Author Topic: Lodjain Nobles  (Read 5169 times)

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Offline Libby

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Lodjain Nobles
« on: May 13, 2018, 11:43:11 PM »
The Pelagiya Family, Northfort, East Moreland

"It's a little small" Duke Tobias said as he looked at the house. The Duke had spent most of his adult life dealing with property but it tended to be more grand than this, if truth be told the house looked like it had seen better days, the plaster was peeling from the walls exposing brick work and the glass in the windows was cracked. Inside the walls where in no better condition with mould and damp infesting them. No one had lived here for around 100 years and it was clear to see from the state of it, yet here he was considering buying it.

"Daddy you just don't get it do you" his daughter, the Lady in Waiting for Queen Klara, Stasya cut in as she twirled in one of the rooms. "It could be magnificent, imagine it" she stopped and ran hands across one of the walls, flaking brickwork dropping with the sweep of her hand, "Solid oak panneling, beautiful art works hanging from the wall, an ensuite bathroom could go here" she'd moved towards a corner of the room, and here a magnificent four post bed."

"She's just thinking of fucking her King on it" her younger brother, the 16 year old Henrik cut in, earning himself a scowl from his mother Anoushka. The family were fully aware of Stasya's relationship with King David of East Moreland, her parents had encouraged it even and why wouldn't they? The Morelander King was unmarried, handsome, rich and very influential, to have a marriage to such a man would advance the families fortunes and that was what really mattered, that the Pelagiya name was left in a better and wealthier place than when they'd entered the world. Even if Stasya couldn't marry the man being his lover, or mistress even was still a bonus. It had been that connection that had got Tobias permission to even view the old cottage in the parkland of the Royal Palace, it may lay outside the King's personal grounds but looking out the rear window, once you'd wiped nearly a centuries worth of grime from it, you could see the King's Palace.

"Quiet Henrik" Anoushka hissed at her son. "Stasya you ignore him dear, the Goddess blessed you with beauty and its a tool to help your family. You're blessed" ironically Anoushka didn't know her own daughter had turned away from Sessifet, she had been forced eight years ago to learn about Moreland and their culture, her father predicting that one day the nation would be a useful partner and now he'd been proved right. That study however had lead Stasya to accept the teachings of the Cult of Helus, although she wasn't particularly spiritual she found particular affection for Marissa, the Goddess of Beauty and Fertility, a Goddess she suspected was very similar to Sessifet. It had been her knowledge of Morelandish and the Cult that had endeared her to David and now as Henrik had pointed out his bed.

"Look its an ideal location, literally the King's backyard. It'd be handy for meetings, has nice riding tracks and the royals will know when your here even if your not officially on business. I know that Dave....I mean the King....would feel obliged to offer his hospitality to a noble so close the Palace, imagine the access you'd get" Stasya wasn't entirely sure about that but what she did know was that it would allow her to discreetly come and go from the Palace without the media noticing. The King visiting Iskor had got the Lodjain press talking, they'd suggested though it was Anoushka who was romancing King David perhaps looking for her 2nd husband. Her mother had laughed at the idea, not because she wouldn't take a 2nd husband after all that was permitted in Lodja but what she found amusing was that her daughter had snared the Morelander monarch and the media were so close to the truth.

"Hmmm" was all Tobias would say. "I suspect your mother would enjoy it as a little project a fixer upper so to speak" he looked around at the Morelander estate agent wondered what the Lodjains were saying. "Tell him that I'll give him 3/4 the asking price because it needs a lot of work." Stasya translated and the estate agent scribbled down some information and then spoke to Stasya.

"He says he'll make the call now" Stasya translated for her father as she looked at her diamond encrusted watch.

"Got plans?" Henrik teased, he'd heard her on the phone earlier speaking Morelandish, his knowledge of the language minor but he'd picked up the Kings name often enough and the tone had been soppy. "Audience at the Palace?" he chuckled. The estate agent reappeared a rather pleased look on his face as he spoke to Stasya.

"He say's its been accepted" Stasya watced as her father shook the mans hand and began writing a cheque.

"You better start planning the rebuild" Tobias hugged his wife. "I suspect it'll cost us a pretty penny but the location is perfect for what we need, and after all we'll not be here all the time."

"You need me anymore" Stasya asked looking once more at her watch. Her father didn't and so Stasya picked up her hand bag and headed off. She made her way past where she'd parked her car on the path towards the Palace and after just twenty meters stopped and reached into her bag. She found the small condom packet in her side pocket and removed the brooch from her jacket, carefully with the pin she gently pricked the packet before replacing both items. She walked another twenty meters or so and found the gate, CCTV cameras topped it and she suspected a Red Legionnaire would be watching, it didn't matter as David was stood there, a key in hand he opened the gate and watched the leggy Lady in Waiting step into the Palace grounds. The pair kissed before David took hold of her hand.

"I missed you" the King said like a soppy school boy. "I thought we could go for a ride around the estate, you got time to stay for dinner." he asked hopefully. They began walking back towards the stables close to the Palace but as they walked through the woodland she stopped him.

"It's been nearly a month" she pushed him up against the tree "Don't you want me?" she asked as she pushed her body against his, "I want you" her fingers began unbuttoning his shirt as his lips found hers. She wasn't worried about being discovered, she knew the Palace perimeter was watched like a hawk but here in the dead ground of the copse they were invisible. "Wait" the pair were naked now, their clothing lost in the surrounding bushes she reached back found her purse and unzipped the side pocket. "Better safe than sorry" she smiled as she handed the King the condom she'd tampered with, she didn't really want to get pregnant, it would ruin her figure, but her mother had convinced her that the King was a man of honour and he'd be forced to marry her sealing the families influence both at home, and more importantly abroad.

Offline Libby

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Re: Lodjain Nobles
« Reply #1 on: July 24, 2018, 12:13:19 AM »
Hearthstone Estate, Seaforth

Stasya lay on the patio reading the latest digital edition of Gossip Daily on her tablet. The sun was high in the cloudless sky and Stasya was taking the oppurtunity to work on her tan while her lover, King David did some laps of the pool. She looked at the article and grinned to herself it had been a few carefully placed photos to friends that had seen the papparazi turn up and she'd just waited then for nature to take its course. David had been slightly annoyed but was still silly enough to think the media wouldn't be seeing it as anything other than either a coincidence or them on official business. That made her even more amsued, David may be a keen international politician but he was a little clueless when it came to women. Stasya had made enough contacts now in East Moreland to hear of the details of the Kings past love life and he had, for a handsome and powerful man, very few love interests and even then the ones he had sounded rather awkward. He'd never have made it as a Lodjain where romance was a powerful tool for advancing your fortunes and that of your family, something she herself was doing by seducing David. It had started off as that but now she was having feelings for him, it wasn't quiet love but she did enjoy spending time with him and he was sweet to her. She had felt guilty about starting to try and conceive a child with him without his knowledge but despite her best efforts that hadn't happened so far but it was still a plan she would pursue as much as she hated the idea of being pregnant and what it would do to her body. She watched David climb up the steps of the pool over the top of her sunglasses, he was tall and well toned and even if he hadn't been a King she would have been physically attracted to him, but he lacked confidence around women and that was something Stasya didn't neccessarily find as attractive as his body. He saw her watching him and almost instantly picked up a t-shirt he'd left by the pool, turned his back and pulled it on quickly as though hiding himself from her gaze. "You know I've seen it all before, we do have sex together" she called over to him, he turned back to walk over his face flushed red and he looked nervously at the two secuirty agents who were wandering the area around the poolside and patio.

He sat down on the lounger next to her and began using a towel to dry himself off Stasya aware of how he looked rather sheepishly at the agents as he almost hid himself under the white fluffy towel. Stasya swung her lean legs to allow herself to sit on the edge of her own and slid her arms around him. "It's nothing to be ashamed of" she whispered in his ear, "Everyone has needs" she continued as her hand found the scar on his stomach which she knew was the reason for his shyness. It was even the same when they went to bed, he hated her seeing the long white line that marked the wound he'd suffered at the hand of the assassin who murdered his sister Joanna. It had crippled the King for months and even now she knew the internal damage it had done hurt his back often. He pulled away as she touched it. "You shouldn't be ashamed of it, many men have scars. They even say women find men with scars sexy" she gently pulled on his ear with her teeth. "Shows their men of action" she added.

