One random act of kindness at a time

Queen Alethea of Naples Princess of Estonia 18 At first chary in wedding the King of Naples – for she was no stranger to his warlike temperament and the circumstances of the late Queen’s demise – the young princess did not make her fears known. She accepted the Napoli people into her heart as though they were her own, the King’s children as though she had sired them herself. Devoutly pious, albeit, she resents her husband’s desire for warfare.

[queenalethea]

elisabeth-of-burgundy:

“No no, not at all. You are not bothering me, in fact, it is quite the opposite. I relish the opportunity to entertain guests, if you are willing to be entertained,” she offered with a smile. 

“Of course. I fear I might make a nuisance of myself were I to get myself lost again” and she really could not do that, it could be seen as rude by her hosts. 

[queenalethea]

prinz-friedrich:

“True,” he admitted before smiling. “Tell me about yourself then. Do you have any other siblings aside from my step-mother?” He asked, unsure of whether his relentless questioning would begin to unintentionally irritate the Queen. 

“Indeed, there is my brother” and the man was very similar to her father. It worried her that would forever be Estonia’s fate, but she didn’t have the courage to speak out against them. “It has only ever been the three of us though” to her knowledge, but illegitimate children did not belong in court.

[queenalethea]

elisabeth-of-burgundy:

“I am afraid my mother is currently unavailable, but I am sure I can answer any questions you need to ask,” she said as she slowly descended down the staircase, her gaze fixed on the wooden steps beneath her feet. “Well, I assumed you had wanted to speak to my mother,” she added after contemplation, before she looked up and realised that the guest may have actually wanted to speak with her instead. 

“No, it was the prince who was looking for her, not me. I believe that he has managed to locate her though” what her step-son wanted she didn’t dare ask him. “I am afraid that I was lost, I did not mean to bother you” she should have been more sensible, should have paid attention. 

[queenalethea]

adaliees:

“why would you want for anything to stay the same when you knew that the entire world was out there for you to learn about?” adalie asked. it was a belief that she truly held she always wanted to learn something new. “i suppose. but is that not in the hands of god? he who protects us?” 

“Because I do not want the peace to end” perhaps she really was a naive little girl. The thought that it might all change terrified her. At the moment everything was alright at the moment. “Surely it is our duty to do whatever we can to look after our people”. 

[queenalethea]

prinz-friedrich:

“And you are certainly great at games,” he said with a grin, alluding to their chess game. “But I feel that you are being far too modest. We have been having a wonderful conversation thus far. You must speak about things to people, otherwise it would be a terrible waste of talent.” For it truly was a talent to keep Friedrich engaged in a conversation for so long.

“It is a good way for princesses to spend their time” that was an echo of her father’s words. She didn’t believe it, but it was better then doing nothing she supposed. “That was politics. It is all anyone has been speaking of, and it is quite easy to make yourself an expert in it” it wasn’t so much repeating, as remembering. 

[queenalethea]

austcre:

⁽    closed starter for @queenalethea .  ⁾

––––– How strange it was to see a king - with hands made to brandish swords and command armies - now resolved to a life of papers and negotiations.  Dark eyes, tinged with a thirst for war, flickered to his wife, before dropping back down to the deeds in his hand. He lavished her with the wealth of their kingdom, even allowed her free reign on their voyages – but any could see she was a mere trophy, a vice to express his and Naples’ wealth ( and yet, maybe he also trusted her conduct more than his own ). It was never more blatantly clear how stark a contrast the pair were than when together - and how unfortunate a reality that was: her, with naive eyes, warm hands and pious words – and then, there was him, sullied and cold and cruel ( how far could one man stray from God? ). After a moment, the king let out a heavy sigh, sounding bored ( or aggrieved ) as a calloused hand paused mid-scrawl - though he didn’t care to look her in the eyes. ❛❛ So, mia moglie, when is the Habsburg boy to visit us? I hear you became acquainted with His Highness in Sweden, and I should like to know when one can expect to have the Germans running amok in our borders. ❜❜

