&; unchained melody

it was rare to see someone hold such honesty on their face, but sofia did exactly that — brilliant shades of surprise and joy, all warm and welcoming and for him. it took him by surprise, a surprise he did not know he could still possess. years had passed, and she remained filled with the same sweetness as before. 

here was a truth: the world was a cold place, cruelty filling the space between people. yet here was sofia, daring to hope for the opposite. he hated her for it. kindness was, in its own way, the sharpest kind of pain. 

“i have not been here long,” he answered. he was glad that she had been one of the first people he sought; he was glad to have reached her before the rumors. “as soon as i heard our families were staying here, i made my way. but it has been a long road, filled with stories that are much too dark to discuss when we are celebrating a reunion.” 

he took the smallest step forward, moving from a distance that was cordial to a distance that was almost familiar. 

“i did not expect —” simeon had never been good with words, with fitting compliments together in a way that made someone swoon. but he looked at her, at all the ways that she had changed and grown into herself, at the way she held herself, excited and tentative all at once, and he simply went with the truth. “you look beautiful, your grace.” 

≠ — He had not been there long, that was a relief in and of itself. It meant that he had time to rest and relax now that he had arrived, but it also meant that perhaps others - especially the Tsar - did not know of his presence. “I would not dare ask and ruin such a lively encounter.” She mused thoughtfully, her hazel eyes taking him in. He looked... Different. He had seen things, though he tried to hide it, the abyss of his dark eyes spoke volumes of things that she had no hands on knowledge of. “I am glad you have come all the same, and that you now get to rest, as you deserve it.” 

The distance between them closed in slightly as he stepped towards her, and she felt her breathing hitch, as it so commonly had as a young girl. Seeing him walk though the palace with Yuri had been enough to set her cheeks ablaze as a younger girl. There had been something stoic and mysterious about Simeon. Though she had not spoken much to him, there was a flutter within her chest whenever she laid eyes on him, and though Sophia had presumed it was something she had grown out of, when he stepped closer, that fact proved to be wholly wrong. 

She shifted, so that she was not directly facing him, should anyone see. Though, she was glad her instincts had told her to do such a thing, for the next words out of her mouth caused a flush to rise into her cheeks. Despite her willing it away. 

“I thank you for the compliment, Lord Belskyi. You are as handsome as I remember you to be.” She replied, albeit somewhat timidly. “You must tell me if there is anything I may do to ease your comfort while you are getting settled, though I would suggest perhaps an audience with the Tsar, if you have not done so already for starters.” 

Point gained: 7 points for 7 replies +  1 bonus point for each 5 points.

Point allocation: physical + 3 ; intelligence + 4 ;  luck + 1

Health Total: 77/150

Updated points:

influence : 15

intelligence : 21

wealth : 9

luck :15

the inquiry was not without its purpose. the french prince’s lips curled into a smile which easily could have meant anything on a broad spectrum: interest, attraction, playfulness.

louis was not one to restrict himself to the workings of courtly love and though he valued the tenderness behind it, something about sophia’s reserve awakened another instinct in him. thinking back on the long evenings spent in his study, writing up letters that would speak to a person and not a title — he’d been so sure of himself and his intentions then. now that he stood in the gardens with the very person he was set to exchange vows with in the near future, the sun reflecting amiably in her tresses, the prince felt all these vanities drop away.

sophia’s question was compelling and blissfully ignorant. what reason did he need beyond appraising what would be supposedly his in the future to keep, cherish and care for?

and yet for a heartbeat, he too wondered what exactly his intentions were. casting an observing glance at the smaller female, he concluded they weren’t quite as honorable as they should’ve been. the realization elicited a curious tilt of his head and a teasing smile playing on his lips. the gesture could have been mistaken for something more intimate but it was subtle enough for the nearby ladies not to notice and confuse for what it truly was.

(he’d give them something to gossip about.)

