.

[astralkiss]

"Your Excellency," is all she says ,in the most proper dialect she knows, and performs the usual courtesy, her eyes remaining downward and her body remaining in the position until given permission to rise, knowing court protocol.

 

[AntonioG]

Pierre watched as his father looked over at Isabella, smiling, good she did know protocol, good. Finally his father motioned with his hand and said. "Rise, my daughter." Giving his blessing of the union. Then he looked at Pierre.

"My son, I am weak, but I don't believe this is my time. I give the day to day running of the kingdom to you. You are not yet King, but this will be an excellent oppurtunity for you. You and..." he looked at Isabella, "My dear, I didn't get your name."

 

[astralkiss]

She smiled when the king gave his response to her adherence to protocol. She watched the event take place quietly, the conversation giving way to things of utmost importance to France, and she felt a bit funny standing there watching this happen.

I must get used to things like this, she told herself in her head as they talked about who gets power and when and the King's health. Finally, the King said somethign that jerked her attention.."My dear, I didn't get your name." the King said, looking at Bella pointed.

"Isabella Marianna Der Gelt, granddaughter of Anna, Queen of Bavaria," she said quietly, her eyes not meeting his.

 

[AntonioG]

"Ah yes, I should have noticed the Bavarian features, in your face. Well then you two are to be married tomorrow. I will have the Bishop of Paris informed to begin preparations at Notre Dame de Paris."

He turns his attention to his son.

"Pierre, we have to get out of this war with Spain, it is proving too costly. Send a diplomat to Madrid and have them sign a treaty with the Spaniards."

Pierre nods, "Yes Father. Now, Isabella and I must prepare for our wedding."

 

[astralkiss]

She watches the proceedings with increasing trepidation. The last thing she expected to come out of being sold was to be a wife. She bit her lip, nervous as hell, and took Pierre's hand when he came to lead her out of the chamber and back to the carriage. She knew he had much to do, as did she.

 

[AntonioG]

Aboard the carriage he leads them to the Ile-Saint Germain, the other island located in the Seine. It is here that his home is located. A modest dwelling, for royalty. Ridiculously large for anyone else, it has stood for 300 years, passed down in his family.

 

[astralkiss]

All of this is causing Isabella to fall in a state of shock, realizing what decadence and luxury of the world she was entering into, and not just entering, but becoming one of the stars of. She gulped, and leaned on him for a second before they reached the Chateau. "I'm scared," she whispered lightly, to noone in particular.

 

[AntonioG]

"Scared of what, my love?" Pierre asks her, softly. "Of becoming royalty, of the life you will now lead? It will take some getting used to, I admit, but you'll see, it's not so bad. I will have Claude dispatch someone to your Father's tonight, if you want him to see you become the Princess of France. That ought to scare the merde out of him."

 

[astralkiss]

She giggled and nodded at his comment. If anything she had realized during their journey, it was that royalty were normal people as well. The King seemed to be a genuinely accepting person of her.
She wondered which of her features looked Bavarian, and that worried her a bit.
"My father will not only see me become that, I want him not to see my face until the end of the ceremony, and then I know he will lose it and say something stupid. He will be called out in front of his peers and humiliated like none other, I want him to pay. Yes, dispatch a messenger to my home," she said, her face getting a bit harder when she speaks of this revenge.

 

[AntonioG]

As they pulled up to the Chateau de Trudeau, his real last name left off the title intentionally, it's size became apparent. His carriage stopped and Michel was on the stairs waiting for them.

"My Prince, the Healer was able to save Delilah, but she is not a sane woman, my Lord. She ran from his residence, and was again beset by thugs, who raped her. Lord, pardon my English, but they ripped her ass apart. I found her on my way home, her body attacked by carrion birds."

Michel looked toward Isabella, "Forgive me, my Lady, for my rough language."

 

[astralkiss]

Her mouth dropped open at the news delivered by Michel, and her lower lip quivered, eventually beginnign to sob into the lapel of Pierre's jacket, her sorrow becoming overwhelming and her body heaving with the sobs.

 

[AntonioG]

"Now, now my love, it will be okay. We will have a proper service for her, after our wedding tomorrow afternoon. The Bishop will be informed of this, and he will pray her soul is not sent into eternal perdition."

