The Kohut Family Estate on the Isle of IskorWhile the Kohut Family had always had significant influence in Lodja the fact that Iskor sat out in the Alucard could sometimes mean that their summer ball wasn't the greatest attended. It meant a series of flights or long boat ride for most and of course the Isle lacked the vast number of places to stay that existed on the mainland particularly in Gaia. All that had changed though, this was now the ball being hosted by the father of the Queen of Lodja and as such to not be invited was now a great fear for the nobility of Lodja. It also meant that the vast majority of the government would be in attendance and that meant a chance for people to casually advance their own fortunes or at least atempt to. The Estate itself was a wonderous place for a summer ball, the large stately home was made out of white stone that sat on a lush green lawn that as you ventured down the slight slope gave way to a thin ribbon of trees before opening out to the sandy beech kissed by the blue waters of the Alucard. The house sat in a calm bay meaning the waves never got too high and the wind only became a problem when coming directly to shore. The families yacht bobbed away in the bay and had been joined over the previous 24 hours by tens of others with a small motor launch going backwards and forwards ferrying guests to the house ready for the ball.
The ball's formalities had been done an hour or so ago and the young girls being introduced to high society had paraded to be introduced before naturally the Queen had made her own grand entrance dressed in a traditional dark blue gown with the gold embroidary of her family crest for this occasion. On her right stood her tall husband
King Leopold. He was not much of a man for balls and in his tuxedo felt like he was partly suffocating, the heat of an Iskor summer evening didn't help either. He would naturally make a show of dancing with his wife who glided like some kind of graceful swan around a dancefloor while he trampled alongside her. Once he'd done his bit he'd mingle with old friends and business contacts while enjoying a glass or four of wine. It was then that the Queen's wife
Crown Princess Roksana would take over. The two women made much more of a dance partnership than the Queen and King and Leopold was only too pleased to stand back and watch with a glass of chilled white wine in hand. He had a few of the young girls whose night it was in truth approach him and ask him to dance but he always politely declined, after all it would potentially spark rumours but he suspected that was what the girls wanted because after all if the King was interested in the girl then what young Lodjian noble man wouldn't. Leopold though would politely decline, pay the girls a compliment and wish them well knowing they could not really protest.
For many of the unattached government members it was a similar situation, fathers would come and speak to them about some project they wished to get through and then line their daughters up maybe hoping the two would hit it off and his daughter would end up being a direct influence on the government members actions.
Lord Besarian as Head of the Conclave was in for particular attention, he was single, had a great deal of power within the nation and had a look the ladies liked. He unlike the King however loved the attention and had enjoyed several dances but now wanted a bit of time to relax and so grabbed himself a glass of champagne off a passing server. The glass though was not a clear enough signal that he wished to avoid dancing and almost immediately two young girls approached and began talking with him. He was doing his best to try and place their family names but couldn't quiet place them. It was awkward, if they were well connected the family may be useful to him and he wouldn't want to offend them and so would disengage politley, however equally they could be nobodies seeking to become someone by catching his eye. It was however a third girl that caught his eye, the bright flash of red hair as
Jasmina Danailov approached.
"Girls. Please leave us." Jasmina said flatly and upon recognising her the two girls gave Besarian a small bobbing courtsey and headed off. It was a combination of two things that lead them to not protest, the first being the fact that Jasmina was a Lady in Waiting to the Queen. She had an authority that was almost unwritten as often she carried instructions directly from the Queen and a word from her about disrespect could alter your future relationship with Klara. The second reason was the public knowledge that Jasmina and Besarian were from time to time lovers, not as often now as Besarian would have liked as Jasmina was also pursed by the Cenneg Prince Lennox and naturally Klara encouraged the relationship with Lennox above Besarian. "I trust they were annoying you." Without a word she linked arms with Besarian and headed towards the door to the outside. While the ball was going on those attending took advantage of the summer evening and extensive grounds to spend time outside. Small pockets of people were socialising on the lawn and young men and their newly acquianted ladies sat chatting or smooching. A handful even seemed to be disappearing down to the beach. Besarian half hoped that Jasmina was here to tell him she had finished her duties for the evening and she was all his meanwhile he had been expecting a message from Queen Klara at some point. "Tell me Besarian, what do you think of
Maria Shvets?" The question took him a little by surprise.
"The Priestess?" Besarian watched as Jasmina nodded with a mischievious glint in her eye. "She's a hard-worker, clever woman. I think she's done an incredible job mobilising the youth to be more pious." In truth Besarian had a lot of respect for her, she took no nonsense and was possibly in his view a more worthy High Priestess than Alla Kohan who held the role at the moment. He suspected that once she reached an older age she would inherit the position, especially as she had built up a fantastic relationship with the Queen. "Why?" Besarian wondered about the question.
"Do you think she's attractive?" Jasmina asked turning to face the Duke and taking hold of his hands.
"Compared to you no." he leaned in to kiss her but she playfully pulled away.
"That wasn't what I asked" she kept her lips away from his. "Is she attractive?" Jasmina asked again.
There was little point lying no matter what game Jasmina was playing, "Yes she's a very attractive woman." he replied. "Jasmina why?" he said more sternly.
