Maeve had not been interested in Julianna's being reunited with the lowly prince. Even less so in the disruption Lord Hartwydt threatened to bring to it. Which was not very responsible of her, but for now her attention was on Master Rivers. She had gotten a taste of his clever manipulations while she visited with him about the matter of the forged invitation. It seemed he had already begun his work on Jean-Etienne. Which was effortless, really. The sensitive prince was easy to rile up. It was likely her low chuckle smothered by closed lips that drew his attention to her. She'd caught him with his mask off for a moment. He interrupted her spying on his elaborate tattoos by pulling down his sleeves and her violet gaze darted to his face.
"Master Rivers," she returned, as propriety dictated with a gentle smile. She turned her face to where her queen stood, observing in the same way as he. She took note of how Julianna still stood closer to the emperor than her supposed betrothed. How the smile she wore for the Eskran and his antics was absent in the presence of the prince. "You may be surprised to find that they won't be as complicated as you might think," she mused back to him. The thought did not please her, but she knew Julianna well enough to be confident in her words. The queen was breaking her engagement to Jean-Etienne, she knew that was a fact.
It was starting to occur to the handmaiden that the queen had some idea of who would replace him.
"You are not wrong, however. When you speak of consequences."
Julianna hid a chirrup of sharp laughter behind a cough. A hand raised to her mouth to smother a smile. "Stop it," she hissed at the vulgar emperor between her fingers. Her eyes shined with amusement. She couldn't have him making her laugh by teasing the prince when he was standing right in front of her.
She cast her eyes over the crowd. It was then that she noticed just how many Eskrans occupied her courtyard. Naturally, they did not outnumber her own guards and servants, but they easily swarmed the travelers from Delenveaux. A touch of concern gripped her suddenly. Her stomach fell. Such a large force had moved in right under her nose, and she knew that the emperor had more troops at the edges of her city. Julianna glanced at the emperor in her periphery.
Mindlessly, she twisted a small ring around her finger with the opposite hand. Did Eskra have plans to invade under the guise of peaceful accommodations?
With her head elsewhere, she took one of Owen's hands with her own. "I will have to have one of my servants bring you a lotion for your skin," she told him, observing the redness. "The sun can do much damage if you're not careful."
Jean-Etienne cleared his throat.
Julianna glanced at him and released the Emperor quickly. She had gotten to used to his over-familiar touching that she forget her own sensibilities. It was doubly noticed by Jean who had just been snubbed at his approach. "Perhaps, we should all retire to our chambers, before this heat gets the best of us all." She smiled, politely. "Lady Maeve will show you and your men to your accommodations Jean-Etienne. I trust my servants will be able to treat you both to whatever you desire."
"Your Majesty. Julianna-" Jean-Etienne interrupted. "I had hoped to spend some time with you upon my arrival-"
"Understandably so," she replied. She did not look sympathetic when she said, "but there are matters I must return to, and I have already postponed too much for your late arrival." Which made Jean frown.
"As queen I have many duties. I'm sure you understand by shadowing your father and brother." She couldn't resist not so subtle jabs towards his status beneath her. "Another time. Soon. I'm sure."
Julianna turned to curtsy sweetly at Owen, and then back to Jean-Etienne to repeat the gesture. Another slight to the prince.
"Enjoy your evening, gentleman." Maeve remained behind while a entourage of guards and maidens accompanied the queen back to the castle.
"Master Rivers," she returned, as propriety dictated with a gentle smile. She turned her face to where her queen stood, observing in the same way as he. She took note of how Julianna still stood closer to the emperor than her supposed betrothed. How the smile she wore for the Eskran and his antics was absent in the presence of the prince. "You may be surprised to find that they won't be as complicated as you might think," she mused back to him. The thought did not please her, but she knew Julianna well enough to be confident in her words. The queen was breaking her engagement to Jean-Etienne, she knew that was a fact.
It was starting to occur to the handmaiden that the queen had some idea of who would replace him.
"You are not wrong, however. When you speak of consequences."
Julianna hid a chirrup of sharp laughter behind a cough. A hand raised to her mouth to smother a smile. "Stop it," she hissed at the vulgar emperor between her fingers. Her eyes shined with amusement. She couldn't have him making her laugh by teasing the prince when he was standing right in front of her.
She cast her eyes over the crowd. It was then that she noticed just how many Eskrans occupied her courtyard. Naturally, they did not outnumber her own guards and servants, but they easily swarmed the travelers from Delenveaux. A touch of concern gripped her suddenly. Her stomach fell. Such a large force had moved in right under her nose, and she knew that the emperor had more troops at the edges of her city. Julianna glanced at the emperor in her periphery.
Mindlessly, she twisted a small ring around her finger with the opposite hand. Did Eskra have plans to invade under the guise of peaceful accommodations?
With her head elsewhere, she took one of Owen's hands with her own. "I will have to have one of my servants bring you a lotion for your skin," she told him, observing the redness. "The sun can do much damage if you're not careful."
Jean-Etienne cleared his throat.
Julianna glanced at him and released the Emperor quickly. She had gotten to used to his over-familiar touching that she forget her own sensibilities. It was doubly noticed by Jean who had just been snubbed at his approach. "Perhaps, we should all retire to our chambers, before this heat gets the best of us all." She smiled, politely. "Lady Maeve will show you and your men to your accommodations Jean-Etienne. I trust my servants will be able to treat you both to whatever you desire."
"Your Majesty. Julianna-" Jean-Etienne interrupted. "I had hoped to spend some time with you upon my arrival-"
"Understandably so," she replied. She did not look sympathetic when she said, "but there are matters I must return to, and I have already postponed too much for your late arrival." Which made Jean frown.
"As queen I have many duties. I'm sure you understand by shadowing your father and brother." She couldn't resist not so subtle jabs towards his status beneath her. "Another time. Soon. I'm sure."
Julianna turned to curtsy sweetly at Owen, and then back to Jean-Etienne to repeat the gesture. Another slight to the prince.
"Enjoy your evening, gentleman." Maeve remained behind while a entourage of guards and maidens accompanied the queen back to the castle.
I fear no fate (for you are my fate, my sweet) I want no world (for beautiful you are my world, my true) and it’s you are whatever a moon has always meant and whatever a sun will always sing is you.
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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
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 12-24-2016, 05:57 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 12-26-2016, 01:17 PM
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
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 12-28-2016, 08:29 PM
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
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 06-22-2017, 09:00 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 06-22-2017, 10:08 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 06-22-2017, 10:37 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 06-24-2017, 05:36 AM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 06-24-2017, 07:29 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 06-25-2017, 09:11 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 06-25-2017, 09:57 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 06-25-2017, 10:18 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 06-26-2017, 10:29 AM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 06-26-2017, 08:02 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 06-27-2017, 11:32 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 06-29-2017, 12:12 AM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 06-30-2017, 06:01 PM
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
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 11-02-2017, 06:36 PM
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