forum Royal Affairs (O/O Closed)

Started May 08, 2023 by @LolaBug

tune

At least she is compliant, Kaillas thought in those few moments of silence. She did not voice her complaints about being shipped off to a strange kingdom and a strange king. She did not voice any concerns about him. She did not even compliment the artwork that had decorated his halls. He thought he would like that, someone who was quiet and kept to themselves. He thought he wanted someone who was here to do their duty and that would be it between them. But he couldn't help but find the silence almost uncomfortable. She was too compliant and he didn't like that. He didn't want a rag doll there for his every whim to use. It was then, as he stood in front of those opening doors, that he would not touch her until she truly wanted his touch. Not because of duty or pressure, but wanted it. There did not have to be feelings of love to spark feelings of passions. And if he never had an heir then so be it.

As they stepped through the doors, there was the sound of chairs scraping as each member of the court stood and bowed to their King and future Queen. Kaillas led Ophelia to the head table. There, two chairs were waiting for them. Traditionally, members of the family of would sit on either side of them. But Kaillas' family was dead, other than his sisters who were currently not here, likely still getting ready. And Ophelia's was in another kingdom, unable to leave because they had their own country to run.

The king was supposed to sit first. It was just how things were done. It was tradition. But Kaillas had never been a traditional person. He gestured for Ophelia to sit down in the seat and he pushed in her chair before sitting down next to her. That, he done purely because he had wanted not. Not because everyone was watching him, judging him.

With a simple gesture of his hand, the members of the court were sat. Wine was poured in their goblets and the first course was brought out. An appetizer of bread rolls and delicacy of cheeses. It paired well with the red wine that had been poured. Once the court had settled Kaillas would say a few words about how happy he was and his wishes for a happy marriage. All pretty words he did not want to bother himself with but he hadn't been given much of a choice.

The king may be a handsome man but Ophelia has no desire to be with him. The only reason she’s here is because her kingdom needs her to be. Without this marriage, her people will suffer. They are better off than most kingdoms but they still have their struggles. Until they have offically been married, she will stay silent and do what is told of her. She can’t risk displeasing the king and being sent home. Her return would not be welcomed.

Entering the room, she puts a polite smile on her face, not wanting to seem gold. It does catch her off guard when her husband to be pulls out her chair rather than sitting first. That’s not normal. Rather than spending time questioning it, she merely thanks him and takes her seat. She sits quietly next to Kaillas, her eyes taking in the grandeur of the hall and the people surrounding her.

At least the easy part will come soon. She can smile and talk and charm everyone without a problem. Hopefully the people and the court will learn to love her. Her entire childhood was spent with her learning how to be the perfect queen. It was never a secret that she would be sent off to a different kingdom to marry. There is no way her kingdom would let her rule. It’s a sore subject for her but one that thankfully doesn’t get brought up very often.

The food and the wine both look decadent. While her own kingdom provides lashish meals for the royal family, this is much better. She’s not sure if it’s because of the grand celebration or if the cooks usually make such amazing foods. Either way, she’s pleased.

Kaillas rarely ever did things the proper way. He hadn't been raised to be king. He wasn't taught the proper order of things. He had barely been taught any etiquette. What little he had learned had been before the age of eight. he hardly remembered any of that now, over ten years later. He had spent most of his youth surrounded by soldiers. That was all he knew. That was his way of life. It had been tough, hard on him. But it had been the best years of his life. Until everything fell apart in one message.

He took a sip of his wine before standing and clearing his throat. It took only a matter of seconds before the hall quieted and all eyes were looking at him. This was one of the things he hated most about being king. Public speaking. He had never been good at it. Speeches had to be written for him and he was told to memorize it and attempt to deliver it in a nonmonotone voice nor a military one. This was no different than all the rest. he took one more sip of his wine for confidence before opening his mouth to speak.

"Thank you, everyone, for joining us this evening." Nope, too monotone. He needed to add some emotion into his voice, maybe a smile. Nope, that smile was not happening. He kept going, remembering the script he was given. "Tonight is the start of new life, a new dawn. For too long, Vaeril has been without a queen and a secure future, but this changes today. In seven days, I will be married to Princess Ophelia and you will finally have your queen. Now, I would like to introduce you to my bride, Princess Ophelia." He gestured to the woman sitting next to him. "To my bride!" He raised his glass and took a sip of the wine, his courtiers following suit.

