[b]PRINCE CRISPIN OF KENT[/b]

As he'd been forced by custom and propriety to be properly clothed and prepared for the arrival of his betrothed and her associated nobles, Crispin's preparation for the meal itself went quickly, and before long, he was ushered into the dining hall. As was the custom, he waited beside the seat of his betrothed, standing at the ready to pull her chair out once she arrived, then sit beside her. The idea of sharing a meal, and later, more with her excited him to no end, and he had to put forth a conscious effort not to allow his cheeks to showcase his thoughts with untimely redness. 

As he waited for the other nobles to arrive, Cal, the slightly overweight servant who had come to his aid by escorting the Princess and her entourage, arrived at his elbow. "Your Grace. The Princess and her ladies will arrive in but a few minutes. If you would permit me to ask, how do you feel about this whole affair? The formality and all, I mean. Not to be too forward, or overstep my bounds as your servant, but you're only just now really stepping into the role of Royal Heir. It wasn't long ago that we were terrorizing the groomsmen and smiths, rather than preparing for the arrival of foreign dignitaries and nobles. Are you alright with the change?"

Crispin smiled openly, a trait which Cal and many others in the court admired. There wasn't a deceitful bone in the young noble's body. He trusted fiercely, and spoke truthfully. He would make a fine king, so long as he was advised well by someone with a better understanding of court manipulation and conniving. "I... I don't really know how to answer that, Cal. I miss the days of running about, having a grand old time, and the freedoms there. I miss being able to go about in a tunic and breeches, without these overstated clothes. But then... there's her. Emmanuelle..." He spoke the name with a tone of fascination and wonderment, each syllable pronounced as though it was a gem falling from his lips. "Whatever else I have to put up with, Emmanuelle is worth all of it. I know it's foolish, feeling this strongly so quickly, but I can't imagine feeling this strongly for anyone else. She's... really something special."

Cal shook his head, smiling back in return. "I can't imagine a better pair to rule. What I wouldn't give to be pledged to a flower like that." The two snapped back to attention, and Cal hurried off to go back to his duties of serving the meal as the doors to the dining hall opened to welcome in the guests.


[b]BARONESS SABINA OF FELWENT[/b]

If looks could kill, Lord Peter Medici, soon to be Chancellor of Kent, would have been dead ten times over. Not only did his presence remind Sabina of their times together long ago, but he was also, without much subtlety, suggesting that the two of them rekindle the dying ember that was all that remained of their old affairs. She couldn't allow him to get to her. [i]Stay calm, now. He's smooth, he's irritating,
 but you're stronger than he is. If you can just keep shooting him down, he'll eventually recognize the futility of pursuing you. That's what you want, right? Right?[/i]

"Oh, Lord Medici. I can't imagine any woman would deserve the sort of life which marriage to you would provide. Indeed, you are too clever by half; I'm afraid that you would leave her quite lost, were she not clever herself, and if she were, she would no doubt see through you, and any woman who knew the real you would never deign to wed you." She accented this convoluted comment with an innocent smile. "Besides, Lord Peter, I hardly took you for the sort to wed. In civilized society, married men do not frequent brothels or hire whores to keep them company when they are incapable of attracting any women of the daylight."

As they neared the slowly-opening doors of the dining hall, she whispered in a  more serious tone "If you listened to nothing else I said today, listen to this: Do not touch the Prince or Princess with your schemes. You are to be Prince Crispin's Chancellor, and if you do well, your manipulative spirit will serve him well, but if you turn against him or his queen, I swear to you now that I will do anything in my power to destroy you in the eyes of all in this court. The Prince is a good man, a guileless man, and the Princess is a kindhearted woman. They deserve their happiness, and you [i]will not[/i] compromise it."