It had all been arranged. Not that it would appear that way. But nine times out of ten, deception was not about the plans and arrangements put into place; it was about the natural manner in which they were carried out: the casual spontaneity that was given to them, so as to appear unstudied and unlearned. To be a great politician or planner was to be a great actor. And not everyone was as skilled as the task as Fotios and his wife.
The afternoon had passed in pleasant company with the Princess Xene, a meeting that had continued and progressed much the same as any other visit. She had attended upon the Leventi manor. Fotios had pled his apologies that he did not attend upon her at the royal palace often enough - as he should in deference to her rank. But as her visits were never premeditated and always a surprise to him, she could hardly fault him for such apologies and had breezed his words away.
They had then spent the hours from noon until sundown in a familiar routine that was just starting to crystalize into a comfortable habit. They sat and discussed the political - and sometimes personal (though never intimate) - issues she was having at the time. They went for a ride. And then they returned to the manor in order to sit beside one another working on their respective responsibilities. Such quiet during the afternoon, when stylus was put to parchment was almost guaranteed to be the most tension filled passage of time across the day. The number of glances the princess sent his way was starting to increase and the familiarity they now had with each other had given her the confidence to allow them to linger without fear of reprimand or judgement on his part.
As the evening drew closer, Fotios and Xene were disturbed in their work when a house slave came to the door, knocked and bowed to each in turn and then spoke.
"If you please, Lord Leventi, the Lady says that dinner is to be ready in a half hour and that the Princess is welcome to attend."
And with a second bow to their presences, the slave disappeared, shutting the door firmly behind him as Fotios had always trained his staff to do.
Finishing his particular sentence on the paper before him, Fotios then finished his work for a time, picked up an ink cloth and sat back in his high-backed chair. Using the cloth upon his stylus to clean the implement, his hands working slowly and efficiently, he glanced across at the princess.
"Your Highness, are you engaged for the evening repast?" He asked her with open friendliness. He deliberately didn't mention that his daughters were away from the house that night and it would be only the three of them to dine. He didn't want to spook her before he had an agreement from her lips. "I understand that pheasant and pork are on the menu. But I can request something else if such food does not appeal?"
While Xene was more than firm on the fact that she needed to keep Lord Leventi at a distance, the princess had continued their meetings. Much of the time was spent focusing on her work and not the proximity of the man who would sometimes find himself a little too close. Whether purposeful or accidental, the princess was not so keen to find out. On one hand, if the actions were purposeful, she would find herself worrying she was being strung along. She wasn't a stranger to rumor and gossip and she had tried thus far to keep her mind off what the people of court said about Erini and Fotios of Leventi. Fotios had done little to prove their validity in her eyes and she wasn't about to fall into that trap now.
On the other hand, and this was the more dangerous possibility, if Fotios wasn’t purposefully attempting to tempt her… that meant there was likely some attraction there. And while not at all proper for a lady of her standing, Xene was unsure if she would run toward him or away from him if that truth ever came to pass.
With her mind in her work, Xene had made her best attempt to remain focused. She didn't think about the man who worked close by, nor the way that the very sound of his voice put her one edge. Distance. There needed to be distance and she wasn’t keen on giving him a single inch if his intentions were dark. With the day winding toward evening, the princess had long started to consider returning to the palati for a quiet meal in her rooms. It was a normal tendency. The social butterfly did not always enjoy a great amount of company.
Pausing to lean up and stretch out her spine, Fotios’ words broke her from her train of thought, pulling her gaze toward him. There was a temptation to hold her breath or let her mind wander but she stamped it down without a second thought. She hadn't heard the servant come into the room, nor what he had said. The invitation was surprising to say the least, however, and Xene paused, considering it.
She could go back to the palati and eat on her own… or dine with not just Lord Fotios, but also Lady Erini. And that seemed a much safer idea to dining with just the lord. As tempted as she was to decline despite the alluring nature of the invitation, Xene started to shuffle together her paperwork. She would join them, but she needed a moment to compose herself. To still the sudden, wild beating of her heart in her chest.
