Realistic or Modern The Devil's Throne - IC (Open)

"Alright lads you heard him! We're to provide perimeter coverage for the prime minister and his little one until they enter the walls. Once they get past our gate we turn over security duty to the boys who assigned to the interior of the palace. Unitl then everybody be on the lookout for more protestors", Patty informed his men and sure enough the outside guard detail returned to work.

Patty returned to his guard hut and looked quietly out to the garden that was just behind the wall. The garden was a magnificant sight to behold. The tall perfectly trimmed hedgerows, the oak trees that had been around long before the palace itself, the multiple species of butterflies that had their beautiful colors on display for the world to see, and the countless blanket of flora that produced the most delightful aroma imaginable. Sure Patty was a Sergeant in the guard and a veteran of the Queen's army, but at heart he was still a simple farm boy from Northern Ireland and the amazing look of the garden reminded him of the meadows back home.

"Sergeant. Excuse me sergeant?", Patty snapped out of his mental adventure back home and returned to the real world where one of his guards was blocking his view.

"Aye?", Patty looked at his guard patiently, examining both the man and his uniform to make sure everything was squared away. They were guards of the royal family, they have to look thier best at all times.

"You got a couple of visitors at the gate", The guard informed Patty. Patty's eyes lit up as he got up from his seat and walked out of the guard hut. Patty walked up to the front gate and couldn't contain his smile when he saw both Rosé, his girlfriend, and Amelie, his daughter.

"If it isn't the two prettiest girls in all of the kingdom!", Patty slung his rifle over his shoulder as he approached the two. Once he finally got to where they were, he picked up Amelie into his arms and placed a quick and gentle kiss onto Rosé's lips. Of course a couple of the other guards chuckled at this random outburst of affection from their normally rough and tough sergeant but Patty paid them no mind.

"Daddy butterfly!", Amelie's little voice rang out through the courtyard as she chased the butterflies with her soft brown eyes.

"Sergeant?", Rosé gave Patty a cheeky smile before the two kissed a second time which made Amelie let out a cute high pitched "ew".

"What are you two doing here?", Patty asked as he rubbed his hand gently across his daughter's back.

"We were just out and about buying food when somebody realized we were close to where daddy worked", Rosé answered softly while gesturing her head over to the palace. "Will you get in trouble for having us see you?".

"No. Amelie has visited here so many times I think she knows the castle layout better than some of the other guards do. You can come in too", Patty waved Rosé in and she entered the courtyard for the first time in her life.

To say that things hadn’t gotten exactly to plan would be an understatement. What had started as an attempt to placate both princes and then be on her way, had suddenly turned into an escort to dinner. Clara had not failed, but not exactly achieved, her purpose in this endeavour and was frustrated with herself for letting herself be so easily swept along. In all honesty she’d had no authority or control in the words exchanged but rather had been stuck as the brunt of the joke. However, since the commencing conversation with Jeremiah was less than likely to be fruitful it would still give her some time to think over tonight’s proceedings. She had missed out on the feel of fresh air and sunlight on her face but thanks to the many windows in the palace she could still watch the light disappear as darkness chased it away.

It would be a lie to say that Clara hadn’t bristled when Jeremiah had called her his shackles, but it is something no women wants to hear from their future husband. It was no secret that Jeremiah was some what of a cad and enjoyed those specific freedoms given to him as third prince. He enjoyed a great a many things, even when it came to women. It was not his desire to be tied down and Clara suspected that their marriage had been an attempt by the King to try and temper his dalliances and various sins. Needless to say it was not the marriage alliance her father had wanted and if her letters from home were anything to go by he was still furious with the proposal. Even before Clara had left for England her father had made several remarks about finding her another match, even so far as to say she should try her hand at any of the other princes while at court. While such thoughts had crossed her mind upon each strained meeting with Jeremiah, Clara had hoped they could come to some kind of arrangement. She wasn’t asking for happiness and love but that they might at least be content in each other’s company.

As for Christopher's mood, Clara had been able to discern very little. He had seemed somewhat happy to be in his brother's company and was smiling very graciously at Clara herself, but there always seemed a deeper sadness. A sadness that was often expressed through indifference and anger. Clara mused the idea that perhaps there would be no confrontation between Christopher and Anelissa and that while Anelissa rebelled, Christopher wouldn't be the one to respond. That wasn't to say nothing of note would happen but moreover, Clara started to wonder if it might be the King himself that would come to blows with Anelissa tonight. There were many rumours circulating that he was more than angry with Anelissa's actions recently. Needless to say one couldn't expect a quiet family dinner with so many different personalities in the room.

Clara's smile remained plastered on her face as she and Jeremiah were placed together. While It could be a risky play she decided one last ditch attempt at a turn around the gardens was in order.
"While an escort to the dining hall would give me nothing but pleasure, I wouldn't want my future husband stifled with my company already. I can always meet both your Highnesses at dinner since I'm sure both of you are preoccupied with other matters and that spending time in my company suits neither of your dispositions. " While Clara's final words could seem rather self-deprecating, she had meant them not as a comment on her own self worth but rather in an attempt to challenge the character of each prince in the most subtle of ways. Even if she wasn't successful in escaping to the gardens she could perhaps keep some of her dignity after all.

Misty Gray Mqueserasera

Robert( Misty Gray )

Sir James let out a bark of laughter, the dark thoughts and scenarios that had been dancing about his mind clearing, momentarily at least.

“Indeed there is always alcohol. As much as it benefits me to keep a cool and sober head, it is always at Sandringham that I find the greatest need to drink. Though I shudder at the thought of stumbling down the corridors soaked as a newt,"

As much as the image was a humorous one the consequences would be dire he imagined. He was very much an outsider there. The politician was London, the one who was supposed to have all of the answers and solutions, to take the King's commands and get results 2 days before he announced his intentions. It was no surprise that a number of his predecessors has fallen foul to the allure of drink, it was said that salvation and the answers to all of life’s questions could be found at the bottom of the bottle, you just had to look hard enough. Thankfully that was one lesson from his immediate predecessor that he had not taken to heart.

