The King had received ambassadors and envoys before, so he saw nothing different in Count von Holstein than he'd seen countless times before.    It would be impractical to try to introduce everyone in the room, even though everyone in attendance was someone of importance -- dukes and earls, counts and barons, generals and admirals, bishops and rich merchants.  The King did, however, respond by acknowledging the assistance of three of the Reichmar's most renowned intellectuals:  Professor Burgstaller, Doctor Langenberd, and Father Fischer, who had graciously responded to the King's request for tutors for the young prince, and who helped to lay the groundwork for furthering diplomatic relations.  He went on to say publically what he already knew the Count already knew from the briefings they had both received prior to this formal meeting -- that a banquet was being prepared in their honor, and a formal invitation was hereby extended to the noble Count and his countrymen.<br/><br/>----------<br/><br/>In the Crown Prince's suite, Gilberto had hidden with his stationary the beginning of a love letter and three love poems in various stages of construction -- all of them intended for the Queen.  Gilberto knew that if he was ever brave (or rash) enough to deliver them, the sender would have to remain anonymous.  He had often wondered if there might be other men at court who had expressed their platonic courtly love for her.  Surely if she was a personage less than the Queen she would require a secretary just to keep the poems and letters from a multitude of lovers in some semblance of order.  But the Queen?  To express love for a queen was of questionable virtue.  To do anything beyond writing poetry to her beauty was treason.  Even for a prince.<br/><br/>Gilberto loved and respected his father, and the dutiful loving son had some notion his father would live forever.  The pragmatist in him, however, realized his father was an old  man - and the queen a young woman.  Far too young to be his mother.  And when he ascended to the throne, he would need a wife.  Was it too much to hope for?  Now, here in the throne room with all the hoopla going on, Gilberto's thoughts were interrupted by the feeling of intimidation he felt toward this Count von Holstein.  Count indeed!  Made a count by whom?  Some upstart barbarian tribal chieftain with delusions of nobility?  Katelyn deserved nothing less than a King.  Or an Emperor.  Gilberto would surely become a king, and could perhaps even become an emperor.  He would conquer the world for her.<br/><br/>Gilberto knew he shouldn't stare at Katelyn, especially in public.  There was some friendly joking when his father first married her, about the young prince being infatuated with his beautiful new stepmother, but the point was made that he wasn't just any young man, he was a prince and had to learn to keep himself composed at all times, especially in public.  Rumors of the Crown Prince and the Queen, even if not true, could be disastrous, and he must make every effort to not give his father's enemies (and there were always political enemies, even in the happiest of kingdoms) any ammunition to use against the king.<br/><br/>Then he glanced over at her.  Surely, nothing could be made of a little glance -- otherwise he'd never get to see her.  And she winked at him!  Dear God in Heaven ... surely she is the most beautiful creature ever created.  The Prince's heart was racing, and he was breathing faster, and<br/><div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote"><a href="https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=173980.msg8225127#msg8225127">Quote from: chaoslord29 on 14-05-2013, 21:02:38</a></div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">  “And to you Prince Gilberto, </blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div><br/>He quickly jerked his eyes off the beautiful Queen and back to the pompous Count.<br/><br/><div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote"><a href="https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=173980.msg8225127#msg8225127">Quote from: chaoslord29 on 14-05-2013, 21:02:38</a></div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote"> ... it is my honor to present a woefully belated gift in honor of your eligibility throughout the realm and a token of our hopes for the continued relations between our peoples.” </blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div><br/>As the beautiful young girl stepped forward, a retainer seemed to appear out of nowhere to intercept her ... his job was to receive the Prince's gift and hand it to the Prince himself.  After all, formalities must be observed, and not just anyone gets to have contact with a member of the Royal Family.<br/><br/>"That's alright, Aldo" the Prince said, motioning him back to his place beside and just behind the prince, where his livery was actually designed to blend in with the tapestry behind him.  It wasn't magic, it didn't make him invisible of course, just not as likely to be noticed.  The Prince took a step forward to receive the small chest directly from the woman.  It was the sort of gesture that, had there been newspapers and celebrity watchers at the time, would have generated controversy for days to follow -- breaking with tradition - a gracious gesture, or a decline into anarchy?  She was a lovely girl, but compared to the Queen she might as well have been hiding behind Aldo.  He glanced down at the box, not sure now whether it should be opened or not.  The lock made the decision for him, and also made it awkward for him to know what to do or say now.  Surely something witty will come to mind two hours hence, but for the moment, all the Prince could do is mumble "thank you" then realizing nobody could have heard him, cleared his throat and said it a little more loudly.  Then he stepped back into place and Aldo, bless him, discretely took possession of the chest so his prince wouldn't be standing there holding it for the rest of the proceedings.<br/><br/>Tomorrow Gilberto would set the royal tailor about designing a new, more elaborate uniform for his regiment.  After all, it was<em>his</em>regiment, and the regiment should look the part.