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

The very idea that they might, one day, have a home all their own within France itself was a decidedly pleasing one. The Monarch having come to adore that country side and the simple pleasantness of it. He adored Italy for the very fact it was his country of his birth, his home, his kingdom to rule in some sense- just as he had come to enjoy England for all it represented for Sebastian in turn. The hustle and bustle of London, those grey and rainy moors as those estates his lover owned had come to mean a great deal to him in turn. France he was rather sure he loved entirely because here, within the veritable countryside, it was quiet. There was a distinct peacefulness to it, a slower pace of life, those small family-owned neighbouring farms reminding him very distinctly off his own childhood. For all horrors that had existed within those dark and middle ages he had lived through there had been joys in turn. He remembered the farms and the fields and the hills just as he remembered warm summers and brisk autumns the very sort France seemed to share. That Sebastian was surely considering repairing a chateau they might call their own was nothing short of delightful. Dorian wholly oblivious to that hesitance within his lovers gaze the in the moments that followed his assurance that land would need be purchased back from all who held it. A veritably giant undertaking and one others had failed at before. Dorian near content to dismiss such concerns. Were they, together, not the Crown of Italy? Surely if any might be capable of it then it was them. Dorian quite assured their funding would not be exhausted by such a venture and that Matteo too, if needed, might even be capable of some assistance in obtaining that land. A ready grin resting upon his features as he assured Sebastian of just that. The vampires own bright smile only further delighting the Fae in turn before mention of those coloured wardrobe lights saw both eyes lift upward in a clear surprise.

"I think we might do without colourfully lit wardrobes. I do fancy the pantry that sings though, perhaps we should have one of those, hmm? Do you think we could have other rooms play music too? Perhaps the entire house."

Such a struggle it was to keep a straight face! Dorian so doing his best to pretend such a request was entirely serious if only so he might see the look upon his lovers face at the idea of an entirely musical chateau. The Fae King hardly capable of maintaining that look of faux seriousness for more than a few seconds before that impish grin found its way to his lips, that soft laughter bubbling up from within him then and readily giving away such a tease. How perfectly silly such an idea would be! How terribly annoying too it would surely become to those servants! Dorian momentarily given to wonder if the music ever changed or it merely played the same song each time the door was opened. The Fae King so making a note to test that very idea even if only for his own curiosity before gently requesting his lover close his eyes to further that surprise as the car rolled slowly into that little French town. He had hardly anticipated the manner in which his lovers head rested against his own shoulder, his fingers reaching lovingly to straighten several of those loose locks of hair. That gesture only seeming to prompt the vampire to snuggle further against him as that soft chuckle hummed from within Dorian himself. How perfect these moments so tended to be when they might be allowed to exist, just the two of them, away from the worlds ever watchful and wholly judgemental gaze.

It was an entirely futile effort, surely, to have a vampire close their eyes when their sense of smell was surely nearly as accurate. Dorian wholly aware that such a surprise may well be given away by scent alone the moment they strode within that world-famous store and yet, his fiancé did so very much for him. Sebastian so often surprising him with those trips away or outings to places he had never been even if only to try foods he had never seen before. The Monarch entirely assured it was his Consorts turn to be afforded just those same gestures of affection. Such a place as this, Frances most famed and decorated chocolate store, surely something Sebastian would enjoy. The vampire's sweet tooth decidedly undeniable. That little bell chimed softly as that door was pushed aside, Dorian's hand remaining nestled within Sebastian's own in an effort to guide him safely into that store as the staff hurried past them to lock that door and draws those shades- hiding them from any prying or curious eyes. A singular person so discovering their location, after all, had the potential to turn into a veritable media storm within a half an hour. Dorian unwilling to subject that little store or indeed, Sebastian or himself, to the bother of crowds and cameras so late in the evening. The Monarch determined that Sebastian might enjoy his surprise uninterrupted.

