---

I

sto had not been sleeping well for several days. The feelings of profound loneliness and generally being trapped by duty were getting harder to stave or distract from, as often happened to the king when he stayed in one place too long. At last, he had consented to Idrial’s help on the matter. The healer wasted no time brewing him a potent sleeping draught, promising he would be a new man ‒ or rather, less of a “cantankerous ass” ‒ by morning. Nothing warmed his heart more than provoking an angel to swear at him. He rejected each of her excessive apologies and swiftly drank the contents of the vial. The potion worked quickly. So quickly that the king had to be helped part of the way into his chambers.

As promised, Isto slept soundly. He felt nothing. Heard nothing. Dreamed of nothing. It was a weightless peace he had not known as long as he could remember. The king had no notion of the time that had passed. It was not until his half-naked body had accidentally rolled onto the cold marble floor that he began to stir a little, even then, it was not until his ears registered the sound of the drapes being drawn open that he decided to commit to waking.

Opening his lids a mere sliver was a great effort, taking what felt like several minutes just to pry them enough to see anything at all. The king groaned and slowly pushed himself to sitting. He rubbed his eyes thoroughly and began considering what sort of disciplinary action he could take against the inconsiderate fool that had disturbed his much-needed slumber with vile sunlight.

“Good morning,” he greeted Idrial’s sun-drenched silhouette groggily, “my dear, demented, darling.” Isto used the frame of his bed to pull himself to his feet, then went in search of a dressing gown. “To what do I owe the displeasure of this most sinister wake-up call?” It was not a question he anticipated an answer for. It was clear enough that Isto was meant to go to the window to see for himself. By and by, he would.

“You might be pleased to know that no one else in the whole of Pyramus is brave enough to face you this morning,” Idrial informed him casually.

The king hmmed in response, not yet awake enough to fully understand what she was getting at. Isto took his time finding his dressing gown and when he could delay no longer, he shrugged on the deep indigo colored robe and joined the peredhel at the window. He cast his squinted eyes outside. “A visitor so early?” Isto’s groggy mind took a moment to put the pieces together, memory slow to recall who was coming that day or why it was especially frightening to wake him up. “But- oh… Oh no.”

---

tag: Idrial Belinor & Eliza Dubois

---

S

he sighed softly and offered the king a compassionate smile when he finally put the pieces together. He was due for a breakfast meeting with a duchess - and not just any duchess, but one his government meant for him to (potentially) marry.

Idrial was sympathetic toward Isto. He had worked so hard to have relationships solely on his terms and, besides that, she had some inkling of his feelings for a woman he could never marry. She did not fully understand the sudden urgency for him to wed and produce an heir, though it seemed whatever time he had bought in the past had finally run out, or very near it.

It was not so long ago that she was in the position of being the woman who could not be made a wife. She had always assumed it was her status in life, and while that may have been part of it, it had not been the whole story. And, try as they might to overcome all other hurdles or even break the rules, there was one that was completely impossible to bypass and strong enough to dissolve the relationship altogether. It was better, she thought, if Isto was realistic now and moved on before his heart could be horribly broken.

“Now, now… If anyone can find an unmarriageable fault, it’s you,” she offered, trying to lighten his spirits a little. Idrial latched the window closed and set about picking out suitable clothes for him to wear. Or, at least, what she considered might work. It was hardly her place or her skillset but someone had to get him ready. “I’ll go down and keep her company while you dress.”

* * * *

The duchess was brought into a small tea room adjacent to where she would be having breakfast with the king. Idrial soon joined her there. Bowing respectfully, she greeted Eliza by her title and introduced herself in turn. “His Majesty is not quite himself this morning,” the healer explained apologetically, “but he should be down soon.” She smiled pleasantly at the young woman, then crossed to a nearby table. “Tea?”

---

tag: Eliza Dubois & Isto Rivenn

Eliza looked over the castle, and could have sworn that she spotted someone at an upper window. It was a bit far, so she couldn't be completely sure. Her handmaiden cleared her throat and Eliza lowered her gaze in time to see the other woman hiding a smile. Right, she was supposed to be acting like the duchess she truly was. Taking in a breath, she straightened and smoothed out her favorite dress that was a nice shade of green. Then she fixed her necklace a little, one of her best one's, though she only wore it for situations like this. Once she was as satisfied as she would ever likely get she tucked a stray strand of her hair behind her ear and faced the front of the castle before giving her handmaiden a sharp look. The other woman bowed her head a little, and just it time it seemed for they were fetched by one of the members of the castle. Eliza smiled, since she was actually normally a quite cheerful person, she simply didn't enjoy being forced to be in such a situation like this.

