May, 1617

Carantania might have been considered something of a backwater by a good deal of Meringia, but it was held in high esteem by one country whose opinion truly counted. So highly, in fact, that when the Pomeran High Queen had chosen her ladies a few years before, she had expressly requested that the princess of Carantania come to her court. Though only sixteen at the time - a good twenty years or more younger than her brother, the king - she had been sent away, and had not been home since. But now, with a new queen on the throne of Carantania, there was a place for the king's sister, and so, she was coming home, six years after leaving. The new queen herself had been persuaded not to come down to the dock, for the wind was brisk off the sea despite the warmth of the spring day, spurring gossip among the servants about the possibility of her being in delicate condition. But the main truth was that Serafina could tell her husband was eager to see his little sister again, and did not want to mar that reunion by being the stranger at the feast.

Eager and nervous, to be more accurate. Frederick hadn't seen his little sister in six years. She'd been a child when she'd left and was returning home a young woman. Though they had tried to keep in touch via letters sent back and forth, he was not sure what to expect upon her arrival. Would she be happy to be home or annoyed at being uprooted yet again?

At least they would have relative privacy for their reunion. With the tide high, the causeway between castle and town was flooded, which meant only the oarsmen in the boat bearing his little sister to the castle would witness what passed initially between the king and princess. Not that they had ever cared, between themselves, but a lifetime of their father's disapproval had drilled into them that certain behavior was not acceptable within view of the people. Still, that didn't stop Rolanda from standing in the bow of the boat, waving wildly to her brother as the little vessel navigated the choppy waves.

"Good Goddess, girl, sit down," Frederick - or Freddie, as he was known to those closest him - muttered under his breath, clearly appalled that his sister was risking life and limb by standing up just to wave to her brother, who'd she be reunited with in a matter of minutes. At least, her apparent enthusiasm boded well for their reunion. He chuckled a little as he waved back.

It seemed as though six years of courtly manners and education in the High Kingdom hadn't changed that bright grin of hers, or her tendency not to suppress what she was feeling even when others could see. She still had that wildness about her, evidenced by the way she hitched up her skirts the moment the boat hit the dock and leapt onto the floating pier, her shoes slithering on the wet wood.

The King of Carantania - a man who was not well known for laughter - could not help but laugh as he watched his young sister leap from the boat in apparent eagerness to see her brother. As for him, well, her youthful enthusiasm was infectious, as evidenced by his reaction. He started toward her, not quite breaking into a run, as that would not be suitable for a man of his station, but his long legs strode quickly to meet her, ready to take her into his embrace, no matter those who might be watching.

It did not take long for her to meet him halfway, running to throw her arms around her beloved brother as she laughed for joy at finally seeing him again. "Freddie! Oh, don't you look handsome! It's so wonderful to see you!"

"I look old," he corrected, tossing his arms around her waist and lifting her into the air, so happy he was to see her and relieved to find she seemed just as happy to see him. He set her back on her feet and hugged her close a moment before stepping back to take a better look at her. "And look at you ....all grown up into a lovely young woman."

"I know!" She laughed, smoothing the fur that kept her neck and shoulders warm with a gloved hand. "I stopped growing outward and started growing upward!"

"I shall have to keep you under lock and key, so you don't break any hearts," he teased, the corners of his eyes crinkling in amusement, as he reached out to lightly tap a finger against her nose, like he used to when she was little.

"Don't you dare," she giggled, her nose crinkling under his tap as she gave her head a little shake. "And you don't look old. You look distinguished. Where have you put your new wife" Is she under lock and key as well?" A wicked little laugh escaped her throat. "Are you collecting every woman under the age of thirty in a big box somewhere?"

"Not every woman," he replied, his smile fading just a little, concerned whether his young wife and his little sister would find each other likable. He took her gloved hand and tucked it safely in the crook of his arm as he turned to lead her toward the carriage that would take them back to Riftwell Castle, the home he shared with his wife, the queen. "I trust your journey was not too unpleasant," he said, falling into the habit of making polite small talk, even with his sister.

"Oh, just two of us, then?" Rolanda asked in a startlingly cheeky tone. She curled her hand into the crook of his arm, the lightness of her touch proving she had learned something in Pomerania. His fall into small talk made her smile soften. "I was sick as a dog every time the carriage hit a pothole," she informed him, deliberately not giving an answer suitable for polite company. "It's so wonderful to be back by the sea, Freddie. I've missed home so much."

Freddie chuckled at her teasing as he led her toward the carriage. She might have grown into a lovely young woman, but she was the same old Rolly he'd always known and loved. "Just the two of you, yes," he confirmed with a grin. "Home has missed you," he replied further, though he what he was really saying was that he had missed her.

"Oh, is that why home didn't lift a finger when I nearly fell into the water back there?" she asked with impish good grace, knowing perfectly well that there was no need for both of them to get wet if she had fallen in.

"Home thinks you're exaggerating just a little," he replied with a grin. As far as he could see, she hadn't come close to falling in the water and if she had, it would have been no one's fault but her own. "I'm the king now, Rolly. I have to maintain my dignity," he added, unable to hide the teasing smirk from his face.

"You were the king when I left," she pointed out, pausing as the coachman pulled down the step to make it easier for them to climb into the carriage. "That never stopped you from playing my silly games with me."

