aut viam inveniam aut faciam;

Grisella wanted to smirk at the use of her title, even if it was fleeting and meaning less and less as the day neared that she would no longer be the regent Queen, but he kept her face void of emotion. “My dear niece?” Grisella questioned though they both knew that was who he meant. “I though she would have run along your side at the calls of the fire. Is she not resting on some cot or lush green patch till we are free to return to our beds to calm from the horrors of tonight?” Grisella didn’t care where her niece was and it would be better for her if the fire had caught her because her hands would be clean and she wouldn’t have to plot another downfall. 

Hearing that Grisella did not know where Callista was either, a frown tugged at the corners of his lips. Never mind that that there always seemed to be something unsettling about her whenever he brought Callista up –– he couldn’t quite put a finger on it, perhaps he was imagining things –– but the foremost concern on his mind at that moment, besides the safety of his four year-old niece, was the safety of the princess he loved. “I have not seen her in this courtyard. I only hope that she is out of harm’s way and that we can all soon go back inside.”

“¡No de ti!“ The princess snapped. She wanted to hiss, yell, and scream till someone was able to bring her to her family or them to her. She would even taken her betrothed at this point because she was sure he could ensure that she would be brought to her family. But that wouldn’t be fit her character even in these circumstances.  

He did not speak Spanish, but the message was clear enough from the French that he did know, as well as from the manner in which she spoke. He let out a huff, brows raising as he shifted in place. “Well, can I help you?” His words were more hostile than accommodating. “Is there a reason you were looking in my direction?”

Disa looked down at the girl but did not soften. Although she was not very fond of children, she knew that they meant no harm and so she tried not hold anything against the girl. She waved her hand in a careless gesture. “I was just startled, think of it no longer.” That was all she said to - the boy. Disa was sure he was a prince but she didn’t care to know his name. Instead she turned to the girl. “I apologize for my rudeness.” She was not great at talking to ones so young, but she didn’t want the girl to feel any worse.

Pietro watched as the woman turned to his niece, slightly nervous as to what she might say. She seemed firm in her manner despite the way she waved things off. There was something in her icy gaze that seemed intimidating, though he tried not to come to any conclusions about her before anything else – and rightly so, as the next words that came out of her mouth proved to be a pleasant surprise.

                  it was clear how terrified she was. it was a miracle she could even form sentences, while so many things occurred before her. if only he knew, she was as defenseless as him, she had no say in anything –– whether it was her home or not, her own country. she nodded, though to his first question. the latter, would be almost impossible. “ i cannot do anything, do you think they would listen to me? ” she was just a princess, after all. she was not her mother, she did not order them around. “ i am not all too sure we can get out so easily, is it not for our safety that we are here? ”

Her question didn’t need a vocal answer. Even he had trouble believing that the guards would move aside for the girl, for though she was royalty, there was nothing commanding about her current demeanour. He knew that there was truth to her words, that all this was indeed done in the name of safety, though he could not let go of his frustration so easily. He let out a huff. “Is it so dangerous to check the other courtyards?”

Elizaveta’s expression didn’t flicker as the boy snapped at her. He was a king, acting like a teenager whose lover had spurned him – stomping about, his words carried by a scathing tone. Shameful. Was she the only monarch here who knew how to act? Never show fear. Never show anger. It was all weakness. “I was merely about to ask if there was anything I could do to soothe Your Majesty,” she said, and allowed her gaze to slide away. “I apologize if I offended you.” She turned her head, attempting to give him privacy to have his tantrum in peace.

At the queen’s words, he remembered that perhaps snapping at people wasn’t the best thing to do under their circumstances. He had become antsy, reactive, a little volatile, but this was hardly the place for a fit. He took a deep breath, attempting to calm down, if only just a bit. “No, you haven’t done such a thing,” he managed to say. “I appreciate the offer. The situation we have found ourselves in is rather frustrating.”

A soft smile brightened her features, joining him in bending down and kneeling on the soft grass. The irish woman didn’t care about the stains that would sink their way in to her white dress as she settled. The chaos seemed to die down some as adrenaline wore off, but the group was still fairly loud. “It’s nice to meet you, Pia. I’m Cait.”

Her gaze flicked between the two, his daughter perhaps? She didn’t know him well enough quite yet to tell. They looked similar and he seemed fond of her, but then again he just seemed like an extremely kind person in general. “Y’know, I Prince Henri told me that everyone made it out quickly. I wouldn’t be surprised if we are allowed back inside soon.” She smiled, trying her best to give the two of them optimism and hope.

