Grey eyes made nearly imperceptible saccades over the queen’s countenance noting carefully the change in shade on her skin. He rolled his lips inward for a breath to avoid smirking at her anymore than he already had. His pride was as readily on display as her modesty seemed to be.
With her arm tucked between his side and his own arm, Owen guided the queen farther into the gardens. As Julianna wove fictions about how her prince hadn’t been displaced by him, Owen was left feigning surprise and concern.
“A prince!” His tone turned to faux excitement. He teased at her nudging her side again. “How exciting for you.” There was a hint of sarcasm in his syrupy fake elation for the honor of her princely guest. “I hope I haven’t cast a shadow on his arrival. I know my presence caused quite a stir.” In fact, the Emperor hoped indeed to have outplayed the prince who would no doubt arrive in the usual manner, free of controversy. How boring.
He feigned an expression of remorse paired with a concerned hum in the back of his closed mouth. Shaking his head, he patted her hand, “Delayed? You don’t say.” His sarcasm was thicker now. They both knew who was responsible. Or she seemed willing to cast accusations. “Our party made our journey timely. I believe we should have been on similar paths to the capital.” Owen shrugged it off as if he had no idea what could have happened to the unfortunate prince. “So long as he arrives safely, I suppose.”
Owen stopped to sniff at white blooms on a tree as Julianna mentioned an upcoming event. “Harvest Faire, how charming.” He muttered pleasantries he’d learned on his marriage tour. He certainly liked parties. He liked going to parties, more than talking about parties.
Holland had busied himself that morning with getting settled in Veridian. That is to say, ensuring the Emperor got settled in Veridian. He was mortified to learn that the Emperor had picked over breakfast, refusing to eat anything but fruit from that meal forward. The man had been taken with the fresh fruit so readily available in Veridian and so rare in Eskra. He would have to discuss the Emperor's dietary demands with the kitchen staff and somehow ensure the man received proper nourishment despite his impractical demands.
He could have tolerated the fruit, if the Emperor hadn’t insisted on also swimming naked and alone in the sea despite untold, unknown risks. The Emperor of an expanded and unsettled Eskra, with no successor, and no heir taking unnecessary risks set Holland on edge.
And to further make his day worse, Lord Hartwydt had outright refused to respond to correspondences sent from several of the outstanding matches, including one that Holland was arranging after their visit to Veridian. Holland was left reading the love letters of expectant noble women the Emperor had lazily and unemotionally courted. He had learned Owen’s hand and painstakingly taken to responding on his lord’s behalf, when a knock on his door drew his attention.
Unlatching the door, Holland opened it to find Maeve much to his surprise as he was certain some other messenger was sure to deliver him more work. He inclined his head in a polite show of respect to the woman in a dress that emphasized the fetching color of her eyes. “Good morning, Lady Maeve.” Moving away from the door, he gestured for her to enter his chambers.
“To what do I owe this -” his eyes flicked to her fingers which had her attention, “...visit?” Just as he finished his question, Holland reached for her hand to inspect her fingers. His thumb ran over the ink stained pads of her fingers before he released her. “Come, I have a serum for ink stains. It’ll take that right off for you.”
He turned away from her to crouch before a large wooden chest. “I’m sure you didn’t come see me for stain remover.” He chimed pleasantly as he pushed aside books stacked inside to retrieve yet a smaller box. Holland waved for her to follow him to the desk. He moved the letters aside to make room for the smaller wooden box which he opened to reveal a number of vials with liquids. Holland inspected several bottles before opting for one with a viscous blue liquid in it.
“Almost positive this is it. If it’s not, well, I’ll be sorry about your fingers.” He winked and smiled to indicate he was kidding as he pulled a handkerchief from his pocket to dab with the blue liquid. “May I?” He held his hand out and waited for her permission before he cleaned her fingers with the serum.
With her arm tucked between his side and his own arm, Owen guided the queen farther into the gardens. As Julianna wove fictions about how her prince hadn’t been displaced by him, Owen was left feigning surprise and concern.
“A prince!” His tone turned to faux excitement. He teased at her nudging her side again. “How exciting for you.” There was a hint of sarcasm in his syrupy fake elation for the honor of her princely guest. “I hope I haven’t cast a shadow on his arrival. I know my presence caused quite a stir.” In fact, the Emperor hoped indeed to have outplayed the prince who would no doubt arrive in the usual manner, free of controversy. How boring.
He feigned an expression of remorse paired with a concerned hum in the back of his closed mouth. Shaking his head, he patted her hand, “Delayed? You don’t say.” His sarcasm was thicker now. They both knew who was responsible. Or she seemed willing to cast accusations. “Our party made our journey timely. I believe we should have been on similar paths to the capital.” Owen shrugged it off as if he had no idea what could have happened to the unfortunate prince. “So long as he arrives safely, I suppose.”
Owen stopped to sniff at white blooms on a tree as Julianna mentioned an upcoming event. “Harvest Faire, how charming.” He muttered pleasantries he’d learned on his marriage tour. He certainly liked parties. He liked going to parties, more than talking about parties.