"I was a lot younger, then," he reminded her, though not all that much younger. Something had changed him while she'd been gone, but what was it' Certainly not the death of his first queen, was it' He seemed a little more somber now than he had then, but perhaps it was merely the weight of responsibility. "I have you and Sera to keep me young," he added with a smile, offering a hand to help her into the carriage.

"Yes, you have to tell me properly about Sera!" The carriage rocked as Rolanda threw herself comfortably down onto the seat, patting it cheekily to invite her brother to sit beside her. "Properly. You spend far too long making your letters safe to read in case anyone else gets their hands on them, I never get the best of the gossip from you. Did she really attack you with an inkwell at a council meeting?"

"She did," he replied with another chuckle as he claimed the seat beside her. Propriety be damned - she was his sister. "You might as well hear it from me first," he said with a resigned sigh, turning serious. "She is Genevieve's daughter."

Rolanda's mouth fell open in shock. She knew the story, of course, though it had taken place before she was born. "Oh, Freddie," she sighed, torn between censure and sympathy. "Didn't she know?"

"No, I should have told her, but I didn't know how, and I didn't want her to think I was marrying her only because of the resemblance to her mother," he explained. That might have been what had initially attracted him to her, but that wasn't why he'd chosen her for his bride.

His sister's smile was not entirely appropriate, but it was definitely a sister's smile. "You deserved it, then," she conjectured. "But she knows now" And doesn't mind it so much?"

"She knows now," he confirmed, pausing a moment before confessing with the faintest of blushes. "I love her, Rolly. More than I ever loved her mother, I suspect." Maybe because he'd had more time to spend with the daughter, as opposed to the mother, or maybe simply because they did not have to keep their affection for the other a secret, as had been necessary when he'd been secretly courting Genevieve.

"I should hope you love her, you've been under her skirts often enough." Proof there that Queen Catherine had managed to keep her younger ladies innocent enough to expect love with desire. Rolanda hugged her brother's arm. "Are you happy, Freddie? You've been unhappy for so long, you deserve to be happy now."

"On the contrary, I have great faith in you, Rolly," he contradicted. "But I do not wish Franz to have to choose between his country and his heart." Or more accurately, between his king and a possible love interest. The carriage came to a halt at last, and Frederick glanced at the window to see they'd arrived. "Are you ready, dear heart?" he asked, knowing they would have to navigate the prying, curious eyes of the court before long.

Schooling her expression so as not to give anyone peering in curious anything to gossip about before she was ready, Rolanda leaned back to look at her brother speculatively. "What are we going for here?" she asked in an innocent tone. "Sweet and empty-headed, or some modicum of mental ability?" She wasn't worried about giving his wife the wrong impression; that would be corrected in private later.

"That is entirely up to you," he replied, not wanting to persuade her either way. He would have much preferred the court to know his sister had a brain in her head, but feigning empty-headedness had always played to their advantage. "I would not presume to sway you either way."

"Well, they will expect me to have changed a little," she considered, flashing him a cheeky smile. "Don't look so worried, Freddie. They'll think I've come back with a scandal under my skirts."

"I do not like the idea of them gossiping and telling lies about you," he argued. Nor did he like them gossiping about his queen, but there wasn't much he could do about it, unless they found out who the perpetrators were.

"Now you listen to me, Your Majesty," his little sister told him firmly, her brows raised above a no-nonsense expression. "Words are just words. Without proof, they are so much hot air. People in your court have put far too much stock in empty words for far too long. So I am going to put them right about it, in my own way. I have been at the center of power for the last six years, Freddie. Trust me. I know how to do this."

He couldn't help but smirk at the expression on her face, as well as her scolding, but it was really no laughing matter. "I do trust you, Rolanda. I just do not want you getting hurt," he replied, turning serious. "And I do not want you to regret your homecoming."

"If they think I am still as easily hurt and led as the sixteen-year-old they waved away with horror stories about Pomeran men, then they are the ones who will regret it," she promised him, leaning close to kiss his cheek. "Come along, your most high kingliness. You have a queen to introduce me to."

He rolled his eyes at his sister's address of him, which was a bit over the top. "Please do not address me that way in court," he urged her, though he was happy for the kiss. "Rolly," he started, one hand on her arm as if to keep her there and to himself a moment longer. "I've missed you."

"I've missed you, too, Freddie." She paused, twisting to embrace him warmly. "I should have come back to visit. But I'm home now. And still living with that ridiculous nickname, I see."

"Don't worry. It's our secret," he assured her, though he could not be held accountable if Franz decided to address her that way. It was a nickname Frederick had pined on her when she'd been just a sprout.

She giggled. "I doubt it, but it's very sweet of you to say so," she teased, gently drawing back. "Well, go on, then. Hop out and let's pretend I know how to be a princess for a while, shall we?"

"I am anxious for you to meet Sera," he admitted with a twinkle in his eyes that hinted at his deeper feeling for both his wife and his sister. He pushed the door of the carriage open and climbed down, turning to offer her a hand.

"I'm anxious to meet her myself," she agreed, taking a moment to draw in a breath and prepare herself for fooling a few idiots in the court who were almost certainly expecting her to be easy prey. Laying her hand into her brother's, she stepped out of the carriage, letting him lead the way into the castle and toward the public rooms where Serafina must be keeping court.

