Serenierre
Established Nation
LA REINE
Since the marriage of her son to Élise, no opportunity had come up for the entire family to get together for a private dinner. So tonight was the first time the family sat together, without the burdens of their titles, since the royal wedding in June. She had met Élise several times, even before Nicolas had decided to marry her, and had always found her to be a charming and an intelligent girl. When her son, and heir, had informed her that she wanted to marry the Aren king's second daughter, she had immediately granted her assent. Over the entire courtship period, she had met her many times more when the Princess would secretly visit Paris to meet with Nicolas.
The Château de Florians, the Queen's private residence, was located in one of Paris' most historical arrondissement, far away from the political scuffles which seemed to occur constantly in the capital itself. Much smaller than the more famous Charbonne, it afforded her greater comfort and intimacy to those who lived there. The ornate state rooms and vast gardens of the Charbonne didn't exist here. Here, Diana wasn't Queen, here she was a mother and a wife. This was a home. This was her home.
As a mother, Diana had never neglected her children, unlike the rest of the European royalty, she spent any extra time she had with her children. When they were growing up, she would keep them as close to her as possible, she had even gone against her nature and stopped traveling abroad during the eighties and nineties to avoid being too far from her children. Her devotion seemed to have done something right, she hadn't had to face the embarrassment other royals had to face due to the misbehavior of their younger generation, an example being the Wieser Archduchess Eleonore. With her husband her relationship had always been warm and loving with neither partner being dishonest to the other in any matter.
"You know," she said to Élise, "as the wife of the heir... you are to be given a collection of jewels... as all your predecessors have been by mine."
"Yes, Mére Diana," that was what she had chosen to call her mother-in-law, Élise had been surprised to see that the Queen herself promoted informality in private between the members of the family, "Nicolas informed me about that."
"The Royal Secretary will provide you the casket." Directing her gaze at her daughters; the princesses Elisabeth, Marie-Joséphine and Marie-Hélène, "But before the Royal Secretary does that... they shall take you to my study. From the catalogue there, you can decide what jewels you want to be part of your collection."
She cut into the steak that the butlers had placed before the family. The chefs of the Florians kitchen were one of the best chefs in the country, only the best were chosen from the many cooking schools across the kingdom to cook for the Royal Family. That night's dinner had been made by Pierre Gruerre, the recently appointed 'Grand Chef de la Terre' - a title which made the man or woman a royal in the realm of culinary delights - and she had wanted to try the man's art for some time. All she could say was, he didn't disappoint.
With none of them having any appointments planned for the next week, she was happy that the family could be together. This time would be useful to bring everyone closer together and make Élise more comfortable with her new family. Any official business they had would be dealt with only in the mornings with rest of the day free.
She remained silent, the others continuing the conversations amongst themselves. There was far too much on her mind.
ooc: comments would be appreciated (
Since the marriage of her son to Élise, no opportunity had come up for the entire family to get together for a private dinner. So tonight was the first time the family sat together, without the burdens of their titles, since the royal wedding in June. She had met Élise several times, even before Nicolas had decided to marry her, and had always found her to be a charming and an intelligent girl. When her son, and heir, had informed her that she wanted to marry the Aren king's second daughter, she had immediately granted her assent. Over the entire courtship period, she had met her many times more when the Princess would secretly visit Paris to meet with Nicolas.
The Château de Florians, the Queen's private residence, was located in one of Paris' most historical arrondissement, far away from the political scuffles which seemed to occur constantly in the capital itself. Much smaller than the more famous Charbonne, it afforded her greater comfort and intimacy to those who lived there. The ornate state rooms and vast gardens of the Charbonne didn't exist here. Here, Diana wasn't Queen, here she was a mother and a wife. This was a home. This was her home.
As a mother, Diana had never neglected her children, unlike the rest of the European royalty, she spent any extra time she had with her children. When they were growing up, she would keep them as close to her as possible, she had even gone against her nature and stopped traveling abroad during the eighties and nineties to avoid being too far from her children. Her devotion seemed to have done something right, she hadn't had to face the embarrassment other royals had to face due to the misbehavior of their younger generation, an example being the Wieser Archduchess Eleonore. With her husband her relationship had always been warm and loving with neither partner being dishonest to the other in any matter.
"You know," she said to Élise, "as the wife of the heir... you are to be given a collection of jewels... as all your predecessors have been by mine."
"Yes, Mére Diana," that was what she had chosen to call her mother-in-law, Élise had been surprised to see that the Queen herself promoted informality in private between the members of the family, "Nicolas informed me about that."
"The Royal Secretary will provide you the casket." Directing her gaze at her daughters; the princesses Elisabeth, Marie-Joséphine and Marie-Hélène, "But before the Royal Secretary does that... they shall take you to my study. From the catalogue there, you can decide what jewels you want to be part of your collection."
She cut into the steak that the butlers had placed before the family. The chefs of the Florians kitchen were one of the best chefs in the country, only the best were chosen from the many cooking schools across the kingdom to cook for the Royal Family. That night's dinner had been made by Pierre Gruerre, the recently appointed 'Grand Chef de la Terre' - a title which made the man or woman a royal in the realm of culinary delights - and she had wanted to try the man's art for some time. All she could say was, he didn't disappoint.
With none of them having any appointments planned for the next week, she was happy that the family could be together. This time would be useful to bring everyone closer together and make Élise more comfortable with her new family. Any official business they had would be dealt with only in the mornings with rest of the day free.
She remained silent, the others continuing the conversations amongst themselves. There was far too much on her mind.
ooc: comments would be appreciated (
You must be registered for see links
)