Thread: The Heart Asks Pleasure First (Methos x Snow)

The sudden death of the Crown Prince of Aldamors young betrothed, the Duchess Dulciena of Wyrn, sent Aldamors neighboring Kingdoms into a bartering frenzy over the Princes hand. The Duchess of Wyrn had been a modest girl from one of the provinces of Aldamor a typical selection, for the Royals of the country did not often seek foreign brides. However, the young girls death was taken as an omen of sorts, and the grand seal of Aldamors Royal family was pressed onto numerous letters of which were sent to their most eager neighbors. Aldamor was a kingdom of great prestige after all fertile wealth and deep traditionWhich contributed to a grand majority of the raised eyebrows, when Princess Charlotte of Charlemagne was selected as the Crown Princes new bride Charlemagne was, needless to say, a considerable opposite of Aldamor. Though the landscape was equally as rich and beautiful, the morals of the country were quite lax in comparison...Charlemagne was filled with breathtaking artists, exquisite composers, and people who wore masks to balls, and not the sort put on everyday to fit into composed society as in AldamorA Kingdom ruled by a Regent Queen, who permissed extravagant parties with gambling and games, with a daughter who certainly indulged herself in the lofty lifestyle of a Princess without a father and without rules. Why then would such a Kingdom as Aldamor ever align with one as Charlemagne? The Kingdom was excessively wealthy, and the financial despair in Aldamor had spread as quickly as the plague that claimed the Duchess Dulciena.and the fact that Princess Charlotte was quite radiant, had not gone unnoticed by the King and Queen of Aldamor. A foreign beauty, with long dark hair and hazel eyes, but a beauty nevertheless. Two weeks, the Princess and her attendants traveled from her home country to the country of her betrothed. Lord Choiseul, whom would act as Ambassador between the two Kingdoms, as well as two ladies in waiting whom had been attendants to Charlotte since she was a small girl. Two long weeks of card games while cramped inside a carriage that lurched forward with every stone in the road, sending cards flying off of their piles and onto the floor, beneath long skirts which were not easily pushed aside. The carriage carrying the Princess was followed by two others, one filled with her clothing and other belongings, and the other filled with her dowry. Over 100,000 gold coins, lavish jewelry, beautiful portraits and sculptures from CharlemagneThough it was arguable that the Princess clothing alone were worth more than all over her dowryShe was known as an icon of fashion in her country for a reason after all. On the day she arrived in Aldamor, it was the day of her wedding. The first day she would meet her husband, for whom she was intended to spend the rest of her life. As a maiden, she was slightly enthralled..For it was the duty of a Princess, or any woman of status for that matter, to marry. Wedding bells strung the inner most chords of the heart of all womenBut her spirit was aching, and had been devastated, since her engagement was announcedFor as many stories of romance and passion she had heard, there were far more of miserable and loveless unionsOne could not crush the Charlemagne spirit easily however, and Charlotte was determined to make her husband fall hopelessly in love with her. The wedding ceremony was attended by the aristocracy of Aldamor the only members of Charlemagnes court were Charlottes three companions. Nobility of neighboring nations would not see the Crown Princes bride until the evenings reception, when the first wave of gossip concerning the Decadent Nymph of Charlemagne would be whispered. Aldamors grand cathedral was lined with rows of candles, the midday sun glittering through the stained glass windows, illuminating the wine red carpet which lined the aisle towards the awaiting Prince whom stood at the alter. The soft hum of the old organ lulled as the doors opened, revealing lavish figure of Charlotte for the first time whom literally seemed to take the breath of nearly all who saw herif not for the radiance of her face, than certainly for the extravagance of her gown. A design of Charlemagnes most prestigious tailors, the entire gown was made of a solid gold silk fabric. Decorated upon the hem, the skirts edges, the bodice and sleeves with a puffed silk satin of the same color, with gold stitching to accentuate a sun-like glitter. A heavily embroidered stomacher with patterns of roses and bits of pearls and diamonds sewn across, thats narrow neckline exposed the swell of the Princess cleavage, and sleeves lined with white lace and gold silk that stopped just above the elbow. The puff of her petticoat allowing a slight exaggeration of the curves of her lithe body, though not to the extent of the near cupcake like gowns that were fashionable in the Kingdom of Lorence. Her beautiful brunette curls styled ornately and high upon her head, decorated with small silver ribbons and white flowers to match the large silver and diamond choker, which fit exquisitely around her small neck. She was certainly a sight to beholdWith chin raised high, and a soft smile dancing upon her painted lips, Charlotte seemed to glide towards the alterHer eyes were set however, upon the Prince..her husband, in a matter of moments..whose back was towards her. That was unsettling.. The slightest twitch tweaked Charlottes brow as she approached the alter..A wrenching seizing her stomach for fear of a scandalous reaction slipping out if his appearance waslack. Had he been facing her during her walk down the long aisle, than she would have had time to prepare herselfbut now his face, the face of her future, would come to be as much of a surprise as his proposal She took his extended hand gently, stepping onto the stair beside himFrom the corner of her eyes she studied his features, her heart racing beneath her breast. I cannot tellIs heNo, I should not dwell on such vanities butstillis he Such frantic thoughts had clouded her mind, distracting her from the words being spoken by the Priest before herThe man cleared his throat, asking her once again to repeat the words that would bind her to this country and to her husband for all time Divorce was not legal in Aldamor, as it was in Charlemagne.. Til Death, was to be taken quite literally.. Charlotte drew in her lips, feeling a soft blush of embarrassment rise to her lily white skin. She smiled, with a girlish charm towards the Priest to nod, I do before turning elegantly to face her husband for the first time..