The morning was far warmer than it should have been for so late in the summer season, but Xene wasn't one to complain. She basked in the warm climate of Taengea, always rather saddened when the weather turned colder. She much preferred her lighter, more flowing gowns over the heavier, darker variety. Plus she enjoyed the warm sunlight that came with the spring and summer months. Before long she'd likely avoid the colder air by remaining in her rooms or in the palati.
But this morning was no such day for a mental debate. She had made the decision to call on her sister-in-law, watching to spend a bit of time with the woman with few others around. Since her brother had married Olympia, she hadn't really given the Queen much of a chance. Xene had formed an opinion and stuck to it without thinking about how Olympia might actually feel. Wanting to foster some semblance of a relationship and to seem like the opposite of a princess holding a grudge, she decided that it was time to make an effort.
Dressed in a light blue chiton for the day, Xene ate a quick breakfast, downing a bit of fresh water and working at her hair. Her tiara was extremely simple. Not at all as dramatic as the one she had worn to he brother's coronation. She wasn't going for flashy today. She was going for simple. Elegant. An outfit worthy of her status but not forsaking it. Peering into the looking glass, the princess determined that she looked the part: presentable enough to stand in the presence of a queen. Even though she had been doing so her entire life. But her mother had been her mother. She had been able to take liberties that she could not afford now.
Navigating the halls of the palati, Xene found herself at the chambers of the queen. Giving a polite smile toward the guard standing there, she reached forward and knocked quietly on the door, waiting for an answer and trying to push down her nerves. Ever since Stephanos had returned from battle... she had been a mess of nothing but nerves. This would be good for her, because in addition to trying to foster a friendship, she was avoiding the Lord Leventi and the way that her mind seemed to drift in his direction when she was alone. It was irritating. Distracting.
Confined once again to her chambers after the excitement of Stephanos' victorious return, Olympia had been scolded by her midwives for moving about so much and running to greet her husband. It wasn't good for the baby they said to be so active after she had bled a few months ago. So, bending to their wishes and listening to the strain of her own body the queen had agreed that she would remain in her rooms under supervision of the midwives and her servants instead of taking any further active role in court until the baby had been born. It was so soon, only perhaps a month or so away if her calculations were correct.
Her feet had swollen to the point of discomfort with wearing any sandals and so she wandered barefoot, hair hanging long and loose without any additional adornment since she had no need to dress up. A simple white chiton as was her usual since the beginning of her pregnancy was draped over her without any belt to tie it up as the swell of her belly took care of any need of that. A deep blue robe kept her warm though that too hung open.
She looked forward to the day when she could once again wear her proper clothes and be in fashion as she once had. Nana already had plenty to say about her drab late stage maternity wear, but there was little she could do. It was silly to have anything made when she would only be like this for a little while. Perhaps on the second pregnancy she could take more liberty.
The announcement that Princess Xene was at her door to visit brought a smile to her face, though she was somewhat surprised. Stephanos' sister hadn't seemed very keen in being anything more than cordial to her until the king had gone off to battle and returned. Xene had tended to his wounds and it had been nice to work together to ensure he was well. Gianna was far more resistant and still seemed to bear little love for her, but with Xene she had hope that perhaps one day they could be as sisters.
"Your highness, what a pleasure to see you. Would you care for some wine?"
There was one thing that Xene had never really realized about herself until the Queen had started showing more in terms of her pregnancy. Xene loved children. Loved babies. She often found herself drawn to the little ones at the market with their mothers, and even though she was flanked by guards, she could never help herself. Then it had struck her that she would soon be an aunt.
The idea was strange, but it didn't feel odd. It felt perfectly normal. That wasn't to say that Xene wasn't already an aunt to a number of children by her brother, but this child would be legitimate. She would be able to have a relationship with the tiny creature. Not to mention the tiny creature's mother, who, up until recently, she had treated quite poorly.
It was true, Xene had not initially agreed with the marriage of Stephanos and Olympia, but she was quickly noticing how good Olympia truly was for him. Despite his roaming tendencies... he actually appeared happy in his relationship with the queen. And that was honestly all that Xene could have really asked for.
Legitimate heir aside, Xene had every intention of continuing to make nice with the Queen. They were, after all, forever connected by marriage. Olympia had already shown that she was not barren, so there was truly no chance for Olympia to be ousted from the Mikaelidas family.
And that was one of the many reasons she had come today. To spend time with a woman who seemed sorely lacking in... interesting company while her husband was traipsing about being the King.
Giving a beautiful smile to the Queen, Xene took a moment to take in her appearance, seeming entirely appeased that she seemed to be taking it easy. Just as she was ordered. "I was thinking you might want a little bit of company," Xene said softly as she stepped into the room. "It cannot be all that entertaining being cooped up in your rooms," she added, pressing one of her golden curls behind her ear.
At the offer of wine, she smiled a little wider, "If it would be no trouble, I would love wine," the princess murmured, not moving too far into the room until she was properly invited to sit. One did not sit before the Queen. Especially a queen that was heavily pregnant and held command of her own chambers. When Xene was little, she had slipped up in this regard, earning disapproving looks from her mother.