"Leave it....please" David said rather gloomly, "I'd rather not talk about it." He stood and moved away from her slipping his feet into some flip flops, "I've some phone calls to make. Then we can go out and do something" he gave his hair a final rub with the towel.

"Or we could stay in and make the most of our last full day together.....I don't know when I'll be able to get away again." Stasya could see him considering the options his eyes on her bikini clad body. It would probably be her last chance to get pregnant for a few months because of their schedule and with him being back in East Moreland there was always the chance of some other woman catching his eyes, although she suspected that wasn't his style. She stood and took hold of his hand, "please" she pouted and could see his defences crumble and so she moved in to kiss him. It was just then an alarm rang out and Will Buckley and one of the other security agents burst out of the house. A man appeared on the estate wall and Will unceremoniosuly grabbed David, knocking Stasya over. Will bundled David behind a stone wall as the other agent scooped up Stasya and dumped her beside the King, each of them had pistols drawn now as two Red Legionnaires in civilian attire moved with MP5's towards the intruder. David instinctively held Stasya who was crying, there was the sound of shouting and then a scream.

"It'll be OK" David soothed Stasya as he craddled her, "We'll be fine." she looked up at him tears running down her eyes. "I love you" David said, it was the first time he'd said it and while she guessed he did the words still took her by surprise. She'd often wondered what she'd say that moment that he did and now as she sobbed she didn't know anymore. Thankfully as she formulated a response Will moved them both to their feet and with him backing away the other agent lead the pair into the house, Will forming a barrier between them and the intruder who was know being escorted with a limp by the two Reds. Will took David and Stasya to the underground garage which he'd designated as a safe area and even had it reinforced.

"Sir we're getting you back to East Moreland as soon as we can. I've Ironside Rotar One inbound. The Red's will tidy up and bring your stuff back." Will still had his pistol out.

"What about Stasya?" David asked still holding her close.

"We'll have the Red's stay with her and drive her to the airport" Will looked at how she was stood shivering. "You'll be fine here, I'll go and get Lady Stasya a robe or something" he disappeared leaving them alone.

"I was scared" Stasya admitted as she began wiping her face clear of tears. "Oh Helus I bet I look a right mess" she managed to laugh slightly, "I bet my masscare has run hasn't it" she looked up at David who looked at her warmly.

"Yes, but your still beautiful"

She pretended to be coy and wondered if he would still be expecting her to say she loved him but again her decision was made for her as Will reappered with one of the white fluffy robes the house had for guests. He handed it David who helped Stasya put it on. It was then one of the Red's appeared. "Your Majesty, estate is secure, was just some bloody papparazzi. He held up a SD card from the camera. I'd suggest wiping this but he was live streaming things too so the images have already gone. What would you like me to do?"

"Invent a time machine?" David bit his lip nervously, it wasn't that he was ashamed of Stasya, far from it. She was beautiful and he loved every moment he spent with her. The issue was would the people of East Moreland accept her, of course she was a Cultist and nobility but she was foreign and while he knew his people where not racist they were patriotic and that flowed through the royal family. The fact she was a Cultist was also a problem, a Lodjain Lady in Waiting was expected to be a follower of their Goddess, they were Sessifets servant and as such had to be utterly devoted to her. The fact Stasya lived a double life was all about protecting her family and helping them advance and while her romance with David would be helpful it could easily cost the family everything in Lodja if her true faith came out. "What do you want to do about it?" he asked Stasya, "I'll do whatever you want."

"I don't want your people against you again, but I can't tell the Queen I'm a Cultist, not yet anyway. I'll have no problems back home. People will think that I'm just enjoying time with a very handsome man. You forget us Lodjians are very casual about relationships" she smiled, originally she had been offered by Viktoria to David to share his bed. The King had been far too much of a gentleman that first time and the second time he visited there was some genuine connection between them that had resulted in this situation. "The ball is in your court." As the sound of rotars came overhead she knew the decision would have to wait and she just hoped David managed this relationship becoming public better than he had some in the past.

Offline Libby

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Re: Lodjain Nobles
« Reply #2 on: October 06, 2018, 09:04:01 PM »
It had been a crazy few months for the Queen and her staff. First they'd had the discussions of the MCUR that they'd hosted, then the death of Prince Lennox's wife within the Island of the Goddess before finally the whole military court cases and the escaped field marshall. During that time Queen Klara had also had to deal with a few issues with some guy she'd never meet coming forward with an ancient contract claiming her for marriage. All in all it had meant a hectic few weeks. It was nice therefore to just have some time to unwind. Klara had therefore flown herself and her entourage of the Ladies in Waiting to Iskor on Grand Alucard. The weather was still beautiful and as the early evening saw the sun begin its descent the Queen lay entwined with Roksana on the lounger upon the private balcony of her suite in the families traditional home. The pair had been lovers now for six months and what had for Klara begun as nothing other than her having some fun had now become something that mattered to her. Roksana was of course beautiful but she was also funny, exciting and adventurous. Klara felt that she was in love with the woman ten years her senior but had no idea whether that was reciprical. It was well known in Lodja that relationships were just one tool used to gain an advantage for your family, and the Ladies in Waiting where better positioned than most in that regard. Klara of course knew Roksana's past, she'd been the lover of Lord Besarian, the nations Lord of the Conclave, the most powerful politician after the Queen but he'd moved on to other women such as his latest conquest the youngest Lady in Waiting, Jasmina Danilov , after that she'd had an affair with Baron Roman who at the time had been the husband of Queen Viktoria in a loveless marriage. Klara had considered telling Roksana she loved her, but was frightened of what would be said in return. Added to all this Klara knew despite her feelings for Roksana she would have a call to duty, to marry a man and have children. It was seen as a good omen for the country to have a Queen and a child, the newborn being a blessing of the Goddess. One advantage was the Queen could practically order any man she wished to marry her as long as he was unmarried, but it would still be expected to have the approval of the Conclave, at least for her first man.

There was a knock at the door, Klara moved to catch sight of the clock untwining herself from the limbs of Roksana, it was 6pm and as arranged the three Ladies in Waiting had arrived for a shared evening meal. It wouldn't be a formal meal, Klara had insisted these last few months of the four women being more relaxed around her in private. Klara had no friends anymore, her time taken up with royal duties while her young friends attended University or attended the mass of high status social events young nobles seemed drawn to like moths to a flame. Klara envied them at times and so had done her best to recreate a sense of teenage normality with the Ladies in Waiting. Jasmina and Stasya found that less of an issue, Jasmina was soon to turn 20 while Stasya was only 22, it was Anna Immich who found it hardest, she was 33 now and had dedicated the last 11 years of her life to serving three Queens, it just didn't seem natural being in the prescence of the Queen in a pair of jogging trousers, a t-shirt and eating pizza, but what the Queen wanted she got.

"Its nice" Klara said as they settled around the suite's giant TV screen. "Everyone back together" Jasmina had been in Ui Cenneslaig for a few weeks meeting with her lover Prince Lennox, his wife may have just died but there had never been any love between the Cenneg royals. Stasya meanwhile had been off with King David of East Moreland since Klara had given her approval. "Although I do believe Stasya you have to disinfect my yacht.....I can't believe that poor woman just dropped down dead. But still the bigger news.....future Queen of East Moreland, how was it?" Klara asked eagerly.

Stasya told them of her trip to East Moreland and the blossoming romance between her and the King as was typical between the inner circle of court little was left out and the Jasmina and Klara giggling away at the more intimate details. The process was repeated as Klara enquired about Jasmina's trip to the Celts across the Alucard. "I do expect now your Prince is single that he formally asks for my permission to form a relationship, either that or Lord Besarian, they are keeping you busy" Klara teased. Without realising she had taken hold of Roksana's hand while enjoying a glass of wine, Jasmina, Stasya and Anna exchanged sly smiles which Roksana noticed and immediatly felt awkward sliding her hand away.

