(Joint post with Stander)
CW :: Partial nudity and seggsual tensions
In his chamber, filled on all four corners with luxuries that match that of the one occupied by Hera, Lukas stood in his sleeping robes, on his hand a cup of wine that he had been sipping since early morning. As he sipped, he thought of the day that still awaits him - one that he must face in but a few short hours. He’s been the organiser of all of the events, orchestrating them like a theater act but still he was frightened of the ramifications and consequences if things were to somehow go awry.
It was then that he heard a knock on the door - four to be exact, a pace that he’s known to be that of one of his trusted agents - his “Man in Suit”. Making himself more decent, and presentable by adjusting the rope, he walked towards the door and opened it.
“Yes?” He asked with his eyebrow raised, his body leaning against the frame of the hardwood door.
“Domine Nordin had requested that I personally inform you of his wish……” The agent spoke, only to be interrupted, and cut off by an impatient Lukas as he lets out a sigh.
“…that he would like for me to get ready. Isn’t that right, Nils?” He asked him, closing his eyes and rolling them, his body language clearly expressing disastisfaction.
“That is….correct, Domine,” Nils responded, his gritting on his teeth silently as he looked at him.
“You’ve done well, Nils,” he told him as he began to close the door, “You may retreat. And, inform the ground staff that I shall be present in thirty-five minutes, sharp.”
“As you wil-” before Nils could finish his sentence, the door closed before him, forcing to him to retreat downstairs where he still has lots of businesses to attend to himself. Life had never been easy in the Wustenkreis, and the place had always been busy enough for one to think that the word ‘relaxation’ exists not at all in the Crimpatein dictionary.
Once again left alone, Lukas walked towards his closet and opened it, looking within for a suit that would fit him - something that the staff could later adjust if they so wishes. He wanted something that conforms to the event, and regal enough to establish his position as Hera’s equal. For that, he found the perfect outfit - a scarlet tunic with golden facings and lapels the ribbons of which accommodated his dressings rather well, all topped off with small medals that he’s won for the sake of making things more…ornamental.
Satisfied with his outfit, he grabbed what he needed and moved to the dressing corner of his room and changed, making sure that everything fitted him well before exiting to look at himself in the mirror of his vanity. Looking at himself, he was rather satisfied with how he looked only to let out a smile. After all, did he not spend an entire hour that early morning working on making sure that he’d look good on those cameras?
With his outfit done, his makeup already finished beforehand, he checked the clock and see that he still had plenty of times before his arrival’s expected. Still, he decided to go regardless to visit someone first.
Walking through the corridors of the palace, and intentionally avoiding servants or staff so as to avoid those tiresome interactions, he needed to the chamber housing Hera and stood before the door, giving it a few firm knocks and waited.
“Come in!” She called out as she admired the view of the palace’s garden.
Opening the door, and freely entering, he was shocked by the sight of what she wore, so much so that he had to instinctively turn his head around. It was…strange for him to be behold her dressed in such a way with a translucent robe that seemed to him highly inappropriate for him to look at.
“I-I…” he stuttered, closing his eyes with his body turned away from her, “…I don’t think it is appropriate for me to be here.”
“I don’t mind at all,” she chuckled, turning around. “It’s not violating for me to see a man here. You can look at me.”
With great worries and a hint of hesitation, he turned around to look at her, though still too frightened to look at her in her eyes. “I-I…uhm,” he stuttered on his own words - something that he could not quite believe himself, “I…came to tell you that the event is beginning soon…”
“Oh?” She tilted her head, “I should get ready, then.”
“Oh, and, Scheherazade….” he told her, his eyes still trying to steer away from her figure, “…You look beautiful.”
“I…” she looked down, her hand moving to place a lock of her hair behind her ear. “…thank you…I could say the same for you~”
The way that her presence gave him such immense pressures was strange to him, something that he had rarely ever felt before in his life but still, he perished the thought that things might advance to such a point. “My thanks, Scheherazade,” he told her with a kind nod, “Would you like for me to stay or retreat to the main hall before you?”
“I need help with my dress,” she smiled. “If you’d like to help, you can stay.”
