lethargic

As an unfamiliar voice spoke to her, laced with a clear accent  she found hard to place, Katherine turned to face them. The soft fabric of her dress, which was colored in a shade of cobalt that matched the hue of her eyes, moved the sand of the dry earth below her feet. Before her stood a man with umber-colored skin, head slightly bowed courteously. His stature, and the way he captured her gaze, inviting yet regal. Even if she had not spent days attempting to memorize the attending royal families via portraits and description, it was clear upon first glance that he was of a noble lineage. A Habsburg, if she was not mistaken. Or Oldenburg of Denmark, perhaps… Her gaze shifted from his dark eyes to his extended hand, inviting and steady. An offer she accepted as a gentle smile graced her delicate features, placing her hand gently in his. 

“All is well, your highness, but I thank you for your concern. It appears I find myself still adjusting to these new surroundings.” The English princess felt a bit foolish admitting it, but there was no use in pretense when he had just witnessed her looking quite lost. “My sisters, you see, they certainly must have gone to enjoy some grand spectacle elsewhere. And here I find myself, clueless as to where to even start looking. I fear I have not yet come to terms with the idea of exploring these foreign territories all by myself. - Perhaps you may be so kind as to offer me some guidance? Any recommendations on where to head first? Forgive me if I am mistaken, but you appear already far more familiar with the French court than I am myself.”

His smile was genuine, however, his easy nature piqued to the soft hum of court life, his head bowed with modest respect even as the son of the great Holy Roman Emperor. “Oh, I am not so familiar. But I have often found it easy to navigate through unknown streets. Come, my lady, I will aid your hand,” Philip smiled, offering his arm with the tilt of his head, before introducing himself in a way that was as if he were not some glittering courtier of worth. “Forgive me, I do not know of whom I have the pleasure to speak to. I am Philip, Archduke of Austria — though you must’ve already noted that, for though I know French well enough, my accent is never far from its depths,” offering a welcoming laugh.

Location ||  hôtel saint-pol courtyard

Katherine thought had envisioned it in her mind so clearly, this grand summit that would bring together all the important bloodlines in Paris. The city that would star as the center of the very earth for the time they were all present. She had painted the faces of known royals in the canvas of her mind, in ballrooms and tournaments, for the entire journey to France. The trip had taken so long she could have managed to create half a novel. It was a welcome escape from the endless fields of grass, rocky cliffs and calm blue waters. And it let her prepare, or at least so she thought. Because it turned out, what her mind could picture on its own was hardly a spec of the grandeur that awaited. 

If it hadn’t been for her mother’s many lessons, she doubted she could have kept her face as seamless as she had during the church gathering. Her mind went through many stages that first day. During the ceremony she came to terms with the reality that she had been absolutely clueless as to what divinity truly looked like. Nor had she had any clue of what splendor mankind could create. As her lips mimicked the latin words she had spoken so many times before, and she watched her father receive the gilded insignia, she failed to recall a time in her life in which she had felt as small and unimportant. And in silence she made a promise to herself that it was not the feeling she would leave the country with. For her own sake, as well as that of England. 

A night of restless sleep did not help in shaking the feeling from the day before, nor did breakfast. Her father had already left to attend meetings of importance, and both her sisters had vanished as well. Their energy seemingly had not run out like hers had. - Apple in hand, she made her way out into the courtyard. Her gaze scanning the surroundings, that somehow looked quite unlike the night before. Trying to figure out in which direction to go, and if she was in need of either a carriage ride or a horse to reach her desired destination. “How do these people all seem so certain as to where they are heading?” she mumbled underneath her breath, as she stood still a little off the center of the courtyard. Trying to make up her mind as to where her sisters could have gone.

Upon his fast feet, he met upon a visage of a woman unknown to his person. Her attire was different to what he had come to know among the Empire’s Germanic fashions — her very stature pertaining royal blood was one he could recognise but not truthfully fathom. For his inheritance came with political charisma rather than the pulse that throbbed through his veins, his ancestors far from Holy but rather ambition and prestige. She, on the other hand, seemed steeped in Ancient rituals and sacrifice — a woman presented as unreachable as some gilded vision of Athene. Bowing his head, as to look at her was far too much for his mortal eyes, Philip presented himself from the crowd before rising to his true height, meeting her gaze with steady security. “Your Grace, are you quite alright?” He asked, a hand presented before them for her to take.

Imperial Cross of the Holy Roman Empire, introduced in 1024-1025 with additions made in 1325.