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Post by Soraya de la Cruz on Jul 15, 2011 19:44:07 GMT -5
I always loved coming back to Terre d'Ange, ready for the fun and glittering allure of court, although I suppose it would be dulled considering the strife happening at the border. Palace security had been increased since I last arrived. Visitors were still free to roam, but there was an air of tension. The prince had recently awakened from the coma, and I was curious to see how he was dealing, waking up to a country that had just declared war, his sister coronated instead of himself.
I stalked around the palace like a restless cat. I didn't leave Aragonia just to arrive at another stuffy court.
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Post by Silvana de Lucca on Jul 15, 2011 20:00:43 GMT -5
Ah, but my Christien was better, my Christien was awake. My Christien was sitting on the throne of Terre d'Ange – he shone, though lither than before, though still convalescing, he shone.
Meanwhile, I worried about him and the long hours he put in the country's welfare, and I missed him. I'd taken to ordering a new wardrobe from a Yeshuite clothier whom I thought well of. Between fittings, I read, between readings, I lounged, I wrote to my brothers, I sought out news of Noemi.
I'd heard between the branches that Victoire had been ordered to go to Camlach. I was grateful to Coretta for that – even if I couldn't tell how much of it was to help me, and how much of it was to spite Victoire or help in the war.
For now, I was merely exploring the South Wing, pausing every so often to examine a painting, a sculpture. There were long and high windows looking into the gardens, and the light was beautiful.
I smiled, sadly, thinking of Lucca and of the Palazzo di Schio in La Serenissima. I thought of Arianna – who had never made it to her wedding, and now with Camlach in turmoil, who would know?
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Post by Soraya de la Cruz on Jul 15, 2011 20:20:20 GMT -5
I slinked through the hallways, superficially admiring the way they managed to make the decor a conglomeration of foreign artwork, when I noticed a woman gazing thoughtfully out into the gardens. She wasn't D'Angeline, that was for sure, but she had a similar self possessed carriage that so many of them flaunted. I drew nearer to her.
"A ducat for your thoughts?"
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Post by Silvana de Lucca on Jul 15, 2011 20:38:07 GMT -5
I nigh startled when a woman adressed me – and I squared my shoulder, though the lock of hair which ever hides my mole was kept stubbornly in place.
“I beg our pardon?” I said, surprised by the direct address.
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Post by Soraya de la Cruz on Jul 15, 2011 20:45:05 GMT -5
Her words had a slight accent to them. Caerdicci, was my guess. Probably not used to such forwardness then. I swept a curtsey. "Forgive me my ill-manners. I'm Soraya de la Cruz. You just looked like you were contemplating something very interesting."
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Post by Silvana de Lucca on Jul 15, 2011 21:38:05 GMT -5
“Silvana de Lucca,” I replied, and returned a similar curtsey. “I was merely lost in thought,” I replied, because I had no desire to empty my soul to a stranger.
“And thinking that perhaps a walk in the gardens would do me good, if I were to bother to take a parasol with myself.”
It was inane conversation, but what else was there at court? But I had a duty to be friendly – if only because of my connection to the man who sat on the throne.
“If you have no plans, perhaps you would like to accompany me, Signora de la Cruz?”
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Post by Soraya de la Cruz on Jul 16, 2011 0:17:47 GMT -5
I inclined my head. "Well met, Lady de Lucca." Could it be the same woman who they said was consorting with the Prince? I wouldn't be surprised if it was. Normally I would have taken a hint, she seemed to invite me to walk out of politeness more than anything, but there was nothing else to do and meeting new people was always... interesting. I gave her my most charming courtier's smile and nodded.
"I would like that very much, thank you. D'Angeline gardens are among the prettiest in the world, I believe."
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Post by Silvana de Lucca on Jul 16, 2011 1:24:37 GMT -5
There was something false about her smile – forced, perhaps. I disliked it like I disliked falsehood in general, but returned a similar smile.
“So I'm told,” I replied elegantly, “I'm very sorry, my parasol is in my quarters, I will just request it, a bare moment, please.” I turned to make my request, then had an unplanned moment of hospitality, and asked, “Forgive me, are you a palace guest as well? If not, I may send for two, rather than one.”
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Post by Soraya de la Cruz on Jul 16, 2011 5:02:42 GMT -5
"I am staying in the Aragonian quarters," I explained. "But thank you kindly. In any case, I prefer not to use one. The sun is harsher in Khebbel-im-Akkad and Aragonia so I'm rather used to it."
As we waited for the servant to return with her parasol, I subtly studied her a little more. "Are you also here visiting?"
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Post by Silvana de Lucca on Jul 16, 2011 10:36:27 GMT -5
Ah, name-dropping. Was she trying to impress me? And what was this line of questioning, which I found odd and vaguely suspicious – I reckoned, most knew who I was, here, even though I wasn't flaunting it. The bedamned mole on my cheek marked me, for one. And Christien visited often enough for rumors to spread.
