#kingcenred

Grumbling, Lilé allowed her ladies to gently guide her to a seat.

Yes. I want to see the gardens. I need to touch nature. I miss it.

She yearned to tend to her plants, but her belly made it impossible. The gardeners had promised her they would nurture the plots, and she believed them. But she still craved the sensation of soil between her fingers.

The baby within her kicked idly, and she rubbed the skin, trying to soothe the little one. Dismissing her attendants from the chamber, Lilé leant back in the chair, sighing. Yes, she loved being pregnant, especially with Cenred’s child. Yet it still kept her from the outside.

She knows how heavy their burden is, sometimes she loses her breath just from allowing thoughts to run away with her of the toll it has on both of their kingdoms and citizens alike. To wonder at the hurt it must cause her husband, at the worry, anger and everything in between, well, it drowns her. So she nuzzles him where he chooses to cling to for comfort and revel in it. Moments like this she wants to cherish, even if they hurt.

"We have so much to do." She quietly corrects, affirming they are in this together. That they not carry the weight of duty alone. For hope, if nothing else. Caerwyn hums at his touch to her arms and feels a blush come to her cheeks, wondering if she was too bold in assuming he'd want a distraction like she did. But as he leans into her, she gently squeezes him, allowing the pressure to cradle him.

"You'll be more aware and prepared with a well rested mind, my love." She supplies, holding him and not quite letting go just yet, though she savors the contact beyond all else. "We're needed at our brightest. I admire your persistence, but you must rest. It'll lead us to victory in the long run."

🎂 Birthday Asks 🎂 || Accepting!

@kingcenred

Elliot lifted one brow as he lifted his Irish coffee to his lips and took a sip. "Is it your cock? Cos, like, I get that every day. Multiple times a day usually." He commented, momentarily confused how Cenred had found out it was his birthday but, of course, the guy was a king who had probably gotten Elliot vetted when he'd started hanging out here. Or Henry had.

The nymph woman knelt before the throne, head bowed. Partially because now that she had been offered up as a sacrifice to assuage his pride... Eirena worried about what it would mean if she was seen as too obstinate. Part of her was bitter about being used as a trade deal, especially since she hadn't chosen it herself. But was it worth risking the land her people lived on, just because another man claimed to be the ruler of it.

While marriages of duty were rather tedious, Cenred was proving himself to be quite the adept ruler. They had a staggering army when combined, and putting all that brute force forward to try and liberate Uther's kingdom was coming along nicely, if slowly. Everything had to be calculated carefully and with express caution. While their latest strike had succeeded, they were nearing another war room meeting. After a celebratory but beneficial ball.

Breaks were warranted after such hard work.

"You stir them into action so easily. They adore you." Caerwyn sidles up to Cenred in a gown with a smile on painted lips, speaking fluent Essetirian with ease. "Your way with words is inspiring, even if it makes me jealous." Speaking in undertones away from the majority of the throng of citizens pooling some money towards their next venture.

The corners of TJ’s lips curled into a devious smirk as he leaned back on the booth, eyes carefully trailing the other man’s figure. He wouldn’t lie saying he didn’t consider the idea of crossing the line with the King —if he held back it was only because he didn’t want to cause a State scandal that could harm his mother. But now? Cenred wasn’t in any official trip that could link it back to Elaine, so when the other texted TJ he was in the city, the former first son made sure they could meet somewhere the press wouldn’t find them.

“I certainly hope you don’t,” he finally said, taking a sip of his drink and looking at him from over the rim of the glass. “You should come closer and show me the real reason of your visit.”

"When I'm not sidestepping the Romans, I'm trying to keep Artur from killing himself." The Sarmatian Knight said in Brythonic Gaelic as he led Cenred through the more Roman-populated parts of the fort.