There was something wonderfully familiar about Antonio. Being around him felt like the sun peeking out from behind the clouds after a week of rain, like seeing her tree after a long day of getting lost.
Ro wasn't sure what drew her to him, but she was becoming more and more attached to him by the hour. She adored the way his face lit up when he talked about something he was passionate about, like sailing or his younger sisters.
"There's three of them. Rita- Margherita is her real name- she's the eldest, only five years younger than I."
"What's she like?"
He smirked. "An idiot."
"No, really."
"It's too bad she was born a girl, Father says it's unladylike for her to sail with me. Half the time she's the only reason I go back as often as I do."
"Not the others?"
"They're twelve and six. I was already sent off to be educated properly by the time Sophia was born, so I don't know them especially well. Rita was able to be educated in the same household as me."
"Sofia is. . ?"
"The twelve year old. She wants to be a virgin to Artemis."
"And the third?"
"Regina. She's six. I think she likes flowers and animals, but again, I hardly know her."
"That's too bad. I wonder if I have brothers and sisters."
There was a tiny smile on his face as he said, "I'm sure you do."
Palladia
As Genevieve grew older, she began to realise that rejecting Apollonia's marriage proposal had been rather childish of her (in her defence, she had been barely six), especially now that she had read up on the circumstances of the current royal family.
Her parents thought King Peter was being rather insensitive, but at ten years old, Gen understood his reasoning much better than her parents did. Apollonian custom dictated marriage to the widow of a deceased sibling. King Peter himself had done it, and what was good enough for him was good enough for Genevieve.
At twelve years old, she'd approached her parents with the idea of rethinking an alliance with Apollonia.
Her father had been confused.
"Gen, I thought we agreed that Dulcemia would be a better fit for you. Prince Johannes is closer in age to you, and we already know how well the two of you get along."
"German's my worst language Papa, I cannot be Queen of a country if I'm tripping over my words all the time."
Her mother hid a smirk.
"You know you speak German better than Monsieur Dorau? The man we pay to speak German to the Dulcemian court?"
"I like Greek best though. And the religion and architecture is absolutely fascinating!"
Anneliese tilted her head in concern.
"Is that a reason to get married?"
"It's a reason to rule a country. That's what this alliance is for."
Her parents exchanged a look.
"I know the last two generations of monarchs have married for love, but Derek is the heir, not me! He can run off with any palace servant of his choosing!"
Julian snorted at that.
"I just- I think I would be a better queen of Apollonia than I would Dulcemia. I think I need to do it for her."
Anneliese smiled at her gently.
"I'll write to King Peter. Perhaps you can correct my Greek."
Genevieve giggled. Her mother was indeed rotten at Greek.
"It's very likely that they will no longer be interested, Gen." Papa warned her.
"If they aren't, I shall settle for being Queen of Dulcemia." she replied overdramatically.
It took nearly a year for the betrothal to be finalised. King Peter had to break a contract with Italia, which caused some protest from its Queen, but no matter. Palladia was wealthier, more influential, and had a strong connection to Dulcemia.
Geneviève Du Châtillon, Duchesse de Surac, would be Queen of Apollonia, and no one, not even her sister's memory, would stop her.