He once more adjusted himself on the carriage seat, stretching out his legs as much as he could. He couldn’t stand the damn things, cooped up little boxes, cold in the winter, sweltering in the summer, and they provided only the barest modicum of comfort. He would happily give his right leg for the King to move his entire court to London, just for an easier journey. Even if it meant having the whole sordid lot on his doorstep. Not that he would ever voice just thoughts, it didn’t take much these days to incur the wrath of the Royalty. Word had filtered down to London of another string of executions, and public rumblings were on the rise. Words whispered once only in darkened corners of rooms were beginning to spill out into the streets, and to suppress such things was near impossible. Obviously it would be easier to present a light at the end of the tunnel, to utilise one such as the Crown Prince as a stabilising influence, or even one of the other Royals. But no. There was no such hope it seemed, the Crown Prince was as bad, if not worse than his father from what he had heard, and the other Royal children whilst generally good natured, were far down the pecking order.

“Mind you this dinner could be useful. Sandringham is truly in its own bubble, London is the same, but not to the same extent. Sometimes I feel that the King and his family never really appreciate the severity of what is happening outside of its walls. Or how their actions ripple far beyond it. The Crown Prince above all else, word in the city is that he’s resembles a cross between Caligula and Nero, but not so much fiddling as Rome burns as opposed to organising hangings left right and center, but perhaps that’s his father’s influence coming through. What’s your measure of the man behind the title? As bad as everyone says he is, or do I have something to work with, perhaps mold more to a more sensible and refined way of thinking?”

(Interaction: Misty Gray Emily Rorchester)

Emily didn't need to think for long on her father's suggestion that the royal family knew little outside of their own bubble. "I imagine some of the more gentle and thoughtful members of the King's family consider what happens outside of Sandringham. A young woman as kind-hearted as Genevieve, for example, would surely feel some concern for the plight of those less fortunate," Emily suggested to her father.

Sir James then went on to compare the Crown Prince to the cruellest Roman Emperors, causing Emily to raise a curious eyebrow as she pondered the resemblance. "Well... He is his father's son," she pointed out. It was only in her father's presence that she could speak freely of her feelings towards the King. Her opinions were neither wanted nor permitted once inside of the palace walls. James then requested her thoughts of Prince Christopher, to which she sat up straight and considered the things she'd observed during her time around the royal family.

"I see the same man who most within those walls see. Christopher shows himself to be a dangerous, cold and controlling man; one who would not hesitate to assert his power over anyone who crosses him. I know I for one would never wish to get on his bad side. Should he continue on this path, then he will prove to be quite the ruthless leader who would rather his kingdom fear him than respect him." Emily delicately covered her mouth with her hand as she let out a small cough to clear her throat. "I have spent some time alone in the Prince's company after being summoned to assist him on occasion with some musical compositions of his. He is quite the pianist, I was at one time surprised to learn. And, as it happens, being just a simple lady in the palace grounds means it's easy for my presence to be overlooked. As such, I also believe Christopher has quite the fondness for the gardens, even to the point where I would swear on my own life I once observed him share a joke with Willard, the head gardener. This is between you and I, of course," she knowingly told her father. "If you're the right person and looking in the right circumstances, there really is something quite profound about the dark Crown Prince, but I suspect it is something he would keep locked away." Emily straightened out her jacket and shuffled up straight in the uncomfortable carriage seat. "As long as the King is in his ear, I suspect you'll have no such luck at molding him into anything but the man he's becoming. I'm not sure what it is, but there's a deeply troubled soul beneath his cold eyes. Christopher is a year younger than me, but he seems to carry a lifetime of burden."

RayPurchase (Prime Minister)

[class=Notes] // Forward slashes are comments and do no show up in the final design, these are to help you find everything easily and explain some code as well. These comments must be with in a class or script tags in order to be hidden, from what I know// // Long URls are images # followed by letter and numbers are Hex codes or color codes.// // This code does not show breaks unless is shows the
code When typing responses to rps, be aware that when you press enter it will not show that you did. You'll have to use the
tags// [/class] [class=Lines] border-top:2px SOLID #680b0a; margin-bottom:8px; margin-Top:5px; margin-Left:12px; //This is the line dividers in the code, the tiny ones.// [/class] Anelissa's confession only added fuel to the fire of anxiety burning within Luca's heart. She was a brave young woman, that was for certain. Yet, buried within that anxiety was excitement. This was the perfect opportunity to put Christopher on the spot. There had to be a shred of humanity left in that muscular and daunting body of his. Sure, this would be a gamble. But, a gamble Christopher was willing to take. How many years had it been since that day on the riverbed? Luca had long tucked his hope away in a locked box in the back of his mind. That Christopher was gone, he had told himself. In fact, he reminded himself each day, hour, minute, and second. However, gazing down at Anelissa's determined face, Luca wanted to give in to hope. Just this once. If Christopher showed he really was just a soulless brute tonight, then we would give up entirely. Or so, that was the plan.

"To dare is to lose one's footing momentarily, to not dare, is to lose oneself. Soren Kierkegaard." Luca grinned down at his sister. "It's more than apparent that this is an important matter to you. If you remained silent, I see you would be filled with nothing but regret. If she brought my sister that much joy, who am I to protest?" He felt an uneasy presence approaching, and his insides shivered. "Merliva." Luca would greet her courteously. She always carried such an intimidating aura with her. He loved it. What she wouldn't love, was his willingness to support Anelissa.

