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!
Near black hair swung loosely around Meiyings shoulders as she walked down the halls of the castle. A neutrally pleasant smile kept the corners of her lips tipped just slightly upward, and with every passerby of worthy standing she offered the slightest inclination of her head. On any other given day she might not consider herself a mere messenger. The assistants, secretaries, or even the servants could just as easily deliver a letter across Rainecourt castle as she could, but this letter required personal delivery. It's parchment, though the same as any other, might feel a bit heavier to the man with whom she would hand it to.
The contents were not entirely known to her. Though she worked for the Hand of the King and, over the past two years, had become a friend of hers as well, it was none of Meiyings business what answer was given. It was, however, the Hand's further instructions that told Mei all that she needed to know. Uncomfortable silences and awkward feelings were, at times, unavoidable. They bothered her little. She had a job to do, a task to carry out, and she would do it as expected of her.
It helped that she was excited in a way. She would take no pleasure in delivering such a message, but she hoped the following conversation would be a positive one. Some small connection to the military, reignited. The young woman loved her work with Kennet and, by proxy, the King, but she would always value her time in the military as well.
Coming to a stop in front of the office, Meiying rapped at the door twice with two knuckles and awaited her call to enter. The letter, stamped with Kennet Caern's seal, rested in her hands.
Post by Hadrian Usher on Apr 11, 2023 12:58:42 GMT -5
There was, indeed, a single blessing about the events of the past week. Thoughts of Kennet had been eclipsed by the other matters at hand. After all, Lady Delaney’s mere existence had been his constant preoccupation these last five years. To have it reduced to a light tug, even if it was only temporary, was a relief. Her apparent absence hadn’t escaped his notice. Wherever it was he was supposed to be, Kennet wasn’t. Whatever halls he walked, Kennet seemed to avoid. At first, he’d written it off as a coincidence. But now…
Well, there were more important matters to attend to, in any case.
“Come in,” Hadrian responded to the rap on the door without hesitation. He assumed it was one of his officers, there to ask some question (probably a boneheaded one) about the new operations. But when he looked up, he saw a rather unexpected sight instead.
He knew Meiying Meng — well, more knew of her, both from his time in the military and her close work with Kennet. There had been few occasions in which the two had interacted directly, and almost always in passing or in the company of others. To see her now was a surprise. Hadrian stood, as was proper.
“Lady Meng. What an unexpected pleasure,” He paused for a moment, smiling as his eyes momentarily flickered over the woman (though not in an overly lascivious way). Even with Nevermere’s military crumbling around him, Hadrian could always spare a moment to appreciate beauty.
When beckoned, Meiying twisted the knob and pushed the door open gently, following behind it's swing. She closed it behind her, and then as he stood, she used her left hand to lift one side of her simple, dark blue dress just enough to curtsy to him. "Captain Commander Usher, the pleasure is mine." She replied, bringing the letter to touch fingers from both hands once more.
"I hope I'm not interrupting anything too urgent. I know this is an impromptu visit and you are exceptionally busy as of late," she said, glancing around the office. He was alone, at least. Paperwork could wait, but interrupting a meeting would have been an unfortunate turn of events.
Stepping close enough to him, she offered the letter, seal side up. "Lady Caern has requested I deliver this to you personally. While I'm happy to step outside while you read it, I have instructions to speak with you afterward." The polite smile remained on her face, and once he took the letter from her, she would draw her hands behind her back. The two didn't know each other well enough for pleasantries to get in the way. They were both busy people with jobs to do, and it was best to be direct and jump right to the point. Rip the bandage off, as it were.
Post by Hadrian Usher on Apr 21, 2023 14:07:31 GMT -5
“No, please,” Hadrian smiled, “You’re welcome to however much of my time you require. Besides, I know better than to brush off any request from Lady Caern.”
His smile fell when he was offered the letter. A cold, sinking feeling grew heavy in the pit of his stomach. A letter. Kennet had always handled matters personally when it came to their professional relationship. Their personal attachment had no doubt aided in that—or at least, he flattered himself to think so. Hadrian felt as if he were moving in slow motion as he took the letter from Lady Meng.