In her heart, Alethea knew that the trip to Sweden had been for the right reasons. She knew that the other kingdoms wanted to maintain peace, and if she was honest that was all she wished for as well. However she knew that with Naples, what would happen would be at the King’s decision, and somehow she had to find a way to stand behind her husband and support his decisions. Sometimes she wondered if that was her predecessors downfall. It was something she often wondered about, but would never speak of aloud. Whatever had happened to the other woman was now just something of stories, and it was better they stayed that way rather then become public knowledge. She knew that was not what the kingdom needed. “Prinz Friedrich? It is very difficult to deny such a powerful country anything” and she didn’t wish to get into a conflict with them. “He did not inquire for a date, and I did not offer one. I doubt it shall be for a long while, if at all. His sister is to marry soon” and perhaps making the offer to the German prince had been the wrong thing for her to do. She wasn’t even aware that her husband had heard of it.

[queenalethea]

prinz-friedrich:

Friedrich smirked, perhaps he would have laughed had he been more familiar with the Queen. He struggled to imagine that he could ever trust his brother to do the right thing when he would eventually and tragically rule Germany. “I suppose so,” he murmured, stern gaze lowered in contemplation. “Let us divert our attention then. Do you have any topics you would like to discuss?”

Young she may be, naive certainly not. She knew when it was better to keep quiet, and this seemed like one of those moments. She hardly knew what was going on in German court to even consider questioning just what was going on, if it was serious or just sibling rivalry. “Oh I am not sure I am great at conversation, it is why I normally stick to the games” and that aside, most of the women only wanted to gossip, and she was a woman who was careful about what she said.

[queenalethea]

prinz-friedrich:

He briefly smiled at her comment. It was true and he supposed he did not have anything left to say on the matter. Friedrich first responded to her words on the wine by flickering his gaze towards his full goblet. Indeed, the wine continued to flow even when one did not request it. “I suppose they have to be. How else would they keep this interesting and try to divert our attention- which is so clearly only focused on one thing.” A smile crept onto his lips as he spoke, but his words retained all their sincerity. The meetings his father and brother attended plagued his mind. He knew he should be there instead, but there was very little he could do about that.

“Well that is what they are doing, trying to divert our attention” she was no fool, and she knew that it might be the right thing for them to do, but she was still worried about what was going on inside the room. “I suppose in these situations we all wish that we could be in the room, but we must allow our leaders to lead and trust that they will do the right thing” and that thought just made her need more wine.

[queenalethea]

bergeniia:

“i see that you are quite religious no?” bergenia asked. there was no way that a person whose reaction to the concept of having a soul was to claim that people didn’t have enough religion. that was a strange reaction, but no matter. religion was in her opinion a waste of time, but that was her opinion. “there are some like that. though you seem reasonable, and he is fool for ignoring your council.”

“Very. It was a big part of my childhood” not in the way most people would expect. It wasn’t that her parents had forced it down her throat, but more that she used it as a comfort. Whatever else there was in her life, she at least had her religion to cling to. “My king is many things, but I would never call him a fool”. 

[queenalethea]

adaliees:

“i do not know, i think that we learn so much each and everyday, it seems believable that we will only learn more,” she said. “yes, because of god we are safe. and all of that lives, will be.” 

“I believe that is true. However I am also sure that there are a lot who wish for things to stay the same” perhaps she was included in that, She did like the peace. “Our lives can never be safe, not if our people turn on us”.

[queenalethea]

adaliees:

“well…i don’t know. probably other worlds much like our own,” she said with a shrug, “maybe there other planets all made by god as well? though he is still there watching over us in the future.” her eyes tracked up to the sky, and she was not sure what she saw, if anything. there was probably a god up there, even if he was a strange fellow. 

