The Princestrial (Meillur Only)

[Colfico]

The Visari, memorizing the instructions carefully, and continuing down the passage, his eyes tracking everything as he did so, and his hand by his holster, ready to drawn the gun at a moments notice, should he need to. However, before long, he came to the door that Theodosia had mention. He considered it for but a moment, before reaching for it, and turning it, and opening the door. He carefully exited, closing the door behind him, and checking his surroundings before continuing following the directions he was given, turning right, and going down.

He then found the door to the central courtyard, and with same caution, made his way through, and saw the gate. He made his way past it, and he came to gardens, not sure what to expect, but he used his senses, listening for anything that might be a threat, and constantly checking around him and over his shoulder. It still didnt sit right with him that he was sent here on his own, without his competitor, and he had no intention of being caught off guard.

[Caraintos]

Angemar grinned, falling into a rhythm with the courtiers. As long as he could defuse the more serious questions and charm with their more light-hearted ones he felt like he could do this all day. It was juggling fluff balls and the occasional stick of dynamite. If one didn't think about it too hard, it would be no problem. He continued his own rapid fire response.

"Yes. Southern Grouper. No. Yes. And of course." Angemar grinned and rolled up his sleeves and flexed his arms for the circle of nobles around him, nodding them own encouragingly. If his biggest benefit was being a prince, then it had to be his looks. He just had to appeal to Helena's heart faster than his competitor could appeal to her mind.

[Royal Genes]

Theodosia closed the door behind Felix and looked back over to Angemar and the courtiers hanging off him. Literally. A pair of young women and a curious man were enjoying themselves tremendously as they squeezed experimentally at his exposed limbs. The girls giggled between one another as they did so. Theodosia rolled her eyes. The others continued their verbal attack of questions, and the prince seemed to take each one in stride.

In the onset of the frenzy most hadn’t noticed where Skotnicki had gone, and his supporters had continued searching in the throne room. But it soon became clear he had disappeared.

“Where’s he go?” Shouted the Count of Savona, a noble title as old as the Counts of Rapallo and natural rivals.

“He must be on his way to the garden, that must be where the next challenge is.” Said someone else. Slowly the supporters of Felix started to flitter out of the throne room. Angemar’s supporters were slow to notice their rivals departure until the bookies started to leave.

“When are you going to the gardens?” Asked someone with a shout.

Theodosia rolled her eyes. Finally. She was starting to think Angemar would entirely forget why he was actually there.

Meanwhile the central courtyard had been empty as it greeted Felix, safe one young man who appeared to be running and caring a large box of orange and green bandannas. Now before him stretched the south gardens, the larger but less often seen of the gardens. Resting on a giant square island larger than the palace itself and surround by a canal the garden was delegated into quadrants by stone paths a tall statue of a young Queen Adela in the center acting as a reference point.

[Caraintos]

Angemar laughed as the women felt him up, giving them a playful wink and pearly white smile. He didn't even mind the man doing so. The Genoise was an odd sort. He didn't mind. Though now he was in the mood for seafood. His mind started to wonder on if they had good seafood in Genoise, surely they had to right, they had islands didn't they? Or was that Great Hyruke? His thoughts were interrupted by one of the questions shouted at him. The prince's eyes widen. Yes, the garden. The South garden. The South garden where he was supposed to meet the princess. The garden that was specifically designated by the Queen. That garden.

Angemar looked to one of the women groping his arm. "Hey, you won't know how to get to the South Gardens would you?"

[Colfico]

Felix looked around as he found himself amazed, at least somewhat, by the sight before him, but he snapped himself out of his amazement quickly, and followed one of the stone paths, making his way to the statue, and looked around. Compared to the situation in the throne room before, it was uncomfortably quiet. He kept glancing around, with a neutral, alert look on his face.

However, he decided to take in the sights while he did so, enjoying the scenery, for a moment almost forgetting that he was being tested, almost. He was not that familiar with many of the plants in the garden, botany had never been a huge interest of his, however, he could appreciate the skill which had been utilized keeping such a garden.

[Royal Genes]

The young woman, Lady Bergamo nodded her head eagerly. “To the South garden!” She declared.

“To the south garden!” echoed the Count of Rapallo. Soon it became a chant amongst the courtiers as they lead Angemar out of the throne room, cheering and pumping their fists in the air. They made their way into the halls the palace, the prince in tow. Theodosia watched in exasperation. She turned her heels and slipped out of the throne room.

Meanwhile in the gardens several servants dressed in livery uniform made their way down the main path. The quadrants of the gardens were all different. Changed and changed again by successive kings and queens over the centuries. In the northwest quadrant there was an artificial lake lined with banana tree lining it’s edges. The northeast quadrant in turn was a pattern of small diamonds with benches, with wide expanses of manicured grass. The southwest quadrant was an artificial woodland area. Chrysanthemums and lilies, along with amaryllis lined dirt paths weaving into it. The southeast quadrant meanwhile looked plucked from a farm, with a three tier rice paddy leading upwards to a small building that looked to be a chalet.

