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

There was something entirely relieving about stepping back through those double doors and into that quiet hallway. Dorian's entire form seeming to breathe at last, that tension so leaving his shoulders as that truly audible sigh passed his lips. That façade of indifference he so had a habit of wearing within the courtroom was easily allowed to fall when it was but himself and his chosen Consort once more, Dorian so uttering as to that relief a moment later as Sebastian joined him and too- his pleasure in Matteo so finally having come through with those papers even if the elder Fae had left such things till the last possible moment. Sebastian's assurance that it was surely unlikely that Matteo would ever seek to disappoint him was met with something of a curious look, one eye raising just so as he regarded his lover with a momentarily inquisitive glance as if such a phrase was somehow unusual. A part of Dorian had so been about to suggest that Matteo was, in fact, a truly disappointing creature at the best of times and yet he so thought better of those words in near the same moment. After all, while fickle and rarely inclined to follow either schedule or rule or expectation, there was, he supposed, very little the French Fae had ever not achieved when it so came to requests from himself. This realisation a rather striking one. Dorian aware only then of that truly obscure look that had been left upon his features in the wake of that consideration, his silver gaze flicking to Sebastian once more.

"I had just had a curious thought is all, in regards to Matteo- it matters not for now."

Such thoughts were brushed easily aside. Dorian so wholly oblivious to that truth Sebastian already knew and that remained so elusive to himself. The man content instead to lean the way down that hall and away from that side door they had entered through before. The Fae King once more content to lead his lover deeper into those parts of the palace so few even knew existed, his step brisk in that moment as if he was but eager to reach their destination. Such a thing surely true and yet too- he so worked to avoid Benito without having to engage his own affinity for invisibility. The little man sure to attempt to stop them from those clandestine plans Dorian had forged without knowledge of the Palace as a whole. His hand reached easily for his lovers own, fingers entwining with the vampires as if they truly belonged just so before he spoke once more. His voice holding that assurance that it was surely possible for him to exist in both worlds, royal and otherwise, especially with the invention of those planes that could see him here within a mere day if it was required. A part of the Fae seeking Sebastian's approval of this idea. After all, Dorian so surely intended to bring the man with him. The Monarch not yet ready for unassisted travel. His lovers words and too that touch of his hand drawing a smile to his lips. So much this man did for him! Dorian so wholly determined to spend a lifetime, if need be, assuring he gave just as much to his lover in turn. His desire to see more of Italy a wholly pleasing one.

"Parliament may yet disapprove the idea or seek to increase those days. One would think the President would prefer my absence and yet it seems he is merely content to fixate upon my abdication or so having me remain here forever in the hope I might abandon it. He seems to prefer my unhappiness in any situation."

Such words saw a frown of sorts trace the ever-youthful man's features before they at last reached the end of that hallway, Dorian reaching to press upon a new door now that, as that treasury, seemed to lead downward. The Monarch paused for but a moment, if only to assure no one was about to see their descent into the depths of that castle before he so softly tugged upon Sebastian's hand once more, leading him down those steps, turning only to close the door behind him. That ground so quickly flattened out and yet the age of this part of the castle was surely clear, that marble having given way to something almost akin to ancient cobblestone as they reached yet another door. This one, unlike the others within those gilded halls, was made of thick oak wood that was faded with dust and time. Dorian so hesitating even now, his heart given to flutter unevenly and yet it was hardly fear that gripped him, more so it was simply...apprehension as one hand pressed upon that door that creaked and groaned and ached it's age for all to hear.

"I fear that to show you what I desire and to reach where I plan to go tonight we need pass through here. This is my palace as it truly is- I have not been down here in centuries. There was a library down here once, an alcamey room that Geoffrey once used and a room where my Father so kept his collection of...prisoners. I have had those long since removed though."

It was perhaps, a wholly diplomatic way of attempting to bypass his father's torture chamber. Ferdinand well known for his rather intense fear that almost every being he knew was plotting against him. The man taking great joy from forcing admittances from people only to have them killed before being crudely preserved and stuffed like dolls in a fashion that had given Dorian nightmares as a child and even now, well into his adult years, such cruelty was unfathomable. The Fae moving straight past the tunnel that so led to that and instead into a rather large, open and yet utterly abandoned space to an area that had once clearly been the library. Those rows upon rows of shelves still existed, each of them adorned with books and yet the dust upon them was layered so thickly no colour truly showed through. A large portion of the furniture had collapsed to lay toppled and dusty and forgotten beneath cobwebs, what had once been banners of some kind that hung from the eves above were no more than torn threads that waved in what little breeze there was. Several bookshelves had been upended further within, books scattered upon the ground, left where they had fallen amongst what was clearly several rusted swords, spears and shields whose colours were withered with age and time. This very room so frozen in time itself and how it tugged at those memories he longed to forget like a pain within his chest. His voice entirely quiet and heavy, in a fashion, with that emotion he could not bear to let loose.

"We didn't have the resources to fix any of this so I simply....left it as it was for the most part. Some of these books in the least might still be restored and there was one thing that remained untouched these years."

The Fae King, so surrounded by the ruins of his own palace, stepped over those rusted armaments, his shoes leaving a path in the dust as he did, heading for the far corner of the room and towards something rather large and so draped beneath a sheet. Perhaps the only thing within that room that anyone had so taken any care with over the years even if Dorian himself had not. The Monarch reached easily forward then to grasp that sheet and slide it aside, revealing that entirely wooden and yet somehow still standing- ancient piano. The look and design so removed from those of the modern day, a soft simper tugging upon the Fae Kings features to so show his lover something he knew the vampire might truly enjoy- what little light so managed to break this space from the single window above reflecting that moons glow gently upon that black surface now.

"It is, I suspect, the world's first Piano as invented by Bartolomeo Cristofori whom was born not far from here rather a long time ago. I have had it for quite some time and I suspected you might well delight in seeing it. Yes, Mon Cher, I know well it should have been taken far better care off, I can see that look upon your face, Bastian. Before it is so you berate me for it I need remind you I was not anticipating so having an English boyfriend whom might one day scold me over the care of ancient things."

He could hardly prevent that chuckle that fell from his lips all the same at that look upon the vampires features at so discovering such a thing nestled amongst those ruins and protected with a mere sheet. It's condition entirely marvellous for such a lack of deliberate care, Dorians own fingers gracing its surface now before the silver of his gaze merely lifted to his lovers own. The Fae gesturing towards the front of the instrument.

"I fear I do not know if it still works, it may, you are welcome to try if you wish though I suggest you be decidedly gentle if you do. I thought I might ask if the museum should desire to have it, unless you would rather keep it. It is yours to do as you please with if you'd like it, Mon Cher."

His voice was entirely soft, quiet and near given to echo in that empty space. His own golden crown reflecting too in those few shafts of light that sent those patterns dancing upon the painted black surface of that wooden instrument. Dorian merely remaining silent then to allow his lover to better appreciate that instrument, the Fae moving instead to set himself atop a large stack of dusted books, one leg folding easily over the other- affording the vampire ample time to enjoy his newest acquisition. One hand reached easily then for but one of the books in that pile, turning it over to wipe the dust from it before opening that front cover to stare at the hand written words within. Galileo, he was sure, had never become anyone of importance, that book replaced on that pile. Dorian so considering then how long it might take to restore and refurbish this room. His gaze glancing briefly at the watch upon Sebastian's arm to see the time. Matteo sure to arrive in a few minutes and so assist them in the rest of Dorians plan for that evening.

dorian aragona