<span style="font-family: 'Georgia'"><span style="font-size: 15px">The Northerner's Gaulian was flawless, if not for the accent. It rolled off the tongue, spoken mostly at the front of the mouth and with a light curl. All the vowels were softened, as though they were caressing a lover with their very voice. It was in sharp contrast to the harsh accent of the Gaulian, spoken mostly in the back of the throat and drawn out in odd places. He'd heard foreigners claim the Gaulian accent was one of the loveliest they'd heard, but they'd clearly never heard the Prince of Velorath speak. <br/>
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Bellamy could have sat there all day, drinking in anything he had to say. Not that he would process much more than how beautiful it sounded. He found a small smile toying with the corners of his lips, his body relaxing back into the chair. He almost wanted to close his eyes so that he could appreciate it better. Alas, Prince Everett wrapped up his little speech and all the attention was once again thrust upon Bellamy. <br/>
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Training to become the Crown Prince and future king of Gaule did not exactly come naturally to Bellamy. He struggled to focus in his classes and struggled to apply what little knowledge he managed to absorb in real life. He was horrendous at networking, always saying the wrong thing at the wrong time and failing to engage when he found the topic at hand boring - which was often. He regularly fell asleep during council meetings and when called upon to help build new war strategies and contingency plans in the case of an emergency, his ideas were always shot down. And he still refused to go on the weekly hunts, though no one was faulting him for that quite yet. He was sure as time passed it would come. <br/>
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But the one thing Bellamy was suited for was public speaking. He'd always had a charm about him and a natural way with words. And he was known to be successfully diplomatic, if he ever felt so compelled. It was rare, but Bellamy found himself wanting to impress the prince. <br/>
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With a small, if not empty, smile gracing his lips, Bellamy rose from his seat. He straightened his posture and folded his hands primly behind his back. <br/>
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"Welcome to Gaule, dear friends. I know I am correct when I say all of us here at the Lucotecia court are thrilled at your arrival. This joining has been months in the planning and I am quite pleased at the outcome. We look forward to learning all we can about your culture, so that we may one day use it to better our own. The future of both our countries leans heavily on this engagement. And I can't say I will mind the festivities that follow." He winked a little and paused, allowing the crowd chortle briefly before plowing on. <br/>
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"Princess Arabelle, you are far lovelier than I could ever have hoped. I look forward to the coming months. There is much for us to learn about each other, and I am eager to begin." Bellamy let their eye contact linger for a moment, building just the right amount of connection, before politely turning his gaze to the prince. He tried not to be distracted by how beautiful he was, or ask him a question just to hear that beautiful voice deliver the answer. "Prince Everett, I thank you a thousand times for agreeing to deliver your dear sister to us. I know it was a long and arduous journey and my gratitude simply cannot be expressed.<br/>
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"I hope you will all find your stay here comfortable and engaging. Now, I am sure that you are both very tired, so let us get this mingling over with, shall we?" <br/>
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He listened to the audience laugh again as he returned to his seat. He glanced over at his father, feeling pleased until he saw his stony expression. His smile immediately dropped and he sighed quietly to himself, slumping a little in his seat. He didn't know why he tried. <br/>
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King Elroy stood, his hands folded behind his back as well. <br/>
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"As my son said before, we welcome the Velorathian court to our humble abode. This union will be one for the history books. Now, if the court would please exit through one of the side doors; the Luc and Hughes family must be more personally introduced."<br/>
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Bellamy's father, on the other hand, was not known for his public speaking. The court murmured amongst themselves as they shambled reluctantly towards the exit. Bellamy didn't feel bad for them in the slightest. They would get their chance to sink their claws into the newcomers at the introductory ball in three days. Bellamy was eager to see the prince up close. And the princess, he supposed. <br/>
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He rose from his chair and painted a large grin on his face, descending the steps and thrusting a hand out to Prince Everett. The Gaule greeted each other with a kiss to each cheek, but the Velorathian were known to greet each other with firm handshakes. Or so the ambassador had told him over a year ago. <br/>
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"Welcome!" he said cheerfully. "It truly is a delight to finally meet you. Fredrick, your ambassador, has told me so much. I trust your journey went well?"</span></span>