Even if it she was forcing it upon herself. A marriage to a king would help the people she was in charge of, and herself of course. If he turned her away or was for some reason displeased with her in some manner, she would no longer be a duchess in less than a year. Eliza was still trying to figure out what had happened to her mother's money, but learning numbers had never been her strongest area. Not that she was stupid by any means, but trying to puzzle out which debts were real, and which were a farce seemed far beyond her capabilities. So with the coffers much lower and the thought of the dear people working for her losing said work weighing heavily on her, she had come here after hearing that it was to be arranged that the King to be wed. Eliza only hoped that he would not take any offense to her.

The castle member led them to a tea room and Eliza looked around as discreetly as she could manage. Though she was a duchess, she had never really seen such a fine room. It really made the difference between her standing and that of higher nobility be known more to her. At the offer of tea she smiled a bit wider and gave a small nod "I would quite enjoy some, thank you." 

Isto Rivenn and Idrial Belinor

---

I

drial smiled back at Eliza and nodded, pouring them both a cup. She served the duchess first, then settled in the chair next to her where she could keep an eye on the corridor for the king’s arrival. “I hope your journey was a pleasant one.” Truthfully, the healer had very little knowledge of who the woman was, where she hailed from, or how it was she came to be a candidate for ‘Mad King’ Isto’s consort. She had only learned of this meeting a few days in advance and all other details were difficult to come by. A very need-to-know sort of affair - one that Isto insisted he ‘didn’t want to know’.

The whole situation struck her as a bit on the strange side. Eliza herself seemed unenthusiastic. Or, perhaps she was simply a quiet woman. In any case, Idrial felt a little torn. She wanted to do right by Isto, as his friend, but also felt she ought to warn or maybe even help the duchess a little in some way. Perhaps just being a buffer through this meal would be kindness enough, depending on the king's behavior.

She cleared her throat softly and smiled politely at the duchess, trying to think of ways to pry without being impolite or crossing a line she shouldn’t. “Are you... much acquainted with his majesty?” the healer asked. She suspected she knew the answer already, if the duchess was Thisbēan, as Isto made it a point to delegate court duties to others and was rarely seen there. Besides that, he tended to prefer friends in lower stations with few exceptions. His dread about breakfasting with Eliza did not indicate such an allowance, insofar as Idrial could determine. Although, if they were friends already, she imagined that the mere mention of a marriage notion was enough to sour his mood about seeing her.

---

tag: Eliza Dubois & Isto Rivenn

Eliza nodded and returned the smile by spreading her own. "Oh, it was pleasant enough. We didn't cross any trouble." She lifted her cup and took a cautious sip before setting the cup down and moving it on the small plate so the handle faced her better. "I have heard stories, but we have not officially met." She had not needed to until now, nor had she been invited to any of the events that may have been held here. She shifted in her seat ever so slightly, now feeling nervous that some of the stories that she thought were pure rumor were actually true. Eliza yearned to ask, but that wasn't very proper. So instead she lifted her cup again and took a longer drink.

The tea was pleasant at least, and she wondered if it had been harvested locally or brought from a different land. Putting down the cup again she dabbed her mouth a bit and then realized she had been a bit quiet. "I apologize if I seem rude my lady, I think I am a bit nervous." She offered a sheepish smile while her handmaiden lifted a brow and gave her a certain look that Eliza chose to ignore for now. "I also have no clue what sort of thing we could talk about since I am not from these lands." Things were different from one place to another. Even in a small town not far from her own home, the people acted and worked differently. Not by very much, but enough to notice. At least for her. Eliza lowered her gaze and moved her cup again, turning it so it faced her left side instead of her right.

Isto Rivenn and Idrial Belinor

---

M

ost of the stories floating around about the king were not very favorable ones and most were at least partially true. Which, Isto either did not have a care about or that had been the point of a given stunt. Idrial would not have been surprised if he himself had propagated the more outlandish tales or embellished certain details for greater shock value.

“He is a rather... eccentric man,” Idrial commented politely. There wasn’t time enough to warn her of his quirks nor coach her on ways to appeal to the king’s good side. Even if the healer had a full fortnight to prepare the duchess, so much was dependent upon his mood. She chuckled softly and added, “It may surprise you what is true about him.”

Duchess Eliza DuBois was not what Idrial had expected. Truthfully, she thought it was a wonder the woman had opted to meet the king on reputation alone. Idrial wondered if the duchess simply did not put much stock in the gossip mill or if her motivations to become queen were enough to overlook the rumors. Something that puzzled her, though, was that the duchess did not seem particularly happy to be there. Nerves, perhaps. There was certainly no sense of urgency or desperation in her energy like others before her, Maybe she was being pressured into this as much as Isto was.

