𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝔾𝕠𝕝𝕕𝕖𝕟 𝔸𝕘𝕖 - ᵖᵉᵗᵉʳ ᵖᵉᵛᵉⁿˢⁱᵉ

꧁Cʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ 9 - Nᴀʀɴɪᴀ꧂

In the course of the next week many of their guests arrived and Katherine never failed to meet each one of the processions. She helped accommodate each royal family in the castle and it truly had never been more full. The hallways were constantly bustling with servants and Katherine felt herself being stretched quite thinly. She could not complain after seeing Peter for a few brief moments at night though.

Even though the event was supposed to be a merry and carefree occasion the royals would take any opportunity to talk politics and alliances. As Peter had spent most of his reign eradicating the White Witch's impact and traces of her army in their lands he had not travelled to other kingdoms so nearly every guest had arranged a form of meeting with him.

Katherine was also on a high demand. When Stefan and Luka had first arrived Katherine was hardly seen by anyone for two days. For the two Kings who ruled their Kingdom in a diarchy she had arranged a three room suite. The two en-suite bedrooms by a large living area which was now occupied, as she had expected, with their fabrics and two mannequins.

When she had realized that the boys had so many traits that complimented each other it had been the main reason why she had suggested a diarchy to the two hence ending their five year feud about who would ascend the throne after their father's death. She snickered a bit as she remembered the analogy she had used when trying to convince the boys to try her idea.

꧁꧂Flash꧁꧂Back꧁꧂

"Wait" 

She began as she threw herself between the two older boys she pushed firmly against their chests until eventually the pressure lessened slightly. Looking up at the two she slowly lowered her arms and breathed in deeply.

"What is some visitor from some tiny country going to be able to tell us about our life" Luka sneered at her.

"Luka!" Stefan snapped sharply.

"No he's right" Katherine replied, "You're thinking it too, you're just trying to keep diplomatic ties, but this is why you two would rule together well. Luka speaks his mind honestly which is always needed to form strong ties whilst you keep the peace. You are both on the same page."

She looked between the two hopefully but the two still looked unconvinced. She chewed on her bottom lip slightly as she thought of a better way to explain her thoughts.

"Think of it this way" She started, "Luka you make woman's clothing and Stefan makes men's clothes. But neither is more important, both need clothes. You cannot say one is better designed or made than the other because they are in two different categories but together the two could make envied couples outfits.

"How did you know of this?" Luka asked, "Have you been snooping around our rooms whilst visiting?"

Katherine sighed before turning to him. "When you brought me in for tea in your extensive study threads of silk were left at the carpet where something usually stood and your adjoining door was left slightly ajar where I saw a mannequin that had the underskirts of a lady's dress set up on it."

Luka looked shocked at her deductions, "Unless you want me to believe you let a servant store their mannequin in your private study's bathroom I'm pretty sure I have it right."

Stefan laughed at her words whilst Luka gave him a sneered at him before turning back to Katherine.

"And how did you figure out Stefan's?"

"It was far easier" Katherine began with a shrug, "When I joined Stefan for tea in his study so that it was fair as you two requested I saw designs partially in view on his desk, he had not hidden them properly in time for my arrival and the handwriting on the documents were identical to that of Prince Stefan's"