//ARCHDUKE

[archduke-frederick]

REGÉ-JEAN PAGE, 32, FREDERICK BABENBERG. ❝ ⤚⟶ EUROPE, 1458. thanks is given by the ARCHDUKE OF AUSTRIA, FREDERICK BABENBERG, from AUSTRIA. they are at best AMBITIOUS, and at their worst EXPLOSIVE. whilst abroad, their ambition is to CONVINCE EUROPE OF HIS RIGHT TO RULE, THUS DEPOSING APOLLONIA. HE seems to remind everyone of REGÉ-JEAN PAGE & FALCON CLAWS CLAMPED TOO TIGHT UPON A LEATHER GLOVE, THE MIST OF WINTRY BREATH BEFORE ONE’S FACE, AND A PERFUMED BATH SCORCHING THE TOE THAT TESTS ITS WATERS. ❞ 

HISTORY:

Frederick’s father, an Austrian prince, was an ambitious man, if easily distracted. He desired to prove his worth by navigating trade deals with far flung kingdoms, and was so keenly adventurous that he was rarely seen in Austria. He forged a great relationship with the kingdom of Zimbabwe, particularly, and was lauded for forging profitable trades of gold and ivory. However, his trips to Zimbabwe became more and more frequent, as he had fallen in love with its eldest princess, Cebile, and she in love with him. The relationship was discouraged as Leopold ought to marry someone from a country with closer ties to their country, but he had always been willful, and in time they were wed. Their marriage was not fruitful, bearing only one son, but it was extremely loving.

Unfortunately, in spite of this union Austro-Zimbabwean relations did not improve massively, particularly after several large ships transporting gold were lost in a storm. Frederick was raised to believe in love, and was quite sheltered from the tempestuous politics of the HRE, so as a boy he had no real idea of his birthright. When Emperor Maximilian died it was vaguely noted that technically he had the right, but his parents preferred to keep him away from that. He was their only son, and they didn’t want to put him at risk, not even for power. At first he was ignorant, quite content in his studies. Frederick was a keen linguist, particularly in his shared mother tongues of German and Shona, and also proved a quick study in falconry -- a passion he carries with him still.

Kept in relative ignorance, he didn’t particularly question his place in the world until his parents died when he was still quite young. They perished on a journey to his mother’s home when their ship was attacked by pirates, leaving Frederick in the care of his tutors. They gave him a more rounded education, focusing more on court and politics - already the wheels were turning in his head, but the real catalyst for his burgeoning anger came during an attempt on Apollonia’s life that left her sick in bed for weeks. Everyone thought she would die, and Frederick began to prepare for the throne. When Apollonia lived, denying him that right, he was furious, and he’s not really calmed down since then.

PERSONALITY:

Frederick is fuelled mostly by anger. He is angry that his parents, by attempting to shelter him, instead denied him the role he was born to fill, and he is especially angry at Apollonia for taking advantage of his parents softness and seizing a throne that was not hers. This rage is kept behind a cool, even charming, veneer, but it is a thin veneer indeed and maintained only by sheer obstinacy. Frederick believes he will need to curry favour with as much of Europe as he is able, to obtain their support so that one day he can take the throne without issue; so, he does his best to charm whenever possible. Apollonia is the only person that sees the true extent of his rage, as he makes no secret at all of how much he loathes her. He does, however, have a soft spot for gentle souls. Although he feels wronged by his parents' detachment from politics, he appreciates that their actions came from a place of love. Sometimes he even wishes he shared that softness, but it has all been burned out of him. He is, though, fiercely protective of more gentle people, and will not stand by and watch anyone getting bullied.

[3v3linarose]

Open starter!

Location: Evelina's private chambers in Cordeliers Convent, France 1459

It had been a long day. Evelina was finally alone. Her servants immediately drew a bath for her, complete with fresh rose petals in the water. The maid undressed her and took her corset off.

Bruises and cuts lined her shoulder blades. It was her own battle scars that she wore... her own personal price to pay for being born into high society and being the way she was.

Her body was small but when it was bare without all the ribbons and frills adorning it, she looked natural... it was the skin she was born in after all.

"My lady, your bath is ready." One of her maids said.

Evelina approached the hot bath and stepped into it. She sat down in the bath as her servant girl washed her arms.