Clearing her throat, the princess gave a warm smile. “Pheasant is my favorite,” she said lightly, “I would be both delighted and honored to join you and Lady Leventi for a meal.” With that, she pressed herself to her feet and smoothed down the creases in her crimson and gold chiton.
Fotios was already breezing away her words with the wave of his hand as she offered him thanks regarding the proffered meal. Hus expression was nonchalant and unfazed.
"My Princess," he said, by means of explanation for his disregard of her manners. "The royals of this kingdom...." He raised his brows a little as he quantified his statement. "Of any kingdom in fact... Give their while lives for the sake of their people." As he had spoken he had drawn himself in line with her desk, meaning that he was close enough now to pointedly look down upon the paperwork she had been utilising all afternoon. His expression and gesture were clear; his gaze pointing out the evidence of the way her birthright forced her to be self sacrificing. His expression and the curl of his lip then turned humorous. Like she was being ridiculous to suggest an alternative to- "...The least we subjects can do is offer you a meal."
And with the straightening of his back and the raising if his chin - as if that subject was now closed for discussion - Fotios smiled with a soft, genteel and friendly manner and offered out a hand to help her to her feet, before drawing the given hand into the crook of his arm and escorting her to the dining hall.
Whilst it was the first time the princess had been in attendance upon the Leventi private dining room, Fotios new it as he did every mark on the hindquarters of his favourite gelding. The floor to ceiling dark panelling, the candelabra, the long table in dark blackwood from Colchis, polished to a high shine.
There was no food on the table, as yet, for the head of the house and guest of honour were not yet in attendance at the table, but it was clear that everything else, at least, was in place. Including the beautiful Eirini, who stood behind her chair on the head's left side of the table, before stepping forward to greet the princess personally...
It had been a leisurely day for all intents and purposes. Her duties as Lady of the House had been few and far between, besides arranging the dinner of course and that was something Eirini had set into motion prior to the princesses arrival. Chance was not something that had a tendency to occur naturally within the Leventi household, thus Xene's invitation to dine with them had been part of plan set in motion even prior to her acceptance of Fotios provocation. For what might have appeared to have been an invitation of courtesy extended towards a member of the royal house, its oration was indicatively deceptive by nature and all part of a meticulous plan to deepen the girls endearment to her husband, a plan that was acute even down to the minor detail, even in regard to the menu. Pheasant was chosen not because it was a particular favourite of the family's, at least it wasn't for Eirini, but rather because she knew it to be the Princesses favourite. She had even go so far as to send for the recipe from the Palati cooks, instructing her own to follow the directive scrupulously and with all the cogs set in motion, the rest of the day had been her own as her husband entertained Xene.
With a brief period of time spend with her daughters, Eirini had instructed them that they must be confined to their rooms that evening and as ever eager to please, they had agreed without protest, if not a small pout from the youngest. The day may have been leisurely but her time was still precious, thus as was relatively common, her time with her daughters was cut short with the promise of shopping and much a treat for her as it was for them.
The rest of her day had been spent preparing herself for the looming supper. She had bathed in the cooling waters and oiled and perfumed her flesh, all in preparations of the evenings entertainment and partly for her own peace of mind also. Eirini was a beautiful woman, few could ever deny her that, she was sensual to the point of being provocative and a queen amongst courtiers, none of which could threaten her rule. No, no woman could ever threaten Eirini's position for either her position at court or her husband's affections, and certainly not the Princess, but that did not mean she lacked a penchant for jealousy.
It had been a trait that had possessed her for as long as she could remember, but seemed to intensify around her husband. Of course, the notion of hypocrisy was not lost upon Eirini and despite this and knowing all Fotios' plans for the princess, she could not help but feel somewhat territorial. Fotios was, after all, her husband and this was her home – the evening may have been completely by design, but her sentiment was a little more real. Still, the show must go on! Having pinned back some of her hair, the rest fell in silken waves down her back, rather simplistic compared to her usual ostentatious style and yet such was the style she was going for that evening. The chiton she changed into was pretty with in its emerald hue, accentuating too, but it also lacked the flare that was oft associated to the Lady Leventi, even the jewellery she accented the garment with didn't compared and all of it purposefully so. Eirini wanted to emphasise the impromptu nature of the supper, yet regardless of her simplicity that evening, none could accuse Eirini of being anything less than spectacular and she certainly hoped the princess picked up on that.
