Captain Mikhail frowned thoughtfully. "Hmm. I see." Was his only response. He walked in silence for a minute, before opening the door to a chamber. "Here you are." He said, letting go of her arm and giving her a slight bow. He walked over to the side, putting on his helmet and waiting.
Soren looked up from where he had been examining a map. "Hello, miss Celeste." He greeted with a small smile. "I trust you are doing well?" He straightened.
"I am." Celeste said with a nod, the smile she gave Soren just a bit brighter than the one she'd given Mikhail had been. "Though I did find I was absolutely unprepared, packing-wise." She huffed a small laugh shaking her head. "Sue helped me take care of that. How have you been since we last saw each other?" Her eyes flickered from the map she'd been eyeing curiously for a moment, to Soren's face, as Pluto sat down in front of Mikhail to watch him.
Soren smiled. "Yes. She's a sweet girl." He said. He shrugged. "I have been…busy. As usual. That part of my life doesn't ever seen to let up." He laughed softly, though there were still some worry lines around his eyes. He was starting to get old before his time, he knew. The map was simply of the kingdom and the surrounding areas, with certain spots circled in black ink. The pointer finger of his right hand had an ink stain on it, which he didn't seem to have noticed. He sighed softly. "Has the captain explained what is going to happen next, or shall I explain it for you?"
Captain Mikhail watched quietly. He was simply standing guard, as was his job.
"Essentially." Celeste nodded, tugging on the sleeve of her shirt in an almost self-conscious fidgety movement. "Though, I'd gladly listen again, if you've got any tips for not making an absolute fool out of myself." She said, her hand moving from her sleeve to the back of her neck, to trace the dream catcher. It was in full view now to anyone who could see her neck, as she'd let Sue help her pull her hair up into a simple and classy bun of sorts. The braids, however, hadn't been removed, partly due to a lack of time, and partly because Celeste liked them there.
Soren thought for a moment. "Don't…well, dont say or do anything foolish. You shouldn't have to say anything at all, really, but if for whatever reason, you do, just say something non-committal." He said. "Please. Especially if you are asked about politics of any sort." He said, reaching up and raking his hand through his hair with a soft sigh.
Celeste listened to him talk carefully, doing her best to file away the advice for later. "I'll keep quiet the best I can. And definitely try to avoid anything too heavy." The way she spoke the words sounded more like a promise than just a casual 'gotcha', but that wasn't anything new. "And if by foolish, you mean tripping and falling in full view, I'll do my best to avoid that as well." It was an attempt at a joke, at the very least trying to get him to smile again, though she wasn't quite sure why.
He nodded. The side of his mouth twitched in a small smile. "I see." He said. "We are just waiting for King Lin to arrive, and then we may begin. I will introduce him first, then you." He explained. "Because he has a higher rank, he must be introduced first." He said, dropping his hands back to his sides. "And then you shall be free for the evening, to do whatever you wish. Although I would suggest not leaving the palace grounds. The city streets, regrettably, are not yet safe." He looked to Captain Mikhail. "How has the city cleanup been going?"
The captain sighed. "Not well, sir. There are gangs refusing to let our officers do their jobs, that we are being forced to wage battles against to stop them. But it isn't a good idea to discuss this in front of someone…not from here, sir." The Captain's eyes flickered to Celeste, then back to Soren.
Soren nodded. "Of course. Thank you."
The crease between Celeste's eyebrow returned as she looked off to the side, thinking. She wasn't upset, she knew very well that she was a commoner and a foreigner both, which, adding up, wasn't exactly in her favor. There were other ways to learn things, anyway, and the thought flickering through her mind knew that as well. While it was obvious she was thinking, it wasn't obvious what she was thinking about, though her slight frown that came with thinking hard about something was just a tad bit adorable.
A low growl from Pluto announced Lin's arrival, before he had even stepped into the room. The King shot the wolf an ugly look, before his lips curled up in a look that was more sneer than smile. "King Sorren." He greeted, ignoring everyone else in the room, including his own companion.