Idrial sipped at her tea a little, unbothered by the silences between them as it gave her ample opportunity to observe and ponder the quiet woman.

“Not in the least, your grace,” she assured the duchess. Idrial’s reputation, not unlike Isto's, was very mixed and also largely adverse where the upper echelons of society were concerned. The main difference was that Idrial did not have a rank to protect her. If anything, Eliza was a great deal more kind and polite toward her than she was accustomed to from women in her station. Or, at least, the healer did not detect any thinly veiled insults between the lines of the conversation - which was a great kindness in and of itself.

She hmmed thoughtfully, trying to conjure a new topic while they continued to wait for the king. “Is there anything about the king or Thisbē you are curious about that I may be able to answer?”  She paused briefly, then added, “Ist-- er, his majesty has a tendency to dawdle. However, we do not have to force a conversation, if that would be more comfortable.”

---

tag: Eliza Dubois & Isto Rivenn

Eliza relaxed a little when Idrial assured her that her silence had not been taken as being rude. She normally didn't mind talking with others, but truly this was a different situation for her from the norm. The other woman asked her if she had any questions about the country and Eliza felt her cheeks warm before glancing at her teacup. "Well...it may seem silly, but I was wondering if this tea was local or not." She could practically sense the eyeroll her handmaiden would give, but right now she could care less. One way to learn about the lands was to know what sort of crop was common. It was not her fault that she found interest in such things.

Her mother had said more than once that if she had not been born a duchess, that farm life would have suited her. She loved the outdoors, and was curious about animals and plants enough to learn more about them when she could. Eliza was indeed born a duchess though, so her curiosity often threw off or baffled her fellow nobles. Though she did not think Idrial would mind, she knew it was an odd question, and likely not what the other woman meant by having questions at all. After asking that Idrial revealed that the King liked to take his time and they didn't have to talk and Eliza actually chuckled a little. "Oh, I don't mind chatting, it is simply as I mentioned...the topics I normally want to talk about aren't always...smiled upon." Her handmaiden gave a little cough that sounded more like a laugh and Eliza resisted her own eyeroll. She knew that saying that was likely null seeing as she had already asked about tea of all things, but she was starting to relax and enjoy herself just slightly so sod it all. 

Idrial Belinor  & Isto Rivenn

---

I

drial did not think the question was silly at all. In fact, tea was something she was fairly knowledgeable about. “Yes, it is actually,” she answered, smiling kindly. “Local, I mean.” As a healer, her expertise was more to do with medicinal teas but she had picked up more benign tidbits along the way in search of ingredients for her concoctions. “Thisbē is a great producer and exporter of tea. This was harvested in southern Sounnah. I like that it’s sweeter than most blends. Tea from Damakos, the island just across the channel, has become very popular in Noria of late. It’s a wonder there’s any left for Thisbē, let alone anywhere else.”

The peredhel ended her prattling there, punctuating the end of her speech with a long sip from her teacup. It was probably much more than the duchess wanted to know but at least it filled the time a little.

“Indeed?” Idrial was curious what the duchess meant about her preferred topics of conversation. Bicoloured eyes briefly shifted to the handmaiden when she cough-laughed at the admission of her mistress. Her brows rose a little. “Well, I can assure you that straying from convention is always considered a virtue so far as the king is concerned.”

---

tag: Eliza Dubois & Isto Rivenn

Eliza smiled as Idrial relayed the information on the tea. She couldn't hide her interest in the topic if she tried to. "I don't think I've tried the tea from Damakos" she thought to herself for a moment before looking at her handmaiden, who simply shook her head. "Hm" she focused on the other woman again "Perhaps I will try to get my hands on some at a later time." Her smile grew and then she blinked in surprise as Idrial mentioned that unusual topic may work with the king. "Truly?" That really surprised her and she chuckled a little "I'm sure he doesn't want to hear me, a duchess, ramble about the countryside, and the farms around my little plot of land." Her handmaiden rolled her eyes again, this time with a scoff. Eliza didn't hide her amusement. 

Though they didn't have as much land as a king would, their plot wasn't little either. "Compared to here at least" she amended, though her eyes still sparkled in mirth. "Nor do I imagine that my knowledge on horses or even what plants to till in which soil would impress him any." Eliza sighed a little "A duchess isn't supposed to concern herself with such things after all..." She sniffed a little though it was more in her own sadness then anything else. She looked down to her teacup then looked up with a smaller smile "May I have more?" She had finished the first cup already after all, but hadn't wanted to say anything or seem rude by asking, but she did like it and she was a bit thirsty still.

