Syrenrei

Star Crossed: The Duke's Rebellion

"Yes, I'm certain that Bouradine took the monumental risk of spiriting away a young female Kalderi, leaving behind a profitable business, earning himself a tarnished image from the community, setting things in motion that could result in him being hunted down at best by the mate of the lady he 'stole,' only to be thwarted by limitations or disrepair of his ship," Solae said with a roll of her eyes. Given how many preparations she knew the trader must have made in order to successfully take Bel'sian away and not have been located, she was willing to wager any sum of money that they were both very much alive, and that the merchant had anticipated being pursued. A smile curled upwards on her lips as the duchess realized the correlation between the pair they were attempting to locate and her own past with Rene. "Surely you aren't projecting," she mused with a coy smile, "because you and I left New Concordia on an old, run-down slaver's vessel."

"How would you like to proceed, Lady Solae?" Mia purred affectionately in her ear. The diplomat smiled at the AI's tone and mused how comically difficult it would have been to explain to their hosts why a synthetic assistant was so overtly sensual. She had alluded to the computer aboard the Bonaventure openly, but had not volunteered to introduce even Lithyll to her digital companion, not only because the complications it posed, but because she selfishly wanted to keep part of her life slightly private. Being an ambassador meant she had to be open and transparent with more aspects of herself than the average citizen, which made what she did not share that much more precious.

"If he's being cautious, he would have gone to a system that none of the rest use," the linguist theorized, "so reach out to the other docked ships and request, under my authority, they divulge which of those thirty-one systems they have not been to. If they ask for a reason, state that we will being surveying those systems that they do not regularly frequent- that will give them an incentive to keep us away from where they conduct their exchanges."

"An excellent idea, Lady Solae," Mia cooed compliantly over the communication device. A dress did not afford her a consistent place to put any sort of external transmitter or receiver, so she had a small ear bud that functioned as both and could be toggled off and on by verbal command. The noblewoman had configured it to have a 'safe word' so that if she was in danger it would come on and send ferry an alert to Mia on the other end of the figurative line.

"Further limit the parameters to systems with a habitable planet, but expand your scope for habitable to include outside of the human comfort zone, and what is technically feasible, if less than ideal in terms of atmospheric conditions and climate." Desperation could have compelled a couple- if that is what they were- to retreat to somewhere that would be traditionally written off by colonists with higher standards. Constructing a bio-dome was unlikely by her estimation. Even with modern technology they were costly regardless of whether or not it was for a municipality or a single residence. Not only that, it required an expertise that no trader possessed, and was labor-intensive to install. Admittedly Bouradine had been meticulous, but he wouldn't have invested vast sums of credit to obtain a bio-dome, whose side effect would be creating a trail of workers to follow, when there were alternatives available.

"That will take Mia a bit to complete since she'll have to reach out to all the traders," she observed, looking towards the vast ocean. "While we wait we can either go on a date or spend some time studying Kalderi. Any preference?" the golden-haired woman teased, prodding him in the ribs with her elbow. As honored guests they had a rare opportunity to stroll around without an escort or suspicion.

The Betrothed

To say that Rhiane had a lack of enthusiasm for their schedule was an understatement. For once it was not his petulant behavior or condescending attitude that was the cause for concern, but rather the setting of her home town. As much as she genuinely loved the placed where she was born, she was worried about their reception of Luke and his entourage in particular. The people here had no illusions about the flaws of the government and crown, and while they were not all rebellious dissidents, they had suffered under the faults, and been systematically ignored when it was convenient. Many more here died from the plague than her mother and brother. Perhaps the resistance had not gained a strong foothold here yet, but if the heir to the throne paraded himself around, unsympathetic to their plight or in denial of the bias he had been given by subordinates, it would be disastrous. The announcement of one of their own as princess elect had gained back some of the lost favor, and instilled slightly more loyalty, but the battle for their fealty was far from won.

"It will be harder to convince them than anywhere else we've been," she mused quietly. Nolan and Tobias might be able to overhear, but it wasn't as if they weren't aware that the engaged couple had their complications. The facade of romantic love was a tale sold to the masses; on the other hand, the nobility was comforted by the fact it was was a charade. They simultaneously had to sell the concept of being madly infatuated with one another to the majority of the populace while reassuring the privileged minority it was only a political arrangement for the betterment of their society. Royal staff in particular were aware of the dichotomy, they just did not expect her to be so willful or practical when her predecessors were enthralled by beauty, wealth, and prestige. History had taught them she should be madly in love with Luke and she was reluctant to reveal the reality.

She let silence fall until they reached the marketplace and the vehicle came to a rolling stop. It was only then, when they were supposed to disembark, she let out a heavy sigh. "Nolan, Tobias, could you give us a moment of privacy?" she asked politely. Rhiane anticipated a protest from Nolan but, either because he sensed the prince would agree, or because he didn't want to be blamed for another fight, or he wanted to avoid listening to their discussion, he gave a curt nod and both men stepped out of the vehicle, closing the doors behind them. Outside a crowd was beginning to gather as they realized who the expensive motorcade arriving belonged to.

"I'm not accusing you of not doing your research, but I want to warn you these people won't be as fooled as easily as the other places we've been," she said as she ran a hand through her hair thoughtfully. "They knew me before I left for the contest and entered the capital. Lying to them will be much more difficult. And unlike our other stops, there is a much higher percentage of the population here that is apathetic or upset with your mother, and they'll be looking for any sign that you're a fraud. You could be perfect and I'd wager they'd assume the worst. I just want this to go well for you, so..." the former farmer took a deep breath. "If it would be easier we can split up. Nolan doesn't like me, but if it would make you feel better, we could swap bodyguards if you absolutely can't allow me to spend time alone with Tobias."

