"I suppose I am, yes. Though I do plan on advancing some of our laws and traditions in other places of our society." Elant smiled back, something in him settling and relaxing.
"I don't have many friends, not properly. Courtiers are..." he shrugged, "They want to have the King's favor when I take the throne, or want to try to put Marcell in my place instead. Which is... it wouldn't work, not properly, the Kingsteel doesn't react for him. The Kingdom's magic doesn't recognize him the way it did Caohime before he was... and now myself."
It was an insight in to the actual workings of the kingdom's magic, and the old blade that was part of the royal regalia and a symbol of the King's strength. That it could recognize and chose the ruler was a long standing rumor confirmed by the future ruler himself.
Prince Caohime's assassination some years ago had been a blow to the kingdom, and that Elant had been named Crown Prince instead of his more martial minded sibling had been a matter of some dissent within the kingdom.
He ducked his head a little, ears pinking, "You are welcome to call me by just my name, or anything else less formal, when we are on our own. I also..." he pressed his lips together for a moment, hesitating for a heartbeat. "My magic is not that of a healer, despite the way it has been portrayed. I will, eventually, tell you what it is if you do not figure such out yourself by then. You could consider it a... courtship game, if you like."
It had certainly been an uproar at the time. Arafel could recall the upheaval within her own family both after the assassination and with Elant being thrust into the role of Crown Prince there had come some additional grief. Her father had been a staunch supporter of Marcell, seeking connections into the royal family through next in line. She fully believed Duke Kweydos knew nothing of the assassination beforehand but with Elant becoming the next Crown Prince rather than Marcell? Some of his long-held hopes were undoubtedly spoiled.
Arafel wondered not for the first time what he would make of Elant's visit. Now in her twenties the Duke had given Arafel her own private guest house near the Kweydos' main mansion itself. It was both so she could study and conduct business without interruption but likewise another layer of separation from the main family.
For now as Arafel nurses her tea it's clear she's keen on hearing about his magic. The intimate details were a well kept secret after all, from just what the Kingsteel could do to the healing powers attributed to the royal bloodlines.
When he says to consider it a courtship game though ... well. She'll have to put her best foot forward then in figuring it out. She murmurs in gentle reply, nothing accusatory to it in the least, "For when you trust me more then?"
She nods a little to say she understands, her lips twitching into a little smile. "I'll try to be clever and mak a good guess then. Only if you promise not to be too offended if I miss the mark, Pri --" mmh, something less formal. Her lips press together and she flicks her gaze down to the empty teacup in her hand as she murmurs.
"Elant."
It's not hard to say but it sounds so intimate. That's what it's supposed to be of course but she's going to have to get used to it. This after all was the first in a long line of intimacies they could potentially share.
There's a soft chuckle, "Trust, and I... Want to learn how your thoughts work. You may ask me any yes or no question pertaining to my magic. I will answer honestly, and if it is something granted by the Kingsteel I will tell you. I will not be offended by any guess you make, they cannot be any worse than I have already heard."
He hesitated a moment before reaching in to his vest and pulling out an envelope.
"My mother is hosting a 'tea' in a few weeks, the gardens will be in full bloom and I should like to see you there. I had an invitation made for you. It is up to you whether you wish to consider such a...calm affair a fulfilment of the tradition of attending an event in public. There is always the summer festivals or the harvests."
Arafel pauses a moment at the suggestion and then gently and somewhat curiously she asks,"I wouldn't mind the attending the tea. But it would be nice to see the festivals and harvests as well."
That's a bit more than the one traditional event in public perhaps but her lips quirk a little in amusement. "I've always been deep into my studies so I haven't gone to any of the festivals or the like in ... well. I believe I might have been a teenager? Or not quite that."
It was around then that puberty snuck up and with it her magical affinity was revealed. Her siblings still interacted with her but far, far less than that had before. That was just the nature of things.
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Date: 2024-09-09 11:04 pm (UTC)"I don't have many friends, not properly. Courtiers are..." he shrugged, "They want to have the King's favor when I take the throne, or want to try to put Marcell in my place instead. Which is... it wouldn't work, not properly, the Kingsteel doesn't react for him. The Kingdom's magic doesn't recognize him the way it did Caohime before he was... and now myself."
It was an insight in to the actual workings of the kingdom's magic, and the old blade that was part of the royal regalia and a symbol of the King's strength. That it could recognize and chose the ruler was a long standing rumor confirmed by the future ruler himself.
Prince Caohime's assassination some years ago had been a blow to the kingdom, and that Elant had been named Crown Prince instead of his more martial minded sibling had been a matter of some dissent within the kingdom.
He ducked his head a little, ears pinking, "You are welcome to call me by just my name, or anything else less formal, when we are on our own. I also..." he pressed his lips together for a moment, hesitating for a heartbeat. "My magic is not that of a healer, despite the way it has been portrayed. I will, eventually, tell you what it is if you do not figure such out yourself by then. You could consider it a... courtship game, if you like."
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Date: 2024-09-12 10:41 pm (UTC)Arafel wondered not for the first time what he would make of Elant's visit. Now in her twenties the Duke had given Arafel her own private guest house near the Kweydos' main mansion itself. It was both so she could study and conduct business without interruption but likewise another layer of separation from the main family.
For now as Arafel nurses her tea it's clear she's keen on hearing about his magic. The intimate details were a well kept secret after all, from just what the Kingsteel could do to the healing powers attributed to the royal bloodlines.
When he says to consider it a courtship game though ... well. She'll have to put her best foot forward then in figuring it out. She murmurs in gentle reply, nothing accusatory to it in the least, "For when you trust me more then?"
She nods a little to say she understands, her lips twitching into a little smile. "I'll try to be clever and mak a good guess then. Only if you promise not to be too offended if I miss the mark, Pri --" mmh, something less formal. Her lips press together and she flicks her gaze down to the empty teacup in her hand as she murmurs.
"Elant."
It's not hard to say but it sounds so intimate. That's what it's supposed to be of course but she's going to have to get used to it. This after all was the first in a long line of intimacies they could potentially share.
sorry this took forever, had some medical stuff pop up
Date: 2024-10-02 05:38 am (UTC)He hesitated a moment before reaching in to his vest and pulling out an envelope.
"My mother is hosting a 'tea' in a few weeks, the gardens will be in full bloom and I should like to see you there. I had an invitation made for you. It is up to you whether you wish to consider such a...calm affair a fulfilment of the tradition of attending an event in public. There is always the summer festivals or the harvests."
no worries, take all the time you need. hope you're doing better!
Date: 2024-10-13 10:20 pm (UTC)That's a bit more than the one traditional event in public perhaps but her lips quirk a little in amusement. "I've always been deep into my studies so I haven't gone to any of the festivals or the like in ... well. I believe I might have been a teenager? Or not quite that."
It was around then that puberty snuck up and with it her magical affinity was revealed. Her siblings still interacted with her but far, far less than that had before. That was just the nature of things.