“au contraire, grand duchess. you’ll find i am attentive to that which pleases a lady.” a quirk of his lips accompanied that remark as he inclined his head to get a better glimpse of sophia who had taken to admiring her ladies. such rarity — he’d hardly before seen a female who was willing to openly display her appreciation at the beautiful women gathered around her. it hinted at an innocent mind, something which had not yet been tainted.

“now, what do you suppose?” the feigned ignorance had him shifting a step closer to the tsarevna as he quietly inhaled once. comme alléchant. if this marriage alliance was set to go ahead, louis would find a way to make it enjoyable; maybe even for the tsarevna herself.

his voice dipped to a mumble as he watched her, pleased at sighting the first stirrings of something along the lines of attraction in her. certainly, he’d be taking that into account. “isn’t it a gentleman’s duty to be considerate of a lady’s every need?”

eyes dropping to meet hers again, the prince let his words — heavy with less than innocent implications — linger for a while longer before he took a step back to allow the female room to breathe. the hint of a mischievous grin spread across his features then with louis seemingly not bothering to hide his delight. “do i or do i not please her imperial highness?”

≠ — There was something dangerous about Louis. Not in the way that made Sofya scared for her life. On the contrary, she was more scared for her virtue than perhaps her own life around the man. He did not sneer, and did not seem to have snake like tendencies. Instead, his looks were calculated, but there was a heat that lay behind them that made her want to melt beneath his gaze. There was nothing about him that made her doubt that he was not attentive to what pleased a lady. In fact, she worried he may be well versed in such things. 

The flush that had risen to her cheeks only deepened and if the world was kind, she wished it to open up underfoot and swallow her whole. “I suppose you wanted to arrange such a meeting to see what you were being tied to, so to speak, Highness. I do not blame you, that is what drove me to accept the invitation myself.” Their correspondence before meeting had given her a mere sampling of what Louis was like, but meeting him in person offered a more broad example of who he was as a man.

Her breath caught in her throat at his question and she silently cursed herself. If flirtation was an art, then Louis was a master. Either that, or she had not been flirted with enough to know how to act with a semblance of normalcy. 

When he stepped back, it was as if she was not clouded by him anymore and she blinked. Rather than dwelling on the question that had caused her stomach to flip, she swallowed hard and focused instead on his last question. It was a simple enough one. Did he please her? 

The short answer was yes. The long answer was a complex one. She was frustrated that they had been thrust into such a situation as to where they needed to meet in such a way, that unless Their brothers suddenly did not see eye to eye, they would be saying vows in a palace neither of them knew from Adam. “натурально, your royal highness. What about you could not be pleasing? You are a man with what seems to be a stable mind, you have good looks and we share some of the same passions.” She stated, trying to make her own self stable again. “Albeit we have not spoken for long, you have done nothing to displease me.” 

Friedi thought as fondly of Sophia as she did of Yekaterina’s children, her own cousins by blood. They had known each other for so long that it was difficult not to feel so warmly toward her. Seeing her married would be a joy and an honour, but only if the tsarevna made as joyful of a bride as Friedi herself was. She was aware not all were so lucky. “And how do you feel about that?” She asked. She had made peace with the choice to leave Germany behind, never to return. Apart from her siblings, there was nothing left there for her. Could Sophia say the same of Russia? 

“You should have seen me last night,” she grinned self-depreciatingly. “I slept so little. I was so jittery I thought I would jolt myself out of bed.” It was an exaggeration, but not a million miles from the truth. She had been consumed by nerves, but the longer the night went on, the more they melted away. “Husband,” she mused. It still hardly seemed real, though she supposed that the day had been so busy that they had hardly seen each other. “You are right. I shall find my new routine, and it will be old news before we know it.” 

They had spoken of what they wanted. What they wanted from each other, and what they wanted from life, though she could say very little of it out loud. “We have,” she nodded her head. “It was one of the first things we spoke of, after the initial shock of the engagement wore away.” She had been angry when she first found out. Angry enough to lash out at the both of her sisters, those she held dearest to her. But then she has realised she rather liked her betrothed, and that made all the difference. “But what of you? Have you had a chance to meet the Duke?” 

