Business Date

Posted on Sun Nov 17th, 2024 @ 12:53am by Princess Royal Giana Orsini & Lord Khalon Price
Edited on on Sun Nov 17th, 2024 @ 1:03am

Mission: Historiae Terrae Et Imperii
Location: The Pyramid
Timeline: Date 2371-09-12 at 1800
8407 words - 16.8 OF Standard Post Measure

ON

Giana took one more look at herself in the mirror before dismissing it and taking her seat at the small dining table set up for them in one of the Emperor’s more private dining rooms used for hosting smaller gatherings. She was at one of the smaller round tables that had been set up for them, and a few serving staff were standing by waiting for both parties to be present. Khalon intrigued her and his willingness to help her had not gone unnoticed even if she was still waiting to know exactly what he was wanting in return. The fact he seemed to have some level of genuine interest and concern beyond his own interests was attractive to her in more ways than one. She tried not to dwell on her personal problems though and set her mind to the dinner at hand.

She had opted for a light blue cocktail dress; the color brought out her eyes and the beauty of her shining golden hair. It was a relatively modest cut outside of the slightly lower v-neck that just showed a hint of cleavage. The irregular hem skirt fluttered above and below her knee, and it was belted with a gold metallic band around her thin waist. She wore light touches of simple gold jewelry and understated makeup; she wasn’t trying to make this feel like a date.

Following their meeting, Khalon had left the Pyramid and went to his office in a nearby building. He attended several meetings over subspace communications to his advisors on Mars. Managing the affairs of an entire planet was no small matter, but he almost never discussed Business outside of his meetings.

The entire day, he had tried to keep the dinner off of his mind, knowing that dwelling on it for too long, we just throw him off his game. A few hours before the dinner, he sent one of his assistants to purchase a new outfit for the occasion, a suit with a black bow-tie with crimson Andorran velvet. After bathing, scenting himself until he smelled amazing, and stepping into his suit, he traveled to the Pyramid.

Khalon walked into the dining room behind one of Giana’s attendants, his eyes going to her and taking in her lovely appearance right away. He lingered on her quite shamelessly, and though he wasn’t exactly undressing her with his eyes, he may have been looking at her as if she were already naked.

When the doors opened, Giana moved to stand elegantly. She didn’t have to of course, but she preferred greeting people on her feet when she wasn’t actively trying to remind them of their place. Her own eyes moved over him; there was little more attractive on a man than a well-tailored suit like he was sporting. She could see he was looking at her too.

Smiling an expression that projected warmth and welcome, she gestured open with her hands at her sides. “Lord Price, hello again. Please come and join me.”

He made the final approach and grabbed her offered hand gently. Leaning down, he kissed her fingers together and then paused. After a second of holding the hand, he kissed it again, slower this time, before standing up and looking at her.

“Your Highness.” He said with a handsome smile. “Thank you for your gracious welcome and for your invitation to dine. It’s an honor.”

For all his boldness when he was speaking his mind, Lord Price knew courtly courtesy as well as anyone. He moved behind her chair in order to allow her to sit. Once he’d pushed her chair in, he found his own seat and joined her.

“You’re breathtaking in that dress, ma’am.” He said, looking at her as if she were the only other person in the room. “I may have to try hard to focus on your important words when you’re dressed so beautifully.”

“I’d say flattery and charm won’t get you anywhere, the trouble is I know it has gotten you plenty of places.” Giana smiled and shook her head, her beautiful eyes sparkling. She crossed her legs elegantly under the table as one of the servants came to pour glasses of red wine. Once he had withdrawn, Giana spoke again.

“Were you able to attend to some of the business you needed to earlier?”

“I was, actually. I sat through some completely boring meetings, sent over some signed documents and delegated the simple task.” He said, grabbing the glass of wine and sniffing it with a nod of approval. “I did have to cancel a charity event with your dear royal sister. You’ll never guess what it was for.”

“Teaching fish to swim?” Giana replied with an expressive roll of her eyes. “Maybe she just really wants to have some babies.”

Without wasting any time, two waiters brought out the first course of hors d’oeuvres. The one placing the covered tray in front of Giana spoke as he opened it.

“Goat cheese crostini with fig-olive tapenade, Highness.”

They withdrew quickly and they were then alone in the room with their food.

“I’m sure Elana will get over it.”

“She’s resilient, and she cares enough for both of us.” He said with a roll of his own eyes for an instant. It was the only indicator of how he might really feel he’d given. He picked up one of the crostini and took a bite. He savored the flavor of the small snack packed. “That’s really good. Does the Pyramid have its own chef?”