"So most importantly Your Divine Maj..." Stasya had begun then realised how the Queen had ordered them to address her during these informal sessions. "I mean Tatiana" she corrected herself using the Queen's birth name not her regal name. "This Duke Leopold and his ancient contract....what you planning to do." the Queen glanced at Roksana who shifted a little uneasily leading the Queen to hope that it meant Roksana had feelings for her. It was though a problem, a man almost twice her age who seemed to have a water tight agreement from ages past that would force her to marry him. "He is rather hot though" Stasya added.

"Oh so you want to trade me King David for Duke Leopold" Klara asked, "OK, I become Queen of two countries, David's rather handsome and you seem more than.....happy" the girls giggled once more.

"David's all mine" Stasya gave the impression of a deep love, it was true she was a fantastic actress and that had helped her wrap the Moreland monarch around her little finger.

"I think I'll end up having to marry him. The Royal legal experts think he's a concrete legal arguement and as the agreement was with Sessifet, and that I now am the Goddess it means I'll have to. Still I do have a condition if thats the case.....of course if Roksana will have me" the room went silent, Roksana had even zoned out focusing on the sickly sweet romantic comedy they had on TV. She saw all eyes on her. "Roksana, if I'm to marry this Leopold I want to take you as my wife too." The Lady in Waitings eyes widened, she knew Klara enjoyed her but wouldn't expect this. She had no idea what to say, she herself felt no real romantic feelings for Klara, it was just fun, friends with benefits kind of thing but now that seemed more.

"You....but you could just order me" Roksana snapped back to the present aware of the other four girls watching her.

"I know, but I don't want someone who doesn't want me, beside I want my reign to be one that shows Sessifet embraces all regardless of their gender, she took female lovers so why shouldn't I take a wife. I'm not the first Lodjian Queen to do this you know." She was right but the others had done so in secret the truth never coming out in their life time. "So, if I marry the Duke I marry you straight after?" it was an awkward proposal but now her heart was racing.

Roksana's mind worked quickly, her family where well connected but she had two older sisters so stood to inherit nothing, she would always have had to carve out her own destiny or help her sisters in their endeavours. Being the Queen's consort would help massively in either front and Klara was a sweetheart. "Yes" Roksana said still shocked. The others cheered and clapped as the two newly engaged girls kissed.

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Re: Lodjain Nobles
« Reply #3 on: October 21, 2018, 11:31:04 PM »
Besarian was in many ways pleased that the contract of marriage between Queen Klara and the Duke of Noverok Leopold Hamrik had surfaced. He remembered the tedious days of negotiating that had gone on when they had been tasked with determining the husband of Queen Viktoria. Deals and counter-deals, votes and then changed minds that went on deep into the night had been one of the dullest meetings he'd ever been involved in, at the end though his prefered candidate had got the nod but that hadn't really lasted that long what with Queen Viktoriya's murder. Now at least things were simpler, they had their groom to be and all that was left to do was work out the working details. That however was easier said than done.

The date of the marriage had been determined, the various roles during the ceremony all but agreed and even the pre-wedding gifts that Duke Leopold would make in his bride to be's name. It was then Klara dropped her first bombshell. "Once we are married the following day I shall have my second wedding" the Queen glanced sideways and noticed her Lady in waiting, Roksana swallow nervously, Klara gave her a reassuring hand squeeze. "I shall marry Lady Roksana" there were a few gasps from around the Conclave table and Leopold's mouth dropped a gasp. It was well known the Queen was bisexual and there had in some dark corners of the Isle been the rumours that some member of the household shared her bed but no-one around the table had known it was one of the Ladies in Waiting.

"No" Leopold stood waving his hands, "No, this will not happen." he said flatly, "I have a contract" he held up the court approved piece of paper as though to justify his point.

Klara stood and drew herself to her full height, which in truth wasn't as impressive looking as it felt. "How dare you" she said in a firm low tone. "You are a mere Duke and I am a Queen, I am Sessifet and I dare do anything" she said. She then relaxed, as though a switch had been flicked the stiffness of her body gone. "Your contract simply states that I am to marry you, it does not then tell me what I can or can not do." she said in a more friendly tone, "It has always been the way that Queen's take multiple spouses, I shall be no different. Tradition says I must go with the decision of the nation for my first spouse and as such you will fill that role. It is then my choice how many and who the others are, Roksana will be my wife, you will be my husband." Leopold still did not look pleased by the decision and was about to protest once more. "Should you find yourself unable to live with my choice you are entitled to rip up your contract....isn't that right Dragan?" she addressed her Finance Minister, a man well versed in contract law.

"Totally correct Your Divine Majesty" Dragan said still trying to think what his own response to the Queen's news should be, he knew the Ladies in Waiting well having travelled extensively with the Queen as a member of the Conclave and while he knew Roksana had been in relationships with other women he hadn't picked up on this relationship. "The Duke can back out, renounce all claims on the contract and find his own bride."

Leopold stood in silence with the eyes of the Conclave on him waiting for his next move. "I'm not happy, I get one day with my wife to myself then I have to start sharing her, not really the best of omens for a happy marriage" the Duke said, "Now I clearly still wish to marry my Queen, what man wouldn't" he was trying his best to ensure his potential prize didn't slip away. "And apparently what woman wouldn't" he smiled a little and the mood lifted, a few chuckles around the table, meanwhile Klara's gaze hadn't shifted from her future husband. "I would ask that I be permitted to enjoy my honeymoon before she take a second spouse, at least grant me that dignity Your Divine Majesty."

Klara sat silent, "Two things, first as you are to be my husband you have no need to call me Your Divine Majesty unless we're in public." Klara couldn't bear the thought of a lifetime of her husband using her formal title, "second thing is that I am already doing you a favour, I had wanted to marry Roksana the same day, she suggested that we do it the next day. So that is the deal I marry you in the New Year, you may choose the exact date, the next day I marry Roksana."

Leopold rubbed his beard, the Queen had all the power on her side and was clearly set on this course of action. "Very well Klara" Leopold reached into his pocket and removed a small box, "May I approach?" he asked from the opposite end of the long table.

"Of course" Klara waved him over and the Duke strood over and presented the Queen with the box.

He lifted the lid revealing a purple velvet lining, a key sat in the centre of the box, "I present you with the key to Noverak Manor House, the first of what I hope are many gifts for a beautiful wife to be." The Queen removed the key and placed it in her hand.

"Thank you Leopold" she said kissing him on the lips. "I think we should go visit it rather soon and you're people can meet your new wife." she added, "and your future Sister Wife." it was a strange term, when Lodjian women married multiple men the husbands were legally refered to as Brother Husbands but the term Sister Wife seemed a little awkward but was according to Dragan the correct term.

"Of course" Leopold turned to Roksana, the pair were awkward, should they kiss, shake hands in the end it was Roksana who broke the uncertain deadlock by hugging the man who would share her wife.  "So we need to tell the media, send the invites, get a cake and of course order in a truck load of booze, I happen to know a very good distillary" the room laughed, the Duke owned the nations 2nd largest spirit distillary which would now come under semi-royal control.

"We also need to begin the search for a new Lady in Waiting" Lady Anna, the chief Lady in Waiting said from her seat directly behind the Queen.

"So it shall be a busy few months" Klara said feeling rather relieved things had gone so well. "Now the Conclave is dismissed, me and my fiance will take lunch in my garden" she announced and the room emptied quickly leaving the two alone sat rather awkwardly. "Now Leopold....Leo?" she asked and the Duke grinned and nodded, "I want to make it clear I fully intend to be a good wife, that is one of the things that makes Sessifet happy, but at present I don't love you, how could I we only meet a week ago. I do on the otherhand love Roksana. Its my hope that love will blossom between us but if not then I hope at least we can be friends. I must warn you though Roksana is my wife, not yours, and I expect you to respect that."

"You know Klara, I was a soldier, not a great one but there was one thing all my commanding officers said, that if I was given a duty I got things done. I'll be honest, because thats what you want in a good husband. I want to marry you because of the influence and power it'll bring, I'd be insane not to. Like you love would be a bonus but ensuring the Hamrik name continues in good standing is my aim. I'll stand my post, I'll do my duty and I'll follow your orders. I know their may be even more husbands in the future, its something all Lodjain men know, but I never expected a Sister Wife" he suddenly burst out laughing as he slumped in a seat. "At least you've good taste in women" he said as he relaxed in the seat next to Klara. "So do we need to draw up a rota for what days we get with you?" he teased.

