Heavy Is The Crown

Dalia found herself counting the down the days when her sister would return from Edoric, a flourishing seaside kingdom to their west. The news of their father's death had only been broken to them four days prior and already the vultures in their court had shipped her sister off to meet a potential suitor. She didn't understand why they were trying to marry Anah to a king, and not find a prince to bring here so she could claim her father's throne. Her sister had already been gone for a day and a half, and if Dalia was correct, that would mean her sister should've arrived in Edoric that morning, so hopefully she would return in just a couple of days.

The princess had been forced by one of her older handmaidens that morning to leave her room, so the princess was nervously pacing through the gardens, wearing a loose fitting, flowing green dress. The princess had been hiding away in her room since the news of her father, spending her days crying and her nights lying awake alone in her bed. The future now seemed so uncertain and terrifying, especially with her sister out of the castle. Dalia knew, for the moment, it was only temporary and her sister would be back, probably with her new king in tow. But she knew once they were married, she would have to leave their own kingdom and go rule by her husband's side in his kingdom. The thought of being left completely alone in Alleria, for the wicked men in their court to tear her apart, had her sick to her stomach.

The young girl also wanted nothing to do with the crown, so now that she knew in a few short years the crown would be there for her to take... Picking at the skin around her nails, Dalia turned to see her father's most trusted adviser making his way towards her. Jacques was a beautiful man, but he had been by her father's side since both her and her sister were young children running around wildly. She had never thought about him as anything other than another man in her life to look too for wisdom. She had always trusted Jacques, just as much as her father had, which ultimately, was her father's biggest mistake.

"Jacques," Dalia called out to him, picking up the front of her dress in her hands to hurry to meet him. The princess had asked for him as she was on her way out of the castle, and she was relieved that the servant had been able to find him. It was her first time seeing him since her father's passing, she had been doing her best to hide away in her room and stay out of sight of all the parliament members, but now she had to speak to him. "You have to do something. Anah cannot marry... She is the rightful heir to my father's throne." The princess reached out to grab his hands, squeezing them tightly in hers just for comfort, just needing something to anchor herself so her hands would stop trembling.

---

The king waited outside of the entrance to his castle, a sprawling estate hidden in the hills above his kingdom. King Philippe was a seclusive man, preferring to spend his time hidden away inside of his castle, drinking alone rather than mingling with his subjects. It had gotten worse since his late wife, Maria, had passed. She had only been gone from him for a year, but the wound still felt so fresh, like she had died just the day before. Not to mention, the son he had lost with her.

Grunting in the direction of a servant, Philippe held out his goblet after taking the last drink from it, seeing the carriage that held his betrothed arriving up the winding road to his home. The servant was quick to take the cup from the king, so that he could straighten the dark cloak he wore over his shoulders. The carriage came to a stop in front of the steps up to the castle, and a footman was quick to open the door for the young princess.

It would be a lie if Philippe tried to tell himself that he didn't find the young blonde beautiful, but it did leave a nasty taste in the back of his mouth. He couldn't even glance towards a woman without the thought of his wife entering his mind, the sound of her voice calling out his name, hearing her whisper I love you. It was haunting.

The princess was helped out of the carriage and the king forced himself to step up to her, offering out his hand as he bowed to greet her. "Princess." The tone of his voice was low and he kept it short. "I hope your journey was a pleasant one." Just the touch of her warm skin against his calloused hand was enough to feel like a betrayal to his lost loved one, but something inside of him craved for more of the soft youthful touch. It had been so long since he had felt a gentle, loving embrace.

While he wanted to barge into Dalia's room and hold her and comfort her, to whisper to her about how everything was going to be okay. He understood that she was in pain and that wasn't what he wanted. Or it was because he knew that was how he was going to make his way to the throne. It was going to take a lot of time, more than he cared to admit, but Jacques knew that he would sit on the throne if his plan worked.

The king that he had sent Princess Anah off to, had been widowed for a year. He needed a new queen if he wanted to be able to have an heir to take his throne one day. Jacques nearly smirked at the thought as he stepped up to Dalia and she started all but begging him to stop the soon to be betrothal. He managed to hold it back though, letting out a soft sigh as he gave Dalia's hands a tight squeeze. "I know, it does not seem to make very much sense. With your father's passing, we need to be able to secure alliances to powerful kingdoms before someone gets the idea to attack," Jacques attempted to explain, hoping that he could help her to calm down at least a bit.

"I know it is likely terrifying for you but you will ascend to the throne when it is your time and we will all be here to support you. I am sure that your sister if the time does come, will be more than open to coming to assist you. In your transition," Jacques added after a moment. "And I will be by your side the entire way. You had the luxury of a wonderful father, you were able to see what a true monarch should do. I will help you flourish, princess. I assure you. With or without a king by your side, you will make your father and sister proud."

