[littl3chocobo]

second in line for the throne. ambros is to marry a duke's daughter. he is against the marriage but the swanson family holds an important tract of land necessary for trade. if he does not marry the girl his kingdom will have to fight the duchy of swanson and though they would not be unconquerable at this time the money and men it would take to destroy them would be a blow to the kingdom that could take years to recover from.

this thread is rated m for mental abuse adult enough content and just a plain ol' asshole of a prince

ATTENTION; if you would like to know what the strange phrases and words used when referring to living-space mean please visit here; http://www.castlesandmanorhouses.com/life.htm

[Honey]

"I don't want to go, Mother. Avery should be going instead of me, she was the one promised to the duke, not me. It isn't fair." "...I understand why you are upset, but please do not be cross. She decided her heart laid with that...bohemian rather than with her family. It cannot be helped." His attempt at arguing against his mother was cut short, the tightening around his torso only allowing him enough breath to offer a squeak. "Sorry my lord," The maid said flatly, still pulling at the thick cords. Gritting his teeth in annoyance, the marquess took in a lungful of breath before the help was able to tighten the corset further. "And you could not recruit the help of a relative instead?" Leveling his eyes in the mirror to look at his mother, he was matched with her own gaze. He could see her offer a sigh, clearly having answered this question numerous times. "The duke has seen your sister. If anyone aside from you went in her place he would take notice." With lips pursed, and breath taken away again by the relentless maid, the man was confronted by only himself. At a mere glance anyone could have easily mistaken him for his sister, and his sister for him; Only if one were to look at the fine details could they see the difference between the two of them. Letting out a sigh of his own, he straightened as the maid tied off the strings of his corset. As he peered into the mirror he could see his new found curves, and couldn't help the thoughts that flooded his mind, and were almost instantaniously voiced by his mother. "You really do look look like her." Pulling his gaze from the rounded edges of his body, he locked eyes with his mother against through the mirror before turning to greet them again. Stepping forward with arms outstretched, the marquess kindly took the woman's hands into his own. "It is a blessing given our situation. Praise the gods you had twins." Receiving a smile for himself, he allowed for one of the frail hands to fall from his grip before turning to look at himself in the mirror again. "When do I leave?"

[littl3chocobo]

he had been sulking for days. in the armory, in the stable, at dinner, the thought of a marriage to the snotty heathen swanson girl angered him greatly. he did not wish to marry under rank and he did not wish to marry heretic hill-witches and so when a servant came to whisper nervous words of his soon-to-be wife's carriage being seen over the horizon he was quick to find the upper turrets. he would not greet the girl but he still wanted to see if she was as awful as he recalled

[Honey]

"All of this clothing is really necessary?" The man questioned as he itched at the hem of the chemise before his hand was swatted away and the garment was straightened once again. "Yes, my lord. If you are going to play the part of a woman you must wear everything they normally would." Allowing for his face to slip into a displeased scowl, he slouched back to rest against the seat of the carriage he lifted a finger to pull the curtain from the small window so he could peer at the quickly nearing castle that laid before them. That is, until he was chastised once again. "Ladies do not scowl or slouch, my lord. Fix your posture" Turning his gaze back to the stern face of his handmaid, he distorted his face into a look of displeasure as he sat up once more, though he did not wipe the look away from his face. "Help should not be telling a marquess what to do, but you are doing it anyhow. I should be allowed to slouch if I wish." His testing of the woman was cut short as the carriage slowed to a stop at the entrance of the castle. With the scowl wiped clean from his face and his posture corrected, the door of the freight was opened to reveal one of the duke's many butler's bowing. Calmly stepping free of the ride's cabin, he offered a lady-like curtsy to the man before heading for the stairs of the manor

[littl3chocobo]

it took nearly an hour for the carriage to arrive and it did so in a most plain and unassuming way. adjusting from his slump he peered out of the narrow window and watched as three figures came out. he could see all three were female though only the one in green caught his eye. even at a distance he could see she was lovelier than he last recalled though that could not forgive her nature. he did not blink as she offered her courtesies and entered the castle though as soon as she was out of sight he was quick to head down and catch another glimpse.

[Honey]

The thoughts that first penetrated his mind upon entering the lavish manor was the sheer beauty the foyer held. Every drapery or textile that decorated the walls complemented with the colors hiding deep in the woods that made up both the floor and the stairs, and the amount of intricacy was astounding. Though, even his attention was pulled away from the room as both the duke and duchess joined him and his handmaid. Offering the each of them a deep curtsy, he was rewarded with dips of lesser depth, though just as equal respect before they immediately spun off into questioning. At first their inquiries were simple and habitual, and he could answer them himself, but as they progressed he required the help of his maid, who picked up the questioning in stride. Given the brief period of freedom from conversation, the marquess decided to all his gaze to wander 'round the room to further take in the details. Eyes gazing along the rich wood and dark stones that made the walls and floor of the foyer, he could feel a small smile playing at the corner of his lips, though it was quickly suppressed. Continuing on to follow the rotund shape of the stairs, eyes taking in the elaborate details of the warm wood, his sights were interrupted at the head of the stairs, a single foot sticking into his path of sight. Lifting his gaze along the couture of the wall, the marquess paused only when the onlooker's face came into view. Peering back with a look of curiosity and piqued interest, he couldn't help trying to recall where he'd seen the man before.