“Aye, after a fashion,” I replied, “Many here were once my guests in La Serenissima, and now the favor is returned. What of yourself?”
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Post by Soraya de la Cruz on Jul 16, 2011 22:45:54 GMT -5
Oh she was delightfully chary, one of those paranoid characters, but it was to be expected if she was in a relationship with his majesty.
"La Serenissima, how lovely! I always say to my father that we never visit it enough but he is bound by duty I suppose," I was chattering like an airhead and I knew it, but I wanted to see if she would openly express her ire. "He is an ambassador you see, so I follow him whichever way the wind blows."
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Post by Silvana de Lucca on Jul 16, 2011 23:48:25 GMT -5
“That sounds lovely,” I replied evenly. “Are you not bound to get married, eventually, to someone rich and important?”
Do take the time to enjoy yourself while you can, I didn't add. I'd always, somehow, expected that Aragonians might have more in common with us than the D'Angelines.
It seemed I was absolutely wrong. Hah.
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Post by Soraya de la Cruz on Jul 17, 2011 1:25:12 GMT -5
Chilly, oh so chilly. When she mentioned marriage I took the overly sweet attitude down a notch and shrugged.
"Isn't that what every ideal noblewoman is meant to strive for?" my tone was light though my words were not. "Perhaps one day. Though I don't particularly relish the prospect."
"I think the D'Angelines have the right of it," I continued seriously. "Love as thou wilt. And if they're rich and important as well then that's good too."
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Post by Silvana de Lucca on Jul 17, 2011 11:15:57 GMT -5
“Even the D'Angelines have to contend with arranged marriages,” I replied, shrugging a little. “Do not think that being here will spare you – if you are half as important as you claim to be, then somehow that will come into play, one day.”
I was thinking, bitterly, of my disappeared friend – Asherat, if Arianna had died...
I didn't want to think what I'd do.
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Post by Soraya de la Cruz on Jul 17, 2011 18:48:43 GMT -5
"Arranged or not, they still have to consent or it is heresy," it sounded like the subject was a delicate one for her, so I decided not to pursue it. I held my tongue altogether, the slightly disdainful reference to my status indicated that she wasn't particularly warming to me.
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Post by Silvana de Lucca on Jul 17, 2011 19:18:23 GMT -5
“So they say,” I replied, and looked out into the garden.
I'd heard rumors – about Coretta's marriage, particularly. She may have consented, but did she love that man? Did he love her? Rumors were full of lies, true. They also sometimes held a kernel of truth.
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Post by Soraya de la Cruz on Jul 17, 2011 20:56:22 GMT -5
Sometimes the most successful and affectionate marriages are borne from arrangement, like my parents', but I kept the thought to myself. My companion's answers had become rather curt and I did not wish for her to be set against me over such a bizzarre conversation. Although, knowing me it was probably too late for that now. "Peace," I said without guile. "I'm sorry if my manner has offended you."
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Post by Silvana de Lucca on Jul 17, 2011 21:58:03 GMT -5
I took a deep, steadying breath. Her apology mollified me, and I waved it off, as if there was nothing to apologize for.
“Tell me, Lady de la Cruz,” I asked, evenly, still, though I was a bit annoyed, still. “How long have you been here, a guest at the Palace?”
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Post by Soraya de la Cruz on Jul 17, 2011 22:23:26 GMT -5
"I arrived but a few days ago," I answered mildly enough. "Normally, I'd stay in Namarre but my father thought the city safer this time around."
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Post by Silvana de Lucca on Jul 18, 2011 11:05:01 GMT -5
“The war is changing many things for those out,” I agreed. “And certainly the city is safer.” I took a breath through my nose, and was interrupted in my words by the servant, coming to bear my parasol.
“Ah!” I said, pleased to have it at last. “Did you get lost again, Augustus?”
He smiled sheepishly, and I chuckled, saying, “Well, walk with myself, and with the Lady de la Cruz. We will take to the gardens.”
I tilted my head towards her, and added, “And perhaps start this over, properly, if it pleases you, mylady?”
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Post by Soraya de la Cruz on Jul 19, 2011 2:42:50 GMT -5
I nodded and smiled as we began to walk to the gardens. "It would." It seemed we had come to a sort of truce and I didn't want to break it so easily, so went for much the same topic she had introduced. "Have you been in the city long?"
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Post by Silvana de Lucca on Jul 19, 2011 11:27:58 GMT -5
“A matter of months,” I replied as the corridor's expanse extended itself before us. “Though I've not visited much – my duties at the palace kept me occupied until very recently.”
It coincided, of course, with Christien's awakening, and his return to sit the throne of Terre d'Ange. It had left me both elated and a bit idle, and betimes, the lack of purpose made me irritable.
