<div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote"><a href="https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=173980.msg8263553#msg8263553">Quote from: chaoslord29 on 21-05-2013, 20:19:36</a></div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">Stepping forward, he made a brief approach towards the King and Queen, then turned on the crowd and raised his goblet. “Long live the King and Queen of Miragliano!” He cried out as Eglio and his bride took their place at the head of the feast, <br/></blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div><br/>========================<br/><br/><br/><strong>"Long live the King and Queen"</strong>the crowd dutifully responded.  Most of them were sincere, a few were not.<br/><br/>Most of the Miraglianese present had already formed strong opinions of the head of the Protectorate's delegation - many of them had already formed them before they ever laid eyes on him.  Most of those opinions were negative.  Like Gilberto, many of them knew he could not be too far removed from the barbarian state of his ancestors.  Others thought him a pompous ass (though their own pomposity could be excused - after all,<em>they</em>were of the Miragliano nobility.)<br/><br/>Then there was that element that deemed anything "foreign" was worthy of interest, and even emulation.<br/><br/>A few of the more honest ones, who belonged to the first group, grudgingly conceded the Protectorate made a wise choice.<br/><br/>Among the women, an unspoken challenge had arisen; which of them would be the first to lure the Count into her bed.<br/><br/><br/>The King thanked the Count and then lifted his own glass in response -- a toast to the Protectorate and its ruling council, then sat down again beside the lovely Queen.  The toast would have been much simpler if the Reikmar had a king or an emperor.  Thank goodness for his advisers who anticipated the exchange of toasts and briefed the king accordingly.<br/><br/><div align="center">-------</div><br/>Katelyn's timing was fortuitous, distracting her elderly husband in the midst of Manfred's question about Reikmar cuisine:<br/><br/><div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote"><a href="https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=173980.msg8263553#msg8263553">Quote from: chaoslord29 on 21-05-2013, 20:19:36</a></div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote"> “I wonder, your majesty, if Kat has had the opportunity to share with you any other Reikmar delicacies?” <br/></blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div><br/><br/>The crowd's silent gasp was palpable.  He'd called the Queen ... "Kat"?  Everyone seemed frozen in place, some in mid bite, waiting to see how the king reacted to this terrible breech in protocol -- this insult to himself, his queen, and their kingdom.<br/><br/>"Huh?  What?" the distracted king mumbled, barely heard by even the closest to him as he looked up from his wife's hand on the thigh, not sure he heard what he heard. The Count continued, pouring wine and talking as if the king had not said anything.  The King sat silent as Manfred continued, as if unaware of the sin he'd just committed.<br/><br/><br/><div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote"><a href="https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=173980.msg8263553#msg8263553">Quote from: chaoslord29 on 21-05-2013, 20:19:36</a></div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">“Or you Prince Gilberto? I realize to the refined palettes of Marigliano smoked meats might otherwise be considered the faire of peasants, but in the Protectorate, any man worth his measure will have be sure his wife makes a meal of them.” He said, as the servers brought forward trays of sausages and bratwurst, spiced and smoked and steaming.<br/></blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div><br/>Gilberto didn't respond at first.  He had been involved in keeping just the right balance of tomato and olive oil in each bite when Manfred spoke.  The king may have been too distracted to hear this insult to the Queen but he was not.  Gilberto was furious with the barbarian.  How<em>dare</em>he refer to the Queen in such an insulting manner!  How<em>dare</em>he, a mere<em>nobody</em>in this court, suggest any such familiarity exist between them!  Every true Miragliano nobleman was ready to issue the challenge to this insult of the Queen, and Gilberto, the one who loved her most, would have been the first among them ... it was only the sheer awkwardness of the situation that kept them all silent.<br/><br/>A lot of eyes were on Manfred when he winked at the Queen, but because he was facing away from the majority of them now, pouring the wine himself, only the king could see.  It was most disconcerting to his royal personage, and had he been 40 years younger the Count might already be dead.  As it was, a lot of lives were already riding on this diplomatic exchange, and a king who had spent a lifetime at war wanted to depart the world in peace.  It would all be worked out, he was sure.<br/><br/>He cleared his throat and answered the question he'd barely heard.  Yes, he responded, "you'll recall<em>both</em>our glorious queens hailed from the Reikmarches, and each brought her own cook.  Here, it is not seemly for a Queen to slave away in the kitchens."  The king looked down at the plate being piled high with food he didn't particularly care for.  It would be no problem, though, for he was a robust and healthy king despite his years, and in the interest of diplomacy and peace between the peoples he would do his duty by consuming it all and pretend it was the best food he'd ever tasted.<br/><br/>Meanwhile, Gilberto slowly stood.  This movement got everyones attention.  Gilberto didn't realize it, but his left hand was gripping the sword he wore, his hand clinched and red.  A few noblemen shifted uneasily now, ready to move to protect their prince.  Aldo was not present, as it would not be seemly for each guest at a dinner to have a bodyguard standing behind him or her.  He looked at the beautiful queen and swore silently that someday soon he would<em>kill</em>this man for her.  Two deep breaths later, he bowed slightly to the Count and responded.<br/><br/>"On campaign ... with the Army.  One has to put up with all manner of hardship on campaign."  Though he'd never actually been at war, technically he had been "on campaign" to patrol his own borders, and yes, there had been hardships such as having to eat ill-prepared food.<br/><br/>A sigh of relief from the court.  The prince had pulled it off, countering the Count's insult with one of his own instead of acting in the rash manner they feared he might.  Though the tension was still present, it was a good sign ... the future king had made points with the nobility.<br/><br/>The King was perhaps the only person in the room who didn't realize Gilberto had stood in response to the Count's insult, thinking he was just being gracious by standing to address the diplomat's question.  That's why he found his son's answer confusing.  "Sit down young man, eat ... remember,<em>this</em>is a part of<em>your</em>heritage, too."<br/>