His nephew's gaze was frigid, and anyone who didn't know the newly crowned King well enoug would assume his firm stance came from the confidence of a well thought out plan, of careful calculations behind his every move. It was obvious in the way Stephanos tried to pull off his posture, the frivolous royal was doing his best as he spoke, and the silence that fell as the Condos lord was cowed was proof that if nothing else, Stephanos was getting better at faking it.

Because Irakles knew better then to think he was anywhere near fit to be King.

He knew of Lord Hedron's folly - Irakles himself thought it to be a suicide mission to lead his army to the gorge where the Creed resided, yet he had said naught. He was not one to give advise where e knew it would not be heeded - and the deceased lord was too anguished over te loss of his only son and heir to act logically. A tragic happening, but something that Irakles could not seem to empathize with, since he had brought it upon himself.

Instead, as the male spoke, Irakles's sweeping gaze caught Fotios' own, and the prince gave a small smirk at his friend, fairly certain the Leventi had the same line of thoughts as he did. They were close - it was no palace secret the two were great friends, and had many a discussion in either the Leventi manor or the Mikaelidas residence. Irakles holds the ex - Master Informer to high regard, and values the advice given to him.

Listening to the King's tirade, Irakles lay a gentle hand on Elise's arm as he felt her breathe quicken, leaning down to whisper reassurances to the Queen - until Stephanos promised that he will return with the head of the Creed. At that point, Irakles felt more then saw the Queen Mother pale, her grip tightening so hard on his arm he could feel her nails digging into his skin. The prince winced, before he slowly pried his fingers under hers, and squeezed her hands. "Do not worry-" he started, only to be interuptted as the Queen turned her gaze mounting with panic to him.

"Do not allow him to go, Irakles! He cannot!" she hissed. Irakles shook his head. "The word has been said - everyone in court has heard it. To bar him from going would be no better then to brand him a liar, Elise.It would not do at all."

She started to protest, only for Irakles to hold his finger up to stop her flow of words. "Do not worry, I will ensure the Creed will not take your only son left away from you." he reassured, internally smiling at himself. Fotios would be proud of is choice of words, really.

Straightening up from where he had to bend at his waist to have is whispered conversation with Elise, his eyes roamed, and was surprised to find Fotios missing now, as the shamedfaced lord ducked out and away from the whispers that the crowd in the ballroom started up again, hushed but full of meaning, whilst the questioning Condos lord now slinked away. The prince watched the area around them, before he finally summoned two of her handmaidens to take Elise to a corner to rest after her excitement.

Irakles himself strolled towards Stephanos, chalice of wine in hand which he held up to the other in a mock toast as he approached, a small, wry smile on his lips. "Promises must be kept, Stephanos. I hope you know that. No matter the consequences." A simple sentence, yet loaded with meaning, a meaning which was clear in his honeyed gaze. That Irakles doubted Stephanos would make it, and he would give his own life in return. But who was he to decide for the new king? What he could do, was help to ensure what he wanted to happen would - and Irakles was not below doing mental tricks to get it to work.

Olympia smiled at her eldest sister, though the expression was somewhat more drawn and drained than she had planned. After the events of that morning, the pin that Desma had found and the warning issued, the coronation, planning everything here, she was tired and had been holding back tears in order to preserve what little dignity her husband had left her. She wanted to tell Selene everything, wanted her sister to comfort her and tell her that this was all nonsense, that Stephanos would not do such a thing to her, that she was fine and all would be well.

”As do I.” the queen sighed heavily, glancing around the room and giving her sister’s arm a gentle squeeze as several other Leventi women darted in and out of sight among the crowd. Wherever Imma and Evie had run off to, no doubt Theo would keep their heads on straight. As for Nana….as long as she looked lovely she would be content. ”I had hoped that we could avoid that sort of spectacle but, Stephanos insisted. He seemed to enjoy it.” The disgust in her tone was clear and she kept her voice lowered.

