Emperor Seeks Empress

[Saxony Silvia]

"Was that really neccisary?" Grace asked, once they were out of ear shot.

"Indeed, milady," Sir Bartholomew Bennington replied hoarsely, "Please, do forgive my intrusion..."

"Bartholomew is a civilised bloke," Carina suggested lightly, "Though, rather stern..."

"He is bloody insane!" Albert laughed, "Did I tell you we call him 'Black Bart Bennington'. He hates it."

"And rightly so, Albert," Carina scolded meekly, "What if we deemed you 'Peevish Albert Loewe'?"

"Only if I might kindly refer to you as 'Lovely Carina Koertig'," Albert laughed, "and I am rather roguish..."

"Would you care to see his majesty before you are flooded by ambitious nobles, your majesty?" Wilhelm asked passively.

[Spartinth]

"Actually, all of you except Carina can leave. In fact I order it. Carina and myself will go to the Emperor."

[Saxony Silvia]

"Actually, all of you except Carina can leave. In fact I order it. Carina and myself will go to the Emperor."

"At your disposition, milady!" Albert exclaimed with mirth, "I shall attend his majesty, though... The mannerisms of state demand it. My apologies..."

"I bid thee farewell," Sir Wilhelm said courteously, "It was an honour as priorly stated to make your noble acquaintanse. I trust all will go well with his majesty..."

Both men departed readily from the now quite alone women. They would enter the throne room through a different medium, a back doors of sorts. The emperor was rather impatient to finish this brutally antagonising affair, to cast of the shackles of petty squabbling nobles. However, all knew this marriage would most certainly not end merrily. Regardless of the charms Grace possessed, the emperor could not ascend from his depression. Love had broken his once nobles decisiveness. He was a shade, a beautiful, noble ghost, but a phantom none the less.

"W-what do you require, milady?" Carina inquired softly, "I-I live to serve..."

[Spartinth]

"What is the emperor like? I had no chance to review his file, as my uncle, the King, arranged this marriage."

[Saxony Silvia]

"What is the emperor like? I had no chance to review his file, as my uncle, the King, arranged this marriage."

"A perfectly arranged affair?" Carina lamented softly, thinking of Alric's current position and how it was mirrored in her majesty. "Emperor Alric is a just, affable, courageous, honourable, and courteous man, possessed with many admirable traits..." Carina answered uneasily, "I apologise, I-I feel so much like a match-maker... I de-detest such notions..." She permitted her head to fall slightly and whispered, "Do you eagrely await this union or was it forced?" The sadness in her voice could be easily identified.

[Spartinth]

"It was a little of both, of coarse I look forward to it but I did not choose it. My uncle asked me if I wanted to get married and I said yes. I had no idea it was to an Emperor. Is there anything else I need to know before we meet him?"

[Saxony Silvia]

"It was a little of both, of coarse I look forward to it but I did not choose it. My uncle asked me if I wanted to get married and I said yes. I had no idea it was to an Emperor. Is there anything else I need to know before we meet him?"

"I am not certain," Carina answered shyly, "Though, you may desire to be acquainted with the knowledge that every noble in the Empire will attempt to garner your favour... The emperor is kind enough, though I do believe he does not particularly cherish the concept of an arran- I-I apolgise... It is nothing..."

[Spartinth]

Grace started off down the hall, toawrds where she thought the Emperor's chamber was. "Perhaps it was a mistake to keep you along."

[Saxony Silvia]

"M-my apologies, your majesty!" Carina exclaimed hurriedly, "I-I had little intention of displeasing you... Please, forgive me..." The girl glanced tragically into Grace's eyes, a few tears becoming apparent. "I promise," she wept softly, "to correct any infraction I have committed in my ignorance or haste..." Carina felt slightly faint, but maintained her bearings. Suddenly, she ceased her moaning, and considered the situation. "I..." she began uncertainly, "Please, disregard my prior outburst... Shall we endeavour to greet the emperor?"

[Spartinth]

"Please."

[Saxony Silvia]

"Please."

