She chuckles softly as she watches Lili go, humming as she got settled in, Nia helping with unpacking and setting out a dress for dinner that night. She washed up before Nia helped her braid her hair and get into a dress for the evening. She hums as she wanders down the halls, just getting used to the palace before she goes to dinner for the evening. She made it to the dining hall and pushes the door open. It never hurt to be a little early.
Lili sat up straight in her chair as she saw Anastasia walk in. She paused for a second and collected herself. Smiling softly. The table was set with four plates and utensils. Lili had a glass of water. "Hello, princess would you like to sit next to me? We have a bit until anyone else joins us." She hoped Nia would sit next to her. It would make her plan a lot easier but she has a backup. quite a few different backups actually.
Anastasia startled ever so slightly when she saw Lili sitting in the dining hall. She offers a small smile, before glancing around the dinner table. She wasn't looking forward to dealing with the king since she could tell he had a bias against her, but she was willing to do this for her country. Besides, if she was getting a wife rather than a husband she was happy. "I'd love to join you." She replies warmly, settling beside the princess. She was elegant even as she sat down, her icy blue eyes flashing as she returned her gaze to the woman beside her.
Lili nodded her soft smile not leaving her lips. "I hope you have been able to settle in alright." She folded her hands on her lap. She had a glass of water in front of her. A servant came forward and offered some wine to Anastasia. Lili kept her eyes on the other princess.
Anastasia nods and leans back elegantly in her chair, it seemed everything this woman did was elegant. She hummed as she takes the wine, taking a small sip before nodding. "Yes, everything is wonderful, I thank you for that." She chuckles and takes another sip of wine, not even breaking eye contact. "So. Please, tell me a bit about yourself, I think it took us both by surprise that we ended up being princesses… not that I'm complaining."
Lili tilted her head as she thought. "Well, it depends on what you would like to know," She took a sip of her water. "I like to study and explore. You have probably guessed but my father is very-" She paused trying to think of a word that wouldn't sound disrespectful. "Traditional but I want to rule, I want to help my people." She looked slightly nervous at the last part making it sound more like a question than a statement.
Anastasia listened intently, a small smile on her lips. She sipped casually at her wine, swirling it ever so slightly. She chuckles softly as the princess thought of a word to describe her father, quite honestly Anastasia would mind hearing an insult or two, however, that could be rather risky. "You a have a good heart, that's hard to come by these days." She chuckles quietly, a small smile on her lips. "But I think that you can do it." She hummed softly as she ran her hand through her hair. "It's odd, really. How traditional your home is… Very different from my home…" She takes a sip of her wine again, shutting her eyes in thought. "But I want to know you… personally. What are your favorite flowers, colors, what makes you smile, what makes you tear up. What music do you like. I want to know you. Not this." She gestured at the princess then herself. "The curtain we have to hold up in front of our families."
Lili nodded shifting in her seat slightly. She was silent for a moment. "That… makes sense." She watched Anastasia as she continued to speak. Trying to read her emotions. "Well, I honestly hate Lilies. They were the only flowers people would give me. I like almost any other kind of flower. especially If they are red. What about you? What is your favorite flower?" As she said that though her parents walked in. Lili straightened slightly. Looking down at her plate as they sat.
Anastasia was a very hard person to read. Her face was emotionless, her eyes like icy pools of deception. Placing an emotion on her was hard, especially if you didn't know what you were looking for. She chuckles softly at the mention of her hating lilies. She found it amusing really. She hummed as she thought for a moment before pausing when the king and queen entered. She bowed her head politely in greeting before leaning over slightly to the princess. "Jade vines." She whispers quietly, barely quiet for the princess to hear. She folds her hands over her lap thoughtfully.
Lili smiled down at her plate when Anastasia told her. Lili and Anastasia's chairs were close. Their shoulder about an inch apart when they are both sitting up. A servant came out and poured the king and queen some wine. The king took a long sip of wine. "Princess Anastasia I hope you have settled in nicely?" He asked placing his glass down. The queen was smiling politely but it didn't reach her eyes. Lili looked over at Anastasia. The servants came out with the first course.
Anastasia sipped quietly at her wine, holding the glass delicately in her slender fingers. She watched as the king took a sip of his wine, her icy cold eyes glancing over the queen and then the king. She knew the queens smile was fake. She paused when the servants came out before turning her attention to the king. "I'm getting settled in quite nicely." She hums as she finishes her wine, waving for a servant to refill it. She wasn't smiling. She never found a use for smiling when it wasn't what she was feeling. Faking her emotions was never her forete.
"Good to know," The king said sitting straighter as a plate was placed in front of him. "Tell me princess how is your homeland doing? I haven't been able to visit in years." Lili perked up hearing that question. She'd tried writing a bit about Anastasia's kingdom but she couldn't find many books on it. She wanted to know how progressive it was. She ate some of her food to stop herself from saying anything just yet.
She nods in thanks when her food was placed in front of her and her wine was refilled. She smiles, "Absolutely thriving. My eldest brother's wedding is a few months away. He's getting married to his husband a month before he takes the throne, which I believe is a bold move." She laughs into her hand. "The market is booming, we've expanded land, our homeless levels have decreased, and the kingdom is celebrating 50 years of same sex marriage." She replies brightly. "It's rather wonderful."
Lili laughed slightly with Anastasia. Her father gave her a look. It wasn't openly disapproving but Lili has seen it enough when there was company over. That didn't stop her from reacting with and at Anastasia. "That sounds amazing. It's what I hope for our kingdom one day," She said looking at the other princess. The king nearly choked on his food at that but he stayed silent.