He could almost feel her tense beside him as he led her into the castle and toward the place where Serafina was awaiting their arrival. He would have preferred to have escorted her to their private chambers, but it couldn't be helped. He would be expected to present her officially in court and let them have a look at the princess who'd left a child and was returning a woman.

At least it was only for a few minutes, this first presentation, and Rolanda could easily make herself the excuse for her brother and his wife not to return to the court at all for the rest of the day. She didn't mind it, more excited to lay eyes on her new sister than trepidatious of the courtiers that would be watching. Pausing at the door to the audience rooms to divest herself of fur and gloves, she smoothed her skirt and laid her hand on her brother's knuckles once again. "Ready, brother dearest?"

"I am ready, if you are ready, sister dearest," he replied with a smile. Dearest in part because, without any other siblings, they had only ever had each other. Accustomed to court, he did not need to gather his courage or prepare in any way before ushering her into the room, with a nod of his head to the guards who pulled open the doors for them to enter.

There was no need to announce the king in his own court, nor was there any need to announce his guest. The milling throng of nobles quieted as they entered, eyes that were sharp and curious, fond and unfriendly, following Frederick and Rolanda's passage toward the dais where the queen was hastily retaking her seat. Serafina's beautiful face was warm, marked with an open smile as she watched them approach.

Rolanda grinned back at her, squeezing her brother's hand. "I told you she'd like me."

"She hasn't even met you yet, sweetling," he whispered back, without looking her way, a nod of greeting offered to the court before turning back to Serafina and leading his sister that way. He was relieved to find a smile on the queen's face, though he had expected as much, hopeful the two women would become fast friends.

"Oh, ye of little faith," his sister murmured, releasing his hand as they reached the foot of the dais to sweep into a low curtsy before the throne. "Your Majesty."

Biting her lip for a moment, Serafina rose, sinking into a curtsy of her own. "Your Highness."

There was a pause, both women sank in their own skirts, and Rolanda giggled. "Someone has to say something now, or I'm going to fall over."

"I should leave you both like that," Frederick whispered, stepping forward to take each by the hand and pull them to their feet, presenting them formally to the court. "Lords and Ladies of the Court, may I present my sister, Princess Rolanda," he said, waiting for them to acknowledge her, as was her due.

Judging by the smiles playing around both young women's lips, they were teasing him as much as each other with those ridiculous curtsies. It was a relief to be brought to stand once again, however. Rolanda offered her new sister a wink before allowing Frederick to turn her to face the court for the traditional round of polite applause to welcome her home. On the King's other side, Serafina did her best to school her expression - the Carantan court was so stuffy.

He waited patiently for the applause - enthusiastic and otherwise - to subside before addressing the court again. "Now, if you will excuse us, the Princess is weary from her journey, and we have much to discuss," he told them, including Serafina in that equation, even if he didn't say so in so many words.

Before any murmur disagreement could make itself known, the familiar sound of Franz's mace thumping against the marble made itself known. "Court is dismissed," the chancellor declared in his most officious tone of voice, purely because it would annoy the more entitled among the nobles. "Court will reconvene at six bells after dawn."

Rolanda's gaze flickered toward Frederick curiously - was that his idea"

Frederick could not help but smirk a little at his sister's curious gaze, coupled with Franz's declaration that court was dismissed for the remainder of the day. His own gaze flickered to Serafina's, suspecting it was her who had made that decision and asked Franz to arrange it, long before the king and his sister returned. He watched as the courtiers started to drift away, disappointment on some of their faces.

"Yes, but I want her to be happy, Franz. I don't want her to have to pretend to be someone she's not all her life, just because that is what people expect or because she can use it to our advantage. She deserves so much more than that, not only because she is a princess, but because she is my sister," Frederick argued.

"Then cleaning out the dead wood should help with that, sire," his chancellor pointed out mildly. "There are many of the appropriate rank in this land who have never so much as caught a glimpse of you, much less visited the court. There may indeed be some among them who will help her be happy."

"Are we talking about suitors, Franz?" the king asked, with a glimmer of amusement in his eyes, knowing what his sister might say about that. "She seems fond enough of you," he teased further, knowing his sister's affection for the man was more sisterly, than romantic.

"Was that not what you were talking about, Frederick?" his friend countered innocently. He rolled his eyes at the tease. "I have enough trouble with my own sisters. I would not even consider inviting Rolly to ply her influence on them."

"Yes, it is," Frederick replied. "But I do not wish to force her into an unwanted courtship. He had a feeling his sister might not welcome any courtship, but that of her own choosing. "And why not' Are you afraid she would influence them or they would influence her?" Frederick continued in reply to Franz's mention of his sisters, alluding to either being a bad influence in some way.

"Frieda is already making my attempts to find her a match as miserable as she possibly can," Franz pointed out. "And Alayne seems to think that it's a fine joke. Rolly has the leisure to pick and choose; to decide not to marry at all, if she so wills it. We of the lower noble classes do not have that luxury, your majesty."

Frederick arched a brow, a little surprised at his friend's statement. "You seem to have forgotten my first marriage, Franz," he reminded his friend, just a little self-defensively. And the woman he'd fallen in love with before her but had been forbidden to marry.

