Dinner Conversations

Excitement had filled Anastasia when she thought of tonight a few days ago. For it would finally be Duke Phillip's night to "court" her. However, Anastasia seemed to lack her previous excitement. Instead, she solemnly stared at the dresses laid out before her, still thinking about her dream from last night.

It had left her startled and unable to sleep after envisioning her unwanted wedding to an unwanted suitor. She resented Taren for the pain he had caused her, even if only in her unconscious state. Thus, she wanted to avoid him at all cost. His gaze, his smile, his ability to completely discombobulate her ability to think, she wanted it all to stop and for him to be long gone, but that was not possible.

So, she needed to be better than him. She chastised herself as she looked her pathetic state over in front of her mirror. It had just been a dream. She was still queen, she was still in power, and he had no sway over her that she did not give him right to.

Not allowing herself to be put down any longer, Anastasia chose a formal gown of navy blue for tonight dinner. It was not her nicest gown, but was comfortable and cascaded in a way that became her more than some of her other gowns.

Besides, Phillip didn't care how she dressed. That was something she admired about being in his company more than some of her other suitors. He didn't care what she wore, or how formal she was. He just wanted her to be her as Anastasia. However, that directly contested her as queen.

As if to remind her of her role in her kingdom, a maid helped comb and coil her hair loosely around a silver ring that laid nested in the woven strands of her hair. Her crown weight ever heavier as the says passed and nothing was heard from the border, and the man who threated her courts safety sleep just a few corridors down from her own.

Stop... she demanded of her own brain as it tried to swirl its hazy thoughts around her, entrapping her. At this point, she was finished dressing. So, she made her way down to the parlors where everyone convened before dinner before she could lose her mind or courage. Her ladies maids followed her in a sea of skirts and protection from what have you.

Upon entering the room, everyone bowed, but quickly they returned to their conversations. As her ladies maids dispersed, Anastasia made her way to where Duke Phillip Vern was standing. He was alone, and seemed nervous as he bowed to her. She had never seen this particular suit on him, but consequently it was a deep navy blue perfectly tailored to his frame. However, before she could mention his appearance , Duke Phillip spoke of hers, "You look exquisite tonight your majesty."

"Thank you Duke Phillip. I must say you are also looking very handsome yourself tonight,"

Anastasia, although trying not to put too much undo pressure on the man, could not help but notice what appeared to be the slightest blush that began rising from the back of his neck to the tips of his ears. Anastasia, slightly baffled, attempted to look closer at the deepening color thinking all the while, surely not ... it must be the lighting.

Continuing the conversation she spoke, "I look forward to spending this evening in your company Duke Phillip."

Duke Phillip tried to even his breath before speaking, but when he did so replied eloquently, "I am grateful that her majesty has afforded me this opportunity. I hear that your sister is putting on a piano performance for us after dinner."

"Yes, Cora is quite excited to show off a new concert series she has been working on." Anastasia nodded in agreement as Phillip eased into the conversation.

"Well, it can only be beautified by your company, if I may be so bold as to say."

A small laugh escaped Anastasia, "You have sat in my company before while listening to Cora's music, and I doubt you noticed a difference."

"But maybe it's different now." was his honest response.

Before being able to question Phillip on his meaning, a herald came to her asking if she was ready for dinner. In truth, she wasn't. She was content to stay in Duke Phillip's company allowing himself to become comfortable again in her company and explain the meaning behind the words he spoke, but she knew better than to keep the entire court starved in the parlors on her own account.

So, nodding her agreement to the herald, dinner was announced. Anastasia and those in her party were the first to go through. However, she did not sit until everyone was standing before where they were placed for that evening. Sitting charts were located in the parlors connected to the dinning hall so that individuals might know where to go upon entering the dining hall.

The dinning room, which was the ballroom converted to make room for all of the court this spring, was shaped like a long rectangle. There was an elevated stage that ran along the width of the room on one end of the space, and four long rows of tables with chairs on either side vertically ran along the length of the room. The tables stopped several feet before the stage, where a long table was lined on one side with chairs. An elevated chair was sat in the middle. This was where Anastasia sat.

A dozen or so more could sit comfortably at her table. Princess Bryn sat to her left, and tonight, Phillip would sit to her right. The table was filled in my Anastasia Advisors and other top ranking officials of Karthia.

Still standing, Anastasia observed where others were sat for this evenings meals. Most of the time, the court had dinner in their private apartments, or with other dignitaries. However, during the Spring Season, many more chose to dine with the rest of the court. As such, each family would RSVP for how many intended to dine with the court that evening at the beginning of the day. After that, the tables would be arranged and food prepared by the courts multitude of chefs.

Because of the increase in parties eating supper with the rest of the court, every night the arrangements would be different. Tonight, she only wanted to know if one person had joined the rest of the court for dinner, and her eyes didn't have to scan much father than the far right table on the end nearest her.

Taren was standing before the spot at the very end of the table. His eyes seemed to watch on in more disdain then usual as everyone around him went to their assigned seat. His lips had formed a firm line, and although it was less disquieting then his smile, it was still not preferred. However, this distance made her all the more grateful she could remain content in the company of Duke Phillip.

Everyone had now found their respective location for the night, and upon Anastasia's guidance, took their seat. Turning her attention to Phillip, Anastasia noticed him squirm minorly. Duke Phillip normally took his meals in his apartments, avoiding the court's busy dinning room. Although he had come to more dinners than usual in order to compete with other suitor, it was still an unfamiliar terrain for him, especially with his seat being in front of the entire court tonight.

So, he fiddled with his jacket and tried to smooth invisible wrinkles from it. Then he noticed Anastasia's gaze. He stopped, almost instantly, before giving her a smile.

It took her a moment to realize she know had his full attention, and when she did notice, she couldn't help but bash herself for staring. However, a charming smile quelled her fears, and allowed her mind to wonder as the first course was served. For a while, they sat in silence, simply enjoying their meal and the sound of the court around them, but soon Phillip spoke.

"Your majesty, I hope you did not take offence from my portion of the conversation we had yesterday. I was not trying to overstep my bounds, I simply spoke as a concerned friend."

Anastasia had to think for a moment before she was able to recall yesterdays conversation, but then his warnings about Taren came to life in vivid detail. He had been right, and she knew he was right, but she was still angry about that. However, her mind quickly fixated on a specific term he used in his statement just then.

Friend.

Her curiosity had been piqued for a long time, and so before she could stop herself, she leaned a bit closer to him and looked at him past the royal façade they both wore. "Why did you nominate yourself?"

"Is it not obvious?" He posed the question innocently, but it vexed her. It was the second time one of her suitors questioned if she was oblivious, and she was getting tired of it.

Her eyebrows knitted further as she replied, "No. Not to me."

He seemed to nod his head in understanding but took a sip of his wine as he mulled over how to proceed in the conversation within his head. Anastasia also took a sip of her wine, but instead of calculating how to proceed, she tried to understand what the look of perplexity was that lined his face.

Without warning, or a breath between, he spoke again "I care about you Anastasia... and I want what is best for you."

She couldn't help but adjust her head every so slightly to meet his eyes and try to find the truth within them as she questioned aloud, "And you think you are best for me?"

"I think I deserve the chance to prove myself."

Another long pause fell between the two, soon turning into a contemplative silence. Anastasia used the moment to mull over how similar a sentiment it was to her own desires. However, kingdoms were not built or maintained over fleeting sentiments. So, she asked of him a question she often asked herself, "What is there to prove?"

"How much you mean to me Anastasia…" he didn't mumble, but it wasn't a proclamation either. She longed to respond, but the next dish was served and Bryn swept her up in another conversation before she could respond.