What she was trying to delicately state was that she knew that Luke did not have any affection to her. The media had their suspicions. In person, with an audience that didn't like him, that was invested in her, the future king had much resting on his shoulders. Without sincerity he would have to be an excellent actor. In the best of moods- which he was not in now- he had not been award-winning. As heartbreaking as it was to feel rejected, to know she'd never be good enough for him, and that he'd choose the side of the aristocracy over her every time, she didn't want to demolish his image in one fell swoop. She had alternatives to marrying him now that she had become the darling of New Rome. Rich and powerful as he was, he seemingly had one path, and if it was ruined she did not want to be the one responsible.

Tempted as she was to clear the air about the painting, if he couldn't figure out that Nolan didn't care for her, and would side with him, and that he held Callista on a pedestal, then that was his own fault. Tobias was the only person in her proverbial corner that treated her with honestly, dignity, and respect. A frown flickered onto her face as she realized how much simpler it would have been if her childish crush was on someone who was so kind, patient, and considerate, rather than someone arrogant, haughty, and emotionally unavailable.

Star Crossed: The Duke's Rebellion

During the years of her youth she had never been the most academically gifted student; all members of the aristocracy were enhanced compared to the average man, but she had not as adept with the sciences as the others, and not every subject captured her interest as much as linguistics very obviously did. Despite their disappointment that she would never be a biological engineer, one of the most prestigious professions in the Stellar Empire, the late parents of the duchess had quickly realized that she surpassed the children of others when it came to social aptitude. Put into colloquial terms she could read people. When measured against her contemporaries she fared better at establishing a rapport, discerning lies, coaxing the truth, and intuitively perceiving their emotional state. For a few moments she studied the trader, quietly assessing, and debating the best way to convince him to divulge the suspicions she knew were lingering in the back of his mind.

By her estimation, there were three different scenarios whose end result would have been Bel'sian leaving the world in a crate. The first was that she was attacked and involuntarily entered the container by force. This was incredibly unlikely for a variety of reasons, including that any altercation would have been loud, there was no known provocation, evidence could be left behind of the scuffle, and an aggressive abduction would guarantee deadly retribution. The seedy underbelly of the outlying fringes of humanity would be reluctant to take a slave from the fearsome Kalderi and earn their ire, and it would put Bouradine in much more trouble than he could ever gain. The second scenario was that Bel'sian was incapacitated, but this would require extensive physical and medical knowledge of their species. From what they had gleaned, Bouradine did have the resources for such an ambitious plot. Brilliant scientists had spent nearly a decade trying to create pharmaceutical equivalents for Syshin when they were initially subjugated. It was statistically impossible that a merchant would have stumbled onto the discovery of a perfect cocktail to knock out a young, female Kalderi, in the correct dosage, without bringing her harm.

Murder was entirely out of the question as far as she was concerned. There was no motive; Bouradine did not have a reputation for possessing a temper, and even if he did, she couldn't fathom anything he was kill someone over. The mere implication of murder destroyed his business opportunities, and he had been here long enough to appreciate how he needed to remain emotionally stable. A verbal altercation alone would have ejected him from the surface. Additionally, if there was any reason Bel'sian could have threatened him or goaded him into a rage unintentionally, disposing of the body by taking it with him was an extreme response. Corpses were shot out of airlocks not infrequently to cover up heinous acts because of how hard it was to locate one in the vast depths of space. Bouradine could have taken a trip out for a couple hours and 'dumped' her if she was dead without anyone the wiser. Not only that, Caperelli himself admitted the cleaning out of the shop indicated this had been planned for quite some time, so whatever occurred could not have been a crime of passion so to speak.

With a soft, bemused expression she smiled at Caperelli. "Oh, my dear sir, I think you know exactly why she frequented his shop and bought so little," Solae ventured. With a certain tone it would have been accusatory, but she was light and airy, as if laughter were trapped behind her lips. "Why, I'm sure you dealt with it a few times yourself." It was flattery, a stroke to his ego, which did not go unnoticed by the older man.

"I'm not sure what you're suggesting," he puffed, trying vainly to hide his grin. "I can't possibly know what would bring her there so often... but perhaps something similar has happened to me before," Caperelli confessed with feigned humility. Puffing out his chest slightly, he toyed with some of the threads of his shirt.

"Bouradine still had years left ahead of him here, he wasn't what any of you would consider successful enough to 'cash out,'" she pointed out sweetly. It was true. The trader in question was still in his prime, decades younger than his peer with whom they had the pleasure of conversing. "Do you know if he had any family?" the duchess inquired, her line of thought becoming increasingly clear. Once they eliminated all the possibilities only one viable one remained- Bel'sian had left of her own accord. Whether it was romance, or a platonic relationship between two kindred souls, or a man simply spiriting away a discontent alien that wanted to see more of the universe, they weren't tracking down a fugitive. If she had to venture a guess, it was the former, because love catalyzed everyone it touched to take wild risks and make huge changes to their lives. Caperelli must have considered the same thing.

"No, no family that he ever mentioned to me," the gentleman readily replied.

