âNot at all,â Kristofor replied easily, shutting his book so he could stand up and feel around for a chair to pull out for her. He found one and shot a smile in the general direction of her footsteps. âI agree. I needed a little while to recuperate from all the stimulation. If Iâm being honest, Iâm not sure where I am. But itâs quiet, the furniture is comfortable, and it smells like flowers. Itâs good enough for me.â
     âIt looks like a sitting room. But, that being said, so did the room down the hall. And two in an adjacent hallway.â Elise gave a soft chuckle, and a soft thanks as she took the seat he had pulled out for her. Always poised, the princess allowed herself a moment to settle. âOutside of the events of the Summit, have you been enjoying your stay?â
With a bright smile, Angie leaned over and took Eliseâs hand in her own. âYou should come! Take a load off for a while! Itâll be fun!â
     âYour idea of fun, and my idea of fun ... very different, Angie.â It wasnât rare to see Elise at a party ... just uncommon. She often felt out of place --- ragers werenât exactly her scene. She did better standing in front of thousands giving a speech than she did with people under the influence. Teeth pillowed into her lower lip and Elise took a step forward, ready to follow her sister. âIâll stay thirty minutes. If it isnât ... exhilarating I go.â
         ⥠ The princess hummed softly to herself, thinking over the strangerâs words for a moment for actually voicing her opinion on the matter. Truth be told, Alejandra didnât want to be here either ( let alone going to functions, being pressed to socialize, court their betrothed, etc. ) so she understood the need to deviate from the plans that their parents && the officials had created for them.â â- Yes. â She admitted, a small apologetic smile tugging up the corner of her painted red lips. â I think it would be a rude thing to do. But, â Her shoulders bounced in a tiny shrug, curls falling around her face. â I also think itâs justifiable given the stress they have us under. So⌠I say, slip away. If it helps.â
     The honestly was more relieving than anything. Too often Elise found that people coddled to what they believed she wanted to hear --- equal standing or not. The princess wasnât upset to hear it, either. Instead she nodded in solidarity and pressed her lips in a thin line. âI thought so. I just feel so overwhelmed in a room full of so many important people. Or the prospect of it. Iâm sure if I stayed longer than I was gone it wouldnât be too bad. Iâm sure it wonât be as bad as Iâm thinking it would be in the first place.â
Noticing the papers fall, he bent down to help her pick them up. âNo totally my fault,â he said taking the papers and handing them to her. âIf you donât mind me asking, what is all this? Must be super important.âÂ
     âNotes,â She clarified quietly, tidying her things into a stack ( sheâd re-sort them later ) before she looked up at the other and offered a small smile. âThank you.â Notes about the other royals, about past Summit meetings. She had been reading about the history of her own family through the years, who her ancestors had been meant to marry and why. Next on the list was Croatia, for her betrothedâs history in the matter. âI like to know what Iâm getting myself into, usually before it happens.â
âYes.â She answered simply, not minding that it might not have been the answer the other was looking for. She knew that the question was asked so that she would find someone who thinks the same as her and would find her actions justifiable if someone else agreed. But they had a duty, and was it their responsibility to do it? âMaybe to head out to the restrooms, no, but to skip it? Yes, itâs really rude.â
     Dark eyes studied the blonde for a long moment. Her honesty was appreciated, the abrasiveness of her words ... not so much. The usual disinterest that planted itself on Eliseâs face was apparent, and with a small nod she turned her attention back down to her paperwork. âI thought as much.â A long silence filled the air between them, only interrupted by the sound of a turning page. After a moment she concluded, âThank you for your input.â
âOh no, not at all.â Kat stated, turning to look at the other. âI mean whatâs rude of actively not attending an event that was put on specially for us? Or one that we said we would attend? Even for a second?â She raised an eyebrow, Kat wasnât a fan of functions in the slightest, but she always made sure to attend for duties sake.
     âAn answer without blatant sarcasm would have been much simpler, I think.â Elise sighed, tucking her hair behind her ears. So few of the other royals seemed to adorn attitude as armor, though it didnât surprise Elise when she saw it. âI hope you enjoy all of the functions youâre meant to attend, when they send you the invitations. I also hope, for the sake of your feet, you find a good masseuse.â
âItâs appreciated to hear someone share the sentiment.â One would have thought they werenât at a royal summit, and everyone who had approached her with sharp tones at the ready were preparing for war. âIâll have to find you the moment it peeks through, share a day at the beach with you, if you wouldnât mind. I think weâre all due for some healthy distractions before the world reminds us our duties werenât left behind when we boarded our planes. You are from the Netherlands, yes? Iâm sorry to not know your name. There were far too many faces to memorize before arriving.â
     âSo, youâve run into people who disagree with you for the sake of disagreeing?â Elise paused, feeling out the words she wanted to carefully plant, lest someone she speak of be nearby. âIâve discovered a few. None of us are happy about our predicament, but itâs not intelligent to pick ... little scabs with people one barely knows.â Fingers drummed mindlessly on the table now --- small tics to fill the spaces, Elise was guilty of many of them. âItâs no trouble at all. Yes, the Nethelands ... Elise Ferdinand. Iâd like a day at the beach. Preferably away from the sour pusses.â
âNot at all.â He took his seat beside her, close enough but not too far that it would appear any distaste in her presence. There was a curiosity, mostly, to whom he would be wed while he knew others had a distaste for their future marriages at their concept alone. Ilija could only be amused, interested in whom his parents thought would be an adequate future bride, an adequate alliance. âI was thinking to do the same, though strategically. First you make appearance, greet four people in the four corners of the room, be seen taking a drink and then leave. If anyone questions where you went, there were matters from home that took you from festivities. You have your escape all planned.â
     âI think youâre the first person to tell me that...â Anyone else who had the question proposed to them nearly chastised her for the thought process ... which was comical, considering Elise knew they were thinking the same thing. Duty dictated they had to go. It didnât mean they wanted to. âYou have a game plan. Itâs almost like a game of chess to you.â Not so much an accusation as an observation --- Elise knew very little of the man she was meant to marry. Spare moments like these were appreciated, though she was naturally apprehensive of the whole thing. Hands folded themselves delicately before her, eyes shifted away from him. âWhere would you sneak off to?â
âAside from get married there is nothing they are forcing you to do, älskling,â Nic replied with a sigh. He turned to the beautiful royal next to him and gave her a charming smile. âI would be honored to keep you company if you choose to slip away from your obligations,â Nic continued. He wasnât married yet and even if he was, he would not turn down an opportunity to spend time with a beautiful woman.
