It always seemed as if those things that were the most delicate also tended to be the most consequential. That exquisite crown that was nestled lightly within his fingertips was of such fine craftsmanship that it felt nearly like glass within his able hands, those swirls and fluers so crafted from cold and inlaid with diamond with such great care. His crystalline blue gaze remained all too steady upon it as the light caught those miniature gemstones. Even they themselves were fitting in a way, really, after all, the entire nature of his business were those coal mines - that stone sharing the same primal base as those diamonds to the point that those uninformed thought one birthed the other. Sebastian watched as those small stones glistened before him and yet, though it was beautiful, he found himself almost unable to appreciate it to the true fashion in which he should have if not for the singular simple implication of what this was that so lingered upon his mind. Rather, it was in truth what this wasn't that had so prompted the Englishman's disappointment, though why, he hadn't the slightest of notions. Just but days ago he found himself utterly terrified at that prospect of marriage if not for the memories of Isabella and the ending of that marriage. That alone was a thing he refused to repeat and yet, Dorian had so assured him that he was nothing quite like her, a fact that the vampire found he'd accepted with far more trust and belief than he perhaps should have.

How matters of the heart so seemed to tease and toy at him - one moment bringing with it a near tower of baggage tumbling down upon him that he'd thought he'd neatly shoved away into the back of his proverbial closet before even all of that paled in comparison to the fact that this was not that at all! And why then we he so disappointed by it if not for the consideration that, maybe that reassurance of the differentiation between himself and Isabella was all he required to so be ready to take that next step? That thought alone was enough to produce a soft sigh from the man's parted lips as he quite purposefully turned those bright blue eyes towards that crown rather than the man at his side. Regardless of his own fool heartedness, he had entirely dedicated himself to his King. He had been nothing shy of determine to see that role of Consort amply fulfilled - to be exactly the thing his boyfriend so needed at any given moment regardless of what it was or how utterly unsure he'd found himself in the wake of those cameras and under the intense speculation of those interviewers. They had hardly been enough to dispel him and this notion of a traditional crown surely would not either, regardless of his complicated feelings on the matter.

It was those two simple words that fell from his lips, entirely distracting both of them perhaps. His attention, however, remained upon the head piece within his fingers as his lover so spoke of future titles that might, one day, be his to have should Matteo's predictions of the future hold true. Prince of Italy. It was quite the title, and surely came with it a near barrage of things he was ill prepared for and yet, it was peculiar perhaps, the vampire was hardly concerned of joining the ranks of royalty as much as he Dorian had clearly expected of him, his thoughts instead turning wholly inward even as Dorian agreed that, perhaps in this fashion England and Italy were not all that different. Still, Sebastian was hardly unaware of how decidedly important this was for his lover, even if it was done out of tradition. That mention of the other Consorts having done this very same thing was so acutely fixated on by the Englishman, enough so that he found himself raising that crown to place it delicately upon his forehead where it so snugly fit. He was aware of, in those moments, that grin that so alit Dorian's features in a simper altogether baffling for the vampire. Why the wearing of such a simple crown seemed to afflict the King was certainly...confusing, to say the least. Still, this was, perhaps, not his place to inquire after.

Sebastian was well aware of that shift within his lover's voice as Dorian so gazed down upon him, his eyebrows raising ever so slightly at the King's final judgement on that crown. Dashing was certainly not a word often afforded to him, his head tilting to the side ever so often in that same habitual fashion it often did when the vampire was so considering something. "Thank you." He stated softly after a moment, simply watching the King in the same manner Dorian so regarded him. That soft press of the man's lips against his cheek was all that was necessary to earn the fae a small simper and yet, even in that he had not truly been prepared for that insight the King so offered him. His head shook ever so slightly in the wake of that offer to so address that which had so unintentionally affected him, even if he had thought he'd done his best to so keep it from his lover's attention. "No, that is not necessary." The vampire offered, even if he remained altogether veiled of those thoughts in the same way he so often did. How childish it would be to so admit how utterly sullen that simple confusion had made him! And yet, that realization that he was being very near childish was enough for the vampire to so shove those emotions away from him, determined to be that pleasurable companion that he so often excelled at. After all, tonight was certainly an evening of importance for the King. It was the first night of official Court in years, perhaps even centuries. It was selfish of him to so demand the King of Italy's coddling.

Regardless, it seemed as if Dorian was more than willing to provide such reassurance all the same, even if it certainly shouldn't have been necessary. That explanation he was offered but mere moment's later so produced a small shake of his head. "Dorian, that you love me is all I require." That simple sentence was, perhaps, far more of the truth then Sebastian had ever mentioned, even if he hardly explained quite to the extent at which it was true. That love was all he truly cared for, regardless of whether or not Dorian titled him as Consort or Prince or mere concubine, he would have surely remained here all the same for the sake of that love. Still, he was inquisitive, in some fashion of those 'other' Consorts his lover so spoke of. Sebastian was fairly certain he was Dorian's first Consort, though he supposed he'd never truly inquired so much as simply assumed and now he found himself wondering all the same. "Why were those others not given crowns?" He inquired, this simple fact certainly catching his attention far more than the unconventionalism of their particular relationship. That alone was an aspect he had long since accepted.

Any further questions on the topic, however, were cut off short only by the King's hand reaching out to embrace his own, coaxing him to his feet. Court, he supposed, could not wait for his curiosity to be satisfied, much less time to so shift though those emotions that had afflicted the undead soul within that time. Instead, Sebastian simply allowed himself to be led from that room and towards a hallway far different than any other he had been given a glimpse of. This one was decorated with far more paintings of any others and yet, it was unmistakeable whom the people in those portraits were, those crowns upon their head so easily declaring each and every one of them to have been the ruling monarchy of Italy. No doubtedly, Dorian's own picture was, or would one day be, upon those very walls. His attention shifted from those paintings only at the sound of the King's voice as they made their way before those doors at the end of the hallway. That very mention of that golden crown being but a placeholder so produced a smile upon the vampire's features, the first one in all this time that was more akin to his usual demeanor. "Do you think so?" He inquired, though it was perhaps rhetorical, that question alone overshadowed by those announcements that reverberated within that room in front of them. Any further talk of crowns and marriages, however, were thwarted by the opening of those ominous doors, the vampire's attention instead turning towards that room in front of him before he nodded, his hand finally dropping from Dorian's own. He allowed the King to so enter that room first in the same fashion Dorian was expected to, Sebastian himself but trailing closely behind as he so took up his position exactly as Dorian had so informed him he should the prior evening. This was Dorian's night and Sebastian had little intention of ruining this one any further than he already faulted himself for. No - he would see to it that he carried out tonight's instructions flawlessly. After all, how hard could it be to merely sit in a chair and seem enthused?

Sebastian Ellington