A royal visit [closed]

[Imeriata]

"Forgive me your Royal Prince but I noticed when you let your blood upon the holy shrine it was an blue colour, is that the norm for Imerians?" the queen said which once again remembered that, that specific little detail was something the federation where alone to posses even if he always had seen it as common.
"Ohh dear heavens no my royal highness, it is something that is unique for Imerian, and also Erathian and Vedian, noble families!" he offered helpfully

"according to legend so was it the blessing of Rasmer that he bestowed upon the ancient Imerian, Erathian and Vedian chieftains and their families as a mark of leadership!" he added even if the theological answer was still seen by many as a rather acceptable one so did many noblemen and members of the royal science advisory believed that it was only some old magic that did it, something that where proven by the fact that the few modern mages had been able to repeat the whole thing even if it was expensive and government regulated work but he had always liked the old legends version of the whole event more.

[Izzyshipper]

The Queen listened with an almost astonished interest at the Prince's explanation, perplexed at the almost impossible notion of Gods granting the Kings of old such an unique quality. Almost guiltily she inspected her own hand, noting the disappointingly rosy colour her own skin was.

"My goodness your Royal Prince, that is an ... interesting phenomenon, certainly it gives a new meaning to term blue-blooded, that is for sure."

---

ooc: sorry it is so short, head is drawing an blank

[Imeriata]

"My goodness your Royal Prince, that is an ... interesting phenomenon, certainly it gives a new meaning to term blue-blooded, that is for sure." the queen said and primus where forced to chuckle a bit, after all Imerians did often used the similar remarks when dealing with none Imerian red blooded noblemen from the federation which where a constant thing they complained about at court.

"Or old your royal highness as I myself have always thought that a crimson blooded nobility would be a bit confusing in the long run!" he pointed out as his own upbringing in a land where magic was a fact rather than mystery where rather used to such things even if he still not really liked the whole idea of dealing with mages as one could never be sure what they could have in mind.

"I should however add your royal highness that it would be more likely that the blood was the result of more mortal magic practised by the ancient chieftains mages and priest rather than the gods themselves even if that version is a more pleasant thought!" he added as he did not want the queen to get the wrong idea about his people as the idea that their justification of their government came from the divine, even if they allowed and even somewhat encouraged the clergy to say so to their subjects, after all the idea that all gods stood united behind the king had done wonders against religious infighting.

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OOC: Well considering that your posts generally are longer than mine so would I say that it would not mat... I mean... Shame on you!

[Izzyshipper]

"I should however add your royal highness that it would be more likely that the blood was the result of more mortal magic practised by the ancient chieftains mages and priest rather than the gods themselves even if that version is a more pleasant thought!"

Prince Primus told her, which did not seem any less fantastic to the Queen, a woman from a land pointedly devoid of any magical influence. They were legends of course, that the St. Catherine’s Crown would glow red hot when placed upon the head of an pretender, or that the great standing stones of Greenwich were a gateway to the land of the elves.

Although one would have to go so far to find elves, she thought wryly, remembering the silent companions inside the vehicle. “Well your Royal Prince, that is still quite an unusual characteristic, divine or not.” She said, “Although does the magic that works it require a fellow noble parent to carry the line on, or is it a dominant feature. If such a characteristic were graced upon our own house, we would not like to think that it would be lost upon our marriage.”

[Imeriata]

“Well your Royal Prince, that is still quite an unusual characteristic, divine or not.” the queen pointed out even if Primus never thought of it as unusual or anything as the only thing it did was to make the nobility's veins look a bit more darker than the rest of the population, and he himself never really thought about other noblemen not having such a colouration on their own blood.
"Although does the magic that works it require a fellow noble parent to carry the line on, or is it a dominant feature. If such a characteristic were graced upon our own house, we would not like to think that it would be lost upon our marriage.” Sophia asked which forced primus to think a bit as it was a while ago since he had attended school and studied the subject as he himself only had attended a short course on biology so he could better understand the eugenics courses he studied later better.
"If my memory does not play tricks on me my royal highness so is it a dominant feature and passed down to children regardless of the colour of the mothers blood!" Primus said and took another slip from his wine goblet which started to look rather empty now before he continued "However it would still be to thin to notice after around three generations or so without more blue blood being added!".

