Maximilian

It was a relief to see her brother, too long she had been without the company of someone who actually understood her, understood the way she thought, what she was trying to achieve. “I’m not sure I would call it fun. The event is nice, but I’ve always struggled watching people grasp so desperately onto romance. This whole summit could be over by now if people just saw these engagements for what they are: business transactions.” She raised a glass to her lips, “What about you, have you been swept away by the Valentine’s spirit?”

“I agree fully you know this.” He said quietly smiling at her “Though I think there are a few things we can get out of all this spectacle don’t you? See how strong or weak the future leaders are.” Though of course to him most countries were very weak even if they were larger then Austria. “I can’t remember the last time that happened.”

“i’ll take that as a yes.” She giggled lightly for him. “I guess you’re correct then, they were rather useless to me.” She hummed lightly to him. “What were your parents like?” She had to wonder some where he came from. “Well then, come move across the floor.” 

“Personally I belive they are great parents but some may see them as cold and strict” He shook his head “They truly do care for austria  and have thought us well so I can’t complain.” He took her hand and walked her to the dance floor

c

“How dare you forget our wedding Max. Adrian would never forget if I married him. People will always be jealous of our love because it is the most real thing in the world.” Henri sighed shaking his head. “I hate when you tease me like that. You know how I get. If you ever left me I would hunt you down and murder you. Our love is that strong.” He handed Max the puppy as he swiped a bottle of champagne. “Come on we can talk about your betrothed and how much I adore her.”

“i actually haven’t forgotten about my wedding to him.” He said teasingly “That is very true.” He smiled and shook his head “You know that I’ll ever leave you.” He replied honestly and truly meaning it, he would put Henri above a lot of people and he’d had in the past. “You do? Tell me about it. Must admit i’m surprised you do since we could be getting married again.”

“That bad!? That bad!? It’s horrible—It’s the worst. Kill me, dude. Just straight up murder me, man.” Orion panted, perhaps more than a little anxious. “But I put on a suit,” he whined, pointing at his clothes. “I never do that. I can’t let that go to waste…I just…don’t know what else to do? Do you have any ideas?”

“I truly feel you’re making things worse than they are... the food is good and there is alcohol.” He said shrugging and chuckling “Well, find someone you like, talk for a while and then maybe you two can go away and have your fun?”

“Will you show me? Tonight?” Anastasia moving to sort of stand in front of Max now. “Yes, I suppose but everyone before you, they notice my looks and the things I could do for them, most don’t care for the details.” Turning back towards, the party, she nodded. “Back home they’re not this warm feeling. They don’t seem like anyone is truly having fun. My parents are kind people but they still stick to alot of the colder things in tradition as well. Would you care to dance?”

“We’ll see the night is still young.” He said simply preferring not to make any promises but not against the idea at all. “Well to me those people are idiots and usually not great at what they are supposed to do.” being observant was in his opinion a very important thing. “I think a lot of our parents are like that... but I think change can be goos sometimes.” He smiled at her and took her hand. “I’ll love to dance.”

“Max you can’t just go around calling me your puppy. Call me by my true title. Your adoring husband and one true love.” He was confident in his relationship with Max which was the only reason he allowed himself to be so brash. Max would never hurt him. “I would never hurt you with any intention Max. I am so sorry if I caused you any pain.” He had grown serious knowing the pain that could be caused he never had any thought to put it on his best friend. “I know Dante is not an ideal match but please Max I need you. I don’t think I can survive this without your support.” 

“My husband? Can’t remember the ceremony though” He said chuckling “But I won’t deny the other thing, just don’t go around saying it people may get jealous.” He smiled sighing and shook his head “I’m just teasing you, you softlie.” He took a deep breath and placed an arm around his friend’s shoulders “I am not going anywhere.. Let’s just steal some alcohol and go somewhere we can talk properly..and the pupy can play freely too.”

“Of course I am. You couldn’t hide a puppy from and if you ever did I would be so hurt Max.” Henri gave him a stern look for a moment so he knew that Max understood how serious he was. “You wouldn’t be on my side? That’s a bit rude Max. I thought you loved me. Max if someone used a puppy for a bad thing they would have to be completely evil and Dante isn’t evil.”

“I am talking about you.” He admitted and chuckled “You’re the cutest too” He said as he patted Henri on the head as he had done the puppy. “You know that is all emotional manipulation and i don’t know if I should stay here and take it all, now you are the one hurting me.” He shook his head “I guess maybe not totally evil but I don’t think he is a good person.” Max wasn’t one either honestly but he had his few people he cares about.”

“Do you ever lose control?” Anastasia was wonder if that was something her betrothed ever had done. He seemed so put together but seeing him let loose would be something she’d like to see. “most don’t take the time to truly remember things about me…its refreshing. Yes, I am. I am enjoying it all. Its different then the balls back home. Are you?” 

“Well of course it would be very boring not to do it but not when it can come back and hurt me, so really is more behind closed doors,” He said with a small wink. He wanted to keep his good reputation after all it was very important. “Well I’d be a very bad future husband if I didn’t.” He also doubted people didn’t remember things about her maybe she just didn’t notice “Really why? And yeah so far is nice.”

