Evander nodded, reviewing his own copy for a long moment. His father had been the one to negotiate the original treaty, and he could recognize his father's careful planning in the way some things were phrased, in the way it was organized. "Yes, this will work for now." He replied. "If anything needs to be renegotiated in the future, it will be done, when or if necessary, but for now this will serve well."
"Splendid!" Dacian beamed, looking up from his papers. He took the ones about the treaty and placed them together, setting them off to the side. "I finished making the translated version an hour ago. I will have it sent as soon as I can, it should get there in a few days at the least." Humming softly to himself, he stopped and scanned the other papers for a quick second. "If I may say, having this treaty complete makes me so happy. When I first was translating papers for Mayfield, I never expected to be personally working with such documents. It is truly a wonder to me."
He smiled a little. "Yes, of course. My thanks." at Dacian's words about translating, he nodded in agreement. "Of course, it's quite a change." he studied the papers for just a moment before returning his gaze back to the ambassador seated across from him. "Mayfield is a good man, and I know I've said that before, but he really is. Were you aware he sent me a recommendation about you?"
"He did?" His head slightly tilted to the left as he thought about it. A look of puzzlement and surprise washed over him as he sat back. All he heard was that Mayfield had talked with King Nicolae and the king gave him the position. It was strange to him, he is young and he did not hold any previous government positions like the others. He chuckled, "Mayfield is like a father to me. He really is a great man, but this is the first I am hearing of this, Your Majesty. All I knew was that he spoke to King Nicolae one day and now I am Ambassador Alexandrescu. I wonder why he did."
He smiled a little again, a soft pull at the corners of his mouth. "I had written to him and told him that with the war over, I would need a new ambassador from Sceivania. He told me he knew just the man. Young and eager to learn, and already spoke Avenian without an issue, and someone he thought I'd get along with, too." He reflected on the letters sent, nearly six months ago now. "He said he'd speak with King Nicolae about it, and then a few weeks later I got another letter that you'd been selected as my new ambassador."
Dacian rested his index finger on his bottom lip as he listened. At first, he let his eyes linger towards the corner while the king spoke, but then he gazed over towards King Evander. A soft trail of laughter left him. "Somehow I am still speechless about this, I feel as if this is simply a dream or a fairytale," He chuckled. "I hope he is right, and I hope that in the end, I make both him and you, Your Majesty, very proud."
Evander let out a soft, faint laugh of his own, barely more than a huff of air, but a laugh nonetheless. "I'm quite sure you already have, ambassador. You've been nothing but kind, in the first place, and in the second you've done quite well negotiating for this treaty."
"Really?" His eyes widened and became lit as he lifted his chin up. A wave of giddiness overcame him, but he took a deep breath in order to keep himself composed and relaxed. Still, he gleamed with happiness. "It is an honor to hear such words, Your Majesty," He said, giving a simple head bow. "I promise to only do better from here on out. I will be the best for you and for everyone else. I will be strong like you, Your Majesty."
Evander's mouth pulled in a melancholy smile. "No, don't be like me. Be yourself, Dacian." he replied softly. He didn't want anyone to be like him. Not with the things he'd done. "And don't hold yourself to an impossible standard. You're already doing quite well, and there's no reason to stress yourself out about it."
There was something in the king's smile that was not just simply alluring or regal like the others. It is the same with the look in the king's eyes sometimes too. Dacian paused for a moment, trying to figure it out before deciding to give up and nodded. "Of course, I will do my best and remember your words," He smiled. "But please do the same, Your Majesty. Let us both do well to our capabilities and not stress ourselves out."
"Of course." He replied in a soft tone, looking over at Dacian with a thoughtful look on his face. "You have been able to attend a church, yes? I cannot quite remember which faith, if any, that you adhere to? But we have quite a few various churches, including the Avenian church. I don't know if you do follow a specific faith, but if you do, have you found a church or meeting place?"
Dacian curled his lips back as he thought about the question King Evander had asked. After thinking for a few seconds, he shook his head. "Most Sceivanians, such as myself, are devout Catohlis, but I have yet to step inside a church since I have arrived here. I only have been praying twice a day," He responded, then chuckled. "My mother would not be happy if she heard of this, but I suppose that I should find one."
"Ah. We have a few different Catohlis churches within the city limits, though none on the palace grounds." He said. "I'm afraid I don't know much about the Catohlis faith, but of course you're welcome to practice it as you choose. In Aven, we do have a state religion, but we don't control what people worship. If that makes sense to you? There's a religion involved with the state, but we don't force anyone to be involved with it."
"Yes it does, Your Majesty," He responded while nodding along. "Catohlisim is the prominent religion in Sceivania and other countries in the eastern side of our continent. For my home, it serves as the official religion like how Aven has their own, but Sceivania homes other religions that people worship freely. We can practice it within the church or on our own. The belief came before the institution, or at least it did back at home, so I suppose I can look for a church in the capital." Dacian took a deep exhale before smiling back at the king. "I have heard of some of the churches here. I've been told that they look beautiful. Everything here tends to be mesmerizing."
Evander nodded. "Of course." At the compliment about the churches, he smiled softly. "If you want to see some lovely churches, I would recommend the palace church. It's for Lyris, our state religion, and it houses some of the more major shrines for our gods." Lyris had multiple gods, who were assisted by saints. At birth, Lyrians were devoted to a god and patronized by a saint; it was believed that the combination of the saint and the god guided the child's life from then on.
"Ah, I see. I have read about the Lyris religion before, it is quite different from Catohlisim so I am quite intrigued to learn more about it. Of course, I have read about it, but it would be lovely to go. And since I am the Sceivaniaian ambassador to Aven, I probably should go to the Lyris church," He nodded. "If I may ask, Your Majesty, would you consider yourself to be religious, or spiritual? I have never asked such a question to someone before, even at home, so I apologize if I am overstepping any boundaries."