“That won’t be necessary,” Hadrian said mechanically as he opened the letter and began to read. He read it once. Twice. Three times. But each time the end conclusion was the same.
No.
Hadrian’s chest tightened. He stared at Kennet’s signature as if there might be some riddle—some lie—embedded in its practiced calligraphy. He didn’t know how long he stood in frozen silence, the whole world having dropped away before he crawled back to Meiying and the confines of his office.
He’d lost her. The siren had slipped from his hands. She was gone.
“What does Lady Caern require?” His tone was hollow. Gutted.
You’re welcome to however much of my time you require. Besides, I know better than to brush off any request from Lady Caern. That was expected of Hadrian Usher, given his former relationship with Kennet. But these were words Meiying had heard time and time again. In many ways it made her feel prideful. She was known to be the closest work associate with Lady Caern, who was a Delaney through and through. What more could she have asked for? People gave her their time because they knew they must. Because Kennet's name carried a weight that no one dare deny. Her family, her association with the King, and the power she had managed to cultivate for herself based on her own achievements and prowess, made everyone oblige her and in turn, they had to oblige Meiying as well. At least, when carrying out Kennet's tasks. It did, occasionally, cause her to think, though. How often did people truly allow Meiying their time only for her?
That he allowed her to remain in the office while he read the letter made Mei wonder if he was unsure of what would be inside. Surely he would have been waiting for a response, and no doubt, if Kennet had accepted his proposal she would have let him know in person. Mei couldn't presume to know why she had turned him down. Commander Usher had been devoted to the Delaney's for years. He was a strong man, in a good position, who would likely make a decent husband. But Kennet's decisions were her own, and Mei wasn't one to judge.
As she watched him read the letter, she couldn't help but feel badly for him. Kennet was certainly the most prestigious woman in the kingdom. Any man of noble birth would want to wed her, but Hadrian had been so close. Whatever had happened to prevent their marriage, it seemed to be unexpected and certainly unwelcome. He spent quite some time staring at the letter, maybe trying to understand, maybe hoping the words on the parchment would change if he looked at them long enough. But in the end, they would not change. When he did finally look back up at Meiying, she could only offer him a genuine, sympathetic smile.
"For now, I am to be the liaison between yourself and Lady Caern. The information you would generally provide directly to her, will be provided to me instead. I'm aware that we do not know one another well, but I was a member of the military once and continue to have the utmost respect for it, and your leadership. In turn, I will help provide you with whatever information you may require of our office. Is that acceptable?"
Post by Hadrian Usher on Apr 27, 2023 13:52:15 GMT -5
Hadrian was half in a trance. He’d endured one humiliation after another, yet this blow was worst of all. How could he have been so blind? Kennet had started as nothing more than a whim, a playful fantasy that both of them had indulged in. But he’d tried to make it real, to hold it close so that it might never slip away. And in doing so, it had dissolved. Crushed under the weight of expectation. And now—
“That is acceptable.” He had to force his mouth to move. Something snapped inside Hadrian then. A door he’d let drift open shut and locked once again. Hadrian was quiet again for some time before he dropped back into the present.
“Please…” Hadrian would offer her a seat before sitting himself, “I apologize, Lady Meng, it has been a chaotic couple of days. Please forgive me.” It was a sloppy cover, but it’s all he could muster. He hadn’t missed Meiying’s sympathetic smile, and suspected she already knew, or guessed, what the letter contained.
“Lady Caern should be pleased to know that despite recent setbacks, the timeline for installing Governor Ellis remains unchanged.” Hadrian wouldn’t call her princess, for as far as he was concerned, that point was moot. “I hope that you or Lady Caern will ensure that she is prepared to assume the political appointment while I handle the military logistics. There is no room for error. Tara is walking in to a difficult situation, and must be prepared to navigate it.”