"Of course I did. Although, I can scarcely be unrelenting with my own apprentice and youngest sister." He was referring to her art skills. Swiveling on his heel and gesturing in the air, Luca met Merliva with even eyes. "Elizabeth Kenny once said that it's better to be a lion for a day than a sheep all your life. We can't coddle her forever. If Christopher doesn't have a soft spot for his youngest sister, then he really has lost his mind. I believe he has a reason for the abrupt hanging. This could be the only way to draw his feelings out." Tilting his head to the side, he added, "However, your elder sister has a point. A brighter set of clothing might serve as an icebreaker. You shouldn't rush at him. He'll see you as a victim in this situation, the royal court already does. Use that to your advantage to get the answers you desire. We all know an angry Christopher rarely reveals anything at all. And, isn't that what you wish for most?"

Now, to face the wrath. [div class="Lines"][/div] Original Code by AgWordSmith [/div]

Adeline's stay in Britain had been more eventful than she would have wanted, the environment around the palace was completely different from her home, she felt like she needed to overthink everything she said to make sure everything that came out of her mouth was accepted or proper, the royal family were full of personalities that it was almost impossible to guess what they were on their mind.

And that made Adeline feel more overwhelmed, that she was she wanted to cause a good impression in the family and at the same time win the heart of Luca who seemed like the type of person who preferred being focused on the things he was interested while she wanted to discover everything about the world and she hoped that eventually, she would be part of Luca's world and see the person who was behind the title that everyone knew him for, that thought made her heart ache Adeline was sure she wasn't in love with Luca or at least she wasn't yet in love, but just thinking that she would have to use him so the plan of her parents would work, she was against the idea, but she couldn't give her back to her people back in Sweden who were hurting.

And that made Adeline feel more overwhelmed, that she was she wanted to cause a good impression in the family and at the same time win the heart of Luca who seemed like the type of person who preferred being focused on the things he was interested while she wanted to discover everything about the world and she hoped that eventually, she would be part of Luca's world and see the person who was behind the title that everyone knew him for, that thought made her heart ache Adeline was sure she wasn't in love with Luca or at least she wasn't yet in love, but just thinking that she would have to use him so the plan of her parents would work, she was against the idea, but she couldn't give her back to her people back in Sweden who were hurting. She wondered if someone had an idea of what was really going through in Adeline's head.

After what happened to the maid Adeline's head was full of those thoughts, she was scared that she would end up just like her if she did something wrong, she knew she needed to distract herself and it was when she decided to go to the garden, seeing all the colorful flowers and play with them to create something made her really happy, she would rather prefer to spend all her day there than having to live up to the expectations of being a princess.

She was immersed in her own little world when she heard the voice of princess Genevieve, when she saw her Adeline was mesmerized, in her eyes princess Genevieve was the perfect representation of a proper princess, she thought that princess Genevieve was what her parents want in the heir of Sweden instead of Adeline, that thought made her sad, but she knew it wasn't anyone's fault but hers for not being perfect.

She heard a small commotion near the princess and her curiosity got the best of her, she walked towards where the princess just to found her with a puppy in hands, the pupper was one of the most adorable things Adeline saw in her life, forgetting all the etiquette classes she took while growing up or the way she was supposed to talk to the princess she went to pet the small puppy with a big smile on her face.

"This puppy is adorable. Is it yours, princess Genevieve? I love small animals they are so cheerful and lovable they always bring joy to the world" Adeline said to the princess, that's when she remembered she made a bracelet out of flowers she took it and put it on the puppy's head "Now you look even cuter than you already are" she said to the puppy.

Her excitement made her not realize that a guard was there, she felt embarrassed that she acted like that in front of the guard of the princess, was him talking to the princess about something important, was she interrupting something she shouldn't know about, she felt her cheeks blush from embarrassment "I'm really sorry it wasn't my intention to interrupt your conversation, that was out of place I'm really sorry"

Interactions: Princess Genevieve ( deer ) Sigismund Clodomir ( Cosmo )
Mentions: Luca Ravenswood ( NyxNightmare )

Sir James hurriedly fumbled a rather battered notebook from his jacket pocket. Noting down a few key points from what his daughter was saying. Not just his ultimate confidant but also his fly on the wall in the palace. As much as he feared for her safety, he considered her presence to be of the utmost importance to the prosperity of the nation. Besides he had brought her up well and she had blossomed into a truly intelligent young woman, terrifyingly so at times, and he had the utmost confidence in her ability to look after herself, even if his less logical and more paternal side could not help but worry about her. Her reports and insider outlook were integral of getting ahead of court gossip and potential scandals, his notebook was full of such things. As a result it never left his person, and besides the spider like shorthand that he wrote in was near indecipherable, his book of secrets and potential favours to be called upon. If it was found and deciphered it could be not only embarrassing but also potentially career ending, if not worse.

To be honest he was somewhat surprised by some of the information. Everyone had heard of the Prince’s dark moods and similarly dark actions, as such hobbies such as music and gardening did seem somewhat out of sorts. But then again torturing servants and setting dogs on villagers had gone out of fashion a couple of centuries ago now.

“So you’re saying there is at least a glimmer of hope? At least that gives us something to latch onto I suppose, I would have preferred a more glowing endorsement of him and confirmation that a lot of the gossip was nothing more but idle words. But I suppose that we just have to accept the hand that we’re dealt,”

He glanced out of the window.

“Hopefully it won’t be much longer, this ride is causing my back all sorts of havoc. Someone should really do something about these blasted roads…” He let out a loud scoff. “And before you go mentioning it I appreciate the irony of me calling for someone to solve this particuarly national problem."