≠ — Speaking the truth about how she felt would do her no good, the fear she felt, the lack of knowledge she possessed in regards of being a wife and of the world as a whole, left her feeling that the betrothal would be a mess, and that perhaps, should Louis not take a liking to her, lead to a sham of a marriage. “I trust the Tsars judgement, and that he has chosen a fine man to be my husband. It is daunting, but I look forward to it.” She stated, the smile on her face not quite reaching her eyes. She was still coming to terms with the betrothal, and thought she would for some time. 

If Friedi had been nervous, she did not seem it. That gave Sofya an ounce of hope, that perhaps things would go well for herself and that she had a good future to look forward to. For it seemed that Friedi was excited for her new future with her husband. “I am sure you two will fall into one soon enough, married life may be different, but I have an inkling that it may as well suit you fine.” She mused, a mischievous glimmer in her gaze. 

It was a relief to know that they had spoken of their wishes for the union, it made more sense to Sophia that Friedi should be at least now, having been married and said “I do.” A small hum escaped from Sophia at her cousins question, and she shook her head. “No, I have not, but we do have a meeting planned. We were writing one another before I left Russia, and so a date has been set for us to finally meet... I am as nervous as I am excited.” 

“I could never hate my sister, what a preposterous notion.” Envy on the other hand? That was something Sophia felt in spades. And it made her hate herself slightly. Yelena had led a sheltered and... Alternative life thanks to their father, and yet there were things her fair haired, milk and honey sister possessed that she did not, and it was something that ate away at Sofya in an unhealthy manner. 

perhaps if he had not been worried about the violence, about the inaction of the other monarchs, he might have been more willing to put aside his political machinations, would have focused simply on the wedding of a favored niece instead of on what might come out of it. he chuckled, a strange sound coming from his lips in such a public setting. “it is not so difficult to keep yekaterina happy,” he finally replied, a teasing smile present on his face and in his eyes. she relished in the family of her birth and he could not fault her, not when she’d already proven her loyalty to russia, her loyalty to him. was that not what any man truly wanted? “i will rest when I’m home, when i do not need to worry that the lives of my kin will be taken while they sleep” he said simply, the words meant to dismiss the subject, his tone only slightly tinged in steel.

dmitry was a man who was well-used to getting his way. he had fought for it in years past, had learned under the tutelage of his father, and now that he’d held russia for several years as its own empire, he felt convinced that his whims should be catered to. it occurred very little to him that his sister might not like the match he’d made for her; he had spent weeks looking at all men who would be eligible and he thought that his sister might be happiest with a french husband; he had no intention of marrying her off to one of his brother-in-law’s bastards, at any rate.

switzerland was certainly not home and he shared his younger sister’s sentiment, though he did not verbalize his thoughts. “it seems prudent to do so when all of the families can be here.” his voice was gentler than it had been before and he looked over at sofya. “it will, of course, be blessed by our church upon our return home.” his lips quirked at the corners and he took a sip of his wine. “i plan to give your husband lands in russia; it is part of the discussions i mean to undertake with the french king – once he leaves his son’s bedside.” his eyes crinkled at the corners. “i do not intend to send you away sofya.” his wife was better at this.

“i do not. there are particulars i need to negotiate with king francis. i imagine maximillian will be there as well, since his natural son is to marry francis’ sister.”

≠ — Her brothers words sent a chill down her spine. He had been born for power, and had been raised to be prepared for this, she had not. Knowing that Dmitry had the weight of his family’s lives and that of his countrymen’s lives on his shoulders was not a burden that she thought she could carry. Yet, hearing such an expression come from him made her demeanor turn grim. Rather than focus on such a thing, she turned her attention to his mention of his wife, shaking away the chill that seemed to be staying with her. “Yekaterina has a delightful disposition, I would not think it that difficult.” She mused with a small, tight lipped smile. 

