forum a match made in hell (4/4 closed)

Started December 12, 2022 by @menace-to-society

tune

(Hope he's okay. I really like Ezra and Beatrix. <3)

(yeah he is perfect!)

(if y'all want we can start now and arya–is it cool if i call you that?–can finish the form when she has time)

(That's fine with me!)

Beatrix frowned at her reflection in the mirror. She was all dolled up now, face powdered and rouged, and she looked absolutely ridiculous. Her hair was done in an elaborate half-up, half-down style that made her head hurt, and she was absolutely dripping with jewels. Normally she was able to choose how she adorned herself or what she wore–provided it was suitable for the only princess of the Crystallinum Kingdom–but today her clothes were entirely chosen by her parents. They were under the impression that she should impress her fiancé, as if they hadn't already met. Sure, it was years ago and she was sure that both of them had changed a bit since then, but Beatrix didn't care at all. She was basically being sold off like cattle to this man she barely knew, and it was enough to make her seethe. She wanted to rip the elegant pearl necklace off and shove it in his face, but for her brother's sake, she would not.

As much as she resented Magnus for being the crown prince simply because he was a man, she also loved her brother dearly. He was such a kind and gentle soul that it was hard not to love him. Still, without more courage, she had a hard time believing he would make a better ruler than her. Though of course, Beatrix did have her famous temper to argue with that point.

She sighed, smoothing out her dress one last time before the long carriage ride to meet with Prince Hymn. She would remain polite, but she would be cold as ever towards him, making it clear that though they were getting married in a few short weeks, she would not make things easy for him. One shouldn't be allowed to have whatever they wanted because they were male, after all. Of course Prince Hymn might not want this either, but did Beatrix care about that? Not in the slightest. Right now, he was enemy number one.

After several hours of riding stuffed in a fancy carriage, the royal party had arrived. Beatrix was forced to sit with the rest of her family in her frilly, pale blue monstrosity of a dress while they rode, a carriage behind them containing the servants they would need to bring. In that carriage rode Beatrix's handmaid, her mother Lillian's handmaid (Lillian was famously vain and brought her handmaid with her everywhere), and two guards. One of them Beatrix didn't know very well, but the other she was close to, despite her parents' wishes on the contrary. She couldn't help that Ezra was just much more interesting than most of the nobles she had to interact with.

Beatrix's heart started to pound as she descended the carriage, helped by the footman who had driven it there. She was filled to the brim with anxiety and anger as she walked, family behind her, as was tradition, to the grand hall to meet with the prince and his family. Surely they were all poised there, ready to look as hospitable as possible to appeal to her family. Unlike tomorrow, this would be a private affair with only the two royal families and some servants, a quick meeting before a fancy dinner. Then tomorrow, the official engagement ceremony would commence, which would be much more public, and officially start preparations for the wedding itself. Weddings in Crystallinum tradition were a long and complicated affair that required a few weeks of preparation and a lot of public attention. Beatrix could not be less excited.

The doors to the grand hall opened, immediately bringing the discussion that the Alum family was having to a halt. Hymn turned his gaze from his older sister over to the princess of Crystallinum Kingdom, he stared at her for a good few seconds before finally remembering to shift his expression into a smile. She was there with her whole family and a multiple of servants, for some reason, it made him nervous. Though maybe it was because there were only 3 members of the Alum family present, and few servants, as most were busy attending to the queen.

"Good afternoon, Princess Beatrix you look," he paused, evaluating the coffin of an outfit she was in, it was showy at best. "You look as stunning as ever!" He stood up to meet the rest of the family, bowing to each member individually, giving only glances to the servants. "It is a pleasure to meet you all again, it has been much too long since our last chat. Four? Five years has it been?" His stiff manner of speech garnered a chuckle from his older sister, Aurelia, and his younger brother, Caius. It infuriated him, but he paid it no mind.