"Any idea where he went to procure his art pieces?" she prodded. "Not everyone comes here surely. Most of you must have a meeting place for your suppliers, somewhere out of the way, but not so far its inconvenient. I can't imagine the Kalderi want traffic in this system at all hours from the type of individuals that might be bringing your colleague's inventory."

Caperelli shifted in his cushion, tilting his head to the side. "Well, usually that's not the sort of thing we tell each other, but he was always going on about how he had found somewhere fascinating where they had a terra-forming failure. Not anywhere I've been," he added with a shrug. Maps would omit this sort of data since once a planet had such a failure it was deemed uninhabitable and of no interest to the populace. Exploration or access to records related to the endeavor would be the best methods for locating such a place. No one here was of stature within the empire, so Bouradine must have found the failure during his travels.

Star Crossed: The Duke's Rebellion

"I'm not sure that we have a choice," Solae said, seeing the logic in his argument but at a loss of how to mitigate the danger. "We can't very well send Yarue and Dasin; even on a world governed by the Kalderi they are unlikely to show proper respect to either of them, and they won't take Rosaria seriously," the duchess explained to paramour in the ancient imperial language that they, as well as all the children of nobility, were required to learn. He had spoken it before so she knew he was proficient enough that they could carry on a short, private conversation in the presence of others when necessary. Rude as it was to purposefully speak a tongue in which others were not fluent in their presence, she thought it was even more cruel to spell out why only she and Rene were equipped to question the traders, and to acknowledge the discrimination of their civilization aloud.

"What about a disguise?" the teenager proposed. "Didn't you wear one on Zatis?"

Pondering it for a moment the linguist shrugged, acknowledging it had potential, though there were some complications that they had now that did not exist the last time she went incognito. "It could be worth a try, but the Kalderi are unused to deception, and it would be an imposition upon them to ask them to keep me a secret or mislead the rest. Soon news will spread of our arrival, with only the best of intentions of course, and the traders will no longer be in the dark about my identity. For all we know, they have already been made aware. It would have to be a very compelling disguise," Solae added, seeing the discouragement on Rosaraia's face. "It would have to be good enough to fool the Kalderi we met last night well enough they wouldn't recognize me."

"What would happen if you are recognized?" Dasin asked in his deep voice as he shifted uncomfortably from one foot to the next. He and his fellow Syshin had made it known they were not enthusiastic fans of the aliens' culture- they barely stood still when they were anywhere that they could see vast expanses of water since it was so unsettling to them- but they were even more apprehensive about Duke Tan. Both had heard enough about him to be wary. If his mercenaries on Zatis were any indication, he posed a serious threat to not only their mistress, but a great many lives. Any man who executed his own kind simply because they might not be willing to betray their leader, or who were inconvenient obstacles, was horrifying. Not every Syshin was virtuous, but they did not even have names for the bloody ambition of someone so morally bankrupt.

"The former duke has quite the reward for my capture, and I presume any information that is sent to him will also earn generous compensation. Now that we've been able to warn the empress of his treachery and I've been appointed to his position, inheriting his holdings... I do not know him well, but enough to know he'll want to make a retaliatory gesture," she said, dropping her voice slightly as they began to make their way back towards the Bonaventure for a change of clothes. The Kalderi were almost unfailingly kind, but Ten's supplies would be more useful if they wanted to create a costume for the golden-haired aristocrat.

"I don't understand," Yarue said flatly with a hint of irritation in his voice. Whether he was annoyed at himself or Solae for being vague and obtuse was ironically unclear.

"It's all speculation," she emphasized, "but he might try to claim me as his wife to legitimize himself now that I've attained a higher status, he might want to parade me around as a prisoner as a warning to the rest of the empire, he might seek to take out his frustrations through sheer cruelty for the setbacks we've caused him. It might be worth seeing if we can intercept some communication from his loyalists," Solae mentioned to Rene the more she pondered about the issue. "He must know what we've done, so the bulletins he send out will be different, and we might be able to glean how his plan has shifted."

"What about you?" Rosaria asked the soldier in question pointedly, "Are you going to wear a disguise too?

"We might still have some of those furs that Dasin and Yarue wore back on Zatis," Solae jested playfully. Not only would they not fit her fiance, they would be far too revealing, and be distracting to the traders in all the wrong ways. Hell, she would assume something was amiss if anyone strolled up to her business with such attire. "Mia," she called out as they reached their vessel, a wonderfully familiar sight that soothed frayed nerves. "I want you to document every human ship in orbit or landed. We're going to need to conduct some interviews."

Star Crossed: The Duke's Rebellion

While she had hoped that Totlya's tale might better illuminate the inter-cultural predicament, it confused the duchess more than it lent any clarification. Despite her mounting questions she was patient and silent while she waited for the younger Kalderi to finish. Long ago she had learned that people were seldom completely truthful, not always purposefully, but because perception was so heavily influenced by their individual bias. Members of the embassy and the aristocracy that engaged in certain social roles underwent exercises in an attempt to eliminate their skewed sense of reality, yet it was never really purged. Glancing towards Andalyll and Lithyll, the linguist was beginning to appreciate that these were universal struggles not limited to their species alone, that their race was not able to divest them from their emotions perfectly and passively.