As an added moment of jest, Xene glanced to the servants and midwives, leaning forward and whispering as if she had a secret. "Have they been treating you properly, sister?" she questioned playfully.
There was a noted change in how her sister-in-law was treating her, and Olympia was not at all unhappy at this new shift. Xene had not made any secret of the fact that she hadn't approved of her brother's choice, as it were, in wife and queen, but lately the eldest princess had been nothing but kind, keeping her company as Stephanos rode out to fight the Creed and making sure she stayed calm. And now her kindness had been extended further. She was relieved for the new company, and her smile showed it as she beckoned for Xene to sit across from her.
"Thank the gods for sending you here. My ladies are fine company, but there's only so many times we can tell each other the same stories!"
With a wave of her hand one of the maids brought over goblets for them, wine and water in their pitchers placed upon the tables so the women might mix them as they would. A greater portion of water was put in Pia's own cup as opposed to the wine, Desma said it was better to water down her drink so the wine didn't shock the babe within too much. Leaning back in conspiratorially as Xene asked if the attendants about her had been treating her well, she laughed and nodded with fond smiles all around. She was lucky in that most of the maids who attended her all had good heads on their shoulders. And Stephanos had removed the one offensive lady from her company even after he'd placed her in it. A victory if she'd ever had one.
"Everyone is wonderful. I only wish I was allowed to wander more freely. I've never been good at being cooped up, I would much rather be able to go riding again. But, it won't be long now."
Her hands dropped to her stomach and circled the babe within with a fond smile, looking down at it as if she could see the little one within, no doubt with Stephanos' eyes and she hoped his wheat blonde hair as well. She'd always found the stark contrast between her pale skin and dark hair to be less desirable as opposed to her sisters' fair hair, and hoped her son would take more after his father. Looking back to Xene, Pia lifted her glass from the table and gave a slight toast to her sister-in-law before taking a sip. This was a good change, and she was looking forward to getting to know the other woman better.
Admittedly, Xene felt markedly horrible for being so inhospitable to the new queen. She had fought with Stephanos about whether or not the choice had been right for him and for the Kingdom and then they'd both ended up in the fountain. One of her favorite dresses had been stained and she had held a bit of a grudge against her brother for not heeding her advice. For once again seeking her out only to do what he wanted as he always did. At the same time, it was hard to blame the man who held a heavy crown that he had never expected to bear.
It would always be difficult to know who to trust when you earned your crown through regicide.
So the choice to show the queen some much-needed kindness in a Palati full of lions had been considerably simpler to make than expected. Xene did not deny her queen, her sister, the pleasure of her company. Moving across the room, she settled down into the chair that Olympia had offered her, a smile on her delicate lips. "I do suppose that would drive anyone stir crazy. There are stories my brother has told me many times. Once you hear them two or three times it becomes dull," Xene said with a small chuckle, thankfully taking the goblet and asking for only water. She had a taste for wine, but sometimes only the coolness of fresh water was able to sate her thirst.
Taking an easy sip from her goblet, she gave both kind and amused smile to the ladies that accompanied them in the rooms, even giving one of them a playful wink before turning her attention back on the queen.
At the mentioning of wishing to be able to move about, Xene smiled softly, thinking of the frequent rides she too at Leventi Manor. Pressing a blonde curl behind her hear, she eyed her sister-in-law. "Soon you will be moving around more," the princess pointed out, "Especially if the little prince or princess is incredibly fussy." She recalled tales from her mother about which of her children were either extremely vocal and prone to fussing and which were as calm as could be. Xene happened to be one of the children that cause her mother great strife. Headstrong and unyielding even as a babe.
"Have you considered names for your little one, sister?" she asked sweetly, returning the toast that Olympia had given here. "Something strong, I hope," Xene flashed her an affectionate smile, "For I do not think my brother would accept anything less."
Olympia gave a slight laugh, wondering what sorts of stories Stephanos would be able to tell his sister. With the much hated maid still lingering just out of sight she didn't bother to try to speculate, but instead forced the thought from her mind and smiled instead, shrugging her shoulders helplessly. There were things to read, things to do, but one could only sit at Desma's loom for so long before everything started to blur and become utterly dull.
"I would be happy to hear those stories now. Your brother seems to think my boredom will be catching, I haven't seen much of him lately."
They'd had a horrible fight, and after her near miscarriage it felt as if Stephanos was afraid of spending too much time with her, afraid of upsetting her again and starting over the fear that they had both felt that night. It had been a nightmare, barely reality in her mind though she still worried every time any sort of pain hit her stomach, afraid that it was about to begin again and her life was once again about to fall apart. Perhaps in time they could grow that affection again, but the amount of time he spent away from her far outweighed the time together.
Patting her stomach with a smile, she shook her head and gave the bump a look of disappointment. The little one within was even more active than it had been before, and while it was a relief that there was such proof of it being alive and well, the movement caused a disturbance and made her uncomfortable. Kicks and bumps and constant somersaults seemed to be the baby's way of reminding her what she was living for right now, even if it felt like other things were falling apart.
"We have thought of a few, your brother considered naming him after your father, but it was decided it might not be auspicious. Lysandros is my favorite of what we've discussed."