He rubbed her arms and held her close, kissing the top of her head.

"Michel, please send Claude to Toulouse, with an invitation to the Prince's wedding. He is NOT to know who the bride is, only that the Prince REQUIRES his attendance."

 

[astralkiss]

She sniffled, slightly reverting into childlike behaviour. All of this shock in one short day is taking its toll on her.
Bella nodded at what he said, putting her hand in his to go meet his "family" at the Chateau, wondering what surprise was in store next for her.

 

[AntonioG]

Inside his home he first introduced Bella to, Claude who was on his way out. Claude bowed and informed her that her father would not know who the new Princess of France was until she revealed it herself. They made their way to the kitchen where she was introduced to Marie, Marie had been his nanny when he was a child, and Pierre brought her with him to his new home, to be his cook.


Finally they went out to the stables, and saw 15 thouroughbred stallions. He pointed out his favorite and told her to pick one for herself. That horse would never again have a rider other than her. Finally he introduced her to Jean-Claude who kept the horses.

 

[astralkiss]

She maintained politeness but was a bit distant when she met the staff, it was obvious she had gone through shock. Everyone was so nice, she thought.

She smiled when she the horses. She looked at each one, finally deciding on an all white one that looked a bit smaller than the others, and smiled at him, kissing him lightly without abandon. "That one, amour, that one," she said, appearing a bit happier.

 

[AntonioG]

"Yes, she is the youngest of the horses in my possession. Not quite a year old yet. I have not yet named her, so, if it suits you. You may have the honor of naming her. Anything you desire, of course." He kissed her cheek, there was one other she had to meet, and that would be the tailor of course, to make her gown for tomorrow.

 

[astralkiss]

She smiled. "I don't know what to call her right now," she said quietly, giggling when he kissed her, enjoying their time alone, knowing that the days to come were to be filled with activity.
"I am ready for the next person," she chuckled, knowing that this day was probbly full of people.

 

[AntonioG]

"There are only two more for tonight my love. The seamstress who is on her way here now. And finally we will have to go to Notre Dame and meet the Bishop. Have you dealt with the Princes of the Catholic Church before ma cherie?"

 

[astralkiss]

She shook her head.
"I only went to church once a week, and was baptized and received Holy Communion that is it, but non, none of the dealign with them," she looks a bit confused, but smiles at him.

 

[AntonioG]

"That's about as often as I go, but we have a certain amount of Noblese Oblige of you will. His name is Cardinal Francois DeGaulle, he should be addressed as Your Emminence, by myself as well. You are to kneel to him and he will offer his hand, kiss the ring, then you may rise. I can't stress enough, this applies to myself as well." With that they are informed that the seamstress has arrived.

"I will give her your sizes, just explain to her what you want your gown to look like, it CAN be purple, after all you will be a Princess."

 

[astralkiss]

She chuckles at the purple remark. For some reason, ever since being young, she had had a mild obsession with the colour purple, and now she could wear what she wanted.

"I was thinking more along the lines of silver, but I suppose purple would do. I understand the instructions for the Cardinal, perhaps it would be a good idea if you went first with the ceremonial motions?" she suggested, smiling lightly.

 

[AntonioG]

"My love, it is your gown, let the seamstress make it whatever color you desire. Ah there she is now, and as far as the motions with Cardinal DeGaulle, of course I will go first. No mistakes that way." They walked through the Chateau and met up with the seamstress.

 

[astralkiss]

"I would like it in a silver coloured cloth, and ornate yet still simple," she said, telling the seamstress exactly what she wanted. The seamstress nodded and noted her orders, excited at making a wedding gown for a soon-to-be princess.
Bella smiled at Pierre, and waited for them to leave the seamstress in order to meet the Cardinal, something that made her very nervous.

 

[AntonioG]

"My dear, why are you so nervous? You'll soon see that Cardinal DeGaulle is actually nothing more than a normal man, only with a position of power. He won't do anything to you. I just figured it would be better to meet him today, as opposed to waiting until tomorrow. But it can be put off, if you'd prefer."

 

[astralkiss]

"No,no amour it is fine to meet him today, I am just nervous as to not meeting a man of God like Monsieur De Gaulle ever," she said, biting her lip nervously.