"Forgive me for asking," she began slowly, "but if Bouradine was off ill repute, why was he allowed to have a shop?" The answer would have come out when they spoke with the human merchants, but she wanted to confirm some of her suspicions here if she was able, and avoid having to possibly insult the man's peers. Potentially they would have best clues as to where he had apparently vanished. That they hadn't shared anything with the Kalderi themselves could be for a variety of reasons, but the one that sprang to mind was that they wanted to put as much distance between themselves and the transgressor, and if they admitted he was a friend of any sort they might fear retribution from the aliens. For the exclusive few that were allowed on the planet it was not violence that they feared, but more likely being incriminated by proximity or familiarity, and then being ejected from a profitable arrangement. Above all else the brokers valued coin.

"His true nature was not known," Totlya impetuously replied before he could be stopped by either of his seniors.

A knowing glance was exchanged between Solae and Rene, who she knew had come to the same conclusion: Bouradine was no pirate. Trading with the Kalderi was a privilege that his colleagues would not let be jeopardized. There was peace between the races, but a treatise was not a guarantee of warm relations, impunity for crimes, or continued business. Almost certainly the man in question had been relatively upstanding, thus why he was given the honor of being here, and why he had not been ousted by the others. When news spread about the abduction everyone had gone into self-preservation mode, probably genuinely surprised by what he had done, and quickly disavowed him to save their own skin. The Kalderi were not so innocent as be ignorant of the concept of lying, or that humans could be deceptive, but she doubted they truly understand the complex nuances of human civilization. Issues were dealt with collectively as a team in their culture; they would not have the same type of selfishness prevalent.

"She could have gone along willingly," the duchess began, earning her an expression of anger on Totlya's features, "but been misled about where she was being taken, for what purpose, or for how long. We will do our best to find her," she promised, which was much as she would guarantee. They would return her as well if possible, but not by force if she resisted or argued that it was for her own benefit that she left in the first place. As dedicated as Solae was to improving the rapport between Kalderi and the empire, if not the empress herself, she would not compromise her values to do so- not that she thought Lithyll or Andalyll expected that she would be callous. The latter of the pair was reserved and more restrained what he had revealed to them, but she had to assume he trusted her to some degree to be so accommodating in facilitating this meeting, and that she could infer he had faith in her judgment. Sending her on a mission to investigate a lost female Kalderi would be dangerous if they thought she might harm their citizen.

"Would it be possible to have a list made of the other human merchants with shop near Bouradine? And human ships that were here at the time she was taken? I'd like to compare it against our vessel's database," she explained, spreading her palms in a placating gesture. "Rene, myself, and our artificial intelligence assistant, Mia, should be able to narrow down the routes he would have taken when he departed if we can narrow it down to where he's been before. It's also possible," she continued, "that the other humans here might know something without realizing they know." It was a kinder way to assert that the wrong queries were posed, with the best intentions, although she still believed they had been less forthcoming with the Kalderi than they would be with fellow members of the human race.

The Betrothed

"There is nothing crazy about that tradition," Rhiane asserted definitely when he related how he used to visit his father's grave to drink and talk about his life. While she was unwilling to admit it aloud, she thought it was much more brave (and healthy) than her cowardly refusal to visit the burial sites of her own family, as if she were running from the reality of their deaths, terrified to deal with the lingering guilt, trauma, and grief. Confessing as much felt like a step too far- especially with their stoically silent guard audience- and so she abstained from further commentary. It wasn't as if Luke particularly cared what she thought of his actions or beliefs. He had proved on numerous occasions that the only person he truly answered to was himself.

Torn between openly empathizing with him or trying to keep up her facade of strength, she was relieved when he allowed the subject to be changed, and was genuinely surprised at his suggestion of having one of her paintings chosen as a gift for Callie. The princess elect opened her mouth to object that he needed to put in more effort to find something to his sister's liking, but her words failed to materialize beyond internal thoughts. Sending the teenager one of her pieces, even if they were amateur by her own assessment, was not all that different from him perusing the offerings of a shop and shipping some home. Rhiane had herself purchased artwork during their tour as presents for others. It would be beyond hypocritical for her to claim that she was free to do so, but if he did the same it was not considerate or thoughtful enough. Perhaps if he tried to delegate, asking that red-haired witch to throw together a care package, then she would have the basis for honest critique.

Quietly she mulled over the possibility. Most of her reluctance in having her paintings in the palace was because she believed it would be just another avenue with which she'd be attacked. As a low-born interloper that was already barely tolerated by the very people that needed her, she did not want to expose any vulnerabilities, or give them fuel for the figurative flame. When it came to a physical external threat Luke had shown he would protect her, but socially and emotionally it was a gamble. In private he could be kind and sweet, but in the presence of others he was less reliable as they increased in number and stature. Rhiane would concede he had defended her at the dinner party, but that was still a far cry from shielding her from the opinions of a robust staff of aristocratic servants, friends, royal advisors, or his mother should they come across her impressionist expressions.

"What do you think, Tobias?" she called out. "I want another opinion. Do you think it would cause trouble if Callie was given one of my paintings?" Luke was so fond of the princess she was confident he wouldn't see the faults in the young woman... at least not while he had an ulterior motive in his mind. Nolan was intensely loyal to Luke alone, which bound him to echo his sentiments, so the cousin of the heir was the best hope she had for someone at least minimally less biased.

