Alexander Stuart | Leon Schulze | Genevieve Orleans | Elena Orti

Anyone who would meet Rose would understand quickly these qualities she held; such burning willpower, it's blaze was beautiful - but a headache for any who cared for her wellbeing. Lips echoed the sentiment by turning upwards, sad && hopeful combined into one disappointed expression. It would have been easier if the man was disagreeable towards the topic - if he had shown ill-will - but no.

It was as Maceon had expected. Leon cared; and regardless of the outcome, they were together on this wild ride of Rose's heart. " No, of course, no agreement should be made fully until Rose is with us to give her own voice. "

He wanted to marry Rose. He had promised her that she would be Queen of Spain, but as time went on, Maceon feared even he would never find such title in his grasp to give. And yet... if he could... " It is of no secret that Spain is in the middle of a revolution. " The topic switched suddenly, and Maceon leaned back, chin lifting && tone taking that of a rightful heir to an empire. " I could very well be killed in the following days, months. Spain could fall to ruin, be soured by war. Everyone I know could be taken from me. " Except Rose. He would have to trust in this - trust in Leon to do as he claimed. " Or... I may live yet to see Spain reunited. " And to see himself as King. This was left unsaid, as trust in Leon had not reached that level just yet.

" If that comes to pass, where Spain can be safe once more - I would want her close. Would you, as her husband, in a future I can only sit here and dream may come about - would you leave your home for her? What would it take? "

"It's a discussion that would be had in the event of all that coming to pass. She would be my wife, I will not be her captor. And if at that point in time she will want to be in Spain, I as her husband would consider it so that she didn't feel like she would have to escape and leave without a trace like the last time you two colluded to meet." he said, feeling entitled to speak to Maceon man to man despite their presumed differences in rank. "I will keep her safe and she will have a happy life as my wife, she will not want for anything. That much I can swear to you right now,"

" Your Highness," Lorena acknowledged warmly, her voice carrying a gentle cadence. "No need for apologies. I understand completely. The ocean has a way of drawing out our thoughts and offering a kind of solace that's hard to find elsewhere."

"It's a pleasure to meet you and finally be introduced Lorena, my name is Aylin, princess of Athens." she said, smiling at the other woman as they both took in the salty sea air. "There really isn't anything like it, is there?"

she knew sleep would not befall her, not anytime soon. the princess sat in the window seat, facing looking out with her legs criss-crossed. she had chosen to wear her love's shirt, loose and baggy on her body instead of a tight dressing gown. the shirt felt comfortable, both in the sense of his scent around her and the freedom it gave her to move in.

illuminated by the moonlight, her gaze watched as raindrops ran down the glass windowpanes — the thunderstorm outside raging on. the events of the past day had caused aurora to think, a lot, about everything. everything she didn't know or understand. she had made the decision all those years ago to stop taking an interest in the monarchy, in her own crown — but aurora had never known it would have consequences such as this. she never would have guessed it. consequences that left her utterly clueless in the wake of such chaos. she did not know what her parents or what the politicians that so prided themselves on taking power for themselves had planned but she was certain that her opinion had not changed; she wanted nothing to do with it. she didn't want her crown. she didn't want her throne.

aurora heard her husband stir in the bed across the room, and knew he would be noticing her absence. " alexander, " the strawberry blonde said his name softly, as to not startle him but to let him know she was still there. she didn't need to tell him she couldn't sleep, or that worries plagued her — she knew he could tell. the princess was quiet for a moment longer, a hand coming up to trace the raindrops that fell. " i do not think i am safe in france anymore. " the beauty finally spoke again. had she ever been, really? " i am tired of being accused and questioned; when i have not stepped a foot in a political meeting in years. "

a heavy sigh came from her. " i know we wanted to keep this secret as long as we could, but my love, perhaps it is not possible anymore. " aurora turned her body to sit sideways in the window seat, stretching her legs before curling them up to her chest and holding her knees close. her eyes welled up with tears. " i fear i need your open protection more then we need secrecy. i need someone on my side, because france is not. " if the politicians did not secretly hate her before, surely they did now. it was not her choice to avoid the dark cells and the torture they all experienced, but she did not believe they would hear that.

"You are the Crown Princess of France, my love. They should be the least of your worries -- if anything you're supposed to feel safest with them," he reasoned, curious about how things had gotten so bad for the French royal family but equally worried for just Aurora's safety. "Being connected to Scotland and to me would only put a larger target on your back, Aurora.." he started, though all he could hear was the fear in her voice. "But if you really think that this is something that you need... we will of course think of a way to make it happen..."

