What Do You Require Of Me?

Ariana Ricci, 21, Lady In Waiting To The Italian Royal Family

[prncmths]

Mathais still wasn’t sure what to make of being in Greece, but he figured rather than question it too much he was going to make the most of it. “Okay I know it’s a dumb question,” He pointed out to whoever was near by, “But if one wanted to get some baked goods where’s a good place in town?”

[arianainwaiting]

“There’s four bakeries in town, some specialising in generalised baked goods and others more specialised in Greek baked goods.” Ari explained, not lifting her gaze from her phone as she sent an email off to Val. Once she was done, she looked up, making eye contact with the gorgeous prince. 

“I can show you if you’d like?”

[arianainwaiting]

Somehow cheques were easier to send int he mail than transferring the money via the internet, it was very possible that this was because Ari knew her mother wasn’t entirely ‘tech-savvy’ when it came to online banking. And so after being in Greece long enough to gain a payslip from Valentine, Ari slipped out of the castle during a break in her schedule and wandered down to the streets of Athens to find a post office. 

It wasn’t hard, soon enough she was inside, writing out a cheque to her mother to the value of most of her pay, leaving enough to survive until the following one came in. Ari was hunched over a table, an envelope next to her with the address of her childhood home written neatly on the front, while in front of her sat the cheque, her attention entirely on it, until there was a noise behind her. 

She spun around on the ball of her foot, her hand not so secretly slamming down atop the cheque, covering the recipient and number on the piece of paper while she stared at the person behind her, recognising them from the palace.

“You’re a bit far from home aren’t you?”

[arianainwaiting]

grnddchsslly‌:

“Ariana, there is no one in this world that could replace you to me and my husband,” Lilya assured her as she reached out resting a hand on her arm tenderly. “Both of us would be lost without you if we’re being completely honest. I don’t know who to contact if I need something, but you do. As for Valentine though you’re right he doesn’t even known his own mobile number much less which drawer has his underwear. You’re vital to his survival.”

As much as Ari did love her job, she did occasionally wish that Lilya and Val would lighten up and stop being so serious about her position. She giggled at Lilya’s comment about Val’s underwear, shifting the stack of sheets in her arms to balance precariously on one arm. With the other now free, she stretched it out, her hand touching the duchess’s elbow with a warm smile. “I know. And I thank God every day that you both gave me this job. Though if I keep standing here lost I’ll lose it soon.”

[arianainwaiting]

Edith: I'll love company.

Edith: Two hours will be enough time, we can even get a bite to eat from somewhere. Unless the coffee house also has food?

Ari: Company you shall have then Princess

Ari: I can't say that I know, I only ever buy coffee from there

[arianainwaiting]

Celeste: Thank you.

Celeste: I really appreciate your help. Like I said he's probably sleeping, or exploring our new home for the time being.

Ari: In that case I will look in the warm, sunlight spots in the castle

Ari: There a lot of those...

[arianainwaiting]

xfrussia·:

“not always a bad thing to have.”

“No, but when my job is to be a companion to your sister, the Duchess, it isn’t a good thing to look like you’re plotting to murder someone when in reality you’re thinking about ice cream.”

[arianainwaiting]

xfpoland‌:

filip had not gotten around to learning italian as much as one should with your girlfriend being from italy. he gulped, he could only imagine the words she was speaking. he watched her move and the tears and the words brought tears to his eyes, he knew this would be hard but not like this. seeing her cry always made him want to ripe his heart out of his chest.

but then filip shook his head. “valentine is not your master, he only your employer and not even him the king of italy. you are able to put in a two weeks as any other person with a job,” filip pointed out, his voice breaking from his own unshed tears. “and you know money has never mattered to my father, we aren’t like other royal families, we are simple.” he paused for a moment not truly sure on how to make her see. his father came from a long line of kings, and his mother had been a lower noblewomen at court, they did not have billions of dollars like other royal families.”