“Several, actually. The one cooking the food for tonight is a personal one of the imperial family though. You don’t get to taste his food without special invitation.” She chuckled and shook her head. “Not everyone enjoys replicated food, my father is especially picky as he has every right to be.”

“Well, we can afford to be picky, can’t we? Why shouldn’t we?” He asked rhetorically as he chewed. “How was your day after we met this morning? Did you have a long list of meetings with more handsome, dashing men offering to kill for your attention?”

“Oh a few. I had to have my secretary make a list. You are the only one who got the dinner though.” She smirked just slightly and picked up her wine to take a sip of it. “Truthfully the rest of my day was mostly spent in very boring meetings listening to people drone on about nothing while I worked on other more pressing matters.”

“The work is a little tedious, but it has its rewards. I mean, most people don’t get fabulous wealth and power, so sitting through a few meetings might be a small price to pay.” He said, sipping his wine again and looking at her. “But you need to make sure you have fun as well from time to time. You’re wasted in back to back meetings. Between this and Bella Gia, you must have a thousand a week.”

“Don’t forget I’m Lady of the Northern Dominion too.” Giana pointed, the smirk remaining right where it was. She put her glass back down and her expression evened out again. “I’m getting through the work, but no, I don’t really have time for fun even with the assistance my staff provides. I admit I was never expecting to add ‘Regent’ to my list of responsibilities. Though I’m hopeful it will not be for long.”

He watched her smile with interest, allowing the one on his face to relax as he listened to her. He’d actually forgotten she was a Lady in her own right. As it was, she had never been to a Council of Lords meeting before, so they hadn't really interacted before.

“How’s your father holding up?” he asked with a curious expression.

“Resting comfortably and recovering.” Giana offered the standard response and didn’t seem inclined to expand on it more than that. One of the servants returned to take their empty plates away, but did so quickly to intrude as little as possible.

Khalon looked at her with a somewhat pained expression. Biting his tongue took genuine effort, and he was sure it would ruin the moment if he told her he thought that was bullshit. Instead, he nodded in a completely unconvincing way and took another bite of the first course.

“That’s really good to hear..” he said, sounding like he had a stomach ache.

She noticed his tone immediately and lifted a brow, but she decided to not question it in the end. “So tell me how you’ve been settling into your role as High Lord of Mars. I know you were acting in your fathers stead for a while before it became… official. Do you find it any different?”

Khalon happily took the out she had offered. He typically didn’t choke in social situations, but he almost had.

“Well, like most Lords, I inherited when my father died. It was sad, but Dad had been sick for a long time, so it wasn’t like it was some surprise. I’d been running his council and attending most of his events, especially after my sister went missing.” He averted his gaze for a moment, wondering what had become of Maya and her little ship. He pushed the thought out of his mind and looked back at Giana. “But Mars is one of our oldest worlds, and my family has a long history there. The only difference is what people call me and, I guess, how much time I have to do what I want.”

Giana’s pretty blue eyes softened slightly. “I was very sorry to hear about Maya’s disappearance. She is a nice young woman.”

Too nice for higher court, Giana thought, but perhaps with time Maya could have surprised her. The younger woman was one who Giana really didn’t have problems with - a rarity for her. “Perhaps some day we will find out what befell our ships that were lost. Maybe they even found each other in the end; wouldn’t that be nice?”

“It would be.” Khalon said with a sad smile. It was a sore subject, and he clearly cared for his sister quite alot. They had always been a strong, affectionate, loving family, and hugs in the Price household were given as often as glances were in some others. Losing his father and his sister had been difficult for him. “If they’re even alive, that is. The current theory is that there was a teleportation event rather than a destructive one. I’ve prayed that Starfleet is right about that one.”

“I’ve heard the same theory.” Giana nodded slightly, studying his face and how sad he looked. It hadn’t escaped the talk of the court how close the Price family was to each other, it was a topic of envy by many. Giana found herself wondering what it might have been like to have such a family; the truth was she likely wouldn’t have been very sad if any of her siblings died.

“Keep praying, Khalon. Perhaps the gods will bring her home to you.” It wasn’t a patronizing statement but instead seemed genuinely encouraging.

He smiled at her and allowed a small silence to rest between them. It was more comfortable than he would have assumed it would be. His grin was unabashedly engaged, and the fact he liked being around her could be seen by a blind man.

“So, you’re fresh back from killing a traitor and winning a war and you’re juggling running the Empire with holding your family together, ruling your lands, and designing for your company,” he started, eyeing her, “I’m sitting here wondering how you have time to have a fiance right now. Who’s planning the wedding, his mother?”

