The suites of Nikki L'Evienne, situated in the heart of the Imperial Palace were guarded. Had she had her way, they would not have been, and she'd have liked nothing more than to have the freedom of the Palace. Unfortunately, her oaf of a brother wasn't having any of it, so Nikki had to content herself with simply outwitting him at every turn.
The large double doors open into what was the drawing room. This room was separated from the rest of Nikki’s suite by a single pair of doors, to the left of the room, towards the outer corner of the Palace. The drawing room itself was decked out in muted reds and golds in the upholstery and dark plank floors with a large plush carpet taking up the most of them, its subtle design made of similar colors adding dark blues and shades of green. The walls were eggshell, the beveled ceiling accessorized with dark, ornate wood trim. A low couch and a pair of overstuffed upholstered chairs were arranged before a low oval table; and again before a marble hearth and mantle, dark blue itself and shot through with gold veins. And aside of that, a small cabinet with a number of decanters and glasses arranged on its marble surface. A single chandelier hung from the ceiling, and while unlit, its teardrop crystals picked up a faint rainbow of color from what natural light found its way into the room.
A fainting couch was positioned along another wall next to a row of bookshelves that were somewhat sparsely stocked, and a pair of chairs were positioned next to a small ornate table that itself sat next to the lone, medium sized window in the drawing room which looked out over the parklands below, given she’d been provided a corner room in the wing. A lone lamp was burning faintly, an ornate thing fixed to the wall above the fainting couch, and there were flowers in several vases placed throughout the room, most of which held roses from the gardens of the Palace themselves. All the same, there was no lack of natural light in the room, given the window’s position was such that it bathed the drawing room in the soft light of the outside. What lay beyond this drawing room was something that the serving staff knew but the bedroom of the sister of the Regent was a well kept secret.
But first, there are those two guards.....
Description of apartment stolen outrageously from the writings of Milo L'Evienne!
Last edited by Nikki L'Evienne; September 28, 2007 at 08:55 PM.
Twenty Second Brightening of the Third Cycle in the Month of Ponutis in the Season Spring; Era I of the Celestine Mandate, Era XIII
Post Fractum. The First Era of the Regency of Milo L'Evienne
A letter arrived in a fine white piece of paper curled around and sealed with a round emblem of the Ministry of War.
Secrets :
To the Lady Nikki L'Evienne;
I do send greetings from the western realm, it is not often that I have time to spare. However I recall our meeting outside of prime last spring during the horse fair and I was wondering if you would enjoy a dinner with me.
It has been sometime before I have been at the capital and I recall you speaking well of your brother's home and would be honored to have you for dinner."
Timestamp: 23rd Brightening of Melora, Winter, Era XV
In the Palace.
Knock, knock
"Hang on a moment!" came Nikki's voice and she skipped to the doorway. There, in front of her, was the Imperial Court Artist and Portrait-Painter. Nikki fondly thought of him as Queintain The Overly Camp, but his name was Queintain Campbell, which was a cause for some hilarity.
"Queintain! Lovely to see you!" she said, or at least she almost managed to get the words out before she was wrapped in an embrace from said Court Artist. "Your Royal Highness, you are as beautiful as ever, and it is such a pleasure to see you!" gushed the human. Nikki bit back a raised eyebrow as she looked at him and then she ushered him in and nodded to a chair.
"Queintain, now, I have a job for you. It isn't going to be easy, but I want you to paint me a portrait of myself, Milo and our sister Valanthia. You will have to do it from memory, and I want it done as something that he will remember with fondness, not some stuff-shirt old thing. Can you do that?"she asked, looking at him carefully. He nodded, and produced a piece of parchment with a flourish.
"Your Royal Highness" he gushed, as Nikki wished he wouldn't bloody call her that "Let us plan....."
.... and so, heads meeting together over the table, that is how Nikki L'Evienne spent the afternoon. Plotting with Queintain the Overly Camp on a present for her beloved brother.
When he left, they agreed the date that it would be ready and Nikki hugged him once more. "Thank you, Queintain" she said, honestly and the human smiled before he practically skipped out of the door with a job to do.
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Her Royal Highness, Princess Nikki L'Evienne. Public Relations Officer to The Palace
Nikki had summoned the Royal Jeweller to her room. In truth, she was not yet tired of summoning people and having them come. She was careful to always have a reason and in truth, she had not done it often, but she'd needed to srot out her offices and so on and so it had been necessary.
However, this was purely pleasure and so she scampered to the door as it was knocked and she beamed at the woman who was there. "Thank you for coming to see me" she said, and smiled gently. The woman dropped a curtsy and replied "It's my pleasure, Your Highness" Nikki walked into the room with her and sat down.
"We're going to a birthbrightening party in two cycles... and I have something that I'd like you to make, please. I'll be paying for it myself, and there are specific details that I'd like you to include"
Nikki laid out her description and the jeweller nodded, raising an eyebrow slightly. "That will be... " Nikki nodded, and shook her head "I know.. it'll be costly. But it's what I'd like and I need to know if you can do it?" The jeweller nodded and Nikki grinned.
"Alright then. Let's get it done"
Two cycles later....
... the brightening of the party, and Nikki hoped to all the gods that these things were going to be there. And then, at the appointed time, there was a knock on the door and Nikki answered it with a grin. The jeweler stood there and Nikki ushered her in. There were three boxes in the jeweler's hands. Each box was black, covered in velvet. She opened each one in turn and then smiled up at the jeweler. "Thank you" she said, quietly, her eyes filling slightly at the sight of the contents of the three together. "Thank you so much. It's.. they're perfect"
Secrets :
She has ordered the following.
Box 1: A set of jewelry which is currently of the right size to be worn by a child. This consists of a necklace and a bracelet. They are crafted in gold. The necklace has a small diamond locket attached to it. The locket can be opened and has space inside it for two small pictures, or locks of hair, etc.
The bracelet that was in the child's set was also gold, with a group of diamonds along the front of it. It was beautiful and sparkling, and had a clasp that meant that it would grow with the baby, fitting her as snugly when she was a baby as when she was an adult.
Box 2: A Gift for Atl's Wife:
A locket, the same as the babe's.
Box 3: A Gift for Atl
A locket, the same design as the ones for his wife and child. His is a circle, rather than heart-shaped. Inside it, though, when it opens, there are two heart-shaped spaces.
I have deducted 3,000 crowns for these - having checked out jewelry shoppes and stuff, that seems like a reasonable amount!
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Her Royal Highness, Princess Nikki L'Evienne. Public Relations Officer to The Palace
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