He took his seat, scooting in closer to the table and placed his glass on the table. He put his hands on his legs, flexing his fingers. He hated that. He hated to doing this. It made him uncomfortable. But he never let it show. At least not anything that his people would notice. He had a few small tells but no one but his right-hand man knew those tells.

Ophelia keeps a gracious smile on her face during the speech. Though the kind words are unappreciated, it’s not difficult to tell that it was written for him. She has a feeling that her husband to be had about as much to do with their match as she did. She certainly can’t blame him for not being excited. They are perfect strangers and neither really wanted this. Though unfortunate, she won’t hold it against him if he’s unwilling to make things work. She does hope that they have a chance for a successful marriage in the future.

Lifting her glass, she joins in with the toast but remains silent. She knows that she should at least say something to the king but she hasn’t the faintest idea what. It’s hard to make conversation with someone you’re being forced to marry.

She sips at her wine and tries to keep herself looking relaxed and at home. She knows that the people around her will be able to sense her uncertainty if she’s not careful. The last thing she wants to do is make a bad first impression. It’s important that they see her as someone fit to be queen.

When his hands had stopped shaking, Kaillas reached forward to take a bite of some cheese and bread that had been served. While he wasn't a fan of some of the cheese that had put on his dish, one thing he had learned from the army was that you always ate what you were given. So he would eat it, at least a bite of everything. With how much food that was about to be served, it would be impossible for anyone here to finish each dish. Thankfully, Kaillas had put up a safeguard in place so that none of the food was wasted. Anything that had been bitten into was given to the livestock, whichever ones that could eat it. Those that were untouched were given out to the poorest of the city. Most of the food, unfortunately, wouldn't survive much travel. It was cooked to be eaten that day. Any longer and it would spoil.

He turned to face his bride. He was expected to talk to her and get to know her. They were expected to appear as a happy couple, even if everyone in this room knows this marriage was forced upon both of them. All Kaillas knew was her name, her age, and that she was docile. Beyond that, he knew nothing about her. And even the few small things he had been told about her personality could have been false to try to get him to like her better.

"Tell me about yourself," he said softly before taking a sip of his wine. If he could get her to talk then he would be able to sit there rather silently, listening to her speak. As long as he said something now and then and offered a smile, it should hopefully keep the vultures off his back.

Nibbling at the bread and cheese, Ophelia enjoys the silence. She knows that they’ll have to speak to each other eventually, however, she’s content to not have to do that just yet. It doesn’t seem as though they’ll have anything in common other than neither of them really wanting to do this and that cannot be a conversation topic. At least not now and not here.

The silence doesn’t last nearly as long as she thought it would. Feeling her future husband’s gaze, she turns to look at him. Blatantly ignoring him would not be a good way to start things off. She offers a tiny smile as she meets her gaze, making sure that it appears to be a sincere

“I am an only child. I know three languages, I love to read, I fail spectacularly at my attempts to garden, when given the choice between something sweet and something savory, I always choose sweet.” She rattles off a few basic things, knowing that his request was merely to be polite. There’s no need for her to tell him anything deep about herself. “I love animals. My father used to get me a pet for each birthday.” She cared for them better than many care for their own children. It broke her heart to leave them.

Kaillas had his galss of wine in hand as he listened to her speak. He would sip from it now and then while listening to her. While he enjoyed the wine and drinking, he had no intentions of getting intoxicated. Not at court, especially, but not around his bride. That was not a state for her to see him in. That was reserved for when he was drinking with his soldiers or drinking in solitude. No other. He set the glass down in exchange for another peice of his appetizer. It would be exchanged for the next dish soon.

"If you are your parents only child, who will rule after them?" It was a good question. He hadn't been made aware of any of the king's siblings. He wondered if they were expecting the two of them to have a child and ship it back to them to rule. He would not do that. If they ever came to create a child, it would stay here with its parents and where it was safe. Not in some foreign kingdom.

Kaillas caught the eye of his two sisters as they walked through the doors. This was when he truly did smile. He loved his sisters. They were perhaps the only people he loved in this world. They were good and kind and he would do anything for them. But he also knew they only had a couple minutes before the girls came over and bombarded Ophelia. He turned back to her. "I apologize in advance."

