periculum

𝖒𝖛𝖓𝖆𝖗𝖈𝖍𝖆𝖑 : a multi-muse blog for 1642hqs. penned by jen . 24 . pst . she/her

𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐛𝐨𝐧, king of france   •   𝖎𝖓𝖙𝖗𝖔

𝐟𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐡𝐚 𝐨𝐬𝐦𝐚𝐧, kadın of the ottoman empire    •   𝖎𝖓𝖙𝖗𝖔

𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐫 𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐧𝐮𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐧, crown prince of denmark  •  𝖎𝖓𝖙𝖗𝖔

♛

he gave a slight chuckle as being called a ‘good sir’ like he wasn’t more than a stablehand. “bean is fine,” he said with a soft smile. he listened to what she had to say and deducted she must be part of the party from the castle. he gave a slight nod, walking out with the horse he was towing and pointed out. “tis easy to get turned around, you took the path that took you to the stable.” he turned to the other side and pointed. “castle is up there, my lady.” the horse seemed to neigh in agreement. “magnus and i must head that way if you would like company?”

bean. what a unique and endearing name that is, and so endearing, that it made her smile. “ bean, ” fareeha repeated, verbally this time, her expression almost akin to a child learning her first words as she gave the kind stranger a nod. his words immediately reassured her, his friendly demeanor making her feel at ease, and enough to quell her worries about getting lost in this maze of a forest forever. “ ah, is that so ?  somehow, i had thought i lost my sense of direction completely, ” she says, gaze following the direction he had just pointed at. as he heard his offer, she could not help but feel relieved --- anyone who would mean someone harm would not be so delicate and fond of animals that they would give them names, right ? although she kept her guard up in case she was approaching the wrong person, fareeha also knew how to read people enough to know whether she was accompanied by someone unscrupulous. bean however, she decided, was not. “ i would be most grateful, ” fareeha said, looking at his beloved horse --- magnus, for a moment. “ what a beautiful horse you have with you... ” she added, suddenly remembering her own favored one she left back in her motherland. “ but i seemed to have lost my manners --- i am fareeha. ” 

It had been a few days since the last time Adeline had seen Antoine, but she didn’t mind too much. She knew that with all of them being in Switzerland, it wasn’t her role as his mistress to be with him at every audience or event, and she hardly cared to be the subject of whispers among the different countries nobility while they were there, so she was happy to find ways to occupy her time, exploring the grounds and going for rides. She hadn’t even been expecting Antoine to come that night, which explained the surprised look on her face when was interrupted from crushing some juniper berries into a draft that she’d been making for Antoine to keep calm through his busy schedule. Adeline smiled softly back at him and held up the small bottle that she’d been working on, “And here I thought I would have to resort to having a messenger send this to you tonight,” she said, placing it down when he got close enough for her to place a kiss on his cheek and her hands on his shoulders, hazel eyes staring into Antoine’s after the days they’d spent apart. 

“Oh you know me, I can handle just about anything.” she said, teasing him slightly as her lips curled into a playful smile, “it’s you I’ve been worried about - people around here whisper about how tired you look, and now that I see you for myself I can confirm it. Can I do anything to help you, mon couer?” 

Instinctively, Antoine leans in to her kiss, eyes closing for a moment as he savored the tender moment. Her touch was enough to soothe his mind, relieving him of all his worries and unease even just for a moment. Adeline always had this effect on him, ever since they were younger and did not know any better, and it remains just the same years later. He will always consider himself lucky for having met her, for having been with her, and for the fact that she’s always been by his side no matter how hard things grew to become. At the sound of her concern, Antoine merely shook his head once, a small smile on his lips as he rests his hands just above her waist, a gesture of comfort, as he surely have missed her presence these past few days. 

