The Crown Princess emerged from the dressing room within her quarters. The sunlight streaming in through the massive windows hit her gently wrapping her in the warm glow. Charlotte wore an elegant floral print gown, her hair in a styled up-do that was a staple of the Kingdom of Alexandria. She needn't change everything about herself after all. It had been explained to her that these quarters were temporary, after the wedding she would be moved to the Queen's Apartment within the palace, though the previous Queen, mother of her betrothed had seldom used them. All decisions she would make in the coming weeks.
Ambling over to the table Charlotte took the warm cup filled with tea into her pale, delicate hands and raised the cup to her lips, sipping the soothing liquid and leaving a small imprint of lipstick on the rim as she set the cup back down onto its saucer, she turned her attention back toward Jason. "Good morning." she responded with a smile on her face as she watched him. "It should be you that you're worried about. I can see on your face that you got hardly an ounce of sleep last night." Her tone was sweet, kind, it was clear that her concern for his wellbeing was genuine. "Ahh.. I'm alright. Come now, no rest for the wicked, time to see the King. Or shall I say, my soon-to-be-husband?" There was a gentle laugh as she concluded her statement, gliding past his chair she reached her hand down to rest on his arm tugging lightly, jokingly, as if to pull him behind her.
Standing before the double doors that marked the entry/exit to her chambers, she reached a hand over to the left and pulled on a thin chord which seemed to descend from the ceiling. This was one of two such devices at her disposal, the other a much thicker cord by the bed, which when pulled indicated she required something. This thinner one would announce her coming to the guards on the other side. Shortly after the pulled the chord, both doors opened simultaneously allowing her to leave. The Princess was all too familiar with the absurd rules and rituals that accompanied her position in life. Most of them were absolutely pointless, and she would be rid of them as soon as she was able.
Stepping into the hallway she walked a few steps forward and stopped before one of the guards positioned in the hall. Charlotte turned to face him and smiled warmly. "Good morning. Kindly indulge me by telling me your name?" she asked of the man who seemed almost flabbergasted that she of all people was speaking to him. So much so, that he had trouble remembering his own name. "Merryweather, ma'am" he responded quickly, and upon his realization that he had mistakenly called her "ma'am" corrected himself. "Sorry, ma'am! Your Royal Highness!" Charlotte smiled and shook her head. "No need for apologies. If I can call you Merryweather, you can call me Charlotte. What say you?" The guard let out a barely audible sigh of relief and nodded his head affirmatively. "What can I do for you this morning?" he asked, still feeling uncomfortable to use her name, but relaxed enough to let some degree of formality pass.
"Right, best crack on with it. I'm willing to bet that my good man, Jason has been up all night learning the lay of the land. I'm going to ask him to take you and me, old pal from this very spot to the throne room so that I may meet with His Majesty. You're going to point out every time he takes a wrong turn. Up for it?" Charlotte's request was genuine, but largely it was meant to have a bit of fun with Jason, know this would drive him absolutely mad. Merryweather smiled and obliged in the Princess' request.
Theo stood in the throne room as his advisors chatted amongst themselves, before him now sat two thrones, side by side of equal size. The throne of his father, the one he had been using his ascension remained in the room, only moved far enough to one side to allow the other to side alongside it. His royal crest embroidered neatly on the seat back, and the crest of the Crown Princess of Alexandria on the other, the throne used by his mother while she had been alive. It was a strange thing not to see his mother's crest on the chair any longer, though she had died long before his father so this was in fact, the first time he laid eyes on the chair in years. As he contemplated this, he found his thoughts drifting to the girl, to Aurora. Had she made it home alright? He remembered that she had mentioned she would watch him meet his betrothed from a secret spot. Was she watching? Did she recognize him? He wasn't quite sure whether he hoped she had or she hadn't.
The doors to the room opened as the Princess arrived alongside her body man. He smiled softly as he looked upon her, she was indeed rather beautiful, for that he was grateful. But what sort of person was she really? Moving across the room to meet her, taking her hand into his, the two moved toward a table which had plans laid out, and with the ministers they continued their work on planning the festivities.
After some time had passed the grand doors to the throne room were cast opened once more, with an attendant moving to the King and bowing respectfully. "Pardon the interrupt your Majesty." the man began and turned his attention to the Princess "Your Royal Highness." he would then wait, with head bowed as was customary for the King to respond. Theo smiled and looked toward Charlotte before speaking "No interruption at all. What news?" he asked. "There is a young woman from the village at the gates who is requesting an audience. I know we had agreed not to allow these days until after the wedding, but if you'll forgive me majesty, she appears to be in somewhat poor shape." The man of course referring to the somewhat obvious indications that Aurora had been injured during the course of the previous evening.
"Good Gods no! Of course the King won't see her. His Majesty and Her Royal Highness have much to attend to!" decried Minister Artania, quite put off by the entire request how absolutely foolish, he thought. But something within the King told him he should accept this meeting. "Charlotte, if it troubles you not, I think we should see what the fuss is about." he responded, curious to know. "A King should hear from his people whenever possible. I have no objections." Charlotte smiled and bowed her head, moving to take a seat around the small table. "Have one of the guard escort this young woman to the throne room, let us hear her out." Theo responded, and the porter who brought the news bowed his head and swiftly left the room to have the girl retrieved.
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