It had been a clever comment given the situation happening with Lady Lavigne and any other day, Giana might have quipped back, but she found she didn’t have it in her to do so right then. She lifted her glass of wine and looked at it. “The wedding plans are on hold given everything that has been happening and with my father’s condition. As for my time, my fiance has found himself quite occupied with his new job and deciding that he actually does enjoy being famous.”

“So you’re both too busy to get married, is that right?” He asked, challenging finally, but with a smile. He shook his head. “I could never do that. I’d have to be married to you right away; no delay.”

Giana frowned, “My father would want to be there, and I would want him there.”

Even if he didn’t really approve of her relationship to Sacha, she had never really considered the possibility he wouldn’t be in attendance of her wedding and she certainly wasn’t going to consider it now.

The servants returned with two more covered plates which were once more put down in front of the seated pair simultaneously with the one serving Giana speaking up. “Candied carrots with honey, cumin, and paprika.”

The servants withdrew once more and left Giana looking down at the pretty, colorful carrot dish before them.

“Well, he’s resting and recovering, right? You could set a date a few months from now and have him there.” Khalon said without any hint of doubt that what he was saying was true. Of course, every instinct in his body told him differently, but it seemed he couldn’t stay off the topic this evening. “Six months, a year. Whatever.”

Giana smiled, strained and verging on annoyed. “You’re very kind to be concerned about my wedding, but trust that I will handle it when the time is right and don’t worry, you’ll be invited.”

She picked up her fork and knife to cut into the carrots, obviously very done with that topic of conversation.

Khalon understood that she didn’t trust him, and he couldn’t really blame her. He picked up his knife and fork and wondered what in the world it was safe to talk to her about. She had a thousand secrets he was sure, all locked in that little royal head of hers.

“Oh, I couldn’t stand to go. I’m far too jealous. I might mistake you for a picture of yourself.” He said, taking a bite from his fork.

“I’m sure you’ll find it in yourself to attend.” To not would have been extremely disrespectful not only to Giana but the Emperor himself after all.

“You know, apparently I have a cousin on one of those missing ships.”

“You do?” He asked, following her change of conversation without actually giving it much thought. There was clearly trouble in paradise. Either Antonius was nowhere near stable enough to attend a wedding, she had some serious hesitation about actually going through with it, or both. Either way, it had serious implications for her. “What cousin?”

“Lyra Hale. I’m sure you’re at least vaguely familiar with that whole story?” She asked and glanced up at him between her bites.

“Right right.” he said with a nod, recognizing the name immediately. “The dead girl who’s actually alive. Elana told me all about her, at least as far as her childhood went. She said you two were close.”

“Truthfully she was more like a sister to me than Elana is.” Giana shrugged slightly. “They got along too when Elana decided she wanted to be around, but Lyra and I were closer. Her brother is Lord of Brazil now.”

“Right. I met him aboard Imperator during the Feast of Heroes. He’s got a crazy story. They all do.” he said with a tone that indicated he was intrigued and impressed. “It sounds like Imperial Intelligence played a big part in saving their lives. I guess I don’t understand why they didn’t just knock Ivers off the hill and give Brazil back to them.”

“I really don’t know and I never asked. I don’t think it’s something I would get a straight answer about. If I were to take a guess it probably had something to do with the shipyards or bringing some other unruly people in line. I don’t get it and it sounds awful.” She shook her head. “After all of that, then my cousin goes missing to who knows where.”

It seemed Giana too was more inclined to believe that somewhere, the crews of their lost ships were alive.

“After a life like hers, I bet she’s a survivor. If she’s out there somewhere, I bet she’s a fighter.” he remarked with some warmth. “And, if that’s the case, I hope my sister is with her. She’s a good pilot, but she’s pathetic in a fight.”

“Did the two of you ever serve together? I know you were both in Starfleet.” She pointed out, finding herself actually genuinely curious to learn more about the man across from her. Of course there was business to talk about, but they could talk of other things beforehand.

He shook his head, offering a simple answer to her question.

“No, when she graduated, she went straight to the ISS Gladius. I never served with her and only interacted with her as fellow soldiers when I went to her graduation ceremony. We’ve been a Starfleet family for generations, so It was a big deal, as it always is. I wish I was there with her, though.”

“I’m sure you do.” Her voice was sympathetic and so were her eyes. “Do you regret having to leave the fleet to take up the mantle of High Lord?”

“I liked my life the way it was, and I entered thinking I’d be able to be in for decades before I needed to come home. At first, I was excited to have things my way at home, but I miss it some days. Still, the life of a civilian has its freedoms and benefits. I can’t complain about those.” He answered earnestly. He met her eyes and, seeing compassion in them, smiled. “Non replicated food for example.”