"Come now, please have a seat. I regret to inform you that Her Majesty could not make it, she is quite ill, so she shall rest till the morrow." As he spoke, a few of the present guards moved forward from their stations at the walls, pulling out a chair for each of the arriving guests from Crystallinum Kingdom, taking two steps back, and then kneeling. An odd tradition among the guards, but a tradition nevertheless.

It took all 3 years of Ezra's training not to burst out into laughter the moment he opened Bea's bedroom chamber to find the princess dolled up and looking like a literal cupcake. So as to not actually laugh and receive Bea's already boiling rage, Ezra gave a brief "good morning, princess," a courteous nod to the bustling servants and to Beau and made his way out, deciding to guard the door "I wouldn't go in there." He warned to another guard, causing him to pulling hand back from the handle.

Eventually, Ezra found himself practically stuffed into the carriage on his way to the Auruem kingdom, much to his disdain. The last time he had been there, granted it was years ago, Ezra had left with a lingering twinge of annoyance. The way the Prince seemed to capture the room's attention but at the same time didn't seem to care. It had confused Exzra, especially coming from a place where it was always so lively and energetic. He could only hope there was growth in the young prince since then.

There had not been. In fact, Ezra believed the Prince had gotten even more stoic if possible. He stood behind Bea and the royal family along with a few other guards and the servants, hands clenched behind him and posture straight though relaxed enough to not rise suspicion. When the Prince made his rounds of greeting the royal family, Ezra meerly raised an eyebrow what he could only describe as a glare towards him and his companions. There was not a chance in hell he'd bow to this man.
He nearly scoffed at the prince's evaluation of Bea. Of course she was stunning but not in that dress. Not in something do rediculous. Ezra had almost preferred if the prince had been honest instead of feed into the lies simply for formalities. Ezra let out a silent breath of relief when they were asked to sit, shadowing Bea to stand behind her chair once she sat, politely refusing a chair of his own. He'd find food later in the servants kitchen once everyone had gone to bed, hopeing they were more accomadatingbthan the prince himself. He tipped his head in slight intrigue when he watched the guards kneel down, praying he wasn't mean to do the same. Did that not hurt? Ezra pulled his eyes away and looked towards the prince when he mentioned his ill mother. In that, and what Ezra hoped, only that, was where he could relate to the uptight royal. A dying mother.

Beau road in silence, still exhausted by the several hours she had put into Beatrix's hair and dress, in the second carriage. She wasn't as excited as some of the others riding with her. The queen's handmaid (Beau didn't know her name) and one of the guards were almost bouncing in their seats, and the other guard, Ezra, seemed annoyed at the fact he had to come along at all. Beau knew that he and Beatrix were friends, and had listened to many a conversation between the two while waiting on the princess.

After they arrived, Beau walked behind Beatrix and her family along with the two guards and the other handmaid. Slightly annoyed at the fact that Ezra continually took her spot directly behind the princess, even though she did enjoy the surprised looks from the castle's servants at a high honored guard standing in the place of a slave.
Beau watched as the stiffly made his way around the room, bowing to the royal family and giving a short speech when he had finished. She stepped back as the guards around the table nelt, except for Ezra who stood awkwardly behind the princess.

Beatrix sat down, eyeing the prince with thinly veiled disdain. She had given him a stiff nod of thanks as he complimented her, earning a look from her mother, but Beatrix didn't care. Lillian wouldn't dare reprimand the bride-to-be in front of her betrothed. Her father, Brandt, just looked tired. He was clearly ready for this whole affair to be over so that he could go back to running the kingdom without having to deal with a temperamental princess, though he kept up a good friendly veneer. Beatrix could read him like a book–though perhaps she was just projecting thoughts onto him, but in this moment she was certain she knew what he was thinking. She couldn't tell how Magnus or any of the Alum royals were feeling at that moment, however. They were a more difficult bunch to understand, which made sense seeing as they hardly ever saw each other.

"It's been five years since we last spoke," Beatrix responded, polite, though her eyes held no warmth. "And I do hope your mother feels better." This last part she actually did mean, because despite her feelings towards Prince Hymn, she didn't want his mother to be in pain.

