Yes, Your Majesty

(closed rp with @slyroyaladvisor)

Head high, chest out, one foot in front of the other. Keep your eyes forward. Smile. Wave. These were the thoughts that passed through Elicia's mind as she walked down the long corridor in search of her uncle.

The only one who didn't treat her like some child in need or a daft fool who knew nothing. No ulterior motives forcing his hand or corrupting craving steering his actions. Just a man who she knew sought nothing other than the status quo and maintaining that order...

His darling brother the late king for instance, may he rest in peace, married a noblewoman from afar, with skin as dark as night. And that sort of thing simply wasn't done. As a mistress, she would have been more than acceptable, provided he had taken a somewhat more... Local wife. But no, the King had been stubborn, and that was that. Kendrick had abided, of course, the king was the King and none were higher than he, but he didn't have to like it.

And now their mixture of a child was the Queen. He hadn't been very fond of that either, but he'd lost all claim to the ability to do anything about it when he'd very publicly recused himself from succession. He didn't want to be king, and right now that was the only thing he could possibly do to stop his niece from being Queen. And even then, he wouldn't.

Elicia was the rightful queen, the sole child of her father, and he would defend her and her title to the death if need be.

She was the top now, and she would remain the top.

And right now, she would find him in the balcony just off of her council room, leaning against the stone railing and watching some merchant's ship slowly slide out of the bay, more sails unfurling as it went.

What she was did nothing to stop her from becoming Queen, which meant it did nothing to stop him from helping her when needed.

Though it did make her want to kick him a few times. Not like she’d ever had the audacity as a child and most certainly couldn’t even dream of it now that she was Queen. She had an image to uphold.

Though as she rounded the corner and entered the double doors that led to the council room, spotting him through the archway standing against the balcony, the fleeting thought of pushing him over may or may not have tugged at her.

“Yes,” she says swallowing and nodding her head. “Rise.”

“There will be two foreign diplomats set to meet with me in hopes of finally securing an alliance after today’s court has concluded,” she begins, pacing as she spoke. One hand coming to cross along her midsection while the other nestled under her breast, arm slipping between the two so that she could tap at her chin. A quirk she’d been unable to break no matter how her teachers tried. “However, I fear that they have already allied with each other and are colluding against Moreau.”

“If only because I have offered many attempts at a treating and each have been shot down with the excuse of revisions,” she continues, her pacing slowing as she turns to her uncle. “And now I am being told that they are sending someone to speak directly to me? No warning, or proper etiquette of neither one? The bold insolence aside, it is too spontaneous of act to deem it as anything other than the two allying to look down on me and rule.”

"It's certainly not beyond the realm of reason," he says when it his turn. "There is definite insult in refusing your prior overtures and in simultaneously sending negotiators directly to your court now of all times, but it simply behooves them to act in their own best interest. "As I see it, you can do two things while maintaining control of the situation," He holds his hands out, as if weighing options. "Delay them as much as they have delayed you; as they quite literally in your court now, you have control over when the meetings take place. Frame it as a new monarch simply being oh so busy, and won't they please tarry and enjoy the bounty of our kingdom just a little longer? Let them stew, separately. Keep them apart to prevent collusion while in your territory, never let them see each other, and keep them watched, see just how well their stories match. Alternatively, kill one of them. Dream up some offense and have them executed in public, make it a big enough scandal and you might even break up this little alliance of theirs before they can bring it to bear against you.

When he finally spoke she tuned out her own thoughts to pay attention. Her focus slipping down to his mouth, watching them part as he spoke, imagining the way his puffy lips might fe…he spoke of executing and she shook her head, eyes flicking up to his to read his expression a chill running down her spine when she sees no remorse or disgust at the idea.

He’d said it like it’s just a matter of course, placing his hands back behind him and for a second she weighted her options.

So instead, she lifted her head, drew her hand from between her breasts, and nodded. "I will be sure to keep that in mind," she assured him. She placed his advice in the back of her mind for later.

There is a moment when she looks at him, then to the balcony behind him. Now that her question had been answered, she had no reason to really stay, but she didn't quite want to leave yet. There were so few chances to catch him without someone else trailing behind her or someone needing their attention elsewhere.