Once satisfied with her appearance, Eirini instructed one of the house slaves to send word that dinner would be served presently and with that she headed towards the dining room to await her husband and Xene. Thankfully, she wasn't kept waiting long and the moment they both entered, her reddened lips curved upwards in a welcoming simper. "Your highness! What an honour you bestow upon our house with your presence this evening." Flattery pearled from her lips with expert skill as she stepped forth to greet their guest of honour. "I trust your day has been a pleasant one? Has my husband informed you, it is pheasant and pork this evening, I do hope that is agreeable?" Hands clasped before her, Eirini's countenance portrayed a welcoming warmth, even as her gaze slipped towards Fotios and her head inclined politely towards him, smile tightening somewhat. "Husband." She greeted lowly, her attentions turning back towards the princess thereafter. "Come, you must both be famished!"
Having escorted the Princess Xene to the dining hall, Fotios stood behind her, transferring his hold so that instead of she resting a hand on his arm, his fingertips touched softly to the small of her back. The touch was polite and encouraging but could have also been read as a little intimate given the thinness of Xene's fine gown. From behind her, however, Fotios' gaze was on his wife; a woman of such raven beauty in comparison to the blonde between them that it made Fotios' eyes flash. His lips turned into a small curl at one corner and his gaze dipped form the crown of the woman's head to the tip of her toes.
And then his features and expression shut down. His gaze veiled with one of decorum and polite respect.
When Eirini offered a gracious greeting to him as her husband, Fotios simply nodded in return, a smile to his face and tone of voice.
"Eirini..." He offered her, without additional compliment or endearment.
When the princess and he had discussed his marriage to the woman before then - which was a rare moment but an insightful one as it was the princess whom had brought it up the first time - Fotios had always contended that he cared for and respected his wife. He had never spun any elaborate tale of hatred, loathing or resentment. For lies of great magnitude were hard to keep from spinning out of control. So, he told the truth and made lies of omission. So much harder to be caught in the deliberate act of.
As far as the princess was aware, theirs was a marriage that began with great lust that he had believed to be love. Years had bloomed respect and groomed maturity and in realising that such deeper emotions were not in play on his side the pair of them had decided to turn to other lovers and connections. A lie seamlessly woven into evidential truth - the rumours and gossip of the Taengean courts, proving them fact. He had always left Eirini's feelings on their marriage a suitably vague topic, never wanting to whisper a rumour that Eirini had not decided for herself, nor surrender the opportunity of showing himself to be more desired by his wife than he might feel in return. Just an impression could be quite useful at times...
After the princess had replied to his wife, Fotios added just a touch more pressure to the tips of his fingers that rested over the silk at Princess Xene's back and offered his other hand out in a gesture towards the seat at the right hand of the head of the table. It was the place of honour at the table and above Eirini's station at his left, due to Xene's rank as a member of the immediate royal family...
The princess had allowed her host to guide her from the room with no complaint. Especially not when the man at her side pressed gentle fingers to the small of her back. Resisting the intense urge to shiver under his touch, Xene swallowed instead, wishing she had a goblet of liquid in hand to mask the moment of weakness. To her, it did not seem a deliberate movement, a deliberate, taunting touch. No, Xene reminded herself that the Lord Fotios was only being polite in ensuring that she did not lose herself within the manor. A concept that was only laughable because the princess had come to know the Leventi manor quite well in the weeks that she had spent with Fotios.
But she had never attended to the inside of the dining room. And being guided inside now, the young woman had to admire the room in silence, her wonder of it left to private moments after she had returned to her rooms at the Palati. She could let her mind wander in admiration of the home later. Because it was the Lady Eirini that caught her eye first and foremost. She was a vision in emerald, even without the normal adornment of jewelry and complex hairstyles. Xene was not unfamiliar with the woman, as they both frequented court, but she had never gone out of her way to truly learn much of anything about the queen of gossip within the court.
That was exactly why she had avoided this woman in the past. Xene had never been inclined to become the subject of one of the woman's tales. In the end, she still felt it had been the safer course of action if one thought of the many secrets she now carried with her. Heron, her brother, numerous others relating to Stephanos.