"Verily, we shall procede," Carina muttered feebly, walking towards the door weakly. She pressed her hand against the cool wooden surface, relishing the feel under her hand. Then, she exerted force and the door opened readily. "After you, majesty," she addressed Grace. She permitted the other woman to enter the room, and awaited the squabblings of countless nobles who now inhabitted the throne room. Emperor Alric von Kaiser sat trembling slightly upon his wooden throne, wishing eagrely that the nobles would leave, but knowing they would never relent in their pursuit of power. Two groups in particular garnered attention: the Austrians and the Prussians, both the most powerfull families in the Empire.

The Austrians wore an overwhelming amount of garish attire furnished in rich gold and ebon black. At the head, Lord Ferdinand Augustus, The Grand Duke von Austria, smiled politely in Grace's direction and bowed in a stately manner. Beside him, his wife, Lady Catherine Augustus, The Grand Duchess von Bavaria, smiled gracefully and bowed as well. Three children: Sir Franz II Augustus the Prince von Austria, Lady Theresa Augustus the Princess von Hungary, and Sir Gabriel Augustus the Prince von Bavaria. stood at attention behind their parents. On the far right, Lady Eleonore Augustus the Duchess von Hungary, Ferdinand's sister, glanced disdainfully at Grace. Finally, on the far left, Lord Emmanuel Augustus the Duke von Illyria, the Grand Duke's brother, bowed courteously. His wife, Duchess Sophia the Duchess von Illyria . Their children: Sir Gavrilo Augustus the Count von Serbia, Sir Vittorio Augustus the Count von Croatia, Lady Maria Augustus the Countess von Bosnia, and Lady Margarette Augustus the Countess von Slovenia curtsied politely towards Grace. The raven-haired family was truely massive, and the most influential and liberal in all of the Empire.

The Prussians likewise attempted to garner Grace's attention. They wore primarily military uniforms, except the ladies who were adorned in stunning plue dresses. Lord Frederick Adler, The Prince von Prussia, smiled brazenly and bowed courteously as the future queen entered the room. Lady Karla Adler, The Princess von Prussia and Frederick's wife, smiled at the princess merrily. Their children: Sir Wilhelm Adler, Lady Louise Adler, Sir Karl Adler, and Lady Elain Adler sat in a stately manner besides their parents. Sir Ludwig Stephanus, the prince's adoptive son, stood hovering over Wilhelm's shoulder. Finally, the prince's cousins, Sir Salazar Dracona and Sir Nicholas Dracona gazed astutely at the princess conveying their respect.

The other noble families honoured Grace in similar ways, though many lacked significant numbers of authority like the first two. The most notable of these was the House of Leona, which consisted exclusively of adult children. Sir Cornelius Loewe, Lady Elisabeth Loewe, Sir Albert Loewe, Sir Siegfried Loewe, Lady Charlotte Loewe, and Lady Magdeline Loewe stood in a thin line, bowing and extending their smiles to Grace. Carina quickly joined this group, next to Siegfried, while Charlotte giggled softly. Various other nobles stood alone or in pairs. Lady Adale Gavell, Lady Alena Cheverell, Sir Elias Frieditch, and Sir Adrian Faust stood together. Sir Bartholomew Bennington, Lady Fransesca Genevra, and Sir Desmond Standford stood at salute. Finally, others such as Sir Banastre Montague and Sir William Azure stood alone.

"I bid thee welcome, milady," Emperor Alric von Kaiser finally announced, "as does the whole multitude of the regal court. It is my most exquisite pleasure and honour that you grace mein eyes with your fair arrival. Whatever god could commend or vindicate me in such a manner? Quite earnestly, none." The polite ettiquette was quite tangible to flattery, but Alric was eagre to win acceptance, despite his opposition to the marriage. After all, it might harm his future prospects. He glanced around slightly and caught sight of a silver-haired noblewoman in the crowd. Suddenly, guilt caught in his throat. Evelyn was present. He averted his gaze and smiled at Grace.