The grip she has on her glass tightens and her smile becomes the faintly becomes strained. This is a sore subject for her. She thinks that she should be able to rule her kingdom regardless of the fact that she is a woman but no one else seems to agree with her. “My cousin,” She replies simply, offering no additional details. When she was told this news she was furious for the first time in her life. Her cousin, who is lazy and more often drunk than not, gets to take over her kingdom because he was born a man. It’s infuriating.

Her parents married much older than most which minimized their chance to have children. They had her older brother a mere year after their marriage and then her a few years later. She was supposed to be a boy, a backup for the throne. That obviously didn’t happen. By then, they were too old to produce another child and they were worried since they had her brother. Then he died. She had assumed she would be allowed to take the throne. Unfortunately, she was wrong.

Shaking her head ever so slightly, she clears her mind of those thoughts. Noticing that something has captured Kaillas’ gaze, she turns her head to see what’s going on. The smile on his face is what has her really curious. It doesn’t take her long to figure out that his sisters have arrived. The resemblance is undeniable. At his words, her brows knit in confusion. “For what?” She asks, slightly concerned.

Kaillas only offered her a sympathetic look. It was easy to tell it was a hard subject. He couldn't tell if she would have been a good queen, he didn't know her well enough. But the crown should have gone tj her next. She was next of kin and the perfect image for a queen. He was thankful his kingdom had no such stipulations. Unfortunately, yes, the crown would always go to the male heir, but if there was none, it would fall to the female heir.

He only turned that smile he had held for his sisters to his bride. "You're about to find out." And just a few second later, his two sisters bounded over to them. They both had black hair and brown eyes. If they weren't obviously a few years apart, they could easily be twins. The youngest looked how the older one did at that age.

"Brother," the younger one squealed, coming over to hug him. The other one wasn't far behind. "Katya," kaillas said, returning the hug of his youngest sister. "Elora," the older of his two sisters came over and hugged them. But they didn't look at him past that hug. They both turned to Ophelia. Kaillas knew better than to stick around. He gestured for a steward to bring over a chair and got out of his. He like Katya sit in that one, kissing the top of her head as she did so. He kissed Elora's head and then smiled at his bride. "Call if you need me," he said before walking away.

"You're so pretty," Katya said, leaning forward to look at Ophelia. "I wish my hair looked like yours." Elora was sat down on the opposite side of Ophelia. The eldest spoke next, "we wanted to be there when we revieved you but brother said no."

Ophelia stays quiet for a moment as she studies the two sisters. They are remarkably similar and other than the age different, she almost can’t tell them apart. Both seem like absolutely lovely people so she’s uncertain as to why her soon to be husband apologized. The two women are certainly excited but she doesn’t mind. It’ll be nice to have two friendly faces around. She smiles lightly at them both before giving a small and polite nod to Kaillas when he steps away.

“It is so wonderful to meet you both,” She says sincerely, genuinely happy that she has the potential to make some friends. “Thank you.” The compliments are very sweet and appreciated. “You are both beautiful as well. You have lovely eyes.” The gentle brown shades are stunning in her opinion.”

The carriage ride was a long one so she does appreciate that there weren’t several people in her gave them moment she arrived. “I was rather tired from my trip so I fear I wouldn’t have been the most pleasant company upon my arrival,” She admits with a light laugh. “I am very pleased to meet you now. Please, tell me about yourselves.”

Elora was seventeen. She had been two when Kaillas had left to be a squire and join the army. She had been ten when the assassination had been carried put. To this day she wondered why she had been spared. Women were allowed to rule, given that there was no male heir. There was no point in leaving her and her sister alive. It still left an Einar to claim the throne. Unless that's not what they had intended. Unless there was a certain few Einars they didn't want on the throne. She had always been suspicious of that day. She had tried to look into it but had been promptly shut down by Kaillas. He didn't want to risk her life. She knew where he was coming from and appreciated it, but she didn't need it. She was a grown woman now, at seventeen. She was almost old enough to marry, if her brother would ever agree to one. He thought that there was no one good enough for his sisters.

"Kaillas said nothing about us didn't he?" Elora asked, shaking her head and glaring at her bother who was standing at another table a few yards away. "I'm Elira and that's Katya. I'm seventeen and she's fourteen. We've lived in the palace our entire lives. We rarely ever leave for reasons." She didn't like verbally talking about the assassination. It brought up feelings she wanted to ignore. "I love horse back riding and shooting with my bow. I enjoy a good book as well."