There was a knock at her chamber room door. The guard at the door looked over at the Grand Duchess. "Send them in."

Evelina hadn't necessarily been expecting visitors but she would have them from time to time.

"Well, it's quite a surprise to have a visitor here in my chambers... what is it that you want? Do not be afraid to look upon me in the bath... a body is just a body. Come, sit. Let's chat."

Evelina didn't mind if people saw her bathing. A virgin she may be but bathing was natural and she knew that. It could be considered scandalous for someone to watch her bathing but if anyone found out she'd have their head on a silver platter.

[archduke-frederick]

3v3linarose​:

Open starter!

Location: Evelina’s private chambers in Cordeliers Convent, France 1459

It had been a long day. Evelina was finally alone. Her servants immediately drew a bath for her, complete with fresh rose petals in the water. The maid undressed her and took her corset off.

Bruises and cuts lined her shoulder blades. It was her own battle scars that she wore… her own personal price to pay for being born into high society and being the way she was.

Her body was small but when it was bare without all the ribbons and frills adorning it, she looked natural… it was the skin she was born in after all.

“My lady, your bath is ready.” One of her maids said.

Evelina approached the hot bath and stepped into it. She sat down in the bath as her servant girl washed her arms.

There was a knock at her chamber room door. The guard at the door looked over at the Grand Duchess. “Send them in.”

Evelina hadn’t necessarily been expecting visitors but she would have them from time to time.

“Well, it’s quite a surprise to have a visitor here in my chambers… what is it that you want? Do not be afraid to look upon me in the bath… a body is just a body. Come, sit. Let’s chat.”

Evelina didn’t mind if people saw her bathing. A virgin she may be but bathing was natural and she knew that. It could be considered scandalous for someone to watch her bathing but if anyone found out she’d have their head on a silver platter.

The relationship between his own country and Russia was not the strongest, but Frederick had not come to perpetuate old rivalries. He was determined to make a good impression on as many people as he was able to. In future he would make an appointment before visiting, but as he had just recently arrived his social calendar was not yet organised.

It was more or less a spur of the moment decision to drop in on the Russian residence, inquiring whether any were present. Only the young grand duchess was announced to be available, and while she would not have been his first choice -- she had little influence within her family, if rumours were to be believed -- he would speak with her regardless.

As he was announced and allowed into the room, however, he had to wonder whose grave error it had been to tell him she was available. Clearly the grand duchess was quite indisposed.

“By god’s bones,” Frederick said, finding himself somewhere between shocked and amused. How terribly bold of her. “One might think you want to be looked upon. I came only in the hope of making your acquaintance, but I confess I had not thought to know you quite so well. Archduke Frederick, of Austria,” he bowed. He had already been announced, but a name always stuck better when uttered from the bearer’s own lips.

Since he had been so cordially invited to, Frederick sat, and cast an appraising gaze over Evelina -- if she was not shy, he certainly was not. What a peculiar woman, to allow a visitor when she was in so vulnerable a position. “You will cause quite a scandal, you know.”

He was sure she did know. What he was more interested in was whether that was her hope, or whether she simply did not care.

[archduke-frederick]

apolloniacolonna​:

@archduke-frederick​

“So,” breathed the Empress, one perfectly manicured eyebrow arching.  “He’s returned, has he?”

She’d known this would occur, of course: that he’d find a way to come marching into the Parisian Summit fashionably late, turning all heads, to claim the hand of his Portuguese bride.  No doubt, too, he’d make some substantial, unshakeable impression upon the lady, too, and make it as difficult as possible for Apollonia to interfere with the match.  Running her finger across the painted map, she wandered from plain to mountain to sea, and considered the new predicament in which she found herself.

For years, the Empress had managed to part Frederick from every would-be wife who had come his way, but this one - oh, how foolish she felt! - this one, she herself had practically handed to him, wrapped up and tied with a bow.  And how, now, to undo it without materially damaging her own alliance with Portugal?  Despite herself, she grinned.  Frederick had it in him to make a most formidable opponent.  Let him try, she thought.  Let him test his mettle against me - I, too, am a formidable opponent.

Raising two fingers, she gestured to her stewart.  “Bring the Archduke to wait upon me.  Have a table brought out to the gardens,” she said.  “Fill it with good things to eat and drink and set a few games there.  I shall entertain as a good hostess should.”