Still very aware of Fotios' hand upon her back, Xene took her own steps into the room in order to greet Eirini properly. "No, please. I would hate it for you and yours to fuss over me," Xene said as politely as possible, giving the woman a smile that could light up the entire room. Honestly, she was starving. Even the slow, meandering pace of the work she had been completing before was enough to turn her stomach rumbling. "I adore pheasant," Xene said softly, allowing Fotios to lead her to her own position at the table. Beside him yet across from Eirini.
Finding herself seated, she settled in, smoothing her fingers over her knees and glancing about with a polite smile. She waited for them both to be seated before she spoke again, "It is I who must thank you for the hospitality you have shown me over the last weeks. You have welcomed me into your home without complaint and I feel you should know the gravity of my appreciation." She knew of little else she could give them save for her words, but she hoped that it would be enough to please the Lord and Lady of the house. For if she had known she would be remaining for supper… she would have brought them a proper gift.
Her husband was a man of action, not words and Eirini had realised this the moment she had first met Fotios. Words of endearment were not his forte and had she been a woman who needed such verbal attention from him, their marriage might have failed long ago, but instead Eirini had come to realise that his sentiment lay within his actions.
As such, the flicker of his eyes and the slight curl of his lips when his gaze settled upon her sent a rush of excitement through her body – such slight actions and yet powerful meanings left Eirini preening with delight.
Of course, it was a somewhat muted reaction, the did have a facade to uphold after all and so her gaze quickly slipped back towards the princess as she stepped forward to offer her own greeting.
Xene was quite the beautiful woman, especially when she smiled and whilst Eirini adored beauty, she could not feel a flicker of jealousy ignite within the pit of her stomach as she observed the pair. Even it it was all a ruse and her belief in Fotios was strong, it was still quite the task to watch ones husband try and seduce another woman in front of her. Fortunately, it was a fleeting sentiment, for Eirini recalled the way he had utterly ravished her upon the table they were about to dine at, only the night prior.
As they all took their respective seats, Eirini immediately reached for her wine glass, smiling as she supped the spiced libation whilst listening to princesses expression of gratitude. "But it is an honour, your highness!" She expressed, "to have such an enigmatic guest is quite refreshing.." Leaning forward a little, she kept her gaze upon the Princess as though she was about to spill some secret. "I must confess that I find most of my husbands associates quite tedious to entertain, you are like a breath of fresh air in comparison." She teased with a little chortle as she looked towards her husband, eyes flashing with mischief and as she sat back, she brushed her foot against this calf. "I can see why my husband is so fond of you."
The princess couldn't keep her cheeks from heating in the face of such tender niceties for her character. Whether the slip of protocol was forced or genuine, Xene would not tell. Sometimes her emotions could play right across her features. Much of the time, it was purposeful. There was a specific way Xene often preferred people to see her. A certain light that she wanted others to observe of her. The flushing princess? Or a ruse?
No one would really know except her. But she appreciated every compliment that Eirini tossed her way, casually plucking her own glass from the table and taking a careful sip of her own wine. Watching the Lord and Lady over the rim of her glass, she gave a polite, winning smile to both of them. "Chatter often does seem dull when it comes from the mouths of so many like-minded individuals," Xene commented, setting her cup back upon the wood of the table.
"Conversing about the same political and militaristic issues over and over can be rather mind-numbing, can it not?" Xene offered in the direction of Lord Fotios. Xene herself was knowledgeable in both sorts of topics, but she had often listened to her father, uncle, and brother debate long hours with the other lords of the Kingdom. There was only so many times that the same topic could be repeated before Xene had found herself bored and unfocused on the conversation at hand.
The comment of Lord Fotios being so fond of her made Xene shift slightly in her seat as if sitting straighter in an effort to earn more approval from both Lord and Lady. "I am fond of your husband," Xene admitted carefully, "He has become a trusted confidant over the weeks and I must say that I appreciate all of the effort he has put in to help me further navigate such... trying political waters," she continued, glancing between the two of them with a silent consideration. She was not able to see what was happening beneath the table, nor did she have reason to suspect anything out of the ordinary.