"I'm sure we'll figure that out, we've a world to tell first and that may raise more than a few eyebrows.....but that'll be fun" Klara was actually looking forward to seeing how the world would respond to this one.

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Re: Lodjain Nobles
« Reply #4 on: November 04, 2018, 09:45:38 PM »
The new office on the Isle of the Goddess that Maria Shvets shared with Arina Maksimov was lovely, spacious, well decorated and had a view out into the Alucard. Today was a crisp but cold day and the sky was clear enough to enable you to see the fishing boats well out into the sea. Arina had made herself scarce for the next hour or so, Maria had needed the office for an informal but highly important meeting, one of the first in her new role as a Youth Priestess, something their boss Alla Kohut the High Priestess herself had said gave them great authority, seats on the Conclave for a start. It was with that confidence she'd called this meeting and was awaiting the other party.

There was a knock at the heavy wooden doors that all rooms here in the Palace of the Goddess had. "Come in" Maria pronounced and the door swung open with the now familiar ancient creeking. "Lady Stasya good morning" Maria motioned for the chair opposite her desk and the Queen's Lady in Waiting took her seat. "First off may I thank you for the invitation to your little gathering last night. It was a lovely way of making myself and Arina welcome here in the Palace." The night before Stasya had used her private quarters to put on a "Welcome" dinner for the two new inhabitants of the island attended by the younger influential members of the Island, it had been rather pleasant, a nice meal and a few glasses of wine and a lot of gossip. It was during that evening that Maria had spotted the reason for the meeting and now set herself to begin. "I have a few questions I'd like to ask you Stasya" the tone was pleasant, searching more for information than accusing, "I spotted last night on your sideboard as I poured a drink your necklace tree, on it was a silver chain and attached to it was this symbol" Maria placed a colour photo taken from off the internet infront of Stasya. "Do you know what that is?" she asked.

"Yes" Stasya was confused, why was she being called to see an important Priestess to discuss her jewellrey collection. "It's the symbol of Helus, the Chief God of the Morelander's native faith"

"OK, so why would a devotee of Sessifet, and a person privledged enough to be in the prescence of the Goddess on a daily basis have such an item in her collection?" Stasya realised this was not going to be some friendly chat and that she would have to start being more careful about her relationship with the King.

"It was a gift from King David of East Moreland, he brought it me when I was visiting Ostlake with him." It had been during her visit in the run up to the CNN referendum and the time when the pairs relationship had really taken off. For her it had been a chance to make the Morelander King fall in love with her and the story she'd spun him about her hidden faith was important in winning his affections especially as it came at a time when the media in his homeland where questioning his future marriage. At least visiting the temples with the King had presented her as someone who while worshipping a foreign Goddess at least understood and respected the Cult of Helus.

"What did you do in Ostlake?" Maria asked, "It's a major city there right?" Maria had little knowledge of the East Moreland nations Geography but that wasn't as important as what she was interested in finding out. "What's there?"

"Its there military HQ and a rather beautiful place. Lots of Morelanders of importance live in the city and it's home of one of their major temples the King was visiting."

"You went with him?" Maria leaned forward

"Yes its where he got me the necklace" Stasya felt a cold shiver.

"You see I have a problem. You are one of the four closest companions of Sessifet. You should be a woman that the most noble of Lodjains fall at the feet of desperate to serve the Goddess through you. When people look for confirmation of the power of Sessifet they look at the Queen. Currently we have Klara who is clearly exercising more power than the Conclave, something Viktoria struggled with. She commands their respect through her force of having her own will. She has a handsome powerful husband about to be on her arm, and while it is a little unorthadox she has a beautiful wife to soon be on the other. Sessifet wishes to be surrounded by the beauty of her creation and Klara fulfils that. Then we have her Ladies in Waiting, Roksana so devoted to her Queen and Goddess that she has the honour of marriage, then we have Jasmina a beautiful young woman who must have been moulded by Sessifet herself, then Anna a woman so devoted to Sessifet that she has dedicated herself to service above all other things. Then we have you, as beautiful as Jasmina for sure, as devoted as Roksana and Anna no. You've given your body entirely to a foreign King, now should that bring benefit to Lodja it would be worth it but King David had already tied himself to our Queendom. Should the Queen have ordered you to entertain him on his visits I could understand but this is a relationship you have chased for personal gain and personal pleasure." Maria shook her head. "It's something I find almost disloyal, giving yourself to an outsider to our faith when Sessifet has truly blessed you." There was a long pause as Maria leaned back in her seat. "Are you a Cultist?"

For a second or two Stasya wondered what else Maria may have found out or seen and her mind raced mentally around her rooms thinking what else she had out.  Then her heart sank, had Maria searched her room, had they found the offering plate and knife David had given her convinced she was a secret Cultist. Had they found the copies of the three books the Cultists followed? "No Priestess" Stasya lied.

"Then I see three paths ahead of you. One, you call off your relationship with King David stating it was the advice of the Priesthood that you maintain your faith. Two, you leave the service of the Queen." Maria waited for a moment or two.

"You said three paths?" Stasya sought confirmation.

"Yes....the third. You do your best to convince the Morelander King to convert to our faith. I'll give you 12 months to do so. Do whatever you need to do, you already share his bed and so you shouldn't find it hard to wrap him around your finger." Maria said dismissively.

"I don't think he'd budge" Stasya said nervously.

"Then one or two?" Maria questioned her. Neither were appealing, she had the King of East Moreland one of the most influential men on Mundus infatuated with her and that meant potentially she could become a Queen and her family would become one of the most influential in Lodja, even more so than before. She'd seen how Oskana Stasiuk's marriage to the King of Royal Seleucid had seen that family become one of the most influential within the Queendom with Plebleians flocking to tie themselves to them. If she was to marry a King held in much higher regard in Lodja she could only imagine the power they'd have. Option two was also not appealing, she couldn't risk resigning as a Lady in Waiting until sure David would marry her, walking away from the Queen's service with no real reason would make her family lose prestige and could potentially see them upset the Queen totally and that could have bad consequences. Her plan was simple, wait until the King of East Moreland had proposed, she would naturally say yes but insist they keep it secret until the wedding was arranged, ideally she would marry the King in secret and thus leaving the Queen's service to be a Queen herself meant their was little harm done to her family. She was ever hoping David would propose but that hadn't come yet, she'd even come to the conclusion that if she was carrying his child he'd marry her in an instant and for the last few months she'd been doing everything she could to bring about her pregnancy by the King but so far nothing. She didn't like the prospect of being pregnant, being all lumpy and fat for 9 months, but she'd resigned herself to 9 months of looking frumpy and unfashionable in return for a lifetime as Queen of East Moreland. She at one point had contemplated just telling him she was pregnant and hoping to marry quickly to legitimise the child only to then tell him she'd miscarried but even though she had yet to honestly mean it when she said she loved him she couldn't hurt David like that.

"Very well I shall try path three" Stasya said reluctantly knowing a clock had now been set on her becoming Queen of East Moreland.

"Excellent" Maria rounded the table and hugged her. "You're like a beautiful helper of Sessifet, converting the faithless. I look forward to having a Sessifet worshipping King of East Moreland soon." She escorted the Lady in Waiting to the door and opened it, "and the necklace...don't wear it in public." with that she gently guided Stasya out the door before closing it behind her.

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Re: Lodjain Nobles
« Reply #5 on: November 18, 2018, 10:08:04 PM »
It had been a tough week for Stasya Pelagiya, first she'd been dragged into an influential Priestesses office and had her loyalty to he faith questioned and while it was true she was not really devoted to any faith she knew the importance of walking that tightrope in Lodjain society. She was now on a ticking clock, she had 12 months to either convert King David to the faith of Sessifet and that was probably a non starter before she even considered any methods. The second option was to ignore the Priestess but to ensure no punitive actions where put in place against her family she'd need to have someone with more prestige than a Priestess and that meant being the Queen of East Moreland. It was something she was sure would come, David was infatuated with her and told her repeatedly that he loved her, she had said it back too but not really meant it. She liked the Morelander, he was handsome, kind and devoted to her but he wasn't as exciting as she imagined her future husband to be but something could be overlooked if it meant getting a crown on your head. She however wasn't sure that it would come in the next 12 months as it was hard taking things fast in a long distance relationship and even when together at the odd weekend of snatched day here and there David still had affairs of state to occasionally to take care of, or worse his daughter. It wasn't that Stasya hated Rhiannon, she was a sweet young girl and the bond between the Princess and her father was incredibly strong but it was competition. Stasya wanted all of David's attention to herself and that was never going to happen when his daughter was around. Stasya had therefore resigned herself to Plan B rather than the patient wait that Plan A would have afforded her.