Soren's eyes flicked to King Lin. His mouth twitched slightly, though his expression didn't change from a placid calm. "King Lin. We have only waited ten minutes for you. Don't worry, you aren't that late." He said. An insult, only thinly veiled. "I would assume you know what is to happen? Or shall i educate you as I would any other guest?" His words were pure politeness. Soren had lost the majority of his patience for the day, and was doing his best to remain calm and unperturbed.
Captain Mikhail sighed softly, watching them all carefully. The other guards stood at attention, also keeping an eye on the goings-on.
Celeste blinked out of her thoughts, looking from Soren to Lin, before meeting Mikhail's gaze briefly. The anger from Lin at Soren's thinly veiled insult was palpable, and it caused her to shrink into herself just slightly as she looked back at the two kings, evident mostly in the way her shoulders hunched.
"No, thank you." Lin said curtly, his jaw clenched. "I understand how this works." He finally acknowledged the guards and Celeste, though it was more a disdainful sweep of the room, with his eyes lingering on Celeste for a moment.
You do? Good." Soren replied. "Then follow me." He politely offered his arm to Celeste, and started walking, heading towards the door. One of the guards opened the door for them.
Celeste ignored Lin's gaze boring into the back of her head, accepting Soren's offered arm while carefully avoiding looking at anyone as they left the room. Her grip on his arm wasn't enough to hurt, or even be uncomfortable, just enough to belie her discomfort. Lin stayed silent, though he did visibly move away from Pluto as the wolf came to walk on Celeste's other side, once again sandwiching her between him and Soren.
Soren led them through the palace quickly, until they came to a hallway. There, he said, "King Lin, I'll announce you first, then you, Celeste. It's just a quick introduction to the nobility." He let go of Celeste, and straightened his jacket, then walked inside.
Captain Mikhail had come along as well, of course.
"Try not to be an embarrassment, would you."
Though it was Lin speaking the words, in a low tone to keep the attention of the guards away as they waited, it was in her father's voice that Celeste heard them. He'd had that same conversation with her countless times, before introducing her to his allies. In fact, once upon a time, it had been a young Soren and his father that she'd been introduced to.
How could she have forgotten about that? Celeste nodded once, not trusting herself to speak as she traced the dreamcatcher on her neck. She had met Soren before. He and his father had been two of the few guests that hadn't taken advantage of the time her father alone with them, as he so often did with his guests to test them. Memories of those times threatened to cloud her mind completely, the feel of hands on her arms and her hips almost as real as the feel of Pluto's fur inbetween her fingers. Please, please hurry.
Soren spoke to the nobility for a few minutes, then came back to get Lin. He saw that Celeste seemed upset by something, and stepped over to her, gently touching a hand to her arm. "Are you alright?" he asked softly. "You don't have to do this, if that's what's bothering you." he said, eyes studying her carefully. His hair was coming loose, and starting to fall into his face again.
Celeste froze completely under his touch, blinking hard once, then twice, to try and clear her head as she forced herself to relax. Lin wasted no time in moving towards the door, having accomplished his goal. "I'm fine." She said, forcing a smile. "It's not this I'm worried about. Just…memories. Nothing big." She promised, the fingers of her left hand fiddling with the fingers of her right, lifting from Pluto's fur. Deep breath, count to five, rinse and repeat.
Soren nodded, and dropped his hand. "Okay." he said with a small smile, then followed Lin to introduce him to the court. After he introduced Lin, he came back. "Come on, Celeste. Your turn." he said gently, holding out his arm for her to take if she wished.
This time around, Celeste welcomed the offer, gladly hooking her arm through his and using the contact to ground herself somewhat. She looked to Pluto, and then to Soren, before nodding slightly. Just before they entered the other room, she spoke quietly, eyes on the doors. "I wonder how much you remember of the first time we met. It went kind of like this, except it was you on the other side of those doors."