Keeping her hands in her lap, the princess glanced about the room with keen interest in the decor and warmth of such a formal dining room. "Do you entertain guests often?" Xene asked then, lifting one eyebrow in a perfectly curious arch. "Your home certainly has a relaxing space for such meetings," she then commented, resisting the urge to rise from her chair and explore the room as she usually would the Palati. There was much to see, but Xene was often drawn by environment. The extravagance of noble manors had always been something of a curiosity. Some of them could even put the Palati to shame.
As they settled at the table and began to speak, Fotios diverted a look towards his wife that was openly indulgent and admonishing. It would appear to the princess that he was chastising her for commenting on the company of politicians being so dull but, between the two of them, it was him warning her of her mischievous nature beneath the table. He enjoyed that his wife was deplorable and insatiable when it came to him, but he also wanted all of his attention on the princess this evening. If she was to believe he was falling for the woman at his right-hand side, he could not be having his attention distracted by the woman on his left. Even if it was secretive beneath the table.
"Hmm..." Fotios offered with a sense of camaraderie, nodding in agreement with the princess’s statements of certain topics of chatter being a bore. "I cannot help but think though, that such topics are made incredibly droller simply by those who speak of them." Fotios commented with a spark in his eye that offered a sense of kinship with Xene. The two of them would know exactly whom he spoke of (there was several such men in the Courts and Senate), a little more so than Eirini. His wife, of course, knew everyone in the Court - many on a personal level - but the idea of the conversation was to build a sense of familiarity between Fotios and the princess that his wife - who was not publicly involved in politics - would not share. "Lord Aehillas, for example..." Fotios continued as he leant back in his chair comfortably, an already poured wine glass in his hand. "That man could make the most fascinating of conversations a subject that would put you to sleep." He rolled his eyes. ”I have no idea how that man became as popular as he is in the Senate when all I can bear thinking about when he talks is how many of the hairs in his eyebrows have decided to grow outside of their remit.” The Head of Leventi smiled conspiratorially at Xene as he sipped from his cup.
Next, he waved aside the princess’s thanks and praise for behaving as her advisor, his modesty genuine to a certain extent and his hand reaching out to rest for just a moment upon the princess’s wrist where her hand rested on the table.
”Please, princess, there is no need.” He told her, moving immediately away again and gesturing towards Eirini. ”It is as my wife says; it is an honour to have you here with us and it is my personal honour to aid you where I can. What sort of Taengean would I be, if I did not aid where I can the royal House? I’ve been assisting your uncle for years, I am not about to turn down his niece when she seeks help.” He then tilted his head, offered her the slight raising of his cup and then added – ”Especially when she is clearly so capable in and of herself.” His gaze expressed his fondness over that fact, his words delicately flattering her ego.
The last of her questions, Fotios offered the praise to his wife upon. As he was speaking, the doors of the dining chamber were opened and servants entered the room with plates and trays of dishes.
”Most of our entertaining is handled by my wife. She is very good at handling her duties and I would be lost without her skills within the manor.” He said, smiling with a polite and respectful expression towards Eirini and then looking away again quickly, determined to impress upon the princess the concept of cordial pleasantries between he and his wife without the deeper passion that simmered beneath the surface. Instead, he turned his attention to the food and to the princess’ thoughts upon it as the first course was laid before them in the form of a vegetable stew. The hot dish would then be replaced with the promised pheasant later in the evening.
”I believe the ingredients for today’s meal are fresh, my Princess.” Fotios commented. ”And from one of our Leventi provinces.” He smiled. ”You shall have to tell me how it compares to the cuisine at the royal palace. I’m sure my wife will be happy to feed back to our kitchens anything that does not pass muster.” He chatted with casual confidence, remembering to refer to the woman at his left as “my wife” rather than the more informal use of her name.
Taking a moment to allow her to respond, Fotios picked his own silver spoon and set upon the stew with the hunger of a man who had been working all day alongside the princess, but also the gentility of a nobleman raised with impeccable manners. He glanced at Eirini over the food as soon as he was assured that Xene’s attention was directed on her plate, his eyes flashing but his expression otherwise remaining calm and in character…