For a while she was managing quite well. With Selene by her side she could smile and speak with everyone who stopped her, happily making small talk with the people of the court and thanking them for their well wishes on the apparent health of herself and child, blessings and hopes that it would be a boy. She took their compliments and returned them, praising their own children and glad for once that she had a mind for whispers and facts about people. Without it she would have been lost and unable to make it through so many conversations, but for once she felt as if she was in her element, this was what she had been raised to do.

Stephanos’ voice ringing through the hall brought her to a grinding halt close by to Irakles and Elise, and she like her mother-in-law grew pale as the new king spoke. His tale was one of horror and gore, one she had tried to know as little of as possible when she reached out to the grieving widow. And now he was making a mistake. Publicly announcing in front of the entire court that he would destroy the Creed with plans that she had never heard anything about. No wonder then he had kept it from her, like his mistress, like so many things she hadn’t realized until now. Her grip on Selene’s arm was like a vice, and she wished she could be sent away like Elise had been, but her gaze was stuck on Stephanos now and she had to remind herself to keep breathing normally. He couldn’t go, if he went he would die and if he died….Olympia looked over to Irakles and felt herself begin to shake. Their enemies wouldn’t rest until Stephanos’ son was dead as well, and that would include her by default.

”I think...I need to go.” Her voice was thin, quiet as she tried not to cause too much of a scene, but as she tried to turn and step away the world spun around her and she crumpled to the floor in a faint.

A new husband is the only way you will be safe, My Aikaterine.

His words were haunting in the back of her mind as her best friend brushed through her hair for the one-hundredth stroke. She had counted aloud every pass through the long brown hair. Meanwhile, Aikaterine was lost in her own mind staring back at the practically unknown reflection in the mirror. She had never seen herself look so appealing in her life. A hand reached upwards at the wrist of the lady behind her in protest. "You don't need to make a fuss. I shouldn't be even going. I am no noble." She shook her head in a bit of defeat. She didn't have a fancy House name that carried her signature with a sense of style. Aikaterine was just rich, and even that was more in animals rather than drachmae holed up in a vault. They owned the majority of land around Meganea and had nearly thirty well-bred horses. With more on the way. The hand she had grabbed for brushed her away to gently squeezed her shoulder. You're going, Kat. Her friend had stopped there, but she could easily fill in the rest of that sentence. "He would have wanted you to..." trailed off in the confines of her mind. It was the truth. This was the first step to follow-up on any of the leads her late husband had started nearly a year ago. Or she would have to do it herself before the monster consumed her.

That excuse didn't work, so it was time for another. Her voice pleading through the words. "What if I spill wine on your beautiful dress." Thick, dark brows knit together in a worrisome glance down at the pastel chiton her best friend loaned her for the evening. Manicured fingers twisted at the fabric before petting it and straightening it. It was dazzling, magnificent. She couldn't even name all the words that she would use to talk about it. Most of all, it might turn heads and she much rather stayed anonymous. This was one of many reasons Aikaterine didn't own anything that would meet the expectations of possibly being seen by the king, the queen, and all the nobility in the land. Not at something as glamorous as to be called a gala. What was a gala anyhow? She hadn't been to anything of the sort, however, she was an eligible maiden and she needed to be seen if she had any chance to be married again. She had a large dowry, she had a the proof she could safely bare sons, and she was here.

With a shove and a wave out the door, Aikaterine was on her way to the Mikaelidas Palati for the very first time. The marble was something that she could appreciate for hours and in combination with the fountains and the gardens littered about as she made her way with the rest of the crowd arriving for the festivities, she could have spent days. If it weren't for the push to go with the crowd. Her steps were light and kept up with the pace of the others. She could blend in with the others thanks to the dress she was borrowing and her friend's prowess at hair care. Aikaterine herself had never learned how to braid her own hair. Sure, she could do a horses mane to perfection, but wasting time on herself was never a positive experience.

The main hall of the Palati was a spectacle of its own. Her green eyes were instantly gazing from ceilings to floor attempting to take in the plethora of details that came together to make this an absolutely unforgettable evening. It was completely overwhelming in combination with the people that encircled her. Each person in bright colors to signify the happiness of the coronation. This was supposed to now be a happy time. A new era for the people of Taengea. Aikaterine had no idea what Stephanos and Olympia had in mind for the kingdom. It could be great... or the change could be bad. She found her knowledge of the situation greatly lacking.

