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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Cerebral Paladin" data-source="post: 3430804" data-attributes="member: 3448">Princess Cecilia’s servants whisked away the plates from the meal.  As they rose from the table, the Queen of Gates began to turn her attention away from her conversation with Princess Cecilia, but Alistair’s aunt knew that he would want more time to talk with Mirabelle.  “Your majesty, let me show you my needlepoint.”  Cecilia took the Queen’s elbow firmly and led her to one of the other chambers in the suite, resolutely ignoring the somewhat stricken look the suggestion had produced.  The guard looked back and forth between Mirabelle and the Queen for several seconds, before finally deciding that he was technically the Queen’s bodyguard and should accompany her. <<Wow.  That was unsubtle, even for Aunt Cecilia.>> Dame Brionna desperately thought back, <<Must keep a straight face.  Don’t make me laugh!>> <<Sorry.>> “Do you have an interest in art besides jewelry, your highness?” “Of course, your grace.” “Perhaps you would like to visit our portrait gallery?  It has many of the finest works on Drucien.” “I would love to, your grace.” <<Don’t worry,>> Kit sent to Dame Brionna.  <> <<Yell if you need me.>> Alistair looked meaningfully at Dame Brionna and raised an eyebrow.  She cleared her throat.  “If you will excuse me, your grace, there are some matters with the Guard that I should take care of, now that dinner has concluded.  Your reverence, perhaps you would be interested in meeting with Bishop Hoggsworthy, the Palace Chaplain?  I’m sure he would be most happy to speak with a fellow Glor’diadelian royal chaplain.” “That would be fine, of course, but…  ah… I’m not sure if I should…” While the chaplain searched for a way to delicately suggest that it might not be proper to leave the two young suitors alone together without impugning either of their honors, Alistair pressed the point.  “Oh, but you must, your reverence.  His Excellence is most interested in ensuring effective cooperation with our coreligionists, and that takes regular contact between the clergy as well as the nobility, you know.  Dame Brionna could take you to his chambers on the way to attending to her duties.” Princess Mirabelle nodded.  “You really should, your reverence.  After all, the point of this dinner is to strengthen our ties to Canberry.  Meeting with the Bishop will help you do your part.” “But…  That is…”  The priest’s shoulders slumped in defeat.  He couldn’t very well refuse what was close to a command from the princess, and he would simply have to hope that the Dowager Queen would not be too upset with him for leaving the princess and the Archduke alone together.  “Yes, your highness.” <<Oh, Brionna!  That poor man doesn’t deserve Bishop Hoggsworthy!>> <<It was all I could think of!>> <<It’s alright.  I just feel bad for him.>> Alistair held out his arm to Princess Mirabelle, and she gently laid her arm on top of his.  They set off for the portrait gallery, gradually edging closer together after they were out of sight of the priest.  Dame Brionna dropped the chaplain off with Bishop Hoggsworthy and quickly looped around to join Kit in the secret passageways through the art gallery.</blockquote>

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