"The Queen wishes to see us." She denied him a kiss and once more linked arms with him and took him back inside and across and the dancefloor without looking at any of the revellers who parted seeing the couple coming with several bowing slightly in respect to Besarian. "Your Divine Majesty, Lord of the Conclave Besarian Ivanov" Jasmina said formally.
"Jasmina you have no need to be serious" the Queen stood and embraced Besarian. She was sat in a kind of semi secluded booth that gave her some privacy from the public, Leopold and Roksana were sat either side of her now she resumed her seat and the Ladies in Waiting except for Jasmina were now dismissed and disappeared off for a bit of free time. "So did you ask him?" the Queen seemed excited by the answer.
"He's a fan, more of her priestly work than what Sessifet blessed her with." Jasmina and Klara began to giggle slightly like two school girls while King Leopold mouthed an apology to Besarian for the amusement it seemed his wife was having at this point.
"That's a shame." Klara said once she'd finished laughing, "You see Besarain she's done an amazing job and I want to reward her, I thought pairing you and her up for marriage would be good for both of you. I had though one major worry, her father is not your biggest fan so unless you were very enamoured with her I was going to go with my back up plan." Besarian's heart sank slightly, he knew he had been keen to marry and begin leaving a legacy but now it seemed his bachelor days were numbered. He in a way hoped the Queen would now announce he could take Jasmina as his wife but her relationship with Lennox was going to prevent that. He hoped he had not just turned down a well connected and beautiful woman for something less appealing. "Turn around" Klara ordered and Besarian did as he was told unsure what he was supposed to do now, "Do you see Anna" the Queen motioned to where her Chief Lady in Waiting was stood talking to a woman, "That with her is
Isidora Smirnov. Do you know her?"
The girl looked familiar but Besarian couldn't place her, the name however he did know. He had served in the military for a short time with her father and her mother was a substaintial land owner on the mainland. "I know her father. We used to play Polo together in the Army for a short time. She lives on the Isle doesn't she?" he asked while also casting his eyes over her. She was quiet tall and the ivory coloured dress clung to her slim frame. He couldn't clearly see her face as it was framed by long straight blonde hair entwined with wild-flowers. She certainly had a figure carved by Sessifet herself.
"She is one of the artists who lives on the Isle and she is in need of a husband. I'd like that to be you. What do you think?" the Queen was rather enjoying playing match-maker and hoped her first real attempt would be successful. She could naturally just order the marriage and the pair would have to do as they were told but she didn't have that mean streak in her as deep down she was a bit of an old romantic.
"If your ordering me I will of course comply." Besarian noticed Anna was talking and glancing over and the girl was now casting looks their way. She was certainly pretty and even across the ballroom there was something piercing about her twinkling pale blue eyes.
"I want you to have a wife you desire and will like" Klara explained and motioned for the girl and Anna to join them. As they approached Besarian felt his pulse quicken, she was a beauty and at 21 she would have the chance to give him plenty of children keeping the Ivanov name strong for decades to come. "Lord Besarian, this is my friend Isidora" the Queen mae the introductions and Besarian kissed the girls hand as he would have been expected to. The Queen ordered them to sit and Besarian noticed the way Jasmina was watching him as though jealous on one hand but also amused on the other. "Now Isidora, Lord Besarian here is without a wife and should have been married long ago he deserves a wife fit for the most loyal servant of Sessifet and I would like that to be you." Isidora was a little surprised by Anna had hinted at such a thing and now Isidora seemed to be shaping up Besarian. "The question is does the Lord of the Conclave wish you to be his wife."
"I'd like to get to know the lady more" Besarian said before anyone else could say anything. "Not that I am not honoured to be given the chance to marry someone as beautiful as you." He apologised in his manner to the young woman who didn't seem too concerned.
"Of course." The Queen stood and so naturally everyone around the table did. "We'll leave you the booth for a while" Klara sensed success and embraced Isidora and then Besarian, "We shall talk more before the final dance" Klara left as Leopold kissed Isidoras hand before shaking Besarians. Jasmina had hugged Isidora and now embraced Besarian taking him a little by surprise.
Jasmina whispered in his ear. "If you're lonely tonight my family boat is in the bay. Stop by." she walked away amused by her little game glancing back to see the two newly introduced nobles left alone.
The pair sat down and Isidora spoke first. "I know about you and Jasmina and I know enough about the Palace and the ways it work. Once we're married you'll forget about her" she placed a hand on his knee. "I assume as I'll be the Lady of the Conclave you'd insist on being my only husband?" Besarian was slightly surprised that this young woman believed it was a done deal but then found himself laughing before apologising.
"I'm sorry" he said, "I was about to ask who says we're getting married, after all the Queen left the choice with me but perhaps you read things better than I do. Your the Queen's choice so you know I'll say yes, no doubt the way I look at you tells you I'm attracted to you and the huge amounts of land that would get the Ivanov family control alone would make me marry you if you looked like the rear end of a pig. I would yes insist on being your only husband, but I like you know how things work. We'll both agree to keep our.....liasons...discreet." they both smiled.
"So can we get a summer wedding?" she asked him.
"I'm sure I can manage that." he leaned in exchanging his first kiss with his future wife not noticing Klara almost high fiving herself pleased with how her matchmaking had succeeeded.