The servants made their way down the path to the statue, one of them stopping before Felix and bowing. The rest meanwhile kept in line towards the chalet. The servant before Felix, a middle age man who looked like he belong in a 18th century painting in his livery and powdered wing spoke.

“We ask you to return to the bridge near the canal at the entrance of the gardens, and not go near the southeast quadrant.” The servant bowed and then followed the last of his fellows into the southeast quadrant.

[Colfico]

Felix nodded, as he looked at the servant, listening to his instructions. He made his way to the bridge, and could not help but ponder what was next. While he waited, he reached to a pocket inside his uniform, and pulled out a small, paper back book, which he had acquired from the archives, an old, pre collapse novel that he enjoyed very much, and started reading it while he waited.

All the while, his mind raced on things that could happen, no matter how minor. Things were already well outside how he had expected things to go, so he had given up on trying to predict where it would go from there.

[Caraintos]

Angemar let himself be lead away out of the throne room by the throngs of courtiers, feeding off their energy. He left more like he was at a sporting event than he was in a palace. He couldn't help but wonder if every day was like this in the Queen's court, or he and his competitor sparked something else? At that thought, he did notice he had not seen the older man in some time. He decided not to worry about that. He joined in the cheers, whooping loudly, making his way to the front of the crowd, though staying behind the lady and lord who had sparked the adventure through the halls of the palace.

[Royal Genes]

After a few more minutes, Princess Helena appeared, cresting the arc of the bridge with her fan fluttering in her hand. She walked ahead of a large emerald palanquin with four posts and green curtain walls carried by a team of Sonalander men. The front curtains were drawn back revealing the Queen comfortably seated on a throne of cushions. Prince Antoine walked along side it. He would have rode with his wife, it was more than big enough, but she’d mentioned chariots and he decided it best to walk.

“Commander,” Helena said looking at Felix reading a book she didn’t recognize. “I am surprised t see you here ahead of us,” the Princess didn’t look not sound the least bit surprised.

Meanwhile in the palace the sight of Angemar joining in the cheering only further ignited their excitement. They came out into the central courtyard and found Felix’s supporters there throwing money at the men of the Marquis de Magnelli selling green bandanas. There were also men selling orange ones, and it seem a few had defected. But now they halted their path to the garden and swarmed the makeshift stands to get their own team colors.

[Colfico]

He heard the voice of the princess, and carefully closed the old book, and returned it to its place inside his uniform before saying "I did have some help, and frankly, i dont make a habit of being late to things that are important."

He noticed the palanquin, and he found himself somewhat, but very briefly puzzled by the sight of the Queen, but knew all too well this was certainly part of the event, and so he prepared himself for the beginning of a test. He

[Royal Genes]

“Queens are never late,” said Queen Louise from her palanquin with a smirk. “Even if she is the last person to enter the room. Everyone else is simply early.”

Princess Helena smiled at that. She had heard that said many times. She did like being on time to things and said so. “I am glad to see how proactive you are. Though I am inclined to ponder where you left my lady cousin and the prince?”

[Colfico]

"The Lady told me to go on, as for the prince, I am not certain, last I saw he was....enjoying himself answering questions in the crowd, and I did not see any good reason to interrupt his fun, i assumed that is where she went."

He took a moment, and found himself admiring, if even for a moment, the princess''s hair. However, while he seemed relaxed, he remained alert, he knew that there was likely a test, either being prepared, or already in play, and a single mistake could be fatal.

"It is curious though, I believe the instruction was to go into the south eastern side was it not, then why is it that I was turned back once I was prepared to head there?'

[Royal Genes]

Helena nodded. She had wanted Theodosia to direct them both to the gardens, but she had been welcomed to offer them the secret passage. Helena had been curious to see if they would take it. After what had happened early she had imagined a repeat, of them picking the same thing. She was pleased to see that they hadn’t.

“You were told to go to the South gardens, though one of the quadrants was not specified. The fact that you were told not to go that quadrant and you didn’t is good.”

“Indeed,” said the Queen with a laugh. “There are… preparations being made there.”

[Caraintos]

Angemar was loving the Genoise nobles. They weren't anything at all like his Caraintese in-laws who were a somber bunch. He'd never thought he would see counts and marquis and ladies scrambling over one another to buy bandanas of all things. He wasn't quite sure what was going one. Was this a sporting event? He hadn't dressed for that. But he also had not been prepared for the first of the princess' tests. And the Queen had revealed it was a point system. Sports had points and sports happened outside. Was that why they had to go to the gardens? He wasn't sure. But if it was, well then he wanted his team to get those bandanas as quickly as possible. Angemar shouted, trying to get the attention of the nobles.

"Alright everyone!" Angemar shouted, pumping his arms in the air. He thought of the old bazaar in Lajaz, he and his sister had visited when they were younger, during some ceremony or other. It had been crowded and full of lines to buy things. And he had seen his grandfather order people around for as long as he could remember. This seemed to fall somewhere in between that. "Form four lines, relay style! Don't crowd the stands! Two lines will pass money up forward and two will pass bandanas down back. Tie them tight and help your neighbors!"