For the last three months she'd been taking steps towards getting pregnant by David but to no avail. He was a careful man and always used protection, she'd told him first she was on the pill but he still insisted stating he didn't trust them to be 100% effective, she'd even most recently had a fake contraceptive implant put in but even this hadn't convinced David to ditch the rubbers. They had even targets of Stasya's plan and the pin pricks she'd put in them hadn't so far done the trick. She'd even enlisted the support of technology, an app she'd downloaded that you programmed with your menstrual cycle that calculated the optimal time to conceive. She'd planned her trip to East Moreland to coinceide with the window it had shown her and had it all planned out. She'd picked out her hottest set of undies, her favourite dress and booked a suite in the Northfort Plaza Hotel, even giving Will Buckley the Head of King David's Security the heads up. It would in her mind be the most romantic of visits and of course meant she had another chance of getting with child.

They'd enjoyed a wonderful dinner on the hotels roof top terrace, Stasya would have liked to have had the Northfort skyline visible all around them but Will had insisted on erecting some kind of three sided screen, the only side they could see being the view towards the Temple of Helus the only building capable of giving a view onto the rooftop that direction and that had a Red Legionnaire team sat inside. "She's a hottie" Legionnaire Saxby said as they scanned the skyline of the city on overwatch. "Too thin" Corporal Barks responded as they scanned the rooftops and the dinner site to make sure nothing was lurking on the hotel roof. "Don't get me wrong I wouldn't kick her out of bed for farting but too boney" Barks reflected as he noticed the King and his Lodjain girlfriend romantically holding hands over the table while a waiter poured yet another glass of red wine. "Why the hell couldn't they do this in summer" Barks asked rhetorically as he watched his breath swirl away, at least on the roof top the large electric heated as wood fired chimeneia was kicking out a toasty amount of heat. The meal over it was time to head back to their room. A few more glasses of wine and Stasya hoped David would be amourous enough to be caught up in the heat of the moment and his obvious lust for her, she was disappointed however as once they'd retired to bed David made sure he'd retrieved his condoms from his bag. Stasya had sneakily stabbed small holes in each before dinner while David had been changing but that plan so far hadn't gone so well.

As it got towards 2am they'd fallen asleep in each others arms Stasya knowing her window of oppurtunity was closing but knowing in a few hours she'd likely get another chance and so she slipped into sleep herself. It didn't seem long before she heard a buzz and woke up, it still seemed dark outside and she realised it was David's phone. The King woke up reaching an arm over her and taking it from off the bedside. He glanced at the screen and sighed. "Something wrong" Stasya pulled him close.

"Yeah, some Borlander business" he put the phone down and swung his legs out of bed clearly some affair of state needed his attention. Stasya desperate for him to stay pulled his hand in an attempt to bring him back to bed. "I've gotta go" he twisted and leaned down to kiss her but she seemed unwilling to let go.

"I'll not get to see you before I have to go home will I" she pouted trying to make him feel guilty.

"I doubt it" he said glumly. "Sorry" he added as he finally managed to pull away. He headed for the chair with the pile of clothing on, he'd get a brief on the royal cars secure line and then shower back at the Palace before meeting his council face to face. Stasya however now had made her own way out of bed and clung to his back.

"Stay five minutes" she begged as her leg rubbed against his. "Please" she purred.

"I'd love to but can't" David began slipping on his clothing, "Will has someone who will take you to the airport tomorrow morning, and I promise if I can get away I will" he turned to see her now sat naked on the bed almost summoning him over, David turned back and quickly dressed knowing anymore challenges to his resistance would probably crumble. It was only when fully dressed he returned to her for a final goodbye kiss, as their lips locked he could feel her fumble towars his belt, he gently pushed her hands away, "Your such a tease" he laughed as he headed for the door leaving his lover alone.

Stasya checked her own phone and saw she had a window of only six hours left for what the app called the "Prime Fertility Window" she wasn't 100% sure exactly how that was worked out but she guessed the window would close with her once again failing to get pregnant, her last hope was this sudden exit would get sorted quickly and David would come back to her. With that in mind she phoned the number David had given her for Will Buckley and asked for her transport to take her to the Pelagiya family residence in Northfort, it was just outside the Northfort palace estate, a small little former hunting lodge but perfectly located for getting into the Palace with no fuss. It was to here that she was dropped just short of 6am, she made her way down the corridor to the guest room, her parents lived here most of the time but this weekend her father was on some business trip and her brother Henrik had gone to some party so she was alone. She planned to have a shower, get some sleep and hope David could fit her into his busy schedule before she headed home. With that in mind she thought she'd try and give David some incentive to hurry up and so snapped a picture of herself in the shower and sent it with the message "Wish you were here." She spent some time sorting her hair out and hanging her dress up on the showever screen, the streaminess left over from the shower helped drop the wrinkles out and once happy she headed back out into the bedroom.

"Shit" a voice came from the darkness making Stasya jump. Her eyes adjusted enough to find a light switch and she hit it and almost immediately covered her nakedness with her arms. "I swear to Sessifet I didn't know you where here" the voice said. Even screwing their face up Stasya recognised Gunther, one of her 17 year old Henriks best friends in the bed. "Henrik said I could use the room......he was wasted and I brought him home." Henrik was looking away nervously but Stasya could see he was still occasionally glancing her way checking out her nakedness. It was then that her phone buzzed once more, she hoped to see a message from David but it was just another countdown on her app. She looked back and Gunther had used the fact Stasya wasn't looking at him to full on gawp at her. Her apologised and returned to finding something interesting on the floor. Stasya just smiled, she'd seen several of her brothers friends checking her out before but it didn't surprise her as she was only too aware of her effect on many men. She walked over to the opposite side of the bed and slid in. "What the....I...." Gunther began to slide towards the edge of the bed but Stasya stopped him.

"I've seen the way you look at me." she said to the stammering Gunther. "Don't tell me this isn't what you wanted" she pressed her body against his.

"But....but you and the King of East Moreland" Gunther tried to pull away with one of the worst shows of resistance ever seen.

"He's not here is he but you are" she took hold of his hand and placed it on her hip. "You're not saying no to me are you?" she asked but Gunther was utterly shocked as Stasya pressed her lips to his. Stasya took control of the clearly inexperienced younger boy and just moments later he groaned as he climaxed. Stasya was pleased as she bounced down on the bed next to him as he just lay there shocked by the last two minutes of love making, the first in his life. "Close the door on the way out, you can sleep in my parents room. Oh..." she turned from her position preparing to sleep, "If you tell anyone I swear that I'll have you killed." she said icely at him for a second or two kissed him on the cheek and then gently used her foot to push him out of bed.

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Re: Lodjain Nobles
« Reply #6 on: December 23, 2018, 04:10:11 PM »
Jasmina[url=http://was sat on the floor with her back leaning on the bathroom door, a glass of chilled white wine cradled in her hand. Inside the bathroom there was a series of noises of taps running and packets being opened. "You done it yet?" Jasmina spoke through the door as she took a sip of her drink. It was a Thursday night on the Island of the Goddess and Jasima and [url=https://independentorder.net/index.php?topic=137.msg500#msg500]Stasya] was sat on the floor with her back leaning on the bathroom door, a glass of chilled white wine cradled in her hand. Inside the bathroom there was a series of noises of taps running and packets being opened. "You done it yet?" Jasmina spoke through the door as she took a sip of her drink. It was a Thursday night on the Island of the Goddess and Jasima and [url=https://independentorder.net/index.php?topic=137.msg500#msg500]Stasya where enjoying a girls night in, a few bottles of wine and some snacks. There was a few moments of silence before Stasya responded.