"With respect, sire, you are not your father," Franz said mildly. "You will not force your sister into a marriage purely for alliance's sake, without even a word in her ear to gain her opinion on the matter."

"That is true, Franz," Frederick replied, without further argument. If his father had allowed him to marry Genevieve, things would have been very different. Frederick didn't want to think about that too hard though, as it meant Serafina might have been his daughter and not his wife. "Shall we rescue the queen from my over-talkative sister?"

Franz chuckled. "Yes, I believe Rolly should have had enough time to make an impression by now," he agreed. "I will volunteer my afternoon to be babbled at until she realises that I know how intelligent she is."

"Thank you, Franz," the king told his friend, giving his shoulder a squeeze. "I am sure Rolly and Sera will become fast friends before long, but Rolly is best taken in small doses, at first," he added with a smirk.

"As I'm sure she is aware." The chancellor chuckled, shaking his head at the thought of the afternoon ahead of him. "Shall we, then?"

"I believe we shall," Frederick replied, making his way from the audience chamber. He would talk to Franz in more depth about the situation in Coimbra in the next few days, but today was about welcoming his sister home.

A sister who had his usually quiet, soft-spoken queen cackling with laughter by the time they reached the princess' private rooms. Serafina was flushed and blushing, her blue eyes bright with laughter as she covered her mouth with her sleeve. Rolly, on the other hand, was lying on the floor, skirts hooked on her toes, with her feet resting on the mantle over the fire, apparently warming her less than lady-like parts while regaling her new sister with some less-than ladylike stories.

There went that eyebrow of Frederick's again, flickering upwards as he interrupted whatever story Rolanda was telling that had Serafina cackling with laughter, but it wasn't so much the story-telling that had his brows getting a workout as it was his sister's less than lady-like way of warming herself. "Ahem," he murmured, clearing his throat to announce his arrival. "Am I interrupting?" he asked, though that much seemed obvious.

Rolly tilted her head back to look at her brother, not even hinting at being happy to move just yet. "Only if you heard what I was saying before Serafina started giggling," she said with brazenly impish sweetness.

"I am not sure I want to know," he replied, obviously the more serious of the two siblings, but then, there was far more responsibility weighing upon his shoulders than there was on hers. "Franz would like to speak with you," he told his sister, though he didn't say what the chancellor wanted to speak with her about.

"Well, these are my rooms, brother dearest," she pointed out with a low giggle, but obligingly dropped her feet to the floor, smoothing her skirt down to cover her knees and ankles as she sat up. "I take it he's recovered from being kissed by a princess?"

"I am not sure actually. Perhaps he's hoping for another," Frederick replied, trying to keep a straight face. He knew Franz would never forgive him, but he just couldn't help himself. With Rolly back at the castle, there would certainly be no shortage of entertainment, but he thought she was far more valuable than just as a court jester.

"Oh, you temptress." Rolly laughed, pulling herself up onto her feet. She wiggled her finger at her brother and his wife. "No investigating my chests when they arrive. At least, not without me present, anyway." Slipping into her shoes, she pressed a kiss to her brother's cheek and skipped out of the room, content to leave them in her own chambers without fear, it seemed.

Frederick opened his mouth to ask why the content of her chests was a matter of secrecy, but she skipped away before the words found their way to his mouth. He had no intention of investigating those chests or of violating her privacy in any way. She was his sister and a princess of the realm; there was no need. Instead, he looked to Serafina with a slightly puzzled look on his face. "I will not ask what she was telling you when I walked in," he said, hoping it wasn't some embarrassing story of his own childhood.

Sera was still smiling, but thankfully the blush had calmed as she rose onto her feet. "I do not think you would thank her for sharing some of what she has been regaling me with," she agreed with him, almost teasing in her soft way. "She is lovely, Freddie."

"She is mischievous, impulsive, and wholly unrepentant, and I've missed her terribly!" he said, laughing. He was obviously glad to have his sister home again and glad that Sera seemed to like her, so far. "It is my hope that you two will become good friends," he told her, reaching for her hands to help her to her feet.

"She is not what I was expecting, I must admit," Sera laughed softly, her hands curling into his tenderly. She had been expecting a feminine version of her husband - quiet and calm, a little playful in the right mood. Not that she didn't like Rolanda, quite the opposite. It would just take a little time to get used to her.

"I admit we are like night and day, but she is far more intelligent than most give her credit for," he told her, assuming she had probably figured that much out already. He drew her close to touch a warm, but chaste kiss to her lips, before drawing back with a smile. "I thought we might retire to our rooms for a little while before the evening meal."

Drawn close for that kiss, one of her hands slipped from his to touch gently over his heart as her lips curved into a smile that was for him alone. "I think that is a lovely idea," she agreed warmly. A very faint flush crossed her cheeks as her smile deepened, a flicker of something that might have been mischief in her eyes for a brief moment. "A lovely idea, yes."

He arched a brow, catching what might have been a hint of mischief in her eyes. Was his sister's mischief catching, he wondered. "Dare I ask what embarrassing stories my dear sister was sharing with you?" he asked, as he tucked her hand into the crook of his elbow and led her toward the door.

"Are you concerned that they may alter my perception of you, sweetheart?" she asked curiously, tucked close against his elbow as he drew her from his sister's rooms and toward their own. "I do not see how knowing you made a practice of carrying her on your shoulders when she was but two years old to every official meeting your father convened could possibly change the way I see you."

