Evangelina had grown up in the shadow of a man who had never appeared to stand for much on his own. She’d heard the occasional things that were said about him. It had been before Tino was every born when she’d first heard the word coward used in reference to her father. Something had snapped that day in the tiny, chestnut-haired girl had torn into one of the older sons of one of her father’s business associates for uttering such a word. Her father was a great many things but she’d never seen him as a coward. Just because he didn’t swagger into a room like he owned it or found a joy in breaking the wills of his opponents didn’t mean he was a coward.

Since that day, Evangelina had taken up the plight of defending those who would not defend themselves. As a child, this had gained the girl an unruly reputation as a brawler. It wasn’t until she’d hit her teens that the pint-sized girl had taken up a bit more decorum in her quests for justice. It could be quite expected though, in the privacy of a secluded garden, she wouldn’t hesitate in taking a swing at an opponent.

The more Imma spoke the more the anger seemed to steep in Evangelina’s stomach. Had their family not had enough to worry about without Nana stirring the pot with the youngest and perhaps the most sensitive of the Leventi girls? There was some growing up to do with the Leventi girls, but it wasn’t Imma who needed to do the growing up. Evangelina had enough and started off with the full intention of finding Nana and setting a few things straight with her problematic cousin.

Her anger was rolling inside of her, as she spotted the back of Nana walking, pulling Imma long with her… the younger girl’s complaints falling on deaf ears. She had every intention of catching up to Nana…

And then it happened,

Pia collapsed.

Her blood ran cold and she paused before she picked up her pace and started jogging. One hand lifting her chiton up enough that she wouldn’t trip her self and the other hand still pulling Imma with her. At least Imma had seen it too and seemed in as much of a hurry as she was.

Pushing through the small crowd with Imma, she moved over to her cousins and glanced from Pia on the floor to Selene and Nana. Taking in the situation, looking to Cici, “Let’s get her somewhere more discrete, her quarters?” Nana’s words caused a sharp look to be aimed at her glibness, “Nana.” Evangelina hissed, “Her jewels can wait.”

As Pia was being ushered way, Evie caught Selene’s hand to grab her attention for a moment and quietly so only the eldest cousin could hear, “Theo is down by the stable. I’ll get word to her that she’s needed, but do me a favor. Keep an eye on Imma. Nana’s been filling her head with nonsense.”

It was known Pia was pregnant, and this could be nothing more than simply overdoing it today. That’s what it was, but it wasn’t a time to take chances that it could be something more serious. With a squeeze of her Selene’s hand, she turned to let Selene follow the rest of the group out of the corridor in getting Pia out. With a motion to one of the other slaves standing by, “My cousin, Lady Theodora is down by the stable please see that she’s informed that her sisters need her.”

The young woman nodded her head and started off to towards the stable to pass the word along.

Evangelina looked over the crowd and spotted her mother, making her way towards her mother. She sidled up next to the stunning Lady Ava and leaned in to whisper about Pia. Her mother nodded silently and patted her daughter's hand, she’d make sure that Evelli knew and that matters could be handled.

His nephew's self-assured confidence amused Irakles. Did he think he could best himself, when Irakles had decades of planning and experience before him? Young upstart. Sipping the wine in conclusion of the toast that nephew and uncle had just shared, their focus on each other was splintered when his sister and mother stepped up to join them. Dipping his head in acknowledgement of the young princess's greeting of him, he smiled kindly to Elise right next to her, offering the crook of his arm to the Queen Mother. He had been Elise's closest confidante ever since the death of her husband, or so Irakles would think.

Looking to lock his gaze with Stephanos, the smile gracing his lips was smooth, not a hint of the smirk he had flashed at his nephew earlier the moment Gianna and Elise were in attendance to their conversation. But he was not offered a time to respond, for just as Stephanos finished, a small circle of bodies seem to form around where Irakles was fairly sure Olympia had been. For a moment, the general allowed his curiosity to betray his poker face, peering at the knot of Leventi females around the Queen. Yet as Stephanos melted away in pursuit of his wife's disappearance into the corridor, Irakles knew better then to follow.

He had a duty to see to.

"Gianna, go and see to your brother." he murmured to the young princess, before turning his head down to smile kindly at Elise once again. "It appears we have a court to attend to, sister." he murmured. With the Queen Mother on his arm, Irakles made his way to stand right in the center of the ballroom, and it was there which he addressed the general public in a booming voice that almost everyone in Vasiliadon had come to associate with the strong figure that was Prince Irakles, former General of the Taengean army and decorated militant of their kingdom.

"I'm afraid that our newly crowned Queen is tired from the festivities, and I'm sure everyone would not wish her health to be compromised. Please,do not feel the need to leave on that account. I assure you, the King and Queen will be well taken care of. Queen Mother Elise and myself wish for everyone to continue partaking in the evening's festivities, till the hour grows late for us all. The Queen Mother would rather see to her daughter-in-law's health, however I shall return upon escorting her to the chambers."

A small cheers went up around the hall, as everyone seem to melt back into their respective conversations, and Irakles moved with Elise on his arm to the stairwell in which the royal couple had disappeared up to, handing Elise off to slaves and maids awaiting for her, before melting back to join the remainder of the court session, one ear to the ground, one eye on Meena and Tasia whilst the three made quick work of their further plans to more lords and nobles of the Taengean kingdom.