“Oh?” He raised an eyebrow, feeling incline to approach her enough to see her figure more clearly. He understood that dresses are hard to wear alone, but yet still he couldn’t quite shake the thought that she wanted something more, his paranoia eventually led him to the suspicion that it might be related to the grander scheme of the negotiation.
“Where is your dress?” He asked her, hand almost placed on her before he pulled them away, his mind only then reminding him of how inappropriate it would’ve been.
“It’s here, wait,” she said, walking over to the closet where she took a dress out of its case. It was a black dress with a tulle skirt and had two pieces of cloth covering the chest area but keeping the middle exposed. The skirt had two slits and was laced at the back. Placing the dress down, she untied the ribbon of her robe and let it fall to the floor.
His heart almost dropped when he saw her robe fall down onto the floor, so much so he gasped lightly, only to turn his head aside in embarrassment, his young freckled face already red with a blush. His feet carrying him towards her, he kept himself there, waiting to see if she needed him to do anything to help.
Her put on the dress and the straps, the only thing needed was for her to take off what she was wearing to cover her chest. Throwing it onto the floor, she covered her chest with the dress, awaiting for Lukas to lace it up for her.
He felt like his nose was bleeding when she began to unrobe herself in such a way before him, though still, he steeled himself and moved on, not wanting her to know how he feel. Closing his eyes though still leaving a gap small enough for him to see her dress, he began to help her lace up the dress that he wore until it had been neatly done.
Finally deeming it appropriate, he opened his eyes and looked at her in her glamorous and rather dashing dress. “You look more beautiful than I thought, Scheherazade~” he smiled, though still fearing that she might misinterpret something that he wouldn’t want.
Turning around, she smirked, “Oh~?”
“Indeed,” he chuckled, trying to hide the blush still lingering on his face from her, “You’d be in the presence of Crimpateia’s most powerful, and soon, the people of your country as well. You’ve most definitely left a lasting image in my eyes~”
“I could say the same for you, Lukas~” she giggled.
He could feel sweat slowly pouring inside his attire though still he tried his best to soldier on, keeping the mood calm and composed if only to last through the first day of the three-day visit.
“The banquet should be prepared,” he told her, swallowing any fears or hesitation that he might had, “Would you like for me to keep you accompanied?”
“That would be wonderful,” she smiled. “Lead me on~”
Holding her hand, he stayed by her side as they both began to walk out of the room and downstairs the same hall that had greeted her the previous day, both sides of the grounds flanked by, not soldiers,nbit tables of different food from Crimpatein and Sayqidi cuisines. Already nobles, industrialists and the rich from Crimpateia along with journalists from various news outlet, and a few faces she could recognize to be part of her entourage were present, chatting up one another only to grow silent when Lukas walked into the room.
“Dominus Noster,” they bowed down to greet her, only to return to their routine when he raised a hand to signal for them to do so.
Leading Hera to an empty table where prepared for just the both of them in the corner where they were to enjoy their meal in quiet.
“I hope Wustenkreis is to your liking,” he said, pulling out her chair for her to sit.
She smiled and took her seat, placing a hand on her chest as she looked up at him and smiled. “Thank you.”
He nodded politely in return, taking a seat opposite of her as the servants soon arrived with plates of food for the both of them. For the duration of it, his eyes locked onto her and occasionally broke away only to look back at her again. It was beginning to become unbearable for him, so much so that his mind was begging him to find a way to break off the tensions.
“So many things depend on this visit for you, don’t you think?” He asked her, a sigh leaving him, “They’ll be laying out the negotiating table tomorrow….”
“Yes, it’ll be very stressful,” she sighed. “I just hope we could get through it,” she smiled.
“Our countries’ are polar opposites at the negotiating table,” he gritted his teeth, with hesitation lifting up his fork to eat, “You’re a sweet girl, Scheherazade, and I don’t want to hurt you with it.”
“It might happen,” she shook her head. “But I must be strong.”
“Do you know of Crimpateia’s demands,” he asked her, his eyebrows raised as he wonderd if she knew of where his country stood and that he’d follow it firmly - having been one of the architects of such demands in the first place.
She only gave a nod.