“A better selection of women too, I imagine.” Giana noted with a more playful smirk this time. The gender ratio in the military was still quite skewed in favor of men which was natural, but certainly cut down on options for the men if they were inclined to seek out more than a casual fling.

“Well, yeah. Military life doesn’t suit every beautiful woman. You never got your lips for example.” He responded, bringing the wine glass to his lips again. “But I don’t make important decisions based on the general hotness of the women I’m around, most of the time.”

“Well at least you’re honest in that it’s most of the time.” She chuckled, pausing as the plates were cleared away and allowing her eyes to linger on him. “How is your mother faring? Is she helping you with your duties as lord?”

“She’s stronger than I am.” He said with a chuckle. “And she’s been attending fundraisers and hosting all the events a High Lord generally attends in my place. I spend a lot of time here on Terra these days.”

“Any particular reason for that? Or are the council meetings eating all of your time?” The servants returned to clear the plates and refill their wine glasses.

“I’ve been increasing my influence as much as I can so that I can be more useful.” He answered. “I wasn’t an insider when I was appointed to the Council, so I’ve had a lot of catching up to do as far as making allies in the Senate.”

“You’ve done quite well for yourself on that front it seems.” Giana noted, her tone approving. “Being able to offer me seven senators in the amount of time you’ve been moving in the circles is no small feat.”

“Well, I can be convincing when I really want to. Talking up a potential future familial connection with the Imperial Family got my foot in the door on some of them. I’ve built groundwork on dozens more, but I can’t call them mine yet.” He said, admitting a shade of how he had managed to do it. “I know time and familiarity help, so I’ve stuck around.”

Giana laughed softly. “See, I knew it wasn’t purely altruistic.” She shook her head, but obviously didn’t care much that Elana was being used as a pawn even in some small way.

“You’d secure more support if you went through with it though. It isn’t like you’d have to see each other all the time. She can play with her orphans, you can do whatever powerful men do.”

“Elana is not so bad, right. I find her almost completely tolerable.” He said, looking at her and enjoying her amusement. “But she’s not exactly my type.”

Giana went quiet for a beat and just looked at Khalon. He was humoring her about Elana she was sure; a lot of men found the bleeding heart type attractive and Elana was that if nothing else. “Something to think about though, it isn’t like it’s an uncommon thing for powerful families. Love may come in time… or you find yourself a girlfriend.”

Khalon raised his brows in surprise at her statement. His smile had remained on his face, but the amusement had gone out.

“That’s disgusting.” He said, and to his credit, the disgust was reflected in his face. “I have a very affectionate family. Loveless marriages just wouldn’t work any more than betrayal would. We tie the knot for life on Mars. So I’d really better find the right woman, right?”

Despite what she had put out as a solution herself, the approval at his answer was very clearly shown in Giana’s eyes. “Yes, you probably should.”

The servants appeared again and once again repeated their routine.

“Roasted duck with an orange-ginger glaze and rosemary potatoes.”

Once the servants were gone again, Giana picked up her fork and knife and cut into the medallions of duck meat. “I did spend a good part of my day considering the discussion we had earlier.”

“I’m glad to hear that.” He said, cutting the duck on his plate as well. The food was fragrant and tender, another example of the fine cooking served at Court. “Do you have any thoughts you’d like to share?”

“I think I may invite them to dinner and tell them how things are going to go.” She took a sip of her wine, closing her beautiful blue eyes for a moment. “If they refuse, they may perhaps not all return home.”

“They will refuse, Your Highness.” He said with certainty in his voice. “Unless what you tell them makes them believe you are a killer. Unfortunately, I think Sacha Lavigne robbed you of that credential as far as your brother goes. The nobility whisper that he’s the one who did the dirty work while you sat on your ship and hoped for the best.”

He didn’t mean to insult or disappoint her. He only meant to be honest about what he’d heard.

“You can do this, Your Highness, but you’re going to need to have somebody carved up at the table rather than just the meat. They need to see how tough you are underneath your dazzling eyes and good fashion, the way I do.”

“Yes, I was assuming that I would have to do something to drive home the point given they are drunk on foolishness and delusions of having power. I was hoping though that I might not have to end one of them, but I will if I need to. I thought taking their hands might be enough, but do you have a different suggestion?” She wasn’t exactly completely comfortable with what she was saying, but she found herself more comfortable than she thought she would have been.

“See that’s what I’m talking about.” He said, pointing at her for a moment before putting his hand down. “That hesitation; that instinct to punish lightly…to be just. That’s what they expect from you.”

He leaned back in the chair and took a deep breath, his eyes locking in on hers.