Her hands folded together as she almost wanted to pinch herself to see if she was dreaming. Somehow that was happening a lot lately. Everywhere she went in the grand capital was large and impressive. She didn't even know any of this existed. Why would her family want to keep her from so many pieces of life? Aikaterine had an idea. It was easy to control a person when they were clueless to what life could really be like. She only had dreams of love in regards to a man and woman because her best friend had it. And there were others in the town that did too. She saw them in passing with the glint in their eyes. She saw it tonight between some of the patrons. The way they tilted their hips toward each other and the yearning between them. This want only growing as they inhaled more and more wine with each passing hour. It was amusing being able to be a simple bystander.

Aikaterine couldn't even recall the closest experience to this from her memories. Her wedding wasn't at all what some might have been. It was just the business transaction. There was very little she did in the whole arrangement. It was more between Aktis and her father. Nothing as wonderful as this. But, she felt like her part was still the same as she stealthily moved towards a corner of the room to settle in and merely eavesdrop for the evening.

A goblet was taken into her hand. A momentary pause as she stared at the red liquid inside. Was it safe? Aikaterine, of course, it is safe. Cretheus isn't here to hurt you. Her own struggles tackled each other as she nodded a thank you to the servant who had been bringing the refreshments around. She couldn't say no. Not here. Not to insult the royal family, but wine wasn't one of those things that she took on that often, not the kind that they provided here. Instead, she was stuck statuesque staring and rotating it in the glass. It moved with the gravity in a circle and was a simple source of amusement and a way to ignore the others around her. Aikaterine, stop. She could hear her friends voice in her head. Make a good impression. Finally, she pressed the golden goblet to her lips and took a taste of the libations. It was the best she had ever tasted. They must have sourced in the most expensive drinks in the entire realm, known world, for this very occasion. No one would expect anything less.

One thirst-quenching sip and then another delighted her palate as she watched the rest of the party over the top rim of the glass. Her ears perked now and then as she listened to the gossip that circled again and again. The people were so kind to each other, even if they had heard the story once for someone else it was as though they thought a new person might provide another juicy morsel. Most of it was about the king, the queen, and the others that were of the royal interest. Aikaterine was mostly interested in what the people had to say about the horses of Leventi and internalize what she might have to do to make her horses better. That was the goal above all goals. They would have competitive horses to rival the large house of Taengea. She just needed a good rider and an excellent race to prove it all. And maybe a little help with the insights of this party.

Her attention was soon put upon her feet. How did anyone wear fancy shoes and tight ties around her waist? She could already feel them cutting into her ribs when her friend had criss-crossed them around, but she didn't know that after a while it would only get more uncomfortable. This was just another one of the endless reasons that Aikaterine did not dress up like this. It was impractical, especially with the work she was accustomed to with the horses. Her brow lifted as a woman walked by and gave her a look. Just a simple nod, though she really wanted to vent about how she was feeling. She wanted to talk about how far away she was from home and how far away this was from her normal. Instead, nothing came out. She stood rather dumbfounded and kept to herself. This was going to be harder than she thought to put herself out there.

Aikaterine couldn't obsess about the passing woman for long. No, there was the strangest wave through the crowd filled with gasps, moans, and questions. It created a hushed congregation of hisses as the people were all asking the same thing while trying to tell the other what they had seen. With every single person's head seemed to turn in the direction of the queen where she was maybe trying to leave? Aikaterine had an expression to match all the rest as she took a step forward and leaned up onto the balls of her feet. There was no use, she wasn't about to be able to see anything at all. There were far too many people between herself and the action. "What happened?" Her words pulled in quietly with her next breath. It wasn't even to anyone imparticular as they all were focused on the same thing. A thing that was a mystery to Aikaterine from one corner of the room. Maybe someone besides her would repeat the whispers that seemed to be making the same wave as the first round of gasps.