"Hang on" she yelled back as she placed the plastic device on the counter top. There was a few moments of silence before she yelled again, "Have I left the box out there?" Jasmina got up and wandered over to the kitchen counter top where they'd unpacked the shopping bags that had been delivered earlier that evening. Jasmina picked it up from the counter top and headed back.

"Got it" Jasmina waited for the door to open and walked in as the pair looked at the strip. "You actually went to get pregnant?" Jasima asked her friend.

"Not really" Stasya replied, "You get all fat and flumpy and it makes your tits saggy" the pair laughed, "Its a neccessary evil, those two bitches of Priestesses are making trouble, I think David will want to wait ages and I don't have the time, he'd not want an illigitimate kid" They watched carefully as the pregnancy test changed colour. "Shit" she picked up the negative test and threw it on the bin before washing her hands. "What the hell am I going to do Jaz" Stasya turned the lights off and followed Jasmina back into the lounge area where the red head passed her a glass of wine.

"Maybe this month" Jasmina said reassuringly.

"That's not happening, his bloody schedule is too busy and we won't be together when the times right." Stasya looked glum, she'd 9 months left to get the King to marry her or risk some kind of punishment that the Priestesses could cook up, that could mean losing some of her families land, maybe even stripping them of a title or dismissing her from service in shame. She didn't want any of that, she knew just how important her position within the royal household was to advancing her families ambitions. Perhaps the advice given to her from the Empress Beatrice could come in handy but she suspected that was stuff she already knew.

"You could always try getting someone here to do the honours" Jasmina had changed a lot in the two years since becoming a Lady in Waiting, she'd arrived at the island as a potential future Queen, rather naive and innocent about the world but now she was a 20 year old who was rather good at the intrigues of court. "I've seen the way that Royal Guard Major looks at you.....he even looks a little like David." Jasmina suggested.

"Dates wouldn't match though" Stasya shrugged, "Beside he looks nothing like David, he's got a lazy eye for a start." the pair laughed. "Still I'll just have to keep trying" she said reluctantly. "More important now is the ball this weekend, whose taking you?" she asked.

"Still not to deciede" Jasmina poured another glass of wine, "Obviously Besarian and Lennox have both asked but its the age old question, do I go for the handsome homegrown noble, or the rugged Celt, especially now he's single. I mean play my cards right I could become royalty, just like you will." she added the last part reassuringly. She'd become the lover of the nations leading politician a few months after coming to the island but it had been the Prince of Ui Cenneslaig, the younger brother of King Finley, Prince Lennox that had fallen hard for her. They'd clearly tried to keep their relationship secret, not that anyone would care, Besarian included but Lennox had been married but now a widower Jasmina's path to becoming a Princess was clear. "I'll probably go with Lennox, much easier to say the Queen commanded it as good diplomacy with a CNN ally.....or something. But what about you?" if David wasn't attending then no doubt they'd be a whole line of people willing to escort her.

"I'm going with Sir James. Some Morelander tradition about him protecting the lady of his King's virtue. So no randy Lodjain noble gets their paws on his future Queen or something." The pair just burst out laughing. Balls such as this were a regular occurence in Lodja and the pairings were seen as massively important, a way of gaining influence and being seen with the right person could do a reputation the world of good, but just as damaging was being seen with the wrong and while Stasya may have a more liberal approach to relationships than David being seen with a loyal servent of a King was a sure way of ensuring no rumours from the evening got back to what she hoped was her future husband.

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Re: Lodjain Nobles
« Reply #7 on: August 26, 2019, 11:29:24 PM »
Stasya woke to feel the warmth of David behind her, the big spoon to her little one. She looked at the fient outline of the clock just about visible with the sliver of light entering the bedroom. 7am, soon the alarm would go and David would be up and about preparing himself for some meeting or event. She felt a shift of bodyweight behind her, David clearly rousing and trying his best to not disturb her. She spun herself around so they were face to face, making David tense slightly as he thought she was still asleep. "Morning" she whispered for no particular reason before kissing him.

"Good Morning" David said with a smile.

"So what plans await my handsome King?" She asked him as they clung to each other. It wasn't that she actually cared that much, she knew that it was some event or meeting that he hadn't asked her to accompany him and so frankly she had more important things to do such as looking after her own business interests, catching up on Gossip Daily or just enjoying some time in Northforts plentiful boutiques and restaurants.

"Just a day in the office, conference call with Finley, Piripi and Klara around 3pm...."

"You should ask her again." Stasya interupted and saw David's eyes roll slightly. "What?" Stasya huffed, "We want to marry and she's stopping us. She should have said yes when you asked at her wedding now we have to wait for her to determine the time. You're a King of a country that essentially makes sure Lodja can actually defend itself you've got influence. You should demand that she change her mind." They'd had this conversation several times.

"I've told you Stasya" David began rather firmly, "We're friends with Lodja and I'm respecting their traditions on marriage. You won't come out as a Cultist and so I have to honour the Sessifetian traditions." This too was old ground. Stasya was worried that Klara would disinherit the Pelagiya family from their land and titles if a former Lady in Waiting, and a Baronetess to boot , was thought to have been unfaithful to the Goddess. "So until you do that we have to wait on Klara."

"Force her" Stasya urged.

"And just how do I do that?" David laughed at the niavity of it.

"Tell her to hand back that warship, bring home the Red Legionnaires that train their military and stop selling them weapons." Truth be told it wasn't the worse of strategies but David wasn't willing to jepodise the relationship he had with Lodja to seal something that he was sure was coming sooner rather than later after all it didn't really make sense sending Stasya to be an envoy based in East Moreland if Klara didn't intend to eventually grant her permission beside David was sure a CNN Skype conference call was not a place to be airing such things.

"I'm not doing that." David replied matter of factly.

"So you're happy me just being like your whore? I'm good enough to share your bed as a kind of Mistress but not a wife." she pulled away despite him reaching after her. "Maybe if your not willing to deny Lodja what they want from you I should deny you what you want from me." She slid out of bed putting the bedside lamp on as she did so before wrapping herself in her fluffy white robe that was hung over the chair close to the bed. "The Priestesses say there should be no sex before marriage anyway. If I've got to prove myself to be a good little Cultist then maybe thats what I should be doing anyway." There was a nervous look now on David's face. " That's it" She had made a decision, "No sharing your bed until you persuade Klara to let us marry." She turned and walked into the en-suite bathroom turning on the shower.

David swung himself out of bed feeling the familiar twinge in his lower back as he stood up and headed after her. "Stasya its a complicated issue" he protested. She ignored him and just waited for the shower to warm up. "You know I love you and want to marry you, but I have to respect Queen Klara. A day will come....and I'm sure it'll be soon...when Klara will give us permission to marry and then it'll happen. Please lets not have this arguement every other week." He held out a hand towards her.

"We could just marry in secret" Stasya said taking hold of his hand. "I just can't wait to be Stasya Ironside and have your children" she lied. She couldn't think of anything worse than being all lumpy for months and she'd heard that it did terrible things to your body afterwards, stretch marks made a shudder run through her body. " Just think we coul get married tomorrow, just you, me a few witnesses we trust and a Priestess, I mean I'm sure we can find one who would do it without saying anything. Then any children we do have while we wait for Klara's permission would be your legitimate children. I'm sure Rhiannon would love a little brother or sister, just look at how she dotes on Oliver." It was true Rhiannon did love spending time with her step-brother and David had once been relectant to have more children because of the condition that had taken Prince Caspian knew now that it had been Matilda who carried that gene not himself.

"We can't" David said rather angrily. "Its not acceptable that I hide that from our people. Beside they'd want to celebrate having the most beautiful Queen Mundus has ever seen." He'd learnt Stasya was rather suseptable to flattery and saw instantly her more stoney demenour fade. "I'll drop some hints" he conceeded.

"Don't be subtle" Stasya smiled as the two embraced. "What times your first meeting?" She asked.

"8:30 am downstairs with the Education Minister" David had to think for a moment or two as it was quiet a hectic day ahead.

"Good" Stasya pulled him towards her, "Enough time for a shower" She pulled the sliding door aside and pulled David in after her. "Make sure she says yes........or this could be the last chance of this for a while." she teased him as she closed the door behind them.