The Empress moved effortlessly, walking towards the gardens.  The first breaths of spring were in the air, tinging the bright sky to its familiar azure and coaxing the once-grey clouds into fluffy cotton.

She was enconsed beneath a brilliant canopy, when he arrived, seated in a highbacked chair, the sun glowing in her golden hair and a welcoming smile upon her lips.  “Your Royal and Imperial Highness,” she greeted formally, gesturing for him to approach.  “Come, eat my food, drink my wine, rest your feet in my palace, and tell me how your travels have been.”  She tilted her head.  “And tell me, how did you find the Infanta?  I presume you have been to see her.”

It was only a matter of time before he was summoned. Frederick didn’t much care for time with Apollonia, although he did always suppose it was better to have her near just so that he could keep an eye on her. He didn’t trust her an inch, and was certain she would slander him without him present. He would accept this invitation, not because refusing would be a grievous insult to the ‘empress’ but because he was eager to ascertain what she had done thus far.

The chill in the air had been cutting at him since he arrived; it had been beautifully warm in Zimbabwe, even in the midst of winter, and it was a shock indeed to settle in to France and find the very air determined to splinter in his lungs. Not, of course, that he would allow a word of complaint to cross his lips. There were far worse foes in this world than inclement weather, and until spring thawed away the chill he had enough furs to wear.

Apollonia was seated beneath a beautiful canopy, looking every inch the empress she so ardently played at being. Whatever other, sharper words he may have for her, he would credit her with being a fine actress.

“Apollonia,” He said from behind a cold smile half-hidden by a bow. It was the only name he would give her, and if she ever wished to take issue with that, he could certainly think of worse. Perhaps he would have felt more charitably towards her, had she not immediately made mention of her food, her wine, her palace. He supposed she must cling to them, because the moment her claws were pried out of these things she knew she would never get them back.

He sat (in his chair) and drank deep of the goblet of wine a servant poured for him. “My travels were well enough. I had hoped to arrive to somewhere a little more comfortable than a fortress, but I am sure the king provided what accommodation he felt befitted you. As to the Infanta, I think she will be most suitable. A very smart match. One I could not have made without you, so for that I offer my thanks. It gladdens me to see that in spite of our differences, you and I can still both act in the best interest of the Empire.”

[archduke-frederick]

@joannaofportugal​

Frederick was not a romantic, but even so he knew it was only proper to welcome your betrothed into your life with a gift. It was something his mother had instilled in him. On the word of his advisors, he had had made a necklace for Joanna - a golden cross studded with diamonds and sapphires. It was heavy, and glistered in the light like dewdrops: an extravagance worthy of an empress.

It felt not terribly inspired, as gift choices go. Do not all men give their wives beautiful jewels? But, he did not know her. He had bought the necklace promptly upon the engagement’s announcement, and since then he had come to understand her a little better. The letters she wrote were passionate, dripping with a bold confidence he had not expected, and it had softened him to the idea of her. Perhaps not quite endeared, but he did not resent the idea of their marriage so. Her station would not matter so much, once he had taken the empire for himself; then she would not be remembered as a second born princess, but an empress.

His mind had changed enough for him to obtain a more personal gift for Joanna to give in addition to the necklace: a peregrine falcon, just a few weeks old and ready for training.

It had taken Frederick some time to arrive in Paris, as he had been visiting with his grandfather in Zimbabwe. The journey back was prohibitively long, and he was concerned largely with what mischief Apollonia would have gotten up to in his absence. But, for this morning she was not his concern. He was visiting the Palais de la Cité, to finally make the acquaintance of his betrothed.

“Your grace,” He bowed low and kissed the infanta’s fingers, having been announced and presented to her. “You are as beautiful as your portraits suggested. It is truly an honour to make your acquaintance.”

Frederick was not a man overly prone to flattery, but he knew the rules, he knew what was proper. And in this case, he also found his compliment to be true. “I have brought you a gift -- I can only hope its beauty is not too humbled by your own loveliness.”. At his gesture, a servant stepped forward with a carved wooden box and opened it to present to Joanna. The necklace lay brightly upon a small velvet pillow inside, blinking up at her in silvery white and the deepest blue, so deep and glossy that it called to mind the ocean he had just traversed.