Preparations

[Jovianus Marcus]

Marcus maintained a pleasant persona throughout the dinner with his father. It was somewhat difficult, but he managed. He knew it was necessary. Once the dinner was concluded, he excused himself and made his way from the room. The pleasant expression dropped the moment he exited. Damn. His father was more determined than he anticipated and this was going to require some fast thinking on his part. Could Marcus pull it off? He didn't know. A random page was grabbed with orders to find Lucius and have him meet in his expansive chambers.

Once he entered, he stripped off the formal clothing and went to something far more comfortable. Wine was requested as well as some bread if Lucius was still hungry. Once the wine had arrived, he poured himself a goblet full and began to imbibe. A great deal needed to be discussed and a greater deal needed to be planned. How Lucius would respond was something only time would tell.

Corialaris Lucius

[Corialaris Lucius]

Lucius was always hungry. He was always seen nibbling, chewing, munching or consuming something when he wasn't hard at practice or drilling those under his command. He'd devoured his dinner, but there was a considerable rumble heard in the direction of his stomach as he went to answer the demand placed by the page. Stopping to pull on a clean tunic and rake a hand through his hair, he reached the door and gave a quick knock, curious as to why he'd been summoned. Whatever it was, it promised to be of interest. Marcus had the most unusual and intriguing stories and situations.

"You rang, my lord?" Called through the door, he grinned to himself, hoping he wasn't about to land himself in serious difficulty.


Jovianus Marcus

[Jovianus Marcus]

Well, then the bread might not suffice! Perhaps he should have a boar brought in! Hearing the knock, he smiled and then beckoned for the man to enter. "Come in, Lucius, come in and make yourself comfortable. Thank you for coming. I know you've got a busy training schedule going on as late, but I promise that this is going to be worth your while. As always." A playful smirk formed before taking a sip of his wine.

"Father has proposed that revive an ancient tradition and steal my future bride from Demeria." Marcus was never one for dancing around the subject.

Corialaris Lucius

[Corialaris Lucius]

A boar would be nice. They could snack on it all evening over ale! A grin greeted Marcus as he made his way in and did just that - made himself comfortable by dropping into a chair and extending a hand to pick up his own wine. Lucius preferred ale as a rule, but he'd make do with wine, especially as he was intrigued. Marcus didn't often send for him at night, so when he did, it promised to be good.

No sooner did he start to sip then Marcus delivered his opening comment, choking on it as he stared over the rim at his friend. The Emperor actually considered the old rite appropriate. Recovering with a swift thump to his own chest, air gratefully wheezed in, he coughed and cleared throat and head. "I'm sorry, I'm not sure I heard you right. Did you just say your father wants you to steal a bride from Demeria?" His eyes were round and wide. "Just who is he proposing you steal?"


Jovianus Marcus

[Jovianus Marcus]

Marcus tilted his head as his friend reacted in the manner that he rather expected. He smiled faintly and even winced a bit when he started coughing. Fortunately, Lucius recovered quickly enough. The look on Lucius's face, however, said it all. That was exactly what Marcus had wanted to do with his father, but he refrained. "Indeed, I did just say that. The Princess Emmaline is his intended bride for me." He spread his hands then and drew his lips into a thin line. The expression was brief.

"Needless to say, I don't think it's the best idea he's had. He has it in his head that I need to establish my future rule of the Empire with a firm and swift act. Since Demeria will do nothing in the face of such an act, it'll be seen as... going into a lion's den and snatch the prize from the jaw without actually getting hurt in the process. I'm not inclined to agree with him."

Corialaris Lucius

[Corialaris Lucius]

Swiftly grasping that this wasn't a joke, that Marcus was far from laughing at it and that the Emperor was dead serious about it, Lucius quickly curtailed any laughter that threatened to emerge. Gulping down half of his wine, he thought it over for a few minutes, able to see both perspectives. It would certainly kick off Marcus's reign with an unarguable bang, but no Emperor, new or old, wanted to start with a war.

"Well," he answered slowly, "I can agree that stealing your bride out from under her family's noses isn't the answer, even if the girl herself might be. Especially since you and I know it won't be half as easy as he's suggesting it is. I also sincerely doubt that Demeria will do nothing. We're talking about one of their princesses, and they don't have so many that they're going to let one go without a fight, even if you do make her your Empress. Which you won't, as we both know." Lucius paused, then eyed his friend. "Right?"

