every king had a story, of ancient glory,sweetly told

There was a certain sense of unease, Dorian found, with so being within that hallway of Monarch's. It was hardly through any misguided sense of duty or appropriateness or even comparison between them and him as he wandered past that so seemed to unnerve him. More so, the eyes of those pictures so had a way of following one when they moved. Dorian disliking the situation immensely. As if a hundred kings of the past were determined to look down upon him with that eternal look of judgement and those ever dull expressions the royal family seemed to have favoured since the dawn of time. Such blank stares so afforded a look of importance, he supposed, and yet really he found them entirely dull in every sense of the word. His own portrait, so featured at the end of that line, was hardly any better. His hair was still far too long by modern standards and so coupled with that doublet and tights and royal cloak that was designed for his Father before him and vastly too large for Dorians own slender figure he looked perfectly foolish he was sure. The Monarch so distinctly refusing to glance at his own Father's portrait beside him, assured he could not bear to meet that eternally staring gaze just as he could not in life. The man moving so instinctively closer to his lover before that soft mention of his name saw his gaze return to the ardent blue of the vampires own. His tale upon just what some of those previously uncrowned consorts had done to be denied that token crown seeming to have inspired some level of consideration in the vampire- Sebastian so suggesting that he was, in some fashion, perhaps not unlike some of those whom had come before.

Dorian's own features frowned but slightly, brows knotting together, the Fae perhaps not unable to see just how such a conclusion might well be drawn within the vampires mind and yet, perhaps surprisingly, a warm simper so seemed to find its way to the Fae Kings lips in that moment. Dorian regarding his lover with that ever bright smile as they paused before those doors to allow those titles to be read out. It was of endless curiosity to him truly, just that perception Sebastian seemed to have of himself on some occasions and yet he spoke not of it now. Some things, it seemed, the Fae King was wholly content to keep to himself. Dorian hardly offering any true insight into just what had seemed to stir such a smile to his lips as his hand tightened in Sebastian's own. Those words uttered for his Consort alone in that moment. Each word distinctly honest in its utterance and each distinctly determined.

"There is a very distinct distance between them and you and those rulers on these walls and I. Yes, I am certain of this, Bastian."

Each of those consorts, after all, had been judged unfit by the ruler they had been bound too. Dorian having no desire to hold Sebastian to any specific set of expectations of those men whom had ruled before him. Each of them too, possessing their own faults as King in turn. He knew well what Sebastian's past had surely entailed though he had never asked specifically of it and too- were his own hands truly less bloodied? How such thoughts might haunt a man if allowed to do so! Dorian so instead choosing to press his thoughts towards that which he was assured mattered well beyond all else. That he and Sebastian were entirely different to any whom had come before them and that they, together, would so choose that which was right for themselves. Dorian too, quite assured that Sebastian was not about to attempt his assassination nor was he likely to find the vampire entangled with the stable boy- of that he held utter faith. The doors were thrown open but a moment later, the King striding forward and into that crowded hall to take his place upon that dais, Sebastian following just behind to take his own seat as that Court so begun its session.

The majority of those proceedings were decidedly dull in nature and yet, true to his birth and breeding Dorian remained but that picture of pleasure. The Fae so managing a look of intrigue for each and every being whom spoke. The man even managing to afford a genuine thanks to that pair of men whom had so gifted Sebastian and himself a truly curious flag he held no idea what to do with beyond store somewhere. Had they held no knowledge of what colours he might prefer and thusly gifted them a flag of every colour? That confusion upon his face however was quickly replaced with gratitude, Sebastian's smile of encouragement hardly missed before Dorian so turned back to the court at large only to discover the President had chosen to speak. His first words, while politely and diplomatically uttered, were nothing short of a veiled attempt at power play. Dorian's own lips tightening into a thin, stiff smile that so rarely graced his features in any sense. Any attempt to speak however, was cut off by the interruption of that overly large Spanish vampire striding forward to embrace the President in an argument over his thoughts upon vampires as a species. Dorians own attention in that moment shifted from Benito- whom offered explanation- and to Sebastian with some measure of amusement. His silver gaze finding his Consorts own as the vampire suggested that they might see about changing schedules in the winter in the least.

It was an entirely logical suggestion and yet a part of the Fae was almost...remiss to bend even a little towards the Presidents desire if only because that was entirely what the other man wanted. It was petty off him perhaps. Dorian rarely inclined to any true show of his crowns authority and yet how that man so irritated him! He nodded softly to Sebastian then, leaning away once more to clear his throat, that sound alone seeming to bring those arguing men to silence as both turned to face him. Dorian's fingers tapped against that golden griffins head on the arm rest, the tips of them almost absentmindedly feeling that fine crafting that made up the creatures face as he considered what words he might like to offer.

"The Court for now will remain at this time, though I have taken into consideration your concerns. Until one of our older members so expresses difficulty with the time themselves I see no need for it not to remain. Your concern for the elderly though is appreciated."

The Spanish vampire, appearing thoroughly smug, strode back to his place, leaving a notably put out President in his place. The man for this evening at least having chosen to avoid those more sensitive topics, instead merely giving his report upon foreign alliance which he seemed to, regrettably, inform the court had not been negatively impacted by Dorian at all. It was only after several more speakers including a handful of the Courts own Ladies that Dorian himself chose to speak at last.

That inevitable hush fell over the room as he made his intentions known to return to the city he and Sebastian had come from and in time to see but a plethora of the world's countries. That veritable hush lasted only so long as it took those words to leave his lips, a series of shocked gasps echoing about the room as Benito become far to pale and the President looked far to delighted. Those murmurs among the crowd rising quickly before the President stepped forward again. It is not possible for his Majesty to live outside of the very country he governs, our law dictates it and too I feel this is an imprudent choice. If you have lacking interest in your country and its people and would rather see the world, for which you cannot be blamed, then perhaps abdication is better considered. How very....bad this was making him look. That other man seizing upon that opportunity to be rid of Dorian entirely, so exposing those weak points to the court at large. Dorian's own voice curt yet direct in response.

"I see no reason, with technology as it is today, why my presence is required here in this castle every day as it once was. What I am intending to do is rewrite those laws of governance that will allow the government to continue running Italy as it has done for the past century. I can easily be here for those ceremonies of official need and documents can still reach me."

Benito, beside him, readily nodded now. The little man seeming to have found some logic in those words and assurance too that this might be possible. The president remaining unconvinced. Be that as it may, Your Majesty, our law requires your presence on Italian land for a certain amount of time each year or, by right, your throne is abdicated. Dorian's own lips parted once more at yet it was but another voice that reached the room before his own. That time period is a minimum of thirty days a year, Mr President. I was there when those laws were written, were you? The crowd had so readily parted then to allow Matteo to stride through as if the man parted the red sea. The Frenchman, well dressed in his suit, bowing neatly to Dorian and Sebastian in turn, a piece of paper thrust at the president now. You may check it if your require. It does however, state that in accordance with Italian law, the King need only be in Italy or any other land under his command for a minimum of thirty days in the year to maintain the Monarchy. In other words, if he were to choose to go to, say Barcelona, for a few weeks- this would be seen as performing his royal duties. Besides, a King should know his own lands outside of his Palace should he not? It was a true and distinct struggle to prevent that simper from tracing his own lips. The president looking thoroughly flustered before declaring he would take this matter to parliament. Matteo insisting he would help, a grin flashed towards Dorian and Sebastian before he moved to stride out after the other man. Dorian so deciding this was an excellent place to end Court.

He rose from his place then. The Court falling silent to bow once more as he did. Dorian stepping down to stride back to those doors he had come from, waiting just within them for Sebastian to join him. Dorian remaining silent until those doors had been closed before the faintest touch of a simper dared trace his lips.

"Do you know? I did not think Matteo would arrive in time. Those papers were the documents I mentioned to you that I had asked him to find when he was here last. I suspected for a moment he might well have failed me. I was sure they existed though. Come this way instead, I have something to show you."

Dorian had, it seemed, held a plan from the very beginning. Even if he had been unsure it would work. The man continued to walk steadily down that hall instead of that door that had come through, his hand reaching once more to find his lovers own, a sigh of relief falling from him at last to be so free of that room. His silver gaze drawn softly to his companions.

"I truly believe I can manage my own country outside of this palace. Even if it will take getting used too. It is simply so we may have to take a....holiday of sorts every year to a land under my command. Do you think we might manage this?"

dorian aragona