"Now. I have heard you have been in your room mostly. Which is fine. Expected because you are mourning, darling. But I want to go down to the kitchen with you. We need to make sure you are eating and doing your best, hm?" Jacques offered. He stepped to her side, wrapping his arm around her shoulders. "What do you think? I'm sure that I can even manage to convince them to make a bit of hot chocolate for you. I know it's been a bit long since you had one..." he trailed off, hoping to entice her with something he knew that she adored.

---

There was no denying just how nervous Anah felt as the carriage wound its way up the long road that she was sure would one day become her home. Anah had always known that one day she would marry a prince but she had certainly not thought that it would be to a widowed king that had also lost his only heir. The thought twisted her stomach and only served to make her more nervous because she was afraid of how the king would receive her. Chewing on the inside of her lip as carriage came to a stop, Anah looked down to her dress. She prayed that she would impress Philippe. While she didn't know much about him, she also just thought this was the best way that she could serve her kingdom. She had been fed the same line that Jacques had given to her sister.

It wasn't until she stepped out of the carriage that her nerves hit her full force. Anah felt a shiver run down her spine as she straightened up, her eyes landing on Philippe for the first time. Anah dropped into a curtsy, almost before she could even think about what she was supposed to do. Philippe was a bit older but she couldn't deny the charm that his smile held, even if she could tell that it wasn't all that genuine. Already, Anah wondered if it was because she wasn't the wife that he had lost.

"Better now only because I am here," Anah forced herself to speak, a tight smile on her lips. Her heart was aching with the loss of her father and being so far from her sister. She felt like she hadn't even had time to mourn and she was afraid that she would break down in front of Philippe if she thought too much about it. took his hand, her hand sliding to rest on his forearm as he started to lead the way into the castle.

She fell quiet, unsure of what she was supposed to say. Should Anah be quiet? Her father had always welcomed her and her sister's opinion had never forced either of them into a single role so she was struggling with how to behave now that she wasn't under her father's hand. What was expected of her? Drawing in a deep breath, Anah chanced a glance toward him. "Thank you for such a warm welcome," Anah said after a few moments of silence. She only hoped that being gracious would only be a good thing in Philippe's eyes.

Dalia's shoulder slumped in defeat as Jacques wrapped his arm around her shoulders and began leading her back towards the castle. Her lips parted slightly, feeling as if her feelings had been written off so easily, but how was she supposed to continue arguing with him? The princess could feel her heart sinking in her chest, her hand still holding onto Jacques tightly. "I... I'm not ready to be alone, I don't want my sister to leave." Still, she followed him without protest, the sound of food making her realize just how long it had been since she had eaten. Days, maybe? She honestly couldn't remember just how many days had passed while she hid away in her room.

Guards bowed their heads in her direction as Jacques led her back into the castle, immediately missing the sun's warm kiss over her skin. "I can't be queen," she looked up at him, "Anah has always been the one listening in on father's meetings, taking all of the lessons, being guided day in and day out by well, you and the rest of the court!" Dalia tried to keep her voice down, but it was hard with how frantic she felt. Dalia had always been left in the background, to come and go as she pleased and usually, she spent most of her time outside of the castle's grounds, disguised walking the streets of the city. That was something only her sister knew and something that Anah didn't even know was that she had met a boy. A farm hand that she had fallen head over heels for and she had always hoped that when her sister took the throne that she would give her permission to marry him.

Now everything was changing, falling apart. She would be forced to become queen and then if she ever wanted to marry, it would have to be to at least a nobleman. The court would never bless her to marry a poor farmhand. Being led into the kitchen, Dalia finally pulled her hands away from Jacques, stepping out of his grip, not noticing as the two cooks quickly stood and bowed to her. Instead, she looked away from them and just stepped slightly behind Jacques, feeling tears burning her eyes once again and she didn't want any of her subjects or staff to see her crying. It was hard to keep herself together, the pain from the loss of her father and the helpless feeling she held because she didn't even have her sister to help comfort her was overwhelming to her.

---

It wasn't lost on Philippe just how uncomfortable the princess was. He could see how stiff she held her body, how she shifted from one foot to the other, not entirely sure of how to present herself to him. He barely gave a nod towards her thanks, letting his large hand wrap around her small one, his rough fingers gliding over her soft skin. He led her into his home, the inside of his castle much different from hers. All of the curtains covering every window were closed, torches placed along the walls to illuminate their way. It was dark and foreboding, unlike how her castle was open, bright and opulently decorated. It was also quite empty, the only people other than them being the guards and knights stationed around the halls, and the few servants that were sometimes seen going about their daily chores.

If the princess had visited a year prior, when the queen was still alive, she would've seen a much different home, but now it seemed more like a fortress. The king searched his brain, finding it just as hard to interact with the princess as she did with him. Philippe could only think back to his regrets, the different choices he could've made to keep himself from this situation. If he hadn't allowed Maria to wait so long to try and bear their first child, he wouldn't being feeling so forced to remarry. After all, if he didn't produce an heir to claim his throne, what would he leave behind when he was gone?