[Izzyshipper]

"Ah, most enlightening, indeed quite lucky actually as I'm sure it could be an impediment towads foreign marriages otherwise, or indeed marriages to those of non-n-" The Queen paused before she uttered the words "Non-Noble", as she was certain such an concept would be ghastly to the Imerian Prince's ear. Normally she would not have minded, but she was sure if she mentioned her own husband was born of low ranking status he would surely be thought much less off by the Imerian folk.

"n-natives of the Federation, th-that is those of mixed parentage etcetera." Sophia fumbled, managing to bluff an half-believable sentence out of the mire that was her mistake.

[Imeriata]

"n-natives of the Federation, th-that is those of mixed parentage etcetera." Sophia stuttered which made Primus raise an eyebrow as she had not had any speech problems earlier, but he decided to shake of the whole thing as he probably read too much into the situation.

"It has both its advantages and flaws your royal highness, for instance it would give men and women with a noble father or mother would be able to parade around as a nobleman without a too close check, it also makes it hard for us to marriage with foreigners and even other peoples of the federation herself and by doing so limits our own abilities to forge alliances between other noble houses through marriage!" he confessed even if the advantages still overweighted those particular drawbacks, especially as they could re-create the effect even if as with most magic so was it a long and expensive thi

[Izzyshipper]

"Indeed that is an problem I can relate to," The Queen said, recovering from her previous faux-pas, "Both my daughters, aged 24 and 19 have yet to be married. Countless times I have negotiated with Emperors, Princes and Kings, and yet countless times negotiations have fallen through at the last minute. It seems that as daughters of an Sovereign it would be improper to marry them to minor royalty, but it seems the great monarchs of the world have all been married of. I do worry that that we shall not ever find them husbands, and that they shall grow old and lonely, with no-one to blame but ourself. I thank god our son the Crown Prince has already found himself an Fiance, the Princess Royal of San Pelligrino Romana, and girl of both virtue and nobility, which shall serve his country an great duty."

[Imeriata]

"Both my daughters, aged 24 and 19 have yet to be married. Countless times I have negotiated with Emperors, Princes and Kings, and yet countless times negotiations have fallen through at the last minute. It seems that as daughters of an Sovereign it would be improper to marry them to minor royalty, but it seems the great monarchs of the world have all been married of. I do worry that that we shall not ever find them husbands, and that they shall grow old and lonely, with no-one to blame but ourself. I thank god our son the Crown Prince has already found himself an Fiance, the Princess Royal of San Pelligrino Romana, and girl of both virtue and nobility, which shall serve his country an great duty." she said which was something Primus could somewhat relate to as he himself had only married at the late age of 18 and had to got through the ordeal of being one of the few pages at his uncle's palace back in Erathia that where not married which had made more than one of the other pages look at him a bit smug, sure he was the prince so they didn't do anything nor said anything to him directly but there where always rumours that nobody wanted to marry of their daughters with him for whatever new conspiracy theory the other boys and girls thought up when he weren't around.

Of course so had his tale had a happy ending as he had married and despite his first reservations about marrying a black and a mortal enemy to the federation and of course that he had always hoped for someone else even if he tried his best to push her out of his mind as such thoughts where not really ones proper for a married man and he where rather happy with Aula as she was more than pleasant company even if she seemed to have became a bit ill lately and where often forced to run out of their bed to puke,
"But it is most likely nothing!" he added even if he couldn't help to feel a bit worried for her.

"Well I am sure that your royal highness will be able to find both of your daughters fitting husbands in due time and I can only congratulate your royal highnesses and his royal prince on the marriage as it indeed seems as a good marriage arranged for your son!" he said even if he instinctively had firstly turned towards the Prince-Consort as it often was the duty of the father to find a spouse for his children in the federation even if he quickly turned around to the queen as he once again was forced to realise that Izzyshipper was a different nation with not as refined customs and traditions as themselves even if they where rather close in some regards.

[Izzyshipper]

"Well I am sure that your royal highness will be able to find both of your daughters fitting husbands in due time and I can only congratulate your royal highnesses and his royal prince on the marriage as it indeed seems as a good marriage arranged for your son!"