Plus...it didn't hurt that he was quite handsome, and being this close to him made her want to reach out and touch him.

The thought made her face heat up, and she turned on the spot. "I-" she coughed, trying to hide her sudden stammer. "I am to believe you will also be attending court today?"

"As ever, I shall be at your right hand until you remove me," he said plainly as he stepped closer. He was at her disposal, and if she wanted her advisor somewhere else during the court proceedings, that was her right. But she hadn't said anything to him about that, so he was pretty damn sure he'd be where he always was. "Would you care to join me on the balcony for a time? The view is quite... Lovely."

Her heart leaped into her throat when he stepped closer, the proximity alone making the room just a tad bit hotter underneath her dress, and she couldn't help but swallow around the giant knot that was her heart currently holding her oxygen hostage.

If she ever did want him anywhere but beside her or even in her, the thought had come so quickly that she blurted out a squeak of a "yes" to his question. Embarrassment made her cheeks flush darker.

In a hurry to rid herself of the shameful thought, she'd stepped around him and made her way to the balcony. Missing his final words...and just exactly where he'd been looking when he said it.

He had never made pretense about enjoying her beauty, or in hiding his interest in her body as she grew, though he had kept it to the occasional tasteful compliment rather than making any advances or getting particularly crass. They were royalty, and as such were attracted to royalty. It would not have been the first time the Royal House of Moreau had 'kept it in the family', and it wouldn't be the last.

(closed rp with @slyroyaladvisor)

Head high, chest out, one foot in front of the other. Keep your eyes forward. Smile. Wave. These were the thoughts that passed through Elicia's mind as she walked down the long corridor in search of her uncle.

The only one who didn't treat her like some child in need or a daft fool who knew nothing. No ulterior motives forcing his hand or corrupting craving steering his actions. Just a man who she knew sought nothing other than the status quo and maintaining that order...

His darling brother the late king for instance, may he rest in peace, married a noblewoman from afar, with skin as dark as night. And that sort of thing simply wasn't done. As a mistress, she would have been more than acceptable, provided he had taken a somewhat more... Local wife. But no, the King had been stubborn, and that was that. Kendrick had abided, of course, the king was the King and none were higher than he, but he didn't have to like it.

And now their mixture of a child was the Queen. He hadn't been very fond of that either, but he'd lost all claim to the ability to do anything about it when he'd very publicly recused himself from succession. He didn't want to be king, and right now that was the only thing he could possibly do to stop his niece from being Queen. And even then, he wouldn't.

Elicia was the rightful queen, the sole child of her father, and he would defend her and her title to the death if need be.

She was the top now, and she would remain the top.

And right now, she would find him in the balcony just off of her council room, leaning against the stone railing and watching some merchant's ship slowly slide out of the bay, more sails unfurling as it went.

What she was did nothing to stop her from becoming Queen, which meant it did nothing to stop him from helping her when needed.

Though it did make her want to kick him a few times. Not like she’d ever had the audacity as a child and most certainly couldn’t even dream of it now that she was Queen. She had an image to uphold.

Though as she rounded the corner and entered the double doors that led to the council room, spotting him through the archway standing against the balcony, the fleeting thought of pushing him over may or may not have tugged at her.

“Yes,” she says swallowing and nodding her head. “Rise.”

“There will be two foreign diplomats set to meet with me in hopes of finally securing an alliance after today’s court has concluded,” she begins, pacing as she spoke. One hand coming to cross along her midsection while the other nestled under her breast, arm slipping between the two so that she could tap at her chin. A quirk she’d been unable to break no matter how her teachers tried. “However, I fear that they have already allied with each other and are colluding against Moreau.”

“If only because I have offered many attempts at a treating and each have been shot down with the excuse of revisions,” she continues, her pacing slowing as she turns to her uncle. “And now I am being told that they are sending someone to speak directly to me? No warning, or proper etiquette of neither one? The bold insolence aside, it is too spontaneous of act to deem it as anything other than the two allying to look down on me and rule.”