"I'm sure you are ready to relax after such a long journey. Come." He spoke roughly, leading the princess through the entrance of the castle, to one of the many rooms on the first floor. The King lead Anah into the parlor where the fireplace already had a crackling fire, and a little bit of light was pouring into the room through a small yellowed stained glass window. Philippe moved over to a small table next to one of the chairs, where there was a glass pitcher of wine and two glasses. He poured the two glasses half full, before picking them both up and offering one to the princess. "Sit with me," he sighed, letting himself relax into one of the chairs by the fire.

@ castle.

"Princess Anah will not leave us immediately. I suspect she will spend a week or two with her potential suitor and if all goes well, upon her return he will join her here. They will spend more time getting acquainted before they eventually return to Philippe's castle. We will go with them for they will wed there. We will all be expected to attend. That is all many months off. At least three," Jacques explained. He knew that if he had it his way, he would push the wedding to take place earlier than he had just explained. He wanted Anah married off as soon as possible because that would only leave Dalia open to his manipulations.

She would be his queen one day, ruling by his side. Jacques only wondered how long it would take before he had Dalia in his grasps. Before she came to love him as he wanted her to. "I know it is scary to face but you will be a wonderful queen. You will make your father proud, I assure you. I will do everything in my power to help you. You do trust me, don't you?" He prompted in a low voice, raising an eyebrow. Jacques' arm dropped from Dalia's shoulder as they stepped into the kitchen. He nearly scowled when the servants bowed because he wasn't surprised when Dalia seemed to hesitate. He wanted to hug her properly but Jacques knew that was pressing it a bit too far at the moment. Not until he was closer with her would he do that in front of everyone.

"Princess, why don't you go sit. I will have the servants put together a meal and I will join you in a minute. Okay?" Jacques offered, figuring that Dalia would appreciate a minute to herself. When Dalia did just that, his shoulders sagged for a moment as he watched her retreat with a small frown on his face. He had known that her father's death would affect her and that was just about the only regret that he had over the whole thing. When he turned back to the servants, he demanded a meal be put together before he grabbed two goblets and a jug of wine. Heading into the feast hall, Jacques was quick to join her at the head table. He offered her a tight smile as he sat, nodding toward the goblet that he had set in front of her. "Would you like me to pour you a bit, princess?"

---

Anah was still just as nervous as she had been when she first spotted the castle over the horizon. As she started to walk through the halls, she couldn't help but notice just how depressing the area seemed to be. There was no warmth, the sunlight was being blocked by the curtains. Anah nearly wanted to ask him about it but she was sure that she already knew the answer. Asking would only serve to upset Philippe and again, that was just about the last thing that she wanted to do. Whether she did end up marrying him or not, Anah didn't want to offend such a powerful man. Her kingdom was vulnerable at the moment. They needed as many potential allies as they could have. That was the only thing that she kept thinking because if she let her thoughts drift too much, she knew that she would lose herself in her emotions that she had bottled up.

Instead, Anah gave a gentle smile as they came to a stop in the parlour. Anah was quick to follow after him to the table, sitting only once Philippe had. She tilted her head to the side, eyeing the glass that was presented to her. Would it be rude to not accept? She wasn't too much of a fan of drinking but she supposed a few sips wouldn't hurt. It would probably help her to relax a bit more as well. Smoothing out the material of her dress, Anah sipped at the offered wine. Was it wrong to give her condolences? She nearly thought so because if she said it... would Philippe mention her father? She tried not to think too much about it because then she remembered her sister and the fact that she had left her all alone. She had desperately wanted to stay but the members of her court hadn't given her much of a choice at all.

Her father had taught her to have a voice but at the moment, Anah was at a loss. She had heard tales of Philippe - he ruled with an iron fist and wasn't afraid to remind others of their place. Was he always like this or had it only happened since his wife's death? "Your grace," she started, making sure to keep her voice low in case she upset Philippe with speaking out of turn. She had heard tales but she didn't know what all of it was true. "I have never had the luxury of seeing the ocean. May we go while I am here? If it does not impede on your schedule too much, of course."

Marceline had listened to Jacques suggestion and left the kitchen without so much as glancing back towards the cooks. Normally, Marceline was extremely kind to the staff, so she hoped they didn't think she was being too rude as she bowed out of the room. Once she sat down at the head of the table, she allowed herself to wipe away the tears that threatened to fall, letting out a loud sigh as she relaxed her shoulders.

The princess hoped that her sister had made it to Edoric without any troubles along her journey, and more than anything she was praying that the king and his people were giving her a warm welcome. Worries filled her head that she was being mistreated or that the king of that land was a horrible monster, so much so that her stomach was beginning to twist itself into knots.

She straightened her posture when she heard the doors to the kitchen open, glancing up to see Jacques coming her way with a pitcher of wine and a couple goblets. He placed one down in front of her before taking a seat next to her, offering to pour her a glass. Her father had allowed her to enjoy a glass of wine here and there during certain occasions and usually she did enjoy it, and with how horribly she felt now, she hoped it would help her relax.