Her mother wasn’t much older than Cait when she was Pia’s age. She wanted to help both of them lose any fears they might have. If her mother could help her feel comfortable in uncertain situations in her youth, surely the young princess could do the same. “How about we all play a game while we wait?”

Pia blinked at Caitlyn, but she managed to smile back. Certainly, the older princess’s kind features proved to be of much help in putting the child at ease. “Hello,” she said, voice soft, but it was clear that she was trying. At Caitlyn’s words, Pia brightened up. “Really? Is it true?”

“See? There’s no need to be afraid. Everything will be alright soon,” Pietro said to his niece before looking back at Caitlyn and giving her a smile, a quick thank you for lifting up the little girl’s spirits. The Irish princess’s suggestion was unexpected, though he did appreciate her effort of easing the tension that was present all around the courtyard. “That sounds like a good idea. What do you think, Pia?” he asked, but the child was ahead of him, taking a tiny step towards Caitlyn, curious. “What kind of game?”

Dante bowed politely. “and I certainly am not so high as to be on a familiar basis with kings,” he said. “I am but a little duke of Spain.” He glanced around. “A motley crew has been assembled here,” he said. “I can only hope the divisive nature of their safety measures will not prove to be disastrous.”

He followed the duke’s gaze as he looked around and nodded. “This has happened before,” he said, referring to the time they had all been quarantined. “At the very least, this won’t drag on as long as the last time.”

Ewan let out a breath at that, agreeing with the man. He looked in the direction of the doors, where the guard stood. Ewan could not care less about his own safety, and he suspected that most in the room felt the same.To be quite honest, his only thought was to leave, as well.

But he knew that would be a futile attempt. Surely the king knew the same? And yet, as he studied the man he thought Kristoffer truly was thinking of ways to leave. He closed his eyes in realization. The queen. She was pregnant, and the stress must have been getting to her. Kristoffer and himself might not be as different as they might seem. She will be alright, he wanted to say, but was not one for honeyed words. He settled for, “Then let us find a way out.”

He looked at the duke, not expecting the words that came out of his mouth. Most of those he had come across that night had given up hope of getting out until they were told they could, choosing instead to wait it all out. Perhaps it was the easiest solution, one that took the least amount of effort, but Kristoffer was restless. Maybe the duke was too.

“Well, if one thing is for certain, it’s not going to be through those doors. I’ve tried enough,” he said, shifting his weight from one leg to another. Perhaps the duke had seen something he hadn’t. He hoped he did. “Any ideas?”

                              the corner of the courtyard she found solace in, the side where everything was kept in shadows, between the openness of it all and the nearest wall ––– all so not many stares would land her way. she was unnaturally pale, eyes vacant as she sat among her ladies who only sought to comfort her in this moment of distress, of sadness. she had fallen asleep several times, out of pain, of out exhaustion. her stained dress was concealed with many blankets and from time to time those would be switched out for new ones, all to make everything possible for everyone else to turn eye somewhere else. no one needed to know the disgrace the queen of sweden had just gone through, let alone without a hint of privacy. ladies had fought with guards, demanding for the queen to be let somewhere else, in a bed where she could properly rest; mourn. but all to no avail. she saw the little girl make her way towards her, and while any other time she would have smiled, lips remained tight as she witnessed the italian prince picking the girl up, though perhaps it was his words that hurt the most. “ it is fine, no need to worry. ” although it was challenging to keep a gleeful tone. 

His concern shifted from his niece to the woman in front of them, noticing the pallor of her face. It seemed that she was pale from more than just fear of what was happening at the palace. He sensed that she was unwell –– such a theory only supported by the fact that she had been seated with women he assumed were her ladies, and covered up in blankets. A frown tugged at his lips. To him, it looked like the woman needed a bed. Pietro, always the compassionate one, glanced towards the guard at the doors before glancing back at the queen, wanting to help, but unsure what he could do in the moment. “Your Majesty––” He hesitated. He had noted her sombre expression and wondered if it was in his place to ask if something had happened, though all he wanted was to see if he could help in any way. “Are you alright?”

Yet perhaps children were always more blunt, or perhaps more curious, as Pia chimed in from behind Pietro, voice soft, still ever so timid, but it was clear –– she had a question on her mind as she stared at the blankets covering the queen. “Are you cold, Your Majesty?”

Dante smiled at him. “That you were of Germany,” he said guilelessly, a sheepish little smile touching his lips as he bowed his head. “I am afraid that my grasp of dialects in your fair part of the world is not so advanced. I almost addressed you incorrectly – a mild nuisance in such circumstances, to be sure, but even now I would be loathe to offend.”

