godlycrowns:
Tatiana had decided to use her forced time in doors, thanks to the sudden rain that seemed to torment the french grounds and kept all the royals inside, to read as much as she could master about austria. if things were to fall into place and according to plan she would soon find herself calling the country her home, and she could not risk going there blinded, and although she was not completely ignorant about them there was much she would want to know before she even set food there.
she had been thankful the place had been deserted upon arrival, she gave the credit to the fact that she had gotten there early, earlier than most would even be awake and by the fact that she was sure most people would look for social activities rather than the peaceful company of books, of which she preferred. tatia had been so consumed by the book in her hand, sitting by a window next to a pile of others she planned to read and had already gone through, she lifted her gaze in surprise as she heard the girls speak. A soft smile spreading on her lips in amusement. “they do have words, although it would be bold of us to assume this room is just as decorative as the roses outside, good to look and be full of pride but left alone on most days.” she mused back.
Elizabeth smiled at the Russian Grand Princess, pleased with the observation, as it matched her own opinion of the ostentatiousness of this particular palace. “I suppose it does prove much about the company we keep that such a place of knowledge is left deserted on a rainy afternoon,” she said with a sigh. Shrugging, she continued, “Deserted but for the two of us, of course.” She looked over the other woman for a moment, before blurting out what had just crossed her mind. “I’m sorry, is the proper protocol for me to curtesy? I never quite grasped the difference between a Princess and a Grand Princess. All those titles, princess and duke and earl, there seems to be so little difference between them, other than who has to genuflect to whom.” Lizzie much preferred her philosophy and politics lessons to her etiquette ones, anyway.





