          ‘ yeah, exactly what i said – whatever it is. ’     daniella raised her eyebrows in a manner as if she had been stating the obvious before shrugging.     ‘ i wish. there’s like, at least a dozen people who’d hunt my ass down if i disappeared now. ’  

“Amazing.” He said simply, clearly not thinking very highly of her but in a way he could totally deny it, he took a sip of his drink already knowing this was the type of conversations that usually took a lot of his patience. “It’s just a Valentine’s ball though not life or death i think you can convince them to let you go.”

“You do not have a puppy Max I would know.” He smirked very satisfied with himself for shutting Max down in his lie. “I don’t want the attention on me. He won’t do anything bad I promise. Let me keep him for the party Max.” Henri looked crushed at the thought of sending his puppy away. “I know. I don’t trust him either but he’s being nice and I don’t want to fight anymore. What if he just wanted to make me happy? There can’t be anything bad when a puppy is involved.”

“Are you sure about that” He said chuckling amused that his friend didn’t catch that Max was implying Henri himself was a puppy. “Okay okay, but if a girl ends with a ruined dress I won’t lie for you.” He took a breath, his friend was just too good most of the time. “I don’t know, I wouldn’t put it past him to use puppies for bad things.”

“Doesn’t he make you want to get one. We could have puppy playdates.” He dreamed of having friends that he could make puppy playdates with. “Why not? He’s just a puppy he’s not going to hurt anyone Max.” He paused for a moment at the last question. “I don’t know. Maybe he just wanted to be nice. Why don’t you look happy for me Max? This is my dream dog. I love him so much already.”

“But I already have a cute puppy...” He said with a small smirk “If I must tell you, is because he is taking all the attention from you... that and that he may you know do his business in the middle of the dance floor and a lot of girls have very long dresses...” He sighed “I have nothing against the puppy. Is just I don’t trust Dante.”

“You mean once everyone is a little more drunk and tends to make more of a fool then they already have?” Smiling as she thought about all of that and how some of them were so put together, seeing them fall apart would be fun. “Welcome, I thought I should tell you.” Hearing he had even looked for sunflowers, made her blush. “Well its the thought that truly counts…and that you remembered.” Truly, she hadn’t really had many remember the small things about her. 

“Yes exactly, right now everyone is still on the i’m acting proper and all that. Usually the firsts to fall are the ones that aren’t comfortable at parties because they drink to try to feel more at ease, those also are the most sloppy” He said shrugging “I have a very good memory,and you know I am not that terrible I do remember what people say” Sometimes he didn’t care and he would not pay attention but when he did he remembered. “Are you having fun so far?”

“Max I told you that I appreciate your help with my outfit so much. Don’t you think he’s cute? Look at his little bowtie he’s dressed up for the ball too.” Henri thrust the puppy out for Max to pet. “I did not steal him Max don’t say things like that in front of him. Dante gave him to me.”

“I am not saying he isn’t cute.” He said as he petted the puppy who yeah was very cute with his bowtie and everything “But I still don’t think bringing him was a great idea.” When his friend said Dante gave it to him though he got more serious “Dante...why?”

Henri was so thrilled to have his new puppy. He was on a pleasant date with his betrothed and even if it wasn’t everything he dreamed of he was still happy to be there with him. He had just gone to get a drink when he spotted a familiar figure a few steps away from him. He couldn’t resist showing off his new husky and he had to force Max to meet him. “Hey monster how is your evening going?” He asked with a grin as he approached his best friend while holding the small puppy. 

@max-habsburg

“I spent six hours helping you look half way decent and then you come with a puppy?” He said in shock “Where did you even get one? Did you go and steal one from the city? That is dognapping Henri I would have expected more from you honestly.”

Grace hated balls. She hated the politics of them and the ‘duty’ that came with them. She went out of a feeling of obligation- whether to her country and her brother or to Elena she wasn’t sure. Maybe a little of both. But, in any case, she was not happy to be there. The princess was already a few drinks in and didn’t intend on stopping anytime soon. Her eyes flicked to Max as he spoke, “Sure… I guess it doesn’t suck as much as most balls do.” 

“Hey this one has a lot of potential, no parents, media, old people.” He half joked “And a lot of alcohol. I am sure that things will be fun at least” Did he expected some terrible misstep on someone or chance for a scandal? not exactly but hey it could happen. 

Anastasia wasn’t one for balls really, she’d rather just sit back and watch with things like this but well, she needed to be seen for this and it was time she work on more allies. Standing with her betrothed, she smiled to his question. Da, yes, it is. Are you enjoy it, Max?” Wanting to at least make some small talk with him. “I like your suit by the way.” 

“So far is nice enough” He replied sincerely “But I do think as the night goes on it will get much more fun.” At the very least there would be drunk royals to laugh at “Oh...thanks.” He said and looked at her properly with a smile “you look gorgeous. I was going to get you flowers but it seems sunflowers weren’t available so I owe you on that.”