closed starter for @vitaiisms​​ / saira ghazi

location : palace halls, switzerland

Pulling her veil over her head, Fareeha makes her way out of her chamber, alerting the guards that stood by her doorway in an instant. It may not have been the usual for someone to be up this late, but considering how unfamiliar this placed had been for her, one cannot blame her for wanting to adjust to the environment by her own means. “ I will not be long. I only needed some air to help me sleep, ” her Ottoman Turkish comes out natural as she addressed one of her guards, who said nothing but takes a step away from his place by the door with an intention to trail after her. Fareeha only offered a hint of a smile knowing that these guards were only doing what they were told, and so, she only nodded before turning her back against him and started her leisurely-paced walk towards another corridor. The Swiss sure knew how to show their wealth through the grandeur of their palace, and yet, as welcoming as they had been (for the most part), the kadın cannot help but feel a sense of melancholy for reasons she cannot quite point out.

Just as her thoughts began pulling her further away from the present, a voice echoing from a hall nearby made Fareeha stop for a moment. She figured it was another royal guest who also found trouble in finding sleep, and while Fareeha did not know many of them on a personal level, she was willing to welcome anyone at this hour who shared her situation. But as she turned into to hallway where the sound originated from, she found herself looking ahead and recognizing a very familiar figure that made her heart swell with joy. “ Saira, ” the name leaves her lips, and Fareeha felt like she could cry. She picked up her pace to meet her most beloved niece, elated to find a familiar face in these grand yet desolate halls, and she halts when the woman was within arm’s reach. Her gaze finds Saira’s own as her arms reached for her, tears threatening to fall at any moment when she realized this was no dream after all. “ Oh, I have missed you so, azizam. ”

            LEARNING  TO  LOVE  the  sky  you  are  under  .  a  feat  not  so  easily  achieved  beneath  the  loving  ,  no  less  overbearing  ,  hand  of  her  parents  who  loved  their  lot  of  children  the  way  we  once  loved  angry  gods  ,  leaving  offerings  and  praying  for  gentle  winters  .  much  rather  ,  it’s  the  royal  palace  that  raises  her ,  more - so  than  her  parents ,  more-so  than  the  host  of  nannies  they  hire  to  keep  her  and  her  siblings  in  check  .  it’s  the  sharp  edges  of  the  spiral  staircases  that  teach  annette  to  mind  where  she  stands ,  the  wind  through  the  cracks  in  her  windows  that  teach  her  to  listen  carefully  —  their  home  is  her  best  friend  and  it  hides  her  well  when  the  adults  come  filing  in  .  she  learns  to  exist  in  spaces  where  she’s  not  welcome  ,  and  it  turns  out  that’s  everywhere  she  wants  to  be  :  everywhere  but  the  saccharine  confines  of  her  room  ,  anywhere  she  might  draw  attention  away  from  the  money  .             nonetheless  ,  she  learns  to  love  &  does  it  well  .  or  at  least  she  had  ,  once  upon  a  time  .  annette  gave  her  heart  unto  other’s  that  didn’t  deserve  it  once  ,  much  less  twice  ,  and  now  ,  she  sits  before  the  first  man  she  ever  gave  her  heart  to  .  her  beloved  father  .  ❝  oh  ,  how  you  adore  marrying  your  children  off  father  .  it’s  no  wonder  you  and  mother  have  stuck  together  for  so  long  ,  ❞  the  sanctity  of  union  had  been  held  dear  ,  of  course  ,  not  without  the  assistance  of  the  royally  appointed  mistress  .  the  tonal  change  does  little  to  quell  her  spirit  ,  rather  engages  it  .  ❝  though  ,  however  tempting  your  promise  of  advocation  may  be  …  i  cannot  be  swayed  by  the  prospect  of  marriage  ,  no  matter  how  foreign  .  surely  you’ve  seen  how  displeased  poor  anastasia  has  been  since  she  was  betrothed  ?  i  do  hope  you  would  not  wish  such  vexation  on  your  eldest  daughter  as  well  .  ❞

