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November 2, 1204
While they had made arrangements for most of their children, neither Leara nor Lorn would have hesitated to break off any of those betrothals had the other party proven unsuitable: violent, ill-tempered, manipulative, neglectful, or otherwise a risk to a spouse's well-being. A dreadful marriage, indeed, did not a strong alliance make--nor would any alliance have been worth the cost of any hope for one of their children's happiness.
So far, however, their children's betrothals had proven to be, more or less, functional matches. Celina had been wary of Karlspan at first, but by the time they'd married, they'd grown quite fond of each other. Neva had grown up with Prior, and their relationship had eventually moved from friendly to affectionate. Privately, Leara didn't quite like Eliana as much as a mother-in-law ought, but it wasn't as if she was outright wicked, and she seemed to make Dalston happy enough. And of course, she couldn't have picked a better woman for Ricky than Hollie.
But if their streak of good fortune there was bound to end eventually, she was relieved to see that Koradril wasn't the one to break it. Farilon's early death had caused Camaline enough grief over her parents' political games, enough anxiety over an uncertain future. Koradril, for all Leara wouldn't have thought Camaline too keen on a widower nineteen years her senior, had both his Aunt Holladrin's steadfast goodness and his father Oswald's unfailing health. It hadn't been her chance at romance that Camaline had mourned with Farilon, after all, but her settled future.
Not that, Leara mused as she caught Camaline glancing Koradril's way yet again as he and Lorn carried on with talk of some trade route or another, romance was out of the question.
"You're rather quiet today, darling."
"Oh?" Camaline blinked, as though she herself hadn't realized this--or hadn't been overly aware of her mother's presence. "My apologies, Mother. I may have talked myself out for the day on that morning walk I took with Koradril."
"That's quite all right--though I didn't know you'd taken a morning walk."
"I didn't tell you?"
"No. I suppose that does support your theory of having talked yourself out, though." Leara smiled, as much to herself as to her daughter. The men's conversation, from what she could hear, did seem to skew in favor of Lorn's voice; perhaps Koradril had found himself in a similar condition. "That, or the theory of how little there can be to say in front of one's parents; I somehow doubt you and Koradril spoke much of trade routes."
"But why shouldn't we have spoken of trade routes, Mother?" Camaline looked over at Koradril quickly before turning back to Leara with a pink tinge to her cheeks. "A princess ought to know something of trade routes, after all."
NEXT CHAPTER:
June 12, 1204
"That is exactly what I wished to hear. I shall begin a review of all issues I wanted to address with both Dovia and Carvallon immediately." Dea had dared hope, at least, that the upcoming nuptials between Prince Oswald and Princess Avirelle would ease the long-standing tensions between Naroni's two most significant allies, but given the current players on both sides, she wasn't about to make many assumptions. Hearing this firsthand from one of King Oswald's own sons made for a welcome bout of relief. "My best to both your nephew and his bride-to-be. I'll be unable to attend the wedding myself, but my sister Geneva and her husband will be there as my representatives--along with Celina, of course."
"Ah, yes. My stepmother. A lovely woman, but... I do still struggle to think of her as such, especially given the distance." For that, Koradril couldn't be blamed, Dea supposed. The duchess's marriage to the King of Dovia was a political arrangement, one that required her to stay in Naroni as an ambassador of all parties, more of a bridge between the two kingdoms than anyone's wife. That marriage had also happened long after Koradril might have been young enough for a stepmother to make much of an impression. "I did rather enjoy meeting her granddaughter, though--your cousin, who was here earlier."
"Camaline? Yes, I'm quite fond of her." Camaline had indeed been helpful, and quite sweet about it too. Dea just wished she could offer her something equally substantial in turn.
"I'm glad to hear it. I, uh..." Koradril swallowed, as if he might draw back the verbal stumble. It was rather unlike a prince with both formal and informal studies in governance. "Forgive me, as this is rather sudden, but it occurred to me as I spoke with Camaline that my family might still honor her betrothal in spite of my nephew's death. My Tivalia has been gone for five years now, and I had started to think about remarrying, both for my own sake and my children's. Granted, I'd understand if Camaline had no interest in an older man with children from a previous marriage, but... well, it was a thought."
"It... certainly is a thought." Dea flexed her jaw, unsure if even Camaline knew much about her own taste in men having grown up with the fixed idea of Farilon. On the surface, she found little to object to about Koradril, but simply 'not objectionable' did not an ideal husband make. "I can't claim such intimate knowledge of my cousin's heart, but she's approachable. I don't believe there would be harm in asking."
