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Achilleas was not comfortable with the title. It was not his, not really. He wondered that everyone kept throwing it at him, everytime an uncomfortable reminder of how things now stood. How precarious everything felt. He did not lie when he told Evangelina that it had left him out of sorts. But somehow he felt he didn’t need to point it out. For so brief an acquaintance he thought she had probably witnessed more shifts in his mood that his soldiers might have done over a span of years.
Unaware that the woman similarly disliked her own display of foible, Achilleas could not even argue with her question to Krysto, though he trusted the man not to sell him down the river. The Captain was perfectly happy to point out when his friend was being a fool, but he was fiercely protective too, and was perhaps more adept at reading the Commander’s mood save anyone but his father who had an irritating knack for it.
“Ah, well you can consider yourself lucky, my lady, for it is only the rare few of us who get to laugh at his..less polished moments. He is irritatingly composed for most of the time” Krysto winked at Evie, and her next words at least seemed to settle over Achilleas’ and he almost-smiled at her. They had said they would be frank, it was true.
“As you wish” the Prince gave a nod, still studying her.
He looked on the merry tilt of her brows, the amusement that painted her features and found that he preferred it over that solemness from before., even if it was his at his own expense.Mostly. Still, it did not stop him looking wary as Evangelina went on, and Achilleas shot a skeptical look towards Krysto. He didn’t like the idea of her getting in the middle of this..whatever..was now between he and Nikos, and he was already shaking his head even before she had finished speaking.
“I honestly don’t think it is worth you engaging with him over” he said firmly, not at all liking the thought of giving Nikos the opportunity to hurt her anymore than he apparently already had. “His wrong was against me, and I wouldn’t see you provoke him and risk any retribution against you. Not when you yourself say he already tries to discredit your reputation”
Krysto meanwhile appeared to be pondering the suggestion more carefully. He looked Evangelina over and considered if hurt feelings meant for too risky a strategy, considered if this friend of his Lord was strong enough. Achlleas, sensing his hesitation to dismiss the idea, addressed the Captain this time. “No, Krysto. Don’t sit there and look as if you are thinking about it. This is not a viable suggestion”
The Prince looked meaningfully at the man, no room for debate in his tone, but Krysto held his hands up, thinking the lady might not exactly be waiting for his commander’s permission. He shrugged at Evie apologetically. “ Boss says no, my Lady.”
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Achilleas was not comfortable with the title. It was not his, not really. He wondered that everyone kept throwing it at him, everytime an uncomfortable reminder of how things now stood. How precarious everything felt. He did not lie when he told Evangelina that it had left him out of sorts. But somehow he felt he didn’t need to point it out. For so brief an acquaintance he thought she had probably witnessed more shifts in his mood that his soldiers might have done over a span of years.
Unaware that the woman similarly disliked her own display of foible, Achilleas could not even argue with her question to Krysto, though he trusted the man not to sell him down the river. The Captain was perfectly happy to point out when his friend was being a fool, but he was fiercely protective too, and was perhaps more adept at reading the Commander’s mood save anyone but his father who had an irritating knack for it.
“Ah, well you can consider yourself lucky, my lady, for it is only the rare few of us who get to laugh at his..less polished moments. He is irritatingly composed for most of the time” Krysto winked at Evie, and her next words at least seemed to settle over Achilleas’ and he almost-smiled at her. They had said they would be frank, it was true.
“As you wish” the Prince gave a nod, still studying her.
He looked on the merry tilt of her brows, the amusement that painted her features and found that he preferred it over that solemness from before., even if it was his at his own expense.Mostly. Still, it did not stop him looking wary as Evangelina went on, and Achilleas shot a skeptical look towards Krysto. He didn’t like the idea of her getting in the middle of this..whatever..was now between he and Nikos, and he was already shaking his head even before she had finished speaking.
“I honestly don’t think it is worth you engaging with him over” he said firmly, not at all liking the thought of giving Nikos the opportunity to hurt her anymore than he apparently already had. “His wrong was against me, and I wouldn’t see you provoke him and risk any retribution against you. Not when you yourself say he already tries to discredit your reputation”
Krysto meanwhile appeared to be pondering the suggestion more carefully. He looked Evangelina over and considered if hurt feelings meant for too risky a strategy, considered if this friend of his Lord was strong enough. Achlleas, sensing his hesitation to dismiss the idea, addressed the Captain this time. “No, Krysto. Don’t sit there and look as if you are thinking about it. This is not a viable suggestion”
The Prince looked meaningfully at the man, no room for debate in his tone, but Krysto held his hands up, thinking the lady might not exactly be waiting for his commander’s permission. He shrugged at Evie apologetically. “ Boss says no, my Lady.”
Achilleas was not comfortable with the title. It was not his, not really. He wondered that everyone kept throwing it at him, everytime an uncomfortable reminder of how things now stood. How precarious everything felt. He did not lie when he told Evangelina that it had left him out of sorts. But somehow he felt he didn’t need to point it out. For so brief an acquaintance he thought she had probably witnessed more shifts in his mood that his soldiers might have done over a span of years.
Unaware that the woman similarly disliked her own display of foible, Achilleas could not even argue with her question to Krysto, though he trusted the man not to sell him down the river. The Captain was perfectly happy to point out when his friend was being a fool, but he was fiercely protective too, and was perhaps more adept at reading the Commander’s mood save anyone but his father who had an irritating knack for it.
“Ah, well you can consider yourself lucky, my lady, for it is only the rare few of us who get to laugh at his..less polished moments. He is irritatingly composed for most of the time” Krysto winked at Evie, and her next words at least seemed to settle over Achilleas’ and he almost-smiled at her. They had said they would be frank, it was true.
“As you wish” the Prince gave a nod, still studying her.
He looked on the merry tilt of her brows, the amusement that painted her features and found that he preferred it over that solemness from before., even if it was his at his own expense.Mostly. Still, it did not stop him looking wary as Evangelina went on, and Achilleas shot a skeptical look towards Krysto. He didn’t like the idea of her getting in the middle of this..whatever..was now between he and Nikos, and he was already shaking his head even before she had finished speaking.
“I honestly don’t think it is worth you engaging with him over” he said firmly, not at all liking the thought of giving Nikos the opportunity to hurt her anymore than he apparently already had. “His wrong was against me, and I wouldn’t see you provoke him and risk any retribution against you. Not when you yourself say he already tries to discredit your reputation”
Krysto meanwhile appeared to be pondering the suggestion more carefully. He looked Evangelina over and considered if hurt feelings meant for too risky a strategy, considered if this friend of his Lord was strong enough. Achlleas, sensing his hesitation to dismiss the idea, addressed the Captain this time. “No, Krysto. Don’t sit there and look as if you are thinking about it. This is not a viable suggestion”
The Prince looked meaningfully at the man, no room for debate in his tone, but Krysto held his hands up, thinking the lady might not exactly be waiting for his commander’s permission. He shrugged at Evie apologetically. “ Boss says no, my Lady.”
There was a stark contrast between the two men in the room that was oddly intriguing. Her eyes drank in the differences and the similarities comparing and contrasting and breaking down the interesting pieces of information and filing it away to think about later.
‘Ah, well you can consider yourself lucky, my lady, for it is only the rare few of us who get to laugh at his..less polished moments. He is irritatingly composed for most of the time.’ The flirtatious wink he gave her entirely in good spirit made her smile as she brought her attention back to Achilleas with a wickedly puckish smirk on her lips. She wondered if Theo was among the rare few? Her exquisite cousin had never really given off the vibes to Evie that she could find the specialness of things that were less than perfect. Perhaps, that would be something Achilleas could teach her though.
“I think I prefer the less polished moments. Perfectly polished people always seem they have a stick shoved…” Catching herself, she gave a slight cough, her eyes darting to the side guiltily. Clearing her throat, “That doesn’t matter… I am just relieved that I am one of the few that gets to see those less polished moments.” Looking back to Achilleas, she smiled cheekily, “I think I like you all the better for not being so perfectly poised.”
Bringing up the idea she’d had in regards to Nikos, she couldn’t say she was terribly surprised when Achilleas shot it down. However, Krystos seemed to be regarding her more curiously which in her mind was a definite win. It meant that there was some logic to her idea and it wasn’t entirely worthy of being shot down as the hulking new prince had done.
Shifting in her chair, she raised an eyebrow at Achilleas as he continued speaking. None of what he said was surprising her in the least. Women might have been the fairer sex, but he seemed not to realize one minor thing. With the name Leventi, she wasn’t the average sort of delicate flower that would allow anyone, even him, to coddle her.
Achilleas then turned on Krysto. Oh, the bigger they are the dumber they are, Evangelina sighed inwardly to her. Shifting in the chair again, the soft cream of her ankle crept out as her foot began a faint back and forth swing.
‘Boss says no, my Lady.’ Evie glanced at Krystos apologetic shrug and she smiled softly before she turned back to Achilleas. The cloying sweetness of her smile only seeming to drip a bit more now, “That is the most absurd thing I’ve heard you say so far and in the very brief time that I’ve known you… you’ve managed to say quite a few very absurd things.” The soft, stickiness of her voice like warm honey sliding over the skin.
“We share an enemy, if we were not friends before that alone should make us friends.” Her foot stopped the anxious bounce and she set it back on the floor, uncrossing her legs so that she could lean forward and rest her arms on the desk. It brought her closer to Achilleas. This was at least the third time she’d considered how nice it would be to reach across the distance and swat at the back of his head like a cat with a ball of yarn. Blinking her dark lashed eyes at him, “Fine. I’ll let you pursue this all alone, with no aid from me.” Her voice was a soft purr, “But in turn, you’re not to offer interference in mine and his squabbles, even regarding my reputation. As far as you and I are concerned we’ll each deal with Lord Nikos separately without aid from the other.”
She leaned back then into the chair and crossed her arms, how would that sit with the perfectly poised prince?
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There was a stark contrast between the two men in the room that was oddly intriguing. Her eyes drank in the differences and the similarities comparing and contrasting and breaking down the interesting pieces of information and filing it away to think about later.
‘Ah, well you can consider yourself lucky, my lady, for it is only the rare few of us who get to laugh at his..less polished moments. He is irritatingly composed for most of the time.’ The flirtatious wink he gave her entirely in good spirit made her smile as she brought her attention back to Achilleas with a wickedly puckish smirk on her lips. She wondered if Theo was among the rare few? Her exquisite cousin had never really given off the vibes to Evie that she could find the specialness of things that were less than perfect. Perhaps, that would be something Achilleas could teach her though.
“I think I prefer the less polished moments. Perfectly polished people always seem they have a stick shoved…” Catching herself, she gave a slight cough, her eyes darting to the side guiltily. Clearing her throat, “That doesn’t matter… I am just relieved that I am one of the few that gets to see those less polished moments.” Looking back to Achilleas, she smiled cheekily, “I think I like you all the better for not being so perfectly poised.”
Bringing up the idea she’d had in regards to Nikos, she couldn’t say she was terribly surprised when Achilleas shot it down. However, Krystos seemed to be regarding her more curiously which in her mind was a definite win. It meant that there was some logic to her idea and it wasn’t entirely worthy of being shot down as the hulking new prince had done.
Shifting in her chair, she raised an eyebrow at Achilleas as he continued speaking. None of what he said was surprising her in the least. Women might have been the fairer sex, but he seemed not to realize one minor thing. With the name Leventi, she wasn’t the average sort of delicate flower that would allow anyone, even him, to coddle her.
Achilleas then turned on Krysto. Oh, the bigger they are the dumber they are, Evangelina sighed inwardly to her. Shifting in the chair again, the soft cream of her ankle crept out as her foot began a faint back and forth swing.
‘Boss says no, my Lady.’ Evie glanced at Krystos apologetic shrug and she smiled softly before she turned back to Achilleas. The cloying sweetness of her smile only seeming to drip a bit more now, “That is the most absurd thing I’ve heard you say so far and in the very brief time that I’ve known you… you’ve managed to say quite a few very absurd things.” The soft, stickiness of her voice like warm honey sliding over the skin.
“We share an enemy, if we were not friends before that alone should make us friends.” Her foot stopped the anxious bounce and she set it back on the floor, uncrossing her legs so that she could lean forward and rest her arms on the desk. It brought her closer to Achilleas. This was at least the third time she’d considered how nice it would be to reach across the distance and swat at the back of his head like a cat with a ball of yarn. Blinking her dark lashed eyes at him, “Fine. I’ll let you pursue this all alone, with no aid from me.” Her voice was a soft purr, “But in turn, you’re not to offer interference in mine and his squabbles, even regarding my reputation. As far as you and I are concerned we’ll each deal with Lord Nikos separately without aid from the other.”
She leaned back then into the chair and crossed her arms, how would that sit with the perfectly poised prince?
There was a stark contrast between the two men in the room that was oddly intriguing. Her eyes drank in the differences and the similarities comparing and contrasting and breaking down the interesting pieces of information and filing it away to think about later.
‘Ah, well you can consider yourself lucky, my lady, for it is only the rare few of us who get to laugh at his..less polished moments. He is irritatingly composed for most of the time.’ The flirtatious wink he gave her entirely in good spirit made her smile as she brought her attention back to Achilleas with a wickedly puckish smirk on her lips. She wondered if Theo was among the rare few? Her exquisite cousin had never really given off the vibes to Evie that she could find the specialness of things that were less than perfect. Perhaps, that would be something Achilleas could teach her though.
“I think I prefer the less polished moments. Perfectly polished people always seem they have a stick shoved…” Catching herself, she gave a slight cough, her eyes darting to the side guiltily. Clearing her throat, “That doesn’t matter… I am just relieved that I am one of the few that gets to see those less polished moments.” Looking back to Achilleas, she smiled cheekily, “I think I like you all the better for not being so perfectly poised.”
Bringing up the idea she’d had in regards to Nikos, she couldn’t say she was terribly surprised when Achilleas shot it down. However, Krystos seemed to be regarding her more curiously which in her mind was a definite win. It meant that there was some logic to her idea and it wasn’t entirely worthy of being shot down as the hulking new prince had done.
Shifting in her chair, she raised an eyebrow at Achilleas as he continued speaking. None of what he said was surprising her in the least. Women might have been the fairer sex, but he seemed not to realize one minor thing. With the name Leventi, she wasn’t the average sort of delicate flower that would allow anyone, even him, to coddle her.
Achilleas then turned on Krysto. Oh, the bigger they are the dumber they are, Evangelina sighed inwardly to her. Shifting in the chair again, the soft cream of her ankle crept out as her foot began a faint back and forth swing.
‘Boss says no, my Lady.’ Evie glanced at Krystos apologetic shrug and she smiled softly before she turned back to Achilleas. The cloying sweetness of her smile only seeming to drip a bit more now, “That is the most absurd thing I’ve heard you say so far and in the very brief time that I’ve known you… you’ve managed to say quite a few very absurd things.” The soft, stickiness of her voice like warm honey sliding over the skin.
“We share an enemy, if we were not friends before that alone should make us friends.” Her foot stopped the anxious bounce and she set it back on the floor, uncrossing her legs so that she could lean forward and rest her arms on the desk. It brought her closer to Achilleas. This was at least the third time she’d considered how nice it would be to reach across the distance and swat at the back of his head like a cat with a ball of yarn. Blinking her dark lashed eyes at him, “Fine. I’ll let you pursue this all alone, with no aid from me.” Her voice was a soft purr, “But in turn, you’re not to offer interference in mine and his squabbles, even regarding my reputation. As far as you and I are concerned we’ll each deal with Lord Nikos separately without aid from the other.”
She leaned back then into the chair and crossed her arms, how would that sit with the perfectly poised prince?
Achilleas took a little comfort in Krysto’s words, though he was not at all sure that it was intended. At least he was still mostly composed. The wink though, that had the Prince arch a brow at his friend. It was hardly appropriate.
Though Evangelina did not seem to mind, he realised with a slight frown, hoping he had not made a mistake in bringing the Captain into this. The truth of it though was that he needed his friend by his side. Krysto skirted the edges of what was acceptable sometimes, and could be guaranteed to point out to Achilleas any of his perceived flaws, but he also kept him sane and pulled him out of himself. So he supposed he would just have to put up with the man’s irritatingly easy charm.
Which clearly worked on his guest if the smile she wore was anything to go by. Achilleas met her gaze and her comment with a questioning look, almost daring her to finish saying what she started to. It was hard to know whether he ought to be flattered or insulted that she rejected the version of himself that he worked so hard at, somehow preferred the less put-together self that seemed to be putting in more appearances of late.
He had thought his response to her proposal both respectful and sensible, and therefore was not prepared for the sugar sweet and yet sharp reply that he received. Absurd? His brows together in a frown, eyes darting to Krysto momentarily as if seeking confirmation that he had not said something ridiculous. He was quite sure he had not. The soldier though had pressed his lips firmly together and appeared to be avoiding his gaze. Achilleas looked instead to Evangelina again, staring at her and wondering how everything he did managed to somehow be contrary to what she wanted. “Friends has nothing to do with it” he interjected “That is not what this is about.” And when she leant forward and rested her arms on the polished wood of the desk, the Prince resisted the urge to gather his papers away from her before she could muddle them and instead tilted his head fractionally to the side as he gave her words some thought.
They did not please him.
She had played that hand very well, Achilleas already chafing at the idea of having to ignore any episodes of the Condos Lord being unpleasant to the woman before him. He narrowed his gaze at Evangelina.
Why did she persist in making things difficult? He was beginning to wonder if it was a trait of the Leventi women. They were stubborn, godsdammit, all of them. Incorrigble Dafni, Imma, Theodora herself and now Evangelina.Because she knew he would not be able to agree to such a thing and was using it against him. He wondered if he ought not to hire her as an advisor. She was wiley.
“Not fine” he said curtly. It appeared they were back into negotiations, a thing Achilleas had thought he’d be done with given the absence of the boy. Wishful thinking perhaps. “What, exactly, would your proposal be then. If I were to entertain the idea for a moment?”
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Achilleas took a little comfort in Krysto’s words, though he was not at all sure that it was intended. At least he was still mostly composed. The wink though, that had the Prince arch a brow at his friend. It was hardly appropriate.
