The peace that formerly reigned in Terra Nova has eroded, now little more than a memory. War ravages the continent. Disputes divide kingdoms; ideals divide families. The quest for power consumes absolutely and indiscriminately. None are immune to its allure.
Who will rise and who will fall? Only time—and ambition—will tell.
UPDATES
05.26.2023
2 month character creation hold for all existing members begins 6/5/2023. Ended 8/5/2023.
10.29.2023
Change in how times flows. Was 4 IC seasons, now only 2 IC seasons per 1 OOC year.
5 whole years of Heir Apparent goodness! When I started the site, I knew I was hunkering down for the long haul, but I never could have predicted the numerous twists and turns this roleplay site has seen. Hundreds of plots, characters, and members have come and gone, all leaving marks on the site. I am so very thankful for those who have invested. Because you keep coming back, keep getting on, and keep writing, Heir Apparent has the legacy it does today. Three cheers to us!
Io couldn't help but stare at the thousands of books lining the expansive shelves of the royal library. He had not much time for reading anymore, but as a child he had loved the escape of fantastical worlds and adventures. He would have loved to spend hours, even days, exploring the contents of this sanctuary...but now if he so much as stood still he felt he was wasting time. Besides, he had work to do.
The young man limped around the maze of bookshelves, searching until he finally found his quarry. Coraline and the two young royal children sat by a roaring fireplace, a safety grate placed protectively in front of the flame. The two children did not seem prone to reaching too close to the fire, however, both fully rivetted to the story Coraline was reading. Io could not help but admire the governess's calming demeanor with the children, and he found himself wishing desperately to come home to a similar scene with a family of his own.
Shaking the daydream away, the tailor hobbled forward with a bow. "Pardon the interruption, Baronetess Grey. Young masters Cass and Declan," he gave a bow to the wide-eyed children as well. "Her Majesty has requested the children be measured for their new wardrobe. I am surprised with how quickly they outgrow their old attire...it seems I'm sewing a new outfit for each every week." He offered a small smile with the comment. "Is this a bad time?"
Coraline was blessed to love her job as much as she did. She had always been good with children and in spite of her low rank had a reputation as a woman of gentle kindness. Sure, Augustus had played a heavy hand in being able to secure this particular job, but Coraline had proved her worth as she had been their governess since Cass was only a few months old.
As she read the story to them she did so with plenty of inflection and enthusiasm, keeping them engaged as she weaved the tale for their little imaginations. Though Declan was still too young to truly understand what the story was about, he enjoyed the sounds she made and was nearly as attentive as his older brother.
They all looked up as someone new was allowed to pass by the guards to approach them and Coraline smiled at the tailer. He'd been here since before she was and she knew him well. Or at least knew him well in his role as tailor. She chuckled softly as his comment about their growth. "I have no doubt. I'm afraid they'll keep you busy like this for many years to come. They do grow so quickly." She looked down at the boys with a deep and loving affection.
"Not a bad time at all, please continue," she said. She scooped up Declan into her arms and gently patted Cass on the back of his shoulder. "Go stand for Mr. Demeter, you know how," she encouraged the child who did as he was asked, smiling up at Io as he did what he'd done so often before.
"Very well," Io gave an exaggerated, flourished bow as Cass waddled forward. "Stand against this bookshelf here, Your Highness. Legs straight, face forward...perfect."
The tailor pulled a measuring tape out of his breastpocket, allowing it to unravel to the floor. He looked between the top of the boy's head and the tape, mentally logging the measurement.
"Well now, that can't be right," Io frowned, giving the young prince a perplexed stare. "One hundred and one centimeters? Weren't you just eighty last month?"
The boy shook his head with a grin. "You said the same thing last time!"
"Hrmm," Io scratched his chin, looking at the measuring tape once again before kneeling to measure the boy's waist. "Miss Gray needs to keep a weighted hat on your head to keep you from growing so fast!"
"No!" Cass grinned. "I'm growing big and strong to be the bestest knight ever!"
"Is that so?" Io comically raised an eyebrow. "Let's see your muscles then."
As the boy flexed his arms, Io wrapped the measuring tape around his bicep. It was a useless measurement, but the grin on the boy's face was worth the extra time.