"Then I shall gather up my courage and ask." Koradril managed a wistful smile, shyer than most princes had much business in being with a foreign queen. For such a tall man, Dea found the difference in their heights held a sudden insignificance. "Do you think her parents would find the match acceptable?"
"I wouldn't worry about her parents." And not just, she wanted to say, because of who they were. "Ask Camaline herself first."
NEXT CHAPTER:
June 12, 1204
"Oh! My apologies. The steward said that the queen was in here."
The speaker was a man Camaline didn't recognize, but the grey eyes and the firm chin betrayed him as one of the Dovian royals. He had to have been at least in his thirties, but he was still handsome enough for most expectations of a prince. She wondered if her Farilon would have aged so well, had he been allowed to do so.
Farilon's relation or not, however, it would have been horribly impolite not to respond. "She was, and she should be right back. Might I be of service in the meantime, your highness?"
"No need for such formalities from the daughter of a princess herself--at least, judging by your much prettier version of Duke Lornian's face?" The prince ventured to the center of the room and pulled her from the bench with a kiss to her hand. "I'm Koradril, King Oswald's youngest."
"Charmed. I'm Camaline--and yes, my parents are the duke and duchess."
"Ah." His eyes sparked in recognition at the sound of her name. Had they met before, in fact? Or... "Ah, yes. You were the one who was betrothed to my late nephew."
"Yes, well... why marry a prince when you can spend your summers recording the minutes of your cousin's less important appointments? Er, not that you would have come all the way from Dovia yourself for anything like that, of course. If Dea knew to expect you, she must be off fetching a proper secretary. Not sure why should would have lied to me about going to the privy, but--
"Oh. I'm just babbling now, aren't I?"
"Perhaps--but I suspect more than one brilliant observation first stemmed from a stream of babble. And now I'm even more sorry about Farilon, as we could always use more chances for brilliant observation in the Dovian court."
"Alas, if I know my own babble, I wouldn't be holding my breath." Come to think of it, she wasn't quite sure how she was breathing now. Had her body somehow missed the fact that she was making an ass of herself in front of a visiting prince?
Her mind, at least, kept up just well enough to make an escape. "Allow me to find my cousin for you. I'm sure you have something important to discuss, if you came all this way yourself."
"Actually, it was more a matter of my itching for a bit of a trip--one that I'm increasingly glad I opted to take." But, as tact dictated before a lady took her leave, he kissed her hand once more. "That said, I suppose I should talk to the queen sooner rather than later."
NEXT CHAPTER:
September 17, 1185
Prior to this term, if anyone had ever told Orrick he'd one day have a personal beef with both the King of Dovia and the Baron of Rexus, he would have chalked it up to either delusion or a lazy, unfunny prank. But now that Tivalia was at the university, that delusional, lazy, unfunny person would have been dead right.
Not that Orrick had anything against Tivalia. Indeed, he thought she was a very nice girl, even if she was a little head-in-the-cloudsy for his personal taste. But she was betrothed to Koradril, and despite the match not being their idea, the two were quite infatuated with one another. In both of their fathers' eyes, this was a blessing--but one that came with a heightened need for a chaperone at any afternoon out and evening in. At first, Hanna and Sev had been happy to just make every date a double date, but one offhand mention of this in a letter and the almighty fathers disapproved. Another couple, after all, could easily sneak off on their own, leaving Koradril and Tivalia scandalously alone.
And more often than not, it seemed that of the populations of Aries and Taurus Houses, Orrick was the only available babysitter. Tonight was no exception. Senwick, often out about spreading some hi-jinx or another, had headed back to the shire proper in attempt to woo old Seoth's daughter. Landus had an important exam to study for and Arelle had to finish reading a book. Arlia had plans with some of her... special friends, while her newly-named betrothed, Lorrick, was already halfway to the bottom of the bottle trying not to wonder about those friends. Farilon and Palgrin had a project due in one of their shared electives, and as for Tiada... well, Orrick didn't really know, but when he and Sev and Koradril had arrived at Taurus House, she hadn't been here.
And she still wasn't. That meant he was stuck here. "Koradril, don't you have a paper due tomorrow?"
It was a weak attempt and he knew it. But why couldn't Koradril and Tivalia just adapt a 'What they don't know won't hurt them' mentality like so many others on campus? And worse, why couldn't he bend just enough from his inherent rule-keeping tendencies to suggest it? He feared that come October, things would get even worse when Farilon's betrothed started at the university. Her father was a friend of Orrick's Uncle Rifden, and apparently he was among the strictest of fathers when it came to courtship rules.