(Interaction: Misty Gray Emily Rorchester)

Anelissa Ravenswood

Location: Palace corridor
Interacting: Luca Ravenswood NyxNightmare
Merliva Ravenswood Peckinou
Mentioned: Christopher Ravenswood Misty Gray


Anelissa listened to her brothers words intently, stepping over each one with thought and care. He was such a trivial man, always mentioning quotes or poets whenever he could; his smarts really defined his character in the girls eyes. Although she had been wary of how Luca might respond to her, by using forward manner, Anelissa was overjoyed to find that he wouldn't prevent her from doing this act. He had always been very kind and honest with her, that's why Luca was the princesses favourite brother.

"He sounds like an interesting man, one full of ideas and knowledge. This man reminds me of someone I know," Anelissa beamed at her brother, showing appreciation towards him, "And I do thank you for not stopping me...I do feel like I need to do this." The girl looked down at the floor, pondering about the recent events and how she had to remain strong. She would not let the maids name disappear into time. The maid would remain unforgotten and an icon in history if Anelissa had a say in it.

Through a quick change, instead of being cool and calm, the atmosphere suddenly felt cold and callous. She was here...Merliva. It wasn't like she disliked her sister, it's just that she came across as someone who you couldn't exactly trust. Whether it be with a big secret, or small, Merliva felt like someone who would use your secrets for her own cunning ways. Furthermore, she always disapproved of the third princesses ideas; her sister had always seemed insensitive and spiteful towards her views.

Looking at Anelissa, the girl curtsied, being polite and respectful of her older sister. Although she had shown composure, she knew what was coming next from her sister and it boiled her blood. The onslaught of disapproval. It appeared like it would be aimed at Luca first; questioning whether he had changed the Anelissa's mind and if she was going to bring up the maid later. Anelissa saw how her brother maneuvered his way through the conversation, saying how he wouldn't stop the girl from following her heart, but agreeing with Merliva at a certain point in the hopes of not infuriating her.

"I don't want to anger the man, but he must know my intention," Anelissa clenched her jaw whilst holding back her irritation towards Merliva, "And if he attacks someone whilst they're mourning, then that is him a fool. You may see me wearing this dress, but you are non the wiser on the situation than those who are in it, Merliva..."

When Clara suggested he and Jeremiah made their way to the dining room without her, the Crown Prince quickly shook his head. "No, you and my brother will make your way to dinner together. I have another matter to attend to before I take my place at the table." Christopher considered his next words and how not to make it sound like he was at all concerned about Jeremiah. "Besides which, the King would be most displeased if he knew Jeremiah had left you to make your way to the dining hall by yourself, Clara," he told her. "I would prefer to enjoy my dinner in peace without listening to his lectures on how to be a gentleman," he said, sending Jeremiah an insistent stare.

Without further delay, Christopher turned in the opposite direction of the dining hall and made his way along the palace corridor, his eyes searching not only the hallways but glancing out of the windows until he set his sight on the person he was seeking.

Christopher's brisk walk soon took him out into the courtyard until he caught up with his own fiancee. Elvira was walking with her personal guard who had joined her from Spain, as the Prince had noticed was often the case. The darkly dressed Prince stopped ahead of the pair and sent Tomas an acknowledging nod. He then brought his attention to his betrothed, taking a brief moment to observe the woman's attire to confirm it would be deemed appropriate wear for dinner. Elvira dressed well and she was clearly beautiful, but Christopher seemed to brush those thoughts aside, being fully aware the marriage was a political arrangement and one she'd not entered into it out of choice.

"Elvira," he began, folding his arms at his chest. "Dinner is almost upon on and it is advised that we attend the meal together. The palace can be quite the labyrinth, so I would hate for you to miss out on arriving on time to eat." Whilst his words were true, he had previously opted to let his fiancee find her own way to the dining room. However, that hadn't gone down at all well with his father and so he wished to avoid a further altercation with the miserable old bastard. "Let us make our way there now so as to avoid being late." His eyes fixed on Tomas for a time, studying the guard's features to see if he could gauge what the man was thinking. Though he hadn't directly addressed the Spanish man, Christopher expected he might continue to remain close to Elvira as they made their way to the dining room.

FireMaiden (Elvira) NUSKI (Tomas)
Mention: Mqueserasera (Jeremiah) Songbird500 (Clara)

The King had listened to Arielle's words about their youngest daughter, though it would be questionable as to how much of it he'd truly listened to. "Her friend?" he mumbled, subtly shaking his head at how preposterous it all sounded. "Yes, of course I'd be devastated and thrown into grief should any of our children be killed. They are our family, after all," he pointed out. The apparently unholy maid was not someone he felt need to grieve for, especially given her lack of respect and morals... her rejection of God. "I will take your advice and permit Anelissa to grieve a little longer. I suspect she won't grow out of it soon, so I just hope she keeps the histrionics to a minimum," he flippantly informed his wife. "As for Christopher. I would hope he has learned how to conduct himself appropriately by now."

Wesley caught the slightest of smiles on the Queen's lips and had to muster up a lot of strength to avoid returning a more significant smile in response. It wasn't until she made her quip about him holding up the walls that he felt permitted to let out a small chuckle, allowing the grin to remain on his lips for a time. "It's a mutual understanding. The walls have helped me stand on on many occasions when I've been defeated by alcohol."

"Might I suggest you eat a hearty meal before enjoying your drinks?" Robert suggested, motioning his hand to one of the spare seats towards the far end of the table. It wasn't the first time he'd offered for the Head of Security to dine with the family and it likely wouldn't be the last. The King had ceased taking offence on the occasions when Wesley refused, having determined he appreciated the man's professionalism as much as he'd appreciate his acceptance of the offer.

"That is a generous offer, Sir... Robert," he began, always forgetting the King had permitted him to be less formal in non-public situations. "Of course, I must decline on this occasion. I fear the walls outside of this room require my support," he said, sharing a smirk between the King and Queen. Wesley's eyes soon lowered, apparently focusing back onto the floral arrangement in the centre of the table that he'd been admiring earlier.