"It's certainly not beyond the realm of reason," he says when it his turn. "There is definite insult in refusing your prior overtures and in simultaneously sending negotiators directly to your court now of all times, but it simply behooves them to act in their own best interest. "As I see it, you can do two things while maintaining control of the situation," He holds his hands out, as if weighing options. "Delay them as much as they have delayed you; as they quite literally in your court now, you have control over when the meetings take place. Frame it as a new monarch simply being oh so busy, and won't they please tarry and enjoy the bounty of our kingdom just a little longer? Let them stew, separately. Keep them apart to prevent collusion while in your territory, never let them see each other, and keep them watched, see just how well their stories match. Alternatively, kill one of them. Dream up some offense and have them executed in public, make it a big enough scandal and you might even break up this little alliance of theirs before they can bring it to bear against you.

When he finally spoke she tuned out her own thoughts to pay attention. Her focus slipping down to his mouth, watching them part as he spoke, imagining the way his puffy lips might fe…he spoke of executing and she shook her head, eyes flicking up to his to read his expression a chill running down her spine when she sees no remorse or disgust at the idea.

He’d said it like it’s just a matter of course, placing his hands back behind him and for a second she weighted her options.

So instead, she lifted her head, drew her hand from between her breasts, and nodded. "I will be sure to keep that in mind," she assured him. She placed his advice in the back of her mind for later.

There is a moment when she looks at him, then to the balcony behind him. Now that her question had been answered, she had no reason to really stay, but she didn't quite want to leave yet. There were so few chances to catch him without someone else trailing behind her or someone needing their attention elsewhere.

Plus...it didn't hurt that he was quite handsome, and being this close to him made her want to reach out and touch him.

The thought made her face heat up, and she turned on the spot. "I-" she coughed, trying to hide her sudden stammer. "I am to believe you will also be attending court today?"

"As ever, I shall be at your right hand until you remove me," he said plainly as he stepped closer. He was at her disposal, and if she wanted her advisor somewhere else during the court proceedings, that was her right. But she hadn't said anything to him about that, so he was pretty damn sure he'd be where he always was. "Would you care to join me on the balcony for a time? The view is quite... Lovely."

(closed rp with @slyroyaladvisor)

Head high, chest out, one foot in front of the other. Keep your eyes forward. Smile. Wave. These were the thoughts that passed through Elicia's mind as she walked down the long corridor in search of her uncle.

The only one who didn't treat her like some child in need or a daft fool who knew nothing. No ulterior motives forcing his hand or corrupting craving steering his actions. Just a man who she knew sought nothing other than the status quo and maintaining that order...

His darling brother the late king for instance, may he rest in peace, married a noblewoman from afar, with skin as dark as night. And that sort of thing simply wasn't done. As a mistress, she would have been more than acceptable, provided he had taken a somewhat more... Local wife. But no, the King had been stubborn, and that was that. Kendrick had abided, of course, the king was the King and none were higher than he, but he didn't have to like it.

And now their mixture of a child was the Queen. He hadn't been very fond of that either, but he'd lost all claim to the ability to do anything about it when he'd very publicly recused himself from succession. He didn't want to be king, and right now that was the only thing he could possibly do to stop his niece from being Queen. And even then, he wouldn't.

Elicia was the rightful queen, the sole child of her father, and he would defend her and her title to the death if need be.

She was the top now, and she would remain the top.

And right now, she would find him in the balcony just off of her council room, leaning against the stone railing and watching some merchant's ship slowly slide out of the bay, more sails unfurling as it went.

What she was did nothing to stop her from becoming Queen, which meant it did nothing to stop him from helping her when needed.

Though it did make her want to kick him a few times. Not like she’d ever had the audacity as a child and most certainly couldn’t even dream of it now that she was Queen. She had an image to uphold.

Though as she rounded the corner and entered the double doors that led to the council room, spotting him through the archway standing against the balcony, the fleeting thought of pushing him over may or may not have tugged at her.

“Yes,” she says swallowing and nodding her head. “Rise.”

“There will be two foreign diplomats set to meet with me in hopes of finally securing an alliance after today’s court has concluded,” she begins, pacing as she spoke. One hand coming to cross along her midsection while the other nestled under her breast, arm slipping between the two so that she could tap at her chin. A quirk she’d been unable to break no matter how her teachers tried. “However, I fear that they have already allied with each other and are colluding against Moreau.”