She had time. The relief that washed over her almost made her let out a laugh. She did not though, but she physically relaxed, her shoulders having grown tense. “I did not think you would send me away just like that, I may be an inconvenience a times, but I do like to think you regard me fondly.” She teased, her resolve slipping slightly. 

“I hope such conversations go well, I would quite like to see how my betrothed reacts to Russia, and I would not like to go to France right away.” She paused then, lips pursed. “Have you met with any of them before?” 

“I have met with him,” she assured, “but I no longer trust men with my life,” her statement was short but sincere - eyes blaring into Sophia’s, as if to challenge her answer. as if she, betrothed to a man from the western countries, could fight her. “And neither should you, самый дорогой… Just because you are betrothed does not mean you should accept such terms. You are a daughter of the great Ivan of Russia! You have Rurik flowing through your veins, and so will your children. You should be serving Russia with greater purpose, rather than acting as a Roman Catholic’s wife,” Irina spat, though she did not mean it with harsh tones - in fact, she thought more of Sophia, and knew she could do more to brighten the view of the world upon the Russian borders. She could show the world how beauty could entrap a man, to make a country hers… How would she ever do such a thing by marrying the third born of France’s throne? 

She scoffed, moving over to the window to gaze upon the horizon - her cup of wine held against her chest as she looked and stared with cold, dead eyes. “I met with him, have you? Louis, Duke of Alencon. How is your French?”

≠ — ‘i no longer trust men with my life’  that statement cut through the air like an axe through wood, and for a moment, Sophia wondered if Irina was mourning her husband in a way, if losing him as she had, caused Irina to feel wronged.Sophia di dnot often have cause to think men were untrustworthy. Though she was not happy in the slightest that her brother had betrothed her to a French Prince, she trusted Dmitry with her life, and knew in the depths of her heart he would not do anything to harm her. Nor would Yuri. Though, she felt the need to keep that to herself.

With pursed lips, her eyes bore into her friend, trying to figure out where her thoughts were going. As a child, her mother had whispered stories of her marrying a prince and ruling as Queen one day, that anything she wanted she could have. As she had grown older, such thoughts had proved daunting. Power was something she detested and feared. Sophia was not meant for such a position. Instead, she wished for something more... Simple. A life in the country filled with what others might call monotonous days. “You must also remember I am the 4th child, Irina. Greatness was never destined for me, I am quite content with what has been decided for me. I knew at least I would be a wife and a mother if not great.”

Her gaze continued to follow the other woman as Irina stood before the window. Her brow rose knowing that she had met with Louis. “I have met him, yes. We arranged to meet in the gardens... He is slightly different in person than he was in his letters.” She paused then, settling in the chair and taking a sip of her wine. “My french is as... Not as abysmal as it once was, I am learning.” She was learning as to know what others were saying, less so that she could communicate with her future husband. “What did you think of him, then?” 

So, she had been correct. It did not come as a surprise, since their two empires have been allies for a long time now, and they always had someone from China going to Russia and vice versa; the artists, the musicians, philosophers and merchants, sharing in trade and culture - though, perhaps not as much as Xuanji would have liked; she would have liked to further the trade and establishing more trade routes throughout Russia. “So long as we can enjoy it, then I believe it is a well spent night.” She agreed.

Waving her hand in light dismissal, Xuanji chuckled. “I am quite used to it by now. They can be a little overbearing and at times rather intense, but they are family.” She failed to mention that she did not trust her in-laws in the least, nor she mentioned that the Forbidden palace held more vipers than any natural habitat - and that a good amount of those vipers belonged to the royal family. Perhaps there was just the one person in the Li family that she could… learn how to trust and that was the general ( princess Jingmei as well, but her relationship towards her had been more motherly than sisterly ). “I am pleased to hear that.” Xuanji’s reply was accompanied with a gentle smile, before the tsarevna’s question made her pause, as she pondered her feelings about it. “I think it is lovely and it is interesting. The wedding ceremony is a lot different from the one in China, and it brings back the memories to my own wedding.”

