The Princestrial (Meillur Only)

[Royal Genes]

“You three shall depart tomorrow morning.” Said Helena. “A formal banquet will be held tonight where I shall officially announce my engagement to Prince Angemar. Helena stepped away from her grandmother, Theodosia and following after her. “It shall begin at nine. Do dress appropriately. I’m sure my cousins will be able to aid you if you need anything particular. Otherwise your footman can help you.”

The princess put an arm around Angemar’s. “As for you, we shall pick out engagement rings.”

[Colfico]

Felix nodded and said "Very well."

He still thought it odd, the choice of word playing over his head, he was to escort Lady Theodosia and Lord Charles, it was certainly no coincidence that it had been her whom had been chosen to go, especially given the adhoc nature of how things were apparently playing out. There was certainly something going on, and he did not like the idea that the plan continued into his return to Colfico, however, he could not deal with it yet, he would have to continue on for the moment.

He then said "Is there anything else that is needed of me." He asked, deciding to make sure all the bases were covered before he decided to head back to his room and prepare.

[Caraintos]

Angemar smiled at Helena, and he felt a blush fill his cheeks as she put her arm around his own. He’d become a bit stunned as his mind processed what was now going on. A sudden nervousness went through him but the excitement for now washed it away and over him.

“Okay. That sounds fun.”

[Royal Genes]

“Yes,” said Helena with a smile, “I am sure it will be. Come along with me.” The Princess lead Angemar out of the Amber room and down the lengthy gallery back to the grand stairs. From there they climbed up to the second floor and turned down another hallway to the jewel room, which wasn’t its usual purpose but had been assigned such when Helena had called for the engagement rings to be brought forth.

Royal Jewel curator Francois di Brenta, an elderly skeleton of a man waited for them. He bowed as they enter. “Your Royal Highness, Your Highness.”

Meanwhile Queen Louise waved her hand at Felix, Charles and Theodosia. “You all are are dismissed.”

[Colfico]

Felix simply nodded, and still could not help but feel that there was something else going on, and his suspicions showed somewhat on his face, but he did not vocally express his concerns. He looked to Lady Theodosia for a moment, trying to figure out where she fit in to everything, but without more information, his thoughts could only get so far, so he simply bowed out to the Queen and turned to leave, still feeling that there was still so much that had not yet come to pass.

[Royal Genes]

Theodosia looked at Felix curiously, catching him looking at her for a fraction of a moment before he departed. She raised an eyebrow, watching Felix ahead of them, as Charles lead her out of the Amber Room.

“What is it?” asked Charles.

“I can’t tell if that man is odd because he is Colficoan, and they are all simply odd,” said Theodosia, “or is he his own odd.”

“Ugh,” said Charles. “I can’t believe you agreed to the prospect of marrying him.”

“I never said odd was a bad thing.”

It was Charles’ turn to raise an eyebrow. “Odd is a good thing?”

Theodosia looked back to Felix, wondering if he could hear them, suspecting that he could, and said. “I haven’t decided yet.”

[Colfico]

Felix looked back for a moment, as he heard the two talking about him, a simple raised eyebrow his only reaction, before he continued on his way, carefully remembering the path that the servant had led him down. His mind drifted to what she had said, and it puzzled him, but he kept his senses about him this time, remembering what had happened earlier in the day, given how Lady Josephine had behaved, he suspected that she would not be above attempting to get him alone while no one was watching, which could be a problem if he was not alert.

[Caraintos]

Angemar was surprised to find the old man waiting for them, he looked more like he was waiting on death than he was to show them engagement rings. But Angemar decided that saying that would be rude. Instead he simply smiled and gave the living corpse a wave.

“Hi,” said the prince, “we are here to pick out engagement rings?” Angemar said it more like a question looking to Helena for confirmation. This still felt so odd to him. He wasn’t unhappy, but it didn’t quite feel real.

[Royal Genes]

“Correct,” said Helena with a smile. “If we are to be engaged, we need a ring. One that speaks to both me, you and the work about our marriage.” She gestured to di Brenta, who bowed and received five small boxes, setting them on a high table and opening each one to present to the princess and prince.

“We have the engagement rings of two past queens, two from Queen Adela and one from Queen Christine— Queen Dowager Catherine still has hers and Queen Juliana’s was long before the collapse. They are family rings, so we already own them.”

She pointed to three diamond rings, one with a huge center piece and surrounds by a silver corona studded with glittering smaller diamonds; the second had a smaller centerpiece with a line of smaller diamonds and emeralds following the band; the third had two twin diamonds set in pale gold with tiny diamonds swirling together.

“Queen Adela’s family owned a diamond mine, so, well, we still own that mine and all the engagement diamonds come from there. di Brenta’s family of jewelers have crafted our rings since the collapse.”

“A great honor, ma’am,” creaked di Brenta.

“These are the new ones,” Helena continued pointed to a ring set in pale gold with diamond lined amber pieces that looked like two rings melted artfully together, while the other was silver with three formations of diamonds and emeralds in the pattern of blooming flowers.

[Caraintos]

Angemar nodded, trying, though not exactly succeeding in following along with Helena and di Brenta’s explanation of the rings. He went to the table, looking over them and after a moment picked up the amber one, lifting it for Helena to see.

“This one is very pretty.”