Tempting as it was to sabotage his cocky relative, Tobias liked Callie more than he held a grudge against her brother. While everyone else was condescending, eager to order him around, or belittle him for being bound by blood to the wrong side of the kingdom's lineage, she was warm, friendly, and congenial. In a single day she treated him with more respect than Luke did in a year or more. No one else was better equipped to appreciate Rhiane's artwork, in his estimation, and would so vigorously advocate on its behalf. Though they had the same two parents, the siblings shut down dissidence in opposing ways: the elder by being so cruelly authoritative he could not be questioned, the younger by making anyone who would argue feel like the most horrific villain to ever set foot on Earth.

"Princess Callista would be an excellent recipient," he succinctly replied without any elaboration as to how he arrived at his conclusion.

"After we get back we can look at them together," the former farmer promised, "if you really think she'd like the style. You're not getting out of writing her a note to go with it, though. If you write her a little something on the back, or a card, she'd cherish it forever," she pointed out, certain of the veracity of her statement. It had not gone unnoticed how heavily he relied on his device or subordinates to ferry and deliver messages. Picking up a pen, an actual pen, and scribbling out any contrite message would be more precious than having a typed, digital, impersonal version. Again she was reminded of what of Edwin's things she found more valuable after his passing. Callie had no reason to be so obsessively sentimental, but time was relentless in its onward march, and eventually they would find themselves separated from one another by circumstances. Tactile proof of their loving relationship would endure longer than their youth or health.

The Betrothed

Considering how she had yelled at him earlier that morning in frustration, Rhiane did not expect Luke to be in a mood to speak with her, much less compliment the arrangements in her hands. Before she remembered she was mad at him a soft smile spread across her face and she glanced down at the fragrant blooms with a wistful expression. She wanted to believe that they looked like respectable bouquets, that to the average person they were lovely aesthetically, that their sweet smell could compete with flowers imported from abroad, but she doubted it was true. Still, she appreciated her fiance's reassurance and it was just enough to make her warm to a conversation rather than brooding in silence and irritation.

"When we were all little, we didn't have money to buy presents, not just because we were poor but because we were kids, you know?" Whether or not the crown prince actually had the same situation as a youth she was not certain, but perhaps he could logically understand her point, and follow the explanation she was weaving verbally. Child aristocrats might have access to their parents' line of credit earlier in life, but it was dubious that they were given the latitude to make purchases as toddlers, or even when they began their first years of education. "Mom always tried to make our birthdays and holidays special, so we wanted to do something for her, so we'd make her cards, or art projects, or bouquets from whatever we could find, and she always pretended it was the most amazing thing she had ever seen. We got older and she admitted to us she couldn't always read Gerard's handwriting, and Edwin's drawings were impossible to decipher, but that the real purpose of a present was to show someone you were thinking of them, that you cared, and she could see how hard we tried."

Sighing and leaning back in her seat, she glanced out the window. It was harder than she expected to visit home. Much as she would like to blame her conflicted emotions or someone other than herself, such as her father and brother with whom she was still arguing, it was her own fault she had unresolved feelings. The Black family household had been a place of great joy, love, and acceptance. Winters had been passed curled up on the rug in front of their fireplace trading made-up stories about ages long past, ribbing each other about idiosyncrasies, laughing at terrible jokes. No matter how tired they were from the fall harvest they would eat together in the evenings to boost each other's morale. Summer brought the oppressive sun and they would always have a huge jar of aloe in the kitchen where they would rub each other down when they inevitably got burned from not covering part of a shoulder or leg. Spring was her favorite, however, because that was when they had the most celebrations, when three of them had birthdays, when their conversations were light and smiles spread infectiously. If only their happiness had not been permanently marred by tragedy she might have still been grinning from ear to ear. Somehow she doubted she'd ever be that jubilant again- especially in the palace, where everyone was against her, where she was unwelcome, and she was only a novelty meant to be bred before slaughtered.

"I wanted to bring something to their... to their graves," Rhiane said, struggling over the word, "to show them.... I don't really buy into there being an afterlife, but I wanted to honor their memory with something personal." In truth she was a very sentimental person. She had kept her distance from her 'partners' of the past because she was self-aware of this fact. The princess elect knew that a singular encounter could be physical only, but if she saw someone repeatedly she would become romantically intimate, and then she would be woefully vulnerable. The death of two family members and the heavy reliance of the surviving two made her more needy than she'd admit, and she was terrified of getting attached, of becoming dependent and reliant upon someone that could abuse her trust. It was why she was thankful that Luke hadn't tried to woo her with trinkets and baubles; if he did, she'd be drawn to him more than she already was, and it would be that much more painful he didn't reciprocate her unspoken affections.

"You should get something for your sister while you're in town," she advised, subtly redirecting the conversation. "You saw how happy she was with my gift basket. If you got her something, anything, to show you're thinking of her, I think she'd be thrilled. I know we don't have the fancy shops of the capital, but her excitement over my gift proves she's not a girl who cares how much something costs, she just cares about the meaning behind it. Edwin and I used to be really close and I'd do anything to have the opportunity to show him how much I loved him. If I were you, I'd cherish every moment, and make sure she knows you do," Rhiane added gently, not trying to chastise, but impart what little wisdom she had.

Little did she know Callista had tried earlier that morning to suggest Luke buy his betrothed an engagement ring. They were, without knowing, two figurative peas in a pod, each trying to selflessly help the other in similar ways. While the only daughter of the queen was trying to improve her future sister-in-law's relationship, the former farmer was sincerely advocating that the teenager have her brother's attention from afar.