[Spartinth]

"Thank you your majesty. It is a great honor to be IN this throne room, let alone be the Queen of the Empire." She curtsied to the Emperor and the heads of the two largest families present. She reached into her dress and brought out a scroll. "This is from my uncle, the King, er, Emperor of Spartinth and New Massachusetts." She corrected herself, as his title had changed just after her arrivial in Saxony Silvia and she wasn't used to the title yet. She read: " Emperor Alric I von Kaiser, my brother in monarchy, it pleases me that you have selected my niece, the Princess-in-waiting, to be your wife. Of all the other possible brides you chose Grace. I do not know much about Saxony Silvia or you for that matter but from what you have done in the Imperial Commonwealth I know that you are good people. I hope that you will treat her well and this marriage brings our Empires closer together. " She rolled up the scroll and put it back in her dress.

[Saxony Silvia]

"Thank you your majesty. It is a great honor to be IN this throne room, let alone be the Queen of the Empire." She curtsied to the Emperor and the heads of the two largest families present. She reached into her dress and brought out a scroll. "This is from my uncle, the King, er, Emperor of Spartinth and New Massachusetts." She corrected herself, as his title had changed just after her arrivial in Saxony Silvia and she wasn't used to the title yet. She read: " Emperor Alric I von Kaiser, my brother in monarchy, it pleases me that you have selected my niece, the Princess-in-waiting, to be your wife. Of all the other possible brides you chose Grace. I do not know much about Saxony Silvia or you for that matter but from what you have done in the Imperial Commonwealth I know that you are good people. I hope that you will treat her well and this marriage brings our Empires closer together. " She rolled up the scroll and put it back in her dress.

"Milady, I must inquire, have you ever entertained a Silvian festivity?" Alric asked, smiling merrily, "Due to the implorations of countless nobles and my own personal desire to be a rather accomodating host and husband, I have arranged and established the foundations for a celebratory function of the most proper manner. This will permit you to acknowledge your subject, garner their affections, generally refresh yourself, and exchange various personal details... I commend his majesty the emperor for such a gracious speech, though I deem your opinion more important, presently. You are the bethrothed, after all..." The emperor rose from his wooden throne and smirked. "You honour me to grieviously," he laughed, "Indeed, I assing the honour entirely to meinself, though- so thou shall not deem me avaricious- it is by virtue you of your rather elegant and gracefull prescense. I shall comment, perhaps to rashly, of the sweetness intrinsic to your fairest name. Grace slips off the tongue like sugar, honey, or the sweetest of songs. Rest assured, I shall honour jointly you, your father, and Spartinth." He now stood directly in front off her. He had removed his cape and wooden crown, and now merely wore a thin mail shirt and moderately rich clothes.

[Spartinth]

Grace gazed at her soon-to-be husband. He was quite attractive and very flattering. "Milord, such a festivity would please me very much so. Words cannot describe how joyous I am that I have been selected to wed you. Although the role of an empress is not to be a good wife to her husband, but to be a good wife to the people of her Empire. My birth name was not Grace, that is the name that my Uncle gave me upon acceding the throne. My birth name is Dilecte, Loved by God. When my mother was pregnant with me, 8 months, her house caught on fire. My father was away, so my mother was trapped in her bedroom. Then entire house burned down, except my mother's room. She was rescued and within an hour of being saved she gave birth to me. My father named me Dilecte after he heard the story."

[Saxony Silvia]

Grace gazed at her soon-to-be husband. He was quite attractive and very flattering. "Milord, such a festivity would please me very much so. Words cannot describe how joyous I am that I have been selected to wed you. Although the role of an empress is not to be a good wife to her husband, but to be a good wife to the people of her Empire. My birth name was not Grace, that is the name that my Uncle gave me upon acceding the throne. My birth name is Dilecte, Loved by God. When my mother was pregnant with me, 8 months, her house caught on fire. My father was away, so my mother was trapped in her bedroom. Then entire house burned down, except my mother's room. She was rescued and within an hour of being saved she gave birth to me. My father named me Dilecte after he heard the story."

