriate. After a few seconds of thought he decided he didn’t care. “Bella, would you do me the honor of having a dance?”

It took a second, but after a second she answered in the affirmative. “I would enjoy that, yes.”

Taking her arm in his, he turned and began to walk towards the dance floor with her. Hearing Daniela call his name, he turned back. ”Nerob zo seba blázna,” (“Don’t make a fool of yourself,”) she said in her thick Montemayori accent.

He smiled, “Nebojte sa o tom,” (“Don’t worry about it,”) he said back as he resumed the walk to the dance floor.