“Good,” he nodded along, continuing to eat his food, flushing it down with a glass of wine from a bottle that he had poured for her some as well, “I just hope you don’t hate me for it.”
She took a sip of the wine, nodding in thanks. “You’re a nice young man, Lukas, I doubt I would.”
It was then that he looked at her, his eyes deeply piercing hers as if wanting to see into her minds and spy upon thoughts. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have brought it up,” he chuckled, his hand moving forward to grab a small handkerchief though accidentally missing it and touching her hand instead.
Hera blushed at the feeling, “I- don’t worry about it.”
Quickly pulling his hnd back, though ot before grabbing the handkerchief which he used to mask his blush by pretending to wipe something from his mouth. “For something more lighthearted,” he chuckled, “Your sister, Antaram’s pretty huge around here, y’know.”
“Oh? I thought people didn’t like her,” she chuckled and smiled.
“You’ve clearly rarely been to Crimpateia before,” he chuckled, a hand moving down to his pocket to grab his phone and showing the back to her. “Sahar,” he chuckled, looking at it with joy, “Sayqidi brand.”
“Sahar has one of the most expensive phones, I’m surprised they sell it here,” she smiled.
“You’d be surprised about so many things here,” he chuckled, grabbing his phone and putting it back inside his pocket, “Crimpateia now isn’t the one that invaded your country some fourty years ago. Though, still, as Optimil, I feel inclined to apologize~”
“Oh~?” She raised an eyebrow, “For something this grave, a word of apology simply isn’t enough. You need to show me you’re sorry~”
His eyes steered away from her for a split second, a smile on his face before returning to her. “Perhaps you’d care to accept my invitation for a private dance tonight?” He asked, “No enemies I know of ever sway with one another~”
She let put a giggle, “I’d love that.” She let out a gasp, “But how would I know you won’t kill me in your chambers~?”
“Well, we haven’t killed you yet so that’s a reassurance~” he chuckled, his eyes breaking off from her to look at the banquet where soldiers, politicians, industrialists, and journalists, almost all of whom Crimpatein were conversing.
Hera leaned forward gazing at him and biting her lip slightly. She had already finished her meal, and she was waiting on him.
The way that she looked at him did not escape him, for it seemed like her intentions were already clear to him, though, he supposed that he would’ve also fallen right into such a trap if she was the one who’s springing it. “If you do good on this interview, I might even reward you~” He giggled, breaking away to tap on his mouth with the handkerchief.
“What would be the reward, Lukas~?” she raised an eyebrow.
“I’m a cruel, cruel man, Scheherazade,” he smirked a confident smile, the way that he looked at her already giving her an impression of what he might do, “I like to tease and keep people guessing~”
“You are cruel,” she pouted, leaning back and crossing her arms.
“An assurance that I could give to you now is the promise that it’ll be something that the both of us would remember forever~” he giggled, standing up and extending his hand, “Perhaps we should vacate the table now that we’re done and get ready for the interview?”
“We shall,” she smiled as she stood up and took his hand.
He led Hera away from the table as the banquet slowly began to die down, the reports and journalists beginning to enter their pre-assigned seat on the chamber besides the hall. To a private chamber besides the backstage they went where servants were rushing back and forth to either prepare the stage or the accommodations, Lukas closed the door behind the both of them as he exhaled sharply.
“You’re ready?” He asked her, “We’ll both be on that stage.”
“as really as I’ll ever be,” she took a deep breath.
“Good, good,” he nodded his head nervously, himself scared of the occasion even as he’s always appeared as confident as could be on-screen, “Would you like something to drink before we do?”
“Please,” she nodded.
Walking towards a small water dispenser at the corner of the room, he placed a small glass at the mouth of the tap and pressed the blue button, cool water pouring into the cup. Moving back to her, he handed her the cup, and smiled, “it’s not poisoned if it ressures you more.”
Chuckling, she gave him a thank you before taking a sip
“And now you shall feel a burning sensation running down your throat as your body quivered and your blood boil,” he chuckled as he walked towards the door, “By this time, you should’ve already collapsed!”
She let out a laugh before walking with him. “That made me feel better, thank you.”