The young Prince said, causing the Queen to give him an weak, half smile. "We can only hope your Royal Prince," she said, "We are of course delighted with our match for the Prince Edward, an girl of the most noble virtue, and of course we hope to find an similar match with our daughters, and indeed our youngest soon, who shall soon be eight so I daresay we have enough time before he requires a wife!"

"If they choose an nobleman," her husband's voice rang out, causing the Queen to freeze, her husbands english was no way near as good as her own, and therefore he preffered in these occasions to allow her to deal with speaking and handling of social situations. "Our children shall be free to marry who they would like, and no need to find a person of nobility. After all," The Prince said, looking slightly defiant, "I am not from an Royal Family myself, or member of any Noble House."

The Queen closed her eyes in horror, she knew the Imerian Prince would not for an moment tolerate her husbands low status of birth.

[Imeriata]

"If they choose an nobleman," the king said which made Primus chuckle a bit and where just about to add "but I do hope that your royal highnesses problems will not go that far!" even if the king continued before Primus could even said anything.
"Our children shall be free to marry who they would like, and no need to find a person of nobility. After all I am not from an Royal Family myself, or member of any Noble House." he finished wish only left Primus shaking his head a bit in surprise and he looked rather baffled at the man he that had sat rather quietly during the majority of the journey as he tried to figure out how to act as if it was true so was the man a mere commoner, or an upstart at best, neither being rather good for his standing on the social hierarchy.

"Ehh.." he began a bit unsure of how to act before it hit him, it must clearly be a joke of some sort, sure not a funny one but the idea that a mere commoner would marry queen or crown princess was simply preposterous after all so he chuckled a bit even as he tried to make it sound as genuine as possible and he did quietly thank every god and goddess he could think of for all those time he and his friends had sneaked out of the castle to see one later opera or theatre during their youth as he had gotten some hang on acting thanks to it.
"yes but let us hope that my royal highnesses problems will never go so far!" he decided to add the comment he had planned to use earlier as he put a friendly smile.

[Izzyshipper]

The Queen felt like throttling her husband, noting the tense and uneasy atmosphere. She had deliberately refrained from mentioning his low-status birth, as she knew it would be the most improper thing the young Royal before her could imagine.

She felt Prince Edward tense beside her, as if to reply to Primus's comment, but she placed an hand upon his knee, "Nul Edward, et vol aspria nut!" she hissed in Izzyerian, trying to stifle the anger that was building up inside her, whilst also trying to frantically search her head for some sort of revival of the conversation.

Yet as she did so her head drew up nothing, and she could feel an red flush begin to tinge her cheeks. "Of course your Royal Prince, whilst my husband was not born into an Noble House, he was an son of an rather wealthy merchant who was the holder of an first generation Barony, but enough of that." She said in an almost forced cheer, whilst inside she was silently furious both at her husband, and the whole foolishness of Imerian birth-right.

---

Translation: "Nul Edward, et vol aspria nut!" = "No Edward, it will achieve nothing!"

[Imeriata]

"Of course your Royal Prince, whilst my husband was not born into an Noble House, he was an son of an rather wealthy merchant who was the holder of an first generation Barony, but enough of that." Sophia said which was at least some improvement as her husband apparently where a nobleman and from what little he could remember from his history classes about Izzyshipper was that her father had tried to create a empire but been not all that successful but he had in generally been a man with a worthy goal, and while primus where not sure if he had actually attacked the federation herself so did he still sounded as a man to look up to and if he had agreed to the marriage so would there be a reason for it.

After all titles could deceive as the auf sandersjö house while only being high lords, lords and friherrar had a huge influence in the federation due to them being the producer of the majority of the royal guards fire arms and he could only assume that king Edwards family had some similar advantages.
"As your royal highness wishes!" he said as he where not entirely happy about the atmosphere and desperately tried to figure out a way to change subject which he where given as the car took a turn and gave him a view to the direction they had been travelling as the car sadly did not have the ability to allow its passengers to look forward where he finally could see a bright light at the horizon that spread out more and more the closer they came.
"Ahh if your royal highnesses would look there so would I have the pleasure to show you Imerbürg, the city of the crown and världens mitt!" he said a bit more than happy to finally be able to change subject and as he could finally see the largest tower like buildings at the horizon so did it feel as if he didn't have far to go even if he knew that they still had a bit to go and once there so would they still have to navigate through the large city which also would take some time but they did surely make progress.