"Yes, please," she looked up at her adviser through her eyelashes, watching as he poured her half a glass. As he sat back, she reached forward to pick up the goblet, bringing it to her lips and taking a sip of the bitter drink. Marceline held the cup in her hand and glanced back to Jacques, chewing on the inside of her lip. "Aren't we more at risk of an attack not having anyone on the throne?" She cleared her throat and tried to speak with a tone of assertiveness, still trying to convince him that it was a better idea to let her sister take the throne, that she wasn't meant for it.

---

Philippe looked up at the young girl, surprised by her request, but he shouldn't have been. Of course the girl would want to spend time with her future husband, but Philippe didn't know if he could bolster the energy to take her down to the shore. The king had become accustomed to spending his days listening to idiot men on his court speak and drinking himself silly until he couldn't hear their voices anymore.

He swirled his wine around his glass, looking down into the dark red liquid before taking a large sip of it. "Perhaps." He finally spoke, his voice bitter. Philippe had been seeing his wife a lot more in the halls of his home, much more frequently upon making arrangements to remarry. He didn't know how to take it, his first thought telling him it was a sign that he was betraying her, that even in death he should be loyal to her. Being alone with the princess now made him feel as if he was disrespecting his wife. The parlor they were sitting in felt heavy, hot, maybe only to him, but it was very uncomfortable.

"There is a lot to be done over the next few days, before we are both to return to your kingdom." Philippe couldn't hide the look of repugnance on his face, knowing that in a few days he would have to leave his home, his kingdom and go spend a week or so in hers just as a sign of good faith to her people. The king wasn't meaning to come off so cold to the princess, but he felt it was best to keep some sort of wall up between them. He was looking for a new wife for one reason, to be able to procure an heir. He wasn't looking for a new love, or a queen to help rule by his side, to make his castle feel more like a home again.

Philippe just needed an heir.

He didn't see the problem in maybe taking her down to see the ocean later in the day, deciding it would be much easier to coax her into giving him what he wanted if he made sure she was somewhat happy. "I'm sure we can find time to fit it in somewhere." He let out a small sigh, taking another drink from his glass. He should've expected her to be interested in the sinking depths that surrounded his kingdom, his home. The whole reason her parliament had wanted him to accept her as a bride was so they could get strike up a trade deal, mainly for their fish.

@ castle.

Jacques was quick to reach forward, moving to pour half a goblet of wine for Dalia. He smiled softly as she reached for it, turning to pour himself the same amount. He sipped at it, straightening up when Dalia started to speak. He was quick to start shaking his head, waving off her worries before she could even finish her question. "I suppose, yes, darling. We would be under a bit of a threat but with the strengthened alliance with Edoric, I believe that people would be hesitant to attack us. They know that with such a strong alliance.. if Anah marries King Philippe, they will be by our side in a minute. Their troops could be mobilized and here with a day's ride if a threat arose. If it was that severe of a situation."

He sipped at his wine as he sat back, eyeing Dalia. "It may be a bit difficult but we can do this. We will get through this, princess. I will not leave your side. I promise," Jacques spoke, his voice lowered. He was doing his best to reassure her, not wanting to let her worries get the best of her. He hesitated for a moment before reaching out, setting his hand on Dalia's arm in an attempt to offer her a bit more comfort without pushing it too far.

"When your sister returns, I will do my absolute best to ensure she stays for a bit longer. I will speak with King Philippe and his advisors, to explain just how important it is that your sister remains here for at least a bit. That you two, as siblings, need to be together while you have the chance to heal from your loss," Jacques started again, giving her arm a gentle squeeze before he dropped his hand back to his lap. "Tell me. How have you been sleeping? Would you like me to speak to the healer to see if they can put something together that will help you to sleep a bit better?" Jacques offered, figuring that he would at least offer it to her. Whether she wanted it or not, Jacques knew that it was the thought that counted.

---

Anah didn't know what all she was supposed to do. She knew that she was supposed to strengthen her relationship with Philippe, and her kingdom's with Edoric, but she didn't know how to do both of those things. Especially when she had been raised to be just as open and eager to lead as she would have been if she was a boy. Would Philippe hate that about her or would he appreciate such a strong personality? Just a few minutes with him and Anah was feeling lost because hse felt like everything she knew would be considered wrong. That she wasn't supposed to be outspoken and his reaction to her question was enough to tell her that her suspicions had been right.

Shrinking back in her seat, Anah's attention turned to the glass in her hand. Anah had thought that there was a chance of her returning alone. Not because she wanted to but when Philippe mentioned them both returning, Anah couldn't help but wonder if he had already made up his mind. That was good, right? Chewing on the inside of her lip, Anah only looked up when Philippe spoke. She was quick to shake her head, almost before he had even finished speaking. She hadn't meant to be disrespectful but she wanted to make it clear that she wasn't going to expect or start demanding things. This was Philippe's home, his kingdom. Not hers.

