Reacquaintance

Prydania

Prydania

Það er alltaf sólríkt í Býkonsviði
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Pronouns
He/His/Him
TNP Nation
Prydania
Discord
lordgigaice
The weather in Beaconsfield was crisp and cold, the clear blue skies contrasting nicely with the snow on the ground.
The reception Prime Minister William Aubyn was leading at the recently re-built Beaconsfield airport was very bare-bones. No grand band, no press. Just the King, Prime Minister, a few senior officials, and soldiers for security.

William found it refreshing in a way. He was looking forward to not having to put on a show. He imagined Tobias felt the same way, if he weren't so concerned over the Principality's friendly disposition towards Cogoria.

An aide nodded, after receiving a phone call, approaching the Prime Minister.
"The Regency's plane will be arriving shortly sir" he whispered.

"Thank you" Aubyn replied, turning his head to the side, looking off into the clear, winter sky.
 
The Principality's government jet sat near the gates at Norvalle International as the final safety checks finished up. Princesses Claidie and Alice were anxious to board and be on their way to Prydania, but they were held up by their accompanying Prime Minister. Madeline was busy trying to explain to her daughters why they couldn't come along on the trip, especially to her youngest, Charlotte. At only two years of age, she didn't want to be without her mother, even though it would just be for at most a few days. After saying goodbye to her children, her husband gave a few parting words.

"Remember everything I told you on how to do my job. When you're not sure what to say, just say what you think I would say," Will advised his wife. "You've been with me long enough to know."

"Hehe," Madeline giggled, "you aren't supposed to be advising me, remember?"

"No one has to know," Will answered, smirking before giving Madeline a kiss.

"Hey!" an impatient Claidie called out to the couple. "Come on, Madeline. We don't want to be late."

Madeline stepped up the staircase to board the plane, waving goodbye to her family before disappearing into the cabin. Inside, she playfully chided Claidie for the hurry-up. "Do me a favor... Get married and have three kids, yeah?"

With preparations completed and everyone on board, the jet taxied to the runway and took off for the two and a half hour trip to Beaconsfield.

* * *​
The trip itself was quiet, and the ladies hardly spoke to each other. Madeline spent the two hours on her laptop working on a proposal for a new budget. She also moved some funding around for a bigger government jet. The old bird just wasn't meant for three government heads, families, and security. Claidie hadn't yet overcome her fear of flying, so she took a nap on the in-cabin couch to pass the time rather than be alert and a nervous wreck the entire way. Alice gazed out the window, reflecting on the last trip up north she went on. She recalled the devastation of Oktobergrad after the War of Cimmerian Aggression, and knowing Prydania had also recently recovered from a civil war, she feared more of the same.

With ten minutes until arrival, the seat belt warning tone chimed, and the flight crew announced the plane's proximity to Beaconsfield. Madeline buckled herself in as she continued to work, unsatisfied with her progress. Alice promptly woke her sister to have her strap herself in an actual seat. As they waited to land, they discussed how they were going to handle greetings, introductions, and discussions. They all agreed that this would be the Prime Minister's show. A short time later, the jet landed and taxied its way to an awaiting delegation.

* * *​
Though colder than normal Sil Dorsettian weather, the winter air of Beaconsfield wasn't entirely intolerable. Although the party wasn't exactly dressed for the conditions, they stepped off the plane without care for the temperature and made their way to the waiting Prydanians, focused on the task at hand, even if they were shivering. The women made their way to Tobias's group, all three of them curtsying before Madeline introduced the group.

"Your Majesty, we are honored and thankful that you would have us here today. Allow me to introduce Their Highnesses, Claidie and Alice, the Princesses of Sil Dorsett," Madeline announced, as she motioned towards each princess as she announced their names. "And I am Madeline Ellison, the Prime Minister of the Principality. I'm looking forward to what I expect will be a productive meeting."

Alice spoke next, alluding to past relations. "It has been a while since our families have been open to a meeting. If I recall, it's been since Prince Christophe the Second and King Andrew the Third since we've done so. It's been too long."

Claidie closed up the Dorsettian introductions. "We're looking forward to this chance to catch up. There's a lot of opportunities for us to collaborate and cooperate, and we're ready to get to work."
 
Tobias shivered in the cold, despite being fairly used to Prydanian winters. Maybe it was his nerves? They felt frayed, and yet he was nervous. The totality of everything from the past few months had finally caught up to him, and the nervousness of the impending meeting set those frayed nerves on edge. The result was that he felt as if his body was ready to go limp, only able to be animated via an overworked nervous system that was nevertheless over-stimulated.
He sighed just as he caught sight of the approaching Sil Dorsettian jet, remembering to straighten his posture as he adjusted his uniform ever so slightly. William's insistence on a low-key meeting was refreshing if nothing else. It was a bit of relief, even as his mind churned over the fact the Principality of Sil Dorsett had been reaching out to some of the very enemies he was determined to guard his realm from.

William was far less concerned, even as the rumblings of an election grew louder and louder. Not because he was confident in his own chances at victory- he was -but because diplomacy was always his strong suit. He felt not nerves but a sense of clam as the government jet of Sil Dorsett landed. The soldiers and Royal Guardsmen stood at attention as the Prime Minister looked over at his king. He worried for the boy. He had for most his life. Still, he felt comfortable in trusting the young king to do what was asked of him.

The Regency descended from the plane, and William lowered his eyes just a bit, stepping aside so that Tobias, as King, would be the first to greet the visitors.

Tobias stepped forward, noticing the understated yet formal dress of the Sil Dorsettian royalty, and feeling just a bit stuffy in his red army officer's dress uniform. Still, he smiled and nodding politely at Prime Minister Ellison as she introduced the Princesses.

Tobias' smile warmed a bit, greeting Alice.
"As are we Your Highness" he replied, before turning to Claidie.
"And likewise Your Highness" he added before turning to William.
"This is William Aubyn, my Prime Minister" he added.

"Your Highnesses" William replied respectfully with a nod.
"I'm looking forward to getting on with business. There was far too much happening in the Crownlands currently to keep me from extending the invitation."

"Quite" Tobias replied with a smile before quieting himself. Much had happened since his coronation. He certainly felt as if the business of government was becoming familiar enough that he could speak to it confidently. And yet he still felt a quiet sense of intimidation from most other heads of state. Especially fellow monarchs. Who were taught from birth how to conduct themselves when it came to affairs of state. A luxury he had grown up without. So, fearing he was overstepping his capabilities, he simply nodded.

"Your quarters have all been prepared. Now let's say we get out of this cold?"
 
"Indeed, let's go someplace warm." Madeline agreed.

The Dorsettian ladies entered their assigned limosine, and waited for the motorcade to depart. As they were taken to their next destination, they conferred amongst each other to gauge their first impression of the Prydanians.

"I can't believe Tobias came out in military regalia for a low-key meeting like this," Claidie scoffed. "Was that really necessary? He could have come out in a t-shirt and jeans and I wouldn't have cared, but instead he shows us up."

"First impressions, Claidie," Madeline responded. "I'm not surprised by his outfit; he is a King after all. If anything I'd say we were too casual with ours. Does it really matter though? Quit worrying about the superficial. It's fine."

"I was more impressed you didn't snap when he called you 'Your Highness,' sis, Alice joked. "I know you get sooo~~~~ mad when people call you that."

"Protocol change, Alice," Madeline informed the younger princess. "When the two of you are together, 'Your Highness' is the appropriate style for each of you, and Claidie knows. Right?"

Claidie nodded in confirmation. "Yeah, I'll live with it."

"Anyways," Madeline continued, "they asked us to come here, so let's find out what they have to offer, let's find out what they're going ask of us, and let's figure out what we can offer in return. Forget everything else. Don't worry about appearances, don't worry about protocol, don't worry about... political, royal,... whatever. Just stay focused. Alright?"

Madeline's uncertainty over what she was alluding to bothered Claidie, and she couldn't get it out of her mind, but her and her sister nodded in confirmation. They laid back in their limosine seats to reflect and brainstorm as the motorcade made its way to Absalon's Palace.
 
Toby's attention was lost as he looked out the window, seemingly lost in the scenery.

"Thoughts, Your Majesty?" William asked.

"Hm?" he replied.

"On the Dorsettian Regency" William asked.

"Oh..." Tobias answered, leaning back in his seat. "They seemed nice..."

"But?" William asked. He knew Tobias well enough to know when he was holding back.