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Världens mitt= center of the world.

[Izzyshipper]

The Queen gave an small sigh of relief as they finally reached the beggings of Imerbürg, as they could see the peaks of towers ahead. It at least provided an natural chage in topic for the conversation, allowing the Queen to divert it away friom the akwardness of before.

"At last your Royal Prince! We are but moments away from the glory of Imerbürg, head of an empire and seat of the the greatness of the Crown, surely an most wonderous of city." She said, qnd certainly descriptions she had heard of the city did describe it to be rather pleasing if a little old fashioned. She suspected it would be radically different from her Izzyshipper's own capital, Vinera, which was both an mix of the old and the sleekness of Skyscrapers and modern buildings.

Somehow she was quite certain that such an urban metroplolis woul not be the image of Imerbürg.

[Imeriata]

"At last your Royal Prince! We are but moments away from the glory of Imerbürg, head of an empire and seat of the the greatness of the Crown, surely an most wonderous of city." Sophia said and Primus nodded in agreement as the city and its massive buildings next to the smaller ones, the richly decorated statues, the large gardens and all other monuments and the symbol of wealth that the city had risen over it did indeed make it one of the greatest sights in the entire absolute royal federation with people living in it from all over the federation as well as foreigners that had taken up residency there.

More than that so was the very city a monument to the federation itself as it was there it had started, it was in the giant city before them that Imer the great had been buried ages ago and it was from there Emanuel the first rode out with his armies that founded the kingdom that would become the federation that where universally known and loved over the world.

"Indeed it is your royal highness!" he said with a sting of pride as it was not every day that he could show the city he now lived in to foreigners of her statue "For longer than anyone could tell have she stood there and they say that the she have even stood there as long as humans have lived in this land!" he finished, sure that where mostly legend that said that as more recent archaeological findings had revealed that the place had been inhabited longer but many where still looking at that with a healthy dose of suspicion.

[Izzyshipper]

Sophia nodded in interest, "We are envious of such an rich History your Royal Prince, our own capital the City of Vinera is relatively young as an major city, it only became the capital of the Kingdom after The Duke of Vinera overthrew an young monarch Queen Alexandria, and therefore declared his own city as the center of the Kingdom."

It was with growing excitement that she was approaching the great city, and restlessly began to peer out the window, hoping t catch an better glimpse of the grand city, for she was sure she would see more of the fantastical races that inhabited Imeriata, as she had already seen much more of different creatures than she had ever dreamed, and hoped to catch an glimpse of more, pehaps even see magic.

[Imeriata]

"We are envious of such an rich History your Royal Prince, our own capital the City of Vinera is relatively young as an major city, it only became the capital of the Kingdom after The Duke of Vinera overthrew an young monarch Queen Alexandria, and therefore declared his own city as the center of the Kingdom." Sophia explained as primus nodded, sure that would be rather disadvantageous in the federation due to the large rivers that Imerbürg where founded around that meant that ships could travel almost to the Vedian mountains and that made the city one of the most important economical centers in the continent and even the entire federation so moving the capital would be political suicide as the ruler of Imerbürg would be able to topple you within a generation or two and even the otherwise liberal princess Erika that had tried to take the crown as her own had used Imerbürg as her capital during her short reign while her cousin and future husband Gustav had been forced to transport his resources to Vedian and then move them by horse and dragons over Imeriata proper which most people considered one of the reason why she managed to hold onto her power while the rest of the federation rallied around her cousin.

Sadly so couldn't Primus see the closer rivers in the dark but västera should not be that far away behind the farmlands and the pastures that stretched themselves out in the night around the city even if the giant walls where now visible as they rose up from the ground and towered above most houses as electric light and fires light up both the land around the city and the massive decorations that covered the walls as various rosetoucheds held up sculptures of old battles that had been fought in the history of the federation.