"Only if we've the time, your grace. I don't wish to cause any inconvenience just for the sake of pleasure. If we don't have the time this visit, perhaps in the future we will," Anah spoke softly. She was incredibly nervous and she wondered if Philippe was able to pick up on it. If he cared at all. She could already feel her resolve faltering because all she could think about was her sister all alone after they had just lost their father a few days ago. Blinking back her tears, Anah sniffled but she was quick to raise her wine to her lips to cover it up. Or so she hoped.

"Will I.. be meeting some of your court?" Anah asked, figuring that was likely a better topic that an unnecessary trip down to the beach.

Marceline decided to put the matter to the rest for the time being, hoping that Jacques was being honest with her, hoping that he really would try and he wasn't just saying what she wanted to hear. Taking another sip of her wine, she chewed on the inside of her cheek and looked away from him. "I haven't been..." Her dark eyes glanced towards his hand, watching his hand as goosebumps ran up her arm. The princess couldn't remember a time when he had ever been so handsy with her, thinking about over the past couple of days. Every encounter she had with him since her father's death, he had touched her multiple times, whether it was a gentle hand squeeze or brushing a strand of hair from her face, or something more like wrapping his arm around her shoulders. Jacques had never paid her so much attention before, usually just advising her when necessary or bowing to her in passing.

She decided it must've just been his own reaction to her father's death. Perhaps he was grieving in his own way and that manifested in making sure the king's children were taken care of. "That does sound nice, if you wouldn't mind." Marceline didn't want to ask him to go out of his way for her, she was sure that he already had his hands full and she didn't want to add to his stress. Sleep had been hard to come by for the past few nights, but Marceline was sure that she would be able to rest again soon.

Fidgeting with her fingers, the princess began to think about how she wanted to escape the castle for a little while later that day. How she would like to run down to the stables and see if she could find Harmon, the farm boy that she had feelings for. He could make her feel better, she was sure of it. She was a little worried that it would be much to difficult for her to sneak out, especially with her sister gone and apparently now with her responsibility to become queen, there would be too many eyes on her.

The kitchen doors opened again and a servant brought out the meal that Jacques had requested they prepared. The woman sat the two plates of roasted chicken down in front of them, bowing her head before she pulled the tray back in her arms and hurried back to the kitchen. Marceline looked down at the food, partially feeling starved but also feeling she had no appetite at all. Instead, she brought the goblet back to her lips, taking another long sip before glancing back over to Jacques. "Thank you," she whispered, deciding it was best to thank him for all that he was doing. "I didn't expect anyone to care so much about how I was doing, especially not one of the parliament members. I'm grateful."

---

Philippe looked over at the princess when she sniffled, pulling his brows together and running a hand over his beard. He had forgotten about the own girls tragedy, remembering now, at the sight of her tears, that she had lost her father. That was the other reason she was being forced to marry him, he now remembered one of his advisers mentioning that her father would have never allowed such an arrangement if he was still alive. If he could remember correctly, he had been poisoned while visiting a neighboring kingdom. Philippe wasn't sure what her father's business had been, something so serious that he had to do it himself rather than sending someone in his place.

"No," he shook his head, "we will make time for the ocean." He knew the feeling of loss all too well, he felt it over and over every single day. If taking the girl to see the ocean might help her forget, for even just a few minutes, then he would take her. The king wasn't so sure why he cared about the princess's loss, for there had been no one there to comfort him when he lost his wife and child. Still, he sipped at his wine and told himself that he was just being a hospitable king.

Sitting the goblet down on the table next to him, the king crossed his arms over his chest and looked down at Anah, nodding his head slowly. "Yes, you will meet them at dinner. They are putting together some fancy dinner as a welcoming gift, some of the nobles of my kingdom and their children have been invited." He let his close eyes slowly, rubbing the side of his head, already feeling the oncoming migraine the night would give him. "We can sneak away to let you see the ocean before dinner, I anticipate I shall be far too inebriated to escort you after." The king didn't care to hide his alcoholic tendencies to the young princess, she would find out sooner or later, so she might as well be forewarned.

@ castle.

{ this is the oldest thread that i owe now. yay}

Jacques frowned at Dalia's admitting that she hadn't really been sleeping much at all. It worried him because he knew that she was still grieving. He knew that he had to manipulate her but it wasn't going to happen if she didn't take care of herself. If that happened, Jacques would never have a chance at the crown. Which was the entire reason that he was consoling Dalia in the first place. If Jacques hadn't been so desperate for the crowd, he would have never killed her father. The former King had been a good ruler, there was no doubt about that in his mind but Jacques wanted that power for himself. He wanted the prestige that the title brought with it.