Chuckling along with her, he opened the door to the chamber and let the noise of thye crowded conference before them flush in again, “Come on, Scheherazade, greatness awaits~”
Entering the chamber, she took a deep breath, waiting for the interview to begin.
As she walked into the room, the two dozens or so reporters began to stand up, their recorders crews beginning to roll the tapes as the flashes from their cameras lit up the room.
“Emira Scheherazade! Domine Steudler!” They shouted their names as they stood up, their mics trying to capture even the smallest noises that they’d make before being calmed down by the guards.
Lukas walked up to the podium and assumed a corner where the Crimpatein seal split the stage in half, the other one close by to be assumed by Hera. His eyes casting downwards to the camera and the reporters, he steeled himself for what was to come, looking over to Hera with anxiety as to how she’d do
She smiled at the cameras and waved to all of them, awaiting the first question.
The first reporter allowed to stand up was a woman who was familiar to Hera - a certain young woman with a confident smile, the name plaque on her chest reading Fatima Al Sataar. She had been with her for many conferences, and, perhaps it would be reassuring for her to see a face that she knew.
“Emira Scheherazade,” Fatima bowed down slightly before beginning her question, “What are your goals here in Crimpateia?”
A grin on her face seeing Fatima, she tilted her head. “My goals here is to establish friendly relations with the republic, at the very least remove the threat of war.”
“I see,” Fatima nodded, writing something down on her notepad before moving onto her second, and, perhaps final question as her two minute allowance began to run, “How do you intend on doing so?”
“First of all,” she began, “We’ll come into certain agreements that prevent aggression on both sides. Then, I will begin the use of programs like student and cultural exchange.”
Nodding, and scribbling down notes on her pad before finally, she was just about to ask her another question before she was forced to sit down as her time allowance ran out. Replacing her was a young man named Mathias representing the more liberal outlet from the country - Linken.
“Emira Scheherazade,” He began, looking at his notes one more time, “How do you intend on resolving the issues relating to the Sheikhdom of Dhoran?”
“Dhoran undoubtedly has a people sacred to us,” she began. “But until an agreement has been made on how the situation should be resolved, it rests in Crimpateia’s hands.”
“It is my priority to make sure there will be no casualties, both civilian and non-civilian, on either side.”
Noting down the answers, Mathias bowed slightly to thank Scheherazade for her answer before turning to look at one of the leaders of his country - Lukas. “May we be informed of our nation’s stance regarding the ongoing dispute, Domine Steudler?”
“I would like to reiterate again that Crimpateia’s foremost goal is to preserve peace in region, and come to an agreement for the disputes related or unrelated to the Sheikhdom of Doran,” He said with confidence, “Though it is our priority to prevent bloodshed, it is Crimpateia’s rights as a sovereign nation to defend ourselves, and, as such, any and all measures shall be taken if that sovereignty is to be intruded by any parties.”
It was then that the time allowance for Mathias ran dry, himself replaced by Kinzler - a woman from the far-right Crimpatein outlet, Stärke, whose stance had been relatively belligerent to Sayyed since the start.
“Emira Scheherazade,” the Kinzler began, standing up, “What are your comments regarding the justification of Sayqidi violations into Crimpatein waters and the prompt responses provided by Crimpatein authorities?”
“As much as Crimpateia is entitled to their right of defending their land and waters, Sayyed has the same rights. While I will always be apologizing for the violation, we are exercising what the treaty gives us,” she nodded.
Nodding and scribbling down the answers on her notepad, she flipped the page to find a related question that she was hoping could corner Hera. “Emira Scheherazade, what are your comments regarding the fifty-two sailors of the Sayqidi tanker numbered 3325 currently held by Crimpatein naval authorities? Do you have a course of action to have them released from captivity?”
“Discussions on this matter will be held,” she leaned her head back.
Just before she could ask another question, her time allowance ran out and she was forced to sit down with apprehension. Replaced by a reporter from the centrist Sayqidi newspaper - Al Talin, an older man in his late fifties dressed in a formal suit, he stood up and forward his mic to Hera.