"Hmm, is that all she told you?" he asked, not denying the story's truth. They had not been alone together long enough for Rolanda to share too many tales of his childhood, but he had a feeling she would be sharing more in the days to come.

"She had a few choice stories from her time in Pomerania, too," Serafina assured him, her smile flickering to life for a moment once again. "Though I do not believe she would wish me to share them with you until she has decided what is suitable for you to know."

Unwinding her hands from his, she laid her palms against his chest, leaning into his embrace with her soft smile firmly in place on the beautiful face she had inherited from her mother. "I am so glad to see you happy, Freddie," she told him softly. "You are too solemn much of the time."

His arms circled her waist as he drew her close, frowning a little at the knowledge that she thought him too solemn, and yet, there were many reasons for that. "I am happy, Sera," he assured her. "It is just the responsibility of being king that makes me solemn," he explained. That and the fact that he'd been alone for so long, he'd almost forgotten was it felt like to be happy.

"You have Franz to help you," she reminded him, "and the council. You do not have to carry the weight of it all, surely?" Yet didn't she carry the burden of the court much of the time" And she, too, had ladies to assist her in that task.

"I know. I depend greatly on Franz. Sometimes I think perhaps too much," he confirmed. She was right in that he had Franz and the council to advise him, but in the end, the decisions were still his. "Franz and I have been discussing dismissing the court and starting fresh," he told her, drawing her toward an overstuffed chair.

Sera blinked in surprise. "The entire court?" she asked, a little intimidated by what that might mean for them. "There are so many who claim a place in your presence - they will not like to be told it is not their decision to make."

"And there are those who have been working against us behind our backs," he pointed out, as he sat down and pulled her onto his lap, his arms going around her waist again. Here in the safety and privacy of their quarters, there was no need to worry about propriety. "We can't dismiss only those we don't trust. We will have to dismiss the entire court and then invite back those who we trust."

Though it had taken time and patience, he had finally taught Sera to relax on his lap. She curled easily down into the wrap of his arms, stroking her fingertip against his jaw as he explained to her. "How will we know who can be trusted?"

That was a good question, but not one that needed to be answered right away. "Franz and I will sort it out. If you wish, this might be a good time to dismiss your court ladies and invite those of your own choosing," he suggested.

She couldn't quite hide the look of blessed relief that crossed her face at his suggestion. "I may' Oh, but ....may I keep Lysette?" Her only real friend still in Carantania was the childhood friend who had come from Kediri when asked.

"Yes, of course!" he assured her, smiling at the look on her face, relieved she didn't seem upset with the idea. "You should have companions your own age and of your own choosing. Young women who you trust and whose company you enjoy, not women who've been thrust on you only because of their rank or station."

"No more horrible old women with opinions on the fact that I apparently smile too much and am too nice to everyone lower in rank than myself," she mused, liking the idea more and more. "But I know so few ladies of this land. Will Franz have a list, do you think?"

He couldn't help but chuckle a little at her blunt honesty regarding her court ladies, now that he'd mentioned the subject. "I am sure Franz can help, and perhaps Rolanda, as well," Frederick replied, though his sister had been away from court for some years and may not have kept in touch with many of the younger noblewomen.

"Goodness, wouldn't it be lovely to have a court filled with people we actually like?" Sera laughed softly, tucking her cheek onto his shoulder with a low sigh. "Not dreading certain conversations before they even begin."

"And trust," he added, as one seemed as important as the other. As for himself, there were few he considered friends, except for those closest him, those he trusted implicitly - chiefly Franz and his closest advisers. "I want you to be happy here, Sera," he told her, brushing her hair away from her face as she rested her cheek on hs shoulder. And if it took dismissing the entire court and starting from scratch to make her happy, so be it.

"I am happy with you," she promised him softly. "It has only been two months. I would be a fool to expect to have settled in completely so soon." She tilted her head, touching her lips gently to his jaw. "I think resetting the court is a wonderful idea," she assured him in a fond tone. "To be able to push aside those stuffy ideas of what is and isn't appropriate with people who enjoy life, rather than want to suck it dry."

"Something like that, yes," he replied with a smile at the knowledge that she was happy and that she understood why he and Franz had come to this decision. It wasn't all about making Serafina happy though; it also had to do with replacing disloyal courtiers with ones they could trust. "Franz and I will have to decide who will be invited back, but you will be free to choose your own ladies."

"I shall likely rely on Rolanda and you to help with me with that," she confessed. "You both know the nobility of this land better than I. I have only experienced the current crop who seem to believe their right to visit the palace is ordained by the Goddess Herself."

"They believe it to be their birthright," he explained, though who was he to judge them when he had become king by right of his own bloodline. "The world is changing, Sera. With any luck, soon there will be peace, but there will always be those who seek power for themselves."

"People do not change, only the circumstances around them," she murmured. It sounded like a quotation, likely from her father, who had been a wise man for all his faults. "But we will have peace in Carantania, won't we" I do not like to think of you having to go to war, sweetheart."

"I am confident we will continue to have peace here, dear heart," he assured her, with a brush of his lips to her forehead as one hand came to rest against the flat of her belly. "Peace and prosperity for ourselves and our children." So long as no one stirred trouble in any of Pomerania's vassal states.