Star Crossed: The Duke's Rebellion

"Which is it?" Solae asked after a moment of reflection. "Is the wrong so egregious or is it so complicated that you can not come to a resolution? I understand that there is a need for assistance," the duchess reassured. She was not trying to place her Kalderi host on the proverbial spot, instead merely seeking greater clarity on exactly what type of situation they had volunteered to help resolve. If there was a particularly egregious crime committed they would have a vastly different approach than if this was an issue of cultural dissonance. Truth be told she highly suspected it was the latter of these possible scenarios was hoping for confirmation of the same before her assumptions started to hamstring her mentally. They had already dealt with enough cruel examples of humanity to last a lifetime- something with shades of grey would be a welcome change of pace.

Lithyll paused, as if considering whether or not it would be more rude to respond or decline to comment, but after a moment she exhaled through her nostrils in something akin to a sigh. "There is no consensus on what transpired," the alien confessed with reluctance, "and so a consensus can not be reached on what we should do. Our community considers the matter complicated, but we can not deny there be an egregious wrong as well."

It was a diplomatic answer as she expected it would be, but it did offer insight into the nature of the conflict. This was not a cut and dry case of abduction. Why a human would spirit away a Kalderi was a perplexing mystery, especially since news of this transgression had not traveled to anywhere they had been. Given a choice between this world of harmony, of technological superiority, and wonder, she would have chosen to stay rather than 'escape' to a colonized world of the empire, with the exception of some of the jewels of their civilization. One could surmise the human man was not welcome to dwell here or he needed to take a Kalderi with him elsewhere for his own means.

Biting the inside of her cheek thoughtfully she ruminated on the feelings of the missing Kalderi. Last night's attendees had been, by all appearances, content with their position in society as well as their lives in general, happy to exchange polite conversation about their accomplishments or interests. It was possible the Kalderi female was the catalyst for leaving Ranal Pindi rather than the merchant, petitioning him for safe voyage or sanctuary. Utopia was an unattainable ideal. Tempting as it was to believe it had been achieved, she knew that beneath the lustrous gleam of first contact there was grime, that not everyone could be pleased in tandem. Lithyll had shown them the best their species had to offer just as she had shown him the best hers had to offer. If a Kalderi frequently found themselves at odds with the consensus, or trivialized for the sake of the majority, they might seek lands where their individually was emphasized to a larger degree. This theory would be shared later with her consort if only to verbalize remind herself that perfection was a goal that was by definition elusive. The sooner she absorbed that she was not visiting paradise the better it would be for all involved.

"What will happen if we help resolve the matter?" Solae inquired, sipping at her drink. The table spread was incredibly healthy. She found the food to be tasty, yet she missed the decadence of Ten's feasts, which had prime cuts of meat expertly cooked, imported alcohol of the finest vintage, exotic desserts, and stimulants to help them energize in the morning. Her head pounded from the lack of sleep and sheer willpower kept her from finding a flimsy excuse to return to bed. "Will we be considered to have a voice?"

"It is very rare for an outsider to assist a Kalderi community," Lithyll prefaced, gently reminding that this was an irregularity of the highest order. "There is no word for it in your language, but you would be honored and respected, not as a voice in our community but as a... " she struggled briefly for a way to explain the concept. "There would be a measure of... influence. You would be seen as the voice of another community that is like a friend or an ally, who we must consider in our decisions, and could not ignore." This was an oversimplification of the nuanced status they would hold, but it was the best way to express it in a way they might comprehend. Just as there were cultural expressions and concepts unique to humanity, so were there to Kalderi.

"May I ask another favor of you?" Solae asked as she finished her plate and nursed the remnants of her beverage. Her long blonde hair had been pulled back and twisted into an elaborate up-do secured by decorative sticks. Many members of nobility relied upon a retinue of attendants to manage their aesthetics, but she had grown her locks so long it wasn't practical to wait for someone to help her wash, brush, and style each dawn. She had very generously proposed plaiting Rene's hair into tiny braids, but as amused as he was, he had declined. It was just as well. The stoicism of Yarue and Dasin would not have outlasted such a ridiculous sight. "You mentioned that the Kalderi language was outside our vocal capabilities?"

Lithyll nodded, drooping her wings characteristically, as if to apologize for having to gently allude to the physical limitations of her guests. "That is correct. The chords in your neck are different from ours," she stated serenely, patient but curious where this line of questioning was leading.

"If you are agreeable, would it be possible for me to study your language, so that I could understand it? I may not ever be able to speak it, but it may prove easier if in the future I interact with those less eloquent than yourself. Totlya, for example, might be more comfortable if he could speak Kalderi to me and know I understand," she suggested. It was a matter of when she would ask rather than if she would ask to her friends; her love of linguistics ran so deep that she could not be satisfied until she pleaded with them for the opportunity. The average diplomat was friendly and congenial, finding it rewarding to negotiate and network, with linguistics as a necessary skill to develop and nothing more. By contrast, she was more well-rounded, equally thrilled by customs, eccentricities, and figures of speech, as she was making connections and treatises. In the embassy her fellow aristocrats often complained about difficult translations or how it was busy work when a computer could handle the task. It was true that artificial intelligence was an excellent translator, but they often missed details in the original syntax that could make a boring report be a passive aggressive thinly veiled insult.

"You wish to learn despite this?" Lithyll repeated with mild surprise. It was work with little reward by her estimation. Sole would go through the effort of mastering Kalderi only to make it easier on the Kalderi who wanted to interact with her and were not fluent with the universal tongue.