Toby sighed.
"I'm not sure what the point is William. These people met with Cogoria. They're committed to peace with people who'd see us all dead" he groaned.

"The Cogorians aren't known for their subtly. The Cogorians likely don't care for Alice and Claidie Dorsett anymore than they care for you. And yet the Regency still tried. That's worth something, I think."

"You really think this visit will be worthwhile?" Tobias asked his PM.

"You keep asking me that, and I keep telling you what I think. If you could...see past...their diplomatic mission with Cogoria? You would realize the benefits. Trade, yes, but consider this. The Principality holds a unique position in the Crownlands. They're in the PU, but exist firmly outside of Syrixia's sphere of influence. They also aren't fond of Maloria."

"So I've heard" Tobias replied.
"And Maloria's one our closest allies. I'm not sure I understand what you're saying, William."

"My point" William continued, "is that despite their small size? The Principality holds a position in the balance of power outside of the major spheres of influence in the Crownlands. It means they can move in circles other nations can't. And if we're on friendly terms with them? We can work with them in ways we can't operate on our own or with our allies. And if our nations share economic ties? Well all the better."

Tobias nodded, pouring himself a glass of water.
"I understand" he replied, before trailing of. "And besides...."

"Besides what?"

"Well I mean, they were dressed rather...casually."

"Only casual compared to an officer's dress uniform" William remarked as Toby blushed.

"Still, I wasn't expecting that. I didn't know..."

"Didn't know what?" William asked.

"...well you could do that. For a meeting that is. Not dress like...this."

William just shrugged. "The Principality has undergone somewhat of a change. The Princesses ushering in the Regency has made a less ceremonial style fashionable."

"You know Claidie races. The electric series" Tobias said, after a brief moment thinking on what his PM had said.

"Electric series? I don't watch motorsports" William replied, going through his papers.

"I mean she doesn't win much, but you know...it's interesting."

William looked up over his papers, adjusting his classes. "You aren't thinking of taking up racecar driving are you?"

"Hardly" Tobias replied with a chuckle. "I just think it's brave...they're both brave, actually. You know, I don't think I'd go into a radioactive wasteland with Cogorians" he chuckled again.

William raised an eyebrow, before sliding his papers into his folder. He could have said something. Maybe he should have, but he didn't. He could always say something later if he had to.

The limo slowed as it approached Absalon's Palace, police barricades keeping any press at a distance, to avoid making a spectacle of this visit. Tobias exited the car, smiling as he greeted the arriving Sil Dorsettian regency.
"After you Your Highnesses, Madam Prime Minister."
 
Royal Guards escorted the two parties through Absalon's Palace, the the clacking of shoes on marble and tile echoing through the structure.

"Renovations have been slow, the throne room, my quarters, office, and the adjacent conference rooms" Tobias said, acting almost as a tour guide to his own residence. "Other areas of the city demanded the resources" he added, causing William to roll his eyes, before the parties arrived at a conference room. It was an older room, lined with wood as old paintings of hunting scenes lined the walls...still, the soft light caused the room to have a radiant, warm feeling.

Tobias sat at the far end, William by his side, as their aides filled out their end of the table. Tobias shifted in his seat a bit as William stood to the left of the King.

"Your Highnesses," he said, bowing his head ever so slightly, "Madam Prime Minister. Thank you for accepting my invitation. I won't retreat too much of the same ground my government's ministers and ambassadors have tread elsewhere. The Civil War was brutal. It was harsh..."

Tobias fidgeted just a bit as William spoke about the war.

"...but above all else? It's over. And thanks to international aide? We're ready to begin rebuilding our economy. And it's in that spirit that we've invited you all. We're interested in the negotiation of trade that will strength both of our nations economically while also strengthening bonds diplomatically."
 
As the Dorsettian party sat down in their seats, they listened intently to William's boasting about the end of the war, a boast that was well deserved in their opinions. Prydania was indeed on the way to recovery, but the remark about international aide bothered Madeline, not because it was given, but because the principality had failed to provide as well. Madeline had demanded that the princesses provide aid from the Princess's Storehouse company[note]http://forum.thenorthpacific.org/single/?p=10081501&t=9075728[/note], but it wasn't done.[note]http://forum.thenorthpacific.org/single/?p=10091345&t=9069745[/note]. Now the Dorsettian leaders were in a spot where they would have to answer for that. Madeline didn't dismiss the issue in her mind, but decided it was better to stay on topic. The Prydanians were interested in trade, and now the question was what could be offered.

"Your Majesty, Mister Prime Minister, we're all pleased that the Kingdom is on its way to a full recovery from the terror of the syndicalists," Madeline said, with Claidie and Alice nodding in confirmation. "We hope that there is something we have to offer to accelerate the recovery efforts, but the question I have is 'What are Prydania's needs?' Most of our economy is service based, not really agriculture and manufacturing related. There are some exportable things we produce in those sectors, but they're more... luxuries."

"Watches, jewelry, automobiles, clothing that's more haute couture than everyday..." Claidie recited, "those are our main manufacturing industries, but it's not really what other nations need, especially in times of hardship. I hope we do find something that we can help with. I'd hate for us to not find common ground."

Alice remained silent, her mind wandering and needlessly recalling what she saw in Oktobergrad as the syndicalists were mentioned. Combined with the thoughts of the hardships Prydania faced until recently, she was lost.
 
"Well" William began, "Prydania has always had a primarily agrarian economy. We are attempting to diversify, to a degree, as we rebuild. Still? It will remain the central element of our economy. The Principality of Sil Dorsett's economy, as explained, does not have much of an agricultural sector. What I'm proposing is simple, but I think it would benefit both of our nations. Prydania has traditionally produced more food than it needs to feed itself. And we would love to sell some of the excess to the Principality, at a discounted rate."

Tobias didn't scoff, but he leaned to one side in his chair listening to his Prime Minister. He trusted his judgment and didn't want to cast doubt on him, but he did have a lot to say.

"In addition..." William added, we're in the process of discussing a railway to integrate the routes of both Norsia and Prydania. Expansions to Arrandal are being considered and so it wouldn't be inconceivable to integrate Sil Dorsett into the network to further strengthen economic ties across this wartorn continent."

Tobias straightened himself a bit in his chair...
"If I may add something..."
"Your Highnesses, Madame Prime Minister" he continued. "My Prime Minister tells me that deals like the one he described are in Prydania's best interests. I trust him, but I feel like I would not be acting in the best interests of my people if I did not ask about the foreign aide the government of Sil Dorsett failed to send."

William felt his heart in his throat. He wasn't expecting Tobias to speak up quite yet. He'd promised Tobias such concerns would be addressed, but now? And yet what could he do. Tobias was the King. His eyes darted between him and the Regency as Tobias did what he could after taking in the full weight of what he had just said, staring at a space just above the three members of the Regency as he tried to keep himself collected.
 
Alice looked over at Claidie and Madeline, confused and visibly upset. She knew what Tobias was referring to, but didn't know how he knew. Madeline, on the other hand, looked frustrated, having known the topic of the abandoned aid delivery would surface. Madeline stared back at Alice ready to defend her position and what she said to the only other person who could have known about her intent, Thenacan Prime Minister David Drake.

"I had a feeling this would surface," Madeline said. "If I may..."

"Yeah," Alice interrupted. "You made a promise we couldn't keep and told the world about it, didn't you?"[note]http://forum.thenorthpacific.org/single/?p=10091335&t=9069745[/note] she said heatedly, putting the Prime Minister on the defensive. "I'll explain what happened," she said, turning towards Tobias. "We had a little crisis of our own. Seventy-thousand plus refugees flooded into the principality to flee the damn Cogorian offensive north of us, and we did our best to support them until Merilian League aid arrived. It wiped out the surplus we had to give and we didn't get anything back when it was over."

Claidie stepped in to try and calm things down. "Sis, please, calm down... Humanitarian food aid historically hasn't been a government responsibility in the principality, as odd as that sounds. It's a private venture owned by... us," she indicated, motioning towards Alice and to herself. "Since the last days of our distant-grandmother Liselle, our family made a promise to our citizens that we would provide in times of need. The problem is that, with our nation being so small and lacking in vital resources compared to others, it was never considered that we would be the ones to provide other nations in their times of need. We had a target supply for our own citizens, it was ruined with the recent crisis, and we haven't been able to restore supply that our people expect us to have."