She glanced over his choice of outfit, deciding it was the proper thing to compliment him back. "And you look"–she paused briefly, as if she were trying to come up with the words–"handsome today. You haven't changed much since we last spoke at all." Every word she said was polite on the surface, but her careful tone and frosty gaze said otherwise. She kept a polite smile on her face, so at least she couldn't be faulted for that. But it would be clear to those watching, especially her betrothed himself–Beatrix did not want to be there. She wondered how much longer this uncomfortable welcome would last before they could eat, as she was quite hungry from the long ride, though of course she could never voice this thought. She didn't remember the Aureum kingdom's traditions as well as she ought to, so she wasn't sure how long was appropriate here. Their whole wedding and ceremony was operating off of a mixture of her kingdom's traditions and his, so as not to offend anyone. It was all so needlessly complicated.

At least Ezra had her back, quite literally. Though he would have to sit at the servants' and guards' table when they all ate, as guards were not considered fit to dine with royalty, no matter how beloved. She wondered how her handmaid, Beau was faring as well. Neither of them could have enjoyed that carriage ride here. Despite the awkward greeting currently happening, she doubted anyone would stop the servants from whispering to each other if they were quiet. Queen Lillian's maid, Helga, was a notorious gossip. Beatrix did not like her much.

Silently, Hymn motioned for the kneeling guards to return to their post, as Beatrix spoke to him. A faint smirk tugged onto his face at the princess's 'handsome' remark, she was just as fake as he, a fact that he had been clear from the moment she walked in.

"I do not mean to keep you all waiting long, though there is one matter I would like to discuss before we eat." His icy eyes swept around the room, lingering on Ezra for just a moment before returning his gaze to the royal family. "It is my request that all parties irrelevant to the conversation stay silent." He took a deep breath, seemingly contemplating what he was about to say heavily. He had settled with Aurelia just before the guests arrived that he would be the one to relay the queen's message, but now that it was time, he was a little unsure.

"It is the request of the Auruem Kingdom that the time of wedding preparations be shortened." His face gained a sorrowful impression, though it was difficult to tell how genuine it was. "We are very aware it is a tradition in Crystallinum Kingdom for wedding preparations to take weeks and be absolutely perfect. However, we have no such time. We do not wish to offend, but merely it is sooth." He fiddled with his gloves and tapped his feet quietly, by no means did he wish for a conflict, but he did fear it. Why did I agree to say this for her? This is ridiculous, he thought to himself, and proceeded to conclude the thought.

"Please tell me your thoughts on this request, so that we may come to a compromise," he finished, is voice ringing out steady within the silent room.

Ezra stood by Bea's chair for a few moments before bowing slightly and stalking off towards the servant and guard's table and taking a seat. He might have said that he could have waited to eat until later but in reality Ezra would give just about anything to eat right now, considering they had all had a rushed breakfast with needing to prepare for the trip here. Nothing more than a few bites of bread with honey would not sustain anyone for the long day they would have had ahead of them so a hearty dinner sounded heavenly. He glanced up in slight surprise when he heard the prince announce a delay, what could possibly be so important that it couldn't be spoken during said dinner. Very well, I can be patient. Ezra subsided and watched the prince, jaw clenching in annoyance at hearing his statement, "any irrelevant parties were to remain silent." If they were so irrelevant why have them remain here? why not have them dine in the servant's quarters instead of needing to remain here and wait.

When Ezra had first been appointed a guard-in-training, he had had a hard time understanding the line that separated royals from everyone else. Even higher nobles toed the thin line of respect and rules that came with interacting with any member of the royal family. For someone like Ezra, nearly a peasant what with his mother ill and his sisters barely old enough to marry, getting a job at the palace was a dream come true, more than that he'd finally be able to take care of his family properly. What he didn't know was that he would have to sacrifice his own self worth down to merely a shadow to maintain the position. While he would gladly protect the royal family, Ezra often questioned the rules that accompanied being a guard and the boundaries he kept himself from crossing each day.