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Re: Lodjain Nobles
« Reply #8 on: October 30, 2019, 09:56:13 PM »
It was two days before Stasya's 23rd birthday and that had given her a plan, especially with the news coming from home that Queen Klara was hospitalised. It was tradition that nobles on their birthday could present petitions to the Queen, however in this case it would be the new council of King Leopold, High Preistess Alla and Baron Besarian Ivanov. In the eyes of Stasya this presented an oppurtunity and she was determined to make sure that it went in her favour.

The plan started early in the morning after she'd arrived back home in Lodja. As a former Lady in Waiting she was permitted to have access to the rooms in the Palace of the Goddess and knowing the schedules of most of the important people she swung into action. It was 6:30 am and of course that meant normally she'd still have been snoozing or if in Northfort probably bidding her lover King David a good morning as he headed off for a day of business. She tried to avoid the more tedious stuff he got involved in like visits to industry or universities prefering the glitz and glam occasions. Today though she was making her way to the gym in the Palace, or at least the one reserved for the nobles. She noticed the admiring gaze of several of the guards who wandered the corridors of the ancient castle as they watched her pass in her lycra gym gear. As she pushed open the old wooden door to reveal the ultra modern fitness suite beyond she scanned for the reason she was here. She spotted him next to the water fountain just as she had expected. "Good morning My Lord" she walked over to Besarian and waited for him to finish filling up his bottle before starting her own.

"Good morning Stasya" Besarian was rather surprised to see her, not that she was a stranger to the gym, just he hadn't realised she was in town. The pair exchanged the usual pleasantries and small talk before Besarian seemed like he was about to make an excuse to start working out.

"I'm going to be honest. I think I can trust you" she placed a perfectly manicured hand on his shoulder as she moved her lips close to his ear. "I need a favour." she whispered. Besarian smiled a little, it was little things like this that kept him amused the daily little favours the nobles did for each other that entertained him. "You know my situation with David. Well Klara obviously stopped us marrying, humilated David and that comes after East Moreland have been so kind to us, military trainers, introducing us to other nations, loaning us that boat thing" Stasya had a knack of playing dumb, living in East Moreland and sharing the bed of a militaristic nations King meant you got to know a fair bit about the military yet that didn't suit the impression she needed to give. " I've been doing my best to keep David interested in our nation but he's under pressure from his people to remarry, have more children, that kind of stuff. Its only a matter of time until he begins to look elsewhere." she seemed to become upset at that thought.

"So what would you have me do?" Besarian asked amused at the charade that was going on before him.

"Its my birthday soon and my father intends to present a petition on my behalf asking for permission to arrange a marriage for me with King David. It'll be this little council of yours to approve it. Now if the Lord of the Conclave was as kind to grant his approval I would be ever so grateful." She pouted.

"That depends what I get in return." Besarian grinned. " I mean your family is rather blessed with its business interests. Lets say if for example your father was to invest a sum of $2million in my families investment company then I think it would be hard to why this isn't a good idea. Also I'd need to be assured of having access to King David to be able to....facilitate....other support for our nation."

Stasya thought, she had expected Besarian to want money, not quiet this much, or even to share her bed which was something she would have had little objection to as he was after all rather handsome. She had funds of her own of course, nowhere near the vast amounts her father had, but through trust funds, inheritance, investments in her name and her own little fashion deals she could cover the "fee" he was demanding. "I'm sure I could find the King's phone number and I know my father would be delighted in making such a wise investment." She knew he would probably pay up but even if he didn't she would simply hand the money over herself after all $2million to become a Queen was a cheap price.

"Then I look forward to toasting your marriage" the pair shook hands and Stasya left having not expended a single drop of sweat. She noticed Besarian looking at her ass as she left and smiled at the knowledge she was 1/3 the way towards her plan coming to fruition. The next stop meant a quick change of attire. She picked out a plain white dress, simple but elegant. She tied a rustic leather belt around her waist and headed through the Palace. She greeted a few old friends as she went spending some time catching up with the gossip of the Palace, she would have liked to see Jasmina as she was the Queen of the Gossips on the Isle but it was likely the Ladies in Waiting would have been with the Queen at hospital. She reached the top of the steps that lead to the Temple of the Goddess, a series of sub-terranian rooms brightly decorated and showing stories of the raise to power of Sessifet. These rooms were the most holiest place in the faith of those devoted to the Goddess and so was perfect for finding Alla Kohan.

Alla was just finishing the morning prayers when Stasya entered. The room was full of members of the Priesthood and some military officers and Stasya stood at the back near the door as she waited for them to leave. A few she recognised and she greeted them with a respectful nod and mouthed hello as they headed out of the circular room. When it was more or less clear Stasya made her way down to the front where a mural of Sessifet surrounded by lesser Gods was painted on the wall. Stasya collected a cushion and placed it on the floor before kneeling before the mural. She sensed Alla close by and so spoke out loud as she prayed. When she finished the High Priestess was waiting. "Its nice to see your stay in East Moreland hasn't dented your faith." the pair embraced.

"No it hasn't" Stasya was more or less secular, she saw religion just as another tool for manipulation and one she intended to play now. "I fear however I may have failed the Goddess." she sat down on a bench glumly.

"How?" Alla asked.

"You gave me the task of turning my lover to the Goddess but he is still rather steadfast. I have though tried to use him to protect the Goddesses people." Again she lied, her seduction of David had nothing to do with East Moreland's close relationship with Lodja, of that Stasya was sure. " I convinced him to help our military but beyond that there is not much I can do. You see he wishes to take a Cultist to his bed." she began to sob and Alla wrapped an arm around him. "He wants a son, a King to follow him onto the throne, a healthy son and I could give it him but well, Klara stopped my chance and now he'll just look elsewhere eventually."

"Maybe its for the best you find several good Sessifetians as husbands" Alla tried to console her.

"I had a plan" Stasya was giving a Ossie winning performance. "I'd marry him but raise our son's to follow Sessifet. Then we'd eventually have a Sessifetian on the throne of East Moreland. He could have married our Queen, it would have been amazing." Alla didn't think the plan had much chance of working but at least it confirmed that Stasya was as devoted to the faith as she had hoped.

"You know Stasya, when it was needed to protect her people Sessifet used trickery and deciet. She knew her power lay not just in her intelligence but her beauty. She used this to get the stronger and more powerful Gods on her side until she herself had grown more powerful and then she destroyed them to ensure no harm could come to mankind." she took hold of Stasya's hand and soothed it. "You've done your best for our religion but perhaps now some trickery is what we need. It is better to have a powerful nation on our side and some Sessifetian influence there. Do what you need to therefore to keep him in your bed."

"I will" Stasya knelt and touched Alla's feet a sign of respect towards the Priesthood. "But maybe you can help" she explained about the petition her father intended to present and through flowing tears explained that Alla could help persuade the others to support it. A smile spread about Alla's face, "I look forward to seeing your children in the temple one day." she embraced Stasya and kissed her on the forehead a sign of blessing before watching her leave up the stairs. Before she even reached the top step Stasya was smiling, the tears a mere memory as she did her best to stop from laughing.



Two Days Later

Stasya was back in East Moreland now as naturally she wanted to be spoiled by her beloved on her special day. She'd have loved for her family to be there too but Duke Tobias, her father had a task to attend to. It was the hour long slot where the Queen would take meetings with nobles, merely a chance for the nobility to present petitions or give gifts of devotion to their leader. Today though with Klara in hospital the five steps the throne normally sat at the top of was home to three chairs placed on the third step, the Queen's stone throne empty. Besarian and Alla flanked King Leopold who was the person recieving the petitions. There were the usual things, requests for being able to have family crests, families recently made Patricians asking for blessings and a few even wanting investments in business. Soon it was Tobias' turn and he bowed to the King. "Your Majesty may I first ask that you pass my best regards to your dear wife and prayers for her and your childs health." Leopold thanked him as he had the many others who had done likewise that day. "Today marks my daughter, the Baronetess Stasya's 23rd birthday. She has been a loyal servent of the Queen these past 4 years. First as a Lady in Waiting and now as her Envoy. She is in love with the King of East Moreland and the pair are officially courting.....as approved by the Queen. I seek permission to arrange their wedding but naturally need the approval of a Patrician of higher rank so therefore need royal approval. As a birthday gift from the Royal family and the goddess I ask for this permission."