≠ — The words that came  from Xuanji’s mouth dripped with truth, but there was something in her gaze that had Sophia questioning the full honesty of them. However, she did not let on about her thoughts, and simply flashed the other woman a small, encouraging smile. “Family can be like that at times. I have many siblings and nieces and nephews, being surrounded by them can be difficult at times.” She stated evenly, thinking back to times when her nieces and nephews would make her long for the sanctuary of her own chambers. 

Sophia could grow to enjoy the company of the crown princess. She was kind, her demeanor calm, and she carried herself with a poise that Sophia was slightly envious of. She had not seen a Chinese wedding ceremony, and had read only small facts about them. Her knowledge on them was slim and suddenly her interest was piqued. “How are the wedding ceremonies back home different from that of the one we have attended? I will admit that in all of my readings I have not come across much information on such ceremonies from your home.” 

Oh, there were a good few people she had longed to see. Her entire Austrian family ( minus Konrad, of course. if she ever sees his face in person again, she was certain she would hurl a few sharp objects in his direction ) for one, then the rest of the Russians. Sophia’s question made her chuckle, as she was more than aware of the light tease behind the words; but, if her cousin was hoping for a forbidden romance, or for someone to have been successful in catching Dorothea’s ever evolving standards, she would be very disappointed to learn that there was no man who intrigued her enough to hold her attention for more than a few fleeting seconds. “Of course! I would love to see aunt Yekaterina, of course. Then uncle Augustinus and aunt Louisa, and my cousins Lukas and Augusta, as well as aunt Wilhelmina.”

Dot tilted her head to the side, as her cousin spoke of Louis and their correspondence. That was smart - exchanging letters and thoughts, before their official meeting would take place. Letter could also say a great deal about a person, regardless if they are thoughtfully crafted or sincere. “And, what do you think of him so far? Are you nervous, or are you looking forward to officially meet him?” She asked, soft smile dancing on her lips. As Sophia mentioned learning and knowledge, Dorothea began nodding, almost furiously, in agreement with her. “Indeed, indeed! Knowledge is the most valuable thing we can have, and abandoning it seems like an odious, deadly error a person can ever make.” She paused, then asked; “How are your studies going? Have you completed everything, already?”

Sighing, Dot’s smile turned soft and full of gratitude. “Thank you, cousin. Truly. Your support and the offer itself means the world to me. You, too, can count on me whenever you need any help, or assistance, or even advice.” They were family after all, and she will always, always, take care of her family.

≠ — Dorothea’s question made her mind go blank. Nerves were something she felt in abundance. Even the mere mention of Louis or her impending wedding caused her stomach to flip in a way that she was unfamiliar with. “I suppose I am in a way. It will be interesting to see the man whom I am to spend the rest of my life with.” She stated with a small, slightly awkward, chuckle. “I am not entirely free of nerves, those I doubt will not go away for some time, but I suppose a part of me is excited at the prospect of meeting him. Hopefully we will get along as well in persona s we do on paper.” That was perhaps, one of her biggest fear in the grand scheme of things. That they may not get along. Though she would be fearful that he would find her plain and all together too unattractive to wed, the thought of Louis not being able to hold a conversation with her, or the two of them being incompatible was a fear all of it’s own. “ 

To see her cousins love of knowledge so freely on display did well for Sophia’s heart. It made her happy to know that her little cousin had a thirst for knowledge and was eager to acquire it whenever she may be able. “I am done with my tutors, but I assure you I have not stopped learning. Much like you, I think it would be a disservice.” Sophia paused, taking a sip from her goblet. “What is something you have been studying recently? Perhaps you can share your knowledge with me.” 

The brunette squeezed Dot’s hand gingerly at the notion, pleased to know that they were not only family through marriage but friends, and willing to help one another out. It was a notion that was often spoken at court, and not followed through with. But Sophia felt she could rely on the other woman, she was a kindred spirit. 