Though Evangelina did not seem to mind, he realised with a slight frown, hoping he had not made a mistake in bringing the Captain into this. The truth of it though was that he needed his friend by his side. Krysto skirted the edges of what was acceptable sometimes, and could be guaranteed to point out to Achilleas any of his perceived flaws, but he also kept him sane and pulled him out of himself. So he supposed he would just have to put up with the man’s irritatingly easy charm.
Which clearly worked on his guest if the smile she wore was anything to go by. Achilleas met her gaze and her comment with a questioning look, almost daring her to finish saying what she started to. It was hard to know whether he ought to be flattered or insulted that she rejected the version of himself that he worked so hard at, somehow preferred the less put-together self that seemed to be putting in more appearances of late.
He had thought his response to her proposal both respectful and sensible, and therefore was not prepared for the sugar sweet and yet sharp reply that he received. Absurd? His brows together in a frown, eyes darting to Krysto momentarily as if seeking confirmation that he had not said something ridiculous. He was quite sure he had not. The soldier though had pressed his lips firmly together and appeared to be avoiding his gaze. Achilleas looked instead to Evangelina again, staring at her and wondering how everything he did managed to somehow be contrary to what she wanted. “Friends has nothing to do with it” he interjected “That is not what this is about.” And when she leant forward and rested her arms on the polished wood of the desk, the Prince resisted the urge to gather his papers away from her before she could muddle them and instead tilted his head fractionally to the side as he gave her words some thought.
They did not please him.
She had played that hand very well, Achilleas already chafing at the idea of having to ignore any episodes of the Condos Lord being unpleasant to the woman before him. He narrowed his gaze at Evangelina.
Why did she persist in making things difficult? He was beginning to wonder if it was a trait of the Leventi women. They were stubborn, godsdammit, all of them. Incorrigble Dafni, Imma, Theodora herself and now Evangelina.Because she knew he would not be able to agree to such a thing and was using it against him. He wondered if he ought not to hire her as an advisor. She was wiley.
“Not fine” he said curtly. It appeared they were back into negotiations, a thing Achilleas had thought he’d be done with given the absence of the boy. Wishful thinking perhaps. “What, exactly, would your proposal be then. If I were to entertain the idea for a moment?”
Achilleas took a little comfort in Krysto’s words, though he was not at all sure that it was intended. At least he was still mostly composed. The wink though, that had the Prince arch a brow at his friend. It was hardly appropriate.
Though Evangelina did not seem to mind, he realised with a slight frown, hoping he had not made a mistake in bringing the Captain into this. The truth of it though was that he needed his friend by his side. Krysto skirted the edges of what was acceptable sometimes, and could be guaranteed to point out to Achilleas any of his perceived flaws, but he also kept him sane and pulled him out of himself. So he supposed he would just have to put up with the man’s irritatingly easy charm.
Which clearly worked on his guest if the smile she wore was anything to go by. Achilleas met her gaze and her comment with a questioning look, almost daring her to finish saying what she started to. It was hard to know whether he ought to be flattered or insulted that she rejected the version of himself that he worked so hard at, somehow preferred the less put-together self that seemed to be putting in more appearances of late.
He had thought his response to her proposal both respectful and sensible, and therefore was not prepared for the sugar sweet and yet sharp reply that he received. Absurd? His brows together in a frown, eyes darting to Krysto momentarily as if seeking confirmation that he had not said something ridiculous. He was quite sure he had not. The soldier though had pressed his lips firmly together and appeared to be avoiding his gaze. Achilleas looked instead to Evangelina again, staring at her and wondering how everything he did managed to somehow be contrary to what she wanted. “Friends has nothing to do with it” he interjected “That is not what this is about.” And when she leant forward and rested her arms on the polished wood of the desk, the Prince resisted the urge to gather his papers away from her before she could muddle them and instead tilted his head fractionally to the side as he gave her words some thought.
They did not please him.
She had played that hand very well, Achilleas already chafing at the idea of having to ignore any episodes of the Condos Lord being unpleasant to the woman before him. He narrowed his gaze at Evangelina.
Why did she persist in making things difficult? He was beginning to wonder if it was a trait of the Leventi women. They were stubborn, godsdammit, all of them. Incorrigble Dafni, Imma, Theodora herself and now Evangelina.Because she knew he would not be able to agree to such a thing and was using it against him. He wondered if he ought not to hire her as an advisor. She was wiley.
“Not fine” he said curtly. It appeared they were back into negotiations, a thing Achilleas had thought he’d be done with given the absence of the boy. Wishful thinking perhaps. “What, exactly, would your proposal be then. If I were to entertain the idea for a moment?”
Evangelina’s deep-set dark eyes were flecked with the silent challenge for him to ignore her own plight. With a wispy sweep of her eyelashes, she blinked all too knowingly. She hadn’t known for certain that he cared to greatly about the opinions of others. From what she’d deduced so far, that flawlessly poised man that most of the world saw was anything but, and yet he still worked at portraying perfection. It obviously wasn’t for himself, so he wanted to be admired. His vanity would one day not serve him well.
His brows had drawn together into a single vexed line as a frown marred his mouth, that perfect cupid’s bow being stretched into a thin grimace. Inwardly, she was smiling at having created such an annoyance. Achilleas looked to Krystos for help but the good Captain had found somewhere else to divert his gaze. Wise man.
Pinning Achilleas with her stare again, she shifted and crossed her leg over at her knee again. She didn’t add anything to what she’d already said, instead choosing to let him simmer within the silence of the room.
‘Not fine.’ His short reply produced a small, almost invisible lift in the corner of her mouth. She’d gotten under his skin for taking away his opportunity to play the hero in this play. ‘What, exactly, would your proposal be then. If I were to entertain the idea for a moment?’
That small corner of her lips lifted into a rich smile, amusement lighting her dark eyes. Softly clearing her throat, the pint-sized terror took her sweet time to answer him. Tilting her head, she licked her lips and sighed, “Oh, I am not proposing anything… this isn’t a negotiation. I am not Griffen. This isn’t a this for that… and I can’t be bought off with honeyed figs.” Her voice was soft but there was still a vixenish tinge in the way she picked out her words. “You’ll concede that we are friends and allies and that we will help one another when and where we can. Or, you’ll turn your cheek and let me handle my problems on… my… own, in regards to Lord Nikos without aid.”
Reaching up, she brushed a disheveled strand of her mahogany mane and shrugged.
“Listen, it’s very simple. I like to carry my own weight… weight that I determine. If we are to be friends, it is rather insulting for you to come to my aid where and when you can and not allow me to do the same.” Her lips pursed and she shot a glance at Captain Krystos and then back to Achilleas. “I don’t particularly like feeling like I owe someone something. If I were a man, you wouldn’t turn down my help. Although, as a woman, I am a stronger ally against this particular opponent.”
It was time to prove her point. Shifting her foot back to the ground, Evangelina stood up and reached into her pocket. A mixture of rustling fabric and parchment as she pulled something from her deep pockets. His scroll that she’d borrowed. Setting it firmly on his desk, she offered a puckish smile and shrug.
“You had a lot on your mind yesterday, I didn’t want to trouble you any further with my requests to borrow it. It wasn’t as good of a read as I had hoped. My father enjoys studying military texts, he has one on Tactical Dispositions that I think you’ll enjoy a bit better. I’ll have him send it forth to Euttica for you.” Easing back into her chair, she tilted her head and studied him, expecting his irritation to get the better of him at this. Evie was going to get him to start thinking like the commander he was by the end of this meeting if it was the last thing she did. Raising an eyebrow at him, “You’ll have to let me know what you think of it… There is a particularly interesting passage about clever fighters not being the ones who simply win, but fighters who excel in consistently winning with ease.” She smiled almost coyly then at him, her long lashes fluttering innocently. “To win with ease… Hmm… I might could debate that, that could include knowing your opponent's weakness and using them against them, no?”
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Evangelina’s deep-set dark eyes were flecked with the silent challenge for him to ignore her own plight. With a wispy sweep of her eyelashes, she blinked all too knowingly. She hadn’t known for certain that he cared to greatly about the opinions of others. From what she’d deduced so far, that flawlessly poised man that most of the world saw was anything but, and yet he still worked at portraying perfection. It obviously wasn’t for himself, so he wanted to be admired. His vanity would one day not serve him well.
His brows had drawn together into a single vexed line as a frown marred his mouth, that perfect cupid’s bow being stretched into a thin grimace. Inwardly, she was smiling at having created such an annoyance. Achilleas looked to Krystos for help but the good Captain had found somewhere else to divert his gaze. Wise man.
Pinning Achilleas with her stare again, she shifted and crossed her leg over at her knee again. She didn’t add anything to what she’d already said, instead choosing to let him simmer within the silence of the room.
‘Not fine.’ His short reply produced a small, almost invisible lift in the corner of her mouth. She’d gotten under his skin for taking away his opportunity to play the hero in this play. ‘What, exactly, would your proposal be then. If I were to entertain the idea for a moment?’
That small corner of her lips lifted into a rich smile, amusement lighting her dark eyes. Softly clearing her throat, the pint-sized terror took her sweet time to answer him. Tilting her head, she licked her lips and sighed, “Oh, I am not proposing anything… this isn’t a negotiation. I am not Griffen. This isn’t a this for that… and I can’t be bought off with honeyed figs.” Her voice was soft but there was still a vixenish tinge in the way she picked out her words. “You’ll concede that we are friends and allies and that we will help one another when and where we can. Or, you’ll turn your cheek and let me handle my problems on… my… own, in regards to Lord Nikos without aid.”
Reaching up, she brushed a disheveled strand of her mahogany mane and shrugged.
“Listen, it’s very simple. I like to carry my own weight… weight that I determine. If we are to be friends, it is rather insulting for you to come to my aid where and when you can and not allow me to do the same.” Her lips pursed and she shot a glance at Captain Krystos and then back to Achilleas. “I don’t particularly like feeling like I owe someone something. If I were a man, you wouldn’t turn down my help. Although, as a woman, I am a stronger ally against this particular opponent.”
It was time to prove her point. Shifting her foot back to the ground, Evangelina stood up and reached into her pocket. A mixture of rustling fabric and parchment as she pulled something from her deep pockets. His scroll that she’d borrowed. Setting it firmly on his desk, she offered a puckish smile and shrug.
“You had a lot on your mind yesterday, I didn’t want to trouble you any further with my requests to borrow it. It wasn’t as good of a read as I had hoped. My father enjoys studying military texts, he has one on Tactical Dispositions that I think you’ll enjoy a bit better. I’ll have him send it forth to Euttica for you.” Easing back into her chair, she tilted her head and studied him, expecting his irritation to get the better of him at this. Evie was going to get him to start thinking like the commander he was by the end of this meeting if it was the last thing she did. Raising an eyebrow at him, “You’ll have to let me know what you think of it… There is a particularly interesting passage about clever fighters not being the ones who simply win, but fighters who excel in consistently winning with ease.” She smiled almost coyly then at him, her long lashes fluttering innocently. “To win with ease… Hmm… I might could debate that, that could include knowing your opponent's weakness and using them against them, no?”
Evangelina’s deep-set dark eyes were flecked with the silent challenge for him to ignore her own plight. With a wispy sweep of her eyelashes, she blinked all too knowingly. She hadn’t known for certain that he cared to greatly about the opinions of others. From what she’d deduced so far, that flawlessly poised man that most of the world saw was anything but, and yet he still worked at portraying perfection. It obviously wasn’t for himself, so he wanted to be admired. His vanity would one day not serve him well.
His brows had drawn together into a single vexed line as a frown marred his mouth, that perfect cupid’s bow being stretched into a thin grimace. Inwardly, she was smiling at having created such an annoyance. Achilleas looked to Krystos for help but the good Captain had found somewhere else to divert his gaze. Wise man.
Pinning Achilleas with her stare again, she shifted and crossed her leg over at her knee again. She didn’t add anything to what she’d already said, instead choosing to let him simmer within the silence of the room.
‘Not fine.’ His short reply produced a small, almost invisible lift in the corner of her mouth. She’d gotten under his skin for taking away his opportunity to play the hero in this play. ‘What, exactly, would your proposal be then. If I were to entertain the idea for a moment?’
That small corner of her lips lifted into a rich smile, amusement lighting her dark eyes. Softly clearing her throat, the pint-sized terror took her sweet time to answer him. Tilting her head, she licked her lips and sighed, “Oh, I am not proposing anything… this isn’t a negotiation. I am not Griffen. This isn’t a this for that… and I can’t be bought off with honeyed figs.” Her voice was soft but there was still a vixenish tinge in the way she picked out her words. “You’ll concede that we are friends and allies and that we will help one another when and where we can. Or, you’ll turn your cheek and let me handle my problems on… my… own, in regards to Lord Nikos without aid.”
Reaching up, she brushed a disheveled strand of her mahogany mane and shrugged.
“Listen, it’s very simple. I like to carry my own weight… weight that I determine. If we are to be friends, it is rather insulting for you to come to my aid where and when you can and not allow me to do the same.” Her lips pursed and she shot a glance at Captain Krystos and then back to Achilleas. “I don’t particularly like feeling like I owe someone something. If I were a man, you wouldn’t turn down my help. Although, as a woman, I am a stronger ally against this particular opponent.”
It was time to prove her point. Shifting her foot back to the ground, Evangelina stood up and reached into her pocket. A mixture of rustling fabric and parchment as she pulled something from her deep pockets. His scroll that she’d borrowed. Setting it firmly on his desk, she offered a puckish smile and shrug.
“You had a lot on your mind yesterday, I didn’t want to trouble you any further with my requests to borrow it. It wasn’t as good of a read as I had hoped. My father enjoys studying military texts, he has one on Tactical Dispositions that I think you’ll enjoy a bit better. I’ll have him send it forth to Euttica for you.” Easing back into her chair, she tilted her head and studied him, expecting his irritation to get the better of him at this. Evie was going to get him to start thinking like the commander he was by the end of this meeting if it was the last thing she did. Raising an eyebrow at him, “You’ll have to let me know what you think of it… There is a particularly interesting passage about clever fighters not being the ones who simply win, but fighters who excel in consistently winning with ease.” She smiled almost coyly then at him, her long lashes fluttering innocently. “To win with ease… Hmm… I might could debate that, that could include knowing your opponent's weakness and using them against them, no?”
If he had known her thoughts, Achilleas would have balked at the accusation of vanity. There was a certain degree of arrogance, perhaps, that came with being born of Mikaelidas, but the truth of it was that the prince spent most of his efforts in trying to be what he thought was expected of him. What his father expected of him. Balacing that with his want to try and do ‘the right thing’ tied him in knots of late. Perhaps it clouded his judgement, made him even less flexible than his usual set.
He would not look away first,he decided, even though it was a childish exercise and beneath him. But Lady Evangelina had made the decision to engage with him, and if there was one thing that could be guaranteed with the new Crown Prince it was that he did not like to lose. So Achilleas folded his hands before him on the desk, settled that unnervingly blue gaze upon his guest and held fast. Krysto, who knew only too well his friend’s penchant for stubborness, could only watch in resignation at the standoff between the tiny Leventi woman and the muscle bound prince.
She had some balls, the Captain thought, as Evangelina spoke once more. He figured perhaps that was her advantage. His commander was not entirely used to being told no, a fact that he could read on the subtle shift in the man’s expression, even as Achilleas tried to remain impassive.
He was struggling with it, the prince’s temper stirred by the continued objections of the diminutive brunette. Blinking, he tried not to react to the idea of conceding anything, and pressed his lips together,holding his tongue until Evangelina had finished describing how simple this all was.
Achilleas sighed, the exhalation of air a whoosh through his nose. “Do you usually hold people to ransom to make them claim you as a friend, Lady Evangelina?” He asked, preparing to explain why he did not wish to make this issue with Nikos a current focus despite how much it galled him. But he trailed off as she stood, puzzled as she laid a scroll upon the desk.
At her words, he reached forward and picked it up, unfurling it a little to confirm it was indeed his, and his hand closed around it firmly, looking at her incredulously as she proceeded to inform him of her dissatisfaction with it. Without meaning to, he twisted his head to survey the shelves that lined the wall, looking for anything else that was not where it should be.
This woman!. He didnt trust himself to speak and not say something unkind, and it was Krysto who read the situation and decided he might difuse it, stepping up to pluck the scroll from Achilleas’ hand and glancing at it. “Aaah yes. It’s not the best, you’re right. Though there are some useful practical applications.” He ambled over to return it to its place, leaving Achilleas to glare at Evie across the desk. It was a moment before the prince spoke.
“That is very..thoughtful of you”. It was delivered through a tight jaw. “But as Krysto so kindly pointed out, there are some things that would not make sense without having the experience to give them context.” It was a not so subtlre reminder that he had stood upon fields of battle, had watched men die and cut countless down himself, and did not take kindly to being schooled in the art of warfare by some slip of a girl. Achilleas pushed to his feet, pacing off some of his agitation as he walked to stand before the window, turning back to address Evangelina from where he stopped.
“Allow me to speak plainly, to save any further confusion, my Lady. I am not unwelcoming of your offer to help in righting this wrong. Nor am I” He paused here as if he might be reconsidering his next words, but continued anyway. “...objecting to considering you a friend and ally. But - and I must demand you heed me in this - it is not the right time for me to try and address this issue with Condos.”
There was a meaningful glance shared between he and the Captain and Achilleas looked at Evie consideringly for a moment. “You are clearly not a woman lacking in intelligence, Lady Evangelina, so consider our recent visitors and then perhaps understand why my focus is not best spent thinking how to employ battle strategy on Nikos of Condos, when there are other threats where my time should be invested.”
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If he had known her thoughts, Achilleas would have balked at the accusation of vanity. There was a certain degree of arrogance, perhaps, that came with being born of Mikaelidas, but the truth of it was that the prince spent most of his efforts in trying to be what he thought was expected of him. What his father expected of him. Balacing that with his want to try and do ‘the right thing’ tied him in knots of late. Perhaps it clouded his judgement, made him even less flexible than his usual set.
He would not look away first,he decided, even though it was a childish exercise and beneath him. But Lady Evangelina had made the decision to engage with him, and if there was one thing that could be guaranteed with the new Crown Prince it was that he did not like to lose. So Achilleas folded his hands before him on the desk, settled that unnervingly blue gaze upon his guest and held fast. Krysto, who knew only too well his friend’s penchant for stubborness, could only watch in resignation at the standoff between the tiny Leventi woman and the muscle bound prince.