He focused back up to the prince and straightened in his seat, moving his gaze around the table of royals, wondering what was going through their heads. Moving the wedding date closer would be difficult, considering Bea and Hymn barely knew each other, let alone could stand to be in the same room as each other for more than a few hours. Would this really be the smart thing to do so suddenly? Ezra chewed his lip, holding hs breath in anticipation for what the king and queen, or what even Bea thought of this.

Beatrix paled at Hymn's words, her mind racing. Move up the wedding?! She'd been counting on these long preparations for her last weeks of real freedom before she would officially be married, and she had to mentally prepare. She was frozen, unsure what to say for the first time that day. However, she doubted any protests would be taken seriously, so if she did have an objection she would have to think carefully of how to phrase it so it didn't offend anyone. Hurting a royal's feelings would only worsen her situation.

She glanced at her father as he spoke, his brows heavy with consideration. "By how much were you intending to shorten the preparations?" he asked, stroking his graying beard in a perfect picture of a king in thought. "We can surely come to a compromise, but we cannot have them any sooner than in two weeks, perhaps a week and a half if that is more convenient." While he was ever the diplomat when it came to other royals, Beatrix could see the worry lines on his face. While he wasn't too sad to give Beatrix away to these near strangers, he was also quite traditional.

"Shortening the preparations too much feels like one is straying from tradition, is it not?" Beatrix asked carefully, glancing at Magnus for backup. He knew how she felt about this, after all. However, the crown prince of the Crystallinum Kingdom stayed silent, making Beatrix's stomach flip flop with anxiety. Even her brother wouldn't help her out here? She looked back at Prince Hymn, gaze level. "And we all know how valuable tradition is in my kingdom."

Of course her mother, Lillian, always had to contradict her daughter. "Of course tradition is valuable, my dear, but so is harmony," she responded, equally as careful. They were all treading on thin ice with such a controversial topic here, and it was clear everyone knew it. "If Crown Prince Hymn requests that we move up the date, then we can accommodate that."

Beatrix's delicate features hardened for a moment before she remembered to smooth them out. She supposed she had not choice but to agree here, as an argument would only end in someone with more power contradicting her and she had too much pride to beg. "Naturally, you are correct," Beatrix said at last, defeated. She darted a quick, panicked glance at Ezra before looking back at Prince Hymn, once again successfully reigning in her expression. She was good at that, reserving most of her emotions for when she was alone. The only glimpses the others had were her momentary bursts that she quickly covered up. No one in her family had appeared to notice her feelings, not even Magnus, who kept his gaze straight ahead. They had grown apart in recent years, but she always thought he had her back. Perhaps she was wrong.

Hymn smiled at the royal family's response, or in Magnus's case, lack thereof.

"Thank you so much for your understanding!" He pressed his palms together and began to think of how far he wanted the date moved. It was a tough decision, considering that a rescheduling wasn't quite something he wanted either, but with his mother's days shortening, it was the only way for her to make it to their wedding.

"As soon as-" He cut his own sentence off much faster than he had even started it. The glimpses of panic he had seen on Beatrix's face and the ever-so-slightly perturbed expression of the king lurked back into the forefront of his mind. Despite having his own motives, he was swayed slightly by Valentine's family's concerns. He restarted his sentence carefully. "The soonest as is comfortable for the Princess is fine," he stated, staring directly into Beatrix's eyes as he did. Aurelia's head whipped around in shock.

"But, but Hymn!" Her protests were cut short by a glare from Hymn, leaving her to mumble curses to herself for a moment before she regained an elegant smile. "Of course, it is as he said. Though please, realize we value our time here in Auruem Kingdom. And above all else, we value opinions!" Hymn knew exactly what Aurelia was cooking up with that statement, and Caius did too, as he built upon it.

"And with that in mind," he projected, "we would like to hear from our irrelevant parties. Go on, maids, guards, say your piece, we would be delighted to hear it. Right, Prince Hymn?" Hymn's hands parted from each other and took a place on his legs, his legs which were being bruised by the strength with which he was gripping them. There was nothing he had left to do but listen.