"Every little bit helps, you two, which is why I demanded that you distribute something," Madeline said, scolding the princesses. "Anyways, there's another option," she realized, picking up on something Aubyn said. "If Prydania net exports foodstuffs, we have the capability to turn that surplus into an emergency supply should another crisis occur." The lightbulb in her head turned on, a eureka moment as a breakthrough came to mind. "What if," she thought, turning towards the sisters, "you two reorganize your company to be government owned, and make the government responsible for foreign humanitarian aid like it should be..." Turning back towards the Prydanians, she continued, "...and, we expand production lines to utilize the Prydanian food surplus and produce vacuum-sealed and freeze-dried products in Prydania for Prydania or Prydanian interests."

"If it's an acceptable solution to His Majesty and the honorable Prime Minister, I'll support it," Claidie stated.

"I don't want the company to be behind bureaucratic red tape, especially not from the Chamber of Law. But, if the three of us and our ministers can agree on what to do, I'd be willing to implement recommendations, as long as the government pays for it," Alice cautiously affirmed.
 
Tobias' eyes widened just a bit as the Princesses went back and forth. He hadn't expected this, for each member of the Regency to have their own unique take on the subject. He was expecting a unified response, not a discussion amongst themselves. He shot a curious look to William, who was busy reading the dynamic of the Regency himself.
For William who had, just recently, been afraid of contradicting his King? Prime Minister Ellison's willingness to challenge both Princesses was a shock. And yet it it seemed to set a less formal tone, as he sat down to the left of his King. He looked to Tobias once more, as Madeline made her proposal.

Tobias leaned back in his chair. Cogoria. That name flared up and he wanted to pounce on it. And yet he had enough sense to know that a proposed compromise was not the time to attack. He scanned the regency for a moment, tempted to believe Alice over Claidie, but nodded at Madeline's proposal.

"It sounds like a mutually beneficial arrangement" William replied, happy Tobias had shown some restraint. He sometimes worried that he'd not done enough to temper his feelings on certain matters relating to international diplomacy, but he could only do so much.

"I would add" William continued, "that as Princess Claidie noted, the Principality's vital resources are limited. We would be willing to amend the arrangement in the future, to earmark a portion of our agricultural exports for the Principality at a discounted rate."
 
Madeline realized she may have scored a major win in the negotiations already, seemingly securing both the reformation of the "Princess's Storehouse" company into a government entity and a deal to have food come into the principality cheaper than before. Knowing how embarrassed the sisters were after the abandoned aid mission came to light, getting them to consent to the deal was easier than she expected, as neither of them provided any opposition to the agreement. She knew she was in charge now, and continued to play on that feeling as she addressed Minister Aubyn and The King.

"We certainly appreciate the consideration, and when the time is right I'm sure we can fine tune the details," Madeline said. "But, right now we're politically and financially stable, and Prydania recently came off a syndicalist nightmare. You brought us here to talk, but it's us who should contribute."

Alice grimaced a little, as she felt that Madeline was lying. The bickering between the two major factions the Chamber of Law, the infighting within the Regency itself, and the conflict between Claidie and the nobility was too much for Alice to ignore and certainly did not give confidence to the idea that the principality was stable. She believed Sil Dorsett was already in an awful state. To make the situation worse, the buzzing of the SDS Solidarity had riled up the populace against the mutual defence clause included with Phoenix Union membership. Stable, Sil Dorsett was not, at least in Alice's mind.

"Minister Ellison..." Alice called out. "I'm sorry, I know this is a bit off track, but let's not mislead our hosts. Do things look stable back home with daily demonstrations outside the palace?" she asked.

"Leave it for now, your highness," Madeline responded. "Our present issue regarding the Phoenix Union isn't a Prydanian concern."
 
William nodded, "all though it has made things difficult. I admit that tensions in Craviter are tense at the moment, and we could spend all day nitpicking at each other's choice of allies. Political realities dictate who our friends are, but it seems to me that Sil Dorsett is actually encumbered by the Phoenix Union."

He cleared his throat before continuing.
"Cogoria is an active concern of Prydania's, as I'm sure you can imagine. Keeping them at bay has been a concern of the provisional government almost since we secured Beaconsfield at the end of the war. I was shocked by just how effective the Principality was at producing a productive dialogue with the Cogorians."

William turned with a friendly smile towards Alice.
"I admit your Highness, I didn't think you'd be coming back from Cogoria alive. And yet you proved many people in this country wrong. Myself included. And you did that without the Phoenix Union holding you back."

There was a slight quiet in the room as the Prydanian Prime Minister's words sunk in, before Tobias broke the silence. He looked directly at the princesses, but focused on Alice.

"How did you do it?" he asked calmly with a slight smile. "I look at Cogoria and it legitimately terrifies me. All I see is a wall. A wall of soldiers ready to march this way, kill me, and subjugate my country. I can't help it. It's either them or the Stan Yera that dominate every foreign policy meeting I have with my ministers. I'm petrified."

Tobias breathed a bit before continuing.
"But you, Your Highness, you're a monarch. I doubt they think much more of you than me, but you want there. You toured Oktobergrad. You actually established a dialogue. I don't know how you managed to do that."
 
Alice knew she had to be careful with her words when answering Tobias's question, but she couldn't lie about it either. She slouched in her seat as she thought about it for a few moments, breaking eye contact with the others while the thoughts of Oktobergrad resurfaced. She wanted to say "It was our fault," and it seemed to be the dominant thought for a while, but she thought of an alternative and sat back up.

"If we had gone the Syrixian or Malorian way, I think war would have been inevitable. It may have been in the favor of the union, but think of the destructive potential of it. Think what Cogoria could have done to the principality if we were the first to be struck, given we held the GPO seat at the time.

"We made a gamble on an alternative path, one that avoided war, and one that rightfully shifted the blame to a fallen aggressor, an aggressor that we failed to stop. I think it was the fact that my presence showed how serious we were in our pursuit, and how I was willing to essentially condemn myself in the name of peace, that ironically saved me. Maybe it was bravery on my part, maybe it was respect on theirs, or maybe fear over what would happen if I was harmed. I don't know what the answer is, but it was a calculated risk and it paid off."

Claidie followed up with a few passing comments of her own. "We still aren't exactly on friendly terms with the Cogorians. We're still members of the Phoenix Union, whom they despise, and we still consider them a significant threat because of that. We don't have the capability to push back or withstand an attack, even if help would have been on the way. We had to try the alternative, even if it legitimized a regime that is hostile to monarchical and/or capitalist nations."

"It may be selfish, but our duty is to our people and to do what we feel is necessary to protect them, not to wait for the world police to do it for us," Madeline added on.
 
Tobias slouched a bit in his seat as he listened, letting the explanations from the regency echo in his skull.

"I can understand that, Madame Prime Minister" he said looking at Madeline.
"And I have to agree with Prime Minister Aubyn. The Principality did it on its own. Not with the Phoenix Union."

The King sat back in his seat and William, knowing Tobias' body language, began to take the lead. Even then, though, Tobias kept speaking.

"I was wondering. We've spoken about the Phoenix Union. And I do thank you all for explaining the aide issue..."
He paused for a moment.
"And we've discussed food and trade. I was thinking though. About Prydania. We need more than food, or construction crews, or engineers. We need recreation. I learnt that at Oktoberfest..."

"I know this is forward. And I know it's not what any of you expected to talk about, but what would it take to get the Electric Series to Beaconsfield?"

William looked at Tobias, a bit surprised. Still? He kept his composure, slowly turning to face the Regency.
 
Claidie couldn't discern how the sudden interest in the SRS Electric Division came about. "Did he actually watch any of the events? Why bring this up now?" she thought. The series was entirely in Claidie's domain, being not only her pet project from a financial support perspective but also a competition that she herself participated in. It wasn't something Claidie ever talked about with other leaders, since as far as she could remember she never met a fellow head of state that also dabbled in such things on the side. Tobias's interest left her feeling uncomfortable and unsure of how to address the query without being too upfront about her own involvement.

The prospect of an event outside principality borders was tempting, though. The whole reason she put so much effort into the series was to promote clean energy technologies, and spreading that effort abroad seemed like a natural evolution of her objective. She also couldn't ignore the potential business opportunities for the automotive manufacturing industry if their products were further promoted abroad. She had to remember to look at it all from a promoter's perspective, rather than a driver's, and so she would promise to address it when she got back home.