Kayla was bouncing in her seat almost, ready to interrupt. She hadn't been born when Kaillas had left and hadn't met him for many years untom he cane to visit on holidays. Truth be told, she didn't have a relationship with him until after the death of their parents. It had been rocky at first but now she clung to him any chance she got. They were all they had. There was no one else. No one close to then at least.

Katya finally butted in. "I love dancing," she cooed. "I can't wait to dance at your wedding. I've been helping picking out sings for them to play. Of course, you have to finalize it but I can show you tomorrow if you would like." She had a bright smile on her face. "Oh and I love flowers. I help tend to the gardens. We're using some freshly picked flowers for the wedding as well. Ooh, and wait until you see your rooms. I helped decorate them. Kaillas is terrible at it so I took over. They're so pretty." She was rambling now. She was just happy to have someone to talk to. "Technically, you're not supposed to use the Queen's suite until after you marry but Kaillas has never been very good at following tradition. And it's only a week so whats the point of moving you between rooms?"

“He did not,” Ophelia admits lightly. “Truth be told, we have barely had a minute to ourselves to speak.” She can tell that the siblings are close so she doesn’t doubt that Kaillas would have told her about his sisters had she asked or had there been time. Either way, she’s more than happy to hear about them now. It’ll be nice to get to know them since they will be her sister-in-laws. To her, it’s almost as important to have a good relationship with them as it is to have one with her husband.

Wise enough to not ask the reasons for the two not leaving the palace often, she focuses on listening to their interests and hobbies. “Oh, I love horseback riding. All activities involving animals, really. We should go out for a ride sometime.” It would be the perfect way to bond and getting some fresh air would be wonderful. Getting to know the way around the palace grounds is certainly a bonus as well.

“Unfortunately, I am a menace to all plant life,” She admits with a light laugh. “Perhaps you can share with me some tips on how to successfully garden?” She can’t keep a plant alive to save her life but she would certainly love to learn how to.

She smiles a tad at the mention of the wedding. She has not been involved with any of the planning and that’s alright with her. Whatever has been put together is sure to be wonderful. “I’m certain that I will love any songs you have picked out and I would enjoy hearing them tomorrow.”

It would be nice to not have to move around rooms twice in one week. However, she won’t complain if she absolutely has to.

Elora beamed at that, nodding her head. "I would love to go riding with you. Your schedule has been amde for you this week bit I'm sure I can persuade the council to let a thing or two go on without us. It'll be good to get out of here alone." Well, not alone. There would be guards following them. Elora always had them with her and now with the fixtures queen, there would likely be double the guards. "But don't worry, I know this week will be crazy but after the wedding you'll go on your honeymoon. Traditionally, it's two weeks long but Kaillas has likely gotten it shortened. But you'll be able to have your honeymoon in peace. No crazy balls or festivities."

Elora knew how crazy court life could get. Sometimes she just needed to escape for an hour or two. Riding allowed her to do that.

Katya smiled as Ophelia looked her way. "I can show but I can't promise anything. I've noticed you either have the touch or you don't. And that's okay. And I can plant anything you would like in the gardens. Once your queen, they're technically yours." The Queen's Garden was the official name of it. The queen had full control over it. Katya had been taking care it for awhile but was time to pass that on to Ophelia. Unless she allowed the young princess to care for it.

She nodded her head. "I'll show them tomorrow. As Elora said, we'll block out some time for you ti soemd with just us. And we can explain how this week is going to go." Technically, that was for Mistress Catalina to do but the girls could it better. They had more insight and they were on the other side of things. Plus, they were royals. They got what they wanted.

Ophelia offers a sincere smile. “I do appreciate that. It would be nice to step away from the madness that will ensue this week.” Preparations for a royal wedding are sure to be chaotic and stressful. The wedding will be difficult enough but she’s also trying to adjust to living in an entirely new kingdom so she wouldn’t say no to any downtime given to her. The mention of her honeymoon is an instant stress trigger but she’s very careful to not show it. She has no idea what to expect. Her mother and ladies in waiting never spoke to her on that subject. It was always considered taboo and improper. She questioned is was and was rather severely punished for it.