Sera bit her lip around a smile as his palm covered the still flat plane of her belly, her own hand falling to cover his. "Our children," she repeated softly, unable to disguise the delight she felt at this quiet assertion that one child was not where they would stop.

Whether their first child was a son or a daughter hardly mattered, as he was hoping for more than one, though the risk of childbirth worried him enough that he didn't want too many. He brushed another kiss to her lips, soft and tender and loving, telling her without saying a word how happy she had made him.

Her lips softened beneath his, slender fingers rising to pour through the silver-dark of his hair. "Mmm ....how long do we have before we absolutely must be presentable for your sister, do you think?"

"Hard to say," he replied, touching his forehead to hers as he breathed her in. He had told Franz that they were retiring to their chambers until the evening meal, but that would hardly stop Rolanda from joining them for a visit well before that. "Shall I tell the guards we are not to be disturbed?" he asked, lifting a hand to caress her cheek.

She hesitated, not wanting to push her own wishes over his duty or desires. "Do you wish to?" she asked softly. "That is ....I should like to, but, well, you are the king, Freddie. I know my desires do not compare to the needs of a nation."

"Do I wish to?" he echoed, his smile softening at the almost shy way she had asked. "I need little convincing, love," he assured her, touching another kiss to her lips before patting her behind so he could move to his feet. "Give me a moment to speak with the guards."

Kissed softly in reassurance, Sera giggled as she rose onto her feet, allowing him the leisure to rise and speak with the guards as he so chose. And he had thought, once, that she would be repulsed by the gap in their ages; that she would put more store by the grey in his hair than by the fondness and passion in his heart. He could not have been more wrong in his new queen. She adored her husband, respected the king, loved the man, and she took every opportunity to remind him of that fact.

While he had once worried that she would find him too old, he had never thought her too young. In fact, it was in part her youth that had first attracted him. She was sweet and charming, innocent and fresh, unspoiled and trusting; as lovely and graceful as a flower in summer, with a heart that was loving and kind. He had simply never met anyone like her, and she had captured his heart almost overnight. There was nothing he wanted more than to make her happy, and by making her happy, he was happy himself. What more could a man ever desire, whether he was a king or a pauper?

And he was there to help if she needed him, though he wasn't very good with the complexities of women's clothing. "And what exactly does that mean, dear heart?" he asked curiously as she giggled, hinting that she was teasing him.

Emerging from the neckline of the underdress, she smoothed it down, reaching to her back to tighten the laces. "I'm supposed to know what it means?" she asked innocently. "I am, after all, just a queen. Our purpose is to look pretty and be kind, insofar as I can discern it."

He caught sight of her reaching backwards and moved over to help with her laces. It wasn't the first time he'd done so, though he thought himself far clumsier at it than that of her maid. He frowned a little at the description she was giving herself. Some might say her purpose was to give him an heir, but as far as he was concerned, that was not her sole purpose. "Is that why you think I asked you to be my wife?" he asked curiously, wondering just what she did think.

Sera tilted her head back over her shoulder, seeking his gaze. "Freddie, you know I don't think that," she reminded him gently. "But it is the perception of royal women. We are expected to do our duty, be beautiful, and kind, and that is all."

"What duty is that?" he asked further, merely curious as to what women perceived as their duty or duties in the royal household. Again, he knew one of those duties was to provide an heir, preferably a son, but Freddie had his own thoughts about what he wanted in a wife and a queen.

"To provide heirs and set the tone for the court." Sera shrugged, shaking her hair out as she reached for the overdress, which again was easier to pull on over her head.

"And to serve as a companion for the king," he added, though that was more a wifely than a queenly duty. "I wonder if we should travel to Pomerania to visit the court there," he said, thinking she might enjoy a change of scenery, as well as a visit with the ladies of the court there. Then again, his sister had just come from there and would at least be able to provide her with all the juicy bits of gossip she'd brought with her.

She blinked in surprise, drawing her hair over her shoulder as she adjusted the laces at her hips this time. "I did not know you could visit the High Kingdom without an invitation from the High King himself."

"I am sure I could obtain an invitation, but perhaps we should wait until after the birth," he said, rethinking the possibilities. He wanted her to make friends, not just within Carantania but with their allies, as well. "Perhaps Rolly could write and introduce you to Princess Marianne via letter," he suggested further.

"Is that allowed?" she asked, her eyes bright with the hope of reaching beyond their borders to make friends by letter. "I did not know I was permitted to send letters outside the country. But ....well, I am still learning about this."

"Yes, of course," he replied. "I do not think you will be writing to our enemies in Coimbra," he added with a chuckle, as he shrugged into his jacket and adjusted his cravat.

She laughed at the thought of that. "Somehow I do not think any of the heretics would care to even receive a letter from a Goddess-fearing queen, much less answer one," she assured him in mirth, examining her reflection in the mirror. Her hair was not something she could tame without help, but dinner was only with Rolanda. She did not think her husband's sister would mind a little informality.

As much as Freddie loved brushing her hair, he hardly noticed the mess. To him, she was just as beautiful, whether her hair was perfectly coiffed or messy. "Well, if Franz is right, we may have peace before long," he told her, as he sat himself down to pull his boots on.