"Well, I do know there's two spots on this year's calendar for foreign events. I could talk to the division's race director, Mr. Charpentier, and see about getting a Prydanian Electric Prix added to the schedule in one of those spots. He handles logistics, scheduling, and race control itself. It's not really under my control, but I could probably ask for a favor."
 
Tobias smiled, happily.

"Thank you. Beaconsfiled has been mostly rebuilt, and I would love to see the Electric Series come by."

He looked to William with an comfortable grin.
"I think so at least. We have Princess Claidie here with us. Why not ask?"

He turned his attention back to the Regency.
"As I said, I think it would be a positive for our country. And for you as well, I think. It would be a business opportunity if nothing else."

"And if I may so? I consider myself a fan. I don't watch nearly as much as I should, I admit, but I do when I get the chance. I'd be beyond honoured if you could arrange it."

He wanted to say something about how Claidie's own involvement was inspiring in a way, in that it was something of a confirmation to him that it was fine to explore his interests outside of ruling, yet he kept quiet. He was somewhat sure it wouldn't be appropriate given the circumstances.

"We're always looking for new ways to reach out and strengthen ties with other governments" William stated before pausing.

"There is one point, one I'm afraid we brushed by previously, that I would like to revisit. And I understand that it's sensitive. Yet it's one I would remiss if I did not bring up."

"Cogoria" he said, after a brief pause.
"We've talked about Cogoria, but what we would like to know is would it be possible for the Principality's government to act as intermediaries? The PU can't help us in that regard, and we have no diplomatic ties to the People's Empire. And yet some sort of olive branch should be extended between our two governments. I'm wondering if Princess Alice's experiences in Cogoria have made it possible for the Principality to help make that happen."
 
Alice never expected to be in the spotlight for so long. Originally believing she was finished discussing Cogoria when Claidie's pet project was brought up, she was surprised to be back in the hot-seat again. She felt troubled inside, wondering if the Cogorian outreach was all she would ever be known for. But, as the memories of Oktobergrad resurfaced, she remembered an important detail she omitted before.

"That may be difficult," Alice confessed. "The only reason things went as well as they did was because we essentially gave the Cogorians everything they wanted. We pushed for the apology and we recognized their legitimacy before anyone else. It wasn't really even my show; I only went to prove our resolve. It was Ambassador Allen that made things happen."

In that moment, Alice realized that there was a solution to the Prydanian question; a gamble, certainly, but one she believed even the Cogorians could respect.

"That's it! I've always questioned Malorie's tact and her ability to push forward our agenda, but this time she's the best we have. She was with me in Oktobergrad, and she's the one that stood up to those that didn't want to extend that olive branch. The Cogorians will listen to her. She can help you."

Madeline remembered some details regarding Foreign Affairs staffing from dinner table chatter with her husband, and recalled that Malorie was furloughed with nothing to do. It was either she quit entirely or waited until a position opened, which appeared to have occurred.

"I know I'm not really supposed to, but how about I tell Will to assign her as Ambassador to Prydania?" Madeline suggested. "She can work for our interests here, but also for our shared interests whenever the Prydanians feel the need to have her involved, especially regarding Cogoria."

Claidie grimaced at the thought, but saw no alternative. "Just don't have her talk to the Malorians, okay? They're... pretty upset with her."
 
William grinned "that would be much appreciated. Minister Daaé will be willing to work out the specifics. In due time, hopefully, we'll get to a point where such an arrangement is no longer needed."

Tobias shifted uneasy in his chair. He wasn't entirely on board with reaching out to Cogoria, but William had convinced him this was a low-risk gamble. He stayed quiet for a moment before his uneasy half smile turned into a grin.

"I think we've discussed the major issues" he said pleasantly.
"Your Highnesses, Madam Prime Minister. I would be honoured if you would join me and Prime Minister Aubyn for dinner. I can imagine the trip from Sil Dorsett has built up some appetites."
 
The three Dorsettian ladies looked at each other, pleased with the progress that was made with the meeting. Each of them had their own reasons for being happy that the visit was moving on to dinner. Madeline was feeling famished, Claidie was looking forward to taste testing Prydanian cuisine, and Alice was happy to be off the Cogorian topic for now.

"It certainly has for me. A break for dinner sounds wonderful," Madeline responded.

"Yes~~, thank you. Can't wait to try some Prydanian cuisine," Claidie said excitedly. "Maybe I'll pick up some inspiration for something back home."

Even Alice couldn't help but smile seeing her sister excited for a chance to broaden her palate. "If we're going somewhere, great, but if the palace staff are serving us, you should let Claidie watch them cook if you can. She's pretty talented with a knife and frying pan. Maybe moreso than her racecraft."

"Hey~~~..."
 
William nodded, turning to Claidie.
"We will be eating in, and your presence in the kitchen to observe can certainly be arranged You Highness" he said pleasantly as Tobias stood.

"It would be my pleasure to host you all" his smile had warmed, as a weight seemed to be lifted. He'd gotten his immediate concerns addressed. "If you don't mind" he continued, "I'll be a while. I would like to change out of this uniform before dinner" he chuckled softly.



Tobias made his way to the banquet hall, wearing a white cotton shirt, khakis, and brown loafers. Incredibly causal, but still. He wore it with a degree of confidence. Dinner still yet to be served, and he took his seat, not in any apparent rush.
 
Alice and Madeline also headed towards the banquet hall, while Claidie broke off from the group to observe the kitchen. With the round of negotiations over, now they could turn their attention to other things like getting to know their counterparts or getting to know the cuisine.

"Do you have a spare apron?" Claidie asked one of the cooks as she looked on while they labored to prepare the meal. Staying out of their way, she tried making mental notes of all that was going on. Writing down anything would have been difficult without specific details, but she didn't want to bother the staff for them. The fascination of watching the brigade was enough for her.

Alice and Madeline waited patiently in the banquet hall for Tobias's return and were surprised when he returned in more casual wear than the Dorsettian party.

"Hmm... Claidie got her wish," Alice thought to herself, recalling her sister's disbelief over Tobias wearing a military outfit to the introductions on the tarmac.

"I'm sure you feel much lighter, Your Majesty," Alice said to Tobias with a smile. "Talk about taking a load off your shoulders, right? I'm sure taking the uniform off helped too."

Madeline was surprised by Alice's encouraging and lighthearted remarks, remembering her penchant for protocol and formalities. To her, the younger princess did not seem like her usual self now or even throughout the whole trip so far. While it was a refreshing change, she couldn't smile about it. Something just wasn't right, she thought, and it bothered her.
 
Tobias smiled as he took his seat.
"You can call me Tobias" he said with a nod.
"And yes. Much better. I apologize if the military uniform was off-putting. It's been traditional garb for Prydanian monarchs for some time...I don't really care for it though, if I'm being honest. I just...well you know. It felt proper for a visit" he continued, with a nervous smile.

"Your Majesty, Your Highness" William replied as he entered. "I'm sorry for my tardiness" he added as he took a seat next to his sovereign.

"Think nothing of it William" Tobias replied. "I was just confessing my distaste for formal military garb."

"You must excuse His Majesty" William replied, a bit nervously. "The civil war denied him the opportunity to get used to trappings of royalty" he said with a smile. Tobias shared the smile, though did so a bit nervously.

"Either way I'm happy to get out of that stuffy uniform" he said calmly, before turning to Alice and Madeline again.

"I hope Claidie finds the dinner preparations interesting" he said. "I'm unsure how Prydanian cuisine might compare to what you have in the Principality."
 
"'The trappings of royalty...' What are those, exactly?" Alice asked William, rhetorically.

William's words caused Alice's memories of when her sister left the princely court several years ago to resurface, along with the memory of when Claidie explained the story of what happened before. The more Alice thought about it, the more she separated herself from all that her father embraced.

"All I know is what my father drilled into me, that royal families were supposed the pinnacle of high society," Alice said. "Hmph, my father... The more I look back, the more I realize he was more of a partier than a leader. It was all about appearances. The fancy dinners, the soirées and cotillions, the biannual debutante ball — shoot, that's this year."

"Alice..." Madeline interrupted, trying to get her attention and prevent her from going off on a rant.

"The etiquette lessons, the dance lessons, the dresses, the make-up," Alice continued, ignoring the minister, "all those things to help present yourself to a potential or handpicked noble spouse. I bought into it all. I was such a prissy bitch back then."

"Alice!" Madeline firmly called out. "You're rambling. Calm down."