PERHAPS, ANTOINE HAS SEALED HIS OWN FATE FOR TONIGHT. he should have expected that if anyone is to disapprove of his actions as of late and voice them out, it would be annette. she always knew what to say, when to speak, and while antoine knew that all his decisions pertaining to his children’s betrothal were made from both the perspective of a king and a father, he would also be lying if he said he did not feel even an ounce of regret every time he forced the hand of his child to marry not for love, but for the good of their kingdom. in truth, annette’s words were loaded, and he took it as such, and it settles at the pit of his stomach like he had just swallowed a rock. and yet, a true bourbon, he never let his smile falter, and as he took a generous sip from his wine, antoine knew that this conversation can never be just in mere jest. not anymore, at least.

@mvnarchal​

his cheeks hurt.

that’s all he could really think of, if not that then it was the awful feeling in his stomach that hadn’t gone away for a decade. the fake smiles, greeting and introducing himself to all of the royals that he came into contact with, speaking about the king (not his king), making plans to meet with whoever seemed important. all these years nikau had been the advisor for denmark, and he was still learning the intricate ins and outs of the role.

he was getting messier, he had to admit. not that much messier, but for his own high standards of trickery, it was enough. no one noticed, so he must be doing something right… but his reaction times to certain phrases grew longer, it took more to mask his real feelings. nikau hated it– of course he did. he was not born into this life, and he was grateful for that, but every day that passed he wondered more and more if this is even what he should be doing. he put himself here, in this position. he was far too deep into it to quit now, though, wasn’t he? just kept digging a hole with no way out.

when he finally got a moment to himself, it didn’t take long for him to realize that he wasn’t, in fact, alone. the crown prince, who had always been weary of him (rightfully so), sat in the empty room. it took everything in him not to sigh heavily and show his discomfort in this situation that hadn’t even begun yet. instead, nikau bowed to show his respect (though a piece of him cringed every time he had to bow to a royal), and spoke calmly, picking up a random book and pretending to read it. “your royal highness. i guess i’m not the only one looking to get a breath from all of the hustle.”

prior to his arrival in switzerland, einar had a bet with himself as to how long it would take him before he has to resort to dreadful escape options just to free himself from the hellhole that was politics. with him and his family so far from denmark, the crown prince already half expected that the swiss court will be unbearable --- they always had been treated as an outsider in assemblies like this, and he did not expect this to be any different. 

however, if it was any consolation at all, the swiss themselves were not as unpleasant as he anticipated...they were gracious hosts, at the very least. and yet, the fact remains the same: switzerland is home to various royalties, many of whom the danish had qualms with, and einar himself has to continue on with all of the flattery and faux smiles if he was to ensure that this summit remains, at the very least, bearable until its conclusion. today, however, he found the talks of politics particularly suffocating, and as soon as he could leave, he sought refuge in the last place he would have been seen in if he was still in denmark: the palace library.

with the kind of upbringing he had, einar have since exhausted his book options --- at least, those which he find intriguing enough to keep him busy for a moment. however, he did find that the swiss had a great collection of the classics, and soon, he found a book worthy enough of his attention for the next hour, or two, at least. the quiet room was good for him, to keep him sane for the most part, and while he thought he would remain isolated from the rest of the people for awhile, he proved himself wrong sooner than he expected. 

einar felt his presence first, footsteps light but not enough for his arrival to remain discreet. still, the crown prince kept his gaze focused on the sheets, eyes skimming through the texts and yet, his mind was already somewhere else; alert, as his senses heightened for any movements. just then, nikau finally made himself known, but of course, einar knew who it was already, even before he lifted his gaze to settle upon his brother’s most respected advisor. he smiled, of course, a subtle yet convincing smile, with the latter possibly more achievable if it was anyone else but nikau. einar is no fool, of course. the crown prince can tell that the man is wary of him, as he has all the right to be, considering the feeling is also mutual on his end.