Meiying nodded once when he agreed to the terms. He had little choice, they both knew that, but it was preferable that he maintain civility throughout. She had seen the way men take rejection. It was easier when a father was making the choice, easier to feel that the rejection was not from the one wanted, but the guardian. In this case, Kennet had no guardian. Her choices were her own, and while the King might have had his own opinions on the matter - opinions that Meiying did not pretend to know - ultimately it was the Hand's decision.
But he seemed to carry it with as much grace as possible, so she took the seat offered and lifted both hands for assurance. "There is no need to apologize, Commander Usher. I cannot imagine the weight your shoulders must bear as of late." Indeed, this was likely just the icing on the cake of disappointment, given what had happened at the Ball.
Moving right into work did seem to be best. There was no reason to doddle on things neither person could change. "I'm glad to hear that nothing has changed, despite the loss of Grant Delaney. I admit that his departure has come as quite a surprise, but I trust that you have replaced him with someone equally as capable?" It wasn't doubt that added the questioning tone to the end of Meiying's sentence, but curiosity. "And of course, Lady Ellis will be more than ready. She knows Cambria better than any of us can. With Lady Caern's guidance she will make a fine Governor."
Lips puckering some in thought, Meiying tapped her chin with her index finger. "That reminds me. I believe you had originally intended to send Bex Brekker to Coheed to...rally the lost, shall we say? Have you found someone to replace her?"
Post by Hadrian Usher on May 2, 2023 9:49:28 GMT -5
The weight he had to bear. With so many other things to burden him, why did it feel like Kennet’s rejection was the heaviest of them all?
“Warren Woodwick will replace Grant Delaney. I have no doubt he will see the task through,” Hadrian said with certainty, “As far as Coheed is concerned, @faylin will replace Bex Brekker with the assistance of Kasper Van Zant as her second. Both have been asked to keep an eye on Magda Ivanova. Kennet—I mean, Lady Caern—identified her to me as a person of concern. I’m assuming this remains the case?”
Meiying nodded her approval. Not that Hadrian needed it. "Captain Woodwick and Sergeant Valana are both experienced, well-respected leaders. I think they'll do well in their respective roles. I don't know Sergeant Van Zant very well, but he seems to have served Sergeant Valana well as a pair up to this point."
Though a pleasant smile remained on her face, her eyes narrowed somewhat at the mention of Magda and for a moment, she considered her words. His slip up in referring to Kennet was ignored, as she figured it may happen from time to time when two people had been as they had been. "Yes, she is still a person of interest. She's spending less and less time here and more and more time with her...husband. One might think she's forgotten the pathway home." If there was anything that could bring out a grimace of disgust on Mei's otherwise smooth features, it was disloyalty. While they couldn't quite prove that Magda was defying them in anyway, Mei felt it was bad enough that they were suspicious of her at all.
Regardless, though, she'd take in a slow breath and her narrowed expression would open up once more. "I believe the King pushed you to move forward with the investigation regarding the wine at the ball. Have you found anything out, yet? I admit, I am personally curious. I knew Brekker from my time as a paired soldier, and I suppose I may be looking for anything to grasp at explaining why she would betray us. That said, I had not spoken to her in the last couple of years, so I cannot speak to what her state of mind might have been, regardless of tampered wine or not."
Post by Hadrian Usher on Jun 23, 2023 12:19:55 GMT -5
Her husband. Hadrian had to stop himself from shivering in disgust. He’d fought Coheedsman; both been injured by them and injured and killed them himself. They were barbarians, no matter how docile Nevermere could make them. Like a once feral dog, there was always the chance that it could bite. It was in their nature. But Magda Ivanova was no lady, even if her father had managed to weasel her the title. So in that case, perhaps the match was fitting.
The mention of the wine investigation had Hadrian shift uncomfortably in his chair. It was a failure, he must admit, one of many. He could only imagine what Kennet would say about the sloppiness of the whole thing. Luckily for him, he’d never have to hear it.
“There has been a development…” Hadrian said, straightening in his chair, “It seems that a few junior soldiers took it upon themselves to tamper with the wine. A little too much fortitude potion helped grease the gears of chaos, it would seem. It wouldn’t be enough to turn someone mad; I do still believe Brekker was still a liability, the potion just revealed it. But…” He sighed, scratching his beard, “Certainly the revelation the wine was tampered with is…problematic.”