“It would be nice to have the gardens remain beautiful so if you would like to continue to care for the plants, you may.” She won’t take away something that Katya loves. It would be unnecessary and cruel. Besides, she would ruin the gardens so she needs not be in charge of them. “I wouldn’t be opposed to seeing some sunflowers planted somewhere if you are able to make that happen.” The bright yellow flowers never fail to make her smile.

“An explanation would be wonderful. Though everyone has been nothing short of wonderful and welcoming, no one has properly explained to me what all will be happening this week.” Ophelia hasn’t the faintest idea what will be going on day to day. She would rather not go through this week unprepared if she can help it. There is too much unknown in her life already.

Elora nodded her head. She could explain everything. Having a bother who grew up in the army meant she knew everything. He didn't know what he couldn't and couldn't say. He didn't know how to explain things delicately. He said things planning. How sex worked and what went where exactly, without sugarcoating anything. It had been a strange conversation to say the least. "I would like that. Catalina will tell you your schedule but she won't explain it. I can do that for you. And j can tell you who to avoid at court." Too many women trying to climb the social latter and they would do anything to do it.

Of course she hadn't indulged with it herself, at least not fully. Her brother would kill the man that dared lay his hands on her. But that didn't mean she didn't sneak around, kissing the scribes around corners and closed doors. She was becoming a woman after all and exploring things.

Katya was staring to open her mouth but Elora caught sight of Kaillas. He was looking at her, giving her a gesture it was time to take her seat. The next course was about ti be served and they were waiting on Kaillas. She interrupted Katya before she could speak. "Katya, go to our table, dinner is about to be served. I'll be right behind you." She waited until her sister left before turning back to the princess. "My brother is a good man," she said in a low voice. "He will protect you. He will be good to you. Don't be afraid." Then she was walking away.

Kaillas had been slightly worried about what they were talking about. He didn't want his sisters to say anything to scare off Ophelia before he had a chance to do that himself. He was going to do something to screw up, it was only a matter of time. That's only one reason why it was easier to distance himself from her. As his sisters finally parted from their table, he rejoined it, taking his seat.

"Again, I'm sorry about my sister's. They can be a bit much." As in, not very princess or lady like. And that was his fault. He hadn't done the best job raising them to be proper. There was only so much tutors could do when they didn't have a proper example.

Ophelia likely won’t think to ask Elora. As far as she’s aware, the subject is unspeakable in most kingdoms. She’s hopeful that someone will explain it to her. Perhaps one of her handmaidens will be willing to but she’s not certain how to broach the subject. She doesn’t know them and that seems like a very personal conversation to have with a stranger. The only thing she doesn’t want is to have to just figured it out on her wedding night. That would be terrifying and humiliating. She doesn’t think that she could handle such embarrassment, especially since she’s not sure how her husband would react to her ignorance.

“A lesson on the people of the court would be most welcome.” She knows that the sisters will have the right information to share with her. It would be good to face the court for the first time knowing who is who and who she needs to avoid. She doesn’t want to make a ridiculous mistake because she doesn’t know any better. People of the court are difficult to please and she’d like to make a good first impression.

All too soon, it’s time for everyone to return to their proper seats, meaning that their conversation must end. She can’t help but feel disappointed by this. Upon hearing Elora’s words about her husband to be, she offers a light smile. “Thank you,” She whispers, appreciating that the young woman is trying to help her nerves. Hopefully she’ll soon learn that Elora is right about what Kaillas is like.

Turning her attention to the king when he approaches, she offers a polite smile of greeting. “Please, you needn’t apologize. Your sisters are wonderful and I truly enjoyed talking to him.” She’s completely sincere. Elora and Katya were very kind and welcoming. They made her feel right at home.

Kaillas had his wine refilled as he got to the table. This would likely be his last glass, for all they had was the main course and then dessert afterwards. Entertainment would begin about halfway through their meal and would end just before dessert was over.

He gave Ophelia a kind smile. It was really just a lift of the corner of his lips but ut was genuine, not fake. He was glad she liked his sisters. They would likely cling to her next, happy to have another girl to be around. "I'm glad then, that you like them. You don't have to indulge then if you don't like." But he was glad his bride enjoyed his sisters. "I think it'll be nice for Elira to have someone close to her age." The thought almost made him cringe. Hid youngest sister was closer in age to his bride than he was. He was five years her senior. Five years. He would need to be careful around. She was almost a child.

