Dorian Ellington-AragonaThe King of Italy

The Monarch could so hardly help that look of amusement that lingered upon his features each time his gaze lifted away from his own plate to glance across that ornately decorated table at his husbands figure. This, he was assured, was perhaps the most focused Sebastian had ever been upon any singular meal. The vampire all but devouring that first small bowl before inquiring as to whether he might trouble the staff for more. How he so adored to see his lover enjoying himself and yet too, how wholly amusing he so found it to consider that veritable love affair the vampiric englishman had so found with that chocolate pasta in turn. Had he know Sebastian might enjoy it this thoroughly he would so surely have had it made for them sooner. Even Sebastian's tea remained unfinished such was his apparent delight in that meal. Dorian wholly content to chuckle but softly to himself as his gaze returned to those documents laid beside his own plate for review. How unfortunate it was that their honeymoon was veritably all but over. The pair having returned to Italy and the Palace of Caserta but only the evening before. The staff having afforded the pair a singular night uninterrupted and yet, come tonight, Dorian had so found his list of affairs to look over or attend to had grown insurmountably during his time away. Those papers that had appeared beside his breakfast tray not at all a sight he had missed during those months abroad. The Monarch so affording his lover another curious glance.

"Darling, are you actually reading that paperwork or are you just trying to get every bit of chocolate out of that bowl?"

One eye raised ever so slightly and yet the amusement upon his features and within those accented tones was surely cear. Sebastian's own breakfast tray having arrived with that list of events the couple had been invited to attend or oversee during the course of the next few months. The vampire so supposedly going through and choosing which of those events were worthy of their attention, which would need to be rescheduled for their attendance and which would likely receive their apologies upon. Dorian quite assured Sebastian had paid it not real heed at all and yet he so hardly found he could blame his husband in any sense. Returning to work was hardly a pleasing thing in any sense. Dorian so contemplating that very thing as his fork pressed into that last piece of pasta within his own bowl. The Monarch slipping it between his lips a moment later. That sweet taste decidedly satisfying and something of a treat for breakfast in turn. His gaze lifted briefly then to that clock on the far side of the parlour wall. How utterly terrible it was to have to worry about time once more! Dorian sighing softly in that interim.

"I suppose we ought to head to the meeting room if we are to get these finances in order. The treasurer wants to discuss some sort of change to the Royal Allowance fund and we really must have him look into setting up that joint account for us today. If you are still quite alright with that of course?"

It had been Sebastian, after all, whom had suggested that, with their marriage, perhaps they ought to consider so combining those assets entirely. The Fae King having failed to understand at all what such a thing had meant in any sense. Sebastian, Benito and the treasurer himself so having been forced to explain such concepts to the Monarch. Dorian, even after so much time within the modern world, still so often struggled to comprehend funds in any real sense. Indeed the Italian so often failed to look at his bank accounts at all, just what existed within them utterly unknown to him. Dorian often struggling to understand those changes in monetary values over the years or indeed just how much wealth his household had accrued. The Fae so hardly concerned in any sense with combining those personal accounts with Sebastian's own. After all, they so readily shared in all things, the Monarch so hardly concerned with adding but another to it. Dorian rose almost reluctantly from that splendid gold and red chair then, his fingers reflexively smoothing his suit and brushing away those invisible stray crumbs as he did. The Monarch taking several seconds to at least attempt to assure he appeared presentable before waiting for Sebastian to do the same. Dorian so leaning over to press his lips to husbands cheek in that brief, stolen touch off affection. Perhaps they had, for the most part, veritably returned to reality of late and yet Dorian was not at all yet willing to let go off that affection and attention he had so selfishly indulged within from Sebastian alone those past weeks.

"Do you know, we got a splendid new award while we were away? Apparently you and I have both been awarded honorary degrees in Marine Bio-Ecology from the University of Cagliari. I find that quite amusing really considering I cannot swim. I don't know why on earth you spoke of your Law Degree as being a frightfully hard thing to achieve, Bastian. Degrees seem terribly easy to come by."

That impish grin so found his lips in that moment. Dorian so wholly aware that this matter of University or College was distinctly more difficult then they were often made to appear. Sebastian, he was sure, nothing but deserving of that degree he had rightfully earned and yet how he could not help but tease the man! Another soft chuckle rising within his throat as he lead the way out of their apartments and into that man part of the palace. Those staff that hurried past them pausing to bow each time. Those utterances of Your Majesty and Your Highness offered in greeting as they made their way toward the room Benito insisted had been set aside for that meeting. Dorian inclined to feel talk of funds, for the most part, was never terribly exciting in any sense. The Monarch frowning but slightly as that further consideration so came to him, his arms folding behind his back as he wandered in that fashion Dorian so seemed to have a habit off. Those words offered to Sebastian then as more of a musing,the Monarch's thoughts so clearly unsure upon this singular topic.

"I think too we ought to talk of re-doing the throne room- or at least our thrones in particular."

The pair so paused outside that room then, the guard at the door nodding to each in turn before opening those doors and announcing them both by those shortened, more informal titles. "Announcing His Majesty, The King and His Highness, The Prince of Italy." Dorian so afforded his lover that ready glance then so that they might step in unison into that room. The treasurer having already risen from his seat to bow to them both. The man introducing himself as Carlo. Dorian offered that nod in turn before moving to settle into his own seat beside Sebastian then. Carlo so taking a moment to arrange the copious amounts of papers that surrounded him before smiling readily at the pair.

I take it your honeymoon was quite exceptional?
"It was, thank you. I fear we shall both find it a struggle to return to work."
Ah, but it is always the way, Your Majesty. You will be pleased to know, however, that Italy's finances, and your own, have done well in your absence. In fact, we have near recovered the funds used for the wedding and both of you should find you have been paid for last year, ah- here.

The man so paused to push those bank statements towards them then, Dorian so barely glancing at that eighty million they had been paid last year before pushing that paper toward Sebastian to review. The Monarch so often failing to comprehend money in any sense. Dorian so simply oblivious to the sheer amount of that singular payment alone.

"That seems quite good- I think."

His gaze turned near expectantly towards Sebastian then, Dorian quite assured his husband, in the least, might understand such numbers better than he himself. The vampire appearing decidedly quiet in that moment. Dorian so glancing from that paper and back again in search of just what seemed to prompt such a curious expression upon his lovers features.