Soren blinked. "Oh…I had forgotten about that." he admitted with a soft chuckle. "That was a long time ago." Before…before dad was insane…before…everything. he thought. He led her out, gently escorting her onto the dais in front of the nobles. He introduced her to the nobility, keeping his arm linked through hers.
Seems like forever ago. I wonder how different each of us is now. Celeste put on the same friendly smile she tended to greet everyone with, adjusting it to be more polite and just a bit more impersonal. Despite that, her presence drew murmurs and curious and snide looks, from her hair, to Pluto, to her arm in the King's. Gossip fodder, she could tell that already.
Soren knew just how much gossip was already going to be spreading. "She's in the royal wing…" "The fiance rooms…" "We'll see whose room she visits at night…" "A witch? An outrage! With all these witch bloods running wild…" "He should stop focusing on the head between his legs and start using the one on his neck!" That last one had never made any sense to him, considering he never had anyone in his chambers at night. But that didn't stop the rumors that flew. The ones that said he was interested in men, since he hadn't picked a wife yet. The ones that said he must have an illicit lover that he couldn't wed. So many rumors about him.
Celeste's fingers tapped lightly on Soren's arm, and if he payed attention, he might notice the patterns to the taps. Morse code. She didn't expect him to know it, but she tapped out the assurances anyway. Whether to herself or him, she wasn't quite sure, but both worked. She could pick out a few of the insults and words spreading through the gathered nobles, and while she didn't like the assumptions about her, they were infinitely better than the after-effects of her father's introductions. Bad, but better. Isn't that the goal? Better. Better.
Soren's eyebrows drew together slightly. He knew morse code. Had been taught it when he was younger. He shifted his hand, tapping back, Alright? Something wrong? he led her back to the edge, having finished the introductions. The nobles mingled with each other, gossiping and talking about the newcomers and about their king. Some rumors spreading were…worse than others, by far.
Celeste blinked, glancing up at him in surprise. Had she tapped that out? More importantly, did he know morse code? I didn't realize you knew Morse. She tapped, biting her bottom lip as she looked away, letting the rumors in and trying to let them wash back out. It wasn't quite working. Thinking. Too much thinking. Looks like me messing up would have just added food to the fire.
Of course I do. I was told it was necessary for a ruler to know, though I haven't used it until now. he tapped, looking down at her with a small smile. Yes, it would have. That's why I asked you to be careful. The court has… he paused for a long moment. Taken offense to the fact that I am not yet married. That I do not have an heir. It is nothing you need to worry about.
There was that wrinkle between her brow, and the small and adorable frown, as she worried about it anyway. Why are people in power so concerned with children and legacies? Stealing lives early- She cut herself off, hoping he might have missed that. And you don't want to marry for convenience. It was a statement, not a question, because she knew the answer.
No. He tapped back. I… would rather marry someone I love, or at least could grow to love. Not…marry someone from far away. He realized that that wasn't something he should tell a stranger. I'm sorry. You don't need to know any of this. He said, looking down and ducking his head slightly.
Don't apologize. I'm guessing you don't exactly get the chance to talk about these things with others. She shook her head, narrowing her eyes slightly at him. I may be a practical stranger, but sometimes, that's the best kind of person to talk to. Unbiased. She paused her tapping for a moment, trying to think of how exactly to put her thoughts. You deserve to marry for love. And I hope that love finds you soon enough to get the pressure off of your back.
I- he stopped as a man walked over.
"Going to introduce me to your…friend, Soren?" The man asked, leaving just enough pause before "friend" that it was obvious that that was not what he was thinking.
Soren sighed softly. "Uncle, this is Celeste Sovanna, and you will address her properly. Celeste, this is my uncle, the duke."
The duke. Celeste didn't tap it out, only thought it to herself, and it took quite a bit of control not to frown at the man. Instead, she gave him the same smile she'd given the nobles as a whole, bowing her head slightly in greeting. "A pleasure, sir." She said, her voice soft but clear. Be polite. You don't have to like him, but be polite. That part was accidentally tapped on Soren's arm, but she seemed unaware of it.