“Perhaps there is, but surely we would know” if it was there, surely it would be in the bible. “He is God, he shall always be watching over us” that she did believe, her faith went deep, and was incredibly difficult to shake. Even her husband who had not managed it. 

[queenalethea]

prinz-friedrich:

His gaze momentarily dropped, as though it replaced a sigh Friedrich would have given had it not had the potential to be interpreted as rude. He knew he must have previously known of the connection, having heard of it in countless discussions before his father had decided to marry Caroline. He did not think Alethea looked anything like her sister. “Forgive me,” he finally said after a brief moment of silence. “Of course you are. Perhaps the wine has gone straight to my head.” Though in reality, nothing of Caroline’s connections or personality had a particular impact on him. He had not cared to get to know her, as Friedrich had personally been against the marriage.

Alethea shook her head at the apology, “there is no need. I doubt there is a royal alive who can name every single connection between people”. Besides, Caroline had already told her of her relationship with her step-children. She knew too well that she would be bias about her sister, and it really was better to stay out of it. “Still, they have been rather liberal with the wine here, it is surprising” less so for people like them, who seemed to only be there to wait. But she did wonder if the men in the meetings had quite as much access to it. 

[queenalethea]

prinz-friedrich:

He bowed his head to signify his gratitude. The semblance of an invite was most appreciated, one which Friedrich would be grateful to accept. Germany was to become strong allies with France, but he wanted to know what his kingdom was getting itself into. Louis did not conceal his dislike of the Napoli but Friedrich wanted to be the judge of that. If unnecessary aggression with Naples was going to impede on Germany, then it would have to be discussed with the French. “Where are you originally from, if I may inquire, Your Majesty?”

It was a risky game really. She knew that her husband wanted to make Naples seem a greater kingdom then it was. The thing he hadn’t yet realised was that most of the other nobles who came wished for peace, not war allies. She was relieved that for now he was happy for them to come, and happy for her to welcome them. How much longer that would last, she couldn’t tell. “Estonia” she replied, “Caroline is my older sister”.

[queenalethea]

alexandrinaofbrittany:

Everything was beautiful, something Alexandrina liked. She stood right next to Alethea and tried to enjoy the show of the dresses and wealth, but it bored her just a tiny bit. “Are you alright?” she asked, a bit worried. “Do you need anything? Water, wine, anything?”

“Just a little overheated” if only it had been summer, at least then she would have had the fan to use. It might have looked a little odd in winter if she’d had it now. “Perhaps just some air”. 

[queenalethea]

Well if there was one thing she could compliment her husband on, it was his ability to manage to turn every situation to his advantage. This time was a show of wealth, and whilst the dresses were indeed beautiful, they were becoming a little hard to breathe in. Or perhaps that was simply the amount of people in the room.

After a moment she turned to her companion, “I must ask your forgiveness, I am feeling a little light headed at the moment”. 

[queenalethea]

prinz-friedrich:

He briefly nodded at the mention of his mother in-law. She was a kind woman and seemed to make his father happy, but Friedrich could not claim to know her intimately. “Thank you. I must confess that I have never visited your country. I certainly plan to.” He had never visited, but he knew her husband as though he had personally met him- if the rumours were to be believed. 

“You will always be welcome” she replied, knowing that her husband would want to strengthen any alliance with Germany, though if that was for the best interest of anyone else, she couldn’t really say. “Although I suppose I am bias, I have come to love it deeply, but it is a wonderful place”. 

[queenalethea]

prinz-friedrich:

He reached forward to distribute the cards between them as a servant began to clear away the chess board. “It certainly shows,” he said with a smile as he double checked the number he had given to her and himself. “I do not believe we have had the good fortune of meeting until now, Your Highness, but am I correct in believing you to be the Queen of Naples?”

She smiled in response, though she wondered if that was actually a positive thing. It meant she had played it far too much. “I am. I confess I have only been able to visit Germany once, and spent most of the time with your Queen. It is a beautiful country”.