Robert took his seat at the head of the long, rectangular table, where Arielle would sit to his right. The man had noticed Wesley's attention was on the flowers, but it was clear the King was indifferent to the attractive floral arrangement, despite it being the handiwork of his own wife, the Queen. Not wishing to consider the flowers for very long, Robert looked back to Wesley. "You will... You will dine with us during the upcoming ball," he told the man. The tone in the King's voice made it clear it had been a command rather than an offer.

"Then I shall look forward to that hearty meal," Wesley replied, bowing his head to Robert. Noticing the King's attention had for a time fallen to observing the view out of the window, Wesley looked to Arielle. He sent her a warm smile; one that would come across as laced with reassurance and appreciation. It hadn't escaped his attention how the King had practically turned his nose up at the way she'd decorated the table and it certainly wasn't the first time he'd observed Robert's lack of regard to his own wife. Before allowing his thoughts to linger on his observations, Wesley excused himself from the centre of the room and took his position by the door. With dinner fast approaching, he was hoping the royal children would arrive on time and he wouldn't have to witness any hostility around the table.

Melanin-Gxdess (Arielle)

In perfect silence, Jeremiah stood withstanding his brother’s threats. To protect the remainder of his pride, the third prince remained cool, leaving the escorting suggestion unprotested. His left eye twitched a trifle.

“Of course,” said Jeremiah, disgusted eyes fixed on the ill coloured wallpaper “who am I to question our splendid father and, through you, his splendid idea of chivalry? One can only imagine the amount of affection I would receive from sweet young girls If only I have but half of your likeness to the king.”

“A frightening amount indeed,” he added with a twisted smile.

After Christopher had left, Jeremiah turned away with his shoulders dropped, wasn’t quite aware of his fiancee’s presence, for she was less important than the subject of his pondering. His fingers scratched the end of his beautiful chin as he seemingly gazed into nothingness.

“I shall not tolerate this!”

He erupted. His voice echoed through the hall.

“This means war! War! This depressing wallpaper and I have entered a war between men, nay, between man and ugliness! I shall not stop,” his determined finger pointed at the hall wall, he had taken Christopher's comment on how the colour black agrees with the atmosphere in those walls literally, “until all of this ugliness is stripped away, until the day it would agree no more to gloomy souls. Black, hah, out of everything, they choose blackness - the colour of the starless sky, shapeless shadows, soulless eyes. Nothing, black alone represents absolutely nothing! I am sick beyond saving of this non-existence. May the Lord cast light at last on this palace of emptiness, be it of joyful rainbows or cleansing flames I care not!”

With his anger half-vented, gracefully, Jeremiah dropped his hand into the guiding position as he turned a half-circle, facing Clara: “with that said, let us make haste to where I could voice my concerns. I cannot afford to be dragged down by excess luggage, so be light on your feet. Now we go.”

He was fully determined to let his dissatisfaction known to everyone after failing to convince Christopher of the terribleness in Anelissa's fashion mindset. After all, his genius concluded, all troubles in the world could be traced back to how people are raised and affected by the environment they live in. Transforming it is the way to go, and the wallpaper itself would be a tremendous first step. And so he imagined the way he was going to nobly inform the family during dinner about this proposal. This entertained his irritated mind, which, inevitably, wander into quite different matters. There might be guests, he thought, the usual flock of aristocrats never fails to slip into such events, and among them, ever competing for attention, the young lasses. Though he did not know how much if any of them would be there, could he risk appearing with a heap of shackles? May as well smear mud on his charming face. With those thoughts in mind, Jeremiah steadily quickened his steps all the way to the dining room, cared not if Clara, in her dress, could keep up with his pace or not.

Note: Bold is Genevieve , Underline is Abigail | Location: Palace Halls | With ( Previously ): "Sir Barley" [ Cosmo ] , Princess Adeline [ Stardust Galaxy ] , Abigail | Mentions: Luca [ NyxNightmare ] , Dear Father [ Misty Gray ]

Before Clara could even utter another word, Christopher had already taken off down the opposite corridor. Her last attempt at a plan had failed and she was left with her disgruntled fiancé. A disgruntled fiancé that now looked even more put out by her very presence.

Clara was caught off guard by Jeremiah’s sudden outburst and did jump just a little in response. What was even more peculiar was the reason for his outburst. She furrowed her brow out of confusion as he began spouting off his feelings for the wallpaper.

So, this was what it had come to. A one-sided conversation in which one party would rather remark on the wallpaper instead of acknowledging the existence of the other. It was a shame that things had come to this, the two ignoring each other and despising the mere mention of the others name. It was going to be a long and hard marriage if things didn’t change soon but Clara had still yet to uncover what the foothold might be into Jerimiah’s good graces. It was clear he loved beauty and art but no matter what opinion Clara might have on the matter it would always be partnered with the stifling realisation that she had been chosen to limit his freedoms. Today had been evidence enough that both the King and Christopher had expectations for this marriage. It was never going to be a marriage of love but said expectations might make things even more difficult.

And just like that Jeremiah too was walking away. And not just walking but practically marching. He'd taken off with such vigour it took Clara a second for her mind to catch up with her body and then she too was following after him. She was however, struggling to keep up with him. Trying to keep her dignity and class while walking at such a speed in such a dress was not an easy feat. But, she, in her mind at the very least, was happy that she was accomplishing it to some degree. She had never liked how much her dresses had dragged and had always preferred no corset or petticoat, opting for merely a smock or a kirtle. When she was younger this had been deemed more acceptable as she played out in the mud and rode horses bareback. These days, such ideas would seem improper and so Clara was stuck feeling caged in and worn down.