"A most enheartening story," Alric mused, "I do believe your deity will be compelled to practise a degree of Socialism then, though consider yourself a Capitalist, and I your labourer. I shall confess the alien, but none the less, serene quality of your given name. Indeed, I would request permission to utilise such a fair manner of imploring or speaking with thee. Grace, a rather sweetened name. Dilecte, pure saccharine. Might inquire of this practise in nomenclature? Is it routine or overtly common-place to alter the names of regal individuals? As for your declaration, indeed, we wed our people not each other. I find it a most lamentable process, and one which I am to correct. I presume you fancy a scant portion of my dull life for recount. Very well, I shall reply. My father reigned as the sovereign king of Saxony prior to my own ascension. Our country has always been rather... factuous. His quite noble name was Horsa, Horsa von Kaiser. My father led the armies across the Empire, subduing the rebellious nobles reputably. However, he was slain in a battle upon the Rhine. My mother and I were forced to flee. Although, my name has remained unaltered "he who rules". My father deemed it fit for my succession, my mother believe me to reign over my own destiny. However, I prefer her interpration. My full name is Alaric Christoph Wolfgang Abendroth von Kaiser-Saxony."

[Spartinth]

"Normally a royal's name is only changed when he or she takes the throne, but my father died, so my uncle became my father figure. As is costume in Spartinth." Her eyes watered slightly. "My father died from an attack. He was the Chairman of the Board of Health and Human Services. The Board brought a CEO of an oil company to trial for destroying some small village with pollution. The CEO's followers were all in side of the courtroom, waiting. When my father entered the court room they attacked him and killed him." She told the story. "Back to the topic of names. My full birth name is Dilecte Lyn Marion Catherine Ma'at Juno Bone de New Orthensburg City but my current name is Princess-in-waiting Grace Rose Catherine Teresa Mary Bone, Duchess of Spalin, Duchess of Galilie and Lady of Horum."

[Saxony Silvia]

"How perfectly horrid!" Alric exclaimed angrily, "Such outrageous malice should have been persecuted equivalently by the figures of authority. I shall express my condolences for the plight of your late father, and express sentiments utterly unbefitting an individual alien to my ownself. Although, we have only just met, I am rather certain we shall comprehend eachother quite soon. I am not so base as to suggest that we are kindred spirits in suffering, as such a notion is not overtly appealling. None the less, we might soon find ourselves emotionally close as husband and wife, emperor and empress should be. I shall offer no delusions, I am not a romantic and hold no excessive love for you as of yet. Which will hinder our allotted task substantially. I hold no illusory grace about your affections or attraction to myself either. Despite this sordid fact, and it is sordid to not perceive the heart behind such a lovely face, I shall make an earnest attempt to love you. Then, upon my grave, I shall not yearn for a different life, and you may say 'my husband was a man of virtue'. After all, what other fact might endure you to me, but that of sentimental attachment? I swear to make an earnest attempt, and I pray this shall suffise, and implore your forgiveness that this is not what it should be. I must inquire, do you love any individuals, milady? Does our marriage rip asunder the fabrics of your life? If so, I shall sacrifice it for whatever you might demand. Pray, tell." The emperor glanced into her eyes unterstandingly, blue resounding in their liquid depths.

[Spartinth]

"Does my heart love others? Yes. Will this marriage destroy my heart? No. THere are a few men from highschool who I still have feelings for but they have moved on and are married themselves. I know that as an Emperor you must meet many beautiful women and you must love many of them. Do not let me stand in your way of them. If you want to marry them aslo and have multiple wives that is fine by me. I do not even have to be your main wife, if you wish it not so."

[Saxony Silvia]

"Does my heart love others? Yes. Will this marriage destroy my heart? No. THere are a few men from highschool who I still have feelings for but they have moved on and are married themselves. I know that as an Emperor you must meet many beautiful women and you must love many of them. Do not let me stand in your way of them. If you want to marry them aslo and have multiple wives that is fine by me. I do not even have to be your main wife, if you wish it not so."

"Milady, such abominations are not practised within the confines of the Empire," Sir Salazar Dracona hissed, "Indeed, we consider ourselves an enlightened, cultured, and rather egalitarian society- nobles non-withstanding. The institution of polygamy repulses the very concept of divinity, of love. It is a horrid thing, a mutilate and perverse tradition. Why cannot a man love but one woman? Or if he desires reside within the northern part of the country, and love but one person? Otherwise, affections are divided a muddled. Such loves are prone to negligence, favourtism, and ultimately an unstately demise. Should either you or the emperor desire to anull the marriage, that is quite possible. Multiple wifes or husbands is unacceptable."