"Yes, you're welcome to come to one of the services if you like." at the question, he paused, considering it. "Mm…yes and no. I do believe, if that's what you're asking. But I'm not…quite as devout as I could be, I suppose. I pray, and I leave offerings at the shrine of my god, but I'm afraid I'm guilty of rather…neglecting my saint. He and I don't quite…get along, I suppose." which was an odd thing to say; as far as the public knew, Evander's saint was the saint of forgiveness and redemption; to not get along with him would be quite an odd thing. The reason behind that was, well, Evander's parents had lied. Saints were chosen using cards; the child was usually about one or two when the saint was chosen. The cards would be shuffled, laid out face down, and the child would choose a card. Whichever card the child chose was the child's saint. Evander had not pulled Enia, the saint of forgiveness and redemption. He had pulled Lio, the saint of tragedy and mistakes. The saint of sacrifice and choices that led to sadness and death. So his parents had lied, and the public thought his saint was Enia. No one wanted to follow a king whose saint was the saint of mistakes.
Dacian kept staring into King Evander's eyes as he listened to him. His hands rested nicely above his knees as he sat still. The warm expression still remained on his face, but confusion lingered in his eyes. "If I am correct, you picked Eina. Is that right, Your Majesty?" He asked. "Briefly I had done research on your gods and the practices, and do correct me if I am wrong, but isn't Eina one that represents forgiveness? Perhaps, you two do not get along, but he still forgives you and will be at your side even in the end. You have a good heart, Your Majesty, and you do your best, I am sure that your god knows it very well. Even those who are not really devout can turn out to be the mightiest angels or men."
Evander sighed faintly, realizing now he would have to explain himself, preferably without giving away the lie. "Enia forgives, yes. I'm afraid that miscommunication between us is that I do not." he said slowly. "Small things I can forgive, of course, but…Farrantil I am incapable of forgiving. Not their king, not their commanders, not their people. Enia would advocate for forgiveness for them, and giving them a chance to redeem themselves."
It was hard for him to not pause and think for a moment. His head titled quizzically after hearing the king sigh. Carefully, he took in each word as he studied King Evander. "But how can one forgive what Farrantil has done?" He wondered. Glancing down at the floor, he licked his lips. "Sometimes…there are those who do not deserve forgiveness and that is alright. They carve scars into others', scars that will never go unnoticed. Their sins could never be cleansed by any deities. Enia should be understanding of that, shouldn't he?"
He shrugged. "Enia is the saint of forgiveness and redemption. He would advocate for giving Farrantil a chance to redeem themselves and earn forgiveness." He traced a finger over his knuckles for a moment, a soft frown pulling at his features. "I don't know. It's just not something I'm….good at, I suppose."
"Forgiveness tends to be a funny thing. Not many are good at it as well. Kings and commoners alike." Dacian continued to observe the king, taking in his features. Softly, he smiled, attempting to be reassuring as possible. "I know kings have to be perfect with everything, but it is alright. You are already good at so many other things like leading…and strategy….being kind….being strong, and having the heart of a king. I have only listed so many, but I know you are great at so many other things as well."
He smiled faintly. "Yes. Thank you, Dacian. You always have such kind words for me, that I am…not sure I deserve." he looked down at his hands for a moment, before returning his gaze to the ambassador. "Really. Many thanks for your words."
"Why are not sure, Your Majesty?" Dacian moved to the edge of his seat. He held his hands together as he glimpsed over to the king's. For a quick second, he thought back to the gardens and King Evander holding the rose. "Because every time I see you, from when we first met to the gardens yesterday to now, I believe you deserve so much, even more than what words could give. I will always have kind words to say about you."
Evander flushed faintly, gaze flicking to the window for a moment, unable to meet Dacian's gaze for long. "I just…it's complicated." He replied, shrugging a little bit and then shaking his head. "But… really. Thank you for your words, Dacian."
"Complicated?" He muttered under his breath. Along with the king, he shook his head before glimpsing out for a moment. His eyes could not stay looking out the window, for he ended up looking back over at King Evander. "I see…." He nodded, smiling brightly. "It is nothing but my pleasure, Your Majesty. But…really, from your leadership to….you….I always will have something good to say about you. I hope I know when to stop myself at the appropriate time."
Evander let out a quiet sound that was half hum, half laugh. "So far, yes, you've stopped at appropriate times. I'll let you know if that ever changes." he didn't know why things were different between him and Dacian than they were with other ambassadors. But for some reason it was just…easier, with Dacian.
A quiet chuckle managed to slip out of him. "Very well then…." He muttered. Dacian rested his index finger on his bottom lip as he stared down at the floor. Some sort of feeling crept over him, and it was the same one when they were in the gardens. He wasn't sure what it was, but there was something about King Evander that made his face blush. It felt oddly natural to say all those things, and yet he knew that he shouldn't, but there was that feeling lingering in him again.
Perhaps it was because Dacian was always so kind to him. He didn't know. Only that sometimes being around the ambassador made him feel like a blushing schoolboy again, and that it made him off balance. He didn't know what to do. He shuffled his papers, doing his best to look busy.
Resting his chin on his palm, Dacian kept looking down at the floor. While he was still in his seat, he became rigid as he continued to think about King Evander and try to figure out what was going on. His heart was beating at a fast rate while his cheeks were incredibly warm. Actually, he simply felt warm in general. It was hard for him to find words to say. He wanted to say something, but he worried of what words could potentially fall from his lips.