"You must join me to go visit him for his wedding. There isn't any weddings like the ones thrown in our kingdom." She gently touches Lili's wrist. She took a small bite of food as she listens to the princess, a genuine smile falling onto her lips. "It is rather amazing. And my homeland is absolutely breathtaking. The education rates have gone up exponentially." She hummed. "I'm sure that I can speak with my father and help your country if that's what you wish, princess." She explains kindly. She had to hold back a smirk at the sight of the king almost choking on his food.
Lili nodded. "That would actually be fantastic. Maybe that way we can get inspiration for our own wedding," She said her voice slightly low but not enough for her parents not to hear. The king openly scoffed after that. Lili ate some of her food to hide her smirk. Her cheeks a slight pink not used to being so close to someone as beautiful as Anastasia.
"If you where to go I would need to find you both chaperones. It is not safe for two young ladies to travel on their own. I'm sure Thomas Hemmingway will be free," The finally spoke up. Lili tensed up slightly. That was one of the first men her father tried to set her up with and Thomas never seemed to get over her.
"I think that would be fantastic." She replies warmly. "I think it would be rather fun to mix the wedding, have a few traditions from my country, and a few traditions from yours, hm?" She winks playfully. She liked the idea of marrying a woman. Not to mention, Lili was quite beautiful. She glanced at the king, raising a brow at his scoff. "Something wrong your highness." The look on her face was stern, daring him to challenge her. She raised her brow as she gazed at the king. "No need. My bodyguard will be attending us if we go. Despite that, our kingdom is very safe, crime rates are down to a minimum. Our criminal reform program has been ensuring that." She chuckles into her hand, "She is one of our best warriors. I can assure you, no harm would come to either of us." She made it clear that there would be no negotiating the topic.
Lili looked as if she could melt as Anastasia explained all of this. This could be the perfect way to help out her kingdom. To think she would have tried to rin this if her new fiancee was a man. That just sounds selfish now and Lili stared at her plate no longer hungry.
"There will be a council meeting tomorrow evening. Lili you are expected to be there I'll fill you in on the details later. Princess Anastasia, we would love for you to attend," The king said. Lili tensed slightly.
"Do you think that is wise father?" She raised an eyebrow. Tension in her voice.
Anastasia's home was thriving and she was proud of that factor. People worked hard, lived well, and loved who they wanted to love. It was peaceful, almost like a mini heaven on earth. She wanted to help this kingdom thrive as well, but of course, the king and queen here were based on tradition, aka peer pressure from dead people. She took another graceful bite of her food and sipped at her wine. She hummed as she glances up at the king and then noticed Lili tense. She set a gentle hand on her wrist. She grew up with many siblings, and took part in her own fathers councils. She would not back down. "I think I would love to join." She replies simply, "After all, I was brought here to marry your daughter and to help bring your kingdom up from its ever so slowly sinking economy." She raised a brow. Anastasia was a woman who never held her tongue.
Lili looked down at Anastasia's hand relaxing slightly and smiling softly. "Of course and we would love the help," Lili quickly said before the king had time to process and become defensive. "But I don't think the council members will take this mix up lightly." Lili knew a few of the members wanted her dead or would never agree to let a woman run nevermind two. "Of course you can attend but please take whatever they say with a grain of salt." She whispered this leaning slightly closer to Anastasia.
Anastasia offered a gentle smile at Lili, before nodding slowly. "Yes, I believe I can help. I was often with my father and his council when caring for the country." She hummed softly. "As for the council members here, they can learn to suck it up. The greater good is better than their petty opinions. If they cannot get over themselves, then I see no reason as to why they should be kept as members of council. If a council does not work to form the progress of a kingdom, then there is no need for their services. That is what my father says." she hummed as she took a bite of her food. "As for what they say, I have no worries." she pats Lili's wrist gently before taking another sip of wine.
Lili smiled and nodded. "Thank you, Anastasia. I truly believe you can help us better my kingdom," She said before eating some more of her food. her father stood p after a few minutes.
"I will see both of you tomorrow then. Princess Anastasia, I've scheduled a guide and Lili to show you around tomorrow. I would like to meet with both of you at lunch to discuss the council meeting that will occur at 5 in the evening," He said as the queen stood next to him.
Anastasia chuckled and shook her head. "There is no need to thank me. I am simply doing my part." She replies kindly. She turns to her food as well and ate quietly. She glances up at the king as he stood. She swallowed her bite and dabbed at her lip before nodding. "Of course. I look forward to the tour and the meeting." She replies, taking another casual sip of her wine. "I will be there to help how I can." She tilts her head before glancing to Lili and offering a gentle smile. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad. Lili was indeed beautiful. And she had a good heart. Anastasia looked forward to this now.
Lili had only picked at her food not eating much. Her stomach was doing a million tumbled every two minutes. she couldn't get herself to eat. Once her parents were gone she relaxed in her seat slightly. She looked over at Lili. "Thank you again," She sighed. "I don't think he is used to people speaking to him like that but I'm really glad you did. I think this is going to work out." She smiled softly. "I have the next 3 days off from my lessons so I'm free to do anything you'd like."
Anastasia had noticed the sudden mood change in Lili's actions, making a silent note to help cheer her up a little later. She finished off her food and sipped at her wine in thought. "No, it's no problem, dear." She chuckles quietly and relaxed. "I've learned that the only way to be heard is to assert dominance when talking to men in the courts." She shrugged. "As for what we should do, I would enjoy getting to know my future wife." She chuckles and brings Lili's hand to her soft lips, kissing the back of the princesses hand.