“If only because I have offered many attempts at a treating and each have been shot down with the excuse of revisions,” she continues, her pacing slowing as she turns to her uncle. “And now I am being told that they are sending someone to speak directly to me? No warning, or proper etiquette of neither one? The bold insolence aside, it is too spontaneous of act to deem it as anything other than the two allying to look down on me and rule.”

"It's certainly not beyond the realm of reason," he says when it his turn. "There is definite insult in refusing your prior overtures and in simultaneously sending negotiators directly to your court now of all times, but it simply behooves them to act in their own best interest. "As I see it, you can do two things while maintaining control of the situation," He holds his hands out, as if weighing options. "Delay them as much as they have delayed you; as they quite literally in your court now, you have control over when the meetings take place. Frame it as a new monarch simply being oh so busy, and won't they please tarry and enjoy the bounty of our kingdom just a little longer? Let them stew, separately. Keep them apart to prevent collusion while in your territory, never let them see each other, and keep them watched, see just how well their stories match. Alternatively, kill one of them. Dream up some offense and have them executed in public, make it a big enough scandal and you might even break up this little alliance of theirs before they can bring it to bear against you.

When he finally spoke she tuned out her own thoughts to pay attention. Her focus slipping down to his mouth, watching them part as he spoke, imagining the way his puffy lips might fe…he spoke of executing and she shook her head, eyes flicking up to his to read his expression a chill running down her spine when she sees no remorse or disgust at the idea.

He’d said it like it’s just a matter of course, placing his hands back behind him and for a second she weighted her options.

(closed rp with @slyroyaladvisor)

Head high, chest out, one foot in front of the other. Keep your eyes forward. Smile. Wave. These were the thoughts that passed through Elicia's mind as she walked down the long corridor in search of her uncle.

The only one who didn't treat her like some child in need or a daft fool who knew nothing. No ulterior motives forcing his hand or corrupting craving steering his actions. Just a man who she knew sought nothing other than the status quo and maintaining that order...

His darling brother the late king for instance, may he rest in peace, married a noblewoman from afar, with skin as dark as night. And that sort of thing simply wasn't done. As a mistress, she would have been more than acceptable, provided he had taken a somewhat more... Local wife. But no, the King had been stubborn, and that was that. Kendrick had abided, of course, the king was the King and none were higher than he, but he didn't have to like it.

And now their mixture of a child was the Queen. He hadn't been very fond of that either, but he'd lost all claim to the ability to do anything about it when he'd very publicly recused himself from succession. He didn't want to be king, and right now that was the only thing he could possibly do to stop his niece from being Queen. And even then, he wouldn't.

Elicia was the rightful queen, the sole child of her father, and he would defend her and her title to the death if need be.

She was the top now, and she would remain the top.

And right now, she would find him in the balcony just off of her council room, leaning against the stone railing and watching some merchant's ship slowly slide out of the bay, more sails unfurling as it went.

What she was did nothing to stop her from becoming Queen, which meant it did nothing to stop him from helping her when needed.

Though it did make her want to kick him a few times. Not like she’d ever had the audacity as a child and most certainly couldn’t even dream of it now that she was Queen. She had an image to uphold.

Though as she rounded the corner and entered the double doors that led to the council room, spotting him through the archway standing against the balcony, the fleeting thought of pushing him over may or may not have tugged at her.

“Yes,” she says swallowing and nodding her head. “Rise.”

“There will be two foreign diplomats set to meet with me in hopes of finally securing an alliance after today’s court has concluded,” she begins, pacing as she spoke. One hand coming to cross along her midsection while the other nestled under her breast, arm slipping between the two so that she could tap at her chin. A quirk she’d been unable to break no matter how her teachers tried. “However, I fear that they have already allied with each other and are colluding against Moreau.”

