A Promise in Bloom

Posted on Fri Jul 3rd, 2026 @ 8:03am by Princess Royal Giana Orsini & Lord Khalon Price

Mission: Historiae Terrae Et Imperii
Location: Imperial Gardens
Timeline: Date 2372-04-18 at 1130
1511 words - 3 OF Standard Post Measure

The gardens of the Imperial Palace were extensive and incredibly beautiful. It was a masterpiece of Terran natural order, honed over years against the cultures of hundreds of other worlds. Khalon had only been in it for parties and had simply never taken the time to try and be granted access besides that.

He wore a navy suit with a matching vest, a blue-tinted shirt, and a sky-blue tie. It was all tied together by darkened and shining polished brown shoes. As usual, he smelled as good as he looked, and as he lingered by a fountain, he could feel the eyes of a pair of a lady in waiting and her escort staring at him instead of the man who was walking with her. He grinned subtly. His eyes were on the greatest prize in the Empire, the object of his infatuation since he was a teenager, and a woman who was two heartbeats away from the throne itself.

Giana had chosen a beautiful pleated red dress with a short sleeve for the occasion. It accentuated her figure quite naturally, and the thick gold belt at the middle cinched her waist even more. Her hair was down, slightly curled and falling over her shoulder. She was the picture of beauty that she was always supposed to be. Her guards walked with her, but lagged behind a bit more than usual at her request. The conversation with her father had gone much better than she had expected, and for the first time in a long time she was feeling lighter, perhaps even hopeful. She took the turn that would lead her to the fountain and began to walk the flowered path toward the gentleman waiting on her. He looked very handsome, and she smiled to herself slightly.

Khalon caught the movement from the path with military quickness. His eyes turned the appropriate direction and he saw Giana approaching with her guards in tow. he angled his body toward her, his hand moving away from a beautiful orchid. He gave her a small smile and allowed her to enter the open space before he step toward her.

“Beautiful day.” He said, his eyes remaining on her face before suggesting a journey lower. It was graceful and noble, yet hinted of more. “But it pales in comparison to you. Your eyes..your dress..and the rest. Lovely, Your Highness.”

“Thank you, Lord Price. You’re looking quite handsome today yourself.” She extended her hand out toward him so that he might take it and kiss it. “What has you wandering the gardens today?”

Khalon leaned slightly and kissed her knuckles slowly. When he came back up, he was much closer to her than before.

“When one wants to encounter beauty in Rome, there are few places better than a royal garden.” He said, laughing looking into her eyes. “And you?”

“A new beginning, much like the flowers newly in bloom.” Giana replied, her hand remaining in his while she looked up into his warm brown eyes.

“A new beginning. That sounds exciting. Like a world completely open to possibilities…a change to start over.” He said, holding her hand in his. He licked his lips, giving her a caring, curious glance. “How was your conversation with your father?”

“Better than I expected. He seemed… pleased with my performance as regent.” It seems the words even still surprised her to a point.

“Good.” Khalon said with a smile. “He should. You did a fantastic job. I’m very proud of you for it.”

“Thank you, Khalon.” She squeezed his hand meaningfully, her eyes softening as she looked into his. She felt she could learn to love him quite easily.

He squeezed her hand as well, then shifted to the ground smoothly, his strong legs bringing him down to a kneeling position. He looked up at her with a confident smile as he fished the velvet box out of his pocket.

“Giana Orsini, will you marry me, and join your life to mine?”

Giana watched him lower himself down in front of her, her eyes on his face and then eventually drifting toward the box. Obviously, her answer wasn’t dependent on the ring, but she was quite curious to see what he had picked. When he opened the box to her and revealed the beautiful star shaped ring made of nearly twenty beautiful diamonds set in solid gold, she smiled warmly. It suited her quite well. Her eyes went back to his, and she nodded. “Yes, I will.”

Their relationship had been one of restraint, of hand holds, and of eye contact. They had kissed before, but Giana’s mood and need for space had relegated them to glances and words. When he stood and his lips met hers for the first time in a long time, it was a moment that would be definite and memorable for their entire marriage.

Where before, their occasional kisses were met with surprise or extreme restraint, Giana’s lips melted into his. It was soft but sure, and her free hand came to rest on his arm as they stood there. They were alone, with only the guards there to see the moment shared between what was now an official couple, but Giana found herself grateful for it; it was a moment just for them and no one else.

His hands found her waist as they broke the kiss, their faces remaining close despite their height difference. The Roman wind whistled gently through the garden, and they remain there looking at each other. He knew that she wasn’t in love with him, but he was also quite confident he would be able to inspire those feelings in her.

“Shall we announce today?”

“Not yet. My father wants to give it a few days, and he wanted to meet with you. Were you too involved in your plans to get that message?” Giana asked, lightly pressing her forehead against his.

“Between the council and Mars, my desk is piled sky high.” He admitted with a smooth, light chuckle. “I didn’t think I was too busy to miss a message from the emperor himself, however.”

“Well, it came from my desk, not the Emperor’s, so apparently only too busy to miss a message from me.” She faked hurt, but she smiled still.

“I’ll have to have my Private Secretary whipped. Correspondence from you deserves to be at the very top of my list.” He said, smiling warmly. If he was merely being a charmer, it didn’t come off that way. Then again, it never did. He was truly skilled. “What, exactly, are we waiting for, besides my conversation with His Majesty?”

“Elana to be seen with her intended, and also to give the Household Press Office time to get their heads around it and make the necessary preparations.” Giana replied. He was charming, but she wasn’t a fool - he was a climber. Still, he had faithfully supported her so far, and that was worth something - it had to be. “I’d anticipate only two or three days.”

“You might have a hard time keeping this a secret with that ring.” Khalon said, lifting her hand. Despite any ambition he might have, marriage was a commitment to climb together, and it was hard to conceive of any plan that involved him ascending further without her. “Perhaps we should shift it to another finger for now.”

“But it looks so perfect there.” Giana chuckled, but lifted her other hand so he could select which finger to move it to. He was right, it was quite conspicuous, and she did want to respect what her father had asked of them.

Khalon carefully removed the ring from her fairy finger and placed it on the ring finger of her other hand. When it was there, he looked up at her with a smile.

“If you go out in front of cameras, the press will have a field day. But at least you can claim you were somewhat subtle.”

“Well, the good news is I have no intentions of doing that over the next few days, and I’m sure any premature rumors or announcements would be crushed anyways.” She lifted her hand from his and placed it on his cheek. “Are you happy?”

“I am.” Khalon said, his hands finding her slender waist over her dress and it’s large golden belt. He looked at her with obvious interest, not seeming to be proving her eyes anxiously for an answer. “Are you happy?”

“I am.” And she found she was, actually. She leaned in and kissed the corner of his mouth sweetly, letting her lips linger a moment before pulling back. “We can start planning when you’re ready.”

“I’ve been ready for a long time.” he said to her, and then shifted that they could walk together. They started around the circular area, moving towards a grand fountain.

They would make it one of the most magnificent weddings the Empire had ever seen.