"Yes. I can upload whatever you provide to me to Mia, the computer for our ship, and I will do my best to study when we are traveling. Currently I have been attempting to solve a personal mystery," she divulged, trying to be vague to respect the privacy of her beloved, "but I would appreciate having more to do, and I have always enjoyed the study of language. I would be in your debt if you would humor my amateur attempts," she emphasized with a courteous nod of the head. Solae was humble but she was no novice; she had passed her intermediate levels faster than her peers on account of her diligence and zeal. This would be trying to learn through a different format, but she was more than capable of adapting, just as those in olden times might practice via submersion.

"I will make the arrangements," Lithyll agreed, seeing no reason to object.

Star Crossed: The Duke's Rebellion

"Not even married to me and you're already thinking of ways to leverage my new status," Solae teasingly chastised. As a duchess it would be difficult, if not impossible, for most of imperial society to decline her requests. It was why there was a limited number of their rank within the aristocracy and also why the coup of Duke Alexis Tan had the hope of success. She had been born and groomed for being a marquise, but she had not expected to inherit for many years, yet it was abruptly thrust upon her with her parents' deaths. Though she thought she had handled herself with the dignity, poise, and composure of a marquise, she was more than a little uncomfortable with the circumstances that had led to her succession and the change itself. By comparison, her appointment to a duchess was utterly staggering, and the power she now wielded felt almost vulgar. Of course this was almost certainly one of the reasons the empress had rewarded her for her loyalty, but she struggled to fathom how famous she would be throughout worlds she had never visited, or how many people would capitulate to her whims merely to be in her good graces.

Visiting a hybridized planet to help fulfill a dream did not constitute, by the most liberal of guidelines, an abuse of power. Solae was all too glad to accommodate such a benign wish; though, if she was honest, Rene was unique in being the only person in existence she would willingly abuse her power for. "Well you're mad if you think I'm going to limit ourselves to only one of the places your mother traveled to. I can't bring her back, but we can re-trace her steps, see all the sights she did before she met your father. I'm sure it will take some time with all my- our- other obligations, but assuming we make it out of this war, I don't see any reason we wouldn't have ample opportunity." Nobility had long-lived lives generally. Wealth and prestige brought them access to the best technology that humanity had to offer, so while settlers on fringe worlds would perish from old age and the diseases brought on by becoming more physically frail, the aristocracy was able to remain younger longer, and lived past one hundred unless there were underlying incurable issues.

Suddenly she realized some of the less thrilling consequences of becoming the duchess of the Eastern Cross, inheriting the self-styled emperor's portfolio. "There will be so much bureaucratic red tape when we get back," she groaned softly so the Kalderi wouldn't overhear and think that she was complaining about their ball. "I'll have to survey all his holdings, petition the courts as to what Falia holdings I'd like to keep, and negotiate for what will probably be decades," she frowned. Because Duke Tan had never been one of her suitors, neither she nor her parents had been particularly interested in any of his assets on New Concordia. What other residences, businesses, and lands he had were at least partially public knowledge, but there had been no need to research such things- not that it would have helped. Every member of the upper class hid from others the truth of their prosperity or lack thereof, whether it be they were on the edge of bankruptcy and most of their homes were vacant, devoid of servants or furniture, or if they had vaults full of priceless artifacts and contraband. Until she went to each and every domicile, office, and operating under his name to investigate thoroughly (or paid someone to do so on her behalf), she wouldn't know what had become hers. It felt callous to take his things, but what he had not lost when he was stripped of his dukedom, he forfeited with his treason, and no heir would be allowed to profit from his crimes.

The Falia lineage had holdings of their own, some that had been bought in the most mundane of ways, but others that were a reflection if being a marquise. The marquise-specific holdings were on planets that were now or had once been at the edges of the empire. Much like in countries long past on Earth, a marquise was tasked with the defense of invisible borders, faithful to their liege, and entrusted with less desirable holdings than a duke, but more important than a count. For the Falias this meant a significant estate on Yesion, lush and forested, but with wildlife that made it exceedingly difficult to tame, and which was only half-colonized, on Rucehiri, whose terra-forming had completed only a couple centuries ago, and who was currently under construction to be another duplicate of Earth (for which there were many), on Xulrapus, a desert world whose geography reminded her of an endless wild west, and others.

Merging what had been Tan's, assuming he was ousted, exiled, and/or executed, and the Falia's would not be practically possible. The Stellar Empire was cautious about letting any one family consolidate holdings under their name. Understandably, it was usually through marriage that this became a concern. When a man and woman were joined, there was a decision made as to which lineage they would become united under. Politically it was a binding joining, but under the law either the husband or wife were cleaved from their birthright. Peasants might falsely believe this was because they did not want anyone to control too substantial a part of the economy, but the true reason was that no one could be seen as coming too close to challenging the emperor or empress. If every time a duke or duchess wed they joined together their holdings, becoming larger with each generation, it would threaten the stability of the sovereignty.

As Duchess Solae Falia, formerly Marquise Solae Falia, she would need to choose what Falia holdings were of importance to her as well and bestow the rest on someone else. There was Damaris of Panopontus but also her cousins, the latter of which would be more prepared to immediately take over the duties of becoming a marquise. She still remembered her promise to Damaris, but she wanted to give the girl the financial backing to be what she wanted to and on her terms, much like Rosaria. If Damaris were to become a marquise she would be thrown into the proverbial deep end of the pool and Solae, who would be quite busy with all the work she had already undertaken, would not be of as much assistance as she had initially anticipated when the offer was made. The legal arm of the empire could also potentially object to a young daughter of laborers being bequeathed something she would not be entitled to even if Solae had adopted her (as any of her children would only be entitled to the duchy holdings).