Even if I knew I had one: my purpose was to be his lover, to shoulder adversity with him, to see that he was well at all times. That would have been purpose enough, had I been able to perform it, but one does not coddle a ruler as one wishes – the needs of the nation are a horde of demanding and treacherous mistresses, too.
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Post by Soraya de la Cruz on Jul 21, 2011 7:21:05 GMT -5
"It's a sombre time," I agreed. "Hopefully though, things will turn out for the better and they can go back to being as close to peaceful as they possibly can."
I was not sure what stake the Caerdicci had in the war, though if this woman eventually married the prince then it would be a great one indeed.
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Post by Silvana de Lucca on Jul 21, 2011 11:50:38 GMT -5
“I certainly hope so,” I replied after a while thinking of my brother who'd been killed in a border skirmish in Lucca, and I suddenly felt a pang of sadness for Grigori.
That set me to wonder where his widow was. I brushed the thought away.
“War is a dirty, violent business,” I said, “and one I've had enough of for a lifetime.”
One thing was certain, I was grateful that Christien had not had to ride into battle himself – I might have died of worry, even if I would have accepted it as stoutly as any Luccan would.
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Post by Soraya de la Cruz on Jul 21, 2011 21:08:30 GMT -5
I nodded, though I wondered what she could have experienced so young. She seemed my age, or thereabouts. Then again I wasn't as well versed in Caerdicci politics, but it was common knowledge there was always some conflict in those parts. If what they had experienced was anything like the Akkadian war, then I felt sorry for her indeed.
Though I doubted she'd appreciate that sentiment.
"Once is more than enough for a lifetime," I nodded in agreement. It then occurred to me that the newly crowned Queen was also just a girl, just like me, just like the Lady de Lucca. What a burden to be shouldering.
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Post by Silvana de Lucca on Jul 22, 2011 0:31:36 GMT -5
“It is a way of life, for some,” I said thoughtfully. “I suppose perhaps our Camaelline neighbors have more in common with the Caerdicci than I thought.
I took a breath, and decided to make a move that might have been solely political. Perhaps. Or mayhap it was simply the need to have a sense of connection. Perhaps it was both.
“My brother died just a few years ago in battle – and I suspect his successor will take plenty of risks as well. Lucca is not the quietest place to live, or to grow up.”
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Post by Soraya de la Cruz on Jul 23, 2011 6:04:12 GMT -5
I had not expected her to share that information with me, and I felt another bout of sympathy for her. Had she been anyone else I might have laid a hand of comfort on her arm but I was still wary of her prickly nature.
"I am sorry to hear that," I said sincerely, memories of the time my father was caught in the middle of the politics concerning the Akkadian war surfacing. I had barely handled losing my mother to natural causes, I couldn't imagine what it was like for her to lose her brother to something so arbitrary and unjust as war. "Is it still very unrestful? Do you not have a say in some matters?" Of course I knew well enough that women didn't have much sway over their own destinies, let alone anything until they were widowed, but still, daughters and wives of powerful men did sometimes manage to influence decisions.
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Post by Silvana de Lucca on Jul 23, 2011 11:40:21 GMT -5
I gave her a look that said what I thought of such idealism. “I am the Contessa di Schio,” I said, “and my word's influence stops there, though I reckon, I could sway my sweet brother if there was a need for it.” My lips curled in distasted as I went on. “I've nothing to say to our neighbours, however.”
That bade the question, though – what influence did I have in Terre d'Ange, with my connection to Christien? Truth be, the answer bore little interest to me. I was his lover, not his wife, and I had little to no responsibility, save to keep up appearances to the best of my ability and be courteous in all possible instances.
Ah, and to love him. Could I ever leave? I feared not. Asherat bless my good steward.
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Post by Soraya de la Cruz on Jul 24, 2011 5:10:15 GMT -5
She seemed rather cynical, but there were women who had managed to wield considerable influence. Terre d'Ange had a long history of it, the rest of the world was bound to follow soon enough.
"If only women were at the head of every great nation, then there would not be so much strife in our world. Yet I suppose it begins from working in the shadows, women having a word here and there in the ears of those who sit on the throne."
For all her propriety I thought that she would agree with me, at least in part. As a potential consort she was going to have to start having an active political role as a sort of unofficial advisor.
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Post by Silvana de Lucca on Jul 24, 2011 16:03:51 GMT -5
I almost wondered if she knew Yvonne, the way she'd spoken. But of course not. I'd always thought that it had been partially her fault if I'd been sent off to wed Giovanni. Influence indeed. Would I, as she'd done, come to influence this country, I, a foreigner? I had no taste for it.
“As Queen Corretta de la Courcel reigns supreme,” I replied, “this battle is ended, here, and won, do you think not?”
One more thing I needed to add to my list of responsibilities: never let anyone think that I was here for power. I was here for Christien. Had he been the lowliest of shepherds, it would have changed nothing, and I would have loved him just as much.
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