She had some balls, the Captain thought, as Evangelina spoke once more. He figured perhaps that was her advantage. His commander was not entirely used to being told no, a fact that he could read on the subtle shift in the man’s expression, even as Achilleas tried to remain impassive.
He was struggling with it, the prince’s temper stirred by the continued objections of the diminutive brunette. Blinking, he tried not to react to the idea of conceding anything, and pressed his lips together,holding his tongue until Evangelina had finished describing how simple this all was.
Achilleas sighed, the exhalation of air a whoosh through his nose. “Do you usually hold people to ransom to make them claim you as a friend, Lady Evangelina?” He asked, preparing to explain why he did not wish to make this issue with Nikos a current focus despite how much it galled him. But he trailed off as she stood, puzzled as she laid a scroll upon the desk.
At her words, he reached forward and picked it up, unfurling it a little to confirm it was indeed his, and his hand closed around it firmly, looking at her incredulously as she proceeded to inform him of her dissatisfaction with it. Without meaning to, he twisted his head to survey the shelves that lined the wall, looking for anything else that was not where it should be.
This woman!. He didnt trust himself to speak and not say something unkind, and it was Krysto who read the situation and decided he might difuse it, stepping up to pluck the scroll from Achilleas’ hand and glancing at it. “Aaah yes. It’s not the best, you’re right. Though there are some useful practical applications.” He ambled over to return it to its place, leaving Achilleas to glare at Evie across the desk. It was a moment before the prince spoke.
“That is very..thoughtful of you”. It was delivered through a tight jaw. “But as Krysto so kindly pointed out, there are some things that would not make sense without having the experience to give them context.” It was a not so subtlre reminder that he had stood upon fields of battle, had watched men die and cut countless down himself, and did not take kindly to being schooled in the art of warfare by some slip of a girl. Achilleas pushed to his feet, pacing off some of his agitation as he walked to stand before the window, turning back to address Evangelina from where he stopped.
“Allow me to speak plainly, to save any further confusion, my Lady. I am not unwelcoming of your offer to help in righting this wrong. Nor am I” He paused here as if he might be reconsidering his next words, but continued anyway. “...objecting to considering you a friend and ally. But - and I must demand you heed me in this - it is not the right time for me to try and address this issue with Condos.”
There was a meaningful glance shared between he and the Captain and Achilleas looked at Evie consideringly for a moment. “You are clearly not a woman lacking in intelligence, Lady Evangelina, so consider our recent visitors and then perhaps understand why my focus is not best spent thinking how to employ battle strategy on Nikos of Condos, when there are other threats where my time should be invested.”
If he had known her thoughts, Achilleas would have balked at the accusation of vanity. There was a certain degree of arrogance, perhaps, that came with being born of Mikaelidas, but the truth of it was that the prince spent most of his efforts in trying to be what he thought was expected of him. What his father expected of him. Balacing that with his want to try and do ‘the right thing’ tied him in knots of late. Perhaps it clouded his judgement, made him even less flexible than his usual set.
He would not look away first,he decided, even though it was a childish exercise and beneath him. But Lady Evangelina had made the decision to engage with him, and if there was one thing that could be guaranteed with the new Crown Prince it was that he did not like to lose. So Achilleas folded his hands before him on the desk, settled that unnervingly blue gaze upon his guest and held fast. Krysto, who knew only too well his friend’s penchant for stubborness, could only watch in resignation at the standoff between the tiny Leventi woman and the muscle bound prince.
She had some balls, the Captain thought, as Evangelina spoke once more. He figured perhaps that was her advantage. His commander was not entirely used to being told no, a fact that he could read on the subtle shift in the man’s expression, even as Achilleas tried to remain impassive.
He was struggling with it, the prince’s temper stirred by the continued objections of the diminutive brunette. Blinking, he tried not to react to the idea of conceding anything, and pressed his lips together,holding his tongue until Evangelina had finished describing how simple this all was.
Achilleas sighed, the exhalation of air a whoosh through his nose. “Do you usually hold people to ransom to make them claim you as a friend, Lady Evangelina?” He asked, preparing to explain why he did not wish to make this issue with Nikos a current focus despite how much it galled him. But he trailed off as she stood, puzzled as she laid a scroll upon the desk.
At her words, he reached forward and picked it up, unfurling it a little to confirm it was indeed his, and his hand closed around it firmly, looking at her incredulously as she proceeded to inform him of her dissatisfaction with it. Without meaning to, he twisted his head to survey the shelves that lined the wall, looking for anything else that was not where it should be.
This woman!. He didnt trust himself to speak and not say something unkind, and it was Krysto who read the situation and decided he might difuse it, stepping up to pluck the scroll from Achilleas’ hand and glancing at it. “Aaah yes. It’s not the best, you’re right. Though there are some useful practical applications.” He ambled over to return it to its place, leaving Achilleas to glare at Evie across the desk. It was a moment before the prince spoke.
“That is very..thoughtful of you”. It was delivered through a tight jaw. “But as Krysto so kindly pointed out, there are some things that would not make sense without having the experience to give them context.” It was a not so subtlre reminder that he had stood upon fields of battle, had watched men die and cut countless down himself, and did not take kindly to being schooled in the art of warfare by some slip of a girl. Achilleas pushed to his feet, pacing off some of his agitation as he walked to stand before the window, turning back to address Evangelina from where he stopped.
“Allow me to speak plainly, to save any further confusion, my Lady. I am not unwelcoming of your offer to help in righting this wrong. Nor am I” He paused here as if he might be reconsidering his next words, but continued anyway. “...objecting to considering you a friend and ally. But - and I must demand you heed me in this - it is not the right time for me to try and address this issue with Condos.”
There was a meaningful glance shared between he and the Captain and Achilleas looked at Evie consideringly for a moment. “You are clearly not a woman lacking in intelligence, Lady Evangelina, so consider our recent visitors and then perhaps understand why my focus is not best spent thinking how to employ battle strategy on Nikos of Condos, when there are other threats where my time should be invested.”
Neither Krysto or Achilleas could see that they were being firmly lead around by the… Evangelina smiled softly at the thought. By the nose. She knew all too well that sometimes in order to move forward you had to break things down to the foundation. That’s exactly what she was doing at this very moment with Achilleas.
She’d known that look that had been on his face as he’d watched her earlier. The pint-sized Leventi wasn’t some delicate little flower that had been crushed under Lord Nikos’ foot. She refused to be handled, let alone handled like she was some broken piece of furniture that you had to carefully ease yourself into. If it took disturbing his peace of mind to break that image from his mind then that was exactly what she was going to do.
‘Do you usually hold people to ransom to make them claim you as a friend, Lady Evangelina?’
That earned Achilleas that smile. The one that was wide and dimpled and too perceptive. Her warm gaze swept over the contours of his face before she answered him, “Occasionally.” Her voice had dipped into a lower almost throaty octave as she teased him, “But I am totally worth it as a friend.” Holding his gaze for a few moments before looking away smugly. Yes, she knew her own value as a friend and he would know it too soon enough.
Her initial plan had been to ease that scroll back into the shelf as if it’d never been missing but right now, it served so much better to irritate to the Prince. And the way he was glowering at her right now from his desk, she’d say it’d worked extremely well. Taking a deep breath, she just smiled softly at him and relaxed into her chair. He could glower all he wanted but she wasn’t going to engage with him in this battle of stares.
Krysto’s finally was the one who jumped up in an attempt to diffuse the situation, ‘Aaah yes. It’s not the best, you’re right. Though there are some useful practical applications.’ Evangelina raised an eyebrow at him as he scurried off to put it back in its place no doubt and leaving the great and mighty commander staring her down.
‘That is very..thoughtful of you.’ Her warm dark eyes filled with amusement at the tightness in his words. Was it a bad time to tell him how much he was giving away of himself? Her smile returned. ‘But as Krysto so kindly pointed out, there are some things that would not make sense without having the experience to give them context.’ She bit into the plumpness of her bottom lip to hold back her smile widening further. He couldn’t see past the front of his nose on this. Somehow that was both disturbing to her and very amusing.
Achilleas pushed his bulky frame out of the chair and stalked over to the window before he turned around to glower at her from better lighting. With him to her back, she eased out of the chair and turned around. Backing up to his desk, in an easy movement she hopped up on it, narrowly missing some of his papers in the process. With her feet dangling, and her arms bracing her against the oak desktop she listened to what he had to say. ‘Allow me to speak plainly, to save any further confusion, my Lady. I am not unwelcoming of your offer to help in righting this wrong. Nor am I…’ Evangelina’s eyes lit up. This was what she’d been waiting for. He was going to finally start speaking plainly. It would have been so much easier if he’d just done this to begin with. ‘...objecting to considering you a friend and ally. But - and I must demand you heed me in this - it is not the right time for me to try and address this issue with Condos.’
Evie didn’t miss the look shared between the Commander and his Captain. Yes, they were starting to get somewhere now. She let her dangling legs swish softly out of habit as she waited.
‘You are clearly not a woman lacking in intelligence, Lady Evangelina, so consider our recent visitors and then perhaps understand why my focus is not best spent thinking how to employ battle strategy on Nikos of Condos, when there are other threats where my time should be invested.’
All coyness faded from her as she adopted a more serious look on her face at his words. Pinning Achilleas with her eyes, “You are putting words into my mouth again. That’s a very unflattering habit you are acquiring, your highness.” She murmured. Tilting her head, her gaze didn’t move off him as she continued, “At no point did I say this was the right time for you to address the issue with the Condos. I brought up battle strategy not for Lord Nikos but for yourself. You are in a position right now of power, well… “ She gestured to Krystos, “As long as the good Captain here didn’t tip off the Condos men that you are aware of the foul play going on.”
Bringing her gaze back around to Achilleas, “You aren’t on the battlefield here, your highness, you are playing courtly politics and while they are similar in tactics. Politics will require you to learn a magic trick or two.” Holding up her left hand she waved it softly, while her right hand very carefully slid one of his paperweights into her pocket. Dropping her hand, she hopped off the desk and walked over to stand in front of him. Looking up at him, she waited a moment then reached into her pocket and produced the paperweight she’d snatched and offered it to him. “You need to learn how to make people watch your left hand while your right-hand does all the work.”
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Neither Krysto or Achilleas could see that they were being firmly lead around by the… Evangelina smiled softly at the thought. By the nose. She knew all too well that sometimes in order to move forward you had to break things down to the foundation. That’s exactly what she was doing at this very moment with Achilleas.
She’d known that look that had been on his face as he’d watched her earlier. The pint-sized Leventi wasn’t some delicate little flower that had been crushed under Lord Nikos’ foot. She refused to be handled, let alone handled like she was some broken piece of furniture that you had to carefully ease yourself into. If it took disturbing his peace of mind to break that image from his mind then that was exactly what she was going to do.
‘Do you usually hold people to ransom to make them claim you as a friend, Lady Evangelina?’
That earned Achilleas that smile. The one that was wide and dimpled and too perceptive. Her warm gaze swept over the contours of his face before she answered him, “Occasionally.” Her voice had dipped into a lower almost throaty octave as she teased him, “But I am totally worth it as a friend.” Holding his gaze for a few moments before looking away smugly. Yes, she knew her own value as a friend and he would know it too soon enough.
Her initial plan had been to ease that scroll back into the shelf as if it’d never been missing but right now, it served so much better to irritate to the Prince. And the way he was glowering at her right now from his desk, she’d say it’d worked extremely well. Taking a deep breath, she just smiled softly at him and relaxed into her chair. He could glower all he wanted but she wasn’t going to engage with him in this battle of stares.
Krysto’s finally was the one who jumped up in an attempt to diffuse the situation, ‘Aaah yes. It’s not the best, you’re right. Though there are some useful practical applications.’ Evangelina raised an eyebrow at him as he scurried off to put it back in its place no doubt and leaving the great and mighty commander staring her down.
‘That is very..thoughtful of you.’ Her warm dark eyes filled with amusement at the tightness in his words. Was it a bad time to tell him how much he was giving away of himself? Her smile returned. ‘But as Krysto so kindly pointed out, there are some things that would not make sense without having the experience to give them context.’ She bit into the plumpness of her bottom lip to hold back her smile widening further. He couldn’t see past the front of his nose on this. Somehow that was both disturbing to her and very amusing.
Achilleas pushed his bulky frame out of the chair and stalked over to the window before he turned around to glower at her from better lighting. With him to her back, she eased out of the chair and turned around. Backing up to his desk, in an easy movement she hopped up on it, narrowly missing some of his papers in the process. With her feet dangling, and her arms bracing her against the oak desktop she listened to what he had to say. ‘Allow me to speak plainly, to save any further confusion, my Lady. I am not unwelcoming of your offer to help in righting this wrong. Nor am I…’ Evangelina’s eyes lit up. This was what she’d been waiting for. He was going to finally start speaking plainly. It would have been so much easier if he’d just done this to begin with. ‘...objecting to considering you a friend and ally. But - and I must demand you heed me in this - it is not the right time for me to try and address this issue with Condos.’
Evie didn’t miss the look shared between the Commander and his Captain. Yes, they were starting to get somewhere now. She let her dangling legs swish softly out of habit as she waited.
‘You are clearly not a woman lacking in intelligence, Lady Evangelina, so consider our recent visitors and then perhaps understand why my focus is not best spent thinking how to employ battle strategy on Nikos of Condos, when there are other threats where my time should be invested.’
All coyness faded from her as she adopted a more serious look on her face at his words. Pinning Achilleas with her eyes, “You are putting words into my mouth again. That’s a very unflattering habit you are acquiring, your highness.” She murmured. Tilting her head, her gaze didn’t move off him as she continued, “At no point did I say this was the right time for you to address the issue with the Condos. I brought up battle strategy not for Lord Nikos but for yourself. You are in a position right now of power, well… “ She gestured to Krystos, “As long as the good Captain here didn’t tip off the Condos men that you are aware of the foul play going on.”
Bringing her gaze back around to Achilleas, “You aren’t on the battlefield here, your highness, you are playing courtly politics and while they are similar in tactics. Politics will require you to learn a magic trick or two.” Holding up her left hand she waved it softly, while her right hand very carefully slid one of his paperweights into her pocket. Dropping her hand, she hopped off the desk and walked over to stand in front of him. Looking up at him, she waited a moment then reached into her pocket and produced the paperweight she’d snatched and offered it to him. “You need to learn how to make people watch your left hand while your right-hand does all the work.”
Neither Krysto or Achilleas could see that they were being firmly lead around by the… Evangelina smiled softly at the thought. By the nose. She knew all too well that sometimes in order to move forward you had to break things down to the foundation. That’s exactly what she was doing at this very moment with Achilleas.
She’d known that look that had been on his face as he’d watched her earlier. The pint-sized Leventi wasn’t some delicate little flower that had been crushed under Lord Nikos’ foot. She refused to be handled, let alone handled like she was some broken piece of furniture that you had to carefully ease yourself into. If it took disturbing his peace of mind to break that image from his mind then that was exactly what she was going to do.
‘Do you usually hold people to ransom to make them claim you as a friend, Lady Evangelina?’
That earned Achilleas that smile. The one that was wide and dimpled and too perceptive. Her warm gaze swept over the contours of his face before she answered him, “Occasionally.” Her voice had dipped into a lower almost throaty octave as she teased him, “But I am totally worth it as a friend.” Holding his gaze for a few moments before looking away smugly. Yes, she knew her own value as a friend and he would know it too soon enough.
Her initial plan had been to ease that scroll back into the shelf as if it’d never been missing but right now, it served so much better to irritate to the Prince. And the way he was glowering at her right now from his desk, she’d say it’d worked extremely well. Taking a deep breath, she just smiled softly at him and relaxed into her chair. He could glower all he wanted but she wasn’t going to engage with him in this battle of stares.
Krysto’s finally was the one who jumped up in an attempt to diffuse the situation, ‘Aaah yes. It’s not the best, you’re right. Though there are some useful practical applications.’ Evangelina raised an eyebrow at him as he scurried off to put it back in its place no doubt and leaving the great and mighty commander staring her down.
‘That is very..thoughtful of you.’ Her warm dark eyes filled with amusement at the tightness in his words. Was it a bad time to tell him how much he was giving away of himself? Her smile returned. ‘But as Krysto so kindly pointed out, there are some things that would not make sense without having the experience to give them context.’ She bit into the plumpness of her bottom lip to hold back her smile widening further. He couldn’t see past the front of his nose on this. Somehow that was both disturbing to her and very amusing.
Achilleas pushed his bulky frame out of the chair and stalked over to the window before he turned around to glower at her from better lighting. With him to her back, she eased out of the chair and turned around. Backing up to his desk, in an easy movement she hopped up on it, narrowly missing some of his papers in the process. With her feet dangling, and her arms bracing her against the oak desktop she listened to what he had to say. ‘Allow me to speak plainly, to save any further confusion, my Lady. I am not unwelcoming of your offer to help in righting this wrong. Nor am I…’ Evangelina’s eyes lit up. This was what she’d been waiting for. He was going to finally start speaking plainly. It would have been so much easier if he’d just done this to begin with. ‘...objecting to considering you a friend and ally. But - and I must demand you heed me in this - it is not the right time for me to try and address this issue with Condos.’
Evie didn’t miss the look shared between the Commander and his Captain. Yes, they were starting to get somewhere now. She let her dangling legs swish softly out of habit as she waited.
‘You are clearly not a woman lacking in intelligence, Lady Evangelina, so consider our recent visitors and then perhaps understand why my focus is not best spent thinking how to employ battle strategy on Nikos of Condos, when there are other threats where my time should be invested.’
All coyness faded from her as she adopted a more serious look on her face at his words. Pinning Achilleas with her eyes, “You are putting words into my mouth again. That’s a very unflattering habit you are acquiring, your highness.” She murmured. Tilting her head, her gaze didn’t move off him as she continued, “At no point did I say this was the right time for you to address the issue with the Condos. I brought up battle strategy not for Lord Nikos but for yourself. You are in a position right now of power, well… “ She gestured to Krystos, “As long as the good Captain here didn’t tip off the Condos men that you are aware of the foul play going on.”