From the standpoint of someone who had once been a younger soldier, Meiying was not entirely unfamiliar with the concept of innocent pranks. Plenty had been played on others while she was in the service, though she'd never personally pulled any pranks herself. She thought them to be a waste of time and effort, effort that could be put elsewhere, to good use. But most had been committed merely for fun, and she didn't doubt that the soldiers who had spiked the wine had done so for the same reason. They likely thought it'd be interesting to see officers acting without inhibition, making a fool of themselves for once.
Unfortunately, they failed to take into account the bigger picture. Because of them, a boy had been killed, two others injured, and at least one secret had been exposed. Intent meant little in the face of such circumstances. "I agree, Commander. A fortitude potion, no matter how strong, cannot create what is not already there. It merely eliminated Brekker's ability to reason with the possible outcome. I wonder if she still would have done it had she known where it would take her?" A grave was not good enough. The woman deserved worse for what she had done, but that they would never know her reason...that was something that would haunt the Nevermeran military for some time.
"It's good that the truth has come out and the culprits have been caught, however. While it is an uncomfortable truth, it means we can now move forward and learn from our mistakes."
A delicate finger tapped at the center of her bottom lip thoughtfully as she looked the tired man over. "Much of your leadership aid will be gone once they have shipped out to Coheed or Cambria. That will spread you thin. It would be a lot of work for anyone, even you. Do you intend to promote anyone else, perhaps bring anyone in to help you, even if only temporarily?"
Post by Hadrian Usher on Jul 3, 2023 17:25:07 GMT -5
Learn from our mistakes. Hadrian couldn’t even begin to number the ones that had surfaced in recent days. In his most desperate moments, he rather wondered if he was an old man gone senile, no longer fit for command. But then he remembered Logan—how much he’d resented him when he walked away. No. Hadrian could continue to serve to the best of his ability until the king no longer thought him the right man for the role.
“Lieutenant Abbot has proved helpful in recent days. He’ll be staying in Nevermere in the coming season. Vesper Delvaux has also proven helpful—though not a trainer, she’s a valuable set of eyes and ears. Some as for others?” Hadrian sighed, “Perhaps new leadership will emerge. Goddess knows we need it.”
He looked up at Mei, smiling sadly, looking more like an exhausted old man than a formidable commander. Hadrian’s mouth opened, then closed as if he thought better of what he was going to say. Then, it seemed he couldn’t help himself.
“How is she? The last time you saw her…how did she seem?”
Meiying nodded as he told her who would be aiding him. It still didn't seem like enough. Though a fair share of soldiers were being sent to Coheed and Cambria, others would be returning home. Everyone would have to be on the same page again, and those coming back wouldn't have much of a clue about what happened at the ball, or why the changed were being made. It would be a shock, to say the least, and that didn't include those being newly recruited.
"I believe Lieutenant Aldrich Abbott will continue to be useful. I spoke with him recently, and he's very devoted to your plans. As for Lady Vesper Delvaux , I'm delighted to see her back. I admire her greatly, and I think she's a wonderful addition to your team. My time in the navy may have been short, but even I know that nothing gets past her."
As for hoping that new leadership would emerge, Meiying agreed with that as well. It was the natural order of things, that when those of rank or strength were gone, others had more room to rise to the occasion. "I'll keep an eye out as well. There are a couple of officers that I believe have potential, but I don't want to speak too soon. Once the others have gone, we'll see if they'll step up to help or continue to follow the lead."
She had no more questions regarding the changes being made, the staff, or his plans. She was going to stand and excuse herself when he seemed ready to speak again, so she waited to see what he might say. When he finally did speak, that sympathetic smile returned to her lips. "It's hard to say, Commander," she said, resting against the back of the chair and letting go of some of the propriety that kept her back straight. "You know as well as I that she is not a woman who allows herself even the slightest weakness. Regardless of her feelings, she always looks the same: flawless, steady, and sure. I will say that she has taken more time to herself in the last few days. I did feel that she was trying to make a decision that weighed heavily on her, I simply did not know what that decision was meant to be until today. It was not with ease that she asked me to deliver that envelope to you."