Mmm, perhaps she should pin at least some of it back ....Sera glanced over at her husband as he pulled on his boots. "You have said yourself that Franz is rarely wrong," she reminded him in a fond tone. The chancellor had become a friend to her, though they would likely never be as close as he was with the king. "Did he not predict the solution to the Carib problem months before it was announced?"

"Careful, it might get around that Franz is a warlock with some sort of demonic powers," Frederick teased, with a smirk on his face. That was definitely not something he wanted to circulate around court, but it amused him to think of it.

She laughed, hands high as she twisted a layer of that long, shining dark mane of hers back and into the embrace of a pin that should hold it there. She outright refused to wear the tiara again. "Intelligence and a keen eye for politics are not signs of evil, Freddie."

"Tell that to our enemies," he remarked, knowing not everyone was in support of himself or of Franz, but there was little they could do about it, short of treason or outright assassination. Now that his boots were on, he moved to his feet, noticing she might need help with her hair and moving closer with the intention of doing just that.

As the pin fell free for the third time, Sera sighed in frustration. "Why can't I just braid it and leave it?" she demanded, irritated by her own failure to tame her own hair. "Or just leave it down" Why do I have to look so perfectly put together all the time?"

"Not all the time, love, and Rolly won't mind if you're not perfectly put together," he remarked, as he took up the brush to smooth out the tangles with a hand that was gentler than even her maid.

She breathed deeply, relaxing as he drew the brush through the long fall of her hair. Her eyes met his in the reflection of the mirror. "It's a silly thing to be frustrated about, isn't it?"

"I would not say silly. I do not envy you and all the care you must take to look perfect," he remarked, though as king, he had to project a certain image himself. He did not consider himself to be much to look at, but he knew he could appear to be an imposing figure when he wanted to be.

"Perfection is not as endearing as so many people seem to think," she giggled softly, holding up a pin so he did not have to reach for it. "I would rather be liked for myself than for the image I project, though I know I would let down the country to appear in less than perfect fashion."

"It is a simple matter of keeping up appearances," he said, setting down the brush and carefully twisted her hair upwards before reaching for a pin. He took as much care with her hair as he did with the signing of an important document or the creation of a speech, focused on the moment and task at hand so that it was completed to the best of his ability, no matter how unimportant such a task seemed. "It would never do if the king and queen looked like hooligans, would it?"

"You could never look like a hooligan," she laughed softly. "Even if you appear in short trousers and muddy feet, you would always be a handsome king."

"You flatter me, Sera, but I will not argue. I could do with some flattery," he replied, a hint of amusement in his voice, as he finished off pinning her hair up almost as neatly as one of her maids. "There, that should do for dinner," he said, practically daring her to examine his handiwork and disagree.

"It is not flattery if it is true," she pointed out, tilting her head this way and that to inspect his handiwork. A warm smile brightened her face. "Perhaps I should have you dress my hair every day, sweetheart."

"Shall I add it to my long list of kingly duties then?" he teased in return, smiling as she admired his handiwork, though it was hardly that which made her beautiful. "Perhaps you and Rolly should start a new fashion trend for less elaborate hairstyles," he suggested, with a wave of his hand toward her hair.

She giggled, turning to face him, that bright smile just for him in these quiet moments. "I will have to speak with her about it," she agreed. "Perhaps to save the truly elaborate styles for special occasions."

"It would save you both enormous trouble, not to mention time," he reasoned, though he was hardly an expert on fashion. "Shall we, my love?" he asked, hooking his arm and offering it to her so that he could escort her to dinner.

Wrapping her hand to the crook of his elbow, Sera drew in a slow breath. "I think I am prepared to meet your sister again, yes," she agreed, the faintest suggestion of mirth on her voice. Rolanda was certainly an experience.

Sera's expression brightened hopefully. "Oh, that does sound wonderful," she agreed, turning her eyes to Frederick. "I know you are awfully busy, love, but ....may we arrange such a thing?"

"I will put you two in charge of making the arrangements. How does that sound?" he asked, looking from one to the other. That should keep his sister occupied and out of trouble, he hoped, and it would be good for the country as a whole to hold such a celebration, especially with the end of war looming.

"Wonderful!"

Rolanda laughed at Sera's unexpectedly delighted outburst. "Yes, absolutely wonderful, Freddie," she agreed, leaning over to kiss his cheek. She glanced about the room, making certain no doors had been left open by the departing servants. "So what is it you were pretending I wouldn't notice you not saying?"

Despite the king's minor irritation that his sister had proclaimed his court boring and stuffy, he couldn't help but smile at both her and Sera's enthusiastic response to the suggestion of a faire, as well as the knowledge that he knew a few things she didn't ....yet. "I don't have any idea what you are talking about," he said, pushing his soup bowl aside in favor of something he could actually chew.

The confusion on Sera's face was glorious to behold, though she held her tongue for the sake of presenting a united front, even if she didn't quite understand why he was pretending not to have news all of a sudden.

Rolanda raised her brow, leaning back in her seat as the doors opened to admit the servants and their main course. "Still timing each course to the second, hmm?"