Though Madeline just wanted Alice to regain her composure, deep down inside she knew her suspicions were confirmed now. The nobility's hold on Alice was broken, and the political benefits were about to pour in. Madeline needed a way to break the Foundations Party grasp on the Chamber of Law. She needed to get the Solidarity Party leader installed as Speaker, and fast. Alice's uncertainty over the ways of the past would provide that opportunity.

Alice seemed startled by the minister's voice, as if it broke her out of a trance. She stared off into the distance for a while, before making eye contact with Tobias again.

"I'm... sorry. I'm terribly sorry. I've had a rough couple months. I had my world turned upside down, and I guess I'm still not dealing with it well."
 
William looked a bit shocked at what he'd unwittingly unleashed, and could do nothing but offer a brief "my apologies, Your Highness. I didn't mean anything malicious."

Tobias, however, was grinning.
"There's no need to apologize, Alice" he said softly. "When it became clear, clear that we were going to win the war? Well...I had a lot to think about. Kingship is easy to deal with when it's an abstract. I admit though. I found it paralyzing the closer I got to my coronation. It was made worse because, well..." he paused for a moment and took a deep breath before he continued.

"Well I was moved around a lot during the war. Safe houses and bunkers. William never really involved me in much of the military matters- and I don't blame him. I was a child for most of it. That didn't stop me from hearing the casualty reports. Or hearing about entire villages reduced to rubble due to house to house fighting. And so when it became clear that I would be crowned King? I not only had to deal with the pressures that put on me, but the realization that those people...many of them...they died so I could be King."

He smiled faintly at the Princess.
"There were other reasons too. The Syndicalists starved and burnt this country to the ground. And I suppose even a Lothbrok on the throne again seemed like a good idea in comparison. Even to a lot of people who opposed my late cousin. Still...so many died in my name. Because they believed I had a right to sit on an old wooden chair and call myself King of Prydania. I was paralyzed with fear for weeks, as our forced advanced on Beaconsfield. I couldn't understand how I would ever live up to all of that."

"You know what I did?" he asked rhetorically with a smile. "I thought about what kind of King I wanted to be. I was going to be King, that was evident, so I decided I better make the most of that. And I decided I was going to be a King for everyone who was hurt by the Syndicalists and the War. I think protocol has its place Alice, but it kind of rings hollow if you're not doing something with it."

The room was quiet. William wasn't sure what to make of it. He'd had similar discussions with Tobias, but he'd never heard half of what he was saying now. He practically raised the boy. He wondered. Just how long was he thinking on these ideas?

Tobias chuckled a bit after a moment of awkward silence.
"That's how I see it, at least."
 
Alice smiled as Tobias reassured her that her thoughts were not out of the ordinary and gave her something to look forward to as an unexpected ruler. She felt soothed and supported as if Tobias was helping her hold up the burden of rule that rested on her shoulders. It became clear to her that Tobias had a firm grasp on what it means to be a leader. The burden of rule was something Alice hadn't been adequately prepared for. She knew it, and she knew it was something that needed corrected quickly. She just didn't know how until today.

"You're right," Alice said, affirming Tobias's remarks. "I never even thought about what kind of Princess I wanted to be, because I was second in line and never expected to be where I am today. My sister gave me this opportunity — she didn't have to — and, I wasn't prepared."

"It's not even a year into your reign," Madeline reminded her. "You still have your whole life left to figure it out and make good of it."

* * *​
Satisfied with what she saw in the kitchen, Claidie rejoined the party in the dining hall, curious about what she missed. She immediately noticed Tobias's more casual attire and felt embarassed that earlier that day she complained about Tobias's formal outfit and now she was the one that was overdressed.

"Oh! Good to see you're letting loose a little bit, Your Majesty," Claidie cheerfully said to Tobias.

"We were just talking about that," Alice noted.
 
Tobias nodded “same with me. Not nearly a year on the throne myself. I don’t think anyone is prepared to rule, really. I can’t imagine anyone being able to handle the expectations that come with the position without a bit of hesitation” he chuckled, before he saw Claidie emerge from the kitchen.

“We were!” he added with a smile.
“I can’t be wearing that thing all the time. It would lose its meaning I think.”

William could only roll his eyes, recounting the times he had to fight with Tobias during his younger years, to get him to dress in a way that was expected. War or not.

A waiter emerged, following shortly after Cladidie. He poured some wine for Tobias and William, prompting the Prydanian Prime Minister to speak up.

“Mouxordian wine, a gift from their government” he said.

“Wine, Your Highnesses? Madame Prime Minister?” the waiter asked, moving on to the Regency.
 
"Oh, yes please," Alice said, excited to try a new vintage. Claidie accepted the offer as well, and the waiter half-filled their glasses before making the same offer to the Prime Minister.

"Oh, no thank you. Just water for me, please," Madeline requested.

"What!?" Claidie exclaimed in disbelief, confused by Madeline's response. "The heiress to a winery is turning down a glass of wine? Come on, Maddie, have a glass."

Claidie was correct. Madeline's parents owned a winery near Bannard Coast, and Claidie recalled how Madeline would frequently offer bottles to the princely family, and have some wine herself over casual dinners with the princely pair. But, what Claidie hadn't noticed is that, in the past month or so, Madeline hadn't been drinking.

"I know it's not like me, Claidie, but trust me, I have my reasons," Madeline said, uncomfortably. Hoping to mitigate any potential offense, she addressed Tobias and William directly. "Your Majesty, Mister Prime Minister, please, I don't mean to be rude or anything. I just... I have to decline, but thank you anyways."
 
"Think nothing of it, I should probably drink less, but at my age? It's probably not worth it" William chuckled as the waiter left Madeline with just a glass of ice water.

Tobias merely nodded, taking a sip of the wine and setting his glass down, as waiters and waitresses emerged with the night's dinner. The serving staff placed a plate of boiled potatoes with gravy before each person at the table.

"So you're the heiress to a winery?" William asked his Silien counterpart.
"Where, exactly? If you don't mind me asking. My great grandfather came from Avonville. My grandfather was only a child at the time, but he'd tell us all about..." he paused for a moment as a sense of loss welled up within him, before collecting himself and continuing.
"He would tell us all about the beautiful countryside. I'm afraid I haven't been as eager to learn about my family's ancestral home as I should have been, and I would love to know more about where your family's winery is located."

Tobias looked at William with a curious smile. William had raised him, but he knew very little about his own family. He was a private man though, and never pressed him to talk about things he clearly would have rather not talked about.

Part of him wanted to ask William about it here though, as he was clearly willing to discuss it now. Even then, however, he stopped himself.
He instead turned to Claidie.
"I hope our chefs were able to provide you with some interesting recipes. I'm not sure how Prydanian cuisine compares to the rest of the world."
 
Madeline was surprised that Aubyn carried Silien heritage and was enthusiastic over the opportunity to fill in some pieces of William's history. Any chance to discuss her family history also excited the Prime Minister and the interest in the winery was a bonus.

"Oh! Avonville?" Madeline asked, seeking confirmation. "Yes, it's still a very rural area, primarily farmland, but it really is beautiful. My family's winery is a bit southeast from there, though. It's in Maisart Township, between Bannard Coast and Norvalle. Château Astier is the place. It's my mother who owns it, and I'm technically in line to inherit it. Not sure how this career would impact that though — Maybe I'll have my mother teach my daughters the business — but it's why agriculture is an interest of mine."

The exchange reminded Claidie of the pet projects that each of them was responsible for, and she thought it was a good time to bring attention to them. "Each of us has our own focus areas," she explained. "Madeline's invested in the future of food production, like vertical farming facilities in urban areas. Obviously, my area is clean energy technologies, which is why I focus so heavily on our electric motorsports program, to develop the technology and reduce dependence on oil. My sister's focus is on tourism and financial services to bring revenue in."

"Believe it or not, we're not living out a fairy tale here," Alice added. "You know the old dream of little women growing up and marrying their Prince Charming[note]Used as a classification, not a specific character[/note] and becoming a princess, dancing the nights away at glamorous balls." She paused for a moment, recalling how the stereotype she referenced was essentially how she lived for a quarter century. "That's not us. We're actually trying to run a government and build on our principality's strengths to give our citizens comfort and confidence that they'll live a good life. It's taking us a while to get settled in, I think, but we'll get there."

Claidie was pleased with her sister's remarks and could see that she was enjoying the conversation. She saw no reason to interject and would have left Alice to talk the whole night away if it came to that, but she had to step in to comment on the food.