"Yes, of course." Hymn said, his expression and tone in no way supporting his welcoming words.

(no worries!)

At the mention of letting the maids and guards speak, both the King and Queen of the Crystallinum Kingdom looked a bit flabbergasted. They had never before considered such a thing. For them, the only thing that mattered was tradition, and secondarily, the opinions of the other ruling family. Magnus raised one thick eyebrow, merely glancing around the room to see if that got any response.

Beatrix herself was intrigued, if she were honest. She was not used to a world in which the maids and guards had any say whatsoever. She was friendly towards them, liking her own maids a fair amount, and being partial to her guard, Ezra, but the king and queen never cared what any of them had to say. When she and Magnus were younger, they had both mingled with the children of the maids, guards, and other servants in the palace happily, though as he got older Magnus's attitude towards them became more of a royal towards his subjects. Beatrix had not changed, still being close with Ezra and even hoping that she could get closer to her lady in waiting at one point. Her willingness to mingle with servants was another thing she was infamous for back in her home kingdom, besides what seemed to define her–her temper and icy demeanor.

She glanced around the room before she would respond to her betrothed's words. She was filled with anxiety, electing not to say anything about what date she was comfortable with, because she was afraid she would say never. And while that was certainly true, it was deeply unhelpful. So instead of responding, she waited for one of the maids or guards to speak up instead. At the very least, it would be interesting and hopefully it would give her a chance to stall while she tried to figure out exactly how to respond.

Ezra nearly choked on the water he had been sipping at, glad that that at least had been served. It was byno means a replacement for actual food but at the very least it was something. So when the prince and his sibling declared they wanted to hear from less amids and guards, Ezra was absolutely baffled, as much as he assumed the royal family were.Stealing a quick glance to their table and looking at Bea, he could only confirm that to be true. What good would their opinion be at a time like this? It didn't matter what they thought so long as the tasks were carried out perfectly.

Ezra glanced around at his companions, seeing most of them muttering softly and almost looking afraid, either to say something wrong and offend the prince, or worse, say something that would put their kingdom in jeopardy.

Ezra cleared his throat and turned his gaze towards the front of the room. "In all honesty, your highness, it matters not what date you have the wedding on, we as servants and guards have to carry out preparations and anything you or our princess may need regardless. Of course later would be preferred to better prepare all of us but if it better suits you to have it early and have your mother there, then I suppose it is understandable. Though, if I may be so bold, In the future, if you wish to have any sort stable relationship with the princess and bride, might I suggest you start communicating with the princess as if you trust her enough to comprehend what is going on. Surely none of us would be as surprised as we are now if only you had sent even a mere message of your intentions earlier to her." Ezra held the princes and princess of aureum's gaze, almost for too long to be deemed respectful but at the last minute, Ezra flicked his gaze away and bowed his head. "Merely a suggestion of course, your highnesses."

What could only have been interpreted as a glare formed on Hymn's face at the mention of his mother, especially with how casually she was referred to. The sentiment seemed to have been shared by his siblings, with Aurelia's arms becoming crossed, and Caius more than obviously rolling his eyes. Hymn raised his hands from their place on his lap and interlocked his fingers. He let out a little chuckle and hardly thought before forming his next sentence, bitterness had since taken his tongue hostage.

"Ah, yes, thank you for your much valued opinion. But please, do not refer to or speak about my mother so flippantly. For your own good, of course. And I thank you for worrying about a stable relationship between the princess and I; however, that is not my goal nor concern. I will take into account your feelings about making preparations easier, but again, I would leave the decision up to the comfort of the princess." Hymn took a deep breath in after speaking, as if he was about to sigh, but the exhale comes out nearly silent as a sigh would be more than improper for a person of his status. Silence sat in the hall for just a moment as his blue eyes scanned around the room, almost as though looking for a victim. And that he found, his gaze locked onto Magnus, who had stayed completely silent through the whole discussion.

"Any other volunteers to speak up?" No move was made to call out Magnus, though with his gaze only flicking away to a servant one in a blue moon, it was more than obvious who he was talking to.