"He finished it. He brought it over earlier so Arelle could do a grammar check." Tivalia sidled up a little closer to Koradril--not that Orrick had thought that possible--and rested her head on his shoulder. "She's finished with it, by the way. You can get it from her before you go."
"Great."
Not so much. Hmm. Maybe Sev had something better to be doing. Sev and Hanna weren't the problem, but if Sev had to leave, then Orrick had no qualms about leaving Hanna to supervise the prince and his lady on her own. Pity that he was too much of an innate stickler to just point out that any concerned parents were a kingdom away.
"Oh, God, you roped in poor Orrick. Don't you sticklers realize that any concerned parents are a kingdom away?"
Smirking, Hanna turned her head and nodded to the newcomer. "Tiada, Sev and I haven't had a date in weeks, so if you're so concerned about Orrick's free time, no one's stopping you from relieving him."
"Ugh, no. I still say that what they don't know won't hurt them. Not my fault that the rest of you saps keep going along with this."
"Hey, I still maintain that a double date should be adequate supervision." Sev subverted his own point as he and Hanna nuzzled noses, suddenly unaware of anyone else's presence. Orrick didn't get it. He could get desire, sure... but to the point where it overpowered restraint and tact? Who did this in front of other people? A double date ought to have just been four people talking.
"Not when you two are the double date! The rest of us could be having an orgy here and you'd just be staring at Hanna with puppy eyes." Tiada had a weird talent for saying exactly what Orrick was thinking. Given how they barely knew each other, this was as baffling as Sev and Hanna's need for public displays of affection. "Come on, Orrick. Let's leave the lovebirds to their oh-so-chaste-and-wholesome nest."
On cue, Orrick twitched--and Koradril cringed. "But our parents--"
"Aren't here. As long as nobody has a baby in nine months, you're fine." Tiada's bony, freckly fingers took Orrick by the arm and yanked him upright. He wouldn't have guessed her strength just by looking at her. "Orrick. Library. You're going to help me with some stuff for my psychology elective."
"Psychology elective?" Granted, he didn't know Tiada all that well, but he never would have guessed her to have the slightest interest in psychology.
"That's your major isn't it?" She didn't slow her pace as she spoke. Orrick caught up and followed her toward the library, past the point of caring exactly how he escaped the love-fest. "I don't get it at all. Believe me, I need you more than they do."
One glance over his shoulder proved her right. "All right."
She got to the door and stepped inside, holding it open behind her. He hurried on through and let her shut the door after. "So, your books are in here, or--?"
"I can't believe you bought that." She grabbed him by the arm again and pulled him away from the door, not letting up until they were only a few inches apart. "No offense, but there's not enough money in the world to make me take a psychology course."
She'd said 'no offense', but as it turned out, she didn't leave him quite enough time to be offended.
It wasn't Orrick's first kiss, but based on the others, he wasn't quite sure that this was a kiss. Usually they started shyly, leaving a long moment's pause in case one party backed out, slowly drifting closer and closer together until finally, the lips touched, like soft rain. Tiada hit him like a freak thunderstorm. Her mouth was open and dynamic and his teeth bowed to the force of her tongue. His knees buckled. He didn't think his knees had ever buckled in his life, but they were buckling now.
What the...?
It was a thoughtless, blurry minute before she finally let go. "Interesting."
"Um... yes, you're telling me." Whatever it was, 'interesting' wasn't the worst word to describe it. Not that it answered any questions. "So... why...?"
"Just kind of wanted to see what all the fuss was about. Just, you know, without all the cuddling and crap."
Huh. "I would have guessed you'd done that before."
"Never. Felt like it was about damn time, though." She flipped some of her wild curls over her shoulder and beamed at him. He wanted nothing more than to freeze time and count the freckles on her face. He'd met this girl, sure... but he didn't think he'd quite seen her before. "Sorry if you were averse, though."
"Not averse. Just... surprised, I guess." To put it mildly.
"All right. Glad to hear that." Her dropped her arms to her side and rocked back and forth on the balls of her feet. The awkward, almost lazy movement was oddly mesmerizing. "So... how about another go?"
NEXT CHAPTER:
October 12, 1184
"So you're saying that if we eliminate the lace on the bodice and settle for a slightly more saturated color, we can shred another five percent off the production cost?"
Hanna nodded. She and two of her three housemates had all opted to take Professor Stephane's Textile Arts class as an elective--Hanna and Arelle because their mothers were a lady's maid and a seamstress respectively and it had seemed like an easy credit, and Arlia because her brother had insisted on her taking at least one 'wifely' course even if he had let her major as she pleased--but the course so far was not as any of them had expected. While Professor Stephane clearly knew the technical processes of making clothing, her course focused much more strongly on design than production, which made it both more interesting and more challenging than Hanna had guessed it would be.
