Song of Feathers and Claws

Part 9

A couple days later, Anue stood in the middle of the grand ballroom. Her and Gustav were designing their official engagement ball. As the announcement her father made, was technically the most official way to make it known. Alot of back and forth had been going on between Anue and the Duke, as however this engagement ball was themed and set, was thought to be the precursor of the actual wedding. So only some things could be changed after.

Meaning if Anue wanted any say in the wedding that was trapping her, she had to put her foot down and get her voice in now.

"Anue, you are being absolutely ridiculous on the matter. We are royals after all, and we come from such wealthy lines. We have to show the world the kind of power our union will make." Gustav said, waving off another one of her ideas.

Anue crossed her arms, "I don't care about showing off our wealth, I care about how nice it looks. Sure your vibrant pinks, yellows, and purples will show off power. But look at this hall, my ancestors built this in darker tones. We should make everything look as if it was meant to match."

"Purple shows off the wealth and power, we need that."

Anue shook her head, "If people don't know our countries pull by now they are blind, deaf and dumb, and all of that by choice too."

Gustav rolled his eyes, "Do you even care about your throne?"

"How dare you ask me that, over the colour of ribbon that'll be dangling off the pillars"

"If it is just the colour of ribbons to you, than what I have decided shouldn't matter."

Anue snorted, "If you even want to pretend to have a partnership, you would let me have this, and you know I am right my colours look better."

"Your colours are for the poor and downcast, mine are for the nobility"

"That is all you care about, the wealth, if I didn't know your own country's wealth, I would assume you were here only after my fathers treasury." Anue looked away, she was angry and only wanted to get some word in about this. She couldn't intimidate it, threaten it, order it, or punch it to get her way, and she was only ever use to relying on her words for a small amount of things that were getting her flustered.

Anue took a moment to reflect on the large mural on the ceiling. The black stone and gold metal trimmings were a mix of complex designs making the ceiling look like it moved on its own, the artistry was honestly otherworldly compared to all other works.

"Can't you see there is more to care about than showing off our wealth through colours?" Anue sighed, trying to figure out why the colours were upsetting her so much.

"What more is there to care about?"

Anue turned readying herself for another argument when a robed man quickly approached them.

"Advisor Telium, what are you doing here?" she asked the scrawny rat shaped man, who was no older than she was, but sat in on her father council.

Telium bowed his head, "I overheard the very loud disagreements between Duke Gustav, and yourself my lady. I was sent in by the other advisors to see to it that you and the Duke found a reasonable solution."

Anue nodded.

Gustav clapped his hands, "Than we shall both tell him our sides of the problem and he will decide for us."

"If it handles the problem than so be it."

Anue and Gustav both took their turns explaining the whole problem with the colours and explaining their thoughts out. Advisor Telium nodded along listening closely.

"I believe that even though Anue's would be the most appealing to the setting of the ball, the actual wedding will not be here in the ball, as that location has not been decided due to the security of the palace. We must remember the importance of Face value, and with all of that mentioned, I as King Ensio's trusted member will have to side with Duke Gustav on this one, with the issue now handled I will go start telling the workings the proper colour scheme to hurry along with their work." Telium didn't stick around to see the fall out of his choice, which was Anue threatening to break a chair over Gustav's face if he didn't lose the grin he had.

Gustav clapped his hands together, "Now that is out of the way we should think about our outfits."

"Why?"

"We do need to match"

Anue sighed, "Can we find outfits that complement each other without having to match?"

"Another ridiculous idea, we are the couple to be, we need to match. Now, let us pick, and then you can run off and design your dress with the taylor"

"Oh joyous day for me" she groaned, flopping her head back, but at last there was nothing else she could do for the matter than go along.

After several hours she ended up back in her own quarters, drained of all life. When the Tailor walked in to start discussion with her about the dress she was too wear.

Anue sighed, she didn't want to think another thought that day.

"Come now, you will look angelic in this-"

Anue sat up and stared at the sketch that the tailor had, angelic she hadn't gone and scene the Angelicus in a few days. Though the longer she stayed away the tighter her chest got, feeling like she was going to crumble in on herself.

"Do you have an apprentice?" Anue asked.

The tailor looked horrified as if he was about to lose his lively hood. "I do, have I done something wrong?"

"Nonono" Anue said waving her hands, "I need someone to make clothing for a very large guest of mine. If so, while you aid me, can you send them to get the measurements, I'd of course pick the colours out."

The tailor bowed and did such.