She contemplated speaking to Jeremiah as they walked. It would be an opportune time to express some of her feelings on the situation with nobody else around. But it was becoming increasingly apparent that Jeremiah merely wanted to reach his destination so they could depart. It wasn't going to be an easy conversation and she knew that they probably wouldn't have time to discuss everything they wanted to but Clara wasn't sure when they might get another chance like this.

"Jeremiah. I know what you think of me and I understand your frustration. But I had hoped we might come to some kind of understanding. That we might even kindle a friendship if nothing else?"

Mqueserasera

“Friendship?” Jeremiah exclaimed out loud, half of his word was mixed in the astonishment that the woman still, so far, met his pace. He slowed down until Clara could catch up with him without drawing her heavy breaths, for when he was about to say something, it’s a necessity that others listen.

“The only way a man should want a woman is to be his lover, if she is pretty, or someone else, if she is plain,” said the third prince. And after the fact had been ascertained firmly, he threw his fiancee an impatient look, “By that matter alone, it becomes obvious any understanding could be wished for is but delusions. Surely you see that also, or have I given your intelligent aura too much credit? It is but simple facts…”

Still walking, he produced from his inner coat pocket a notebook. Between the first pages lay pressed faint purple lilacs, and as he flipped on, scribbled lines of feverish thoughts could be seen. Upon reaching a page filled with names he stopped and gave Clara a meaningful look.

“No happiness could be found on our joined paths,” he said, now moving in small steps only so Clara could see what was written on the pages, “certainly not for you, and more importantly, not for me. But fear not, I prepared in great generosity the most excellent of choices for you. You can see, on the top of the list, hmmm, my writing can be so liberal at times… Ah, Luca the gloomy! He’s my brother. He’s the second prince, if you’re wondering. Quite the title, eh? Why content with the third when you can aim for the second? Tell you what my dear, I give you both my blessings, with any kind of other backings you require. It’s true that he’s less than cheerful most the time, which is quite a sin, one could always look at his standing to forgive. And the matter of his fiancee is a problem indeed, even if she’s a bit sickly looking, but, hmm, who knows what could happen to the poor girl in the future…”

Jeremiah stopped dead in his track, and slapped his own forehead, “Oh Lord, what am I saying? My concern for your happiness, troublesome girl, has had the better of me. I swear on my most trusted servant that I have none but the purest intentions towards my family, and maybe you too. Now, onto the next one, “ he started marching again, this time faster than before, his fingers frantically pointed at a long name. “we have Sir James Francis Rochester! I wish I could say he has aged like fine wine, but worry not! Surely he has other good points, however well hidden they might be. Being quite dead, his wife won’t be able to protest the fruitful relationship you would share with the man if my words are wisely heeded. What’s more, he also has a beautiful daughter…” at this, Jeremiah stopped briefly, and for that one moment, bright light vanished from his brilliant eyes.

The mere moment passed, and he continued, almost as enthusiastic as before:
“Where was I, ah right, he and I are the closest of friends. Indeed, the other day I gave him some vital advice on how we should deal with the general unhappiness in our country, old James quite liked my idea of the daily flower quota. Yet he hurried me along in quite a haste. Old people, I tell you, can’t get enough time grumping alone. But let that deter your determination not! Ages matter little in love. What matters is that people, some at the very least, consider him the most remarkable figure outside of these walls. My friends, however,…”

The endless subject ended abruptly as the dining room came into sight. Just before the door, Jeremiah turned on his heels.

“Here,” he ripped off the page and handed it to Clara, “take time to examine, needy girl, I have a nightmarish dinner to attend.” Having said that, he became busy fixing his clothes and hair with a pocket mirror.

Adeline smiled when Princess Genevieve told her she wanted to keep the little puppy it was too adorable to let the small animal on their own, she felt a little embarrassed when the Princess mentioned the puppy took a liking for Adeline and smile shyly at the compliment.

When the Princess asked her about her stay in the palace Adeline took a brief moment to think her reply she didn't want to make upset the royal family by saying something wrong "I have to admit that is different from Sweden and I'm trying to get used to but even if sometimes I get homesick I'm happy being here and I don't think I need anything you have provided everything I needed so far. Thank you for your interest in me, it makes me feel welcome"

Adeline was taken back when the Princess mentioned that if she wasn't allowed to keep the puppy she could have it "That would be a complete honor Princess Genevieve. I have always wanted to have a dog as a companion, but my mother never allowed me to have one" she admitted to the princess as she looked and pet the puppy "Is Prince Luca interested in animals? Do you think the Prince would be fond of the puppy if I show it to him?" She asked the Princess excitedly thinking she could have something to share with Prince Luca.

When the Princess asked Adeline about her liking towards crafting, the princess of Sweden blushed lightly no one put that much interest in her ability, it wasn't an ability that would make her stand out from the rest of the princess but she loved doing it and being complimented it for it meant a lot to Adeline "Yes, Princess Genevieve I have always loved to do this type of crowns and other crafts, since I was most of the time in bed while growing up I found crafting as a way to spend my time. I'm glad you found my flower crown beautiful it means a lot I can show you one day how to make them or I could make one for you if you want" Adeline said shyly to the Princess.

As soon as she finished talking to the Princess the voice of a male made her jump a little bit and she knew it came towards the guard that was with the Princess, she was taken back but she knew that it was common towards the guards to keep their composure. Adeline got surprised when Princess Genevieve handmaiden interrupted, she wasn't aware of the time and that she needed to make it on time to the dinner she wanted to make a good impression to the King and Queen and the rest of Luca's family "Thank you for reminding I lost track of time every time I'm outside" she replied to the handmaiden and return to reply to Princess Genevieve "Of course I will save you a seat, please don't be late to the dinner" the Princess of Sweeden replied to Princess Genevieve as she saw her leave with other maids.