closed starter for @lumincus​​ / adeline clement 

location : adeline’s chamber inside the swiss palace

NOT A DAY PASSED IN SWITZERLAND wherein antoine had a moment’s peace just for himself and his family. soon upon their arrival, their hosts had called upon for what was supposed to be a relaxed, informal dinner solely among the heads of the nations mainly for the sake of getting acquainted with one another. the dinner, as expected, was as uncomfortable as can be --- there was tension among those who attended, and tension among those who attended towards those who did not, and simply put, antoine wished he could have spent that dragging hour or two with his family instead. his queen was not with him and he cannot fault her for not participating in such a dinner with so little rest after a long travel --- and neither was his mistress, for as much as antoine wanted adeline to be part of the many things he had to do for their country, he would have also hated to see her feeling so out of place in that table.

and so, antoine waited another day or two, to see if his duties for the day would ease up, and when they finally did, he gave himself some time to see his beloved adeline. it was still early into the night when the king decided to pay her a visit, her chambers being down two narrow but long halls from his own that he needed to go out of his way to get to it. two guards stand by the doors, just as he ordered for all members of his family, and as soon as they recognized him, he was allowed into the room with no questions asked. the amber light from the fireplace illuminated the room, and he halts as the doors close behind him, eyes scanning the space for any imperfections...anything that could cause discomfort. finally, he finds her, and a smile tugs the corners of his lips, immediately washing away the exhaustion brought by the responsibilities of today. “ i have been hoping to see you, ” antoine’s voice was soft as he approached, his pace unhurried, aware that he has all the time...for right now, at least. “ how are you faring, my darling ? good, i hope ? ”

            COSMICALLY  IMPOSSIBLE  ,  as  her  mother  described  her  .  that  was  annette  ,  and  that  much  could  be  credited  to  her  dearest  father  .  the  very  man  she’d  set  her  sights  on  to  perturb  for  the  evening  .  ❝  good  evening  to  you  ,  father  .  ❞  an  insistence  that  he  return  the  sentiment  rather  than  a  blaring  formality  is  spouted  as  she  crossed  the  room  .  dress  is  hitched  jut  of  her  waist  to  allow  herself  the  seat  beside  the  man  ,  a  moment  of  ponderance  &  perhaps  to  warm  herself  before  the  fire  .               while  her  sister  had  implored  annette  stayed  with  her  a  moment  longer  —  kept  her  much  needed  company  —  annette  had  padded  off  as  she  had  so  many  times  before  in  the  past  days  .  and  there  she  was  ,  huddled  before  the  fire  ,  peering  over  to her  most  humored  father  baring  a  similar  countenance  .  ❝  most  gracious  indeed  ,  but  perhaps  you  have  !  ❞  chin  tilted  back  as  if  to  assert  an  air  of  faux  esteem  ,  ❝  mon  dieu  …  i’ve  spent  so  much  time  dallying  about  the  swiss  court  it’s  a  wonder  i've  not  been  married  off  to  one  of  the  noblemen  .  ❞  a  jest  muddled  somewhere  between  mortal  truth  .  betrothal  was  the  french  prerogative  ,  was  it  not  ?  perhaps  the  impending  spinster  would  have  been  all  the  better  for  their  endeavors  .  

NEVER A DULL MOMENT with his eldest daughter, it seems, that even the foreign landscape of switzerland did little to nothing to sway her distinctive traits, to influence her into being less...her. not that antoine would have annette any other way, of course. as it happens, no matter how much his children trouble him at times, he loves them all, individually...equally, and for all their flaws and strengths. the love of a father...he now understood his own --- after all, even he was no angel growing up, and he wondered how or why his father even put up with him. antoine understands now, of course --- and perfectly so. 