____
Holland had busied himself that morning with getting settled in Veridian. That is to say, ensuring the Emperor got settled in Veridian. He was mortified to learn that the Emperor had picked over breakfast, refusing to eat anything but fruit from that meal forward. The man had been taken with the fresh fruit so readily available in Veridian and so rare in Eskra. He would have to discuss the Emperor's dietary demands with the kitchen staff and somehow ensure the man received proper nourishment despite his impractical demands.
He could have tolerated the fruit, if the Emperor hadn’t insisted on also swimming naked and alone in the sea despite untold, unknown risks. The Emperor of an expanded and unsettled Eskra, with no successor, and no heir taking unnecessary risks set Holland on edge.
And to further make his day worse, Lord Hartwydt had outright refused to respond to correspondences sent from several of the outstanding matches, including one that Holland was arranging after their visit to Veridian. Holland was left reading the love letters of expectant noble women the Emperor had lazily and unemotionally courted. He had learned Owen’s hand and painstakingly taken to responding on his lord’s behalf, when a knock on his door drew his attention.
Unlatching the door, Holland opened it to find Maeve much to his surprise as he was certain some other messenger was sure to deliver him more work. He inclined his head in a polite show of respect to the woman in a dress that emphasized the fetching color of her eyes. “Good morning, Lady Maeve.” Moving away from the door, he gestured for her to enter his chambers.
“To what do I owe this -” his eyes flicked to her fingers which had her attention, “...visit?” Just as he finished his question, Holland reached for her hand to inspect her fingers. His thumb ran over the ink stained pads of her fingers before he released her. “Come, I have a serum for ink stains. It’ll take that right off for you.”
He turned away from her to crouch before a large wooden chest. “I’m sure you didn’t come see me for stain remover.” He chimed pleasantly as he pushed aside books stacked inside to retrieve yet a smaller box. Holland waved for her to follow him to the desk. He moved the letters aside to make room for the smaller wooden box which he opened to reveal a number of vials with liquids. Holland inspected several bottles before opting for one with a viscous blue liquid in it.
“Almost positive this is it. If it’s not, well, I’ll be sorry about your fingers.” He winked and smiled to indicate he was kidding as he pulled a handkerchief from his pocket to dab with the blue liquid. “May I?” He held his hand out and waited for her permission before he cleaned her fingers with the serum.
Bitch, I'm limited edition.
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Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 12-16-2016, 02:18 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 12-18-2016, 04:25 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 12-23-2016, 08:42 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 12-24-2016, 06:58 AM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 12-24-2016, 03:04 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 12-24-2016, 04:01 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 12-24-2016, 05:11 PM
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RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 12-26-2016, 03:15 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 12-27-2016, 02:41 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 12-27-2016, 04:15 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 12-27-2016, 07:49 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 12-27-2016, 08:40 PM
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RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 12-28-2016, 08:51 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 01-01-2017, 05:23 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 01-02-2017, 11:48 AM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 01-05-2017, 10:16 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 01-07-2017, 02:21 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 01-11-2017, 03:46 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 01-12-2017, 11:36 AM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 01-16-2017, 09:41 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 01-17-2017, 11:16 AM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 01-17-2017, 10:39 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 01-18-2017, 10:06 AM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 01-19-2017, 09:08 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 01-20-2017, 02:11 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 02-14-2017, 09:10 AM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 02-18-2017, 11:30 AM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 04-12-2017, 08:40 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 05-01-2017, 05:59 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 05-07-2017, 01:59 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 05-07-2017, 09:28 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 05-10-2017, 11:49 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 05-15-2017, 06:25 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 05-30-2017, 08:25 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 06-12-2017, 08:55 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 06-20-2017, 07:46 PM
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RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 06-22-2017, 10:37 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 06-24-2017, 05:36 AM
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RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 07-17-2017, 07:45 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 09-07-2017, 07:37 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 09-10-2017, 11:21 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 09-14-2017, 11:42 AM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 10-17-2017, 04:18 PM
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RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 11-29-2017, 02:14 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 11-30-2017, 04:02 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 02-03-2018, 09:47 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 10-14-2018, 04:46 AM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 11-13-2018, 01:11 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 08-24-2019, 10:57 AM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 08-26-2019, 12:19 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 08-26-2019, 03:55 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 08-27-2019, 01:28 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 08-27-2019, 02:34 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 09-04-2019, 05:21 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 09-05-2019, 04:40 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 12-17-2019, 01:33 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 12-17-2019, 05:29 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 12-28-2019, 08:44 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 01-12-2020, 07:10 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 01-14-2020, 07:14 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 12-29-2019, 02:17 AM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 01-14-2020, 06:11 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 01-17-2020, 02:35 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 01-17-2020, 05:02 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 01-31-2020, 06:36 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 02-06-2020, 06:24 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 02-21-2020, 05:59 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 01-20-2020, 04:42 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 02-01-2020, 02:51 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 02-07-2020, 02:26 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 02-21-2020, 09:46 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 03-01-2020, 05:47 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 03-10-2020, 07:28 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 07-04-2020, 12:48 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 07-25-2020, 12:57 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 03-02-2020, 11:19 AM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 03-14-2020, 12:34 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 07-23-2020, 09:57 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 08-25-2020, 11:02 AM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 09-12-2020, 01:02 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 09-25-2020, 01:11 PM