“They expect you to intervene, they expect you to meet with them, to talk, and maybe to slap a hand or two. But they also expect you to be reasonable, and measured, patient. They expect you to give them a warning. They don’t think you’re a killer.”

Giana frowned but didn’t necessarily seem angry over his assessment. He was right, she did want to be reasonable and just to begin with; she didn’t want to jump outright to killing. As she pushed the food around on her plate a bit, she continued to mull it over. They’d had time to deal with her mother and they had rejected her soft, reasonable hand. They sewed dissent and doubt in the power of the imperial monarchy - they were Blues who should have been dealt with when the others had been. She hated the thought of killing, but the slide of the Empire toward certain ruin was a much more pressing matter.

“You’re right.” She admitted with a sigh.

“We should have a meal though, it’ll remind them of the last time Lords were invited to dine with an Orsini.” He said, his hands folding conspiratorially. “The Council of Lords, meeting over a nice sunny lunch. You can speak courteously, telling them to get on side. And, if they don’t bite or they decide to insult you..”

He grabbed the knife next, lifting it like a dagger. He looked at her, seriously. It wasn’t clear if the idea was an exciting one for him, but he certainly seemed willing and dedicated.

“I can take care of the rest.”

“What will it cost me, Khalon?” Giana asked, now mildly challenging.

He shook his head as if the question offended him, but a smile played at his lips as he prepared to respond.

“Weren’t you listening, Giana? I already told you.” He leaned back and licked his full lips. “A hug. That’s it, I swear to all the gods. A hug, from you, is worth a dead traitor. A kiss, well..” he paused, and looked at her, unashamedly staring at her lips. “That would be worth a thousand.”

“You can’t really be serious.” Giana frowned, her eyes moving over his face slowly as if she were trying to figure out what was his real motivation and what he would get out of the deal. The chance of being elevated in the Empire didn’t seem quite enough.

“How can I convince you how serious I am?” He asked, raising an eyebrow. “I’m not the first man who would do anything for you, surely. Is it really so hard to believe? What better reason would I have?”

“Power.” She replied simply and shrugged. Obviously, she simply didn’t believe in the concept of a man doing “anything” for a woman. “Popularity, recognition.”

“I have those things already.” He said, shrugging. “At least I have enough of them for my taste. I never understood the point of men who try to climb to the top or work their lives away to gain great riches. I have everything I need.” He eyed her then, confident and calm. “Except you.”

Giana frowned at him, sitting back in her chair and crossing her arms. “If you wanted that opportunity, why didn’t you have your parents talk to mine?”

“That’s a fair question.” He admitted, looking at her with patience and a gentle nod. “The truth is my father didn’t like your father very much. Your entire family, really. He thought you were weak. He changed his tone after the Night of the Crimson Knives, but that was after you were already dating Sacha.”

“And you didn’t want to go against your father.” It was a statement more than a question. “What about Elana? Men and women can’t really be friends like that. Not so far as she runs off to Mars to be with you and thinks things are going well; what was your play with my sister? Were you going to try and make things work with her?”

“Why would I? There’s nothing there from me to her, and I’ve already told you how important genuine connection is to me.” He said, raising his hands. “I know this seems suspicious, but I’m making good of a fortuitous situation more than anything else. I don’t want more power, influence, or wealth for its own sake. And, though it might surprise you, I can be very entertaining company with my clothes on just as well as off. Add a bit of delusion on Elana’s part, and you have our current situation.”

It was clear Giana was still very suspicious, but there was obviously some part of her that wanted to believe him. The only true ally she could think of that she had in this world was CJ, and she knew that CJ’s help certainly wasn’t without a price of its own. She didn’t reply, instead hid her thoughts and feelings behind another sip of wine and bites of food.

“You don’t have to believe me, really. I’m here, I’ll do the job, and then maybe I’ll just return to Mars and leave you to put things back together here and stay out of your way. Or, I might just stay here and pester you. I suppose it’ll depend on my mood.” He said, allowing a small smile. He couldn’t control how she felt about him, and he didn’t intend to try.

“You need to stop making appearances with my sister.” Giana finally said. “I’m not going to say encourage her to leave Mars because frankly I prefer her to have her melodrama about not wanting to be royal while enjoying all of its perk as far away from me as possible, but I also cannot afford to have the tabloids spew nonsense right now if you do decide you want to ‘pester me’ when you’re supposed to be with my sister.”

He lifted his wine glass and took a healthy sip, leaving just a bit at the bottom. He looked at her and gave a nod, seeming unbothered by the terms.

“Done.” He said, and then finished the rest of his wine. “I’ll let her down easy.”