She met his eyes, hoping to see that her words offered him some kind of comfort. "Some of us," she continued, a little more quietly, more pensively, "are simply bound to serving others before ourselves." In Meiying's eyes, Kennet had chosen the kingdom over love. It didn't mean that the choice hadn't hurt her, that she didn't care for the man that sat on the other side of the desk. Just that she was not in a position to let her feelings interrupt that devotion.
Like Kennet, and like @alinore , and even like Vesper, Meiying had also devoted more to the Kingdom than she ever had her own desires. It wasn't so simple for women to become great. Hadrian, even at his age, was still considered a fine marry. A good potential husband. A catch. But, at Meiying's age, finding a suitable marriage partner was difficult. The women, in achieving that greatness, had sacrificed their so valuable youth. Yet it was a sacrifice she would make again and again.
Post by Hadrian Usher on Jul 8, 2023 12:48:06 GMT -5
Hadrian nodded at Meiying’s offer to keep her eye out for talent. He did not know the woman well, but if Kennet trusted her judgement, so did Hadrian. One could say many things about Lady Caern, but without a doubt she had a discerning eye when it came to who to trust and value.
The blindspot of Magda Ivanova notwithstanding.
Hearing about Kennet was painful but necessary. Pain was the predecessor to healing, as any soldier knew. He couldn’t decide if it were a comfort or an insult to hear that she seemed steady. He allowed his brow to furrow, eyes meeting Mei’s when she offered her quiet advice.
For a moment, the Commander looked rather vulnerable. It was the truth of her words that hit home. He could almost smile, knowing it was exactly the sort of thing Kennet might offer, if he had been someone else in a situation she saw as a third party. There was gratitude in his gaze, one that he let sink in for a moment before words he should not have said dropped from his lips.
“Should you ever find yourself free of an evening, Lady Meng, I would be delighted if you’d join me for dinner. It’s—” Hadrian huffed a little with laughter, shaking his head, “Strange to find oneself without company or good conversation. And for better or worse, I’ve always been a man to think aloud.” Already he was embarrassed by his invitation, but he did not retract it.
Meiying had never been in the position that Hadrian Usher was. She'd never allowed herself to become wrapped up in romance, too aware that her father would make the ultimate decision of who she was to marry. So she was happy to see him shift from a look of vulnerable sadness to one more of acceptance. Her role had never been to comfort those around her, but the sensation wasn't a negative one.
His offer, though, had her slowly moving to sit up again, back straightening once more. She licked her lips and tilted her head, studying him. There didn't seem to be any ulterior motive, nothing devious in his eyes or his tone. She had no desire to get involved with anyone looking to use her to get back at the woman she spent the majority of her time with. Hadrian Usher didn't seem the type, but Nevermere was a place of a shadow. If the ball hadn't taught it's citizens anything, at the very least it should have taught them not to accept a person at face value. Just because he knew how to look genuine, didn't mean he was. It was their jobs, Kennet and Meiying, to see what was behind the eyes.
By the same standards, one could not assume that someone was dishonest based solely on the opportunity to be so. The Commander was a man who lacked an heir to carry on his Name, and his hope for marriage had just been dashed. Like most noblemen, he would continue to search until he found a woman to marry.
A second rejection now would ensure he never asked again the future. She'd shared an incredibly vulnerable moment with him, and though she honestly felt that his invitation had come from a desperate need to recover, her father would scold her for seasons if she ruined her chances so quickly. Mei would have to speak to Kennet first, but ultimately, the decision was not hers to make. So she met his eyes and smiled. "I can always make time for you, Commander Usher, and it would be my pleasure. You would first have to speak with or write to my father in order to get his permission, of course, but if you are serious in your invitation, that should not worry you. I can say without question that my father would be delighted to hear from you."