“ a swiss for a husband, you say ? ” a hint of amusement now in his tone as his brows knitted, feigning contemplation as if to show his daughter that he meant to take her words in earnest. “ that can certainly be arranged, ma chérie  --- must i advocate on your behalf ? last i heard, one of the swiss princes remain unmarried...or perhaps, there remain two. more options for you, if such is the case, ” oh, antoine is certainly teasing her now, vexing her even, just to see how she would react. after all, it was not too long ago when he sealed anastasia’s betrothal to the english prince --- who is to say that she is not the next in line to be sent off to marry a foreign royalty ?  but for tonight, antoine’s words are merely in jest. they have all of tomorrow...or the next to talk about the matters of their country, of their family, and he refuses to welcome in those thoughts for right now. 

closed starter for @dcrlingest​ / annette bourbon

location : his royal apartments inside the swiss palace

BARELY A WEEK HAS GONE since antoine arrived in switzerland with his family and already, he is worn down by the constant flow of activities, which more often than not required his attention and presence. being king meant he was expected to meet with foreign dignitaries and monarchs alike, as the only way he could make his presence known was to be physically there to entertain --- to exchange formalities and smiles with, no matter how faux they often were. antoine could look past that for now, but he also could not help but feel as though he’s already spent his energy when the game has barely started.

come nightfall, the king of france retires earlier than what was usual these past few nights. he needed a moment of rest, a moment of peace, and what better place do that than inside the apartments allocated just for him. and so, the fireplace is lit, as per his wishes, and he settles on one of the plush armchairs facing it, already cradling a goblet filled with the best wine the swiss could offer. just as he was beginning to get comfortable, a knock on the door rouses him, and he hears the guard announce the arrival of his eldest daughter. antoine allows her in with a smile, and he hears the doors open, light footsteps felt as she approached. “ my dear yves...here i was wondering when you will pay your father a visit,  ” there was humor in his tone as he turned to look at his daughter. “ it took you long enough that i was beginning to think i had lost you to the swiss --- after all, they had been most gracious to us, ” for the most part, he thought, knowing better than to trust foreigners in general.

@1642hqs-starters​

bean was enjoying his job for the most part, he was able to send a letter home with a small sum every month. he was able to work with animals all day. most of the royalty seem rather nice. the ginger was enjoying his life.

he pulled a horse out of the stable when he accidentally walked into someone. “oi,” he let out, moving to help them, not caring who they were at the moment. “i’m sorry, i didn’t see you,” is what he said but there was no telling anyone could understand what he said with his thick scottish accent. he dusted them off before looking at them, “ya okay?”

the impact came unexpected and though such force could have easily knocked someone on the ground, fareeha’s reflex was quick enough to merely have her stagger back. she finds her balance momentarily, and taking the extended hand of the male, she offers him a friendly smile, almost mirroring the apology that just left his lips. “ there is no need to apologize, good sir, ” the kadin says softly, always so polite and considerate even when talking to strangers. she didn’t even need to overthink whether or not she was addressing him right --- she deduced that the form of address she chose was respectful enough, or at least, she hoped. english was not her first language after all, and there is always room for correction. “ i seem to have lost my sense of direction while admiring the beauty of the landscape, ” fareeha explains, feeling a tad sheepish as she let go of his hand and pulls at her headscarf, a sign of modesty. “ now, i am treading on an unfamiliar path as i do not recall ever passing this way on my way to the forest grounds. ”

for: closed ( @viirtus​) aisha ghazi location: the library

The collective experience in France had been tumultuous and lackluster at best, a fact which had begun weighing heavily upon Yusef. While he certainly hadn’t been expecting roses and cherubs, he also could never have predicted the events which had taken place thus far. He’d taken things in stride at first, recognizing that a gathering of this magnitude, with as much political push as it was likely to have, turmoil was simply unavoidable. However, nothing might have prepared him for the extent of which they would all experience, nor could he have measured the anxiety he’d feel at what might occur next. As always, he found solitude within the palace library, a location which he found to be the most stable and predictable- two states he found himself requiring most at present. 