Bringing her gaze back around to Achilleas, “You aren’t on the battlefield here, your highness, you are playing courtly politics and while they are similar in tactics. Politics will require you to learn a magic trick or two.” Holding up her left hand she waved it softly, while her right hand very carefully slid one of his paperweights into her pocket. Dropping her hand, she hopped off the desk and walked over to stand in front of him. Looking up at him, she waited a moment then reached into her pocket and produced the paperweight she’d snatched and offered it to him. “You need to learn how to make people watch your left hand while your right-hand does all the work.”
He could not make sense of this woman. She smiled at him and Achilleas got the distinct feeling that she was amused at something, but he couldn’t decipher what it was, and he also thought she was pleased about the fact. His face wore his displeasure with the notion but he persevered in trying to explain to her his reasoning.
When she hopped up to perch on his desk, he nearly lost his train his thought, and had to look away from how close she was too scattering the papers there. There was a small and bitter voice reminding him too that they weren’t even that important, given the fact that he wasn’t allowed to sign off on anything anymore. It did not help his mood.
Refocusing, the Prince said his piece. He expected her to retreat in the face of his words, at least to show some comprehension of the gravity of what he revealed, but instead, Achilleas found himself in receipt of another glare. What Now?! He couldn’t fathom why she was unpicking every single word that he said - perhaps she had not said it overtly, but she had certainly intimated that he was being stupid in saying he would do nothing. He followed her gaze to Krystos, who was looking amused again, and shook his head no in answer to the young woman’s not quite question. No, he had not revealed himself or the knowledge he now had to the Condos family or any of their people.
Achilleas pinched his thumb and forefinger over the bridge of his nose, closing his eyes for a moment as Evangelina went on, glancing up wearily as she spoke of magic and tricks. It was everything he despised about politics and he opened his mouth to say as much when she hopped off his desk and approached him. He raised a brow, looked down at her with a haughty expression on the face that got him what he wanted more often than not. His gaze was sharp on hers, fierce blue in his exasperation.But when she produced the paperweight, Evagelina was treated to a momentary respite from the intensity of his eyes, seeing instead the flash of dark lashes under lowered brows as he blinked once, twice, three times.
Achilleas’ hand closed around the polished obsidian, warmed slightly from her touch and he looked at her like she was insane. Or maybe he was. Why did she keep touching his things? But, as any true friend would, Krysto piped up to distract him from his discomfort, pushing off of the bookcase where he leant to give Evangelina a shake of his head.
“Oh but no, my Lady. Our good Prince favours his left-hand, so that one does all the work” He grinned widely at Achilleas before turning an entirely guiless smile upon Evie. There was a momentary quiet in which Evie chanced she might have felt the hairs on the back of her neck rise. A glance between the two men would find the captain barel containing his mirth and Achilleas with what almost looked like a flush spreading down over the sharp angles of his cheekbones.
“Captain” His voice was strangely taut, , and his hand was wrapped so tightly around the paperweight that his knuckles had gone white. “ I believe you are needed in the armoury. Now”. The dismissal did not seem to faze Krysto who considered his job well done, and gave a respectful bow to Evangelina that was rather spoiled by the catlike grin he followed it up with. “A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Lady Evangelina. I hope we will meet again” And then there was a smart salute to Achilleas who was looking oddly flustered and did not say a word, only cleared his throat and turned away from Evangelina to return to his desk. The paperweight was switched out for the cup of wine which the Prince took a large gulp from before absently shuffling the parchment on the table into a neater pile.Resetting the space. He eventually gestured wearily for his guest to take a seat once again, flopping into his own with less grace than might have been expected.
“I am very confused” he said after a moment, looking at her almost beseechingly. “About what you want from me Lady Evangelina. My strengths do not lie in conniving and misdirection, they never have, nor is it something I wish for. Please, return the favour and speak plainly for me - what is your goal in this?”
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He could not make sense of this woman. She smiled at him and Achilleas got the distinct feeling that she was amused at something, but he couldn’t decipher what it was, and he also thought she was pleased about the fact. His face wore his displeasure with the notion but he persevered in trying to explain to her his reasoning.
When she hopped up to perch on his desk, he nearly lost his train his thought, and had to look away from how close she was too scattering the papers there. There was a small and bitter voice reminding him too that they weren’t even that important, given the fact that he wasn’t allowed to sign off on anything anymore. It did not help his mood.
Refocusing, the Prince said his piece. He expected her to retreat in the face of his words, at least to show some comprehension of the gravity of what he revealed, but instead, Achilleas found himself in receipt of another glare. What Now?! He couldn’t fathom why she was unpicking every single word that he said - perhaps she had not said it overtly, but she had certainly intimated that he was being stupid in saying he would do nothing. He followed her gaze to Krystos, who was looking amused again, and shook his head no in answer to the young woman’s not quite question. No, he had not revealed himself or the knowledge he now had to the Condos family or any of their people.
Achilleas pinched his thumb and forefinger over the bridge of his nose, closing his eyes for a moment as Evangelina went on, glancing up wearily as she spoke of magic and tricks. It was everything he despised about politics and he opened his mouth to say as much when she hopped off his desk and approached him. He raised a brow, looked down at her with a haughty expression on the face that got him what he wanted more often than not. His gaze was sharp on hers, fierce blue in his exasperation.But when she produced the paperweight, Evagelina was treated to a momentary respite from the intensity of his eyes, seeing instead the flash of dark lashes under lowered brows as he blinked once, twice, three times.
Achilleas’ hand closed around the polished obsidian, warmed slightly from her touch and he looked at her like she was insane. Or maybe he was. Why did she keep touching his things? But, as any true friend would, Krysto piped up to distract him from his discomfort, pushing off of the bookcase where he leant to give Evangelina a shake of his head.
“Oh but no, my Lady. Our good Prince favours his left-hand, so that one does all the work” He grinned widely at Achilleas before turning an entirely guiless smile upon Evie. There was a momentary quiet in which Evie chanced she might have felt the hairs on the back of her neck rise. A glance between the two men would find the captain barel containing his mirth and Achilleas with what almost looked like a flush spreading down over the sharp angles of his cheekbones.
“Captain” His voice was strangely taut, , and his hand was wrapped so tightly around the paperweight that his knuckles had gone white. “ I believe you are needed in the armoury. Now”. The dismissal did not seem to faze Krysto who considered his job well done, and gave a respectful bow to Evangelina that was rather spoiled by the catlike grin he followed it up with. “A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Lady Evangelina. I hope we will meet again” And then there was a smart salute to Achilleas who was looking oddly flustered and did not say a word, only cleared his throat and turned away from Evangelina to return to his desk. The paperweight was switched out for the cup of wine which the Prince took a large gulp from before absently shuffling the parchment on the table into a neater pile.Resetting the space. He eventually gestured wearily for his guest to take a seat once again, flopping into his own with less grace than might have been expected.
“I am very confused” he said after a moment, looking at her almost beseechingly. “About what you want from me Lady Evangelina. My strengths do not lie in conniving and misdirection, they never have, nor is it something I wish for. Please, return the favour and speak plainly for me - what is your goal in this?”
He could not make sense of this woman. She smiled at him and Achilleas got the distinct feeling that she was amused at something, but he couldn’t decipher what it was, and he also thought she was pleased about the fact. His face wore his displeasure with the notion but he persevered in trying to explain to her his reasoning.
When she hopped up to perch on his desk, he nearly lost his train his thought, and had to look away from how close she was too scattering the papers there. There was a small and bitter voice reminding him too that they weren’t even that important, given the fact that he wasn’t allowed to sign off on anything anymore. It did not help his mood.
Refocusing, the Prince said his piece. He expected her to retreat in the face of his words, at least to show some comprehension of the gravity of what he revealed, but instead, Achilleas found himself in receipt of another glare. What Now?! He couldn’t fathom why she was unpicking every single word that he said - perhaps she had not said it overtly, but she had certainly intimated that he was being stupid in saying he would do nothing. He followed her gaze to Krystos, who was looking amused again, and shook his head no in answer to the young woman’s not quite question. No, he had not revealed himself or the knowledge he now had to the Condos family or any of their people.
Achilleas pinched his thumb and forefinger over the bridge of his nose, closing his eyes for a moment as Evangelina went on, glancing up wearily as she spoke of magic and tricks. It was everything he despised about politics and he opened his mouth to say as much when she hopped off his desk and approached him. He raised a brow, looked down at her with a haughty expression on the face that got him what he wanted more often than not. His gaze was sharp on hers, fierce blue in his exasperation.But when she produced the paperweight, Evagelina was treated to a momentary respite from the intensity of his eyes, seeing instead the flash of dark lashes under lowered brows as he blinked once, twice, three times.
Achilleas’ hand closed around the polished obsidian, warmed slightly from her touch and he looked at her like she was insane. Or maybe he was. Why did she keep touching his things? But, as any true friend would, Krysto piped up to distract him from his discomfort, pushing off of the bookcase where he leant to give Evangelina a shake of his head.
“Oh but no, my Lady. Our good Prince favours his left-hand, so that one does all the work” He grinned widely at Achilleas before turning an entirely guiless smile upon Evie. There was a momentary quiet in which Evie chanced she might have felt the hairs on the back of her neck rise. A glance between the two men would find the captain barel containing his mirth and Achilleas with what almost looked like a flush spreading down over the sharp angles of his cheekbones.
“Captain” His voice was strangely taut, , and his hand was wrapped so tightly around the paperweight that his knuckles had gone white. “ I believe you are needed in the armoury. Now”. The dismissal did not seem to faze Krysto who considered his job well done, and gave a respectful bow to Evangelina that was rather spoiled by the catlike grin he followed it up with. “A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Lady Evangelina. I hope we will meet again” And then there was a smart salute to Achilleas who was looking oddly flustered and did not say a word, only cleared his throat and turned away from Evangelina to return to his desk. The paperweight was switched out for the cup of wine which the Prince took a large gulp from before absently shuffling the parchment on the table into a neater pile.Resetting the space. He eventually gestured wearily for his guest to take a seat once again, flopping into his own with less grace than might have been expected.
“I am very confused” he said after a moment, looking at her almost beseechingly. “About what you want from me Lady Evangelina. My strengths do not lie in conniving and misdirection, they never have, nor is it something I wish for. Please, return the favour and speak plainly for me - what is your goal in this?”
He had beautiful eyes even right now as he scowled down at her with that pompous look on his face. They were a startling shade of blue, not the cold iced over short of blue but rather turbulent like the waves as they rolled in just before a storm. They were a direct contrast to the controlled exterior of the man standing in front of her. She was finding that there was something rather delightful in watching him rotate through his emotions from haughty to addled.
That was exactly what he looked like at that moment as he shifted into perplexed blinking as she offered up the polished obsidian paperweight. Tilting her head just a little, she stared up at him. There was an urge to reach out with her index finger and straighten the wrinkles that were appearing between his brows. Grasping it, he slowly plucked it out of her hand.
Movement from the corner of her eye reminded her that they weren’t the only ones in the room. Krysto shoved his lanky frame away from the bookshelf as he leaned in towards her, ‘Oh but no, my Lady. Our good Prince favours his left hand, so that one does all the work.’ He grinned widely at Achilleas and silence fell over the room. It was her turn to blink in total bewilderment. Her dark eyes shifting between the two men.
Krysto was barely containing his teasing amusement full of levity while Achilleas was… Her eyes narrowed suspiciously at Achilleas, he was blushing. She blinked some more trying to connect the dots in her brain. The dainty brunette had a rather lascivious mind on her own and her time around the stable servants it didn’t take much for her to figure out the gist of what Krysto meant. Evie’s eyes widened and she felt her gaze dropping slowly down to his hips and then back up to the Prince.
‘Captain.’ Achilleas barked at Krysto, she noticed his hands tightening around the paperweight. It was all the confirmation she needed that her thoughts were on the right path. Dropping her delightfully wicked gaze, she tried to look away. One of her hands came up to shield the smirk on her lips as she looked out the window. ‘ I believe you are needed in the armoury. Now.’
Drawing her gaze from the window to puckishly meet Krysto’s as he bid farewell, ‘A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Lady Evangelina. I hope we will meet again.’ Offering him her own version of the cat who got the cream smile, “Oh, you can count on it, Captain.” Sliding a glance to Achilleas, he had no idea what introducing the two of them would mean for him.
As the good Captain Krysto saluted Achilleas a bit too smartly and swaggered from the room, Evangelina found her hand covering her lips as she looked out the window again trying not to think about what had just been revealed about the uptight prince. When she looked back to him, he was at his desk with his glass of wine and attempting to reorganize his desk. Turning, she walked back over towards the desk.
He made some sort of gesture that she assumed meant she was supposed to take a seat again. Easing into the chair, she silently watched him as he flopped into his own chair and finally spoke. ‘I am very confused.’ Evangelina blinked her eyes at him. What was he confused about now? ‘About what you want from me Lady Evangelina. My strengths do not lie in conniving and misdirection, they never have, nor is it something I wish for. Please, return the favour and speak plainly for me - what is your goal in this?’
She sighed quietly and relaxed into her chair. A brief flicker of sadness washed over her face as she looked at him and she nodded her head slowly. Clearing her throat, she spoke softly but there was a firmness in what she said. “Conniving and misdirection are a part of your position now, whether you wish it or not, and that position is yours.” Tilting her head softly, she bit her bottom lip and studied him some more. “I am sure you are aware there are certain things that go along with all positions that we are not suited for but we have to learn to accept that and make the most of it. As a soldier, if you get queasy at a bloodstain… you have to learn to overcome that, no?” She leaned forward resting her hands on his desk, her fingers gently ruffling the corner of his pages. “Conniving and misdirection are your bloodstains to overcome.” Slanting her sweeping lashes upwards she looked up at him, “So… Um...“ She cleared her throat softly and tried to remind herself they were going to be frank with one another. “So men do that too.” Her index finger gave a subtle little point downward. Curiosity sparking in her gaze.
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He had beautiful eyes even right now as he scowled down at her with that pompous look on his face. They were a startling shade of blue, not the cold iced over short of blue but rather turbulent like the waves as they rolled in just before a storm. They were a direct contrast to the controlled exterior of the man standing in front of her. She was finding that there was something rather delightful in watching him rotate through his emotions from haughty to addled.
That was exactly what he looked like at that moment as he shifted into perplexed blinking as she offered up the polished obsidian paperweight. Tilting her head just a little, she stared up at him. There was an urge to reach out with her index finger and straighten the wrinkles that were appearing between his brows. Grasping it, he slowly plucked it out of her hand.
Movement from the corner of her eye reminded her that they weren’t the only ones in the room. Krysto shoved his lanky frame away from the bookshelf as he leaned in towards her, ‘Oh but no, my Lady. Our good Prince favours his left hand, so that one does all the work.’ He grinned widely at Achilleas and silence fell over the room. It was her turn to blink in total bewilderment. Her dark eyes shifting between the two men.
Krysto was barely containing his teasing amusement full of levity while Achilleas was… Her eyes narrowed suspiciously at Achilleas, he was blushing. She blinked some more trying to connect the dots in her brain. The dainty brunette had a rather lascivious mind on her own and her time around the stable servants it didn’t take much for her to figure out the gist of what Krysto meant. Evie’s eyes widened and she felt her gaze dropping slowly down to his hips and then back up to the Prince.
‘Captain.’ Achilleas barked at Krysto, she noticed his hands tightening around the paperweight. It was all the confirmation she needed that her thoughts were on the right path. Dropping her delightfully wicked gaze, she tried to look away. One of her hands came up to shield the smirk on her lips as she looked out the window. ‘ I believe you are needed in the armoury. Now.’
Drawing her gaze from the window to puckishly meet Krysto’s as he bid farewell, ‘A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Lady Evangelina. I hope we will meet again.’ Offering him her own version of the cat who got the cream smile, “Oh, you can count on it, Captain.” Sliding a glance to Achilleas, he had no idea what introducing the two of them would mean for him.
As the good Captain Krysto saluted Achilleas a bit too smartly and swaggered from the room, Evangelina found her hand covering her lips as she looked out the window again trying not to think about what had just been revealed about the uptight prince. When she looked back to him, he was at his desk with his glass of wine and attempting to reorganize his desk. Turning, she walked back over towards the desk.
He made some sort of gesture that she assumed meant she was supposed to take a seat again. Easing into the chair, she silently watched him as he flopped into his own chair and finally spoke. ‘I am very confused.’ Evangelina blinked her eyes at him. What was he confused about now? ‘About what you want from me Lady Evangelina. My strengths do not lie in conniving and misdirection, they never have, nor is it something I wish for. Please, return the favour and speak plainly for me - what is your goal in this?’
She sighed quietly and relaxed into her chair. A brief flicker of sadness washed over her face as she looked at him and she nodded her head slowly. Clearing her throat, she spoke softly but there was a firmness in what she said. “Conniving and misdirection are a part of your position now, whether you wish it or not, and that position is yours.” Tilting her head softly, she bit her bottom lip and studied him some more. “I am sure you are aware there are certain things that go along with all positions that we are not suited for but we have to learn to accept that and make the most of it. As a soldier, if you get queasy at a bloodstain… you have to learn to overcome that, no?” She leaned forward resting her hands on his desk, her fingers gently ruffling the corner of his pages. “Conniving and misdirection are your bloodstains to overcome.” Slanting her sweeping lashes upwards she looked up at him, “So… Um...“ She cleared her throat softly and tried to remind herself they were going to be frank with one another. “So men do that too.” Her index finger gave a subtle little point downward. Curiosity sparking in her gaze.
He had beautiful eyes even right now as he scowled down at her with that pompous look on his face. They were a startling shade of blue, not the cold iced over short of blue but rather turbulent like the waves as they rolled in just before a storm. They were a direct contrast to the controlled exterior of the man standing in front of her. She was finding that there was something rather delightful in watching him rotate through his emotions from haughty to addled.
That was exactly what he looked like at that moment as he shifted into perplexed blinking as she offered up the polished obsidian paperweight. Tilting her head just a little, she stared up at him. There was an urge to reach out with her index finger and straighten the wrinkles that were appearing between his brows. Grasping it, he slowly plucked it out of her hand.
Movement from the corner of her eye reminded her that they weren’t the only ones in the room. Krysto shoved his lanky frame away from the bookshelf as he leaned in towards her, ‘Oh but no, my Lady. Our good Prince favours his left hand, so that one does all the work.’ He grinned widely at Achilleas and silence fell over the room. It was her turn to blink in total bewilderment. Her dark eyes shifting between the two men.