“That’s up to you, it doesn’t matter.” She gave a dismissive wave of her hand at the notion she would care how he would do it. Putting her glass down again, she let her beautiful blue eyes rest on him.

“Do you think they will all need to die?”

“No. Just one should send the message loud and clear.” He said. Her lack of concern for her sister didn’t surprise him considering the conversations he’d had with Elana, but it did make him question her value for family. Either way, it was none of his business. “The big question is: which one? Lavigne, Sharma, or Montreve? Or, maybe you want to play it by ear..see who’s acting the stupidest on the day.”

“Montreve would be my first choice. She isn’t family and if it can be avoided I would like to not kill another member of my family even if it is through marriage. Jolene is near family and I haven’t exactly had a chance to let Sacha know I might kill his mother if she doesn’t bend and while he really dislikes the woman, she’s still his mother.” Giana sighed softly and closed her eyes.

“That makes sense. I’d be surprised if she doesn’t have a backup plan of some kind. She knows she’s the only one who you can lay your hands on.” He responded. “But she’ll fall easy, especially if she has none of her men with her.”

“She absolutely is not, and if she had paid any attention to anything, she would know that.” Giana practically snorted but paused as the servants returned to clear the plates. “I’ll make sure everything is in order that she won’t be able to escape.”

“And I assume you won’t be plunging the dagger yourself?” He asked, though his expression was open and curious.

“No, I am not planning on it,” she smiled just slightly and looked out of the large window they were sitting next to, “but perhaps they’ll make me mad enough to do just that. How shall we arrange the deed if it needs to be done?”

“They’ll be wary of any extra guards, of course, and after your father had the Blues stabbed by the wait staff, that option will arouse suspicion as well.” He said, biting his lower lip as he considered the situation. “Still, once we have them there, it won’t really matter. I expected I would do it, but it doesn’t really matter in the end, does it?”

“Do you want to?” She asked, both her voice and eyes full of curiosity at his confession.

“I do. It sounds fun. And, for the record, I’m good at it.” He answered with a chuckle. “I hate the Blues just as much as my father did, and I’d like to settle the score with some of the prominent members who spent their days hiding and lying about it.”

The servants returned and placed small plates with elegant small dark brown cakes on them.

“Flourless chocolate cake paired with sweet port wine, Highness.” The servant offered as he poured the small glass of port for her first and then Khalon. Steady as the tide, they left again and Giana continued the conversation as if they hadn’t had the interruption at all.

“Very well, Khalon, if that’s the way you feel about it. Do you have any other suggestions?”

Khalon had always been a fan of port, so he showed some interest in the servant’s words. Meals like this were normal for both of them, and the only real difference was the caliber of his company. Still, Khalon was an unpretentious man, putting more importance in the character of a person than any titles they might have been able to accrue for themselves. If he liked being with Giana in this moment, it had nothing to do with the fact that she was a princess. He lifted the port to his lips and shook his head.

“Is that dress one of your designs?” He asked, curiously, seeming to swerve the last question for interest in another. “It looks like one of the dresses from your August catalog.”

“Yes, it is.” She confirmed while looking across at him. At any other time she would have been flattered that he had noticed and remembered her designs, especially as a man, but the fact he had so obviously dodged her last question had annoyed her.

“Perhaps you’d like something for your mother.”

“She beat both of us to it, Your Highness. You can believe that.” he said with a smile. “Mom is probably your first order when you come out with something she likes even remotely. If I want to get a gift for her, I normally go for jewelry over fabrics because she tends to be too distracted to look at those. You’re generous for the offer, though.”

Her annoyance at his changing the subject was obvious, and while he took no pleasure in bothering her, he wasn’t going to let himself be controlled by her subtle and shifting feelings. He intended to serve her as a man and not a dog, after all.

“Where do you get your inspiration for new designs? Do you browse other catalogs? Are you more of a cooperative designer, taking your team’s concepts into consideration?”

“Where did you get that suit? It isn’t one of mine.” Giana noted and indicated to the outfit he was wearing with a slight gesture of her hand that was also holding the glass of port.

Khalon furrowed his brows in confusion as she didn’t answer his question. Was she offended by being asked about herself at all? He licked his lips, pressing off any natural irritation with a shift in his expectations and masking it well.

“Honestly, I have no idea,” he said, shaking his head. “I had a servant run out and grab it for the occasion and she didn't tell me where she bought it.”

He grabbed the lapel of the jacket and slipped one arm out followed by another. Turning the jacket around carefully, he looked at the tag on the inside and nodded.

“Oliver & Tenley. One of my favorite brands.” he said, looking back up at her and offering a small smile. “My people know what I like.”