Sighing and running his hands through his hair at the mention of his siblings, he looked at her. "Rora... I will protect you no matter what, you know that. I would happily give up everything - my own life, to make sure that you are safe. I didn't want to burden you with this until later on but with recent events, I think you should know.. there's something that I didn't tell you before we got married.." he admitted, taking a deep breath, not sure if this was the best time to tell her about this but knowing that he couldn't keep it from her anymore. "When our parents died, the Scottish crown was not passed down to the eldest sibling as many others do... instead my siblings and I formed the Regency and split the crown between us, but to do this we all promised to remain unwed - to keep the power split between us without risk of an heir complicating the line of succession.." he knew that was a lot of information but he needed to get through it. "I meant what I said when I proposed... that I would happily give up my crown for you, but I needed you to know about what our marriage means - not only to Scotland but to my siblings, it's something that could threaten the very fragile fabric of our monarchy, it's not something that they will take lightly," he admitted, ashamed of the fact that he had kept that from her. "I don't want to frighten you more than you already are with what is happening. I want nothing more than for you to simply be my wife and to live the rest of my days with you, but you deserve to know the truth of it all."

"I have tried." She sighs, in surrender. "It is futile. Whoever these guards are cannot be bought or reasoned with." Which is why they will be the first to go, once the Medici's make their escape. Despite her theatrics, Araminta knows her sister well enough to see past her whining. "We will get out of here. And we will never, ever find ourselves here again." She vows. "But you must be strong. And please, for goodness sake," she clicks her tongue. "Will you lower your voice before you attract more attention?

Cedric's heart ached at the sight of Genevieve, her face illuminated by the flickering light of the torch. “Genevieve…” he breathed, the name escaping his lips like a plea. Her concern for him was palpable, and it cut deep, a reminder of how unfair this situation was. He longed to reach through the bars, to pull her close and shield her from the danger that surrounded them. The reality that he was behind these cold iron bars, unable to protect her, gnawed at him. “I’m alright,” he assured her, though the weight of his confinement felt heavier with each passing second. Cedric shook his head, trying to quell her fears. “No, not yet.” He quickly hid his injured hand behind his back, careful not to let her see the raw knuckles from punching the cell wall in frustration.

she let go of her sister as she moved to pace around the room, watching with her hands clasped firmly together. the slip of the guard's name told aurora everything she needed to know. " you are right, and i too understand nothing about this. " the princess said softly — trying to retain a calm demeanor for her sister's sake. she would have her moment to cry, panic and worry later. for now, aurora was doing what she always did — she stood tall and strong for the sake of protecting her sisters.

aurora walked over to genevieve, taking her shoulders into her hands and making the younger princess look her in the eye. " gennie, cedric will be alright. he is not in the royal guard for mere show. if anyone will come out of there unscathed, it is him. " of course, aurora could not vouch for anybody else. " we have to believe they're strong, and that they can handle what is thrown at them. " the princess sighed, giving her sister a squeeze. " — but genevieve, we also must worry for ourselves. "

she did not want to frighten her sister, but she would not have her sister lost because she was unprepared, either. " it does not look good for us to be excluded like this. to walk free while they do not. those who dislike us now have more reason, you must be careful who you speak to — even within our own court. france and others may not see reason to be kind to us. "

spirit festivals, religious tones and honoring the dead — nothing about it was isadora's cup of tea. it was all too serious, too somber. colorful masks and costumes were abundant; but it was a celebration on the beach, like isadora had hoped for out of these events, so she chose to check it out.

when she spotted a familar face in the crowd, she grinned and ran up behind aylin — linking her arm with hers and stepping into her stride with her. " aylin, tell me is there anything fun to do here? " isadora mused, knowing athens's spiritual leaders played a part in this event, which she assumed meant her friend's sister. " — or perhaps, we should go find some fun elsewhere? perhaps the devil side of the beach has something fun. "

"Cushy." Elliott utters with a dry, taunting smirk. Taking a quick glance about the apartment, before turning his gaze to the fresh tea and pastries. The would-be King of Spain settles between the cushions of the plus chair, staring intently at his cousin. In times of hardship, this is his blessing and curse - an easy approach to all things. "Sure beats a dungeon, wouldn't you say, Gen?" Yet for all his pokes and prods, there is a look of heeding at her direction. "You must be clever when you inevitably get questioned." He advises as he pours his tea. "The pendulum swings fast. Look at where my family is." A crown, once theirs, now torn in half... Then half, again, with the last Bonaparte's.

the walk back to their chambers was quiet, with aurora holding onto her sister’s hand the entire time. of course, the questioning of the sisters had been gentle and far kinder then the staff of france were — but that didn’t make it any less nerve if anything, it made aurora more nervous that they had received such obvious special treatment. she waited until they were in their chambers, door closed and footsteps receding before she turned to genevieve.

“ are you alright, gennie? “ aurora asked her sister. she knew physically they were both okay — but she also knew a certain french guard her sister had eyes for was down in the cells; and she could only imagine how genevieve was feeling. not to mention aurora’s own thoughts, about france’s future and what it meant for them. they began plaguing her the second they were treated differently then the rest of their country — something the constitutional monarchy was supposed to prevent.