Idrial Belinor & Isto Rivenn

---

“I

t is a potent tea; warm with spice and a hint of citrus,” the healer elucidated. “I would be happy to have some packaged before your departure.”

“Oh!” Idrial sounded surprised (and she was) by Eliza’s answer, though perhaps not for the reasons the other women might have guessed. The duchess’s answer was in fact far more tame than what she was hoping to hear. Then, she supposed, it was wishful thinking that the king’s advisory council would target anyone even a fraction so wild as Isto. Perhaps this was what they considered a compromise. She was not a bad choice by any stretch. In the short time they had spent together, Idrial could count several favorable qualities. The trouble was whether the king would be open-minded enough to see or appreciate them. She was doubtful but was trying to be somewhat optimistic anyway. 

Idrial’s brows drew together slightly at Eliza’s commentary about what was expected of a duchess and the unspoken criticism lacing her words. It saddened Idrial a little to hear her mention a passion with some sort of shame or guilt attached. “I believe he would enjoy hearing about it more than you may think,” Idrial encouraged, smiling at her again. “The king is rarely seen at court, you know. He much prefers to be out among the people. I am certain he would be delighted to know you share something like that in common.”

She smiled and nodded that the duchess’s request, rising to replenish her tea. “Of course, your grace.”

---

tag: Eliza Dubois & Isto Rivenn

Eliza smiled and felt a bit relieved that the king would not necessarily think of her as strange. Perhaps she could be a bit more free here if he accepted her as his wife. As Idrial got up to refresh the tea Eliza stood as well "I could get it..." She smiled a bit more "I mean...if you would rather relax I can get it, I wouldn't want to disrupt you." Eliza did a lot on her own, even in her own home, not that she didn't have servants who could or would, simply that she liked to know how to take care of herself. When she traveled out in the wild there were no servants, after all, so she wouldn't survive for long if she didn't have some skills of her own. 

Idrial Belinor and Isto Rivenn | Sorry that it's shorter this time

---

I

drial appreciated the offer and said as much. Still, she insisted all the same as she was already up and, besides the fact that Eliza was a guest, they were far from being equals. “I am a servant of this household and... not very well-liked among the others,” she stated factually in her polite way while filling the duchess’s cup, “It will be better if I am seen attending you.” Isto may have been one to dispense with all decorum wherever possible but Idrial was not always comfortable doing so outside of his immediate presence and only because he forbade her protesting. Were she and the duchess not at Pyramus, away from prying eyes and ears, she might have felt differently. Idrial did not mind being alienated - that was nothing new - she simply did not wish to needlessly generate more animosity or jealousy within the household.

She looked up, smiling at the duchess to reassure her that it was no trouble. Then, quite abruptly, Idrial became distracted and looked uneasy. After a moment, the healer seemed to come to some sort of realization. A quiet “oh no” fell from her lips before the teapot loudly clattered from her hands onto the table, spilling out. Idrial rushed out of the room through a side door into the garden. “Gods; Isto!”

The king was scaling down the palace wall on a rope of knotted bedsheets, still some ways above the ground. He startled somewhat at the sound of his name and slipped a little. The peredhel yelped at seeing him lose his grip a second; her body jolted as if to act but with no clear purpose. What could she do apart from partially breaking his fall with her tiny-in-comparison body?

He was quick to catch and steady himself, however, and Idrial relaxed a little more when she heard him quietly blaspheme in a ridiculous way. She crossed her arms and shouted up at him, “Broken necks are beyond my skill to heal, sire!” The king ignored her comment and plastered on a charming smile. “Lovely day for a climb, isn’t it?” Isto greeted the onlookers casually, feigning innocence.

---

tag: Eliza Dubois  

Eliza frowned a little as Idrial mentioned that she wasn't well liked. "I don't see why being a servant should stop you being treated as an equal." Her handmaiden gave a cough and Eliza sighed "Yes, I get the concept that you all are paid to help, but you're also still people!" She muttered something under her breath in a different language she had learned from her mother. From the tone it was likely just a string of curse words. Eliza hated the way servants were treated, and abhorred the concept of slavery. It was part of their world though, so she normally did her best to not get too carried away with getting angry about such things. Still, to hear that Idrial, who Eliza took to understand was the healer, was treated unfairly upset her.