“Not a fan of my Armand brand, then?” She asked and took a small bite of the dense, rich cake on her plate.

“Are you kidding me? You corner the market when it comes to elite clothing. I have every suit you designed. But, you’re new, and I like variety.” He said, using his fork to cut into one of the desserts and pop it into his mouth. His closest had two floors, if that was any indication of how dedicated he was to looking good. Everyone agreed that it worked, and aside from being handsome and notably fit, Lord Khalon Price had a varied and interesting wardrobe. He wasn’t afraid to peacock and wear bright, colorful combinations that other men wouldn’t dare try. He always made it work.

“I’ll be debuting a new collection at the beginning of December in time for Saturnalia; it will cover all of my brands. I think you’ll be excited, knowing what I know of you.” His admission that he owned everything she had put out seemed to please her, and any lingering annoyance melted away.

“Most of the designs for my Pia Pietra brand are my own and I do a large majority for Caterina as well. Armand and Chique Royal are more collaborative endeavors as I don’t have a full grasp of what the commoner enjoys wearing.”

“I always assumed they liked to look as close to us as they could with the little money they have. That, and good things like belly shirts, and yoga pants in public.” He grinned then and took a sip of the port. “You could always sell them sweatshirts with sports teams on them.”

“I think you’re trying to make me sick.” Giana replied with a smirk of her own. “Would you have any interest in making a contribution of your own to the brand? Perhaps something for Seraphina, a cologne?”

She surprised herself with the offer and that it was genuine. It wasn’t something she had randomly done before even with Sacha, but that was because she knew Sacha would just laugh it off and dismiss it as silly - though he might have been more open to it now that he was enjoying the limelight of heroism.

“Me?” He asked, surprised at first, and then allowing his mind to settle on the idea. Of course he’d entertained the idea of getting involved in the industry at some point, but he’d never taken the idea seriously. “That would be amazing, actually. Would you be willing to let me do something like that?”

“You’re one of the most fashionable men in the Empire; of course I would be willing if it is something you’re interested in.” She smiled, warm. “Do you have any idea of what you might like to make? You’d be invited to the lab to figure it out of course, but I’ve found some people already have an idea or two bouncing around in their heads.”

Khalon gave her a smile full of excitement as he chewed, his mind moving to any idea which might be floating around in his head. He knew what he liked in great detail, so it wasn’t exactly difficult for him to generate an idea on the spot.

“If I were to create my own cologne, it would probably have a fresh top note and a rich amber wood base with a healthy dose of spice and peppers throughout the life of the scent.” He said, making the scent combinations in his mind and imagining what they would be like together. “And if I were to design suits, I would lean toward creative styles with vibrant colors. They might not attract everyone’s eye, but they would be iconic.”

Giana giggled, light and feminine; she was clearly taken with his excitement at the prospects of creating and the fact he had such a solid idea already. “I see you’ve given this some thought already. That’s good. It shouldn’t be difficult to arrange around your schedule. As for the suits, we can discuss that more; I’d like to see what you have in mind.”

“I promise to dazzle you.” He said, smiling at her feminine giggle; it was endearing. “I haven’t thought about it too much, but I have a few ideas swimming around in my head about the whole thing. Just have your people get with mine, and we can make that happen.”

He sipped his port again, feeling some of the effects from both that and the wine they had been served previously. He looked at her again, allowing his gaze to move from her eyes, to her hair, to her upper body, and then back again. If he could see her legs, he would have lingered there longer.

“Your designs are excellent, but I think you missed your true calling as a model.” He said, his voice somewhat musical as he sang the subtle compliment.

“My father wouldn’t allow it. I wanted to, once upon a time, but he wouldn’t hear of it unless I was covered head to toe in fifteen layers of fabric, long sleeves, turtle necks, and skirts preferably with trains they were so long, so I gave up on that dream.” She waved a hand to dismiss the notion, though obviously it bothered her - at least this time it wasn’t directed at Khalon.

“My father said the same thing when I was asked to star in an underwear commercial. He said it was below the dignity of a noble and an embarrassment to the family, so I didn’t do it.” He shook his head then. “What a shame. I guess that means you have to do all of your modeling at parties..” He winked at her; a seamless and smooth gesture, communicating no hesitation or fear. “Or privately.”

“That’s a shame. You would have looked quite good in nothing but underwear on a billboard.” Giana smirked in a flirtatious way, distracted by the way he was looking at her and the warmth of the wine. “The world missed out.”

“Well, who needs billboards anyway when you have private viewings? In my opinion, those are far more fun.” he replied with a mischievous grin, his eyes sparkling with playful intent. “Some things are best appreciated up close and personal. A billboard can’t really get the whole point across.”