"Indeed," Alric agreed, "I shall not perchance commit such horrid blasphemy, which is disingenuously balefull to the gods. Besides, I desire to dedicate my affections wholly to you. No other engagement will suffise in this regard. Of beautifull women, you are the fairest yet to greet mein eye. Alas, beauty fades, love. The heart, none the less, resides in immortality. Thus, I shall inquire, how long would you ask to get to know my heart?" Alric fell to his knees at her feet. "I am your servant in this matter," Alric laughed, "Though, you may equalise the two of us."

[Spartinth]

Grace blushed, she felt very stupid to bring that up. When the Emperor dropped to his knees she laughed, like a bell. "Oh please do get up." She chuckled. "I will take as long as you allow me to know thy heart and thy loves and disloves. Although I believe that 4 moons will be due time. 4 moons is the time of lovers, see Shakespeare with Theseus and Hippolyta. They had 4 moons from the start to their wedding. Let us take 4 moons, in the lover's fashion."

[Saxony Silvia]

Grace blushed, she felt very stupid to bring that up. When the Emperor dropped to his knees she laughed, like a bell. "Oh please do get up." She chuckled. "I will take as long as you allow me to know thy heart and thy loves and disloves. Although I believe that 4 moons will be due time. 4 moons is the time of lovers, see Shakespeare with Theseus and Hippolyta. They had 4 moons from the start to their wedding. Let us take 4 moons, in the lover's fashion."

"I do perceive you dislike servitude, milady," Alric chuckled, standing, "I shall confess that I am rather partial to the colour blue, that I admire the beauty of nature, adore horses, and am fond of you. A Midsommer Night's Dream? Why not two days like Romeo and Julietta? Then, they did perish in a rather sordid fashion. Why not an eternity? Love is eternal. However, life is not, and thus such a strategy would not suffise. Why not a day like Orsino and Olivia? Then, four moons seems far fairer. I concur with love. Romance compells me to embrace this allotted time, endowed within the very souls of all lovers. I shall prove me love to you Ev- Dilacte. I swear it upon my beating heart."

[Spartinth]

"Why do you call me Dilacte? Why the Ev before it? Is is costom? My name is Grace and please refer to me as such."

[Saxony Silvia]

"Why do you call me Dilacte? Why the Ev before it? Is is costom? My name is Grace and please refer to me as such."

"My apologies, milady," Alric bowed, "I shall address you as you request and as best honours you. The Ev... I-I, yes, it is customary, though it applies more aptly to noble women." The emperor suddenly felt another pange of guilt first for slipping up and second for lying about it. However, he had to satiate the desires of the avaricious nobles and strengthen Saxony-Silvia. The marriage would procede regardless of his emotions in four days time. "Milady, shall I have my servants transfer your belongings to your chamber?" Alric asked courteously, "Supper shall be served within an hour, and I shall permit you proper time to freshen up."

[Spartinth]

"Please do have them bring my things to my chamber." Grace walked out of the throne room and into the chamber that was her's. She unbuttoned her dress and slipped on a long, flowing, translucent grey dress. She put on her offical tiarra and some make up. Then she sat and waited for a servant to tell her it was time for dinner.

[Saxony Silvia]

"Please do have them bring my things to my chamber." Grace walked out of the throne room and into the chamber that was her's. She unbuttoned her dress and slipped on a long, flowing, translucent grey dress. She put on her offical tiarra and some make up. Then she sat and waited for a servant to tell her it was time for dinner.

A young man adorned in armour clamoured into the room, clasping the bags. He appeared to be a noble of sorts, and rather destinguished. Gingerly the bags were laid on the floor in an obscure corner of the room. The knight then turned his attention to Grace, and offered an elegant bow. "Milady, the emperor bid me serve any desire that might strike your most esteemed fancy," the noble informed her, "Do you require anything miniscule or grandiose before supper?"