The lady from Meganea had never once been interested in any type of gossip. Especially not the kind that was cruel to another person, but this seemed more serious than anything. Something that would make this night even more memorable than it already had been. Aikaterine didn't think that was even possible, and then it happened. Emerald eyes glued in the direction of the Queen, but still unable to see a thing. She almost felt selfish at this moment thinking about her own comfort. She couldn't have possibly known that this was going to happen, but didn't she remember that the queen was pregnant? This was a lot to put on a woman who was tasked with growing a baby. Even Aikaterine was struggling to keep up with the excitement of the evening and she was perfectly healthy without a condition to speak of.

"My goodness, do you think we should all leave?" As quiet as a mouse, she squeaked out a few more words and a question. She had no idea what happened at these things. She didn't know that they might go all night. Aikaterine didn't know that even if the queen was hurt, gods forbid, the people might stick around just to gossip with each other all the reasons and consequences to the fall she had just taken. The lady just wasn't that curious as she gave a look around and no one was moving. Were they waiting for an announcement? She questioned in her ignorant head. Aikaterine was the furthest from being a leader. At this moment, there was no way that the meek unknown lady from the cliffs of Meganea was going to be able to be the first to rush away from the scene. Would that look suspicious? There were always those kinds of things surrounding the royals. She did not want that.

So she froze. Her hand pulling the glass to her mouth to take in the end of her wine. The moment was stressful. It might have only been a minute or even two that had passed, but it felt like an eternity while they all watched on. They were glued like anyone would be. Was she going to be okay?

Uh oh.

Imma realized what she had said far too late to take it back. She was acutely aware of the friction that has been brewing between her sister and her cousin. She should have been more tactful, she knew, but she couldn’t bare the frustration that had mounting inside of her, and the day was far too long. At any rate, it was too late, and the words had slipped inher anguish and rather than have the focus on her, she decided to add more friction between the cousins. Imma took a deep, shaky breath and shook her head averting her eyes. Truth blended with fiction in her mind and she lost track of what was really said and what her interpretation of those things has been.

The youngster steeled her nerves and started answering the question. “She was just saying… telling me about how now that Pia is no longer a Leventi that she isn’t really my sister anymore, besides in memory. She told me” Imma started, then in a voice that was meant to impersonate Nana (but that would most certainly be found of offensive by her sister) she added “now that she is a Mikaelidas, she has no time to feign concern over your childish issues. It is time you grew up, Imma, and realize the truth of it all. When you are married you will have a new family as well. Now, stop your whimpering!” Imma took a deep breath and let out a sigh. Most of what she had said was true, and Nana did have a; sometimes, cold presence when she spoke. Had the words been identical to what she dolled out to Evangelina? No, even Imma knew that. Had the spirit of the conversation been left intact? To her 16-year-old mind, yes.

Did Leventi’s matter as much as her family continued to claim? Imma wondered often if anything at all in this world mattered, save what the gods decreed. So many gods wanted so many different things that even that was confusing. She raised her chin, she would act as though she understood. Imma nodded her head, too afraid to let her words betray her. If they all wished for a strong Imma, they would get one. She could be as cold as anyone, if she really wanted to be. She could pretend that nothing at all mattered to her and that she was bothered by nothing. Why should she continue to be the baby? She wouldn’t, she vowed. Her skin would be as tough as anyone’s. Nothing would pierce her armor. Only… it would. She would just hide it.

Her mouth had opened to point out that limbs were pruned off of trees all the time and that the tree lived. It made some stronger. The pruned pieces died far away from the tree, but she closed it just as quickly and without a sound. Had Evie proven what Nana had said? Imma rather thought so, but in the vein of trying to be a strong girl she didn’t say anything. Only childish girls continue to argue when they don’t need to.

She wondered though, how long would it be until she was a pruned branch taken away?

No matter, Imma of Leventi vowed; internally, that she would become the best possible version of herself. She would take the words that were often flung at her head and rather than dodge them she would let them hit her square. Let it ding and mold her to the person everyone insisted that she become. Insisted that she was, for whatever reason. She would hold her head and chin high, as she was now, and appear indifferent.