When Princess Genevieve handmaiden, told Adeline she could guide her to the dinner, she smiled at her and accept her help, still with the puppy in hands Adeline follow the handmaiden until she noticed Prince Luca, Princess Anelisa and Princess Merliva she started heading towards them but stop midway when she realized she still had the puppy in her hands, she told Abigail if she could take care of the little puppy until she was back from dinner after she saw the handmaiden take the puppy with her she went towards the Prince and the two Princess "I hope I'm not interrupting anything important, is a pleasure to see you heading towards the dinner I'm glad I'm not arriving late. I was hoping that Prince Luca and I could arrive together at dinner. If you don't have a problem with that" Adeline said shyly hoping she hadn't embarrassed herself in front of the prince and his sisters.

Interactions: Princess Genevieve ( deer ) Sigismund Clodomir ( Cosmo ) Luca Ravenswood ( NyxNightmare ) Anelissa Ravenswood ( MinTea ) Merliva Ravenswood ( Peckinou )
Mentions:

Emily couldn't help but chuckle when her father questioned the idea there was a glimmer of hope for Christopher. "I'm afraid we have to take what we can from that. The dark and brooding prince will continue to be challenging, I have no doubt of that. Between executions and doing much of the King's work, I suspect you'll have to be quite cunning to catch Christopher at an opportune moment where he's indulging in the more wholesome hobbies of his."

When James complained about the state of the roads, Emily was about to speak up but the man beat her to the punch. Clearly, he knew her all too well as she was indeed about to remind him resolving such an issue was in fact his own territory. Regardless, she couldn't resist teasing her father. "Let's hope when the time comes, this country's next Prime Minister is one who listens to the people and fixes these darn roads," he joked.

The palace grounds eventually came into view and prompted Emily to get her things together ready to climb out of the carriage into the open air. The carriage stopped at the first set out gates, where the guards peered into the carriage to confirm the identities of those wishing to be granted access to the palace grounds. After being permitted to continue on, the carriage was pulled onto the grounds before the horses were brought to a stop. Rachel climbed out of the carriage, assisted by the footman. She then waited for her father to follow and for the assigned guard to accompany them into the palace...

RayPurchase (Prime Minister) Cosmo (Sigismund)

It hadn't escaped Christopher's attention that Elvira had been admiring the roses where she stood. He was reminded of some years ago when he'd watched Willard planting those rosebushes. The old man always had a story or a lesson for everything. From most people, Christopher would have found such tales insufferable, but the old gardener always made things seem interesting. The mystery as to whether or not the stories were fabricated were often part of the charm as it seemed to make Willard happy to simply have an audience. The story on the day the rosebush was planted was about how the old man's wife had died when they were only in their twenties and the man had never stopped visiting her grave, even decades later. Christopher often wondered if it was a gift or a burden to fall so deeply in love with someone, to be committed to them for all of that time. He was inclined to think it personally a burden, whilst for Willard the memories seemed to be a gift that kept the old man happy, even after so many years had passed.

Elvira had moved herself a short distance from him and when she met his gaze, he turned his head away to break eye-contact and for a time looked towards the rosebush. He nodded his head when asked if he was ready, eventually turning back to look at her. She seemed happy to be in his presence and Christopher didn't quite understand why. He knew he'd been far from as accommodating as a man should ideally be towards the woman he would marry. Not to mention, most people were far from pleased to be in the Prince's company at all. She was patient, he had to give her that. "I will ensure you learn the best routes around the palace. Whilst the corridors might all appear the same, there are unique carvings within the wood and plaster work. If you pay attention to the sculptures and art, you will soon familiarise yourself with the best routes to take." Christopher has spent his life around the palace, not only studying the architecture but also exploring the lesser known areas of the huge building and the secrets within its walls. Not that he was ever meant to spend time thinking about such "trivial" matters as his father never encouraged Christopher to have his own interests and freedoms.

As they approached the dining hall, Christopher knew he wasn't the first of the siblings to arrive, with Jeremiah accompanying Clara there ahead of him. Still, he was far from the last. He had anticipated his detour to locate Elvira would solve the issue of his father lecturing him for not being chivalrous, but in doing so, Christopher had been concerned the act of resolving that criticism would result in him being late. Turned out, he was perfectly on time. The Prince sent Wesley a brief glance, acknowledging the Head of Security's presence, even if he'd seen enough of the man already for one day. After Wesley sent Elvira an encouraging smile, Christopher placed his hand to her back, though was so precise that he managed to make it appear to the observer that he had made physical contact despite the fact his hand didn't touch her and merely hovered close. Christopher pulled out the chair and helped Elvira take her seat before moving to his own place between his fiancee and the King. He sent his father a glare, practically urging the awful bastard to find fault in his behaviour. "Are you well, mother?" Christopher asked the Queen, deciding to ignore his father and not even be subtle about it.

"How is Christopher treating you?" the King quizzed Elvira.

FireMaiden (Elvira)
Mention: Melanin-Gxdess (Arielle)
((Not sure if Tomas is following them? NUSKI ))

From his position to the side of the dining room entrance, Wesley could hear a familiar male voice approaching from down the corridor. It was that of the youngest prince, Jeremiah. Apparently, the young man was rambling about something and Wesley had to maintain a neutral face as he fought back his curiosity as to what the matter was this time.

By the time Jeremiah and Clara walked into sight, the Prince had silenced himself from whatever he'd been speaking to Clara about. The Head of Security maintained his straight posture but he allowed himself to look to the Prince and the noble lady. The way Jeremiah spoke to Clara was rude and dismissive, but it was far from a rare occurrence where at least two of the princes were concerned. As Jeremiah admired his own reflection, Wesley looked to Clara in a way he hoped would reassure her that she wasn't alone. Whether or not either of them liked it, they were to marry and the King's mind was extremely difficult to change.