"By the kingdom!" the tailor looked up in shock. "Have you been arm wrestling Knight October?"
The boy laughed again, standing a bit taller. "No, but I bet I could beat him! I could beat all the knights!"
"No doubt," Io bobbed him lightly on the nose, smiling back. "So long as you continue behaving for Miss Gray. Now, arms straight out like a big eagle."
As the tailor continued taking measurements, he glanced back to the governess. "Have you been well? These two not giving you too much trouble?"
Coraline may as well have had hearts in her eyes with the way she watched Io and Cass. He had always been so good with them and they had never once hated the regular tailoring needed for their ever bigger and bigger clothes. And Io had such skill in his craft as well. They always looked so put together, like the little princes that they were. So handsome.
She giggled softly as Cass showed Io his muscles and bounced Declan on her hip who was still very much a baby and would need to lie down for his own measurements.
"Not at all, they're little angels," she said to Io with a soft smile. And they were, but they were also children and boys for that matter so of course there were the typical tantrums or accidents but they paled in comparison to their sweet natures. "I've been well, yes. I actually may be moving into a home closer to the palace soon," she said conversationally. "And how are you?" she returned the question.
"That's wonderful to hear," Io replied. "A shorter commute, especially in the upcoming rainy season, should certainly be much more accommodating for you."
Io finished measuring Cass, quickly jotting down all the measurements in his pocket journal. The young boy was off like a sprinter, running and jumping back to the Governess and babbling something Io couldn't quite understand.
Pulling off his coat, Io laid it flat on the ground then patted it. "If you could lie Declan down here."
As she asked her second question, Io automatically replied, "Quite well," then he paused. "Well, for the most part. I have found myself in a conundrum of late. I...well, frankly I've felt the pressure...no, the desire to start a family. No thanks to you two," Io added with a false scowl to the young boys. "But I've no idea how to court a woman, or where to meet a suitable one who won't mind my eccentricity. A commoner who spends his days serving nobility," he allowed a small, sad smile. "I do regret the limitations of my station."
Coraline beamed at Cass as he came back to her and she gave him a nod as he spoke to her. "Of course, as soon as we're done here, okay?" she said, understanding him as perfectly as a mother would. She brought Declan over to Io and laid him down on the man's coat, setting in beside him so she could help if he started to get too squirmy. His big beautiful eyes looked up at Io with an expression of familiarity and calm.
The turn of conversation was not one she had expected but one she was excited about nonetheless. She had liked that he had changed 'pressure' to 'desire' but now wondered which was true. She could certainly relate to being limited to your station. She might technically be a noble herself but only barely and was looked down on by those of finer nobility.
"On the contrary, you may be feel limited by your lack of title but you have something that others do not. Connections," she said with a warm and encouraging smile. "You, an incredibly handsome young gentleman, who works among not only nobility but royalty, well you have a leg up that most do not. You can use that to your advantage. I have no doubt you could charm a young lady of interest." She had plenty of words to offer in advice but there were a few things that would be important to know first.
"Do you truly want to start a family or is it more of a 'pressure' as you initially stated? And do you want to marry for love or for obligation at this stage of your life?" There was no judgement in her tone, both were perfectly suitable in their world.
"I deeply appreciate the compliment and your assurance, My Lady," Io dipped his head in a bow. "And I certainly hope they play true."
Io had not thought of it that way before: certainly his many clients among the nobility could help network a meeting with a likeminded woman. He had only been worried that he did not have the chance to meet with potential suitors in his daily life.
At the Baronetess's questions, he paused to give them proper thought. He took a few moments working on Declan's measurements, cooing to the child as he adjusted him and doing his best to elicit the babe's bright infectious giggle.
"I do believe it is a personal desire," he said finally, his thoughts working on sorting themselves. "Whereas, in my youth, my daydreams were concerned mostly with prestige, now I find my fantasies focused on a wife and children. To return after work to a warm home, full of life and companionship. To take my bride out stargazing in the fields, to hear her nitpick about my cooking, to see her face light up at a well-picked gift, and to embrace her in difficult times. To help my children explore the world and find out what they were meant to do in it," Io paused with an abashed chuckle. "Forgive my rambling, My Lady. And certainly I wish to marry for love: I am sure with your position, you have seen as well as I the rifts between nobles marrying for power and titles. It's like they're distant business partners more than spouses. No, I desire to fully devote all of myself to my bride and love, whatever she needs and wants."
