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Post by Wilhelm Cransnikov on May 29, 2022 2:04:26 GMT
Wilhelm sat contentedly sipping tea on the train. He looked over at Wilhelm II, who tired out by the morning's excitement of departing WTC and sailing to Prussionia, was taking a nap, and to Guilherme who, ever the studious child, was practicing basic math. The trip by all accounts was going fine, with the state being left in capable hands, and no trouble occurring on their travels. While he can't quite get over his reservations over bringing his two wards to ID, Wilhelm still feels that poor Florin needs to meet children his own age and that this excursion into a foreign land will be good for the two future monarchs.
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Post by Emperor Florin von Marcum on May 29, 2022 2:44:39 GMT
As the train from Prussoia crossed the Divinian Border, a contingent of the Border Guard sounded off a series of ruffles and flourishes from the tuba, cornu, and buccina, which could barely be heard as the coaches passed quickly by. At the passing of every fort, a fourteen gun salute rang from the battery, honoring the visiting Tholes. Stops for refueling were carefully guarded, with throngs of curious Divinians being forced away from the train.
When the train made its final stop in St. Helena, the entire Council of Wisdom stood on the platform awaiting the departure. At the head of the group was the young Duke Christoph Estrana, ramrod straight and wearing his Marcan Army Uniform. Still wet runes of woad snaked up his exposed left arm, which he beat against his breast in a traditional Divninan salute.
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Post by Wilhelm Cransnikov on May 29, 2022 3:12:16 GMT
Wilhelm walked down the stairs of the train before turning to help Wilhelm II down the steps. When they were on the ground Wilhelm II looked in awe at the assembled divinians before doing a double take and fixing his Imperial eyes at a figure in the crowd. Wilhelm II smiled as he ran to Christoph shouting, "Eam! Eam!" while bringing his one good arm out for a hug. Christoph, in turn, lifted Wilhelm II up into a hug, inadvertently covering him in woad, "easy there fillius."
Wilhelm quickly broke his salute as he watched his grandson's antics and failed to suppress a chuckle as he walked over, Guilherme in tow. After taking Wilhelm II and wiping woad from his face, Wilhelm spoke, "Your greetings are most warm my friends, please excuse the little one he's quite excited to see his kin."
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Post by Emperor Florin von Marcum on May 29, 2022 3:33:06 GMT
Christoph’s face dropped back into formality, looking very much like his father. “That is kind of you to say, Your Majesty. I'd have brought along my wife and Valerius, but they are both still getting settled into the capital. Speaking of,” he gestured toward the awaiting fleet of cars. “I suspect the Regent and Emperor are awaiting us.”
With the roads already cleared in advance, the procession made its way through the city with little fuss. The Palatine Hill, overlooking the rest of the city, was ever impressive to the young Duke. The Tyrian dome of St. Charles Cathedral would have dominated the skyline, were it not for the sun reflecting brightly off the vermeil inlaid in the towering columns and vaults of the Argent Palace.
The guests were greeted at the Palace by a Legion of the Praetorian Guard and Marcan Fusiliers in full Ceremonial Garb. Although the Praetorians had adopted a modern style uniform (though much embellished in white and purple), the Marcan 7th Fusiliers retained their 12th century garb, and beat their pikes in time with the band playing the Tholish anthem. On the steps of the Palace stood the Empress Regent, coughing aggressively into a handkerchief and leaning heavily on her cane for support.
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Post by Wilhelm Cransnikov on May 29, 2022 3:46:50 GMT
Wilhelm strode up to the Empress and regent with the two princes in tow. Nodding at the regent though not quite bowing at her Wilhelm spoke, "Good morning, Your Serene Majesty, I am awed by the warmness and pomp shown in your greetings. Where is the little emperor? We have gifts for him."
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Post by Emperor Florin von Marcum on May 29, 2022 3:57:41 GMT
Ethlynn went wide eyed, gazing from the handkerchief in her hands to her side where she had presumed Florin was. With a look, the closest Praetorian answered “He returned to the Hall, Ma’am. I had the men inside hold him off.”
The Empress Regent flushed before turning back to Wilhelm. “My sincerest apologies. He does get nervous about visitors.” The group entered the palace, which had been built extensively upon for the last 800 years, leading to a truly maze-like complex. In the main hall, upon the dias stood a single, unimpressive velvet chair. A pair of small hands clutched the frame, white-knuckled. The sound of approaching footsteps caused Florin to peek out from behind it, but he quickly snapped back into hiding upon seeing the group of strangers.
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Post by Wilhelm Cransnikov on May 29, 2022 4:07:11 GMT
With a cough Wilhelm orders his men to leave the room. he orders divinian guard to bring him the presents he got (he was slightly annoyed that they didn't trust him enough to carry the boxes himself though it was understandable), before crouching down and speaking, "hello nefa, I'm Wilhelm. Could you come out and greet your cousins? I have cookies."