Krysto was barely containing his teasing amusement full of levity while Achilleas was… Her eyes narrowed suspiciously at Achilleas, he was blushing. She blinked some more trying to connect the dots in her brain. The dainty brunette had a rather lascivious mind on her own and her time around the stable servants it didn’t take much for her to figure out the gist of what Krysto meant. Evie’s eyes widened and she felt her gaze dropping slowly down to his hips and then back up to the Prince.
‘Captain.’ Achilleas barked at Krysto, she noticed his hands tightening around the paperweight. It was all the confirmation she needed that her thoughts were on the right path. Dropping her delightfully wicked gaze, she tried to look away. One of her hands came up to shield the smirk on her lips as she looked out the window. ‘ I believe you are needed in the armoury. Now.’
Drawing her gaze from the window to puckishly meet Krysto’s as he bid farewell, ‘A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Lady Evangelina. I hope we will meet again.’ Offering him her own version of the cat who got the cream smile, “Oh, you can count on it, Captain.” Sliding a glance to Achilleas, he had no idea what introducing the two of them would mean for him.
As the good Captain Krysto saluted Achilleas a bit too smartly and swaggered from the room, Evangelina found her hand covering her lips as she looked out the window again trying not to think about what had just been revealed about the uptight prince. When she looked back to him, he was at his desk with his glass of wine and attempting to reorganize his desk. Turning, she walked back over towards the desk.
He made some sort of gesture that she assumed meant she was supposed to take a seat again. Easing into the chair, she silently watched him as he flopped into his own chair and finally spoke. ‘I am very confused.’ Evangelina blinked her eyes at him. What was he confused about now? ‘About what you want from me Lady Evangelina. My strengths do not lie in conniving and misdirection, they never have, nor is it something I wish for. Please, return the favour and speak plainly for me - what is your goal in this?’
She sighed quietly and relaxed into her chair. A brief flicker of sadness washed over her face as she looked at him and she nodded her head slowly. Clearing her throat, she spoke softly but there was a firmness in what she said. “Conniving and misdirection are a part of your position now, whether you wish it or not, and that position is yours.” Tilting her head softly, she bit her bottom lip and studied him some more. “I am sure you are aware there are certain things that go along with all positions that we are not suited for but we have to learn to accept that and make the most of it. As a soldier, if you get queasy at a bloodstain… you have to learn to overcome that, no?” She leaned forward resting her hands on his desk, her fingers gently ruffling the corner of his pages. “Conniving and misdirection are your bloodstains to overcome.” Slanting her sweeping lashes upwards she looked up at him, “So… Um...“ She cleared her throat softly and tried to remind herself they were going to be frank with one another. “So men do that too.” Her index finger gave a subtle little point downward. Curiosity sparking in her gaze.
There were moments when Krysto pushed Achilleas further than he would have liked. Where the bond of friendship that had grown over all the years they had known one another ruled his head instead of the knowledge that Achilleas was also a public figure. That some of his reticence to be casual was warranted and perhaps should be respected and left to stand rather than broken down.
This was one of those moments, and Achilleas could have punched him for being so crude. He thought he still might as he glared at the Captain’s retreating back. He could feel the heat in his cheeks. Should he apologise? Or would that just draw more attention to what would be better forgotten? He debated it and had to take himself out of Lady Evagelina’s eyeline for a second to make some recovery from that….intense oversharing. The litte moments of uncessary ordering of his environment gave him that, and by the time he gazed at Evie again over the top of his desk, the Lord Mikaelidas was more composed.
The simple question he put to her seemed to make her maudlin for a flicker, and Achilleas felt a stirring of unease about what her answer was to be to put such an expression on her face. He lifted his eyebrows, an invitation for her to speak.
But he might have wished she did not, for what the young woman had to say to him was nothing that he wanted to hear, and he was silent as he considered her words. They smacked of a truth he did not want to accept, and Achilleas echoed her sigh, set his elbows upon his desk and steepled his fingers.
Was it the idea that he would now be more deeply entrenched in the underhand mechancations of court that made him frown so? Or her insistence that, despite his attempts not to acknowledge it, his father was now King, and he was Crown Prince. Making him complicit in the formalisation of his cousin’s downfall.
Achilleas didn’t quite understand the interest the woman opposite held in it,in him and he studied her as if he might learn it in the curve of her lips, the knowing dark of her gaze.His own lips thinned a little as she nudged his papers out of line once more, but the lord refused to react to the baiting, for he was sure that what was what she was doing now.
He fixed her with a speculative look. “What makes it a matter you are so concerned about though? You think I am not up to the task? Is that it? I have been a senator for sixteen years, Lady Evangelina. I am not oblivious to the workings of court. And I have managed well enough thus far without becoming one of those who chooses dishonesty and underhand methods to acheive their goals”
Only the latter tasted like a lie even as he said it, for his recent actions? They were perhaps the closest he had come to it. But he felt had been backed into a corner by circumstance. There was the flex of a muscle in his jaw, and Achilleas looked away from his guest, because she was too observant by half and he didn’t want to give more away than he wished to.
The soft clearing of her throat has his attention drawn back, and he thought after the seriousness of her words before that he was ready for whatever prompted it. But he only stared at her blankly, trying to link back her words to what he’d said. So men did that too? There was a doubtful look upon his face as he wondered why she would think men did not strive to be honest and upfront when he noticed the particular gesture of her finger, and realised that she was harking back to something said before and he gaped at her.
That was..this was no at suitable conversational subject to have with any young lady, never mind the cousin of his intended, and Achilleas was entirely unsure how to address it. He swallowed. Shifted in his seat and opened his mouth to answer. And then decided just to ignore it and change the subject.
“Do you read many writings on warfare?” He had glanced around and was grasping at straws, and finding one as his eyes alighted on the scrolls that she had already helped herself to. He didn’t really know what he was saying, but just found himself babbling, undermining his own assertions of his political expertise from earlier.Anything that would stop her rephrasing that highly inappropriate question.He was going to murder Krysto. “I favour those by Hemeneles myself. He speaks well on how to motivate even the most lowly of foot soldiers so they might seek to achieve greatness” And then the Lord finished that cup of wine, set it down a little too heavily and stared at her because his disbelief was just too great.
“You cannot ask me things like that!”
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There were moments when Krysto pushed Achilleas further than he would have liked. Where the bond of friendship that had grown over all the years they had known one another ruled his head instead of the knowledge that Achilleas was also a public figure. That some of his reticence to be casual was warranted and perhaps should be respected and left to stand rather than broken down.
This was one of those moments, and Achilleas could have punched him for being so crude. He thought he still might as he glared at the Captain’s retreating back. He could feel the heat in his cheeks. Should he apologise? Or would that just draw more attention to what would be better forgotten? He debated it and had to take himself out of Lady Evagelina’s eyeline for a second to make some recovery from that….intense oversharing. The litte moments of uncessary ordering of his environment gave him that, and by the time he gazed at Evie again over the top of his desk, the Lord Mikaelidas was more composed.
The simple question he put to her seemed to make her maudlin for a flicker, and Achilleas felt a stirring of unease about what her answer was to be to put such an expression on her face. He lifted his eyebrows, an invitation for her to speak.
But he might have wished she did not, for what the young woman had to say to him was nothing that he wanted to hear, and he was silent as he considered her words. They smacked of a truth he did not want to accept, and Achilleas echoed her sigh, set his elbows upon his desk and steepled his fingers.
Was it the idea that he would now be more deeply entrenched in the underhand mechancations of court that made him frown so? Or her insistence that, despite his attempts not to acknowledge it, his father was now King, and he was Crown Prince. Making him complicit in the formalisation of his cousin’s downfall.
Achilleas didn’t quite understand the interest the woman opposite held in it,in him and he studied her as if he might learn it in the curve of her lips, the knowing dark of her gaze.His own lips thinned a little as she nudged his papers out of line once more, but the lord refused to react to the baiting, for he was sure that what was what she was doing now.
He fixed her with a speculative look. “What makes it a matter you are so concerned about though? You think I am not up to the task? Is that it? I have been a senator for sixteen years, Lady Evangelina. I am not oblivious to the workings of court. And I have managed well enough thus far without becoming one of those who chooses dishonesty and underhand methods to acheive their goals”
Only the latter tasted like a lie even as he said it, for his recent actions? They were perhaps the closest he had come to it. But he felt had been backed into a corner by circumstance. There was the flex of a muscle in his jaw, and Achilleas looked away from his guest, because she was too observant by half and he didn’t want to give more away than he wished to.
The soft clearing of her throat has his attention drawn back, and he thought after the seriousness of her words before that he was ready for whatever prompted it. But he only stared at her blankly, trying to link back her words to what he’d said. So men did that too? There was a doubtful look upon his face as he wondered why she would think men did not strive to be honest and upfront when he noticed the particular gesture of her finger, and realised that she was harking back to something said before and he gaped at her.
That was..this was no at suitable conversational subject to have with any young lady, never mind the cousin of his intended, and Achilleas was entirely unsure how to address it. He swallowed. Shifted in his seat and opened his mouth to answer. And then decided just to ignore it and change the subject.
“Do you read many writings on warfare?” He had glanced around and was grasping at straws, and finding one as his eyes alighted on the scrolls that she had already helped herself to. He didn’t really know what he was saying, but just found himself babbling, undermining his own assertions of his political expertise from earlier.Anything that would stop her rephrasing that highly inappropriate question.He was going to murder Krysto. “I favour those by Hemeneles myself. He speaks well on how to motivate even the most lowly of foot soldiers so they might seek to achieve greatness” And then the Lord finished that cup of wine, set it down a little too heavily and stared at her because his disbelief was just too great.
“You cannot ask me things like that!”
There were moments when Krysto pushed Achilleas further than he would have liked. Where the bond of friendship that had grown over all the years they had known one another ruled his head instead of the knowledge that Achilleas was also a public figure. That some of his reticence to be casual was warranted and perhaps should be respected and left to stand rather than broken down.
This was one of those moments, and Achilleas could have punched him for being so crude. He thought he still might as he glared at the Captain’s retreating back. He could feel the heat in his cheeks. Should he apologise? Or would that just draw more attention to what would be better forgotten? He debated it and had to take himself out of Lady Evagelina’s eyeline for a second to make some recovery from that….intense oversharing. The litte moments of uncessary ordering of his environment gave him that, and by the time he gazed at Evie again over the top of his desk, the Lord Mikaelidas was more composed.
The simple question he put to her seemed to make her maudlin for a flicker, and Achilleas felt a stirring of unease about what her answer was to be to put such an expression on her face. He lifted his eyebrows, an invitation for her to speak.
But he might have wished she did not, for what the young woman had to say to him was nothing that he wanted to hear, and he was silent as he considered her words. They smacked of a truth he did not want to accept, and Achilleas echoed her sigh, set his elbows upon his desk and steepled his fingers.
Was it the idea that he would now be more deeply entrenched in the underhand mechancations of court that made him frown so? Or her insistence that, despite his attempts not to acknowledge it, his father was now King, and he was Crown Prince. Making him complicit in the formalisation of his cousin’s downfall.
Achilleas didn’t quite understand the interest the woman opposite held in it,in him and he studied her as if he might learn it in the curve of her lips, the knowing dark of her gaze.His own lips thinned a little as she nudged his papers out of line once more, but the lord refused to react to the baiting, for he was sure that what was what she was doing now.
He fixed her with a speculative look. “What makes it a matter you are so concerned about though? You think I am not up to the task? Is that it? I have been a senator for sixteen years, Lady Evangelina. I am not oblivious to the workings of court. And I have managed well enough thus far without becoming one of those who chooses dishonesty and underhand methods to acheive their goals”
Only the latter tasted like a lie even as he said it, for his recent actions? They were perhaps the closest he had come to it. But he felt had been backed into a corner by circumstance. There was the flex of a muscle in his jaw, and Achilleas looked away from his guest, because she was too observant by half and he didn’t want to give more away than he wished to.
The soft clearing of her throat has his attention drawn back, and he thought after the seriousness of her words before that he was ready for whatever prompted it. But he only stared at her blankly, trying to link back her words to what he’d said. So men did that too? There was a doubtful look upon his face as he wondered why she would think men did not strive to be honest and upfront when he noticed the particular gesture of her finger, and realised that she was harking back to something said before and he gaped at her.
That was..this was no at suitable conversational subject to have with any young lady, never mind the cousin of his intended, and Achilleas was entirely unsure how to address it. He swallowed. Shifted in his seat and opened his mouth to answer. And then decided just to ignore it and change the subject.
“Do you read many writings on warfare?” He had glanced around and was grasping at straws, and finding one as his eyes alighted on the scrolls that she had already helped herself to. He didn’t really know what he was saying, but just found himself babbling, undermining his own assertions of his political expertise from earlier.Anything that would stop her rephrasing that highly inappropriate question.He was going to murder Krysto. “I favour those by Hemeneles myself. He speaks well on how to motivate even the most lowly of foot soldiers so they might seek to achieve greatness” And then the Lord finished that cup of wine, set it down a little too heavily and stared at her because his disbelief was just too great.
“You cannot ask me things like that!”
It was amazing how people asked her for an opinion of a situation and then when she told them what she thought they’d weren’t happy with the answer. She wasn’t here to cater to his ego. If that’s what he thought or what he wanted he needed a nursemaid, not a friend.
‘What makes it a matter you are so concerned about though? You think I am not up to the task? Is that it? I have been a senator for sixteen years, Lady Evangelina. I am not oblivious to the workings of court. And I have managed well enough thus far without becoming one of those who chooses dishonesty and underhand methods to acheive their goals.’
Tilting her head at him, she regarded him closely as he vented. This didn’t sound like it was entirely aimed at her. As it stood, there was one person in this court that could outrank him and Evangelina had a strong suspicion that was who should have been under on the receiving end of the prince’s spoiled little rant.
He looked away refusing to meet her gaze. It seemed the man was learning very quickly to shield his true thoughts. That was a positive sign. After a moment, she spoke very quietly.
“The fact that you can’t see why this is a matter of my concern does make me wonder. I think you would be perfectly suited for the task if you’d pull your head out of that hole in your rump long enough to step off that high horse you are so desperately clinging to the top of.” She didn’t spare her words, “You may not want this position you have now but it doesn’t change the fact that you do have it… And the decisions and the choices you make don’t just affect you. They affect me, they affect Theo, they affect every person living under your power. It’s quite possible that none of them will make it their concern what you do with this power but I am not one of those people. What you do matters to me because it not only affects me but it affects people I care about.”
He wouldn’t like what she had to say, but she continued laying the truth at his feet for him to hear it. “So you’ve been a senator for sixteen years, it’s time to grow up.” Her fingers tightened on the oak armrest of the chair as she felt her temper rising mildly higher. “Who you were then, is not who you are now whether you like it or not. And I wonder, how long will your distaste for underhand methods and dishonesty last when your noble and good methods fail and people suffer. Your enemies, whether on the battlefield or in politics, care not one whit’s end about your morals. They will win however they can win. Before you lose your temper let me remind you, you asked me for my opinion and my thoughts. If you don’t like them… don’t ask. I am not going to coddle you like your milk mother.” A dissatisfied sigh escaped and she forced herself to relax in the chair.
Okay, so maybe Evangelina knew she shouldn’t have asked what she had to the safe and prudent prince, but where was the fun in that? The thought had crossed her mind in amusement, she’d paused only a moment before saying it then that damned little voice in her head had said, ‘Are’s Balls! Let’s see what happens…’ And then like that, the question slipped from her sordid little mouth. It was also a distinct possibility that she wanted to get under his skin just a little more for causing her temper to rise. Not that she’d lost her temper but, she liked to believe she controlled herself with the very best of them when she needed too… Not that she practiced control all that often.
She could see the moment it sank in what she was speaking about and almost grinned at him and clapped like a child who’d just seen a magic trick performed for them. It was delicious seeing the discomfort flit across his face and him squirming in his seat. It’d have been an entire lie if someone had believed there wasn’t a malevolent bone in her body. Evie blamed the Leventi blood for that particular little bloodlust. She wasn’t precisely sure what he’d answer, but his answer wasn’t one that she expected.
‘Do you read many writings on warfare?’
Her brows furrowed as her long sweeping eyelashes bobbed up and down as she blinked incredulously at him. That was his answer?! Her lips parted slightly and she felt her tongue reach out to wet them. Granted, he was looking all over the room uncomfortably but… What?! She felt herself lean a little bit away from him and deeper into her chair. He continued babbling at her.
‘I favour those by Hemeneles myself. He speaks well on how to motivate even the most lowly of foot soldiers so they might seek to achieve greatness’
The pint-sized Leventi continued to blink in confusion at him. Her eyebrows rising slowly higher and higher, towards her hairline. She was putting together her answer in her mind when he downed what was left of the contents in his glass and set it down heavily. Had it been full it might have sloshed out onto those oh so neatly arranged papers on his desk.
She closed her mouth as he opened his this time with an absurd little demand.
‘You cannot ask me things like that.’
There it was… She knew that stick was firmly shoved up his rump… Her lips slowly, wickedly began to turn up. A dimpled, puckishness forming in the shape. Her dark eyes sparkling with amusement.
“Oh, but I did…” Her lips purred cheekily out at him. “And it was worth it to see every deliciously awkward moment of you babbling about my reading habits.” Resting her chin in her hand, she continued to study him in amusement. He was rather prudish for Theo’s tastes, she thought silently and smiled. “By the way, I think I saw your nose hair curl just a little at my question… If we are going to be friends you are going to have to learn to relax. I’ve seen long-tailed cats in a room full of rocking chairs that weren’t as tightly wound as you are.”
Leaning forward just enough for her to grasp the stem of her own wine glass and bring it to her lips, “Yes. Reading writings on warfare is one of my many hobbies.” She took a sip, licked her lips and looked down at the glass in consideration. “Hemeneles is very good. A bit heavy on the prose to be my favorite. I personally prefer Tiresias’ writings about the importance of military intelligence and the use of spies.” Looking over her rim she smiled a slow neutral smile at Achilleas and sighed, “You have to agree that they the most important element in war, No? Because on them depends an army’s ability to move. If you can’t move… you can’t win… and that is the point of warfare isn’t it? To have an established winner?”