This particular assignment was to design a gentlewoman's wedding dress within a modest budget--fun, yet practical, and not inappropriate given Hanna's Mathematics major. It was also a group assignment, which had made for a convenient unit with her housemates' presence in the class.
That wasn't to say the project would go off without a hitch. No, Arelle and Arlia would make sure of that.
"We might save some of the lace if we lowered the neckline. I mean, they're going to be seen later that night anyway." Arlia often reminded Hanna of her mother. As a result, she was simultaneously fond of the Carvalli lady and more inclined to take her in small doses.
Arelle sometimes reminded her of everyone else's mother. "By everyone at the wedding?"
"Why not? If you think about it, that's how it must have been done historically: everyone watching and cheering while the bride rode the groom like a stallion."
"Not exactly like she would a stallion, I should hope," Hanna muttered, prompting a snicker from Arlia.
Unamused, Arelle frowned. "I still think the lace would be the more practical deduction."
"Of course you do." Arlia rolled her eyes. "You're a virgin."
"So are you."
"Technically," Arlia added with a wink.
Hanna glanced down at the plan again, the current draft that was too modest for Arlia and too frivolous for Arelle. The three of them had gotten a little tipsy their first weekend in the dorm, the term before Tiada had joined them, and the result had been a lengthy conversation about all things sex. Arelle had been seeing Dalston Denvus--Hanna's half-brother's half brother, such an odd thought--for several years now, and would probably marry him once she graduated, and the two had yet to succumb to temptation. Knowing the both of them, they likely wouldn't until their wedding night.
Arlia, on the other hand, was a noblewoman who was expected to remain a 'technical' virgin--which, according to her, carried only the restriction of 'no penis in the vagina'. A penis anywhere else was fair game, as were fingers and tongues and Lord only knew what else in the vaginal area. And so were--so Hanna had learned from her failure to knock when entering apparently private rooms such as the library and the sitting room--both men and women, one at a time or both at a time, sometimes three or four at a time. As much of a kindness it might have been to both of them, Hanna dreaded the day she'd have to introduce Arlia to her mother.
But while the two housemates varied drastically in their approaches, at least they'd both figured out what they wanted and had their ways of getting it. Hanna had met Sev on her first day of class. She liked him. He liked her. He was too respectful to say it, but she suspected he wanted to sleep with her. Some part of her wanted to sleep with him too, but some other part had some hang-up or another. For both of their sakes, she hoped she didn't take too much longer to figure out which part won for now.
And for now, maybe it was best to focus on homework while there was homework to be done. "We could compromise. A somewhat lower neckline, with somewhat less lace. There's a balance to be found."
"So we could keep some of the lace."
"And there would be no risk of any breasts popping out."
Sometimes, it wasn't easy being the moderate. "I don't think breasts popping out were ever a concern, but yes, that's what I'm saying."
Across the room, the door from the hall clicked open. Odd. Tiada's class must have gotten out early.
Or not.
Arelle was the first to look up, greeting the newcomer with a smile. "Your highness. To what do we owe the honor?"
"Arelle." Koradril nodded, though--unusually for him--he didn't return the grin. "Arlia. Hanna, can I have a word?"
Huh. Given that Koradril lived with Sev, Hanna supposed that the prince knew her best of all the women in Taurus House. Still, she wouldn't have expected him to seek her out. "All right..."
He edged back toward the bookcase by the window, and she stood up to follow. The acoustics of the library were poor by design; if they kept quiet, neither Arelle or Arlia would hear, even if either had any inclination toward eavesdropping. "Need something?"
"Just to talk." But his drooping mouth and lifeless eyes didn't imply chitchat. "I'm sorry. I got a letter from home, and normally I'd talk to Sev or one of my other housemates, but they're all either in class or out and about, and... well, aside from them, you're the person I know best here."
Out of the entire campus? She wouldn't have guessed that. Then again, she supposed many found the prospect of a prince intimidating, even if Koradril no less down-to-earth than any other man. "Oh."
"And I'm sorry if I'm interrupting anything. I just..." He looked down to his boots. Logically, princes must have done that as often as anyone else, but she hadn't thought she'd ever see one do so. He may not have ever wanted for the material, but there were some universal woes to which even royalty was not immune. "I really need to talk to someone right now."
She doubted there was a person alive who hadn't felt that at one time or another. "It's all right. I'm here to listen."
"All right." His mouth twitched in lieu of a smile. Seconds later, she'd know for sure it was all he could manage. "My mother is dead."
NEXT CHAPTER:
