houselydden

[houselydden]

nylah boucher.‌

“I am stunned anyone can appear so somber at such a happy and opulent event,” Nylah remarked, taking a sip of her wine and fighting back the urge to wrinkle her nose. Gondourian wine has spoiled her. “Perhaps some fresh air will do you good? Come, walk with me.”

     fidelis wasn’t sure if he was somber, but he knew he was skirting the edges of the party, not dancing or making more than greetings for the moment. his eyes were on others, observing how people were handling the idea of peace. he smiled gently at who he identified as the queen of gondour. “perhaps it would,” he said, offering his arm after a bow of his head. “you need not ask twice.”

[houselydden]

irina firth.‌

while   she   can    sense    many    are    on   edge   in    regards    to    being    here    –––     irina    couldn’t   be   more    pleased.    she   felt    freer   than    she’d   felt   in     quite   some    time.    and    now    this.    the    music,    the    dancing    …     a    smile    was    quite    permanent    on    her    face.     hands    rested    on    the    skirt    of     her     blue    gown,    “    isn’t   it    all    magnificent   ?   ”    the   princess   was    bewildered    by    extravagance    of    it    all.    “    and    such    lovely    music    for    dancing.   ”

     fidelis wished the joy about him was contagious, but it was easy for him to spot the fakeness in a lot of the people in the room. it was times like these he both relied on and cursed his keen observance. though for the vast array of fakeness and stiff tension, there was an ample amount of hope and joy and that was easy to tell when his eyes landed on the princess of antegra. he smiled, nodding. “ideal for making new acquaintances,” he said, meaning of course other than the ones made through exchanges of war. “at the very least, a preferred way to make acquaintances.”

[houselydden]

amelie dubois.‌

     with  the  children  sleeping  soundly  under  the  watchful  gaze  of  the  governess,  amelie  had  no  qualms  with  attending  the  ball.  not  that  someone  so  accustomed  to  gondour’s  grandeur  would.  still,  even  their  own  parties  were  no  match  to  those  that  brought  all  of  the  royals  together,  far  more  extravagant  than  even  she  could  imagine.  gaze  is  alight  with  delight,  crimson  skirts  twisting  as  the  duchess  maneuvered  through  the  swirl  of  bodies,  for  even  in  her  excitement,  the  room  had  grown  warm  quite  quickly.  seeking  reprieve  out  on  the  balcony,  the  warm  wind  was  almost  comforting.     ❝  it  would  seem  even  the  weather  favors  us  this  evening,   ❞     she  spoke  aloud  to  the  approaching  footsteps.     ❝  it  would  seem  no  expense  is  spared  in  the  plight  for  peace.   ❞

     with much to see and even more words to exchange, fidelis was sure someone would tell him taking reprieve out on the balcony was ill-advised. in truth, it wasn’t his face people needed to see or his words people needed to hear. at least not at this time and for this evening. his efforts were better left to observation, minor friendly exchanges, and contemplation. there was a lot to lose if peace didn’t take, but it wasn’t so simple. pride and hurt still hung heavy in the air and danced about his shoulders. the outside air seemed nice enough for outside contemplation, but when someone else was out there, he realized it was meant for a friendly exchange. he nodded in agreement to both sentiments, looking out into the night beyond the balcony. “i suppose all efforts are worth sparing for such an endeavor,” he said. “as most here would say at the very least.”

[houselydden]

pierre boucher‌.

       𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐆𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐂𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐋𝐋𝐔𝐌 𝐖𝐀𝐒 𝐆𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐃, especially with multitudes of royal families all celebrating. he remembered it larger, though, from his childhood. when someone neared him, he spoke up, smoothing out the wrinkles in his doublet and standing upright.         “if an attack was planned, now would be the most opportune time. i’m beginning to worry someone has something planned. peace isn’t as easily attainable as this, now is it?” or was it?

     fidelis glanced over at the other before he looked forward at the party, keeping to the outskirts at the moment, saving his social energy for spurts. there was much to keep in mind and much to say with careful words. and this instance was no different.

     the words the other said spoke of everyone at the party’s worst fear no matter what side they were on in the peace debate. “i think that’s a thought that’s crossed most everyone’s mind here,” he said, cooly. “perhaps why it won’t happen.”

