“Isn’t it?” He asked with an undisguised amusement in his voice.
He couldn’t help himself. She was so … reactionary.
He was remiss to watch the tremulous kitten take a step away from him. He enjoyed the feeling of power that he got by standing over her and teasing her. It sent a rush, an exquisite high, over him. A feeling of hopeless attraction for the small woman trembling before him and blushing as if she might die. Though if he continued on this way it seemed she might fall apart at the seams.
There was something so enticing in the paradox she represented. Not bashful when it came to wearing leathers, riding horses, and confronting an over-entitled emperor. But when it came to the slightest physical contact or even the hint of it, it seemed she ceased to function.
She was making suggestions to visit the market in a slightly shrill voice. That victorious smirk had never left his lips but his left eyebrow twitched upwards displaying he knew full well what he was doing to her. Finally, he inclined his head just a little bit, acquiescing to her plan.
“That sounds wonderful,” he said as he let his cloak slip through his fingers and fall heavily by his side again. “Your dog here can’t stand our halting walk, it seems, we should pick up the pace for his sake.”
He folded his hands behind his back as if to signify that he would spare her his touch for the moment. He walked maintaining a respectful distance between himself and the nervous queen. “You’ll have to meet my pet. I don’t go anywhere without her. Her name is Kenna.” He glanced over at her. “Have you ever pet a tiger? She’s staying in Master Rivers’ chambers while I’m out today.”
Holland was entirely displeased with the timeline the handmaiden thought she could impose upon their stay. The Emperor would certainly demand more time, and besides their next planned engagement with a possible match wasn’t for weeks. They had time to dawdle in Veridian. And Holland very much wanted to linger in the country, make contacts, gather intelligence, and potentially marry off his Emperor in a marriage that would be seen as a power play.
Yes, they would be staying far longer than a week.
And when they left, they’d be taking an empress home with them.
Now she was questioning him about the treaty. He would answer honestly. “I had occasion to review the document when my Lord sent me abroad to learn of the various existing international commodities agreements. He is interested, of course, in entering international export markets and wanted to be sure he understood the lay of the land before approaching his targets.” Holland had taken to pacing. There was something academic in his voice. He was lost in a topic he found compelling. “I found it to be quite an interesting document, this treaty concerning your queen. It was the only promissory pertaining to grain exports that also included a betrothal to a future monarch.”
He turned back to Maeve and boldly seized her hand to remove it from her mouth. Stepping closer, he kept her hand and his tone of voice became confidential. “Between you and I, Lady Maeve, Delanveaux got too much out of the agreement. It is a liability to your queen and she should be rid of it and sooner risk conflict than marry beneath her to a family and nation with financial woes that could drain even the Veridian Monarchy’s historic wealth.”
He released her then. “It’s just a humble man’s opinion of course. She could perhaps look to Eskra for a better agreement?”
He couldn’t help himself. She was so … reactionary.
He was remiss to watch the tremulous kitten take a step away from him. He enjoyed the feeling of power that he got by standing over her and teasing her. It sent a rush, an exquisite high, over him. A feeling of hopeless attraction for the small woman trembling before him and blushing as if she might die. Though if he continued on this way it seemed she might fall apart at the seams.
There was something so enticing in the paradox she represented. Not bashful when it came to wearing leathers, riding horses, and confronting an over-entitled emperor. But when it came to the slightest physical contact or even the hint of it, it seemed she ceased to function.
She was making suggestions to visit the market in a slightly shrill voice. That victorious smirk had never left his lips but his left eyebrow twitched upwards displaying he knew full well what he was doing to her. Finally, he inclined his head just a little bit, acquiescing to her plan.
“That sounds wonderful,” he said as he let his cloak slip through his fingers and fall heavily by his side again. “Your dog here can’t stand our halting walk, it seems, we should pick up the pace for his sake.”
He folded his hands behind his back as if to signify that he would spare her his touch for the moment. He walked maintaining a respectful distance between himself and the nervous queen. “You’ll have to meet my pet. I don’t go anywhere without her. Her name is Kenna.” He glanced over at her. “Have you ever pet a tiger? She’s staying in Master Rivers’ chambers while I’m out today.”
____
Holland was entirely displeased with the timeline the handmaiden thought she could impose upon their stay. The Emperor would certainly demand more time, and besides their next planned engagement with a possible match wasn’t for weeks. They had time to dawdle in Veridian. And Holland very much wanted to linger in the country, make contacts, gather intelligence, and potentially marry off his Emperor in a marriage that would be seen as a power play.
Yes, they would be staying far longer than a week.
And when they left, they’d be taking an empress home with them.
Now she was questioning him about the treaty. He would answer honestly. “I had occasion to review the document when my Lord sent me abroad to learn of the various existing international commodities agreements. He is interested, of course, in entering international export markets and wanted to be sure he understood the lay of the land before approaching his targets.” Holland had taken to pacing. There was something academic in his voice. He was lost in a topic he found compelling. “I found it to be quite an interesting document, this treaty concerning your queen. It was the only promissory pertaining to grain exports that also included a betrothal to a future monarch.”
He turned back to Maeve and boldly seized her hand to remove it from her mouth. Stepping closer, he kept her hand and his tone of voice became confidential. “Between you and I, Lady Maeve, Delanveaux got too much out of the agreement. It is a liability to your queen and she should be rid of it and sooner risk conflict than marry beneath her to a family and nation with financial woes that could drain even the Veridian Monarchy’s historic wealth.”
He released her then. “It’s just a humble man’s opinion of course. She could perhaps look to Eskra for a better agreement?”
Bitch, I'm limited edition.
The following 1 user Likes saronym's post: megs
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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
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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
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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
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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
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RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 02-07-2020, 02:26 PM
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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