Goodness. Her heart practically melted as she listened to the man's dream of the life he hoped to live. It was rare to find such romantic notions in a man. The near visible hearts in her eyes would be hard to miss as she smiled, imagining that kind of life as well. For him of course. For him...and for herself too.
She let out a small huff of understanding as he spoke about marriage being more like distant business partners. Her Augustus had married not for love but for status and she knew at least some of what that marriage was like. Her life wasn't picture perfect by any means. She had yet to marry though she had a teenage son.
"Well, I must say, she will be a very lucky lady," she said kindly. "Would it be a bonus then to marry above your station or does that not matter to you?" she asked with genuine curiosity. "With connections like yours, you could be introduced to many lovely young noble ladies who I'm sure would be more than happy to have a life such as that."
Io paused as he looked back at Lady Gray, returning her smile. She seemed almost as lost in the fantasy as he was: hopefully her suitor, present or future, would be a good match for the kind woman. Certainly she deserved it.
"Again, your words honor me," Io dipped his head. "Honestly...there certainly seem many benefits to having a title. Certainly not above love, but would it be an extra benefit? I would say so. Though I would have to become accustomed to a new name and shed Demeter," he added with a chuckle. "Certainly, though, it would be an honor to carry my wife's name. My only...trepidation in such is my lack of title or land or significant wealth to offer a noblewoman. An aspiring ambitious lady would certainly find more benefit in wedlock with a Count or Baron than a tailor."
Cass was looking at Io as if he had the world's best joke and wished desperately to tell it but with a smile from Coraline he obediently decided not to interrupt and instead moved to grab some parchment and colored chalk to draw. Declan was happy as a clam as he looked up at Io during his measurements and Coraline's gaze fell on the child often enough to make sure that she if she needed to jump in to help that she would do so quickly.
"Perhaps," Coraline agreed, "But many highly ranked men care more about titles and contracts than any real affection for their wives. If the choice is between love and a contract then I daresay many young ladies would lean toward the former, especially if they have the title to carry both her and her husband," she offered her suggestion with a smile. "All I'm saying is it would be worth the effort to give it a shot. You'll never know unless you try and perhaps your soul mate wouldn't be found if you didn't allow yourself to aim for a higher ranking lady. That is, if you believe in such things," she said with a little chuckle.
Post by Io Demeter on Jun 21, 2023 20:29:31 GMT -5
Certainly Baronetess Grey had a point...not all nobility would be seeking riches or prestige. If a genuine connection was important to him, didn't it make sense that it would be important to others as well?
"I greatly appreciate that, My Lady," the tailor nodded. "Perhaps a bit of boldness and confidence are called for."
Io finished up his last measurement with Declan, jotting it down in his pocket journal. He gently lifted the royal babe, one hand supporting his head and the other under his lower back to hand him back to Coraline.
It was a hassle standing from the floor with his disability, but he bore no complaints as he straightened and locked the prosthetic. He put his suit jacket back on, placing his good leg underneath of himself to stand while holding onto a bookshelf for support.
"As always, it has been a pleasure working with my favorite clients," Io said, offering a bow first to Lady Gray and Declan, then to Cass. "And I greatly appreciate your time and advice, My Lady. It is always a joy to speak with such an insightful and kind lady."
"And you, Your Highness," The tailor paused to give Cass another head shake with a hand on his hip. "You'll be taller than me the next time we meet at this rate. Mind Lady Gray and keep up that knight training."
Coraline had known the man long enough to be aware of his prosthetic leg and had seen the pain it had caused him. Still, she never offered to help him when he stood, not wanting to bring any additional attention to it than perhaps he wanted.
"Thank you, good sir. It's always so nice to see you," she said with a kind and genuine tone. Cass waved happily to the man and Declan yawned, it was clearly getting close to nap time.