"I can understand your royal highness!" Primus said as the city finally came closer and closer "sure our rulers didn't have the luxury to move their capital but when you do look back so would I say that it certainty was worth it if only to be able to keep such a glorious city as the home of the high kings, kings that during the years have made it grow and decorated and improved it by the countless new subjects from over the sea and the riches of their land that they took into their growing realms and made one with the rest of bröderafolken your royal highness!" he said and as he didn't like to admit it so had the rest of the cultures that made the federation into the nation it was today been invaluable to create such a great city and he where sure that almost half if not more of the monuments and other sights in the city would have been impossible to build without their help.

[Izzyshipper]

The Queen nodded in interest, “Indeed your Royal Prince, continuity and tradition is what separates the monarchies of the world from the vanity and insincerity of the rising republics, who believe that the dignity and honour of the head of state should be in the hands of politicians.” Sophia spoke the last word as though it left an foul taste in her mouth.

“We hope however that Vinera has managed to accumulate many of such things as it has progressed over the last eight hundred years, and now holds some of the most ancient Royal Societies, Universities and theatres, and of course the Majestic Palace, our main residence.”

[Imeriata]

“We hope however that Vinera has managed to accumulate many of such things as it has progressed over the last eight hundred years, and now holds some of the most ancient Royal Societies, Universities and theatres, and of course the Majestic Palace, our main residence.” Sophia said which caused Primus to nod even if he where not sure if that where correct as he had not studied that much about Izzyshipper and the little he know did not include various tourist attractions.

"I would not doubt it for a minute my royal highness!" Primus said and tore his eyes away from the city that shined as the light almost made the sandstone that had build the larger buildings shine as gold over there
"but sadly so cannot I say that I am all that well read on your royal highness capital!" he confessed before he continued "I must however say that from what I have heard from its descriptions so would it most certantly be a good place to live and I do hope that I get to see it myself some day!"

[Izzyshipper]

“but sadly so cannot I say that I am all that well read on your royal highness capital! I must however say that from what I have heard from its descriptions so would it most certantly be a good place to live and I do hope that I get to see it myself some day”

The Prince said, which was hardly surprising as for the sheer number of nations upon the world few people could ever say they knew enough about all nations of the world. “Indeed your Royal Prince, you would be most welcome at our Court, although you must be able to endure the nobles of said court forever interrogating you on your habits and customs, for we fear they are an most terribly inquisitive crowd, whom would view such an foreign dignitary an much more pleasing distraction from the everyday intrigue of court life, indeed it would give me an excuse to attend it more often, for it is often I am too busy to make an daily appearance.”

The Queen said, which was true as after meetings with her Privy Council, talks with important men of business and indeed the general paperwork that befalls the Head of State. Her husband was the person who was usually held it in her stead, which she was eternally grateful for, as to ignore the plottings of those of court could see the fall of House Maddox so easily.

[Imeriata]

“Indeed your Royal Prince, you would be most welcome at our Court, although you must be able to endure the nobles of said court forever interrogating you on your habits and customs, for we fear they are an most terribly inquisitive crowd, whom would view such an foreign dignitary an much more pleasing distraction from the everyday intrigue of court life, indeed it would give me an excuse to attend it more often, for it is often I am too busy to make an daily appearance.” Sophia said and Primus nodded as he could understand that, after all a man of his stature and rang from a culture vastly superior to all else would indeed be someone worth talking to as that effectively made him one of the most important men on the face of the planet, sure Imerian noblemen often found some pleasure in examining the lesser cultures so that would be something they had in common.

"that would be understandable!" he said "After all learning about infe..." he stopped himself as that would most likely not be best thing to say in front of foreigners, especially once that where above him on the social hierarchy, as they had the annoying habit of not see true greatness even if it was right before their eyes.
"about other cultures can be a amusing and stimulating experience!" he finished not really pointing out that he himself found a lot of them to be rather comedic as from what he had learned about the older queen so would that not really be something she would appreciate.

[Izzyshipper]

". . . about other cultures can be a amusing and stimulating experience!"

The Prince finished, causing the Queen to raise an eyebrow, "Amusing your Royal Prince? That would be an succinct way of summarising the court, that is for sure." she said, laughing slightly. She pictured for an moment of Prince Primus standing in the midst of her court, among what he would call improperly dressed barbarians, dancing and drinking in excess. It was an amusing image, and she savoured it, hoping that it may come to fruition one day.