It was the very benefits of that fame however, that Dorian so chose to mention softly in that moment as halted within the centre of that room, his hand gently tugging Sebastian to a stop in turn. For all the irritation and veritable annoyance that was the paparazzi, especially in those days following the official announcement of their engagement, it was their very presence that so allowed the pair such delights as being afforded an entirely private shopping experience here and now. That lack of the general public so assuring not only could they spend as long as they might desire here, but, neither of them might be required to share or taste only that singular piece decorum might demand of them. That small smile upon Sebastian's lips seemed only to blossom into a truly glorious grin a mere moment later as Dorian so at last allowed him to open his eyes. That singular look of utter delight upon his Consorts features so entirely worth all the organisation that had gone into this singular surprise. How beautiful that smile was! Dorian's own silver gaze glancing but briefly over all those chocolates and desserts and delectable treats on offer to linger upon Sebastian himself and so enjoy the simple sight of his delight.

His free hand reached easily then for the largest available paper gift bag, the Monarch handing it toward Sebastian then with the assurance he could fill it with anything he might desire. Those staff hurrying to take their places behind those counters and around that room with the clear intention to assist them in trying but every single one of those hundreds of chocolates if they desired it. His lovers head so readily nodded then, that eagerness entirely clear and near boyish as that bag was taken from him. Dorian so finding himself abruptly near-dragged to the first of those displays. Sebastian's near infamous indecision when it came to choosing readily seeming to seize upon the vampire already as he considered that plethora of chocolate choices that first display alone offered him. Dorian's own ability to truly appreciate just what he was looking at perhaps lessened if only by his simple inexperience with chocolate eating at all. Several of those flavours and treats utterly unknown to the man in any sense. Chocolate, after all, had hardly existed in the fashion it once had within his own time. Sebastian's clear excitement a terribly infectious thing as Dorian allowed his attention to be drawn to each of those treats the vampire pointed out. How curious they were! His own intrigue within them surely clear before his lover so asked after whether or not he had ever tried fudge, his own head softly shaking then. That grin upon his own features.

"Don't get too excited, love, but I have never tried any of those things you just said."

That soft chuckle so fell from his lips once more, Dorian entirely assured that the only thing that so seemed to excite his lover beyond those sweets was offering Dorian himself those experiences he had never before had. The Monarch entirely determined to at least attempt to have Sebastian choose those things Sebastian might like even if he knew already the vampire would surely be unable to allow him to bypass such an opportunity to test so many things. His own hand softly squeezing his lovers then.

"You hardly have to choose you know, you can have some of everything if you truly desire. I suspect they will let you have another bag if you fill that one."

That soft sound of amusement rose within him once more, Dorian quite assured that his Consort was given to forget sometimes just what their status so might let them get away with- chocolate surely one such thing. He could hardly blame the man in any sense, after all, Sebastian had spent several centuries wholly aware of his station as all within their time had been. To adjust to having risen several levels to the proverbial pinnacle of that hierarchy was surely not done overnight. That Sebastian might so be allowed to have as much as he wanted of anything and everything perhaps a new ideal Dorian was entirely inclined to introduce him too slowly. That clear delight on his fiancés features all that truly mattered in that moment all the same.

His own gaze lingered briefly upon one small chocolate shaped to appear just as a daisy with a milk chocolate centre and white chocolate petals, Dorian briefly pointing towards it before glancing upward at the young woman beside the counter to ask whether or not he might try it, the woman nodding eagerly before moving to offer it to him. The Fae King nibbled upon those petals as that delectable sweetness seemed find him in near the same moment. How glorious it was! The rest of it slipped readily between his lips then as he so prepared himself to be dragged about the rest of that store in turn. His gaze had only just returned to that display when the sound of another behind him saw his attention shift, a rather short little Frenchman standing before them now. That badge pinned to his chest so declaring him to be that head chocolatier and owner of that very store, the little man bowing to each of them in turn before so offering his hand to shake. It is a very great honour that the Italian crown might choose to visit our store, on behalf of myself and my employees we would like to present you with these specially made chocolates. Another young woman so preceded to step forward then, a plate resting within her hands as she offered it towards them, two exquisitely hand-made chocolates resting upon it. Each of them shaped to represent each of their family crests in turn, those bases crafted of milk chocolate, those details of Sebastian's lions and his own griffins decorated in a mixture of white and dark, that gold leaf chocolate employed to make the manes of those lions utterly shine like those gold stripes on his own crest. Dorian near assured they were almost too good to be eaten. His gaze glancing briefly to Sebastian in simple awe before looking back to that chef.

"I have never seen anything like this, Monsieur. How ever did you manage it?"

dorian aragona