These thoughts were broken as Idrial quite startled her when the tea kettle was dropped and the other woman rushed outside. Eliza blinked then followed, and halted near Idrial and followed her gaze. There, trying to climb down the wall , was the king. THE KING...was trying to escape...with his bed sheets. Eliza let out a bit of air then started to laugh. He looked rather silly hanging in the air like that, even if it was a bit dangerous as well. "You know" she said between chuckles "Sheets are one of the worst things to choose. The materials used for curtains is much stronger my liege." She grinned up at him, her eyes dancing with mirth "Plus the curtains have rope normally...at least in my home they do, I guess it could be different in a castle." She did her best to calm down, knowing it likely didn't put her in his favor to be laughing at him.

"I also always heard that castles have all sorts of secret passages? Or at the very least you could have changed your clothes to something plain, and then covered your head with a hood then just simply walk out the front door without having to even pass the room that I and Idrial here were in. There are surely enough halls and stairs in this grand building for that." She covered her mouth and giggled a little again, unable to help herself or hide her amusement now that she had let it free. Then a thought came to her that did sober her up a bit "Surely I can't be that terrifying? Or is it simply the idea of marriage that scares you to the point of risking your neck in such a manner?"

Isto Rivenn and Idrial Belinor

---

I

sto did not mind the laughter coming from the duchess. He enjoyed people finding humor in his antics as much as he enjoyed pushing buttons. Though he was not exactly keen to have an audience just then, it required some conscious effort on his part not to smile about it.

"Yes, well, one must do the best they can with what they've got," he replied in a sing-songy voice. Much of what Eliza had said had either already been among Isto's considerations or not a viable route for his still-futile escape. Antics in his youth and even in his ongoing stint as ruler had led to a number of passages being sealed off. The guards at Pyramus had keen eyes for his disguises as well. Even if they didn’t, he was unmistakably tall and lanky; easily spotted in the palace. Going out the window was one of the few options he had available to him. "Unfortunately, it seems the curtains have become a critical part of the structural integrity, for they could not be dislodged.

"I will take your other suggestions under advisement, however," the king added as he carefully continued his descent toward the ground.

He was not entirely certain how he wanted to answer the duchess, at first, and took his time considering his response as he reached the end of the makeshift rope. Isto appreciated the bluntness of her questioning. In fact, he almost always approved of being called out on something. It showed spine. If she weren’t there as an interested party to ruin his life, he would like to have befriended her. It was a rare aristocrat that did not aim to be another sycophant. “I do not fear you, your grace,” he said as he dropped the rest of the way to the ground, the bedsheet rope not quite long enough to reach the full distance down the wall. “Not yet.”

The king paused, unnecessarily smoothing out the fabric of his dressing gown and running a hand through his mess of curls. He stepped toward the pair of women and put on a charming smile. “Devastated to meet you at last.” Idrial scoffed at his rudeness and chided his name like an embarrassed parent.

Haughtily, Isto turned his nose up a little and extended a limp hand out to Eliza. Whether she chose to kiss it or bow or press her forehead or swat it away, he did not care. Now that he was going to have to go through with this awful meeting, he was determined to be unlikable, confusing, and thoroughly unmarriageable. Isto was often those things quite naturally and without thinking about it, but this time he meant to put in additional effort where the opportunities were presented.

He sighed heavily. “I suppose we had better get to it, hm?” Idrial bowed, then dismissed the guards with direct nods and led the breakfasting party back inside.

---

tag: Eliza Dubois & Idrial Belinor

The King actually replied to her, taking her a bit by surprise. Eliza felt a little part of her relax, perhaps glad that the ruler was not angry at her. She relaxed even more once he was on the ground. Even if it was amusing to see him escape in such a fashion, she did not wish for him to get hurt because of her...even if it was indirectly. Once he was on the ground his whole attitude seemed to change and he offered his hand to her almost dismissively. Well then. Eliza acted without thinking, taking his hand and shaking it with a firm hold. "Devastating?" She couldn't help but smile a little "For me, or for you?" Letting go of his hand, she realized that she should have kissed the top or some other lady like action. Oh well. She nodded at the mention of them getting to the meeting itself. Isto led them a little, heading towards where they would eat breakfast. Eliza just looked around, already thinking that he would turn her down. He didn't seem all that invested in getting married, and Eliza had a feeling that he would avoid it completely if he could. When they were inside she found herself watching him, wondering if she could ask him directly and get a straight answer, or if she should try to figure it out herself. 

On entering the room, she decided to see how he would act during their little meeting, then perhaps she would be so bold as to ask him the reasoning behind giving out news that he was seeking marriage. Eliza sat where one of the servants indicated she should and adjusted the skirts of her dress around her when she was in the chair. She never really got the point of dresses, save that they seemed to be the proper thing for a lady to wear. Other than that, they were quite annoying. Once she was settled she looked at the food, then focused on Isto again, ready to try and figure the man out.