“should I tell you he and I went ring shopping?” he finally asked the girl. “I do not know any other way to make you believe me, miłość. do you wish to see the ring, and the vows I so long ago wrote?” he had added a little more each year they dated as he had always been a quiet man with few words to say.

but he shook his head to her. “princes marry the ones they love, or at least I want to,” he pointed out.

How little there was that Filip knew about her job, but that had been intentional. She’d kept her mother’s secret exactly that, a secret, tucked away from the rest of the world, held close to her heart so no one, not Filip, not even Valentine knew about it.

His words hurt her, her chest longed and ached to put this fighting aside and run into his arms, her head resting on his shoulder, her lungs breathing in his cologne. But she knew that she couldn’t, it wasn’t possible in their situation, they needed to stay broken up. And the easiest way to do that was to fight him in every possible way.

“Did you ever think for two seconds that I actually like my job?” She would’ve placed money saying that Filip probably had, but it was a solid foundation to build her argument atop. “Because I do. I really do. How many people can say that a large part of their job is to be friends with the Grand Duchess of Russia? None, except for me.” Ari took a step backwards, placing a foot more distance between her and the man she used to be with.

“And furthermore, not only do I genuinely love my job. I love my family. I love my country. I love every part of my life at the moment. Marrying you would mean giving that up. I would have to move to Poland and quit my job. I’m sorry Filip. But even if we had a choice as to who you were going to marry, that’s not the option I would choose.” Her voice shook, threatening to crack before Ari locked her gaze with Filip, biting her lip and steadying her voice. 

“I don’t choose you Filip. I choose Italy. Always.”

[xfrussia]

“I ice people out? Have you met yourself?”

[arianainwaiting]

“What can I say? My mother says I have a resting bitch face.”

[arianainwaiting]

valsalmedici·:

Lord have mercy. Ariana was going to be the death of him–whether in action or in forcing him to keep to a schedule. “My bedroom is down the hall you passed back there.” He looked around the hallways, not taking note of where he was or the fact that he had stumbled across her in the service corridor. “Mm–no I think you have the right place. I think I’m the lost one this time.” He laughs and begins taking some of the sheets from her, allowing more eye sight. “You’re overworking yourself aren’t you?”

“Wait, really?” Ari turned on her heel, looking down the long hallway and spotting the hallway that Val was pointing to, one that was identical to the one she was standing in. “I hate this castle. When can we go back to Italy?” She sighed, peering up at her boss with doe-like eyes. She tried to fight him as he took the sheets, frowning at the man when he succeeded. “I never overwork myself. I’m doing what you pay me for. And that includes changing your sheets. Give them back.”

[arianainwaiting]

Edith: Yeah? I'll have to check it out.

Edith: Will you like to join me? If you aren't busy or anything, of course.

Ari: Oh, only if you would like my company

Ari: I have two hours free

[arianainwaiting]

Celeste: Thank you so much. Honestly, he's probably out in a sunny spot somewhere, or sleeping under something.

Ari: All staff in the castle are on high alert and will return him to your room if we find him before you do.

[arianainwaiting]

grnddchsslly·:

Lilya knew that a flinch could be detected in her features when Ariana used her title but it was because it still felt so wrong to her to be called by it rather than her name. She knew why it was critical that she used her title, but she wished that the universe was different. “If it does become too much just tell us we need to hire a second lady. I know there is a lot that we rely on you for, I never want you to think that we take it for granted.”

“And let myself be replaced? Never.” It was intended as a joke but her words left her mouth in a more serious tone than anticipated, she quickly worked to remedy them before Lilya were to get the wrong idea. “What I mean is, I love my job, and I would never want to leave you or your husband. I know that you don’t take what I do for granted, especially Val. The man would be lost without me, I don’t think he even knows his own mobile number.”

[arianainwaiting]

Celeste: Has anyone seen a black and white cat, with a heart on his chest?

Celeste: That's Eros, he ended up running out of my room when I was leaving.