He cleared his throat, trying to will away the thoughts. The second course was brought out and the old plates sent away. He didn't speak again until the servant's had stepped away from the table. He liked his privacy. Well, as best as he could get it. He was king. He wasn't entitled to privacy anymore.

"You mentioned you liked riding," he said. "I'll find time for us to vsist the stables in town. Allow me to buy you a horse as a wedding present." He certainly had other presents to give to her but this could be the first.

The meeting couldn’t have gone better in her eyes. She has much in common with both Elora and Katya. It’s easy to picture the three of them getting close and that makes her happy. “I’ve always wanted sisters,” She admits. Her childhood was lonely and she would have loved to have sisters to play with. “I think I will enjoy their company even more as we grow to know each other.” The ladies of the court will certainly want to be friends with her but she will never know who is truly sincere. Having Elora and Katya around will give her genuine friends. It certainly helps that she and Elora are just a few years apart and Katya’s joy and energy are contagious.

“Elora and I are going to try and find time to go horseback riding together this week. Katya has promised to try and teach me to garden. Tomorrow she will help me with the songs for the wedding,” Ophelia informs him with a happy little hum. She’s glad to have a few things to look forward to this week that will involve no stress. She will just get to have fun.

She turns her attention to the food when it arrives. Just like with the first course, everything looks and smells delicious. She sips carefully at her wine, still on her first glass. She needs to pace herself so her lips don’t get loose and she makes a fool of herself. It’s something she’s seen happen to her parents many times and it was never pleasant.

At the mention of a horse, she perks up. The mention of buying her one does cause her to hesitate. “You needn’t buy me anything so extravagant.” The offer is lovely but she worries about asking him to spend a large sum of money on her so soon after their first meeting. “I don’t mind riding one of the horses you already own.”

Kaillas was happy. He hadn't expected to be but perhaps it was nice. It was nice to be happy. His sisters were getting along with his bride and hopefully would keep her company. "They will gladly accept you as their own. They don't have many friends. Most of that is my fault. It will be good for then to have you as friend." Someone he hoped that would be genuine with his sisters. He cared for them above all else. He would kill for them.

He nodded his head, beginning to eat his food. "I'll make sure you have time with them. And I'll make sure you have some time alone. I know Catalina is squeezing your schedule tight. I'll remind her to do otherwise." It was alot, coming to a new place with a new culture. She would need time to adjust. And while it wouldn't happen in a well, bombarding Ophelia with activity after activity would certainly hinder it.

Kaillas shook his head. "Nonsense. You're going to be queen. You're going to be my wife. You will have your own horse. You will have the finest there is. I want you to be happy." It was as simple as that. He wanted her to have a happy life however she spent it, with him or residing in an estate away from the palace living without him.

He turned to look at her. "There is some time after the feast is over if you would like to speak with me for an hour or so." They were going to be married soon. They should speak with each other and get to one another before then. Of course, it wasn't proper, especially so late in the day. But they were going to be married. What did it matter?

Ophelia certainly appreciates that. She would love to spend time with Elora and Katya throughout the week. It'll prove to be a nice distraction from the craziness of prepping for the wedding and she's looking forward to getting to know her future sister-in-laws better. Certain aspects of the planning seem like they may be fun but the rest is going to be stressful. A royal wedding is a big deal since everyone expects everything to be perfect.

The insistence about getting her a horse is rather surprising. The sentiment behind it is rather sweet and it is nice of him to want to get her something to make her happy. "Thank you then. I do appreciate your kindness," She says lightly, deciding it's best to not press the matter further and instead express some appreciation. Why should she complain? Her future husband is trying to give her a lavish gift. Most women would kill for that. She just isn't used to someone wanting to give her something so nice, especially someone who she doesn't very well at all.

Her brows raise at his suggestion for them to talk for awhile after the feast. It certainly isn't proper. They aren't supposed to be alone together before the wedding, especially if it's going to be so late in the day. It could be seen as scandalous. "I would like to talk to you and get to know you better…..but, are we allowed to do that at night? By ourselves?" She asks hesitantly. Seeing as he doesn't appear to have a problem with it, she's wondering if that's perhaps a silly question to ask. Maybe things are different in this kingdom.