A low hum of appreciation sounded from the back of her throat as images of her favourite works made their way through her inner eye. “I have a great love for any person out there whom possesses creativity and a genuine love for self expression, and one cannot denounce the greats such as Leonardo Da Vinci, Botticelli or Donatello... However, the one artist who I admire and would call a favourite  is Titziano Vecellio - or Titian as he is most commonly known. There is something about his works that apprehend me and render me utterly speechless. That, is what I would call a true artist, and why I admire him so deeply.” 

For a moment, Sofya felt her heart sputter before she looked down, lips pursed in a tight line. Memories of begging her father whilst in tears to see Yelena. Sneaking out of her chambers in the middle of the night to try and talk to her sister suddenly came flooding back to her. Her relationship with what some would call her other half, was complex to say the least. Sophia had grown up resenting Yelena for her beauty and for what she possessed. Her charm, her grace. That angelic look that seemed to radiate off of her. Yelena was all that Sophia was not, and the constant comparisons between the sisters had almost driven her mad as a child. However, she did not resent how Yelena had been raised. Their father had been extremely paranoid, and had robbed her dearest sister of the life she so deserved. 

Her heart ached within her chest as she thought back to their past, and tears threatened to make their way onto her alabaster cheeks. For all the distain she held towards her sister, there was more love in her heart than one would expect.

 “I perhaps could have tried more, but I feel as if I did all that was in my power at the time. I was never very persuasive with my father, I did not have that close of a relationship with him, so even if I had of attempted to free my sister, I doubt very much I could have done more....” She trailed off, finger playing with a ring she often wore. “Lord knows, that if I had the power, I would have done more sooner.”

≠ — A long sigh escaped her. She had thought about marriage ever since she was young. What she wanted from it, what she may get. It was something that had kept her awake at night when she was old enough to know that marriage was on the horizon. Even more so when she had learned her brother had secured a betrothal for her.  “In truth?” The question echoed in her mind as she thought of all she had conjured in her imagination since meeting Louis.“Perhaps my only hope is to be happy”

“I understand how childish and trivial that must sound, but it is true... I know that we are different people, that I must seem young and foolish to him...” She paused then, lips pursed. “But I hope to make him happy, and I pray that he makes me happy. I long for a union in which we feel equal, where he feels comfortable enough to stay up late talking to me by the fire... Where he can love me for who I truly am, and not just what I may provide.” 

“ah, i must just feel that much changed — we are in a very different place than we were when we first met.” her laughter brought out his own, and he straightened up, preening from her compliment. 

( if someone had told him as a child that a russian princess would one day give him such a word, he would not have believed it. )  

“perhaps i will keep it a mystery from you.” he clasped his hands behind his back, pacing back and forth for a moment as if he was considering his options. suddenly, he paused, raising his hand with a sudden realization. “but i have several drinks in me, and so i think you have earned my honesty today. i escaped because the wedding was not quite to my taste. there were some aspects of home, certainly — ” to see the islamic faith, so familiar to him and yet represented so differently by the ottoman empire, had been curious to say the least. “ — but i did not find one good dancer in the whole place! what else am i to do if i cannot even enjoy the most enjoyable part of a wedding? and so i fled outside.”

≠ — A chuckle threatened to escape her lips, but she kept them pursed, as to not let the Grand Vizier know how entertained she was by his antics. The brunette watched him curiously, a brow lightly raised. as Ahmad paced. His words caused the chuckle she had been so desperately holding in to escape, and she tossed her head back whilst doing so. “And here I thought the worst! Perhaps you were conspiring against someone, or someone had deeply offended you! But no, you were simply in want of a good enough partner!” 

Sofya shook her head in amusement and motioned towards the ground they were standing on. “Though we have no music, I am sure I can hum a tune that is melodic enough should you accept my offer of a dance.” It was unorthodox to dance outside unchaperoned with no music, but a surge of girlish silliness ebbed through her, and for once this evening, Sofya felt giddy. “I would hate to think you have gone the whole evening and event without so much as a good dance, if it is something I can attempt to provide.”