"Tell me your Royal Prince, what pastimes do you indulge in, we do often find that we are without time to take part in them ourselves, and while we do enjoy literature and hunting, we do not do it often."

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1000th post on nationstates ~ woohoo!

[Imeriata]

"Tell me your Royal Prince, what pastimes do you indulge in, we do often find that we are without time to take part in them ourselves, and while we do enjoy literature and hunting, we do not do it often." Sophia explained which surprised the young prince as she had not struck him as a lady that would enjoy the thrill of the hunt.

"Well I do enjoy both jousting, fencing, horse racing, hunting and swordplay just as any man my age!" he begun throwing away the clichés at first as they would surely be what where expected from a young upstanding member of the higher societies as himself
"But I also find great enjoyment out of painting, reading and then especially those daring tales about Harald auf Silverstjarna the gentleman adventurer as they have a special charm about them but I also do tend to enjoy both the opera and theatre but that would also be expected would it not your royal highness?" he said as he took a moment to think about what more activities that he used to enjoy to pass the time but he thought that the drinking that he and Atoti tended to enjoy when they both had the time with a rather select number of guest and the various pranks he played on Edward the speaker of the foreign relation advisory that despite the fun they where tended to get him into troubles now and again as the older man could play the same game and where rather skilled at if to Primus annoyance, those comics he also had gathered and kept hidden under his own bed where also something he did not wanted to reveal as he saw them as a guilty pleasure at best.

"Otherwise so would my duty to fändereslandet be my big time consumer and honoured privilege your royal highness!" he confessed lastly as between his duties as duke of Imeriata proper, commander of the second army often held him on a rather strict schedule which often got rather sidetracked when his father sent him away on various diplomatic duties even if he didn't say that either as it could be taken in the wrong way.

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Congrats, Just know that you wasted that post on me AND THAT YOU WILL NEVER GET IT BACK *Evil laughter*

[Izzyshipper]

"Otherwise so would my duty to fändereslandet be my big time consumer and honoured privilege your royal highness!"

“Of course your Royal Prince, is not always such when we, the Princes and rulers of the realms, take the mantle of power? We must sacrifice the luxury of time for the greater good of our people.” Queen Sophia said, and indeed it was true. The Queen spent at least four hours each day, with the exception of the Sabbath, in meetings with her Privy Council. Yet then she spent countless hours with dratted paperwork, meetings and visits. Even during her supposed free time at court was filled with the mental exertions of the complex linguistic gymnastics so often employed by her courtiers, who were skilled at taking offence at the slightest misunderstanding, and the greatest joy in any compliment, however so slight.

“However we do enjoy Theatre, although we do find Opera very rarely an enjoyable experience. Our eldest daughter, the Princess Royal, is an avid patron of the arts, and spends a lot of her time attending plays, paying for their construction or hosting opening nights. I daresay she would enjoy acting in them, but we feel we must be firm in denying such an act, as it would be an improper for an woman of her status to do such.”

The Queen finished, remembering the arguments and tears when they had that conversation. She had told her daughter that she was an Princess, and that she was not to demean her posisition to indulge in the fripperies of stardom.

[Imeriata]

“However we do enjoy Theatre, although we do find Opera very rarely an enjoyable experience. Our eldest daughter, the Princess Royal, is an avid patron of the arts, and spends a lot of her time attending plays, paying for their construction or hosting opening nights. I daresay she would enjoy acting in them, but we feel we must be firm in denying such an act, as it would be an improper for an woman of her status to do such.” Sophia explained which sounded a bit wrong as he had always enjoyed opera as it was one of his favourite kinds of music and as they told a story at the same time so where it a delightful pleasure according to him and that her daughter couldn't attend plays did also seem a bit wrong, sure he could understand that duty had to come before pleasure but if that was something she enjoyed so would that not be her own choice, he himself had after all attended classes in theatrics during his time in school even if he never had preformed openly as he enjoyed watching plays more than being part of them.

"I am sure that your royal highness would be the best person to decide that!" he did instead reply rather than presenting his own ideas on the subject "even if I also can understand her royal princess attachment to the theatre as it is indeed something that I am sure most of us can relate to!" he finished.