"Indeed, we'll figure it out," Claidie said, agreeing with her sister. "By the way, side note, Tobias, I have to say the food here is much simpler to prepare than anything in the high-end restaurants of downtown Norvalle. I bet it's better for us too. Food back home is all about pretentious presentation and weird flavor combinations, almost like artwork just with food. Thinking about back home makes me think about this new restaurant that just popped up that makes really peculiar dishes that don't seem possible to make. I saw stuff on their menu like transparent ravioli, watermelon caviar which looked like actual fish eggs, not just tiny bits of balled up melon, and saffron tagliatelle which was also transparent. I'm like, 'how is that possible?'"

"Oh, Mirage 6, on 6th South Street?" Alice said, knowing which restaurant it was. "Yeah, they applied for a small business grant, and I approved it. You know, the whole tourism focus? You know that's actually the second molecular gastronomy restaurant in the downtown area, right? Maybe you should learn to make that stuff; it seems to be catching on."

The three ladies giggled for a little bit amongst themselves and sipped their drinks, but Alice was anxious to get back on topic. With her pet projects out in the open, she was curious about someone else's.

"So, Tobias, how about you?" Alice asked. "Once you feel that ordinary life here is as normal as could be expected given the circumstances, what's a pet project you want to work on? What interests you, or what direction do you want to take your kingdom?"
 
Tobias hadn't quite gotten his mind around transparent ravioli and watermelon caviar when Alice asked him about his own projects.

"I um, well I want to focus on building. Beaconsfield has been largely repaired, because that's where a lot of the immediate resources were allocated. A lot of cities and towns though, they're still in rough shape."

He paused for a moment as a memory rushed back. It was 2012, and he had only been 17. The Front of National Unity, the alliance of anti-Syndicalist forces that had come together under William, had just managed to force the Syndcialist government to retreat from Sleswick to Hadden. Eastern Prydania had been liberated, and it was then that Tobias began to appear in public more often.
He'd met the people of a town named Bivík. Heavy rains had caused flooding, making things worse for a town that had suffered from block to block fighting.

"I've always had an interest in architecture, and the war itself made me realize how badly Prydania's city infrastructure needed to be improved. So I've been visiting with my Minister of Infrastructure regularly. Poor Berit's probably sick of me by now" he chuckled.
"I want to see Prydanian architecture evolve, and I want to see modern city planning theories and techniques utilized. I want to..." he paused for a moment.
"Seize the moment I guess. That sounds awful, to talk about the destruction of so many people's homes as an opportunity doesn't it? I guess I'm saying that if we're going to rebuild we need to do so in a way that sets us up for the future. I admit I've never seen transparent ravioli or watermelon caviar, but Prydania ought not to be devoid of that sort of thing. We've been small and out of the way for far too long. We need to be part of the world community again."

He smiled nervously.
"So I guess that's where my mind is, and what I want to focus on. Architecture, city planning. Making Prydania a bit more...modern."

William fidgeted just a bit at Tobias' remarks. He had tried to instill a sense of tradition in him as a boy, but he'd never shaken his modernist streak entirely.
He didn't show much in the way of disagreement though. He wasn't going to challenge his King in front of the sovereigns and head of government of a foreign state. Instead he simply continued to talk to Madeline.

"My great grandfather was a shoemaker in Avonville" he said matter-of-factly. "He, my great grandmother, and my grandfather immigrated to Prydania when my grandfather was a young boy. I actually studied Silien literature for a time in university, before I began to be pulled into politics. Of course I had no idea joining the Student Bandalag Association would ultimately end up with me leading a resistance movement and raising the future sovereign of the country" he said, briefly turning to smile at Tobias.

"I'm sorry William, if I made studying Silien literature seem more appealing at times" the King replied, finally relaxing enough to indulge in a joke.

"It's quite alright Your Majesty" William answered with a chuckle. "One of these days I'll start working on getting through that pile of books. Once I find myself some free time."

Tobias laughed a bit before turning to Alice again.
"Aside from architecture? I want to study history. My family's history specifically. Tempest Holm, on the other side of the country, contains all sorts of relics. Some of which belonged to my ancestors before they left Andrenne. With the war over? I have the time to explore that on my own time. And try to piece together bits of Lothbrok history."
 
"Hmm...," Alice contemplated. "That'll be a project that never ends, Tobias," she said, referring to family histories. "Once you turn over one leaf, it'll lead into other branches with more leaves to overturn. It really depends on the quality of the record keeping. Not even my family maintained intricate details on its own."

"I think if somehow we had to go back around twenty places in the line of succession we'd need the Principality Archives to step in," Claidie noted. "Scary thought..."

"Yeah, well, some places don't even have the luxury of twenty people in line, Claidie," Alice said, peeved and glaring back at her sister, forcing her to break eye contact and stop talking.

"Anyways," Madeline jumped in, changing the subject, "for city planning advice, I'd recommend contacting the Goyaneans. With Gojannestad being so massive yet seemingly well maintained, they might be the model to follow, and I'm sure it'll be adaptable to smaller cities. I think it's better to think big and shrink things down than it is to think small and expect it to expand."

"Right," Alice acknowledged. "Anyways, enough about that," she said, waving her hand to dismiss the topic. "Let's take it easy now. Another glass of wine, please?"
The three ladies continued to sample and enjoy the food as they bantered on throughout the night, eventually getting to more lighthearted topics and straying away from more serious government topics. The further away from business the conversation went, the more Alice seemed to come alive and chatter more, while her sister and the Prime Minister had less to say. The hard work was done, and now the women, Alice especially, wanted to enjoy the rest of the night and their stay, hoping a more casual mood would please the King.
 
Tobias enjoyed the meal, taking a moment to muse about asking the Goyaneans for more help than they'd already relied on them for. After that? He became quiet for a bit, but found himself easing into comfortable conversation as the meal went on. He'd been more or less pried from anyone he could relate to, or consider a friend, since his coronation. He didn't have much of a chance to just relax. Still, he quickly got over his nerves, joining in on the conversation as the night progressed.

The meal slowly game to a close as servants came in to clear away dishes.
"I'm afraid I'm going to have to excuse myself for the evening" William said, as his plate was taken away.
"When you get as old as I do? You cherish a good res..."

"I'll see you tomorrow then, sometime?" Tobias responded quickly, as if he was trying to move William along. William gave him a curious glance, but it was only met with a a wide smile by his young King. William sighed just a bit, knowing he couldn't press the issue. What was he going to do? Press such a trivial issue with his King in front of foreign dignitaries? He just gave Tobias a look that that the King knew all too well from his childhood.

With that William stood, offering a slight bow to Tobias and the Princesses.
"Your Majesty, Your Highnesses. Madame Prime Minister" William said before leaving. He was sure that it was fine. It's not like Prydania was going to go to war with the Principality of Sil Dorsett.

Tobias took a deep breath, setting down the fork he'd been casually playing with for the last half hour since he had this idea. He had just enough wine in him to help. The fact that the night's casual conversation had been relaxing helped dull the nerves.

"Alice" Tobias said with a calm smile.
"I don't know what you had planned tomorrow" he said with a grin, "but would you like to join me at Rósagarður? It's a site across the city. Said to have the most stunning gardens in all of northern Craviter."
His heart would have been racing, had it not been for the last glass of wine he'd had. Instead it was merely jogging lightly. Allowing him to offer a comforting smile.
 
Alice seemed surprised at being singled out, unsure of why her sister and the Prime Minister weren't invited as well, but, she wasn't about to turn down an invitation from The King, no matter what the reason. She almost felt honored. Perhaps it was the discussion over dinner, or maybe the courage that he saw in her before that prompted this seemingly random request.

"Well, I'm not sure what the plan was for tomorrow, but, I'd love to join you. I'd like to see how it compares to the courtyard greenhouse back home," Alice replied, referring to a greenhouse in the middle of the Rivage Palace. "Maybe I could take a few pictures." She looked over at her sister, seeking some sort of confirmation that the adjustment to the schedule was acceptable.

Claidie could see the writing on the wall and was conflicted by the fact that Tobias had put the spotlight directly on her sister. An invitation to a garden directed at only one of the three certainly sounded like Tobias had asked Alice on a date. She had a feeling Tobias was scouting her sister as a potential queen, and the impression made her uncomfortable.

