French Fantasy 1x1 Anna and Echo

[EchoOfShatteredIce]

"She seems nice enough." He didn't like how he was blushing. Did he like the princess a little too much? "Would you want to go with them? She seems almost like she'd be interested in courting with you."

"Okay," she whispered. She sat down on the stool and took the ice wrapped in cloth, holding it to her cheek. "Yes. I didn't know this was happening. If I had I would have done something sooner. I can't believe they're treating her like this. And all over a rumor!"

[AnnaCat17]

Luien snort laughed and shook his head. "No. I am happy here. Whether or not that is true about her she doesn't have the right parts for my taste and is a little too much for me to handle. It would be like dating a hunting dog with a rabbit in the room. Id never get to relax." he looked at Callias and smirked at his worried expression. "Besides, i have my hands full as it is with you."

Gale cringed a bit. "I doubt its a rumor. The rumor seemed to be that the king was going to propose to her because from what I heard they only spoke once and then Delphine was seen flirting with everyone but him." He sat on a stool across from her, watching her worriedly. "I know this may not be entirely right to say but why are you getting involved in this? If she wanted something done she has had plenty of chances to tell the king herself. She was his favorite for a year after all."

[EchoOfShatteredIce]

Callias relaxed, relieved. He smiled slightly, wanting to take Lucien's hand, but they were in public. "I'm glad," he admitted. "I wouldn't want you to go."

"Well, they don't know if it's true or not, and acting out because of something that might not be true is awful." She held the ice to her cheek, not looking at him. "I care about her. If she won't reach out and get help, I will."

[AnnaCat17]

Lucien smiled at him, enjoying to see him relax at Lucien's promise not leave since it reinforced his knowledge that Callias really did love him. "Dont worry. You are stuck with me until you are done with me. I am happy making a life here for as long as I can. I want to see the leader you are destined to become first hand."

Gale sighed but didnt fight her on it. He had been prepared to kill the king to protect his sister and knew he would do the same for Ilaria. "I understand. I just hope this doesnt turn bad for you."

[EchoOfShatteredIce]

Callias smiled, reaching out and running his fingers through Lucien's hair affectionately. "Good." They went to the first meeting, and he became serious again as the discussion began.

Nadia nodded, reaching up and wiping the tears off her face. "Thank you for helping me. I don't even know your name."

[AnnaCat17]

The advisers carried on the meeting liek usual. Giving news to Callias and occasionally askign for his input on the mundane but as the meeting began to wind down the head adviser cleared his throat, about to bring up something everyone was clearly worried about "Your highness, before you go there are two topics that we feel need to be addressed. The first beign the Duchess Delphine. The behavior of you two has led many to believe you have dismissed her from your company and will begin courting again. As your adviser's we worry that perhaps you are rushing into things. When this festival idea doesn't work you are going to need something powerful to do to assure the people your line will not die out. Delphine was that insurance."

Gale smiled faintly at her. "im Gale. Im one of the gardeners here. Nothing important so im not surprised you dont know me." he got up and offered her his arm. "Lets go find Ilaria. She will eb able to get you a meeting with the king."

[EchoOfShatteredIce]

Callias refrained from showing his frustration. "I have not dismissed her from my company. I am still courting her. There is no need to worry about that. I think the festival idea is working, but I am taking into consideration everything else. I just need some time to work things out with Delphine." He hated this, but he knew he needed to find a way to produce a heir, whether it would be with Delphine or not. He was only interested in having children with Lucien, but he knew that wasn't possible. "And the second topic?"

"I'm Nadia. And I don't know of a lot of people, so I wouldn't take it personally." She smiled slightly at him, getting up and taking his arm. "Thank you, Gale."

Ilaria was sitting in the garden, twirling a flower in her hand as she thought, an unhappy frown on her face.

[AnnaCat17]

The head adviser looked at the others for support but they avoided his gaze. Lucien was pretending to ignore them all as he wrote in his book. He knew what was coming and new better than to get involved. The head adviser cleared his throat. "We feel that it is time you dismissed Mr. Baudien. He was banished under your father's reign and has no title warinting his attendance in meetings such as this. We turned a blind eye while you were ill but now that you are healed and fully in position we feel that it would be in the best interest of not only you but the country to send him back to england where he belongs. Revoking the banishment your father placed on him is... disrespectful to his memory. And anyways, an englishman has no right to be influencing French laws, especially when he is nothing more than a commoner who has lived his life in practically poverty. he knows nothing of our way of life."

Gale escorted Nadia out to Ilaria, giving her a smile as he approached. "hey. We need your help getting an audience with the king. Its about the Duchess Delphine and since you seem to be a favorite of the king we hoped you could help."

[EchoOfShatteredIce]

Callias stiffened when they mentioned his father and accused him of disrespecting his memory. "Let me make this clear. Mr. Baudien is free to stay here for as long as he likes. He is now one of my advisors and personal assistants. He knows plenty about our way of life, and I am certain his point of view will be useful to all of us. I do not want to hear any more about issues involving him. Is that all?"

Ilaria looked up as they came over to her, dropping the flower onto her lap, swallowing nervously. "Alright. But we need to talk afterwards, Gale. It's about Fleur." She got up, brushing the flower from her dress. "Would you like be to try now to get an audience with the king? Will he be busy?"

[AnnaCat17]

the adviser dipped his head in respect but it was clear to see he was furious at the news they would be keeping Lucien. "Yes, your majesty. My apologies if i caused any offense." The advisers gathered their things and steadily left, avoiding looking at Callias and Lucien as they did so. Lucien yawned, just to annoy the advisers, and closed his book once they had all finally left. "And you said these meetings are boring." he teased, unbothered by the hatred of him since he was used to it. "What are you going to be up to today?" He asked Callias as he watched him from across the table.

Gale shrugged. "I dont know what the king does. But ya, I think Nadia here would appreciate the sooner the better." he followed her towards the castle, letting go of nadia and trusting ehr to follow. "Did something happen between you and Fleur? if she said something to you Ill get her to apologise, dont worry."