Crossing the threshold into the gallery- a palace within its own right- the Sehzade was stopped in his tracks, heart leaping first to the base of his throat before falling rapidly into the pit of his stomach. His eyes fell immediately to the familiar figure of the woman before him, her beauty as stunning as it ever was. Yusef’s lips parted, then closed once more, mind racing as he attempted to formulate some semblance of an appropriate greeting- if there even was such a thing, in this particular situation. “Aisha…” He muttered, tone breathless as he worked to clear his throat. Yusef stepped forward, expression softening in the presence of whom he’d known to be his greatest love, the woman he’d long intended to marry, despite the conflicting plans of their families once the politics of it all had gotten involved. “My sincerest apologies, Your Highness. I intended no intrusion.” 

The recent events in France seemed to have caused a shift in Aisha’s opinion about the outcome of the assembly, rattling the once unwavering optimism she had in things which she anticipated something good as a result. For one, while she maintained dignified, as was expected of a princess like her, Aisha is starting to find it harder to mingle and create bonds with other people she meets within the bounds of the foreign court, the uncertainty of their intentions suddenly sticking out like a sore thumb when she often reserved such worries later on after she had given them a chance to introduce themselves beyond their names or their titles. Now, Aisha cannot help but keep her guard up, growing suspicious of those around her, both of which were exhausting to do day by day. 

For such reasons are why the princess spends her time mostly in the palace library as of late, almost becoming a recluse despite not meaning to, for she found the most peace in her solitude, accompanied by the array of books that the French have had in collection. Reading has always been her means of escape, now a painful irony of the situation she and the other guests of this royal household are currently living, and just as she was carefully flipping a page of the book she had in hand, her moment of peace was momentarily halted by the sound of a familiar voice in close proximity --- and she freezes, as if time itself has frozen. Before France, Aisha’s list of worries was almost non-existent, except for one when a hint of thought brought her to the possibility that the assembly will reopen old wounds that never really fully healed. As she lifted her gaze from the book, the princess found herself looking upon the face of the man who inhabited both her dreams and her nightmares, and had it not been for the fact that this encounter was meant to happen one way or another, considering that his family was among those now occupying the French palace, Aisha would have thought she was merely seeing things --- a result of her own mind tricking her into believing that she could see and have what she could not. 

Time stopped, and it felt as though her breathing did too, until the princess managed to regain her sense of composure and she could speak once more. With a nod, Aisha says, “ No apologies needed, Your Highness --- ” almost wincing at the formality of it all, but she remained dignified, a surprising feat considering the inner turmoil which she now found herself in. “The library is here for everyone needing an escape,” there was a hint of humor in her tone, and though she attempted to give Yusef a cordial smile, it did not quite reach her eyes, “ So please, indulge yourself as you wish. ” 

for: closed ( @viirtus​) location: lucien’s quarters

Genevieve’s stomach knotted, and she clutched her abdomen as she made her way briskly through the palace corridors, the clacking of her heels reverberating off the stone walls as she went. Fists moved to gather bits of her dress’ skirt between her fingers, needing something to hold onto as she completed her journey. Raising a hand, she indicated to her guards to remain outside the door before raising a fist to knock. “Mon fils,” The Queen called. “May I enter, my darling?” The trepidation Genevieve felt as the conversation she knew she’d be required to have drew nearer. Though, she’d put it off long enough. Now was the time for action.

There was a time when Lucien found comfort in quietness and solitude, always relaying on the peace it brought him ---no matter how short-lived, because only then did he felt free from others demanding his opinion on things, as well as from judging eyes who are all the more eager to find any faults, trivial as they may be, that they can somehow use against him in the future. However, after the unwelcomed festivities concerning his betrothal, the dauphin found that not even silence nor his own quarters could comfort and protect him from the onslaught of thoughts filling up his mind. He was furious, bitter and anxious all at the same time, and he feels as though he might just explode at any moment. And so, he paced around in his room, a glass-full of liquor accompanying him as he hoped that it would be enough to soothe him, but to no avail. Lucien needed answers to questions that pervade his mind since he had been hit with a news so heavy, so life-altering, and yet, he was the very lest person who had been told about it.