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Post by Emperor Florin von Marcum on May 29, 2022 4:18:22 GMT
There was a shuffle as servants and staff evacuated the hall. Florin poked his head out again, wide eyed and brows furrowed. He looked as if he was considering retreating back behind the chair, until Ethlynn tapped her cane against the marbled floor, causing him to jump. Slowly, he stepped out, clutching the front of his tunic uncomfortably. With a voice pinched high in nervousness, he tried to recite a formal greeting.
“Umm. Thank you. Your Majesty. Welcome to Divinium? I-I’m pleased. To meet you I mean! And about the gifts! I’m pleased… for…both.” After a moment he stepped forward slightly, puzzling over his next words. “I think I’m supposed to offer you… this.” He rummaged in his tunic pocket before producing a single scallop shell, which he held out gingerly to Wilhelm with trembling hands.
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Post by Wilhelm Cransnikov on May 29, 2022 4:28:06 GMT
Wilhelm could not hide his wide grin as he took Florin's shell, "You have my thanks great emperor, truly I am humbled by your majesty." He motioned to the two boys at his side. Wilhelm II bounded up to florin and offered his hand up towards the older boy, "Hi! I'm also willhelm, nice to meet you!" Guilherme spoke next with an annoyed tone, "I am Guilherme crown prince of Magdalenum." Wilhelm shot him a displeased look at this but said nothing else not wanting to further fluster poor Florin.
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Post by Emperor Florin von Marcum on May 29, 2022 12:22:37 GMT
The boy smiled lopsidedly from Wilhelm to Wilhelm II, running his foot along the ground as he spoke. “Um yeah, hello! It’s nice to meet you. I bet it’s real different here, huh?” His smile stayed in place as he spoke to Guilherme, though he did not face him fully. “Hello PRINCE Guilherme. I’m Florin Aurelius. Emperor of Divinium. I’m gonna marry your sister!” He puffed out his chest proudly, eliciting another coughing fit from Ethlynn.
Realizing finally what his retort had meant, Florin turned back toward Wilhelm, desperate to change the topic. He pointed at the shell. “That means my home is your home now Patruus. And all of Divinium is my home I guess! You’re under my protection. See, I have the other half. That way in case you get lost, we can find you! Neat, huh?”
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Post by Wilhelm Cransnikov on May 29, 2022 15:23:15 GMT
There was a slight pause at Florin's words before Wilhelm II stared nearly keeling over in laughter, Wilhelm for his part held his neutral facade for a few more moments before snickering, and poor Guilherme's face went as red as a tomato as he balled his hands to fists so hard the whites of his knuckles could be seen. Wilhelm patted Guilherme on the back saying, "Easy there boy, a flyting goes two ways. Never sting if you don't want to be stung."
Turning back to Florin, Wilhelm spoke again, "Indeed, your protection has been seen and is much appreciated. I have but one more gift for you, young emperor. Amongst the Tholes it is our tradition to gift princes young hounds to guard them when they sleep and other such moments, while you are a prince no longer I feel the tradition still applies." With this Wilhelm opened a covered cage brought with them and offered Florin a Fomorian Wolfhound puppy who merely yawned after being awoken from his nap.
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Post by Emperor Florin von Marcum on May 29, 2022 15:59:42 GMT
“OH!” Florin immediately padded over to the crate, tucking his tunic below his knees as he knelt in front of the animal. His eyes went wide, staring directly at his grandmother. “Thank you… but I’m not allowed to…”
Ethlynn waved her hand dismissively. “I’m sure we can dispense with that rule in this particular instance. It was a holdover anyway. From your mother. You’ll need a companion.”
The young emperor responded simply by burying his head into the pup's side. Ethlynn however, continued speaking. “Thank you all, truly. The emperor has gifts for you as well. Florin?”
Wiping his eyes, Florin rose delicately, ensuring the front of his clothes remained appropriately covering him. He nodded, and ran off to one of the adjoining rooms. He returned shortly after, his arms full with the weight of three items wrapped in red cloth. He squinted at the label on each before handing it off to the correct person.
“I know they’re different from what you all use but…well I thought you’d like them.”
Each man was handed a Gladius. For Wilhelm II, the entire hilt was gilded. Etched into it were images of a charging boar with enamel trillium’s inlaid throughout. A cross, and neat Aerali’i runes encircling it capped the pommel. For Guilherme, silver, with a golden bull surrounded by gilt stars swept up the hilt. Finally, for Wilhelm a simple looking gladius, rusted and bent, without any of the finery of the other two. “That,” he explained, “Was found when we started rebuilding Latium. We…think it’s from the same time as Difid! You can tell because of the way the blade was joined right there! The metalwork is…” he trailed off, when Ethlynn raised an eyebrow. “Umm… it’s super old.”
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Post by Wilhelm Cransnikov on May 29, 2022 16:31:43 GMT
Wilhelm II's eyes shined as he was handed his gladius. He proudly held it aloft with his one good hand staring up at it like it was excal- unable to support the weight he tips forward and falls to the ground. Not deterred in the slightest Wilhelm II stares at the pretty sword thinking, one day I'll be worthy to wield you. Guilherme still sulking looked at the blade sullenly for a moment before handing it back to a servant. Wilhelm carefully studied the blade he was given, running his hand across the rusted flats of the blade. Finding no flaw other than rust Wilhelm moved the blade around somewhat testing its weight, despite the bending and rust the fine weighting of the original blade was self-evident (though it still was far to light a blade for him.) Wilhelm nodded at the blade before turning to Florin, "Even many centuries old the excellence of the blade shines through, clean off the rust and bend it back to shape and I'd trust the blade on the battlefield."