[Jovianus Marcus]

"I do agree with my father that I need a wife, I just don't know which woman I should select. A number of families have been more or less parading their daughters in front of me." It was to expected, but Marcus, for some reason, found the entire situation awkward. Fortunately for all involved, he took the attempts in stride. "A foreign Empress might be useful, though," he reasoned quietly.

"We're a nation of warriors with a proud military. I will never end that, but we're falling behind in this world, Lucius. Our strength is only going to get us so far. Our weapons are becoming outclassed and I daresay our tactics won't be too far behind. We need time. We need to stall the rest of the nations. The only way I can see that is if I go a more ... diplomatic route. Maybe this Demerian princess is that way."

[Corialaris Lucius]

"Wife is one thing, my friend, but an Empress is another," Lucius pointed out calmly, none too sure he liked where this was going. "We're talking about someone who has no idea of our ways, Marcus. What makes you think this Demeria princess, or any foreign princess for that matter, can handle the near-constant strife and pressure of being an Empress? Don't get me wrong," he threw up a hand in anticipation of his friend's protests, "I'm sure she's beautiful, gentle and sweet, but is that what you need beside you? No offense to His Imperial Majesty, but his reign is nearly over and yours is beginning. It's you who has to live with these choices."

The rest of the wine was downed in a single swallow before he got up to refill his cup, tilting the bottle with silent inquiry to see if Marcus's cup required topping off. "If it's forestalling the rest of the nations, then any of the foreign girls will do. There's two unmarried princesses in Sarkozsy, and I understand that Treniata's got some sensible girls, though they may not be the beauties you might expect. Why just set your sights on Demeria, or is there something I'm missing here?"

[Jovianus Marcus]

Marcus listened closely to Lucius. Most people tended to think that Lucius was nothing but a soldier and a big eater. Marcus knew better. Indeed, he even anticipated some of Marcus's protests, but the heir kept his mouth shut. A lengthy sip of wine was enjoyed as he pondered and chewed over his thoughts. Some bread was taken to make that act more literal. He did make a fine point. Princess Emmaline would not have the slightest clue what to expect here. Arton was a harsher political environment than Demeria, or so he assumed.

The cup was offered to his friend, indicating that he did, indeed, want more. "I assumed that Demeria must be the choice since that is what Father was expecting, but ... you do make a fair point. There is Sarkozsy to consider and Treniata. There is even Linten. It should likely be about two things: a good Empress and something that benefits the Empire. Demeria has food. Linten has wood. Treniata has trade. Sarkozsy.... " Well. He rose his eyebrows at his friend.

[Corialaris Lucius]

"Sarkozsy has starving men who will be glad to join the Imperial army if it means they have a full belly," he said it for Marcus, knowing the other was disinclined to speak so harshly. Marcus was the politician. The brains to his brawn. It worked well for Lucius, who kept his intelligence for Marcus alone. No one else saw him for who he really could be, and Lucius was just fine with that. It kept him alive and the target off his back. "I think before you play burglar, you might want to take a look around and decide who's going to survive here. If you need to pay me to keep your bride alive, you'll bury us both before the year's out."

It was blunt, it was even harsh, but it was honest. He never gave Marcus any less. "Want me to come with you? No one would suspect you with a hulking brute like me behind you." A grin flashed as he refilled Marcus's cup, knowing just how full of nonsense he sounded right then.

[Jovianus Marcus]

The question made Marcus chuckle soundly. Lucius never failed to make him laugh, either. Friends like him were invaluable, especially in times like this. A healthy sip of the wine was enjoyed, "Alright, alright, you've made your point, Lucius. I'll go look around to see what is available. The good news that they are both in one location right now. Who knows, we may be lucky and Demeria will get even more royal dignitaries. We have to give Demeria credit for their popularity at the moment."

The second question didn't even need a moment's consideration, "Absolutely you're coming with me. Who knows what's going to happen once we get there and they realize just who we are."

[Corialaris Lucius]

He just looked like a muscle-bound warrior, but Marcus understood there was a working mind between his ears. Giving his friend a goofy grin, Lucius dropped back into his chair and stretched his long legs out. "True, and there's always that island duchy place. For all we know, there might be some fine young thing from there too. An Emperor should have a line of candidates to choose from, not just one... and it should be your choice, Marcus. Not his." He didn't point out that Henry's time as Emperor was all but finished, and that the Empire was just marking time before its revitalization under the new, forward-thinking Emperor took his crown.

The grin darkened with anticipation on hearing he was going. "Exactly, and why should you get to have all the fun. Question now is, when do we leave and what do I pack? I haven't a thing to wear!" Lucius saluted his friend with his cup, laughing into it before he drained it dry.