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It was amazing how people asked her for an opinion of a situation and then when she told them what she thought they’d weren’t happy with the answer. She wasn’t here to cater to his ego. If that’s what he thought or what he wanted he needed a nursemaid, not a friend.
‘What makes it a matter you are so concerned about though? You think I am not up to the task? Is that it? I have been a senator for sixteen years, Lady Evangelina. I am not oblivious to the workings of court. And I have managed well enough thus far without becoming one of those who chooses dishonesty and underhand methods to acheive their goals.’
Tilting her head at him, she regarded him closely as he vented. This didn’t sound like it was entirely aimed at her. As it stood, there was one person in this court that could outrank him and Evangelina had a strong suspicion that was who should have been under on the receiving end of the prince’s spoiled little rant.
He looked away refusing to meet her gaze. It seemed the man was learning very quickly to shield his true thoughts. That was a positive sign. After a moment, she spoke very quietly.
“The fact that you can’t see why this is a matter of my concern does make me wonder. I think you would be perfectly suited for the task if you’d pull your head out of that hole in your rump long enough to step off that high horse you are so desperately clinging to the top of.” She didn’t spare her words, “You may not want this position you have now but it doesn’t change the fact that you do have it… And the decisions and the choices you make don’t just affect you. They affect me, they affect Theo, they affect every person living under your power. It’s quite possible that none of them will make it their concern what you do with this power but I am not one of those people. What you do matters to me because it not only affects me but it affects people I care about.”
He wouldn’t like what she had to say, but she continued laying the truth at his feet for him to hear it. “So you’ve been a senator for sixteen years, it’s time to grow up.” Her fingers tightened on the oak armrest of the chair as she felt her temper rising mildly higher. “Who you were then, is not who you are now whether you like it or not. And I wonder, how long will your distaste for underhand methods and dishonesty last when your noble and good methods fail and people suffer. Your enemies, whether on the battlefield or in politics, care not one whit’s end about your morals. They will win however they can win. Before you lose your temper let me remind you, you asked me for my opinion and my thoughts. If you don’t like them… don’t ask. I am not going to coddle you like your milk mother.” A dissatisfied sigh escaped and she forced herself to relax in the chair.
Okay, so maybe Evangelina knew she shouldn’t have asked what she had to the safe and prudent prince, but where was the fun in that? The thought had crossed her mind in amusement, she’d paused only a moment before saying it then that damned little voice in her head had said, ‘Are’s Balls! Let’s see what happens…’ And then like that, the question slipped from her sordid little mouth. It was also a distinct possibility that she wanted to get under his skin just a little more for causing her temper to rise. Not that she’d lost her temper but, she liked to believe she controlled herself with the very best of them when she needed too… Not that she practiced control all that often.
She could see the moment it sank in what she was speaking about and almost grinned at him and clapped like a child who’d just seen a magic trick performed for them. It was delicious seeing the discomfort flit across his face and him squirming in his seat. It’d have been an entire lie if someone had believed there wasn’t a malevolent bone in her body. Evie blamed the Leventi blood for that particular little bloodlust. She wasn’t precisely sure what he’d answer, but his answer wasn’t one that she expected.
‘Do you read many writings on warfare?’
Her brows furrowed as her long sweeping eyelashes bobbed up and down as she blinked incredulously at him. That was his answer?! Her lips parted slightly and she felt her tongue reach out to wet them. Granted, he was looking all over the room uncomfortably but… What?! She felt herself lean a little bit away from him and deeper into her chair. He continued babbling at her.
‘I favour those by Hemeneles myself. He speaks well on how to motivate even the most lowly of foot soldiers so they might seek to achieve greatness’
The pint-sized Leventi continued to blink in confusion at him. Her eyebrows rising slowly higher and higher, towards her hairline. She was putting together her answer in her mind when he downed what was left of the contents in his glass and set it down heavily. Had it been full it might have sloshed out onto those oh so neatly arranged papers on his desk.
She closed her mouth as he opened his this time with an absurd little demand.
‘You cannot ask me things like that.’
There it was… She knew that stick was firmly shoved up his rump… Her lips slowly, wickedly began to turn up. A dimpled, puckishness forming in the shape. Her dark eyes sparkling with amusement.
“Oh, but I did…” Her lips purred cheekily out at him. “And it was worth it to see every deliciously awkward moment of you babbling about my reading habits.” Resting her chin in her hand, she continued to study him in amusement. He was rather prudish for Theo’s tastes, she thought silently and smiled. “By the way, I think I saw your nose hair curl just a little at my question… If we are going to be friends you are going to have to learn to relax. I’ve seen long-tailed cats in a room full of rocking chairs that weren’t as tightly wound as you are.”
Leaning forward just enough for her to grasp the stem of her own wine glass and bring it to her lips, “Yes. Reading writings on warfare is one of my many hobbies.” She took a sip, licked her lips and looked down at the glass in consideration. “Hemeneles is very good. A bit heavy on the prose to be my favorite. I personally prefer Tiresias’ writings about the importance of military intelligence and the use of spies.” Looking over her rim she smiled a slow neutral smile at Achilleas and sighed, “You have to agree that they the most important element in war, No? Because on them depends an army’s ability to move. If you can’t move… you can’t win… and that is the point of warfare isn’t it? To have an established winner?”
It was amazing how people asked her for an opinion of a situation and then when she told them what she thought they’d weren’t happy with the answer. She wasn’t here to cater to his ego. If that’s what he thought or what he wanted he needed a nursemaid, not a friend.
‘What makes it a matter you are so concerned about though? You think I am not up to the task? Is that it? I have been a senator for sixteen years, Lady Evangelina. I am not oblivious to the workings of court. And I have managed well enough thus far without becoming one of those who chooses dishonesty and underhand methods to acheive their goals.’
Tilting her head at him, she regarded him closely as he vented. This didn’t sound like it was entirely aimed at her. As it stood, there was one person in this court that could outrank him and Evangelina had a strong suspicion that was who should have been under on the receiving end of the prince’s spoiled little rant.
He looked away refusing to meet her gaze. It seemed the man was learning very quickly to shield his true thoughts. That was a positive sign. After a moment, she spoke very quietly.
“The fact that you can’t see why this is a matter of my concern does make me wonder. I think you would be perfectly suited for the task if you’d pull your head out of that hole in your rump long enough to step off that high horse you are so desperately clinging to the top of.” She didn’t spare her words, “You may not want this position you have now but it doesn’t change the fact that you do have it… And the decisions and the choices you make don’t just affect you. They affect me, they affect Theo, they affect every person living under your power. It’s quite possible that none of them will make it their concern what you do with this power but I am not one of those people. What you do matters to me because it not only affects me but it affects people I care about.”
He wouldn’t like what she had to say, but she continued laying the truth at his feet for him to hear it. “So you’ve been a senator for sixteen years, it’s time to grow up.” Her fingers tightened on the oak armrest of the chair as she felt her temper rising mildly higher. “Who you were then, is not who you are now whether you like it or not. And I wonder, how long will your distaste for underhand methods and dishonesty last when your noble and good methods fail and people suffer. Your enemies, whether on the battlefield or in politics, care not one whit’s end about your morals. They will win however they can win. Before you lose your temper let me remind you, you asked me for my opinion and my thoughts. If you don’t like them… don’t ask. I am not going to coddle you like your milk mother.” A dissatisfied sigh escaped and she forced herself to relax in the chair.
Okay, so maybe Evangelina knew she shouldn’t have asked what she had to the safe and prudent prince, but where was the fun in that? The thought had crossed her mind in amusement, she’d paused only a moment before saying it then that damned little voice in her head had said, ‘Are’s Balls! Let’s see what happens…’ And then like that, the question slipped from her sordid little mouth. It was also a distinct possibility that she wanted to get under his skin just a little more for causing her temper to rise. Not that she’d lost her temper but, she liked to believe she controlled herself with the very best of them when she needed too… Not that she practiced control all that often.
She could see the moment it sank in what she was speaking about and almost grinned at him and clapped like a child who’d just seen a magic trick performed for them. It was delicious seeing the discomfort flit across his face and him squirming in his seat. It’d have been an entire lie if someone had believed there wasn’t a malevolent bone in her body. Evie blamed the Leventi blood for that particular little bloodlust. She wasn’t precisely sure what he’d answer, but his answer wasn’t one that she expected.
‘Do you read many writings on warfare?’
Her brows furrowed as her long sweeping eyelashes bobbed up and down as she blinked incredulously at him. That was his answer?! Her lips parted slightly and she felt her tongue reach out to wet them. Granted, he was looking all over the room uncomfortably but… What?! She felt herself lean a little bit away from him and deeper into her chair. He continued babbling at her.
‘I favour those by Hemeneles myself. He speaks well on how to motivate even the most lowly of foot soldiers so they might seek to achieve greatness’
The pint-sized Leventi continued to blink in confusion at him. Her eyebrows rising slowly higher and higher, towards her hairline. She was putting together her answer in her mind when he downed what was left of the contents in his glass and set it down heavily. Had it been full it might have sloshed out onto those oh so neatly arranged papers on his desk.
She closed her mouth as he opened his this time with an absurd little demand.
‘You cannot ask me things like that.’
There it was… She knew that stick was firmly shoved up his rump… Her lips slowly, wickedly began to turn up. A dimpled, puckishness forming in the shape. Her dark eyes sparkling with amusement.
“Oh, but I did…” Her lips purred cheekily out at him. “And it was worth it to see every deliciously awkward moment of you babbling about my reading habits.” Resting her chin in her hand, she continued to study him in amusement. He was rather prudish for Theo’s tastes, she thought silently and smiled. “By the way, I think I saw your nose hair curl just a little at my question… If we are going to be friends you are going to have to learn to relax. I’ve seen long-tailed cats in a room full of rocking chairs that weren’t as tightly wound as you are.”
Leaning forward just enough for her to grasp the stem of her own wine glass and bring it to her lips, “Yes. Reading writings on warfare is one of my many hobbies.” She took a sip, licked her lips and looked down at the glass in consideration. “Hemeneles is very good. A bit heavy on the prose to be my favorite. I personally prefer Tiresias’ writings about the importance of military intelligence and the use of spies.” Looking over her rim she smiled a slow neutral smile at Achilleas and sighed, “You have to agree that they the most important element in war, No? Because on them depends an army’s ability to move. If you can’t move… you can’t win… and that is the point of warfare isn’t it? To have an established winner?”
Wholly unprepared to be taken to task quite so thoroughly, Achilleas remained very still and silent during Evangelina’s perhaps overly honest assessment the current state of affairs. There were elements that he took exception to, but he overlooked them long enough to hear what else she said, and there was sense woven through her rather insulting opinion of him.
His father thought him unambitious, but it was not so. Achilleas wanted nothing more than to see the Kingdom he had been raised to treasure flourish and grow. But the difference was that he did not like to trample on those people around him to ensure that it was him leading the charge. Nor did he like to compromise his beliefs in what was right and good in order to ensure success. This was, he was almost certain, his greatest weakness in his father’s eyes. His biggest disappointment. And to hear the woman before him state so unequivocally that his preference for maintaining some moral integrity would fail, and that he too would be better served playing the games he despised in others was rather jarring.
And so Achilleas did not lose his temper, but rather maintained a thoughtful silence as she finished, feeling rather deflated by all of this. There was a soft whoosh of air as he exhaled, scrubbed his hands over his face and then looked at this girl who dared to come and speak so plainly to him.
“Maybe you are right” The concession was there, albeit hedged with a maybe, but it was his expression, his posture that spoke more. He looked tired, shadowed eyes suggesting that sleep had not been easy to come by, and there was no fight, no eyes blazing or curled fists. Instead, Achilleas slumped into his chair a little, braced an elbow on the arm and pressed his fingers into his forehead again. His other hand made a hopeless sort of gesture. “This is well and good, but the fact of the matter it is that whatever my new position offers me, it is my Father who holds sway.”
And hadn’t Achilleas always towed the line and done what the man had asked of him? At least until recently. That shift amongst so many others, it was no wonder he felt like he needed to just cling tight to the things he knew, to anchor him. And now this young woman, who seemed so resolute on stripping them away. The formality, the act that made doing everything he had to do possible. He didn’t have the energy to gather it all back to him.
So his attempts at deflection were clumsy, and as much as he wished to, he could not wrest his thoughts away from her words that he was trying to bury. ‘Do men do that too, she had said. Too. He closed his eyes and tried to scrub his thoughts clean, but it was not easy. Grown used to the convenience of Briseis in his bed, the end to that arrangement had left him..unfulfilled for want of a better word, and so battle strategy seemed safe and suitably droll subject matter to fill his mind with.
Not that he had been as convincing as he might have liked, she revealed in the next and Achilleas shrugged. “It has been a trying couple of weeks. What can I say. That, and the fact until yesterday, you knew me no better than ‘the brute who threw rocks at me as a child’. This has all been most unusual”
In that, he would not dream of letting someone close to so personal a matter as Griffen had looked to be, nor discussing the issue of his cousin, and most certainly not..other subjects that had somehow been tabled. But Evangelina had been there, and more than that, seemed to have a way of goading or charming him to a point that he was far less discreet than he would like to be.
If there was talk of ‘winning’ then Achilleas could not claim to have triumphed. The young woman was much sharper than he would have credited her for, and had not been exaggerating when she had promised to be frank with him the day before. No, he would grudgingly have to offer victory to Lady Evangelina as their established winner.
“You are not at all what I would have expected” he mused, once again forgetting that filter as he gazed at her. “Is that where we have reached then? Friends?”
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Wholly unprepared to be taken to task quite so thoroughly, Achilleas remained very still and silent during Evangelina’s perhaps overly honest assessment the current state of affairs. There were elements that he took exception to, but he overlooked them long enough to hear what else she said, and there was sense woven through her rather insulting opinion of him.
His father thought him unambitious, but it was not so. Achilleas wanted nothing more than to see the Kingdom he had been raised to treasure flourish and grow. But the difference was that he did not like to trample on those people around him to ensure that it was him leading the charge. Nor did he like to compromise his beliefs in what was right and good in order to ensure success. This was, he was almost certain, his greatest weakness in his father’s eyes. His biggest disappointment. And to hear the woman before him state so unequivocally that his preference for maintaining some moral integrity would fail, and that he too would be better served playing the games he despised in others was rather jarring.
And so Achilleas did not lose his temper, but rather maintained a thoughtful silence as she finished, feeling rather deflated by all of this. There was a soft whoosh of air as he exhaled, scrubbed his hands over his face and then looked at this girl who dared to come and speak so plainly to him.
“Maybe you are right” The concession was there, albeit hedged with a maybe, but it was his expression, his posture that spoke more. He looked tired, shadowed eyes suggesting that sleep had not been easy to come by, and there was no fight, no eyes blazing or curled fists. Instead, Achilleas slumped into his chair a little, braced an elbow on the arm and pressed his fingers into his forehead again. His other hand made a hopeless sort of gesture. “This is well and good, but the fact of the matter it is that whatever my new position offers me, it is my Father who holds sway.”
And hadn’t Achilleas always towed the line and done what the man had asked of him? At least until recently. That shift amongst so many others, it was no wonder he felt like he needed to just cling tight to the things he knew, to anchor him. And now this young woman, who seemed so resolute on stripping them away. The formality, the act that made doing everything he had to do possible. He didn’t have the energy to gather it all back to him.
So his attempts at deflection were clumsy, and as much as he wished to, he could not wrest his thoughts away from her words that he was trying to bury. ‘Do men do that too, she had said. Too. He closed his eyes and tried to scrub his thoughts clean, but it was not easy. Grown used to the convenience of Briseis in his bed, the end to that arrangement had left him..unfulfilled for want of a better word, and so battle strategy seemed safe and suitably droll subject matter to fill his mind with.
Not that he had been as convincing as he might have liked, she revealed in the next and Achilleas shrugged. “It has been a trying couple of weeks. What can I say. That, and the fact until yesterday, you knew me no better than ‘the brute who threw rocks at me as a child’. This has all been most unusual”
In that, he would not dream of letting someone close to so personal a matter as Griffen had looked to be, nor discussing the issue of his cousin, and most certainly not..other subjects that had somehow been tabled. But Evangelina had been there, and more than that, seemed to have a way of goading or charming him to a point that he was far less discreet than he would like to be.
If there was talk of ‘winning’ then Achilleas could not claim to have triumphed. The young woman was much sharper than he would have credited her for, and had not been exaggerating when she had promised to be frank with him the day before. No, he would grudgingly have to offer victory to Lady Evangelina as their established winner.
“You are not at all what I would have expected” he mused, once again forgetting that filter as he gazed at her. “Is that where we have reached then? Friends?”
Wholly unprepared to be taken to task quite so thoroughly, Achilleas remained very still and silent during Evangelina’s perhaps overly honest assessment the current state of affairs. There were elements that he took exception to, but he overlooked them long enough to hear what else she said, and there was sense woven through her rather insulting opinion of him.
His father thought him unambitious, but it was not so. Achilleas wanted nothing more than to see the Kingdom he had been raised to treasure flourish and grow. But the difference was that he did not like to trample on those people around him to ensure that it was him leading the charge. Nor did he like to compromise his beliefs in what was right and good in order to ensure success. This was, he was almost certain, his greatest weakness in his father’s eyes. His biggest disappointment. And to hear the woman before him state so unequivocally that his preference for maintaining some moral integrity would fail, and that he too would be better served playing the games he despised in others was rather jarring.
And so Achilleas did not lose his temper, but rather maintained a thoughtful silence as she finished, feeling rather deflated by all of this. There was a soft whoosh of air as he exhaled, scrubbed his hands over his face and then looked at this girl who dared to come and speak so plainly to him.
“Maybe you are right” The concession was there, albeit hedged with a maybe, but it was his expression, his posture that spoke more. He looked tired, shadowed eyes suggesting that sleep had not been easy to come by, and there was no fight, no eyes blazing or curled fists. Instead, Achilleas slumped into his chair a little, braced an elbow on the arm and pressed his fingers into his forehead again. His other hand made a hopeless sort of gesture. “This is well and good, but the fact of the matter it is that whatever my new position offers me, it is my Father who holds sway.”
