Princess Clara shared a few dances with some eager looking men. Some tried to chat with her, but their choice of conversation topics bored her. Where were the exciting men, the thrill-seekers? As she ended a dance with a stuffy old noble who seemed to be nearing a hundred, her father tapped her on the shoulder and escorted her aside.
"What is it, Father?"
King Ferran IV merely placed his hand against her back and guided her to an alcove, where a tall lean man dressed in blue stood with a painting covered with a cloth. As they approached, he drew the cloth aside to reveal the portrait of a young man around Clara's age. He wore a small crown and was dressed in some ridiculously oversized garments, with a long flowing cape billowing behind him. He had one foot up on a stool as he stuck his head up and gazed majestically off in the distance. Clara did her best not to laugh.
"Your Majesty and Your Highness," the tall man said in an incredibly snooty voice, "I present to you His Royal Highness, Prince Charles de Valois."
King Ferran examined the painting and nodded his approval. He turned to Clara and asked, "What do you think? He seems like a suitable match for you."
"I'd prefer someone a bit more lively than a painting," Clara said with a smirk.
"I must apologize," the tall man said. "His Royal Highness had pressing matters and could not attend in person. He wishes to express his most sincere apologies and his intention to seek your hand in marriage."
Before Clara could speak further, a small entourage entered the ballroom and stormed over towards them. They were led by a man wearing the most elaborate and obviously eastern clothes. The crown on his head seemed to sparkle in the candlelight. People in the crowd moved out of their way and whispered to one another. A few even recognized the leader. Theodoros IV, Emperor of Byzantium, had arrived.
"Your Imperial Majesty," King Ferran said with a smile and polite bow. "I don't believe you've ever visited fair Valencia. Welcome."
It was true. Not once since Hispania become Protector of the Greeks had an emperor set foot in Iberia. Only something incredibly important could have drawn him out of Greece and across the Mediterranean. Clara thought highly of herself, but surely her debutante wasn't that important to the Emperor.
"Let's not doddle around here," Theodoros said, cutting right to the point. "I have something of great import to discuss with you."
The smile on Ferran's face dropped. "Did something happen in Constantinople?"
"Yes," Theodoros said, "you let my city fall to those imposters who claim to be Rome's successor. When my people grudgingly accepted your kingdom as our protectors, we had assumed it meant we would no longer have to fear the heathens that had beaten back our empire or our greedy neighbours to the north. You have indeed done much for us, but lately we have served as the battleground for your wars. The fall of Constantinople was the last straw. It is time you showed us the respect we deserve."
People were muttering nearby. The Emperor was not being subtle at all and everyone nearby could hear the conversation. As for King Ferran, he looked as pale as a sheet. "I apologize for that, but you must understand we had intended to help you by ending the war quickly, which required us to focus on the western front."
"Tell that to the thousands of my subjects who died in the siege of Constantinople."
"Well surely we can work things out...." Ferran was practically cowering in front of the Emperor. He was an imposing man, that was for sure, so Clara kept her distance. This was not her concern.
"My people need a sign that you still respect us," Theodoros said. "I demand that your daughter, Clara, be married to my son and heir, Manuel. This marriage will be the first big step in showing that we are not merely your pawns."
Now this was suddenly Clara's concern. She stepped between her father and the Emperor with a determined look on her face. "You will not make demands of my father. He is king and I am not some piece of meat to be pawned off on your son because you're unhappy."
Clara had hoped to intimidate the Emperor, but he merely laughed instead. "You have quite the spirited daughter. She will make a fine bride for Manuel." With a gentle push, he shuffled Clara aside. "Now, Your Majesty, what say you?"
King Ferran looked back and forth between his daughter and the Emperor, both of whom were giving him a glare that bore into his soul. He cleared his throat and said, "Well I must consider all suitors for my daughter...."
"Choose another at your own peril," Theodoros said. "There have been whispers of rebellion throughout Greece. My people are not happy with our current arrangement. I am not happy with our arrangement. If this marriage does not happen, there will be consequences."
With a spin of his cloak, the Emperor stormed out of the ball.
Clara was not letting this go so easily. "Father, you cannot marry me off to that man's son! You are king and you should not be forced to give in to such demands. It is unbecoming of a ruler."
Ferran shrugged. "Perhaps, but agreeing to his terms would make the problem go away. I shall see what the rest of the court thinks on the matter."
As the king shuffled out into the crowd, clearly much less enthusiastic than before, Clara pouted and slumped down in a nearby chair. She wasn't going to let herself be pawned off like this.
* * * * *
((Private - Spymaster))
The candle guttered, casting wildly dancing shadows across the walls. The spymaster shuffled through the pile of reports, most of which contained nothing substantial.
There was a brief knock on the door before César Ursúa entered. The most recent and most efficient addition to the network agents gave his report and handed over a document before quietly excusing himself.
It seemed a will had come to light that contradicted the claims of the Duke of Almeria to Alicante. Indeed, perusing it the Uncle had left the Duke naught more than an acre of bog. There was bog in Alicante? César had scrawled in the margin 'It refers to the castle latrines'.
Ah such a shame to see such hatred in the world. Maybe the Duke's actions were the Uncle's just reward for his spite. It would also not do for such an esteemed noble, the Grand Admiral no less, be openly revealed as a fraud. Yes it would be best if this had never happened.
The evidence found itself in the fire.
*cough*
