<a class="postlink" href="https://78.media.tumblr.com/62118f011d4e09fd0bc4076a586ad3ea/tumblr_inline_pe5j13CMVT1trff3p_540.gif">[ img ]</a><br/><br/>She had looked at his arm and dismissed it..never in his life had Motto believed in the cruelty of subtle swords until that moment.  The beauty had very deliberately rejected him, his Kingship, and his country just then; wounding him profoundly and<span style="font-style: italic"><span style="font-weight: bold">then entered the dining room before him.  Unaccompanied. </span></span>It was a miracle that none of his servants gasped and held their composure (though one poor maid lost most of her color) and Motto fought to control his temper on their behalf alone.  Certainly not Lady Genevieve’s.  He stopped himself from reaching out to grab her and pull Her Ladyship back into the parlor for her first lesson, and stood there livid as she entered the dining room.  He had been a fool just then; licking at her shoes like a love-starved puppy and now the absolute humiliation of his office directly after.  Motto steeled himself and commanded his nerves to obey as if about to enter combat.  So be it.  Away with the discomfort and confusion.  In battle, the King would charge forth and banish all else from his heart.  He would do this for his people.<br/><br/>A full five seconds after Lady Genevieve passed through the doorway, King Motto appeared.  His features were flushed with residual embarrassment, but his eyes were steady.  Ignoring the tremendous impropriety that had just transpired, he seated himself and let the servants begin their graceful dance of filling their glasses and serving soup.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">"I wonder, Your Majesty,"</span><br/><br/>Motto glanced up in wonder and immediately shifted his expression into a polite and interested one.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">"Where I fit into your rule.  I am not one who enjoys empty hours. I was raised a ruler, not an ornament."</span><br/><br/>The tension was mounting and Motto decided to quell it straight away.<span style="color: #00FF40">“My Lady,..”</span>He set his spoon down and gazed at her evenly.<span style="color: #00FF40"> “You shall fit as my Queen.  Your duties shall be the same as mine; to serve our people.  Only I will be their King, and you the Queen..who takes her King’s arm whenever it is offered, who never walks in front of her King, who waits for her King to speak first at meals, and who shall make the most beautiful heirs known to mankind.” </span>His words had becoming increasingly crisp and Motto’s temper was beginning to show.<span style="color: #00FF40">“You will rule with servitude just as I do, My Lady.  Without personal attachment to your role but making every effort to honor it.”</span>He was furious but still sitting, thankfully.<span style="color: #00FF40">“Hector.”</span><br/><br/>“Yes, Sire?”<br/><br/><a class="postlink" href="https://i.imgur.com/dKGxDKE.jpg">[ img ]</a><br/><br/><span style="color: #00FF40">“Have them delay the viewing.”</span><br/><br/>“My Lord?”<br/><br/><span style="color: #00FF40">“Put it off but a day.” </span>He waved an assuring hand and picked his spoon once more.<span style="color: #00FF40"> “I wish to give the Lady a little rest from her journey before meeting her people.”</span>