“There is really” Imma started but Evie was off already leaving. Imma followed afterwards. Nana would have too many graces to belittle her too much, at least, before so many people. She might not even raise her voice in such company. Squaring her shoulders, she followed her cousin, resisted the urge to lower her chin and gaze to look at the ground. The upturn of the chin was exaggerated, for the benefit of others, and would hurt her neck before long but Imma was stubbornly refusing to lower it. She’d be known as Imma high chin before too long.

Until she heard the commotion and her gaze found her Queen sister on the ground. She paused in horror at that, her mouth agape. “Pia” she managed hardly a whisper before she started to rush forward. Nana already barking orders. In truth she was calmly trying to redirect the attention away from their sister and get her out of the situation. Imma felt she was barking though, perhaps because the pounding of her heartbeat in her ears made everything seem so much louder. What if she was dead? It was common for women to perish when they were with child. How far along, Imma didn’t know.

She had been so angry at her and now she might well be dead. Imma was too stunned to cry. Instead, she did as Nana said and assisted with getting Olympia out of there.

Evangelina had grown up in the shadow of a man who had never appeared to stand for much on his own. She’d heard the occasional things that were said about him. It had been before Tino was every born when she’d first heard the word coward used in reference to her father. Something had snapped that day in the tiny, chestnut-haired girl had torn into one of the older sons of one of her father’s business associates for uttering such a word. Her father was a great many things but she’d never seen him as a coward. Just because he didn’t swagger into a room like he owned it or found a joy in breaking the wills of his opponents didn’t mean he was a coward.

Since that day, Evangelina had taken up the plight of defending those who would not defend themselves. As a child, this had gained the girl an unruly reputation as a brawler. It wasn’t until she’d hit her teens that the pint-sized girl had taken up a bit more decorum in her quests for justice. It could be quite expected though, in the privacy of a secluded garden, she wouldn’t hesitate in taking a swing at an opponent.

The more Imma spoke the more the anger seemed to steep in Evangelina’s stomach. Had their family not had enough to worry about without Nana stirring the pot with the youngest and perhaps the most sensitive of the Leventi girls? There was some growing up to do with the Leventi girls, but it wasn’t Imma who needed to do the growing up. Evangelina had enough and started off with the full intention of finding Nana and setting a few things straight with her problematic cousin.

Her anger was rolling inside of her, as she spotted the back of Nana walking, pulling Imma long with her… the younger girl’s complaints falling on deaf ears. She had every intention of catching up to Nana…

And then it happened,

Pia collapsed.

Her blood ran cold and she paused before she picked up her pace and started jogging. One hand lifting her chiton up enough that she wouldn’t trip her self and the other hand still pulling Imma with her. At least Imma had seen it too and seemed in as much of a hurry as she was.

Pushing through the small crowd with Imma, she moved over to her cousins and glanced from Pia on the floor to Selene and Nana. Taking in the situation, looking to Cici, “Let’s get her somewhere more discrete, her quarters?” Nana’s words caused a sharp look to be aimed at her glibness, “Nana.” Evangelina hissed, “Her jewels can wait.”

As Pia was being ushered way, Evie caught Selene’s hand to grab her attention for a moment and quietly so only the eldest cousin could hear, “Theo is down by the stable. I’ll get word to her that she’s needed, but do me a favor. Keep an eye on Imma. Nana’s been filling her head with nonsense.”

It was known Pia was pregnant, and this could be nothing more than simply overdoing it today. That’s what it was, but it wasn’t a time to take chances that it could be something more serious. With a squeeze of her Selene’s hand, she turned to let Selene follow the rest of the group out of the corridor in getting Pia out. With a motion to one of the other slaves standing by, “My cousin, Lady Theodora is down by the stable please see that she’s informed that her sisters need her.”

The young woman nodded her head and started off to towards the stable to pass the word along.

Evangelina looked over the crowd and spotted her mother, making her way towards her mother. She sidled up next to the stunning Lady Ava and leaned in to whisper about Pia. Her mother nodded silently and patted her daughter's hand, she’d make sure that Evelli knew and that matters could be handled.