At the very least, the other’s speech was no longer so agitating. Kristoffer himself knew that it would not do him any good to remain in his hot-headed state, so he took a deep breath and let out a sigh. “If it is an honest mistake, then it is fine. I suppose we are still amongst many strangers.”

Caitlyn heard her friend’s quiet voice, taking a breath at the thought. Her bright eyes, still filled with worry, looked over to him. She responded in the same low tone, “I hope not.” She wrapped her arms around herself, muttering beneath her breath, “I hate not knowing…”

Her gaze fell, only to see the young child who held his hand. “Oh…” A breath escaped her as her chest tightened. Her heart hurt when she saw the girl’s frightened features, only imagining how scared she must be. Caitlyn wasn’t much older than her when she visited the palace for the first time. Granted, she spent of it trailing her mother and didn’t explore very much, but the walls of the place seemed grand and magical. Her tone was soft as she asked Pietro, “What’s her name?”

He let out a sigh. He hated not knowing as well. He worried for so many –– for Carlota, for Vitoria, for Callista, for his friends at the palace, and even for strangers. The thought of people being harmed was never a pleasant one, and he only wished for it all to be over, for all of them to return to their rooms safe and sound.

When the princess turned her attention towards his niece, he glanced down at Pia, a small smile coming to his face. He only wanted her to feel safe. It was horrible for anyone to go through such chaos, much more someone so young. “Her name is Pia,” he said as he looked back at Caitlyn. The girl clung to him, wide eyes staring up at the princess. Pietro bent down to her level, gently reassuring his timid niece. “It’s alright, Pia. She’s a friend.”

                  all that unraveled before them, she could not believe. her home burned right before her eyes or so they said, but the pungent smell of smoke could easily be inhaled. fear, was what overpowered her and she, momentarily separated from her family, was confined in pure worry. she sat in a corner of the courtyard, refusing to believe that any of this was actually happening. could it be maybe, just a figment of her imagination? all while this happened and she pondered in her thoughts, she stared at one man although it had never been her intention to. “ i did not mean to be staring at you. ”

She looked familiar and he could not pinpoint it at first, but the moment she spoke, he placed it –– one of the French, their gracious hosts, though in their current circumstances, he was anything but happy about their emergency protocols. He let out a frustrated sigh as he looked at the frightened girl. “You’re a Bourbon, correct?” There was probably not much use in asking the young princess, but he did anyway. “Can you do anything about the guards? I must find my wife.” 

Dante smiled briefly and bowed. “My mistake, Your Majesty,” he said. He wasn’t surprised that a king was acting like a brat. Having been cosseted and fawned over all their lives, they had very little reason to actually control their emotions. “I assumed – well, it is of no matter, it is my blunder. I am Dante de Borgoña, Duke of Cadiz.”

There was something in the duke’s tone that didn’t convince Kristoffer of his apology –– if it even was one. He raised an eyebrow, his choice of words provoking a reaction in the agitated king. “What is it that you assumed, Your Grace?”

Marie didn’t know very many people at the palais, and while she had done a fair amount of socializing at the party, it was fairly useless. Though she had enjoyed herself, it really was a wonderful way to begin her stay at the palais.

But of course the night had been too perfect and couldn’t end with out a bit of a snag. Though it is possible that a burning chapel is more than a snag. Marie was pulled from her thoughts as a young girl ran in to her leg. “Oh no its quite all right.” Marie smiled at the adorable child “she must be quite frightened, all the commotion and its quite late, she’s very lucky to have to to watch out for her.”

His niece could have run into someone far more threatening, someone in a worse mood –– he had seen quite a few examples around the courtyard –– but he was relieved that at least they were met with a positive reaction, a friendly face. He nodded. He was glad to have found Pia when he had. He didn’t want to imagine what it would be like if she had to find her way to safety on her own. “Thank you. Are you here alone? Hopefully your loved ones are alright.”

Dante arched an eyebrow as the man snapped at him. Oh, to be trapped in this situation with whiny children. They were all acting as if the world was ending, when the chapel was on fire. It was not as though the hall they had been in was engulfed in flames. “I was not paying attention to you,” he said, with his usual blunt nature. “I was entirely lost in thought. Forgive me, but I have other concerns on my mind than…” He paused. “Who are you, again?”

After his extremely unpleasant exchange with the guard, attitude from another was the last thing he wanted to be dealing with in the moment. However, it seemed, butting heads with others in such a tense environment was somewhat unavoidable. Perhaps it was the other’s flippant manner that irritated him, but he could care less about exchanging pleasantries with the man. There was little else to do though, it was clear. His scowl remained, words coming out sharp. “I am Kristoffer of House Magnusson, the King of Sweden. Who are you?”