He would care for her and show her that he genuinely cared for her. Or at least, Jacques had to convince her that he did. There was no other option because Dalia was his path to the thrown. With Anah betrothed to the king of a neighbouring kingdom, there was no other heir to throne other than Dalia. He had to fight back the smirk that threatened to overtake his features because of the knowledge he was so close to his goal. Dalia was all alone, completely isolated from her sister. Exactly where Jacques wanted her to be. So that he could comfort her and be the family that she needed now.

Jacques gave the young princess a brilliant smile, shrugging his shoulders as he leaned against the side of his chair that was closest to Dalia. "You have suffered a great loss and with the kingdom needing to affirm our alliance with Edoric, your sister is not here. It's an incredibly difficult time for you, I wouldn't wish for you to feel as if you were alone, princess," he explained softly.

"Princess Anah does have Charlotte," Jacques explained, referring to the handmaiden that had been with Anah since the girls were young. Dalia was her sister and they were as close as could be but Charlotte was a close friend as well. Anah was not quite alone, just as Dalia did have her handmaiden. There was just an understanding between the sisters that no one else could possibly share.

Jacques looked up when the kitchen doors opened and he smiled at the sight of the food that was carried toward them. "Once we have eaten, I will speak to the physician and come to your quarters with what he is able to put together for you. How does that sound?"

---

Anah's brows pulled together when Philippe seemed to all but demand that they head down to the beach. She was excited at the idea and she wished that she could have her sister with her but that wasn't an option right now. And it seemed to Philippe that for one reason or another, he was truly wanting to take her down to the beach. She wanted to ask him why he seemed so set on it but Anaha decided that it was a question for another time. If ever.

There was no way for Anah to distract herself when she watched Philippe cross his arms. Her stomach twisted and she wasn't quite sure what she felt at the moment. He was strong, that was no secret. But watching hte way his muscles flexed beneath the fabric of his shirt was enough to cause her to falter. Was it fear or was it.. Anah shook her head and looked away as quickly as she could convince herself to. She didn't want to be caught watching Philippe - she didn't want to give him the wrong idea.

Anah bristled at the mention of Philippe being too inebriated. She had heard tales and even seen it herself before. Men tended to get loud and start demanding things even worse than usual when they were drinking. How would Henry be? He was a king, after all. Kings would always get their way. Anah swallowed at the thought, forcing herself to nod her head without looking toward him. She didn't want him to see her fear and be offended.

"Should we head down now? Just so that I have time to get prepared for our feast. I wish to make a good opinion on your court," Anah spoke gently. She knew that if she offended them to a certain degree, that they could influence Philippe's opinion to marry her and she knew how important this marriage was. Even if it wasn't something that she was comfortable with, Anah needed to make this happen. It was her duty to her people.

Dalia's gaze lifted as the servant placed their food in front of them and she did her best to mutter out a thanks, watching as the older woman scurried away from the table, disappearing back into the kitchens. It didn't bring the girl comfort to know that Anah had Charlotte because even though she knew they treated their handmaidens more like friends, at the end of the day, their maids were still maids. Terrified of stepping out of line or upsetting the court, not entirely trustworthy. All in one week, Dalia had lost her father and now she felt like she had already lost her sister.

Blinking away hot tears that threatened to fall down her face, she looked down at her meal, finding that she wasn't sure if she'd be able to stomach it. "Sounds delightful." She whispered, hoping that sleep would be a nice escape from the pain of her reality. The pair sat at the table for what felt like quite some time, Dalia watching as Jacques ate his food, barely listening to him as he spoke about their plans for her. She didn't want to think about becoming queen or who she would have to marry, so instead she just nodded along and raked her fork across her plate, barely taking more than a few bites.

After a few quiet moments, she let her fork fall from her hand and glanced up at Jacques. "I'm not feeling very well," she glanced back to her food, hoping he wouldn't try to make her eat more of it. "Sleep sounds nice, do you think you could go speak to the physician now?" The princess swallowed around a lump in her throat, her fingers nervously fidgeting with the fabric of her dress, before she scooted her chair back and stood to her feet. "I can find my way back to my room on my own," she began to walk by him, before she let her hand fall to his shoulder. "Thank you, again, Jacques." The last thing Dalia wanted was to come off rude or like she was trying to give him a cold shoulder. With a gentle squeeze to his shoulder, she pulled her hand away and quickly left the dining hall, hurrying back to her room.

---

Philippe lifted his glass to his lips, finishing off the drink before he let the glass clink down on the table next to him. "That does sound like a good idea," he nodded, grunting as he stood to his feet. He reluctantly held his hand out to the princess, helping her up from her seat before he pulled his hand back, sheepishly shoving them in the pockets of his trousers.

Guiding her from the room, he raised an eyebrow as he looked down at her. "That girl with you...a maid?" He questioned, "I can show you to your room and fetch for her so that you may have someone your comfortable with help you dress and get ready." The king didn't see a problem with what the girl was wearing now, but he had never really been one to try and impress a bunch of snotty nosed court members and noblemen. He was also sure that she was nervous, wanting nothing more than to put her best foot forward and leave a lasting impression. That, and he knew the tailors and seamstresses in his castle had laid out an arrangement of gowns for her, all of which were waiting for her up in her room.