And hadn’t Achilleas always towed the line and done what the man had asked of him? At least until recently. That shift amongst so many others, it was no wonder he felt like he needed to just cling tight to the things he knew, to anchor him. And now this young woman, who seemed so resolute on stripping them away. The formality, the act that made doing everything he had to do possible. He didn’t have the energy to gather it all back to him.
So his attempts at deflection were clumsy, and as much as he wished to, he could not wrest his thoughts away from her words that he was trying to bury. ‘Do men do that too, she had said. Too. He closed his eyes and tried to scrub his thoughts clean, but it was not easy. Grown used to the convenience of Briseis in his bed, the end to that arrangement had left him..unfulfilled for want of a better word, and so battle strategy seemed safe and suitably droll subject matter to fill his mind with.
Not that he had been as convincing as he might have liked, she revealed in the next and Achilleas shrugged. “It has been a trying couple of weeks. What can I say. That, and the fact until yesterday, you knew me no better than ‘the brute who threw rocks at me as a child’. This has all been most unusual”
In that, he would not dream of letting someone close to so personal a matter as Griffen had looked to be, nor discussing the issue of his cousin, and most certainly not..other subjects that had somehow been tabled. But Evangelina had been there, and more than that, seemed to have a way of goading or charming him to a point that he was far less discreet than he would like to be.
If there was talk of ‘winning’ then Achilleas could not claim to have triumphed. The young woman was much sharper than he would have credited her for, and had not been exaggerating when she had promised to be frank with him the day before. No, he would grudgingly have to offer victory to Lady Evangelina as their established winner.
“You are not at all what I would have expected” he mused, once again forgetting that filter as he gazed at her. “Is that where we have reached then? Friends?”
Horses had been an excellent teacher for Evangelina. They didn’t use words to communicate and she’d learned to be sensitive to things that were left unsaid. The use of words, the tone you used. A look could say a lot to Evie as could the simplest of shifts in posture or body movement. The subtlest of things could tell her things.
Had she pushed too hard against Achilleas?
The fire that had been there moments ago in his eyes had dimmed into a tired to an almost defeated appearance.
‘Maybe you are right.’ Her lips tightened, this wouldn’t do. He made some sort of gesture that she wasn’t sure how to interpret but it didn’t speak of strength. ‘This is well and good, but the fact of the matter is that whatever my new position offers me, it is my Father who holds sway.’ Tilting her head backward to lean it softly against the high backed hair. He was right and he was wrong but she didn’t figure he was ready for more of her lecturing.
Dropping her eyes softly, she gave him a reprieve from her studying of him. Letting the softness of silence spread between them, he had no idea how difficult it was not to reach out and touch his hand, to reassure him that everything would be fine but in doing so it would have undermined everything she was trying to bring to the newly crowned prince’s attention.
‘It has been a trying couple of weeks. What can I say. That, and the fact until yesterday, you knew me no better than ‘the brute who threw rocks at me as a child’. This has all been most unusual.’
She smiled faintly at that, the petite little brunette didn’t often waste time trying to figure out if she liked someone or not. It was the rare person that inflicted that sort of discord on her. Usually, within a few minutes of a conversation, she had determined whether a person was someone she wanted close to her.
“It has been a trying couple of weeks for us all, you’ve every right to feel a bit disjointed,” Slanting her dark eyes upwards towards him, giving him a soft shrug of her shoulders. “Does unusual bother you?”
Pushing herself out of the chair, she moved over to the small table and picked up the ornate glass vase of wine and removed the top before she walked back over to his desk and reached out to pick up his empty wine glass. ‘You are not at all what I would have expected,.’ She glanced at him and gave him an earnest dimpled smile, ‘Is that where we have reached then? Friends?’
“Do you realize how many times I hear that?” Evangelina murmured, looking back to the glass as she poured him some more of the wine. Offering him the glass, “You tell me.” She licked her lips and leaned her hip against the desk, her dark eyes studying him as he stared up at her, “Friendship is a two-way street. I can’t make you trust me or be my friend. I can only do so much…”
With the wine pitcher in her hand, she easily hopped up on the edge of his desk again. Her rump accidentally knocking the obsidian paperweight onto the floor, a heavy sigh escaped as she started to wiggled back off the desk to pick it back up.
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Horses had been an excellent teacher for Evangelina. They didn’t use words to communicate and she’d learned to be sensitive to things that were left unsaid. The use of words, the tone you used. A look could say a lot to Evie as could the simplest of shifts in posture or body movement. The subtlest of things could tell her things.
Had she pushed too hard against Achilleas?
The fire that had been there moments ago in his eyes had dimmed into a tired to an almost defeated appearance.
‘Maybe you are right.’ Her lips tightened, this wouldn’t do. He made some sort of gesture that she wasn’t sure how to interpret but it didn’t speak of strength. ‘This is well and good, but the fact of the matter is that whatever my new position offers me, it is my Father who holds sway.’ Tilting her head backward to lean it softly against the high backed hair. He was right and he was wrong but she didn’t figure he was ready for more of her lecturing.
Dropping her eyes softly, she gave him a reprieve from her studying of him. Letting the softness of silence spread between them, he had no idea how difficult it was not to reach out and touch his hand, to reassure him that everything would be fine but in doing so it would have undermined everything she was trying to bring to the newly crowned prince’s attention.
‘It has been a trying couple of weeks. What can I say. That, and the fact until yesterday, you knew me no better than ‘the brute who threw rocks at me as a child’. This has all been most unusual.’
She smiled faintly at that, the petite little brunette didn’t often waste time trying to figure out if she liked someone or not. It was the rare person that inflicted that sort of discord on her. Usually, within a few minutes of a conversation, she had determined whether a person was someone she wanted close to her.
“It has been a trying couple of weeks for us all, you’ve every right to feel a bit disjointed,” Slanting her dark eyes upwards towards him, giving him a soft shrug of her shoulders. “Does unusual bother you?”
Pushing herself out of the chair, she moved over to the small table and picked up the ornate glass vase of wine and removed the top before she walked back over to his desk and reached out to pick up his empty wine glass. ‘You are not at all what I would have expected,.’ She glanced at him and gave him an earnest dimpled smile, ‘Is that where we have reached then? Friends?’
“Do you realize how many times I hear that?” Evangelina murmured, looking back to the glass as she poured him some more of the wine. Offering him the glass, “You tell me.” She licked her lips and leaned her hip against the desk, her dark eyes studying him as he stared up at her, “Friendship is a two-way street. I can’t make you trust me or be my friend. I can only do so much…”
With the wine pitcher in her hand, she easily hopped up on the edge of his desk again. Her rump accidentally knocking the obsidian paperweight onto the floor, a heavy sigh escaped as she started to wiggled back off the desk to pick it back up.
Horses had been an excellent teacher for Evangelina. They didn’t use words to communicate and she’d learned to be sensitive to things that were left unsaid. The use of words, the tone you used. A look could say a lot to Evie as could the simplest of shifts in posture or body movement. The subtlest of things could tell her things.
Had she pushed too hard against Achilleas?
The fire that had been there moments ago in his eyes had dimmed into a tired to an almost defeated appearance.
‘Maybe you are right.’ Her lips tightened, this wouldn’t do. He made some sort of gesture that she wasn’t sure how to interpret but it didn’t speak of strength. ‘This is well and good, but the fact of the matter is that whatever my new position offers me, it is my Father who holds sway.’ Tilting her head backward to lean it softly against the high backed hair. He was right and he was wrong but she didn’t figure he was ready for more of her lecturing.
Dropping her eyes softly, she gave him a reprieve from her studying of him. Letting the softness of silence spread between them, he had no idea how difficult it was not to reach out and touch his hand, to reassure him that everything would be fine but in doing so it would have undermined everything she was trying to bring to the newly crowned prince’s attention.
‘It has been a trying couple of weeks. What can I say. That, and the fact until yesterday, you knew me no better than ‘the brute who threw rocks at me as a child’. This has all been most unusual.’
She smiled faintly at that, the petite little brunette didn’t often waste time trying to figure out if she liked someone or not. It was the rare person that inflicted that sort of discord on her. Usually, within a few minutes of a conversation, she had determined whether a person was someone she wanted close to her.
“It has been a trying couple of weeks for us all, you’ve every right to feel a bit disjointed,” Slanting her dark eyes upwards towards him, giving him a soft shrug of her shoulders. “Does unusual bother you?”
Pushing herself out of the chair, she moved over to the small table and picked up the ornate glass vase of wine and removed the top before she walked back over to his desk and reached out to pick up his empty wine glass. ‘You are not at all what I would have expected,.’ She glanced at him and gave him an earnest dimpled smile, ‘Is that where we have reached then? Friends?’
“Do you realize how many times I hear that?” Evangelina murmured, looking back to the glass as she poured him some more of the wine. Offering him the glass, “You tell me.” She licked her lips and leaned her hip against the desk, her dark eyes studying him as he stared up at her, “Friendship is a two-way street. I can’t make you trust me or be my friend. I can only do so much…”
With the wine pitcher in her hand, she easily hopped up on the edge of his desk again. Her rump accidentally knocking the obsidian paperweight onto the floor, a heavy sigh escaped as she started to wiggled back off the desk to pick it back up.
As he backed down, it seemed it was enough to derail the young Lady Leventi from her mission..whatever it was. Achilleas breathed a silent sigh of relief, he didn’t want to battle anymore. He let his gaze settle upon the dark of her eyes, the bemusement in his expression enough to suggest that perhaps unusual did bother him. Perhaps he found it easier when things fell into his sphere of reference. That wasn’t odd, was it?
“Not..usually” he said, a smile almost making itself known. It was a cumulative thing. Already off balance, it was easier to throw him for a loop. Perhaps that was how Evangelina had managed to get under his skin so easily. Or maybe - and he was beginning to think it might be the case - it was just a unique talent of her own.
The Lord watched her as she stood and moved to retrieve the wine, one eyebrow cocked. It was a thing he usually avoided, drinking as a means to unwind, but was becoming something of a habit of late. Still, he did not protest as she picked up his glass, just made his observations as to how surprising he found her and the smile she rewarded him with leant some truth to her words. “More than once then I take it?”
Achilleas, in contrast, usually worked very hard to be precisely what people expected of him. And with so many years’ practice he had become so accomplished that he did not know quite how to stop. Or what he would be left with if he did. And the question he’d put out to Evangelina, carefully phrased so as not to actually infer any commitment, was neatly turned back to him, and the lord paused.
There were few he would have counted as friends. Krysto, surely. Stephanos too, though they were like oil and water. And Achilleas neatly sifted through the countless other acquaintances that he could name so, dismissing them one after another. Lack of time, and the fact that he tended to throw himself into work and duty over socialising meant that the list of those he called friends, and trusted as friends was slim. There was a surprise sort of smile on his face then, as he canted his head to the side and looked at Evangelina. “I suppose so, then. Friends. And soon to be family.” He accepted the glass, tipped it toward her in salutation but did not drink right away, instead looking momentarily outraged as she hopped back up to perch on his desk again.
The crash as the paperweight hit the floor had him sigh, and he carefully put down his glass before intercepting her attempts to pick it up, leaning over to wrap his fingers around the heavy stone sphere. He was reminded of the fact that the opposing wall still bore a scar from where he had hurled it the week prior. Achilleas averted his eyes from the rather unflattering monument to his temper.
“There is a perfectly good seat over there” he said, as he straightened and set the paperweight back on the desk, but his words had no bite to them. Rather he just resignedly moved everything down his desk so that there would be less likelihood of anything else being displaced by Evangelina’s unorthodox seating preferences, that almost familiar expression of mild exasperation visible to his guest for a flicker before he smoothed it away. It was not obvious, but Evie had managed to provoke it often enough over the course of their acquaintance that she would know it. Just as in time she might come to know the small furrow that appeared between his brows as he worked up to asking something that he wasn’t sure about. “Lady Evangelina..I hope you don’t mind my asking” he began as if he feared that perhaps she would. “But, I could not help but notice that Theo..that you did seem overly close. Do you two not get along?”
It had been playing on his mind - not as much as slightly larger issues such as bastard children and missing monarchs - but enough since he had recalled how dismissive his betrothed had been of her cousin at the reception. And now, having claimed the girl as an ally and named her friend, he had a flash of concern that it might be..less than adored by his future wife.
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As he backed down, it seemed it was enough to derail the young Lady Leventi from her mission..whatever it was. Achilleas breathed a silent sigh of relief, he didn’t want to battle anymore. He let his gaze settle upon the dark of her eyes, the bemusement in his expression enough to suggest that perhaps unusual did bother him. Perhaps he found it easier when things fell into his sphere of reference. That wasn’t odd, was it?
“Not..usually” he said, a smile almost making itself known. It was a cumulative thing. Already off balance, it was easier to throw him for a loop. Perhaps that was how Evangelina had managed to get under his skin so easily. Or maybe - and he was beginning to think it might be the case - it was just a unique talent of her own.
The Lord watched her as she stood and moved to retrieve the wine, one eyebrow cocked. It was a thing he usually avoided, drinking as a means to unwind, but was becoming something of a habit of late. Still, he did not protest as she picked up his glass, just made his observations as to how surprising he found her and the smile she rewarded him with leant some truth to her words. “More than once then I take it?”
Achilleas, in contrast, usually worked very hard to be precisely what people expected of him. And with so many years’ practice he had become so accomplished that he did not know quite how to stop. Or what he would be left with if he did. And the question he’d put out to Evangelina, carefully phrased so as not to actually infer any commitment, was neatly turned back to him, and the lord paused.
There were few he would have counted as friends. Krysto, surely. Stephanos too, though they were like oil and water. And Achilleas neatly sifted through the countless other acquaintances that he could name so, dismissing them one after another. Lack of time, and the fact that he tended to throw himself into work and duty over socialising meant that the list of those he called friends, and trusted as friends was slim. There was a surprise sort of smile on his face then, as he canted his head to the side and looked at Evangelina. “I suppose so, then. Friends. And soon to be family.” He accepted the glass, tipped it toward her in salutation but did not drink right away, instead looking momentarily outraged as she hopped back up to perch on his desk again.
The crash as the paperweight hit the floor had him sigh, and he carefully put down his glass before intercepting her attempts to pick it up, leaning over to wrap his fingers around the heavy stone sphere. He was reminded of the fact that the opposing wall still bore a scar from where he had hurled it the week prior. Achilleas averted his eyes from the rather unflattering monument to his temper.
“There is a perfectly good seat over there” he said, as he straightened and set the paperweight back on the desk, but his words had no bite to them. Rather he just resignedly moved everything down his desk so that there would be less likelihood of anything else being displaced by Evangelina’s unorthodox seating preferences, that almost familiar expression of mild exasperation visible to his guest for a flicker before he smoothed it away. It was not obvious, but Evie had managed to provoke it often enough over the course of their acquaintance that she would know it. Just as in time she might come to know the small furrow that appeared between his brows as he worked up to asking something that he wasn’t sure about. “Lady Evangelina..I hope you don’t mind my asking” he began as if he feared that perhaps she would. “But, I could not help but notice that Theo..that you did seem overly close. Do you two not get along?”
It had been playing on his mind - not as much as slightly larger issues such as bastard children and missing monarchs - but enough since he had recalled how dismissive his betrothed had been of her cousin at the reception. And now, having claimed the girl as an ally and named her friend, he had a flash of concern that it might be..less than adored by his future wife.
As he backed down, it seemed it was enough to derail the young Lady Leventi from her mission..whatever it was. Achilleas breathed a silent sigh of relief, he didn’t want to battle anymore. He let his gaze settle upon the dark of her eyes, the bemusement in his expression enough to suggest that perhaps unusual did bother him. Perhaps he found it easier when things fell into his sphere of reference. That wasn’t odd, was it?
“Not..usually” he said, a smile almost making itself known. It was a cumulative thing. Already off balance, it was easier to throw him for a loop. Perhaps that was how Evangelina had managed to get under his skin so easily. Or maybe - and he was beginning to think it might be the case - it was just a unique talent of her own.
The Lord watched her as she stood and moved to retrieve the wine, one eyebrow cocked. It was a thing he usually avoided, drinking as a means to unwind, but was becoming something of a habit of late. Still, he did not protest as she picked up his glass, just made his observations as to how surprising he found her and the smile she rewarded him with leant some truth to her words. “More than once then I take it?”
Achilleas, in contrast, usually worked very hard to be precisely what people expected of him. And with so many years’ practice he had become so accomplished that he did not know quite how to stop. Or what he would be left with if he did. And the question he’d put out to Evangelina, carefully phrased so as not to actually infer any commitment, was neatly turned back to him, and the lord paused.
There were few he would have counted as friends. Krysto, surely. Stephanos too, though they were like oil and water. And Achilleas neatly sifted through the countless other acquaintances that he could name so, dismissing them one after another. Lack of time, and the fact that he tended to throw himself into work and duty over socialising meant that the list of those he called friends, and trusted as friends was slim. There was a surprise sort of smile on his face then, as he canted his head to the side and looked at Evangelina. “I suppose so, then. Friends. And soon to be family.” He accepted the glass, tipped it toward her in salutation but did not drink right away, instead looking momentarily outraged as she hopped back up to perch on his desk again.
The crash as the paperweight hit the floor had him sigh, and he carefully put down his glass before intercepting her attempts to pick it up, leaning over to wrap his fingers around the heavy stone sphere. He was reminded of the fact that the opposing wall still bore a scar from where he had hurled it the week prior. Achilleas averted his eyes from the rather unflattering monument to his temper.
“There is a perfectly good seat over there” he said, as he straightened and set the paperweight back on the desk, but his words had no bite to them. Rather he just resignedly moved everything down his desk so that there would be less likelihood of anything else being displaced by Evangelina’s unorthodox seating preferences, that almost familiar expression of mild exasperation visible to his guest for a flicker before he smoothed it away. It was not obvious, but Evie had managed to provoke it often enough over the course of their acquaintance that she would know it. Just as in time she might come to know the small furrow that appeared between his brows as he worked up to asking something that he wasn’t sure about. “Lady Evangelina..I hope you don’t mind my asking” he began as if he feared that perhaps she would. “But, I could not help but notice that Theo..that you did seem overly close. Do you two not get along?”