Not knowing all of the different customs, laws, and social expectations of this new kingdom is stressful. She doesn't know what she's supposed to do or say. It seems like things are much different here than at her kingdom.

Kaillas only nodded his head at his kind words. This was the most he had spoken to someone other than his council on a long time. Even with his sisters he usually just listened as they prattle on and offered a word or two in between. He preferred just being in their presence. He had spent too many years away from them. He wasn't going to pass up an opportunity to be around them.

He only shrugged his shoulders. "What are they going to do? Tell me no? I'm the king, they can't do that." They could try but he wouldn't listen. One of the only perks of being king. "I have a sitting room in my chambers. We'll stay in there and even leave the door ajar so no one gets any ideas. Do not fret, I wouldn't dare tarnish your reputation." He would have some words if rumors were spread about her at court. She was his family now and he took care of family.

He had eaten just over half of his plate before pushing it away and it being taken away. The portions were much to large here and the cook refused to male it smaller no matter how much he asked. He was used to the food while being in the army. Bland and small, even for a prince. And even thought it had been what, almost seven years now, old habits died hard. The army had completely changed his lifestyle.

A poet was welcomed into the hall. Some famous one for another kingdom he had tracked down to bring here. Women liked these kinds of things he had been told. So he had spared no expense at getting the man here. With a clear of his throat, the poet began to speak from one of his many poems he had written. Kaillas wasn't listening at all. He didn't care for these things.

The king’s assurance that they would be allowed does little to soothe her actual worries. For her, it’s more of a concern about what people will think. If someone sees two people sneaking off at night together, they’re going to get some ideas forming in their head. Those ideas turn into gossip and gossip spreads like a wildfire. The idea of that happening almost makes her nauseous. While it may be acceptable for men to fool around before marriage, as a woman she can’t take such extreme risks. Her reputation would be ruined.

She should believe that he knows how to keep them out of trouble but she has her doubts. All it would take is one slip up and they would be screwed. Rather than giving an actual reply, she merely offers a tiny smile and a nod. She doesn’t want to openly disagree and doubt him. She can’t imagine he would appreciate her doing so in such a public settling.

Most of her food remains untouched. Though she hates to be wasteful, today has been intense and it has greatly curbed her appetite. It’s hard to eat when the pit in her stomach is taking up all of the room. At least the entertainment portion of the benign has begun. That means that they’re nearly done. While, of course, she appreciates everyone’s efforts tonight, she is rather tired and overwhelmed from it all.

The poet is wonderful and despite that she would normally be very interested in his performance, she doesn’t pay him much attention. There is a lot weighing on her mind right now that she would like to try and sort out before the night is over.

Kiallas looked over and noticed her mostly uneated food. She gestured for a maid to come and take it away. He leaned over to murmured to her, "Anything uneaten gets distributed to the poor. Do not feel bad about not being able to finish it." He hoped that would soothe her worries about being wasteful. They tried to minimize waste as much as possible.

He raised his glass and took a sip of his wine, finishing his second glass. He shook his head as his cup beaer cane to refill it. Not, two was his limit tonight. He could handle much more before feeling the effects but he didn't want to drink tonight. Not much that was.

Dessert was served not too ling after, chocolate cake, Kaillas' favorite. His lips twitched as the cook had remembered. Of course she had remembered. He used ti sneak in as a child and steal a slice of cake. And that habit hadn't died when he cane back to the palace after being gone so long. It was his one guilty pleasure he allowed himself to hang onto.

This he ate all of. He loved cake. He thought about asking for a second piece but thought better of it. He didn't want his bride to think he was a glutton. He finished his slice and cleaned his mouth with his provided napkin. He handed the plate to the passing maid. He leaned back in his seat. Not watching the poet but just watching.

Ophelia visibly relaxes when she hears that the food won’t go to waste. That certainly does help to elevate some of her guilt. “Thank you,” She murmurs sincerely, having a feeling that he’s only telling her that to make her feel better. It does work. It also helps her feel more positively towards him as a person. A king who delivers food to those in need is not some horrible monster. Despite his sister’s assurances, she had still had doubts. This is making her realize that perhaps she was a little paranoid. Kaillas doesn’t seem like a cruel man.

The cake looks even more divine than the main meal. She has a major sweet tooth so her dessert will never go wasted. Luckily, the sliver of cake is small so it doesn’t seem as though she refused to eat her meal in order to fill herself up on chocolate.