"I should think I would at least have that perfected by now," he replied with a smirk. It seemed the siblings were doing a little goodnatured verbal sparring now that they were reunited, so long as they didn't carry things too far. He had every intention of sharing the news with Rolanda, as soon as there was no risk of them being overheard. He slipped a hand under the table to give Sera's a squeeze, as if to reassure her and ask her to be patient.

"Oh, darling, you're already perfect in almost every way that counts," Rolanda assured her brother teasingly, leaning back to allow the various dishes to be sampled on her plate.

As Sera's fingers tangled with Frederick's for a moment, the queen raised her eyes to the footmen. "Thank you, that will be all," she said in her soft way. "We will ring when we desire dessert."

In his own way, Freddie was helping Sera assert herself by saying nothing to the servants in hopes that she would, and she didn't disappoint. He knew it would take time before she felt comfortable in her role as queen, but small steps were better than no steps at all. "Not hardly, Rolly, but thank you for saying so," he said, offering his sister another smile. If he'd been younger, he might have stuck his tongue out at her, but he'd learned to be more dignified than that.

The servants took their leave, the doors closing quietly after them, and Sera visibly relaxed. She was still not used to being the head of a household, much less a country, but slowly she was beginning to settle into the role. She smiled at the interaction between brother and sister. "Did Franz mention to you this plan of cleaning out the court?" she asked curiously.

Rolanda nodded, swallowing her first mouthful even as she nudged her brother's shin with her bare foot. "He did," she said. "And I think it's a marvelous idea."

Freddie arched a brow at the nudge from his sister, wondering if she was trying to tell him something or just being her usual mischievous self. "She has been here less than a day and already she thinks it's a marvelous idea," he echoed with a smirk.

"Freddie ....I was applauded unenthusiastically by a room full of bored people when you presented me," Rolanda pointed out in amusement. "They need a shock to the system."

"Oh, I agree with you and Franz wholeheartedly," Frederick pointed out. "But there will be those who do not appreciate being dismissed from court, without an invitation to return." He was a little worried there would be repercussions, but he wholeheartedly believed it needed to be done.

"Well then, maybe you should base it on the Pomeran system," Rolanda suggested. "They have a large court, it's true, but only those specifically invited to be members of the royal household are allowed free access to the inner palace itself. That's why there are so many Lords and Ladies of the Bedchamber in Pomerania - it's a title that declares that invitation."

"There are a few who will not be dismissed from court," he pointed out. Franz was one of them; Lady Beatrice another, though he had not mentioned her yet. He glanced at Sera before sharing another bit of news with his sister. "I would like Sera to become better acquainted with Princess Marianne. Do you think you could arrange that?" he asked, turning back to his sister.

"Well, clearly you cannot empty the palace entirely of companionship or working advisors," Rolanda agreed with a nod. The suggestion of introducing Serafina to the Crown Princess of Pomerania was welcomed with a wide smile. "I'm sure she would be delighted," she promised. "And will likely offer to introduce you to other queens across Meringia."

Sera flushed, a little surprised by the wide offer. "I should very much like to be able to ask advice from ladies who are already in this position."

"Good," Frederick said, digging enthusiastically into his dinner. One did not run a country or make love to one's wife without working up an appetite. "I will talk to Franz about adopting a more Pomeran-style court. Perhaps it is time to make some much-needed changes here."

"It would be lovely to have ....have friends at court," Sera confessed hesitantly, quick to duck her head and fill her own mouth.

Rolanda stilled, horrified by the implication that the queen was so isolated in this stuffy court that she didn't even have a friend. It was something she had not even considered.

"I am trying to change that for you, dear heart," Frederick reminded the queen quietly, with a gentle touch of his hand. He did not want Rolanda accusing him of isolating his wife, but change did not happen overnight and Sera had only been queen a few short months.

There was silence for a moment, as Sera smiled fondly to Frederick and Rolanda came to a decision. "Well, it may be too late for a Maying, but we can still throw a festival to welcome me home," she said a little stubbornly. "With a wide invitation to everyone of the right rank, regardless of their wealth or status."

Frederick chuckled at his sister's outspoken nature. Had they not just held such an event a few months ago at which time the king had chosen a queen" "If that is what you wish, sister, we will make it so. We do have another reason to celebrate, though," he said, looking expectantly to Sera.

"We do?" Rolanda glanced up, following her brother's gaze to his wife, whose shy expression almost gave the game away entirely. But she was prepared to wait for Serafina to share whatever this reason was.

Sera swallowed, pausing a moment to wipe her lips before gently curling her fingers into Frederick's grasp. "There-there will be a new heir, come the winter."

Frederick wasn't afraid of his sister getting jealous, knowing she had no desire to be queen. He gave Serafina's hand a gentle reassuring squeeze before turning to touch a soft kiss to her cheek. Perhaps as a couple, they were adorable, but he saw nothing wrong with the fact that they openly and deeply loved each other and that love would eventually result in the creation of an heir. "I do believe you have rendered my dear sister speechless," he remarked, as he turned to Rolanda with an amused and silly grin on his face.

Rolanda blinked slowly, absorbing the fact that not only was her brother in love with his new wife - and she with him - but that they had achieved their goal within two months of marrying. A wide grin broke across her face. "I'm going to be an aunt?" There was a clatter as she dropped her fork onto her plate, a scrape as she pushed her chair back, and suddenly she was lurching around the table to throw her arms around Serafina in a laughing embrace.