As he downed what might have been his fourth glass in a row, Lucien can finally feel something else other than the storm from within him. He needed to feel something else other than anger, get his mind off of it for a moment, but when he heard his mother’s voice from outside his door, the fire that has just started to dwindle reignited once more. Quickly, Lucien fills his glass with the liquor and finishes it up straight. If he was to face his mother at this moment, he would need to drink a little more of his drink to be able to stand her presence now.  “ You may, mother...” he says, sitting down on his chair, muttering, “ It is not like I happen to have a choice on the matter...”  not that he ever did with any matter at all, it seems.

ishir did not know how to feel about the betrothal announcement– it was mostly pity, for both parties involved. an engagement for the second time, and ishir knew how much his friend did not want to be betrothed the first time around, so he could only imagine how lucien felt now. he supposed they were making some type of headway into the alliance’s this summit was created for, but at what point would it start to feel like it?

ishir knew lucien knew his stance on this summit– he’d been against it since it had been brought up. to be trapped in a marriage purely for an alliance was one of his biggest fears with this gathering, but he knew better than to ever speak on that, to his father in particular. he knew it would eventually have to happen, though, especially were he to take over the empire his father had built.

ishir took the glass from his friend with hesitation, then decided to take a swig of it because if there was any way he was getting through these celebrations, it was with alcohol. “i simply don’t see any reason to celebrate,” he looked over at lucien, his tone as cool as it normally was. “unless you’ve suddenly had a change of heart?” he joked. his jokes usually didn’t land with anyone other than lucien, and while someone else might have taken offence to the dry, emotionless way he spoke, ishir knew lucien knew better.

upon hearing his friend’s response to his jest, the dauphin loses his grip on the confident manner in which he carried himself for a moment, allowing the weight of ishir’s words to fully sink in. as always, his friend speaks the truth, almost as if he ishir had just read his mind right then and there. ishir always seemed to have such talent when it came to lucien, and at times, he found it rather frustrating that he cannot seem to hide anything from the man. perhaps, that is exactly the reason why they have been friends this long, and why they remain so --- at least, lucien hopes that their friendship would be among the very few things that would survive these difficulties and tribulations that him and france currently faces. 

“ a change of heart? ” the dauphin echoes, taking a sip from his drink before he looks over at ishir once more, “ you know how difficult it is to sway me once i have my mind set on something, ishir --- but perhaps, ” he pauses, brows knitting as he thought for a moment before he added, “ perhaps i am taking it to account, dear friend. the matter is too grave for me not to look at all possibilities, both the good and the bad, considering the scarcity in my options,” the daupin was not speaking about the feast nor the celebration anymore; his mind was somewhere else entirely, far from the superficial, the trivial things, but have since entered a realm which he had been trying to evade since first hearing of his betrothal. 

the dauphin looks around them for a moment, making sure no one is within earshot to hear his next words, and once certain, he continues on, “ my hands are bound, ishir --- as much as i am aware of the negative impacts of this betrothal to france’s reputation, especially in the eyes of those who have gathered here, i’m afraid there is nothing else that i can do. should i refuse, france will suffer immensely, and should i comply...” he sighed before drinking the last of the alcohol in his glass and setting it down on the table with a thud, “ ...i am to be bound to a miserable marriage in which my wife and her family are to see me as the enemy, and my nation --- my family ---  to be blamed for the death of their late king for eternity,” lucien’s tone was melancholic, unable to hide his apprehension and sadness to his friend any longer, and yet, he cracks a smile -- albeit one that does not quite reach his eyes, as he says, “ but i suppose, there are no happy marriages...not for a man like me, at least. ”