She takes a bite of the rich chocolate cake, briefly closing her eyes as she savors it. This very well may be one of the best things she has ever tasted. With a soft sigh of pure bliss, she opens her eyes again and finishes off her slice. She’s careful to make no mess and not to just shovel it into her mouth. It may be delicious but she doesn’t want to make a mess of herself while eating it.

Feeling a little better about everything, she’s able to pay attention to the last part of the poet’s performance before they finish. It’s a shame that she didn’t get to enjoy the entire thing but she liked what she did end up hearing. It was beautifully written.

Kaillas heard the soft sigh from the woman sitting beside him. He looked at her out of the corner of his eye, watching as she enjoyed the cake. Good, he wasn't the only one to share such pleasures. He drummed his fingers on his thigh as the court finished up his last meal. This was always the work part, waiting for the feast to end when he had already finished.

As king, he could have gotten up and declared this whole thing over the moment he had finished. But he wasn't like that. The court was still dining and talking and enjoying their evening. He wasn't going to rush it. At least not today. Even when he was itching to leave.

But alas, all things must come to an end. The poet finished his last lime and stood to bow to the king. He started the applause even though he hadn't listened to a single word the man had said. That didn't mean he didn't deserve the applause. And they wouldn't do it without him leasing it. Something he hated as king. It seemed the court had one opinion. His. It was quite irritating.

The dinner came to an end and Kaillas stood from his seat. He bid everyone a goodnight and extended his head towards Ophelia. He would escort her to his room where he would take an hour of her time before allowing her to retire. There were some things he needed to speak to her about. He offered her his arm to take so that he may escort her and together they left the dining room.

The cake is finished off a few minutes later. When her plate is collected and taken away, she makes sure to offer a quiet ‘thank you’. She learned a long time ago to be nice to the staff. They do everything around the palace and being cruel to them wouldn’t be wise. Their trust and their respect is valuable. It’s never too early for her to start trying to form that relationship with the staff in this palace.

It’s obvious that the poet is very talented but there is too much weighing on her mind for her to properly enjoy the performance. Hopefully the poet will be invited back at a later date so she can actually pay attention and listen to his beautiful words. She starts to clap when Kaillas does, knowing that this means that things are coming to an end.

She stands up, taking a moment to smooth out any wrinkles in her dress. Realizing that it’s time to go, she accepts Kaillas’ arm and follows him out of the dinning hall. Though she is wanting to speak with him, she has a few reservations about when he’s wanting to have this conversation. It could reflect very poorly on them if the wrong person saw and decided to turn their little meeting into something it’s not. Though the concern lingers, she tries to relax. The king promised her that he would handle everything if something were to go poorly. She’s going to have to learn to trust him eventually. This is just the first step.

As they walk through the halls, she looks around and both tries to remember how to go around and admire how lovely everything is. It’s much different from her own home and she had to admit that she almost prefers it.

Kaillas walked quietly I'm hall just as he had been when he had escorted her to the dining hall. It was starting to get late. The sun had already set and fallen. He didn't plan to take up too much of her time. He had said an hour just to give him a bit of a buffer. There was just a few things he wanted to discuss so that the next few weeks would go smoothly. He didn't want her to think he had all these expectations of her. Just because the court and council did didn't mean he did.and as king, his word was law.

He had already asked one of his personal stewards to come and stand in on their meeting. Him and a cracked door should leave no room for interpretation. They didn't even need to sit next to one another. As long as they could hear each toerh, they were fine.

As they moved through the halls and the stairs, they finally came to their wing of the castle. It was reserved for the royal family. His sisters occupied two rooms, Kaillas occupied the king's suite and now Ophelia would occupy the Queen's suite. There were two more available rooms in the wing. Meant for children. His children, if he ever had anyone. Kaillas had sisters. He had options even if his council didn't think so.

Kaillas opened the door to his rooms, waving off the steward that came to help. One of the many things he didn't like about palace life. Everyone was trying to do everything for him. He didn't need someone to open his doors or peel his oranges. He coukd do it himself. Kaillas gestured for Ophelia to step inside first, following behind her and leaving the door open a bit more than a crack. His steward stepped inside as well, taking post by the door.

"Please, sit," he gestured to one of the two couches he had in his small sitting room. Kaillas took a seat on the opposite couch as she did.