When he was sure Jeremiah was done preening himself, Wesley took a small step forward and quietly addressed the Prince, with Clara also in earshot. "You both have a dinner to attend," he firmly reminded the Prince. "The King will appreciate seeing you enter the room together," he said, in the nicest possible way to warn the couple of Robert's mood and how to avoid his wrath.

Mqueserasera (Jeremiah) Songbird500 (Clara)

Christopher raised a curious eyebrow though didn't look towards his fiancee as she used the word "lovely" to describe how he'd been with her. Not even the most fickle and empty-headed woman would truly believe his behaviour had been anything close to "lovely". So, he had to deduce that Elvira was playing the game and one which happened to put him favourably where the King was concerned. He couldn't help but smirk slightly as he thought it over and he appreciated that her choice of words might help avoid a confrontation with his father later. He was sure she hadn't answered as she had for his benefit, but he approved nonetheless.

"It's pleasing to hear Christopher has been treating you well, as it would be disappointing had he not been treating his future wife appropriately. As for him being busy, well I'm afraid that's what comes with the title. I would expect no less of my eldest son," he said, sending Christopher a glance before looking back to Elvira with a warm smile. "The festival and ball is rapidly approaching - only days away. I shall ensure Christopher's duties are kept to a minimum and that he spends his time with you."

When Genevieve entered the room to sit opposite him, Christopher looked to her and nodded his head. "Good evening, sister," he flatly replied to her. Despite the lack of energy behind his tone, he was quite fond of his sister. She had a calming and innocent nature about her, which he found surprising given the family she had to endure. He was still on the fence as to whether her lightness and optimism were the product of naive weaknesses or if in fact they were strengths. One would have to be pretty strong to endure the darkness and still walk the palace with a kind heart.

Whilst the others arrived, Christopher's attention was drawn to the cutlery set out in front of him. His upbringing had been a regimented one, with order and control drilled into him - at times, beaten into him. So when he noticed a knife was offset and not quite parallel to the rest of his cutlery, He reached out and used his index finger to move the knife handle with precision until it was in what he deemed to be a perfectly aligned position. His eyes shot up towards the maid responsible, who was standing against the opposite wall awaiting her cue to begin helping served the family. His eyes then caught Anelissa's before he looked back down to the silverware that was still bugging him. He picked up his teaspoon and for a moment observed the smudged fingerprint . He let out a sigh before proceeding to use his napkin to polish the silverware himself. Just has he placed the spoon back down in its position, he caught sight of the maid nervously watching him. She was new to the dining room, of that he was sure. He didn't have a clue what her name was, nor did he care to ask. But she hadn't been stationed in the dining room before and it was his knowledge of her being Margaret's replacement that stopped him from berating her for her poor standards.

"Is there a problem with your cutlery?" Robert questioned Christopher. In the process, drawing attention to the disappointment the Crown Prince had opted to push to the back of his mind.

"No..." Christopher replied. On account of him fixing his nitpicks, it wasn't a lie that there was now nothing wrong with how his place had been set out. With everyone present, Christopher snapped his fingers and nodded to the servants. "Let's get dinner started so it can be over sooner," he ordered. The King had been having him do everything else, so he might as well make sure the old bastard got fed.

Melanin-Gxdess (Arielle) deer (Genevieve) NyxNightmare (Luca) Mqueserasera (Jeremiah) Peckinou (Merliva) MinTea (Anelissa) FireMaiden (Elvira) Stardust Galaxy (Adeline) Songbird500 (Clara)

The shock vibrated through Clara when Jeremiah flat out denied any hope of them having a friendship. It had been a foolish dream and in any other situation she might have stopped dead in her tracks. However, this time it seemed like her legs were on autopilot and she just kept on walking. Thankfully, he’d slowed down enough so she might recollect herself, but Clara had a feeling it wasn’t truly for her benefit but to avoid judgement by others around them. They were, after all, very close to the dining room now and even Clara knew Jerimiah was smart enough not to say anything truly callous in front of his father.

He brought out a small notebook that Clara had never seen before and configured it into a position so she might see what was written on its pages. A list of names with their purpose becoming clear as he spoke. Potential suitors. In this regard Clara had no reaction for the very thoughts had crossed her mind also. But the way in which Jeremiah spoke so nonchalantly about his brother and fiancé was cause for thought. Clara had considered, ever so briefly, finding happiness elsewhere but she hadn’t, however, wished to cause further harm onto any other ladies at court. If she herself was to be in an unhappy marriage she wouldn’t wish to be the bearer of unhappiness to anyone else. Let alone considering what Anelissa might think of her if she did. Jeremiah quickly remedied himself before continuing on with the list of names, even mentioning Sir James Rochester.


And then it was all over and he’d handed her the list before turning away to gussy himself up. It left her with a great a many thoughts that she would have to decipher over dinner. Sadly, the mood would be tempered by the fact she assumed she would be seated next to Jerimiah.

In fact, she had the most deadpan expression on her face when Wesley approached her. Such an interaction reminded her where she was and in response, she plastered a smile on her face, though one could argue it didn’t quite reach her eyes. She was, however, somewhat comforted by his presence and nodded in response to his reminder. Her spirits were lifted even more by the approach of Genevieve, who had been nothing but kind to her during her time at court. Clara tilted her head in thanks at her compliment before following suit into the dining room and taking her seat at the end of the table, making sure to curtsey to the King, Queen and Prince Christopher before doing so.

Upon taking her seat, Clara realised she had yet to see Anelissa at all that day and so greatly desired her comfort. Even if they didn't go into the full details of what had transpired between herself and Jeremiah, speaking to Anelissa always helped take her mind off things. However, depending on how things went this evening it might very well end up being Clara that was comforting her friend.

Mqueserasera (Jeremiah) Misty Gray (Wesley, King Robert, Prince Christopher ) deer (Genevieve) MinTea (Anelissa) Melanin-Gxdess (Queen Arielle)