Guiding her through the castle, Philippe did his best to keep his mind empty. He didn't want to think about Anah, or the betrayal he felt to his deceased wife or the anger and annoyance that was building up in his chest. If it were up to him, he would've locked himself away in that parlor and drank himself silly until he passed out. Alcohol was the only thing that could numb him, help him forget about all that he had lost.

He listened to the clacking of Anah's heels as she followed him, until they stopped once they had reached her room. Philippe held a tight grip on the door handle as he pushed it open, allowing her access to her room. "I hope it is to your liking," he gruffed, not actually caring either way.

@ castle.

{I REALIZE I NEVER ACTUALLY POSTED SORRY }

Jacques' face fell when Dalia pushed to her feet before he could even encourage her to have a few more bites to eat. He wasn't going to force her to but he felt like she needed to have a bit more. She had hardly been eating over the past few days and he knew that she was losing weight, even from the last time that he had seen her, Jacques could notice it. He only looked up when Dalia set her hand on his shoulder and he couldn't help but give her a tiny smile, nodding. "Anything for you, princess," he said and he meant it, even if his intentions weren't as genuine as they could have been.

Doing just as Dalia requested, Jacques gathered a few different fruits before heading down to the physician's room so that he could ask for something that would help her sleep. It was nearly half an hour before Jacques could leave the room, rushing toward Dalia's quarters. He didn't want to keep her waiting any longer than he already had, she didn't have a whole lot at the moment - Jacques had to be the shoulder for her to cry on. The person that Dalia could rely on.

Knocking gently on the door, Jacques hesitated for a moment before he pushed open Dalia's door. He grinned as he stepped inside, holding out the small bowl of liquid that Dalia could drink. "Here, I brought you a few fruits that you could eat as well. You don't have to eat it all but the physician said that you should eat a little something. It'll help the potion to work better," Jacques explained. She had just eaten a bit a little while ago and he knew he was manipulating her but this was all for her wellbeing as far as he was concerned about it.

---

"She is, she has been with me for most of my life," Anah explained when Philippe asked about Charlotte. She had to force herself to smile because she didn't want the king to think that she was anything short of lovely. She knew that if she didn't secure their relationship in one way or another, her kingdom's safety would come into question and then.. then she would be failing her duty to her people. Biting down on her lip, Anah recalled what her father had wanted for her. She was supposed to be a strong queen, able to lead her people confidently and yet here she was, trying to win over a neighbouring king.

Anah's thoughts were racing but she was relieved that she was able to keep them to herself because it was so evident that Philippe didn't want to have a conversation with her. It made her sad in one respect because she had wanted a loving, warm marriage but there was no way that could happen with a man like Philippe. Already, Anah was sentencing herself to a life where her only focus was providing her husband a heir. Taking a deep breathe when Philippe opened her door, Anah gave him a brilliant smile. "It's wonderful. Thank you," she said, hesitating for a moment before she set her hand on his upper arm. It was all she was brave enough to do before she stepped into the room.

Nearly an hour later, Anah emerged wearing an elaborate dress that she would have never would have chosen for herself. Charlotte had encouraged her toward it because her maid had spoken to others in the castle, learning what Philippe preferred. She smoothed out her dress, following after Charlotte as she began to lead her through the castle. How she already knew so much, Anah could never guess but she was more than appreciative as they stepped into the dining hall.

(DO NOT APOLOGIZE WE LITERALLY HAVE SO MANY RPS ITS OK )

Dalia had already undressed down to what the bare minimum of what she had been wearing under her dress, preferring not to feel restricted when she slept. It had been such a hassle trying to cling on to any amount of sleep she could get that she didn't want to make it harder for herself, that, and she wasn't very shy. Especially when it came to Jacques, seeing as she didn't think he would be very interested in her, in that way, at least.

She was sitting at her vanity, taking her ear rings out and about to brush through her hair when she heard the knock at the door. The only thing keeping her slightly decent was a short silk robe she had thrown on, but it was untied and open in the front. Looking over her shoulder, she gave him a small smile when he stepped into the room. "Thank you," she breathed, hesitating before she stood. She wasn't sure how she could truly thank her advisor, but she was immensely grateful for him. Without him, she was sure she would be far lonelier than she was, and far worse off. Taking the small bowl from him, she reached out for his hand, guiding him further into her room.

Sitting down on at a small table in the corner of the room, situated next to a window that had the curtains pulled closed tightly, she gestured to the seat next to her. "Please? Will you sit with me for a little while?" The princess knew he had to be busy, what with helping the rest of the court run the kingdom in the absence of a ruler, but she had been so alone since her sister had been ripped away from her. Bringing the bowl to her lips, she took a small sniff of the liquid, a little worried that it didn't smell like much of anything. Still, she trusted Jacques and she trusted the royal physician, so without much more of a pause, she began to drink it. Bringing the bowl back down to the table, the princess couldn't help but feel the tears burning her eyes again, pleading in her mind that she hoped the concoction put her to sleep quickly. She was tired of feeling so exhausted and broken, hating that she had to looked up at Jacques, blinking away the burning tears.

