kittencafe | Necessitas is the mother of frustration

Her parents are actually going through with this. Carolina has negotiated and argued for countless hours now, only to find out that they signed the treaty behind her back. Never mind that she will one day rule the country of Necessitas in her mother's place. She's being married off like chattel to a man who cares more about his profligate affairs with various lovers than about his own kingdom.

Some stories call him a demon. Carolina is already convinced he's a monster.

She won't weep. Not in front of the court. But when she sweeps into the privacy of her own room, angry tears prick at the corners of her eyes. "This is wrong," she whispers.

Threaded | Flat

From:

quicksmiles_nimblefingers

"My lady?" Abby asks. When the woman enters her rooms her 'maid' can't help but surge up from the embroidery she was working on. Carolina crying means something is happening, probably information she can send back home. But caring comes with that. Make them believe, and do that by letting yourself believe it for a time. So she moves forward and when she sees the moisture in her eyes, she produces a lightly embroidered kerchief from her sleeve to dry them away.

"Oh my lady, what is wrong?"

From:

toavoidcrashing

Being out with the horses all day means Niner usually relies on the grapevine or an evening catch up to learn what's being going on in the castle during the day. And since in this case the business concerned is rather private, it doesn't make it to the grapevine. So when Niner strides inside and finds her Lady looking miserable that evening, she has no idea what caused it.

'Who needs stampeding?' Not that a lack of base knowledge will stop her jumping to conclusions.

From:

maine_makes_growly_noises

As her his lady's request, Maine goes the following morning to greet the visiting delegation. There do seem to be a handful of fighters among them. Carolina wants to know who they are and what they're capable of. Technically it's so that they can compete in the local festivals, but Maine won't mind having that knowledge for himself.

Louisiana comes with him, and they fall into step on their way into the training grounds. Someone--probably one of the servants--has already directed the visitors to a private corner of the courtyard.

Now, to see if these people are any good.