     âTrue, but duty often does dictate what we should do.â And Elise was a dutiful woman. The brunette felt herself pursing her lips at her own words, however. With a sideways glance toward the other she nodded. âI just canât imagine that Iâll want to be attending all of the things they throw for us. Thereâs going to be so many. The weddings themselves, the few that will be here, yes. But all of the parties, the balls, the events ... itâs a lot.â
     âDo you think itâs rude,â Elise murmured softly to the body beside her. There was one truly positive aspect of the Summit --- meeting the future leaders of her generation. Elise was at least enjoying seeing them in person, as opposed to reading about them in files or tabloids. And while she was often a quieter individual she wasted no time in speaking to one of the royal children whenever they popped up, âto slip away from the many functions weâre scheduled to appear at? Even for a second?â
Hands folded in one another, Ăine watched the glass in front of her as if the rain droplets that beat against it were speaking to her in their patters or writing an inscription in their fall. âI suppose,â she began, tearing herself from her trance and away from the pane, âitâs no different than home. Past the tourist days, I was hoping to see the classic Greek sun, cascading oranges onto the beach in a temperature too hot for its own good. I should have known better, shouldnât I?â
     âTo be honest I was looking forward to a little heat, too.â The rain was a bit of a disappointment, but Elise had a way of finding the negatives in things ( even if she kept the negativity to herself ). âHopefully the sun will come out sooner than later. Iâd like at least one beach day here.â Finger traced the rim of her own glass, eyes set down on the growing condensation there. She hadnât been terribly hungry since the Summit, though she figured it was normal.
âI only have two plans on my schedule today: find some half decent chocolate and go dancing.â
     âI think I heard a rumor of a party ...â A small smile found the corners of her lips, though it disappeared almost as quickly as it had appeared. Angie, ever the party animal, eager as could be. Meanwhile Elise ... Elise missed her cat. âI feel like thereâs going to be a lot of parties, soon.â
Kristofor was sat in the sitting room, his fingers brushing quickly over the bumps on the pages of his book. Mia laid by his side, her ever watchful eyes on the door. She sat up when someone entered the room and Kris tilted his head in their direction. âHello,â he greeted in English, a pretty universally recognizable language (especially amongst the people he was interacting with these days), a ghost of a smile appearing on his face.
     âDo you mind if I join you in here?â The door snapped shut softly behind her, eyes falling immediately to the dog and then to the Prince. She had all of their faces nearly memorized from the Summit, or studying each of their filed prior to the Summit. Ever studious, Elise took a half step forward, âItâs quiet in here. The rest of this place is in a ruckus.â
Alex wondered around the floors aimlessly, taking in everything he could. Not because he liked it, but maybe as a way to escape at some point. He needed to know entrances and exits. This whole experience was just another hole he was getting buried in to. Not paying attention he ended up walking into someone. âOhâŚgeez sorry. I wasnât paying attention. I didnât hurt you did I?âÂ
     Papers scattered everywhere, the a dark blue folder in her grasp flapping away like a wayward bird. Eliseâs lips pursed, then fell into a pout as she immediately apologized and shifted to collect her papers. Always working. Even when there was nothing to work with. âSorry. No, itâs ... neither was I.â
â Now announcing ELISE FERDINAND, PRINCESS of THE NETHERLANDS. SHE is known to be DIPLOMATIC and RESILIENT, but also DISINTERESTED and REMOVED. I hear the 28 year old is set to wed TYLER BLACKBURN in a few months. Rumor has it SHE IS BEING STALKED BY AN OBSESSIVE, BUT DANGEROUS, âFANâ. They look a bit like LEIGHTON MEESTER, donât they?
Elise is a very smart girl, and contrary to the character that Leighton Meester is most known for, she is not a mean girl ... sheâs just very removed from everything.
She can speak 6 different languages and is currently studying to learn her seventh. She believes that, in order to be a successful leader, she must know how to speak the worldâs languages.
A little bit of a pessimist, but she never shows it.
Not as well-traveled as sheâd like to be. Sheâs actually spent most of her life in the Netherlands, only traveling to a few neighboring countries.
Sheâs not terribly excited to be arranged to marry anyone, but again sheâs keeping it to herself (though her outlook on it is very ... glass half empty).
Very paranoid since gaining her little âfanâ.
The man has broken into the castle on one occasion, making it into Eliseâs personal quarters. She wasnât home at the time, but a maid found the man standing in the room staring at her bed and alerted security.
She has a few extra personal guards because of this. She also, illegally has a pistol to protect herself. Her personal guard knows this, and frowns upon it, but says nothing per her request.
She has no idea how or why her âfanâ became so obsessed with her.
Elise owns a cat that she has absolutely taken to the Summit with her.
Prefers warmer weather over colder weather, comically.
Always dresses as if sheâs going to something important with not a hair out of place.
One of the few places sheâs traveled out of the Netherlands was to attend Milanâs fashion week. Sheâs attended multiple times and has a high respect/love for fashion.