“Emira Scheherazade, regarding the build-up at the border by Crimpatein forces, and the discussions at the Council of Pashas regarding the usage of military power via the Imperial Armed Forces, have you decided on which side to support or is it your will that the negotiations move forward first?”
Think, think, think. Hera inhaled deeply before turning to the reporter. “I feel like the top priority is the negotiations as of this moment.”
Lukas stay there on his side of the podium, trying to process the information that he had just heard and calculated his next answer so that it would counterweigh Hera’s. Before he could ponder upon anything more the mic turned to him,
“Domine Steudler, what are your stances regarding the Sheikhdom of Dhoran and the ongoing dispute?”
Without needing a deep breath, he confidently turned to the camera and began to answer, “It is Crimpateia’s stance to defend her territories from violations originating from an alien state. The Sheikhdom of Dhoran is an inseparable part of Crimpateia, and, as such, shall not be relinquished. Any and all attempts to dispute this shall be frustrated, with arms if necessary.”
Before the reporter could ask another question their time allowance just like the others had ran out as well. And so the final person on that day came up, a young woman whose face bore no resemblance to the others in the room. Badge on her chest shows clearly that she belongs to the Commonwealth Post - a public relations officer of the Mirhaimian Realm Defence Forces.
“Emira Scheherazade,” she bowed lightly before extending her mic. “What are Sayyed’s stance regarding the disputes surrounding conflicting territorial claims between the two states?” She asked, “Do you believe that the negotiations will bare fruit and help both sides resolve them?”
“We pray that it does,” she smiled. “We cannot promise or guarantee anything until the negotiations end,” she tilted her head at the reporter.
It will stand that the reporter turned her eyes to look at Lukas, her mic moving to his side so that she could ask him the final question of that day. “Domine Lukas,” she began, “what are Crimpateia’s intentions regarding the deployment of the Republican Army? Is it a goal for such display of force to be leveraged at the negotiating table?”
Lucas himself was impressed by the question if only by a little bit as he thought of what had happened for the past few months of how many divisions has been pushed to the borders and told to set themselves up.
“It is not our intentions to militarize the border nor engage in combat with Sayqidi armed forces. We are currently practicing our rights as a sovereign state by way of deploying our soldiers within our national boundaries.” He answered with confidence before closing it up.
Having understood that her time had run out along with the session of the conference, the reporter sat down and looked back at her notes asking her photographer to show her the ones that he’s taken. Before she could catch a glimpse, the guards had already ordered everyone to vacate the premises and for the cameras to terminate the recordings.
Having gotten what they wanted, the reporters soon left the room and headed out, leaving Lukas to guide Hera back into the private chamber where they were to relax. Closing the door behind him he sat on the chair by the entrance and sighed with a smile.
“Well that was tense,” he chuckled, “wouldn’t you ageee?”
“It was,” she giggled, sitting down on the chair next to him.
“You’ve done remarkably well though,” he chuckled, leaning back against his seating before turning his head to look at her, “Perhaps that reward might be in order~”
“Oh~?” She giggled. “What would that reward be~?”
“Perhaps you’d care to join me in my chamber for the dance and we’ll both find out~” he smiled, bringing himself closer and closer towards her with every word that passed through his lips.
“I’d love to~” she smirked, as she looked deep into his eyes.
And, so, he approached her closer and closer to the point where their lips were mere inches away before, with a sharp turn, pulled himself back. “Perhaps I’d bring wine to lighten the mood~” he chuckled, a smirk on his face to let her know that that was still part of his tease.
He was killing her with the teasing and she wanted things to happen now. She giggled, “I’m thirsty~”
“Exalted be those with patience~” he chuckled, standing up from his seat to adjust his attire, “Perhaps if you’d wait, I’d make it more special~”
“Then I shall wait~” Hera giggled, crossing her legs.
Turning away from her with a smirk hidden on his face, he walked towards the door, song crossed and extended only to twist the knob and open the entrance so that he may leave. Just before he departed he turned back to look at her one final time “See you then, Scheherazade~” before disappearing out of sight, leaving her to ponder more upon that night.
The moment he left, she sank onto the chair and sighed. Her heart was racing like crazy and she wanted him that night, but she must wait.