“If only because I have offered many attempts at a treating and each have been shot down with the excuse of revisions,” she continues, her pacing slowing as she turns to her uncle. “And now I am being told that they are sending someone to speak directly to me? No warning, or proper etiquette of neither one? The bold insolence aside, it is too spontaneous of act to deem it as anything other than the two allying to look down on me and rule.”

"It's certainly not beyond the realm of reason," he says when it his turn. "There is definite insult in refusing your prior overtures and in simultaneously sending negotiators directly to your court now of all times, but it simply behooves them to act in their own best interest. "As I see it, you can do two things while maintaining control of the situation," He holds his hands out, as if weighing options. "Delay them as much as they have delayed you; as they quite literally in your court now, you have control over when the meetings take place. Frame it as a new monarch simply being oh so busy, and won't they please tarry and enjoy the bounty of our kingdom just a little longer? Let them stew, separately. Keep them apart to prevent collusion while in your territory, never let them see each other, and keep them watched, see just how well their stories match. Alternatively, kill one of them. Dream up some offense and have them executed in public, make it a big enough scandal and you might even break up this little alliance of theirs before they can bring it to bear against you.

(closed rp with @slyroyaladvisor)

Head high, chest out, one foot in front of the other. Keep your eyes forward. Smile. Wave. These were the thoughts that passed through Elicia's mind as she walked down the long corridor in search of her uncle.

The only one who didn't treat her like some child in need or a daft fool who knew nothing. No ulterior motives forcing his hand or corrupting craving steering his actions. Just a man who she knew sought nothing other than the status quo and maintaining that order...

His darling brother the late king for instance, may he rest in peace, married a noblewoman from afar, with skin as dark as night. And that sort of thing simply wasn't done. As a mistress, she would have been more than acceptable, provided he had taken a somewhat more... Local wife. But no, the King had been stubborn, and that was that. Kendrick had abided, of course, the king was the King and none were higher than he, but he didn't have to like it.

And now their mixture of a child was the Queen. He hadn't been very fond of that either, but he'd lost all claim to the ability to do anything about it when he'd very publicly recused himself from succession. He didn't want to be king, and right now that was the only thing he could possibly do to stop his niece from being Queen. And even then, he wouldn't.

Elicia was the rightful queen, the sole child of her father, and he would defend her and her title to the death if need be.

She was the top now, and she would remain the top.

And right now, she would find him in the balcony just off of her council room, leaning against the stone railing and watching some merchant's ship slowly slide out of the bay, more sails unfurling as it went.

What she was did nothing to stop her from becoming Queen, which meant it did nothing to stop him from helping her when needed.

Though it did make her want to kick him a few times. Not like she’d ever had the audacity as a child and most certainly couldn’t even dream of it now that she was Queen. She had an image to uphold.

Though as she rounded the corner and entered the double doors that led to the council room, spotting him through the archway standing against the balcony, the fleeting thought of pushing him over may or may not have tugged at her.

(closed rp with @slyroyaladvisor)

Head high, chest out, one foot in front of the other. Keep your eyes forward. Smile. Wave. These were the thoughts that passed through Elicia's mind as she walked down the long corridor in search of her uncle.

The only one who didn't treat her like some child in need or a daft fool who knew nothing. No ulterior motives forcing his hand or corrupting craving steering his actions. Just a man who she knew sought nothing other than the status quo and maintaining that order...

His darling brother the late king for instance, may he rest in peace, married a noblewoman from afar, with skin as dark as night. And that sort of thing simply wasn't done. As a mistress, she would have been more than acceptable, provided he had taken a somewhat more... Local wife. But no, the King had been stubborn, and that was that. Kendrick had abided, of course, the king was the King and none were higher than he, but he didn't have to like it.

And now their mixture of a child was the Queen. He hadn't been very fond of that either, but he'd lost all claim to the ability to do anything about it when he'd very publicly recused himself from succession. He didn't want to be king, and right now that was the only thing he could possibly do to stop his niece from being Queen. And even then, he wouldn't.

Elicia was the rightful queen, the sole child of her father, and he would defend her and her title to the death if need be.

She was the top now, and she would remain the top.

And right now, she would find him in the balcony just off of her council room, leaning against the stone railing and watching some merchant's ship slowly slide out of the bay, more sails unfurling as it went.