As he barked orders, Angemar undid the buttons of his coat and his under shirt, leaving him bare-chested, and with his well-toned torso on display, though he left on his ibori. Angemar handed them off to the lady who had asked about his clothes and asked her to watch after them He walked up and down the lines, clapping and cheering for everyone to move quickly and then head to the gardens, stopping to help others tie their bandanas.

[Colfico]

Felix nodded, although he didn't say anything about it, now he knew for certain that they did indeed have something planned, which made him frown in thought. He tried to think of what kind of preparations could be being made. Given what he had heard before, it could be anything. He eyed the queen for a moment before deciding it best to return his gaze forward, but he couldnt help but be on guard for what was coming next.

[Royal Genes]

The nobles, not unfamiliar with taking orders from a prince, fell in line doing as he said, emptying their wallets and relaying dérrals down the lines and passing the bandanas. They tied them around their foreheads, their arms and their wrists, the recent addition a bit out of placed amongst the suits and dresses of the nobles. The elderly Prince de Conde, an orange bandana around his head raised a fist to the sky. The eighty year old man was a bit confused, but he hadn’t had this much fun since before the collapse, and he could hardly remember that. He lead the charge out of the central court yard, albeit briefly before being overtaken by the younger nobles. It was only for the aid of the elderly prince du sang’s grandnephew, Eyasu Taye that he was safely lead to the edges where he could run at his own pace.

On the bridge Helena open her mouth to reassure Felix that her grandmother was joking, at least somewhat. But before the words could leave her mouth the bridge rumbled, as if hit by a minor earthquake. Then there was the sound of screams. No. Cheers?

Helena, the Queen, the Prince consort and even the palanquin bearers all turned to see what the thunderous noise was. Helena’s fan slipped out of her fingers and hit the bridge. The Royal Court had been transformed into something between a summer camp and an army. Hundreds of nobles, courtiers and aides charged onto the bridge, all wearing… bandanas? Most wore sixty percent of them wore orange ones while fort wore green ones, the formers laughing and cheering and shouting “To the South Gardens”. They looked as if they would never stop, that they would stampede and trampled them all under foot, but they came to an abrupt stop when the Queen leaned out of her palanquin and yelled:

“What in the world are you doing?”

[Caraintos]

Prince Angemar, following after his team continued forward even after the rest of the nobles had come to a stop. He weaved through the crowd, speaking as he made his way to the front. "Excuse me, pardon me, excuse me, oh, you look lovely in orange. Excuse me. Sorry. Pardon, ah, there we go!"

Angemar emerged from the crowd on the bridge. He smiled brightly at the princess and her grandparents. He put his hands on his hips, standing tall as if he were a superhero. "Your Royal Highness, I am here for the sports competition."

[Royal Genes]

Princess Helena stared at Angemar, frozen in place. The quaking of the bridge had stopped but she remained shaking, trying to comprehend the sequence of events that had taken place up until this moment.

“…what?”

[Caraintos]

Angemar's smile faltered and he dropped his stance. Something was very clearly off about the situation in front of him. He took a few steps closer to the princess, noticing that she was shaking. He cleared his throat and lowered his voice to a whisper.

"The... um, sports competition." Angemar bobbed his head up and down. "I figured it out." He jabbed a thumb over his shoulder, his smile returning. "That's my team."

[Royal Genes]

Helena stared at Angemar. Then at the crowd of nobles. Several of the ladies had kicked off her shoes and hiked up their skirts to run faster, while some of the more obese members were sweating profusely. Still a great many more watched with great interest. Helena looked back at Angemar, noticing for the first time half of his clothes were missing.

“… What?!”

[Colfico]

Felix raised an eyebrown, now he was thoroughly confused, sports competition...he had not heard anything of the sort, for now he would have to see what was actually going on.

He looked to the princess and queen for a moment, trying to see if they knew what was happening.

[Caraintos]

Angemar leaned back, surprised by Helena's repeated outburst. He scratched at his wrist, looking around at the Queen and then at the crowd of nobles and then back to Princess Helena. Was she shaking faster? Was she okay? Had she had coffee to drink? He looked to his competitor, he didn't even have a team with him. But he was also looking at the royals confused. Something about the situation was definitely off kilter.

"Okay," Angmar said with a half chuckle. "I feel like, I miscalculated somewhere, but I'm not quite sure where."

[Royal Genes]

Prince Antoine tilted his head, his mind struggling just as much as his granddaughter’s to wrap his head around what had occurred between them leaving the throne room and the Lajaz prince leading an unruly mob of their nobles through the palace grounds.

“What sport precisely,” asked Prince Antoine, “were you prepared to play?”

[Colfico]

Felix raised an eyebrow, and looked to the princess and asked, matter of factly "Your majesty, do you know what is going on, I have apparently missed a few things."

[Caraintos]

Angemar pointed to the princess' grandfather with a smile. "That, that is a good question, I did not think that far." He glanced around, putting his hands on his hips as he appraised the situation. "Though I have to say, I'm starting to think that there is not a sports competition."