The King looked left and right, "As you know Duke Tobias today's petitions have become a little like the X-Factor and you need two votes for the petition to be approved. May I start by wishing your daughter many happy returns, I very much enjoyed her parties in the past and her celebration in East Moreland means I'm missing a great party." There was a chuckle around the throne room. "As for the marriage I think it best to hear from the High Priestess first. She is in the best position to comment on such matters." Leopold leaned on his arm to turn to Alla.

"Your Majesty I see no reason to say no. The Baronetess has been in love for a long time and the couple are devoted to each other. It is a shame that Stasya has elected to marry outside the faith but with the Goddesses support maybe the faith can spread into East Moreland as people embrace their future Queen." Leopold nodded, it seemed good advice.

"Besarian" Leopold switched leaning arms to listen to the Lord of the Conclave.

"I'm probably the wrong man to ask about marriage." He was rather eligible but despite being linked to several suitable women he had remained rather unmarried much to the surprise of many. "I can think of many reasons to approve this marriage, better ties with an ally, bringing happiness to a friend, the chance to thread the faith, millions of others." he gave Tobias a sly smile, the Duke's deposit in his company having landed yesterday afternoon. "I think we should approve it."

"Very well" King Leopold stood and headed down the steps and put a friendly arm around Tobias shoulders, "Arrange the wedding. King David's got the 2nd best looking Queen on Mundus" the room clapped as Leopold guided him to the door. "I'll have the clerks write it up and sent officially this afternoon."

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Re: Lodjain Nobles
« Reply #9 on: May 19, 2020, 11:17:27 PM »
Besarian was annoyed. Yesterday he had 40 years of age and when such milestones are hit you tended to look at how successful your life had been. Besarian had been doing just that and while on one side of the scales he'd been professionally very successful the other side, his personal life, wasn't as rosey. Yes he'd enjoyed his existance so far but there had always been the dream of having a family of his own. He was pretty confident that his status as a long standing Lord of the Conclave, a Lord of a major city and a glittering military career he would never have to share his wife like many Lodjain men would have to. He knew he would be the only husband anyone who married him would have but the question was why had it taken so long. He'd always believed that as he aged the Queen's he'd served would take care of him, he'd even held out a slim hope of marrying Queen Klara, perhaps she would still marry him. That was something he could accept, being the 3rd partner to the Queen would grant him status beyond compare and the fact the Ivanov's would forever be associated with royalty made it worth sharing a wife. He hadn't lived the life of a monk though and his status at the height of Lodjain society ensured he had never been lonley but he'd never started that family he wanted. This morning however his mind had turned from yesterdays self reflection to the matters of state as he strode through the corridors of the Palace of the Goddess on his way to head yet another meeting of the Conclave. As he passed through the grey flagstone floored maze of corridors people came and greeted him with some keen to get a moment or two of his time. As always Besarian would feign hurry listen to a brief burst from them and promise he would think of it and that the petitioner should come see him later. It was only as he rounded the corner that marked the residency areas of the Palace that he slowed.

As he headed past the Ambassador Quarters one of the doors opened as he had just passed. It was the melodic laughter that made him turn as it was all too familiar. There he saw the flame haired Jasmina the Lady in Waiting to Queen Klara, exiting the Ambassadors Room. He noticed a hand gripping the pale Jasmina's gently pulling her back towards the door. "I can't.......I have to go." the hand reluctantly let go and Jasmina turned away as the door slowly swung shut. Besarian didn't need to ask whose room it was as it was common knowledge that Jasmina kept two lovers, Besarian and his rival Prince Lennox. The Cenneg had chanced his arm at the Lodjain beauty much to the annoyance of Besarian who still felt Jasmina owed him more loyalty as it was him who had seen her brought into the royal fold initially as a candidate for Queen. He wondered if the fact he had failed to secure her the throne was the reason for her not committing to Besarian whole heartedly. Besarian now though was rather annoyed, she had known last night was his birthday and he had asked her to come and have dinner with him but she had refused saying she already had plans and now it was clear that meant spending the evening with Lennox.

"Good morning Jasmina" Besarian greeted the girl who hadn't noticed him. She turned and looked rather flustered. "I trust you enjoyed your evening." Besarian didn't wait for a response instead just turned and restarted his journey to his morning meeting leaving a rather awkward Jasmina in the corridor. She liked Besarian and he spoilt her rotten but he wasn't like Lennox. The Cenneg Prince was more rough around the edges, he was more exciting and he allowed his passions to show. On the other hand Besarian was rather stoic and in public almost frosty. She felt some sadness that Besarian was angry with her but there was nothing much more she could do and so she watched as he walked away.

The Conclave meeting was dull. Talks about building coastal defences for part of Grand Alucard, then some talks about the need for random spot checks on inventory for the military and then various reports from different Ministers. Besarian in his role as Lord of the Conclave controlled the debate unless Queen Klara had something to say but as usual while she always made the final decision it was Besarian who did the most to shape that opinion guiding the conversation to go the way that he wanted. The meeting drew to a close and the final point was a conversation about the Queen's expectations for her staff during the upcoming Lodjain Ball season. It was a time of year that was socially chaos as every few days some nobleman hosted a formal ball for the young ladies reaching adulthood to be properly introduced to society. It was expected that the host would invite various high ranking individuals and Besarian already knew he'd be having to find excuses to get out of a fair few. On one day last ball season he had been invited to 12 balls across Lodja all on the same day and if he attended some and not others it would cause an awkward situation. He grinned to himself as he realised the irony of the similarity between his situation with the balls and what Jasmina had done to him. As people filed out the room Besarian hung back until the only people remaining in the room were Queen Klara and her ladies in waiting Anna and Tonya. "Your Divine Majesty may I have a moment of your time."

"Of course" Klara responded cheerily. Besarian was someone she respected because after all he'd devoted so much of his life to doing what he could to help guide the Queens of Lodja and generally he had done a decent job. "First though did you have a good birthday. How was the wine I sent?"

"As ever Your Divine Majesty spoils me." Besarian responded in truth the wine was only half drunk as he prefered something harder with his musings. "I have a concern though with my age." It was clear Klara was concerned as she put a hand on his arm worried that her adviser was about to drop some medical bombshell. "I had always thought that by the age of 40 I'd be a father several times over and while I don't regret the time I have given to the Queendom I do not wish to a father in my old age. I do not wish to sound ungrateful for all the honours you and your predeccesors have put on my family but I would like to be given a decent marriage." Stood behind Klara were her two Ladies in Waiting who he could see exchanging sideways smiles sensing what he was about to ask.

"And you would have Jasmina become your wife?" Klara asked well aware of the fact Besarian was attached to her staff member.

"If that is who you would have me marry I'd be thrilled." Besarian said before lowering his voice, "But I think politically you risk upsetting a Cenneg Prince to do that. I'm not a fool and know that Jasmina has myself and Lennox.....Prince Lennox in her favours."

"Then who?" Klara asked half expecting Besarian to say her and already thinking how she could handle such a situation.

"I have always trusted Sessifet and as her Guardian that means I trust you. Whoever you select I would be happy to marry whether that be one of your Ladies, or some other woman. All I would ask is that it is soon."

"Very well." Klara put her hands on her thighs and pushed herself upright with a sense of purpose. "I'll give it thought and you shall have an answer......and a future bride by the time we go to my husbands City of Noverak for his families ball. Rest assured it'll be a woman worthy of such a good servent to the Goddess." She placed a reassuring hand on the Lord's arm.

"Thank you Your Divine Majesty" Besarian bowed and left. He was satisfied that he could begin to build that family he longed for and now he began secretly hoping it would be Jasmina but if he was the Queen he would leave one of her closest confidants in the bed of a useful ally. There was no shortage of well connected Lodjain women who were unmarried and as women could practice polygomy even that was not of a concern. As long as she could have children and was beautiful Besarian would be satisfied.

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Re: Lodjain Nobles
« Reply #10 on: July 30, 2020, 11:36:43 PM »
The Kohut Family Estate on the Isle of Iskor

While 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.