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Post by Emperor Florin von Marcum on May 29, 2022 17:00:39 GMT
Florin looked very seriously at Wilhelm. “I’m not sure that’s a good idea Patruus. The Legions at Latium got beat really really bad. You should see all the bodies we had to bury under the pomerium. And you can get hurt on a battlefield. I think it’s better not to fight. We can umm… have cookies instead?”
The Regent, still choking, finally spoke up. “Not yet my dear. We have supper yet to eat. And I am sure our guests would prefer to settle in before you attempt to drag them across the whole of the country.”
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Post by Emperor Florin von Marcum on Jun 1, 2022 0:22:56 GMT
Soon after the Tholes had been shown to their quarters (Florin had happily shown them how the three apartments were subtlety joined, should they need to visit one another) a servant escorted them back to the hall. The room was packed with various nobles and military men, who paid their respects as they passed through. Particular attention was paid to Wilhelm, with the men of the Eques muscling in to try and speak of the best places to hunt, or campaigns. The children were paid little more than simple respects. Ethlynn silently explained that feasts were not often a place for children.
The sound of an organ piping out a simple seven note tune stopped all conversation, and the groups began to disperse off into various attached rooms. Florin giggled, noting the confused look from his guests. “We have to let the plebs in! They eat here, and everyone else gets their own special room. Neat huh?”
A few Praetorians stepped in front of the guests of honor as the throng of common folk was allowed entry into the hall. Servants began to come in with trays of food, tables, and chairs. The organ, from somewhere off in the distance, started up again. The guards then escorted the group off toward the Dias. A marble slab in the wall had been subtly fitted with a handle that, when pushed, slid open to reveal the Imperial Triclinium.
The room was intimate yet richly decorated. The walls were paneled in a deep red, contrasting a Mosiac of sea creatures that swept across the floor. In the center of the room was a small marble fountain that flowed not with water, but with a bright, unnatural looking purple liquid. Couches were arranged around the room for eating, but a small citrus table and chairs had also been brought in to respect their guests. Instead of courses, serving tables had been placed against the walls of the room, displaying a variety of foods, from decadent lobster stuffed with caviar, to the bizarre dolphin meatballs in garum, and simple rustic stew.
Florin immediately padded over to one of the couches and clambered onto it. He then patted the cushion awkwardly, and smiled at Wilhelm II. “Umm… you can sit with me? If you want. I can show you what everything is.”
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Post by Wilhelm Cransnikov on Jun 23, 2022 18:50:55 GMT
Wilhelm II bounded over to Florin and happily clambered on to the couch. Wilhelm II turned to Florin with stars in his eyes, "You can eat while sitting on coaches? That's so cool, I'm not allowed to eat on a coach back home since its 'improper and unprincely'." After some more discussion, Wilhelm II began eating a wide variety of the strange foods presented, enjoying the exotic and odd flavors.
Wilhelm for his part has a small yet respectful taste of the food presented before departing to join the greater party, relying on his experience with such social functions to carry him through the night.
Guilherme pointedly did not sit with the other two princes and instead elected to sit alone. He was at least pleased to eat a traditional meal of spaghetti and meat balls but was given pause by the rubbery taste of the meat, Florin seeing that spoke, "how are you liking the dolphin meat balls? They were always a favorite of mine." This was too much for the young prince who spat out the offending ball of meat into a handkerchief and stormed out of the room leaving a confused Florin to wonder what he did wrong. Wilhelm II calmed his new friend stating, "Don't worry about he's just being a grump."
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Post by Emperor Florin von Marcum on Jun 23, 2022 19:24:26 GMT
“Oh. Ummm feel better…” was all the boy could get out before Guilherme strode out of the room. He tried to enjoy his meal, but all the important people circulating through set him on edge. Finally he hopped off the sofa and tugged on Ethlynn’s skirt. “Mm goin to the grotto.” She simply nodded and continued her conversation with Christoph, who saluted him on the way out the door
~~~
Outside in the main hall, the Serfs we’re making merry, eating and filling their cups at the various fountains that had been constructed throughout the hall. Wilhelm had to brush closely past dancing couples, who paid no mind as they accidentally whipped a scarf past his face. Although the serfs were indifferent to him heads poked out of the adjoining rooms intently hoping the man would grace them with his presence.
A woman and child stopped in front of him though, amber eyes staring up at him warmly. “Sir? If you have a moment? I believe the equites would appreciate your presence.” She nodded toward one of the rooms to the left. “If you would please do me a favor and tell the propraetor his son is here? I can’t very well enter myself you see.” She pulled her palla about her shoulders before bowing awkwardly and turning heel in the other direction without another word.
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