She never considered the possibility of being involved with a foreign (or even domestic) noble or royal herself, but despite her efforts at modernizing her sister's way of thinking, she figured Alice might still be vulnerable to the allure of it. The idea of a stereotypical union of two royals or nobles of any combination was what lead to Claidie's absence from the family for several years, and it was also an expectation that she thought she could break Alice away from. Tobias's request wasn't going to help accomplish that.

However, she knew deep down that the invitation was a natural one. After all, Tobias had waited until his Prime Minister left before offering it. It was apparently something he wanted to do and not have Aubyn step in to discourage him from, and it wasn't anything that some stuck-up nobles demanded out of any high societal pressure to keep commoners out of the bloodlines. Under the present conditions, she wasn't about to deny either of them the chance to maybe come together. She glanced over at her sister, smiling and nodding, giving her approval.

"We'll work through the schedule adjustment in the morning," Claidie said to her sister. "I think it's about time for lights out anyways." She turned towards Tobias. "Thank you for dinner, Your Majesty. It was a most pleasant experience, and we appreciate your hospitality. We'll see you in the morning." The trio curtsied and set off for their rooms.

* * *​
Claidie found her room first. Wishing Madeline and Alice a good night's sleep, she retired, wasting no time in going to bed, exhausted from the day's events. Madeline and Alice continued on, finding Alice's room next, but Madeline wasn't about to let the younger princess head off to bed as quickly as the older sister, for she had something to get off her chest.

Madeline was even more concerned over Tobias's invitation, seeing the political implications that Claidie passed over. There was a multitude of possibilities she considered, including some sort of Prydanian influence in Sil Dorsettian affairs, Marianne, and eventually her daughter Phoebe, replacing Alice in the Regency, or the end of the Regency itself somehow. The possibility of the end of the Regency concerned Madeline the most. She figured Claidie would try to throw as much responsibility on the Prime Minister, reducing herself to a symbolic figure, and she had to consider whether the people would be accepting of that. She believed it would be a tough sell from a traditional standpoint, even though it drifted the Principality towards total democracy, and thought it best to provide Alice with a bit of gentle advice.

"'Don't worry about appearances, protocol, political, royal whatever,'" Madeline recalled. "You remember when I said that, right?"

Madeline was referring to the conversation in the limousine on the way to the palace where she tried to keep the Dorsett sisters focused on the trade deal discussion that was supposed to dominate the conversation. The dinner provided an opportunity for that focus to be broken by idle and more personal chit-chat. It was the very thing Madeline was worried about and the reason she cut herself off in the car. She intentionally omitted the word "marriage" to correct a mistake, so that she wouldn't recall the pressure Stéphane put on the sisters many years ago. Now that threat had resurfaced, and it couldn't be ignored this time.

"Well, the 'whatever' was this... Don't you see what Tobias is doing?" Madeline asked the young princess. "He's a King with no heir, at least as far as I'm aware. He's single. You're single. Do I really have to say anything else?"

Alice paused for a moment, unsure of what to say at first, but then it struck her that Madeline might be on to something. "So, what do I do? Turn around and say 'No, thanks?'" she asked. "I already accepted. I can't imagine changing my mind to do any good." She paused for a moment before confessing her real feelings. "Besides, if what you say is true, then I'm all for it."

"I'm not going to stop you from following your heart," Madeline replied, "but, just understand that the consequences will extend beyond you. That's the dilemma of royal life. Think of all the possibilities before you become too involved," she said, gazing into an Alice that didn't say anything and simply nodded. "Be careful."
 
Tobias had fallen asleep happy. A bit ecstatic, actually, that he had managed to ask Alice to join him without making a fool of himself. That, combined with the wine, had made drifting asleep a pleasant and warm affair. Waking up was much the same before the totality of what he had done crashed into him. He tensed up, clutching the sheets.
What had he done? He was sure that it could be called any number of things. And likely would be by Palace staff, security, hell. Even the press. What it was, however, was a date. He'd asked Princess Alice Dorsett out on a date. And oh God the press...

His stomach suddenly felt endless, like a black pit had opened up in it. It wasn't that he didn't want to get to know the Princess. He found her brave, charming, attractive. It's just that now, suddenly, the implications seemed to weigh down on him. Besides, he hadn't been on a proper "date" since...no. It was best not to dwell on that. It was years ago. During the War. It might as well be a lifetime ago. He tossed in bed, the light from the morning sun visible even as he clenched his eyes shut. His nerves were jittery.

He'd managed to clam himself, if only with the thought of enjoying what little time he had left in bed when a knock came at his door. Only one man actually knocked on his door these days.
"Axle" he sighed as the old head of his security entered.

"You're doing alright?" Skov asked as he casually entered and took a chair next to the King's bed. He would often sit next to Tobias as a boy in a small bunker to make sure he was safe. Sitting next to him in a spacious palatial bedroom seemed natural. King or not.

"Excellent" Tobias replied, still not opening his eyes.

"I thought you might. Giving me the headache of putting together a security detail in the middle of the evening must give you quite the rush" he said with a chuckle.

"You?" Tobias replied, his eyes shooting open, as he sat up in bed. "You're frustrated?" What about me? I'm the one who has to go through with this."

Axle was a bit shocked to hear that. Did he not want to go through with this planned date?
"What do you mean? You're not sure if you like her?"

Tobias sighed as he tossed his head back.
"I want to get to know her. She seems lovely and..."

"Do you like her?" Axle asked. Tobias looked at him, a bit flushed in the cheeks.
"I mean I..."

Axle sighed.
"I knew this would be one realm where Kingly life would be bad for you" he said, shaking his head, despite keeping a sly smile.
"The whole way nobility talks about romance" he continued, noticing Tobias' confused expression.
"They talk about picturesque retreats. They talk about personal excursions and 'getting to know one and other.' You weren't raised in court, but I knew courtly language would be bad for you. You've always been too cautious for your own good when it comes to romance, and this flowery language just encourages that. So I'll ask you again. Do you like her?"

"Yes..." Tobias said nervously, nodding. "
"Alright then. Then take a deep breath and get on with it. You managed yourself with Alycia easily enough."

"Oh God. Alycia...what have I done?" he asked, tossing himself back into the mass of pillows they insisted on putting on his bed.
Axle just rolled his eyes. "You're not married. You're not even in a formal relationship with Her Grace. All you're doing is spending an afternoon with a girl you like. That's all. So breath deep."

Tobias did just that before sitting up.
"Even then though. Alycia and I never, you know, went on a date. We just talked. I haven't really been on a date since Krista an..."

"No" Skov replied, cutting that thought off as fast as he could. "It was years ago. Don't dwell on it."
Tobias nodded, breathing slowly as he sat up in bed, his head hanging. Axle stood, placing a hand on the King's shoulder.
"Toby" he said looking down at him with a warm grin, "you'll be fine. And don't even worry about me watching your every move. You won't even know where I'll be hiding" he added with a chuckle.

That seemed to cheer the King up, eliciting a chuckle.



The head of the Royal Guard had informed him he could fetch Princess Alice for the King if he wished to wait in limousine that had been prepared for them. Tobias had insisted on meeting her himself, however. He'd driven himself mad with what to wear. Everything from formal to casual. Ultimately he chose casual. It was a walk in a greenhouse. He wasn't opening Parliament. Though he groaned that he'd have to do that relatively soon as well.
And so he found himself at Alice's door, dressed in khakis, loafers, and a blue collared shirt. Over which he wore a slightly faded grey army coat. It was old, from before the Civil War. It had made its way into some supply crate or another. And he'd grabbed it one day as a teen, to stay warm. He'd kept it all of these years. It wasn't stylish, but it wasn't objectively modest either.
He felt himself blushing before he steeled himself, taking a deep breath and waiting for his nerves to calm. And then he knocked.
 
Alice made sure she was up early so that she would have plenty of time to rummage through her luggage to find the right outfit for the morning stroll. She thought to get the frustration of choosing clothes out of the way first and then relax and calm down before her walk with the King. One by one she pulled out different sets ranging from casual to black tie, cold weather to heat wave appropriate.

"Why did I even bring my blue hi-lo, cami and shrug set? It's cold out," she said to herself out loud, questioning the necessity of bringing with her a wide range of outfits. Unseasonable clothes didn't make sense. "Ah, this shirt and sweater will do." She picked out a light grey long sleeved shirt and a violet coat-style sweater that she could easily remove if she needed to.

"Denim? Nah, probably too casual. These slacks will do." The perfect balance of respect and relaxation was essential, and Tobias's outfit change during dinner the previous night was also a factor. The dark grey slacks she picked would fit well with her shirt; not colorful and eccentric of a combination, but modest and humble instead.

