<img alt="" src="https://i.imgur.com/tf6F3nz.gif" style="float:left; padding:6px;"/><span style="font-style: italic">"Father, you are always present to us, calling us to repentance. May this Lent be mindful of your mercy and reconsecrate our lives to you through Christ our Lord. Amen.''</span><br/><br/><span style="color: #A49FA3">"Amen.''</span><br/><br/>Ah, the Sunday Mass, and how it dragged on, and on, and on.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">"Pray my brothers and sisters that my sacrifice and yours may be acceptable to God, the Almighty Father.''</span><br/><br/><span style="color: #A49FA3">''Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands for the grace and glory of His name, for our good and the good of all His holy Church.''</span><br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">''Be pleased oh Lord with these sacrificial offerings. We humbly beseech you<br/>to accept us also and pardon our sins through Christ our Lord.''</span><br/><br/><span style="color: #A49FA3">"Amen.''</span><br/><span style="font-style: italic"><br/>"The Lord be with you. Amen.''</span><br/><br/><span style="color: #A49FA3">"And with your spirit,''</span><br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">"Lift up your hearts,''</span><br/><br/><span style="color: #A49FA3">"We lift our hearts to the Lord,''<br/></span><br/>As the Priest began the Eucharistic Prayer and extended his hands, Raphael's mind was on other matters just as his brain did for most of the lengthy service at the chapel. The accession of the new King led to the urgent renewal of the alliance between England and Scotland. It was all merry news for both the independent kingdoms of England and Scotland, just as his father had requested upon his death bed. Though, while Raphael was content with the five-year renewal of peace, he honestly couldn't wait until he could march to Scotland, and utterly destroy it. At this moment, Raphael wished he could dismiss himself from the congregation to cater to other matters only to be reminded that the day was going to be a long one, for they haven't had the midday feast yet.<br/><br/>The ceremony lasted for more than an hour while the Palace Hall that had witnessed many Kings in its time, was being magnificently prepared for the celebrations of the early afternoon. It was festively decorated with whimsical style, in white, blue and gold. The banners of England hung from the walls and the White Rose of York dangled from windows and ceilings. Food was being prepared in the royal kitchen, fit for King, Queen, and the Lords and Ladies. The good nobles of England were all obliged to attend the feast and conspicuous absences would be recorded. Raphael retreated to his chambers to rest first, not having yet slept since his arrival from the south of England the night before.<br/><br/>A manservant scurried past a crowd of gents in the hall and requested entrance to the King's chambers, carrying with him a silver platter, entertaining assortments of herbal soaps made from new recipes to try. Raphael was standing by the window watching the courtyard with a gaze piercing beyond the icy irises, then he raised his eyes to the sky instantly after, with an impatient, plaintiff regard. He then took a glance past his shoulder, instructing the manservant to hurry up and get his bath ready. The manservant set the platter aside and moved into the bathing area, preparing the washing water in the tub with chamomile, orange peel, rosemary and sage. And as he entered the bathroom, Raphael discarded his white rob on the floor and closed in on the manservant, barely looking him in the face while immersing himself in warm water. The touch to his head suddenly passed shivers through his scalp, and he sighed contently, leaning his head back into the hands of his manservant. Spine tingled, and his eyelids grew heavy and Raphael almost fully sank in the water with quiet pleasure melding under his skin while masterful fingers soothed his worried head.<br/><br/>In the next few months or so, Raphael had a plan to bring improvements to the water supply so that the residents of the palace had access to a more comfortable form of bathing. He also planned to completely renovate the bathing areas of the palace and bring light to the dark. Adding windows to the bathing rooms would mean ventilation during the warm season, and there would be seats by the windows and cupboards beneath them, especially for the ladies. The ceilings would be decorated with gold battens on a white background. And the wooden baths would be replaced with copper and attached to the walls. The baths will be supplied by two taps, one for cold water and one for hot. Straight behind each bathroom, in another small room, there would be charcoal- fired stove, or boiler, fed from a reservoir on the second floor of the palace, which would be filled by a conduit attached to the underground passage. Indeed, he would give in abundance just as he would take without mercy to ensure the loyalty of his subjects.<br/><br/>This year, the accumulation of snow between January and February had long melted since the end of February, and this early spring day of mid-April was warm, but with a gentle cool breeze. Raphael was escorted out to the fertile gardens of the castle where a jousting tournament was to be held in the morning, followed by an archery competition, dancing and music. Venturing deeper into the garden with contingent of followers, Raphael tilted his head slightly with a hint of a smile tugging at the corners of his lips and he joyed in the sights around him, brought to life by his newly-recruited Norman architect who had shared the idea of bringing the charm of the English countryside into the vast stretches of land behind the castle. He was also proud of his advisor's work who was asked to ensure the comfort of everyone that day and to let them want for nothing. Fountains ran with wine, only the finest for the ladies and lords of the court, and every mouthful of wine was a complex mystery of flavours, wood ageing and vibrancy. Rich canopies of brightly coloured sheers were tied back in a circle around a raised podium near the choir. And that choir in the distance was chanting, paying homage to the cycle of life and death itself.<br/><br/>For the morning occasion, the royal crown was absent from his head. Raphael's curls crowned his head instead, and he was dressed in an attire of darker shades of colour. It consisted of the tunic, the breeches and undergarments; damask leaves, golden detail, sable fur and purple silk, which was a colour restricted to himself, the Queen and their family members. A slightly inebriated noble advanced towards him, and body bowed as he arched his back to kiss the ring on the King's index finger, but Raphael quickly removed his hand before the mouth of the other touched his ring, and he dismissed the nobleman, impatiently so, opting to surround himself first by those who were close to him.<span style="color: #A49FA3">''Bring my wife the Queen, her ladies, my Lord MacAlastair, his wife,'' </span>he instructed his personal attendant, and he included other names of other family members in his request of them in the gardens. He hoped, or at least expected that the Queen will be delighted to see him again, just as he was anticipating to see both Emanuela and Andrew. He also wondered if his half-brother was going to join him in the Lent celebrations, not being yet aware that the Duke of Gloucester was preparing to plot behind his back.<br/><br/><br/><div style="text-align: center;">Aesthetics:<br/><br/>wearing: <a class="postlink" href="https://i.imgur.com/20zNg7I.png">attire</a><br/>current outdoor settings: <br/><a class="postlink" href="https://arewenearlythereyet.eu/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Blenheim-Palace-Lake.jpg">settin I</a><br/> <a class="postlink" href="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0895/0864/products/42-21195467_1024x1024.jpeg?v=1450887242">settin II</a><br/><a class="postlink" href="https://media.architecturaldigest.com/photos/5ab2b28bd91fc303af543bed/16:9/w_1280,c_limit/AD040118Benech03_sq.jpg">setting III</a><br/><a class="postlink" href="https://i.pinimg.com/originals/75/cd/58/75cd5895fd75c0d92623787cc1da62eb.jpg">setting IV</a></div>