Surprise, Surprise!

[Lord Frederick von Arles]

Frederick glared at her. Damn her. She caught onto that entirely too quickly for his own liking. Another sniff was sent her way and he refrained from answering immediately. After a moment's pause, he replied with, "You always did have an acerbic tongue in your mouth. I've always felt torn between loving it and hating it." He spread his hands, then.

"Yes," he answered dryly while crossing his arms, "Men like me."

Lady Hilda Elisabeta von Arles

[Lady Hilda Elisabeta von Arles]

Delighted to score a point on her brother - something that did not happen too often - Elise grinned at him. "Men like you what?" Deciding ignorance was her safest tool at the moment, she kept an innocent look focused on him, wondering how he intended to describe himself. It would be heavily pared down for her presumable naive ears, she was sure, but Frederick deserved a chance to warn her about 'men like him,' indeed.

Lord Frederick von Arles

[Lord Frederick von Arles]

Frederick rolled his eyes, "Oh, you know exactly what I mean especially since you levied the accusation at me to start with." He waggled a finger at her and shook his head. "And I am not going to buy your innocence in this matter, either. Nice try." It was hard to believe that Elise was blooming into a lovely adult woman. He really shouldn't be surprised that heads of men were going to swivel in her direction.

Lady Hilda Elisabeta von Arles

[Lady Hilda Elisabeta von Arles]

Duly caught, Elise laughed when that scolding finger waggled at her. He knew her too well in turn, making some of her better antics significantly less likely to succeed. "Oh, very well. Yes, I know what you mean, but I also know how to handle men like you, don't you think? I've been dealing with you for years, plenty of practice in that." Her eyes teased him as she grinned cheekily at her brother. These banters and clashes of wit were what she'd missed most about Frederick. Everyone else in their household was far too serious for her liking.

Lord Frederick von Arles

[Lord Frederick von Arles]

"Now," he waved that particular topic aside. She had her fun in teasing him about Serah and his general antics. "You are going to take a look at this Sarkozsian Prince, yes? And consider what I suggested." Having Elise has a tsarina would be daunting, indeed, but it was possible. He had a feeling that she could rise to the occasion.

Lady Hilda Elisabeta von Arles

[Lady Hilda Elisabeta von Arles]

Sometimes her brother could be such a wet blanket, a thoroughgoing Treniatan as stern as their father and as snobbish as their mother. Despite that, she still adored him and nodded. "If I can find a time to approach him without looking like a husband-hunter, yes. And I will think on it. Let me take a good measure of him first and see if I can stomach being around him for more than ten minutes at a time." There were reasons she hadn't agreed to marry a number of men her parents proposed could stand as husband to her... and anyone who tried to quell her spirit was definitely not on her list of considerations.


Lord Frederick von Arles

[Lord Frederick von Arles]

Oh, yes, he was a complete wet blanket and was out to spoil all of her fun! Someone had to keep her in check, though and there was no one better than her elder brother. Leaning forward, he pressed a kiss to her forehead. "I would never picture you as a husband-hunter, dear Elise. Besides, I think he might enjoy being hunted by you, anyway. You are a lovely young woman, both inside and out. I can't think of anything more attractive than that in a young woman."

Lady Hilda Elisabeta von Arles

[Lady Hilda Elisabeta von Arles]

She softened when he kissed her forehead and paid her a compliment, indeed. "Thank you. I will do my best, but I make no promises. He may find me utterly repulsive." Elise's tone suggested that was extremely unlikely, but the possibility couldn't be entirely discounted. Some people took an instantaneous dislike on sight to others, though she intended to make an appropriately good impression on the Prince.

"Now then... what else should I know before venturing out to wreak havoc on the Demerian court and other guests of this fine country?"

Lord Frederick von Arles

[Lord Frederick von Arles]

"Well, if he does throw out the window, I make certain I am below to catch you. I'll be there for you whenever I can," and that was a promise he never backed down on. Yet, he knew his sister was getting older. She would soon be going out in the world on her own. She was ready, he realized, but was he ready? Was he ready to let her go off? Hilda was precious to him. The thought of her might getting hurt or being wed to a man that treated her poorly filled him with some dread. Fortunately, he didn't let it show. There was no need to worry on such things.

Right?

"Ah, not that I know of. Well, there's a rumor of some from the island of Montenoire. I was actually going to see them and arrange a visit. I've never been there. A brother and sister. The brother is tall, handsome and confident while the sister is sweet, lovely and shy."

Lady Hilda Elisabeta von Arles

[Lady Hilda Elisabeta von Arles]

When Frederick made a promise, he would move heaven and earth itself to keep it. There was no one on whom Elise could rely more, no one whom she could trust more than her brother. He was protective, but she expected that. Elise von Arles was a young woman in a foreign country, away from the stern influence of parents and the accustomed. The one thing she trusted him not to do was smother her. Hers was a spirit that needed some freedom to thrive.

Hearing him speak of Montenoire, she perked up, interested indeed. "May I come with you? I've never met anyone from Montenoire, and I'd like to know more."


Lord Frederick von Arles

[Lord Frederick von Arles]

He knew she would not be able to resist the opportunity to meet with new people. "Oh, alright," he stated with a great deal of mock reluctance. "I suppose I can take you with me. Strangers greeting strangers in a strange land does certainly have its appeal, hm? Perhaps we'll find someone with whom to poke fun at the locals." He was, of course, simply jesting.

"Now go along and stay out of trouble. You've got some hunting to do."

Lady Hilda Elisabeta von Arles