---

Philippe watched as the princess moved into the room, slightly pleased when he noticed her admiring it. Whether she was faking it or not, didn't matter, she seemed to be pleased and that was good enough for him. "I will fetch her then, in the meantime, I hope you're comfortable." The king lingered at the door for a moment, wondering if he should say more, do more to try and make her feel more at home, but he shook away the worry. Why did he feel the need to please her? Before she could notice, Philippe left the room, closing the door quietly behind him.

Instead of immediately going himself to find the young handmaiden, the king stopped a servant in the hallway, who had appeared to be busy, walking at a brisk pace. But again, the king didn't care for whatever they had been busy with, there were more pressing matters at hand. "Boy," he spoke in a deep voice, causing the young servant to jump out of his skin before bowing low to the ground. Philippe found himself rolling his eyes, looking up at the ceiling as he instructed him to find Charlotte and send her to Anah's aid.

Once that was taken care of, the king found himself slowly making his own way to the dining hall, growing more and more aggravated with each step he took. Why had he promised to take the girl to the shore? His knees were already aching and his throat was dry, not to mention the silence that hung over him in the hallway was only helping to amplify his negative thoughts.

Darling...

Philippe froze in his footsteps, at the top of the stairs that would lead him down to the foyer of his home. Looking over his shoulder, he caught a glimpse of what he thought had been his wife, disappearing down one of the corridors. He could see her favorite blue dress, the gold detailing at the trim before it was gone. Tears burned his eyes and he squared his jaw, cursing under his breath. It must've been the alcohol. He hurried down the stairs, wiping at his eyes before he entered the dining hall. Instantly barking at someone to bring him a drink as he threw himself down in his seat.

@ dezz

{apparently }

Jacques' gaze darkened slightly when Dalia turned, revealing that she was in nothing more than her sleep clothes. He wanted to close the door and the distance between them, but didn't. He knew that they weren't at that point quite yet. As much as he wanted to, he knew that he had to be very careful. He needed to make sure that Dalia was falling for him before he pushed things to the physical aspect. He cleared his throat, forcing himself to remain focused on her face. "Anything for you, princess," he reassured her quietly, giving a slight bow of his head. "I will always serve you. You know that," he said, offering her a gentle smile as he followed her further into the room. He made sure to leave the door open, not wanting to make Dalia feel any more uncomfortable than she must already.

He sat at the table, relaxing back against the chair as he studied Dalia. "Do you want me to begin this every evening, princess? You look exhausted," he pointed out in a low voice. "Understandable, of course. But I want to help you... in any way that I can," Jacques added, hopeful that she would believe him. He was being honest about it. Just not necessarily honest about his intentions. What Dalia didn't know, it wouldn't hurt her. After all, if all she thought was that he loved her and was caring for her, did the truth really matter? Jacques didn't really think so.

When he recognized the tears in Dalia's eyes, Jacques stood to his better judgment. He hesitated after stepping around until he faced her fully. "Do you.." Jacques paused, tilting his head to the side. He was unsure how to move forward, without going over the line - too fast, anyway. "Would you like a hug, princess?" He tested, thinking it was best to ensure that Dalia was okay with it before he moved to hug her.

---

Anah was all too grateful when Charlotte appeared, hugging the girl tightly. They whispered amongst themselves as Anah got ready, Charlotte even brushed out her hair before putting it into an elaborate braid. She was so beyond nervous to be meeting Philippe's court, she didn't know much at all about them. All she knew was that she had to impress them because if she didn't do a good enough job, they would surely sway Philippe's opinion. If she didn't marry Philippe, she would lose the protection the alliance would offer her kingdom. Her sister would be included. Anah would not let anything happen to her sister, not if she could help it. Her shoulders sagged for a moment at the though, trying to ignore the uneasy feeling that had settled in the pit of her stomach.

Once she was ready, Anah forced herself to her feet and gave Charlotte a tiny smile. "Wish me luck," she said as she turned, leaving the room. Charlotte followed close behind, fixing Charlotte's skirt when it started to fold underneath itself. Anah drew in a deep breathe as they enared the dining hall. She wished that her sister was here right now because she was sure that if Dalia was, Anah would at least bit a tiny bit more comfortable than she felt at the moment.

Anah paused outside of the room, waiting for the guards to push open the door. The moment they were fully opened, Anah stepped through with her arms perfectly poised at her sides. Once she was at the front of the room, Anah curtsied, keeping her head lowered before she eventually brought herself to a standing position. "Your grace," she greeted Philippe in a gentle voice, only moving to take her seat beside him when Philippe acknowledged her.