[houselydden]

tareja bastos.‌

a dozen of fabric stripes held by the servants surrounded the queen, a rainbow of possibilities already materializing in her vision as the delicate fingers touched the pieces of cloth, taking her time as her heart contemplated each one. all the colours screaming in her direction, begging her to choose them as soon as she’d setlled on a different one. commissioning a new gown surely counted as a quest for only the bravest ones; luckily tareja was willing to joyfully undergo the process every other week. “ please, “ an absentminded word aimed at the passerby, the eyes not bothering to inspect who the sound of footsteps belonged to before a dazzling giggle followed. “ would you mind if i requested your help ? which one of them do you find suiting me the best ? “

     fidelis was surprised by the question until he noticed she - who he recognized as the queen of north nabar - wasn’t really looking at him. he thought to excuse himself instead, say he wasn’t exactly an expert on fabrics or something of the like, but he chose to look over the fabrics presented instead, tilting his head to the side as he thought them over. he gave a quick glance to her before motioning a hand out towards the first one. “i’m always partial to olive, which i think would look rather fine on you,” he said, turning to look at her as he spoke. “however this blue reminds me of sapphires and i think that would be most suiting to you.”

[houselydden]

annika ryback‌.

losing the guards constantly sent to follow her had become something of a hobby of hers. it was a test of her creativity at this point and she saw as nothing less than an art form. grand castellum was no different, especially considering she had even more security on her, her family leery about any assassination attempts as they were still unsure of who may have caused her father’s death. she had not been here long and was determined to familiarize herself with the place and the palace. she’d grown convinced that there may be a secret passageaway within the walls. it excited her to think of what ancient secrets and discoveries might be awaiting and her body was practically humming from excitement. she made her way through the grounds, pushing on walls, surveying corridors, and absorbing the architecture and coming to a halt at an immaculately detailed painting. she paused to look at it, hearing footsteps approach. art in large doses made her exhausted and bored but in small ones she liked thinking up the stories behind it and this one…this one was calling to her somehow. “what does this make you think of?” she wondered, head still turned towards the artwork. 

     there seemed to be more to explore than there was to actually do to pass the time. of course, fidelis could always make the effort to speak with people and he was quite good at introductions, but there were only so many he could make with nearly a world of people gathered here. far from home, he chose to become familiar with the old castle instead, for the rest of the day. it still meant he ran into others, especially when he took time to remain stationary to admire a piece of artwork or two. still, he wasn’t bothered when she joined him, quickly glancing to her before he looked back up at what they were discussing. “the countryside,” he answered, before tilting his head from side to side over his words. “but not the one i’m used to in aryndale. one i’ve read about perhaps.”

[houselydden]

i believe that is fidelis lydden, the duke of holestein. they are thirty-eight years old and are known to be very charming & diplomatic, though they can also be very reticent & insecure. they remind me of fine fabrics made into equally fine clothes, books stacked at bedsides and near workspaces, and candles burning out after long evenings until the dawn. written by : ophelia, 25, cst, she/her

tw: familial death

basics.

age: thirty-eight

gender: cis male

sexuality: bisexual

title: duke of holestein

kingdom: aryndale

personality.

positive: charming, diplomatic, protective, diligent, reliable

negative: reticent, insecure, calculating, self-critical, quiet, lonely

star sign: virgo

hogwarts house: ravenclaw

season: winter

element: water

family.

father: former duke of holestein, deceased

mother: noblewoman, deceased

bio.

being the only child conceived and born of his parents, he was their only hope to continue the lydden family and carry on leading holestein. it was a weight he carried from a young age and one that often became pretty suffocating as he was left to being kept shut-in and away from those he would make friendly childhood relationships. it became natural for him to distrust first until that trust was earned just as much as it became easy for him to assume others would think the same or worse of him.

with the death of his parents, both lost to illness, he was left to a large and cold house he’d become too familiar with growing up that only had decorations and furniture and a handful of staff. it left him all too willing to do whatever he could to support the monarchy in the war whenever they asked. eventually, he took the time to step back and not only direct his efforts to what was necessary for the monarchy but for his people to survive the war as well. he poured tirelessly over books and maps and anything he could over strategy and make his choices.

the weight still resting on his shoulders, he married recently to carry on the house name and provide an heir for the holestein duchy. though the marriage isn’t entirely for love, he’s loyal to his wife and protective of their interests. he’s happy to have more light around the house and a reprieve from his loneliness that urges him to make more relations out of his comfort zone.

which is something he sorely needs as he stands to support peace he finds necessary to aryndale and holestein and he’s sure other countries alike.

wanted connections.

connections in court: people he knows and trusts enough to carry on conversations and discuss ideas with. they’re not quite close enough to share the deepest parts of his feelings and desires, but he does share some views with them.

romantic connection: whether they’re his wife or someone else he makes acquaintance with, someone that is supportive and he finds himself drawn to trusting unconditionally.

other connections in holestein/the rest of aryndale: people he knows in the kingdom, but he’s especially loyal and close to the people in his duchy. he makes a point o know each household personally.