Her mind then whirled to the topic of children. She and Rene had not discussed the subject more than making brief allusions in passing. His sterility meant there was nothing that could be done about it in the present, but it would be something that would come up sooner rather than later unless they were victims of Duke Tan's ambitions. Happy as she was with the prospect of bringing Damaris and Rosaria into her family, she could not deny that she wanted more, that she wanted to know the joy of pregnancy, of creating a manifestation of the love she felt for her soldier. She was somewhat apathetic about achieving immortality for herself through procreation, but she wanted a piece of Rene to persist, for his kindness, his virtue, and strength to not be lost to cosmic dust when they were nothing more than names transcribed down in historical recollection.

"What do you think, should we give your dancing shoes a rest and find a way to make a dignified exit?" she asked after she had been twirled and dipped again. The dance was as lovely as she had thought it would be, but the point of the evening had been to find a way to appeal to the Kalderi, which they had done. They could talk more with the aliens that had not been paired off to perform the waltz, but she somewhat fancied a little time with her beau, especially since he did not care about the pomp as she did. "I wonder if Lithyll has a villa for us to retreat to and refresh ourselves," she added with a wink.

Star Crossed: The Duke's Rebellion

"Proud of me for scaring off a young man that had not idea what claiming me would mean for his future?" she asked, though she knew that was not what he was suggesting. Rene was trying to console her, to make her feel better about the situation, and she couldn't help but ponder the fact that any other woman in the universe would have been walking on air (figuratively unless they were a Kalderi) to be personally appointed to such a station. Still, the concern that she was unworthy lingered in the back of her mind, as well as doubts about whether or not she was a positive influence on the others around her. Many dukes and duchesses throughout history merely assumed that everyone was fortunate to be in their presence, to be part of their entourage, or to be related, whether it be by blood, marriage, friendship, or business arrangements, but that did mean their assessment was accurate. The empress's father had made numerous missteps, but his paranoia was not wholly unfounded, as there were nobles that had become so arrogant, so entitled, and so self-absorbed that they were an active hindrance to society. While she could concede she was perhaps too preoccupied about how she may be stifling or harming her companions, worrying in of itself was a sign that she was empathetic, and that her heart had not hardened with power as it did with others.

"It seems everywhere we go there is more than it appears on the surface," she sighed, leaning her head briefly against his shoulder, not at all bothered with whether or not it was an appropriate gesture to insert into the Kadleri dance. While she was a diplomat attache on the world representing humanity, she was also a woman, one who could grow tired, or need physical affirmation, or need space to regain her strength. "Peace has reigned here because the traders fear upsetting their benefactors or inciting another retaliation for a perceived wrong. I suspect you are correct in that there is more afoot here, but if merchants falsely believe that the Kalderi have grown weak or become pacifists, then the smallest opening could encourage Tan and his rebels to try to conquer this planet like the others they already occupy. Not only must we bring this to a satisfactory resolution, we must be cautious to preserve this fear of our new acquaintances, if for no other reason than to make certain there's no aggression towards them until they're truly prepared to lower the veil, so to speak."

Exhaling softly, she tried to drown out the murmuring voices and the other attendees, focusing on the music itself, the decorative room, the sensation of gliding across the polished stone floor. "We need a vacation," she laughed lightly, "and to be clear, being stranded on the Bonaventure for periods of time does not count. I want to visit somewhere and just enjoy it for what it is, relax, not be a title or a position, just myself. Can you imagine what the rest would do? Rosaria would love it, but Dasin and Yarue probably wouldn't know what to do with themselves. Since New Concordia, we've been traveling by necessity, racing to the next goal, trying to stop a ruthless coup. I'm not saying now is the right time, but... I miss having leisure, don't you? Before the Marines you must have gone somewhere just to enjoy yourself."

Her parents had always been, for lack of a better word, on the bizarre end of the spectrum of "eccentric." Both were well-spoken, confident, and mentally sharp, and could have done well on Capella had they any inclination to navigate political circles. According to rumor, her mother could "play men like a fiddle" and her father could "strike fear into the heart of the most composed man," though they had not been that way with their daughter. Instead they had happily retreated to a distant planet, become purposefully reclusive, and basked in more privacy than many marquises could imagine. They had peculiar hobbies and interests, allegedly, of which she was willfully ignorant, and did not travel terribly often. When they did, it was not a 'family trip.' There were only a few instances of the three of them attending functions together, and they were formal engagements, not for pleasure. She didn't want to tell Rene of her lack of experience; she did not want to invite his pity or think she was desperate when her childhood was better than most.

"Since we've already see beaches during a horrible typhoon, I want to go somewhere with mountains so I can go hiking and see a waterfall, or go through an even more exotic biome like a terra-formed rain forest," she mused, the latter of which was a coveted destination for the affluent. With deep enough pockets, a duke or duchess need not limit themselves to a zoo, and instead could tour a carefully tended forest where devoted scientists kept the vegetation lush, expert zoologists kept the animals healthy, and technological advancements prevented guests from worrying about bug bites, sun burn, scratches, or being mauled by violent predators. "Where would you go if the empress herself granted us a honeymoon, anywhere we wanted?"