As she made her selections, tension started to rise. "Ugh, haven't been this nervous since father made me go on a date with Seb.[note]"Seb" refers to Sebastien Whittemore, the arranged groom for Princess Claidie from "The Promise" who she rejected.[/note]" She pauses, lost in a thought. "Oh, now that makes sense." She recalled the bargain that her father made involving her sister and then herself as an alternative, and how her father started to groom her for marriage when Claidie left the household. The pressure was starting to get to her, but with her selections made, she had time to spare for a relaxing bath.

The comforting feel of the warm water provided the perfect environment for Alice to reflect on her past and how this experience was going to be different. Her father may have arranged her dates to use her for political favors before, but this time didn't bother her because it was a natural invitation. It didn't feel forced. Her thoughts reaffirmed the very thing she thought at last night's dinner, and she began to calm down and be comfortable.

"Hmm, how much eyeliner? Maybe just the top. ... Hope this gloss isn't too much. ... Blush? No blush. Yeah, no blush." Attention to detail became Alice's focus once she stepped out of the tub. It wasn't about expectations now; instead it was the image she wanted to project. It wasn't about dolling herself up with her makeup now, but creating the image she wanted to portray. The makeup she wanted to put on needed to match the casual clothing she selected, so she went easy and minimalistic with it.

With her preparations finished, all dressed and everything, she spent time reviewing the daily briefing her ministers sent via e-mail before hearing a knock at the door. It was time to get on with it. She was surprised though when she answered the door and Tobias stood right in front of her.

"Oh, Your Majesty. I honestly wasn't expecting you right now. My apologies," she said, startled by his appearance. Offering her hand to the King, she was eager to start the day. "Well, since you're here, shall we?"
 
Tobias smiled as he took Alice's hand.
"No need to apologize" he said softly, leading her out into the hallway. The understated halls of Absalon's Palace were mostly white with white and grey marble tiles and columns lining all the paths to and from all areas of the residence. There was an understated simplistic beauty to it all, especially as the morning sun danced off of it all. The shading on the white marble statues that lined the halls provided a surprising amount of detail against the snow-white facades.

"And please, just 'Tobias'" he said with a grin.
"No need to be so formal" he added, straightening his posture as he breathed easily, admiring the princess' outfit.

"Just this way" he said as he lead her down the alabaster-like hallway.
"Andrennian pagan deities" he said softly, pointing to a few statues lining the hall.
"Thankfully..." he stopped himself.

He was going to say "thankfully they weren't destroyed by the Syndicalists" but he bit down on the inside of his lower lip. No. Time to put that out of his mind.
"Thankfully" he repeated, "more people have a chance to enjoy them now" he said, his blush deepening a bit. He led Alice down a hall towards the front entrance to the palace. He didn't want to seem as if he were going to fast, and so he'd slow down periodically. This felt...nice. And that in and of itself stirred his stomach. Alycia had raised some of these feelings, but nothing overly romantic kept them at bay. Now...he took a deep breath as he pushed old tragedies out of his mind.

Thankfully the cool air rushing in as the Royal Guards opened the front door of the palace reinvigorated him.

"After you" he said with a smile, the limo waiting for the both of them.
 
"Ah, thank you, Tobias," Alice said, finally breaking away from formalities.

Stepping into the limousine, she made herself comfortable, reclining a little bit while still buckling in. She never stopped smiling while she waited for Tobias to also settle in, thinking about what she brought with her that she wanted to show off.

"You know, I wasn't kidding when I said I wanted to take pictures," she said to Tobias. "Here, I want to show you something."

In her spacious purse, she carried a small sketchbook and a set of pencils with her wherever she went, always looking for opportunities to make a quick drawing of her surroundings that she could use for a full-sized landscape painting. Painting was Alice's way to escape the world around her, calm herself, and enjoy her life. Her artwork became even more of a focus for her since her trip to Cogoria, providing solace and relief. She wanted Tobias to see that, so she leaned in, stretching the seat belt a little, and started flipping through pages of her book.

"I'm mostly a landscape painter. I can draw portraits, but it's not my favorite thing to do," Alice explained. "I'm always nervous about getting someone's features wrong. Landscapes allow more creative liberties. They allow me to visualize a serene environment around me and lose myself in it."

She flipped through more pages, coming up on a rare portrait of what looked like a shield maiden, an armored woman with sword and shield deflecting a blow.

"Ah, Madeline once told me how she was into high fantasy stuff in university, so I asked if I could draw her with some of her props as an exercise. Luckily she still had them. Heh... things you'll never see in the news. I was alright with this one because I knew I didn't have to get every feature perfect."

Turning more pages, she reached some of her recent greenhouse landscapes.

"When I returned from one of my overseas trips, I took a couple weeks off from politics and just focused on my art. These were some of the early sketches I took inside our own palace greenhouse."

Finally, the first blank pages appeared.

"And I still have pages left for the rose garden, hopefully. You'll let me take a few sketches, won't you?" she asked Tobias. "I want something I can put to canvas when I get back home."
 
“Of course” he replied with a grin.
The pictures Alice had shared were stunning, and he leaned in. At first just a bit but he found himself leaning a bit closer as Alice flipped through. Not so much as to create discomfort, but certainly noticeable.

“They’re beautiful” his voice was lighter as if unencumbered. There was a sweetness to Alice’s pictures, the sublimeness of them. It was infectious in a way, and he felt his nerves, even for a moment relax.

“I’ve never seen the gardens myself” he said with a relaxed smile.
“The building and the greenhouses were damaged in the war and...I guess I’ve been putting off going since it’s been repaired for a special occasion.”

He cracked a bit of a smile and began to chuckle.
“I’m sorry Alice, I’m usually not that, um, that corny” he said, blushing just a bit.

“But since we’re both seeing the gardens for the first time I’d love to see your take on them.”
 
"I'll do my best," Alice said.

Alice was all smiles, feeling ever more comfortable with not acting like an uptight royal, but instead an ordinary lady that just happened to be having an audience with a king. She put politics aside for once and cared for her hobbies. It all seemed to catch Tobias's attention. With the sketchbook exhibition over, however, she sat back in her seat, curious.

"I know you said you wanted to focus on architecture, but that was business. What about a hobby? Something to take your mind off of the burden of rule. Did you ever pick one up? I know things were tough, but was there ever a time where you could escape to something you enjoyed? What was it?"

The limousine pulled up to the greenhouse as Alice finished her question, the logistics of their arrival interrupting the conversation.

"I think we're here," Alice noticed. "Answer me when we get inside."
 
The car began to slow, and Tobias sighed softly. He almost wished the car could just...keep going. He was just getting comfortable. No one had actually asked him that. Treated him as a person who had hobbies. Now his heart began to beat again but he breathed deeply.
"Why be even more nervous?" he told himself as the cool air rushed into the limousine.

He exited, the snow crunching under his shoes. The cool winter air helped calm him, relaxing his nerves. He gave the Royal Guard who opened the door an appreciative nod, before offering a hand to Alice as she began to emerge from the limousine, giving her a soft smile.

"Hobbies?" he replied as he helped her out and to her feet.
"To be honest, I really love football" he said with a bit of a chuckle. "I moved around a lot when I was younger. Sometimes it was a pretty normal looking house you know" he said with a smile as he offered Alice his arm as they approached the rose garden, the glass structure glimmering in the snow under the grey winter sky.

"Other times it was just Axle and I in a bunker...but at the very least if I had a football to kick around I could keep myself from going stir-crazy. I still watch today. Mostly from Naizerre, but the Goyanean league is good too" he said as guards opened the front doors for them.
He finally felt a sense of calm take over, his heart beat slowing and his nerves finally relaxing. He could see the beginnings of the garden from where he was, and he felt a sense that he could manage this. He shot Alice another grin. Even remembering old games of football with friends, across a devastated countryside seemed pleasant in this moment.

The warm, slightly humid air from the greenhouse hit them as they approached, shocking against the cold winter weather. Still, it was relieving in a sense, and Tobias took a moment to take in the sweet smells before turning to Alice.
"Football gave me some time to enjoy myself when it seemed like the whole world was falling apart. And here...well...it still amazes me we can find something so beautiful, given how devastated this city was not too long ago."

He was obviously speaking of the rose garden, but he couldn't help but give Alice a wink when he mentioned beauty. He'd been hanging around Skov for too long.
 
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