[littl3chocobo]

he was halted in his staring when her eyes alighted on something and a small quiver of a smile flashed on thin pale lips. he felt a twinge of desire for those lips though he was reminded of a quick serpent's tongue and unlady-like behavior more suited to a fisher's daughter than an earl's only marriageable daughter. luckily for him the smile was quick to be put away and he could go back to watching her take in the sights of the hall. she did not pause again until she found him and blankly stared as if she did not know who he was. he felt offended by her lack of remembrance and scowling turned away up the last few steps to the landing. he would take the servants' stairs down to the kitchen and escape out to the garden later, there was nothing else for him to see here

[Honey]

As the man departed from his place upon the stairwell, he couldn't help but wonder why he chose to leave so soon. However, his contemplation was cut short as the duke addressed him and pulled him from his thoughts. "We both hate to greet and leave, but I am afraid my wife and I have prior engagements we must attend to. You are welcome to explore and take a look around, and if any questions befall your mind please ask the help and they shall attend to you. Your chambers are upstairs, and they can direct you there was well. We shall see you at dinner this eve." As the duke offered him a bow, he quickly responded with a curtsy which was then mirrored by the duchess. Watching the two of them depart, he was soon left alone with his handmaid, to whom he offered an expecting look. "Where to first, my lady?" Donning his scowl from the carriage only long enough to show the woman his displeasure, he lifted his skirt to keep it from dragging across the ground before he started down the hall.

[littl3chocobo]

he ended up getting sidetracked in the kitchen and did not leave until he had gotten a kiss from the cook's wife and had a kerchief of roasted nuts and candied fruit. feeling his spirits lifted he continued to the garden, not to brood as he originally planned but to eat his treat. if mother knew he was still being coddled by cook and his wife there would be hell to pay indeed

[Honey]

The halls were as plain as the ones at home, and did not offer as much beauty nor were they as enticing as the foyer. By suggestion of his handmaid, they left the narrow halls and took to the gardens, but the marquess was promptly abandoned by the maid, being told that she only had to speak with the mansion's help for a short moment. With a glower having masked his features, he pushed away the feelings of abandonment and decided to attempt enjoyment. With the prismatic colored flowers sprawled in their beds on either side of the curving paths, his efforts of attempted indulgence proved positive, and being swayed by the lovely poseys and perennials he failed to see the prince snacking away only a few rows over.

[littl3chocobo]

he paid no mind at first to the sound of feet in the garden, it was not his place to care about those whose jobs it were to make the castle livable but when he saw a flash of green he came to attention. the swanson girl was here rooting through his flowers. angrily he stood leaving the food on the stone bench. when the lass broke off a flower however it was the last straw. taking the few short steps through the foliage he came up behind her and bending down curtly grabbed her by a thin wrist. "what are you doing in my personal garden? you have no right to be here heathen woman"

[Honey]

While each flower he saw was visually appealing, he could not help but be lured closer by the flowers of a blooming blueberry bush. The sweet scent was particularly admirable, and the white orbs hanging from the stem were so intreguing that he could not help but pluck one for himself. As it was lifted closer to his face so he could smell the intoxicating berry-like scent, he was cut short by the strong hand the wrapped itself around his wrist, ceasing his movement. Turning to look over his shoulder at the man who had been present in the foyer, he allowed for the bloom to fall from his grip, spiraling down to the path. Pursing his lips worriedly, he looked at the man nervously as he offered his answer. "I was unaware this garden belonged to you, my lord. Had I known I would not have ventured here..."

[littl3chocobo]

they both watched as the blossoms fell to the ground though he was the first to look back up. "you wicked liar, in two years you have not forgotten i am certain. you simply like destroying the flowers, even now days before you are to be married and expected to be a proper woman you play in the dirt like a child or a slave." he sneered, "your kind are all no better than animals digging in the mud though, it is too be expected"

[Honey]

His eyes lingered on the fallen blossoms as the thrown comments rang in his mind, immediately bringing back memories as a child when the near same insults were slung. The same anger that he'd discovered years ago started to bubble up, and he was half tempted to swing a punch at the crude man, but with so much depending on him he decided against it. Instead, he tried to recall the words of his sister. "If you believe that enjoying the flowers makes one as lowly as a slave, then why would you have a garden all to your own?" Biting lightly at the corner of his lip, the man thought of his next words intently. "Besides, what would be the point of destroying the garden of the place I would soon live?"

[littl3chocobo]

he recoiled slightly at the words. "still with your adder's tongue too i see, there is nothing low about enjoying a garden if you keep your hands out of the dirt." letting go he stood straighter. "all the same this is no garden for you, this is my private yard for me alone, you would not be privy to this even after we are married and certainly you are not privy to it now"

[Honey]

With his wrist released from the strong grip, he pulled it close to his chest as he turned around to look at the man in full. Now armed with the knowlodge of who the man was, it seemed so foolish that he did not recognize him right away, the prince's features being ever reminding of his visits as a child. Lifting his gaze to his husband to be, he gave an attempt at swaying his decision with a flit of his eyelashes. "Not even once we are wed? That seems rather selfish of you."