“Give a lot of those private viewings, do you?” Giana challenged, pushing her plate back so she could lean closer to him as if they were conspiring over something. “I’m sure you’re very popular if what I saw earlier was any indication.”

“Not nearly as many as you might think. I’m careful with that sort of thing. I have a responsibility to give myself to my wife one day and not everyone I see along the way. I had my wild days, I’ll admit, but I cut that out years ago. I’m a good boy, I promise.” he said, offering a challenging expression which shed some reasonable doubt on the claim. He leaned in as well, and inhaled her perfume as he looked in her crystal blue eyes. “So you liked what you saw earlier, then? Just wait until I tell teenage Khalon that Princess Giana saw le pièce de résistance and didn’t laugh.”

Giana laughed and shook her head, but sat back as she did so. “Well, you’ll have to let me know what he says to that.”

She finished her port and her expression evened out a bit more. “When shall we hold this lunch, Khalon? I’d like to within a week, I don’t want this to fester too long.”

“Two days should be enough notice.” he said, finishing his own glass and picking up his last cake to finish after he was done talking. “If not, people will change their schedules rather than miss a gathering of the powerful, no matter how inconvenient it is. At this point, there’s no reason to doubt the loyalty of the other Council members, but they’ll be there too. Technically the invitation should come from the Speaker. Normally, I’d recommend ignoring all that bullshit, Lady Mendez is a supporter of your family and there’s no point offending her as far as I can see.”

“No, there isn’t any reason to do that. I’ll see her contacted and have her send out the invitation.” She watched as he finished his cake, her own remaining only half gone. “I hope you enjoyed dinner.”

“It was delicious, really. There wasn’t a single dish I didn’t enjoy.” He said, looking at her with somehow both courteous and mischievous eyes. “And it was great to talk to you more today and get to know you a little better. Thank you for the invitation.”

“Perhaps this will be the first of future invitations.” She offered up with a smile. “I certainly can’t complain about the company.”

Khalon stood up, the fine fabric of his jacket falling into place, and stepped around the table toward her. He stood very close; inappropriately close, and dropped down to one knee. He grabbed her hand in his and looked down, admiring the contrast in their skin tones and her well-manicured hands which told the story of a life without physical labor or work of any kind. He lifted the hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles slowly, worshipfully, looking up at her as he did so.

“Neither can I, Your Highness.” He said in a low voice, smooth and full of the attraction which burned brightly in his dark eyes. “I’ll be thinking about tonight constantly until I can see you again.”

Giana watched him as he moved and her eyes continued to follow every motion he made. She allowed him to take her hand and wasn’t oblivious to the quickening of her heartbeat or the little thrill that ran down her spine being so close to him. She licked her lips and stood slowly and carefully, being sure not to bump into him but he could watch her body slowly shift and move only inches from his handsome face.

“I believe I owe you a hug.”

Khalon watched her intensely as she stood up, his eyes following the line of her body up to her face. Being this close to her was a thrill for him as well, and his heart, too, was picking up speed. He stood then, and paused in front of her, his face close to hers; his lips close to hers. The tension was thick now, and the rest of the large room disappeared around them as he stared into her eyes.

“I believe you do.”

The temptation to kiss him was real. The chemistry they shared was electric and Giana was sure she could actually feel sparks between them. Her blue eyes settled on his and she drew closer, but as she lifted her hands slightly she felt the brush of the metal of her engagement ring against her hip. It broke her from the thought she had been entertaining, and instead she wrapped her arms around the man to give him his hug.

Khalon fought the powerful urge to kiss her as well. He had no engagement ring on his finger, but she did. Flirting was one thing, but actually tempting her into violating her relationship was quite another, and he wouldn’t allow himself to do that. He accepted the hug when it was given, the feeling of her body finally touching his causing his heart to speed up even more. He wrapped his strong arms around her and held her tightly, not shy about allowing the embrace to become intimate. Between his legs, he felt the stirring which one might expect from a man as attracted to her as he was.

Giana lingered but a moment before she pulled back and gave him a smile. “Well, I won’t keep you.” She gestured toward the door gracefully. “I will have my people contact you with the details of the lunch as well as getting you set up to visit Bella Gia.”

“I look forward to it.” He said, taking the invitation to straighten his jacket subtly with his hands, give her a wink and one last look, and then to turn for the door. He walked out with the same energetic motion he always moved, as if he both had incredibly important things in his schedule and absolute confidence he had all the time he needed. Without another glance over his shoulder, the High Lord of Mars was gone.

END