Celeste: He normally comes when called. Honestly, he'll just come up to you for affection.

Ari: I'll check with the other staff and put a call out for him for you

[arianainwaiting]

Edith: Does anyone know any good cafes around here?

Edith: Or even a good coffee place?

Ari: If you travel down the main street of Athens there is a small coffee house tucked almost down an alleyway

Ari: Best coffee so far

[arianainwaiting]

xfpoland‌:

it was a hard habit to break. he had called her that name for over a year, he couldn’t stop over night. but seeing her so distressed about it he vowed to stop, sooner rather than later. 

his eyes turned from happiness to more sorrow hearing her response to him. he never meant to imply he felt that way towards her. he bit his lip, wishing he could reach out like he used to and bring her lips to his, telling her it would be all okay. but that was the thing, this wasn’t fairy tale and she was right. they knew this. but filip had been so sure in those days he would propose to her.

the question came quickly, the one he had been dreading. “yes,” he whispered, without a beat. his father had given his blessing years before, it had been him who hadn’t had the guts to speak to her about it all. and now because of him they were never to be husband and wife.

“Gesù, per favore aiutami.” She whispered in a prayer towards the sky, hiding her expression from Filip as the pain and heartache she held deep within her threatened to rise and fall down her cheeks in tears. “That’s bullshit.” Ari finally snapped, finding the strength within her to stare Filip in the eyes as tears rose in her eyes, blurring the scene in front of her as if she had forgotten to wear her contacts and glasses. 

“There was no way that your father would have let you marry me. No way. I am an Italian commoner, I wasn’t even born into a noble family like most other women in my career. My father is a farmer and my mother is a primary school teacher. I was not born into this life and the closest I ever come to it is through my boss. Which, that is another argument that we haven’t even stepped in. Val never, in a million years, would have let me go to be with you. He needs me.” Deep within her heart, Ari knew that Val very probably would’ve let her leave to marry Filip if she had requested that of him, but it was also far easier to use him as a point in her side of the argument. 

“Come on Filip, we both know this. Princes don’t marry girls like me.”

[arianainwaiting]

valsalmedici·:

Valentine had just been on his way out when he saw the quite large pile of white sheets that very nearly seemed to be leading themselves around with how they were taking over the person carrying them. “Do you need any help with that?” He questioned, and by the time the sentence was out he noticed who had been hiding behind all of those sheets. “Ariana?” His brow quirked, circling to her side to flash a smile.

“What are you doing?”

“Never doubt Murphy’s Law.” Ari chuckled to herself as she turned to look up at Val, her glasses pressed to her face by the sheets up to her cheekbones, a smile showing itself from behind them. 

“Currently looking for your bedroom. Though I’ve taken a wrong turn somewhere in this strange castle.” She huffed, allowing herself to show her minor irritation on her face. “A better question is what you’re doing here. I thought this was a service corridor. Or am I wrong about that as well?”

[arianainwaiting]

grnddchsslly‌:

Lilya had been on her way to check on her brother when she had noticed a familiar figure at the end of the hall looking slightly lost before she rushed over to the girl with a warm smile. “Did you make a wrong turn?” She asked curiously knowing that she must have. She was still adjusting to having Ariana around even after this time. But she did enjoy her presence. She felt like a family member even if she knew that the difference between them was massive. “You’re look tired, Ari. Are you sure you’re getting enough rest dear? We’re not asking too much of you? I know that there’s enough going on just to adjust to this palace.”

“Apparently so Duchess.” Ariana only ever called Lilya by her official title when they were in public, close to listening ears who would love to either cause bad PR for the family, or worse, to get her fired. She turned around slowly to face the woman as she was suddenly bombarded with a series of questions that were fired too quickly for Ari to answer a single one of them on her one. But she understood the general message, Lilya was still slightly uncomfortable at having her around, which she understood and respected entirely. 

“I’m fine Duchess. I sleep like a baby every night and you’re never asking too much of me. This is my job.”