It had been playing on his mind - not as much as slightly larger issues such as bastard children and missing monarchs - but enough since he had recalled how dismissive his betrothed had been of her cousin at the reception. And now, having claimed the girl as an ally and named her friend, he had a flash of concern that it might be..less than adored by his future wife.
Standing her ground with the intensity of his gaze focused upon her wasn’t an easy task but she fiercely refused to look away. His lips twitched into an almost smile, ‘Not..usually.’ One eyebrow arched in a silent inquiry. Did he really believe that the unusual didn’t usually bother him? No. Evangelina inwardly answered that question. He would catch a brief glimpse of a grin before she dipped her head and aimed it at the floor. With a soft shake of her head, her chestnut hair bounced with the movement, “So it’s unusual for you to be bothered by something that is not usual?” Sweeping a look up at him from beneath her lashes, her dark eyes twinkling with a bit of mischief as she teased him.
Would he be able to see that there were unusual things all around him? She wasn’t the only one unusual in the room.
‘More than once then I take it?’ The smile on her lips broadened. He really had no idea how often she heard that phrase. As poured the glass, she tilted her head, “Try it’s the second time just this week.” Pausing in thought before she continued, “I think it’s because there are so many of us Leventi girls that we aren’t really seen as individuals but rather like a school of fish. No one bothers to notice how different we each are and instead just assume if you’ve met one of us then you’ve met us all. So they have an idea in their head of what they imagine and when we are separated out and our individuality comes out… it surprises people.” She gave a soft shrug, “People will imagine what they please regardless, I suppose.”
‘I suppose so, then. Friends. And soon to be family.’ He’d wanted to know if they were friends, it wasn’t something she could answer. She’d consider him a friend, well… at least until he proved otherwise. Friendship was just another relationship that was a decision that had to be made. People weren’t perfect. Relationships weren’t perfect. It required putting imperfect people into imperfect relationships and them deciding whether the good outweighed the bad and sticking to it.
Achilleas took the glass tipping it towards her and she smiled lifting the glass pitcher of wine back at him in a small salute. “To friends and family,” The pint-sized brunette murmured, her lips curving upwards on one side in a half-smile.
As the paperweight fell, she let out a sigh and started to reach back down a pick it up but almost bumped heads with Achilleas in the process as he picked it up and set it back upon the desk. ‘There is a perfectly good seat over there.’ A small laugh bubbled out, “Yes. I suppose there is but this one doesn’t make me feel like I have been called into my uncle’s study and am awaiting to hear about the latest thing is that I’ve done wrong.”
He shuffled things around to accommodate her seating preference and she’d have been lying if she’d said it hadn’t made him rise in her esteem. For whatever his bark was about her unorthodox behavior, she wanted to believe that he liked it. As soon as a clear spot was open, she set the wine pitcher down and folded her hands into her lap. There was a small wrinkle starting to form on his brow, he had something on his mind. Catching the corner of her bottom lip between her teeth she chewed softly on it waiting to hear what he offered. ‘Lady Evangelina...I hope you don’t mind my asking.’ Her eyebrows raised and her teeth let go of her bottom lip, she’d taken on a more sedate tone when she nodded her head, “Ask away.”
His question should have been one that surprised her but it honestly hadn’t, in fact, she wondered why it had taken him so long to ask it. ‘But, I could not help but notice that Theo..that you did seem overly close. Do you two not get along?’ Taking a deep breath then let it out slowly, her gaze dropped to her lap as she sorted through the various choices of answers for the best one in her mind.
“Just counting Fotios’, Georgio’s, and my father… there are nine Leventi girls that were here in Taengea.” Slanting a quick look at him before she continued, “Nine of us who… are all extremely competitive and want to prove our value to our family. Nine.” She stressed the number a second time. “Theo isn’t who I run to with my problems, nor does she run to me with hers… I love her but sometimes our personality are a bit of a clashing, I think.” She wasn’t about to tell him about her own insecurities… standing beside Theo didn’t exactly leave her feeling confident and beautiful. Her teeth caught her lip again and she looked away, “I looked up to her a lot when I was younger…”
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Standing her ground with the intensity of his gaze focused upon her wasn’t an easy task but she fiercely refused to look away. His lips twitched into an almost smile, ‘Not..usually.’ One eyebrow arched in a silent inquiry. Did he really believe that the unusual didn’t usually bother him? No. Evangelina inwardly answered that question. He would catch a brief glimpse of a grin before she dipped her head and aimed it at the floor. With a soft shake of her head, her chestnut hair bounced with the movement, “So it’s unusual for you to be bothered by something that is not usual?” Sweeping a look up at him from beneath her lashes, her dark eyes twinkling with a bit of mischief as she teased him.
Would he be able to see that there were unusual things all around him? She wasn’t the only one unusual in the room.
‘More than once then I take it?’ The smile on her lips broadened. He really had no idea how often she heard that phrase. As poured the glass, she tilted her head, “Try it’s the second time just this week.” Pausing in thought before she continued, “I think it’s because there are so many of us Leventi girls that we aren’t really seen as individuals but rather like a school of fish. No one bothers to notice how different we each are and instead just assume if you’ve met one of us then you’ve met us all. So they have an idea in their head of what they imagine and when we are separated out and our individuality comes out… it surprises people.” She gave a soft shrug, “People will imagine what they please regardless, I suppose.”
‘I suppose so, then. Friends. And soon to be family.’ He’d wanted to know if they were friends, it wasn’t something she could answer. She’d consider him a friend, well… at least until he proved otherwise. Friendship was just another relationship that was a decision that had to be made. People weren’t perfect. Relationships weren’t perfect. It required putting imperfect people into imperfect relationships and them deciding whether the good outweighed the bad and sticking to it.
Achilleas took the glass tipping it towards her and she smiled lifting the glass pitcher of wine back at him in a small salute. “To friends and family,” The pint-sized brunette murmured, her lips curving upwards on one side in a half-smile.
As the paperweight fell, she let out a sigh and started to reach back down a pick it up but almost bumped heads with Achilleas in the process as he picked it up and set it back upon the desk. ‘There is a perfectly good seat over there.’ A small laugh bubbled out, “Yes. I suppose there is but this one doesn’t make me feel like I have been called into my uncle’s study and am awaiting to hear about the latest thing is that I’ve done wrong.”
He shuffled things around to accommodate her seating preference and she’d have been lying if she’d said it hadn’t made him rise in her esteem. For whatever his bark was about her unorthodox behavior, she wanted to believe that he liked it. As soon as a clear spot was open, she set the wine pitcher down and folded her hands into her lap. There was a small wrinkle starting to form on his brow, he had something on his mind. Catching the corner of her bottom lip between her teeth she chewed softly on it waiting to hear what he offered. ‘Lady Evangelina...I hope you don’t mind my asking.’ Her eyebrows raised and her teeth let go of her bottom lip, she’d taken on a more sedate tone when she nodded her head, “Ask away.”
His question should have been one that surprised her but it honestly hadn’t, in fact, she wondered why it had taken him so long to ask it. ‘But, I could not help but notice that Theo..that you did seem overly close. Do you two not get along?’ Taking a deep breath then let it out slowly, her gaze dropped to her lap as she sorted through the various choices of answers for the best one in her mind.
“Just counting Fotios’, Georgio’s, and my father… there are nine Leventi girls that were here in Taengea.” Slanting a quick look at him before she continued, “Nine of us who… are all extremely competitive and want to prove our value to our family. Nine.” She stressed the number a second time. “Theo isn’t who I run to with my problems, nor does she run to me with hers… I love her but sometimes our personality are a bit of a clashing, I think.” She wasn’t about to tell him about her own insecurities… standing beside Theo didn’t exactly leave her feeling confident and beautiful. Her teeth caught her lip again and she looked away, “I looked up to her a lot when I was younger…”
Standing her ground with the intensity of his gaze focused upon her wasn’t an easy task but she fiercely refused to look away. His lips twitched into an almost smile, ‘Not..usually.’ One eyebrow arched in a silent inquiry. Did he really believe that the unusual didn’t usually bother him? No. Evangelina inwardly answered that question. He would catch a brief glimpse of a grin before she dipped her head and aimed it at the floor. With a soft shake of her head, her chestnut hair bounced with the movement, “So it’s unusual for you to be bothered by something that is not usual?” Sweeping a look up at him from beneath her lashes, her dark eyes twinkling with a bit of mischief as she teased him.
Would he be able to see that there were unusual things all around him? She wasn’t the only one unusual in the room.
‘More than once then I take it?’ The smile on her lips broadened. He really had no idea how often she heard that phrase. As poured the glass, she tilted her head, “Try it’s the second time just this week.” Pausing in thought before she continued, “I think it’s because there are so many of us Leventi girls that we aren’t really seen as individuals but rather like a school of fish. No one bothers to notice how different we each are and instead just assume if you’ve met one of us then you’ve met us all. So they have an idea in their head of what they imagine and when we are separated out and our individuality comes out… it surprises people.” She gave a soft shrug, “People will imagine what they please regardless, I suppose.”
‘I suppose so, then. Friends. And soon to be family.’ He’d wanted to know if they were friends, it wasn’t something she could answer. She’d consider him a friend, well… at least until he proved otherwise. Friendship was just another relationship that was a decision that had to be made. People weren’t perfect. Relationships weren’t perfect. It required putting imperfect people into imperfect relationships and them deciding whether the good outweighed the bad and sticking to it.
Achilleas took the glass tipping it towards her and she smiled lifting the glass pitcher of wine back at him in a small salute. “To friends and family,” The pint-sized brunette murmured, her lips curving upwards on one side in a half-smile.
As the paperweight fell, she let out a sigh and started to reach back down a pick it up but almost bumped heads with Achilleas in the process as he picked it up and set it back upon the desk. ‘There is a perfectly good seat over there.’ A small laugh bubbled out, “Yes. I suppose there is but this one doesn’t make me feel like I have been called into my uncle’s study and am awaiting to hear about the latest thing is that I’ve done wrong.”
He shuffled things around to accommodate her seating preference and she’d have been lying if she’d said it hadn’t made him rise in her esteem. For whatever his bark was about her unorthodox behavior, she wanted to believe that he liked it. As soon as a clear spot was open, she set the wine pitcher down and folded her hands into her lap. There was a small wrinkle starting to form on his brow, he had something on his mind. Catching the corner of her bottom lip between her teeth she chewed softly on it waiting to hear what he offered. ‘Lady Evangelina...I hope you don’t mind my asking.’ Her eyebrows raised and her teeth let go of her bottom lip, she’d taken on a more sedate tone when she nodded her head, “Ask away.”
His question should have been one that surprised her but it honestly hadn’t, in fact, she wondered why it had taken him so long to ask it. ‘But, I could not help but notice that Theo..that you did seem overly close. Do you two not get along?’ Taking a deep breath then let it out slowly, her gaze dropped to her lap as she sorted through the various choices of answers for the best one in her mind.
“Just counting Fotios’, Georgio’s, and my father… there are nine Leventi girls that were here in Taengea.” Slanting a quick look at him before she continued, “Nine of us who… are all extremely competitive and want to prove our value to our family. Nine.” She stressed the number a second time. “Theo isn’t who I run to with my problems, nor does she run to me with hers… I love her but sometimes our personality are a bit of a clashing, I think.” She wasn’t about to tell him about her own insecurities… standing beside Theo didn’t exactly leave her feeling confident and beautiful. Her teeth caught her lip again and she looked away, “I looked up to her a lot when I was younger…”
Achilleas blinked, trying to follow the wordplay he’d begun himself and finding it too much effort. He shrugged, gave her a guiless look “ I think, in our new spirit of frankness, Lady Evangelina, that you know the answer to that already. I prefer things to have some order, it’s true” It was just easier that way. And unusual had an uncanny way of translating into complicated, and there was little he needed in terms of additional complications to his life just then.
Her remarks about the Leventi girls had him look a little sheepish,for he had likely been guilty of the same thing before now. Discounting Theodora, who had long held his fascination, the expectations he held for the daughters of house Leventi were the same: polished, pretty, poised. Only when he thought about it, his experiences had been somewhat contrary to that. Lady Dafni, who had played the coquette to the point of it being uncomfortable. Lady Imma, who had shown herself to have a stubborn streak that he would not have expected her to wear so proudly when dealing with him, and now Lady Evangelina, who was a different kettle of fish altogether. “It is true that your House brings to mind certain traits..but I for one can say I have been summarily disavowed of the notion that you are at all the same”
There was some awkward manoeuvring around one another in his retrieval of the paperweight, but Achilleas found he did not mind so much. They had covered enough in their short acquaintance for him to be able to relax a little, and if he were honest, Evangelina’s ability to ignore any rules of propriety made it easier for him to do the same. He wasn’t certain if that were a good or bad thing though.
His question regarding her relationship with Theodora was perhaps more personal than he would have usually considered asking, but then she had asked him far more personal things, so he ventured it anyway, looking on with some curiosity as she answered. The care she employed in her words was clear to him, and the Lord drew his own little conclusions from those, but also took her at her word, giving a small nod in response.
“Nine is a lot” he agreed. “I just thought to ask because I would not want our acquaintance being the cause of any bother. I wouldn’t want anything to be misconstrued or to make things uncomfortable”
It was not that he was uncomfortable, he thought, as he eyed the young woman perched so casually in front of him. Nor that the strange easiness he found in their interaction - that had seen him persevere rather than having her shown out when things got awkward - was most uncommon. He found it a little perplexing, and took a sip of wine as he pondered it. And then another because he didn’t find an immediate answer. Achilleas made himself set the glass down then, linking his hands before him on his lap as he looked up at Evangelina.
“I don’t know that I will get chance to speak with her before the wedding. I’d appreciate it if we could continue to keep the..Griffen subject to yourself until I can talk to Theodora myself.”
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Achilleas blinked, trying to follow the wordplay he’d begun himself and finding it too much effort. He shrugged, gave her a guiless look “ I think, in our new spirit of frankness, Lady Evangelina, that you know the answer to that already. I prefer things to have some order, it’s true” It was just easier that way. And unusual had an uncanny way of translating into complicated, and there was little he needed in terms of additional complications to his life just then.
Her remarks about the Leventi girls had him look a little sheepish,for he had likely been guilty of the same thing before now. Discounting Theodora, who had long held his fascination, the expectations he held for the daughters of house Leventi were the same: polished, pretty, poised. Only when he thought about it, his experiences had been somewhat contrary to that. Lady Dafni, who had played the coquette to the point of it being uncomfortable. Lady Imma, who had shown herself to have a stubborn streak that he would not have expected her to wear so proudly when dealing with him, and now Lady Evangelina, who was a different kettle of fish altogether. “It is true that your House brings to mind certain traits..but I for one can say I have been summarily disavowed of the notion that you are at all the same”
There was some awkward manoeuvring around one another in his retrieval of the paperweight, but Achilleas found he did not mind so much. They had covered enough in their short acquaintance for him to be able to relax a little, and if he were honest, Evangelina’s ability to ignore any rules of propriety made it easier for him to do the same. He wasn’t certain if that were a good or bad thing though.
His question regarding her relationship with Theodora was perhaps more personal than he would have usually considered asking, but then she had asked him far more personal things, so he ventured it anyway, looking on with some curiosity as she answered. The care she employed in her words was clear to him, and the Lord drew his own little conclusions from those, but also took her at her word, giving a small nod in response.
“Nine is a lot” he agreed. “I just thought to ask because I would not want our acquaintance being the cause of any bother. I wouldn’t want anything to be misconstrued or to make things uncomfortable”
It was not that he was uncomfortable, he thought, as he eyed the young woman perched so casually in front of him. Nor that the strange easiness he found in their interaction - that had seen him persevere rather than having her shown out when things got awkward - was most uncommon. He found it a little perplexing, and took a sip of wine as he pondered it. And then another because he didn’t find an immediate answer. Achilleas made himself set the glass down then, linking his hands before him on his lap as he looked up at Evangelina.
“I don’t know that I will get chance to speak with her before the wedding. I’d appreciate it if we could continue to keep the..Griffen subject to yourself until I can talk to Theodora myself.”
Achilleas blinked, trying to follow the wordplay he’d begun himself and finding it too much effort. He shrugged, gave her a guiless look “ I think, in our new spirit of frankness, Lady Evangelina, that you know the answer to that already. I prefer things to have some order, it’s true” It was just easier that way. And unusual had an uncanny way of translating into complicated, and there was little he needed in terms of additional complications to his life just then.
Her remarks about the Leventi girls had him look a little sheepish,for he had likely been guilty of the same thing before now. Discounting Theodora, who had long held his fascination, the expectations he held for the daughters of house Leventi were the same: polished, pretty, poised. Only when he thought about it, his experiences had been somewhat contrary to that. Lady Dafni, who had played the coquette to the point of it being uncomfortable. Lady Imma, who had shown herself to have a stubborn streak that he would not have expected her to wear so proudly when dealing with him, and now Lady Evangelina, who was a different kettle of fish altogether. “It is true that your House brings to mind certain traits..but I for one can say I have been summarily disavowed of the notion that you are at all the same”
There was some awkward manoeuvring around one another in his retrieval of the paperweight, but Achilleas found he did not mind so much. They had covered enough in their short acquaintance for him to be able to relax a little, and if he were honest, Evangelina’s ability to ignore any rules of propriety made it easier for him to do the same. He wasn’t certain if that were a good or bad thing though.
His question regarding her relationship with Theodora was perhaps more personal than he would have usually considered asking, but then she had asked him far more personal things, so he ventured it anyway, looking on with some curiosity as she answered. The care she employed in her words was clear to him, and the Lord drew his own little conclusions from those, but also took her at her word, giving a small nod in response.
“Nine is a lot” he agreed. “I just thought to ask because I would not want our acquaintance being the cause of any bother. I wouldn’t want anything to be misconstrued or to make things uncomfortable”
It was not that he was uncomfortable, he thought, as he eyed the young woman perched so casually in front of him. Nor that the strange easiness he found in their interaction - that had seen him persevere rather than having her shown out when things got awkward - was most uncommon. He found it a little perplexing, and took a sip of wine as he pondered it. And then another because he didn’t find an immediate answer. Achilleas made himself set the glass down then, linking his hands before him on his lap as he looked up at Evangelina.
“I don’t know that I will get chance to speak with her before the wedding. I’d appreciate it if we could continue to keep the..Griffen subject to yourself until I can talk to Theodora myself.”