Sebastian Ellington-Aragona

Crowned Prince of Italy

Despite the guilt that still filled the vampire over the large sum of funds collected from the Italian populace for his own salary, Sebastian found himself significantly more placid with the simple closeness of his husband settled at his side. Dorian had an unnatural way of easing those anxieties, particularly when it came to the world of royalty that the he was so strikingly unfamiliar with. It had become painfully clear to Sebastian that his husband had little notion of the very wealth he possessed. After all, Dorian was...a good King, and a good man. He was gentle and kind and caring and it seemed wholly impossible that he'd simply fallen sway to such greed when his country required him. He suspected that it was the King's absence and imprisonment that had contributed to his fortune, though frankly Sebastian was surprised Italy had continued to pay it's yearly tribute to its Monarch when so few even knew of Dorian's existence within the first place! Dorian's admittance that he hardly understood exactly what the number printed on that sheet of paper represented was hardly a great surprise to him. His thoughts, however, briefly deviated at the soft sound of the Monarch's voice, drawing his crystalline blue eyes upwards to the silver hue of his husband's own. How nice it might be to shield his lover from the world at large and all that was going to be required of him. And yet, lies were one thing Sebastian found himself incapable of telling the King.

A soft breath left Sebastian's lips before he nodded, only to admit that, he was still largely ignorant of Italy's needs. It was hard to see what a country required when he was hardly allowed to walk it's streets or speak to it's people. The media alone was his only source of knowledge, those newspapers he so often enjoyed reading with his 'morning' cup of tea painted an eternally grim picture, though Sebastian was well aware that sensationalism sells well. It was with this in mind that the Prince suggested, instead, that perhaps it might be beneficial for the couple to sit in on those meetings Parliament had. After all, if the Queen of England could do it, why could not they? Dorian seemed to readily agree to the notion, only to mention his own pride within his country. For all that loss of leadership, Italy had soldiered on all the same for near six hundred years, achieving greatness all her own. It was, he was certain, something to be pleased of. A small simper touched his own lips, hardly even deviating as Dorian spoke of the King that had come before him. His hand gingerly reached out to rest upon his lover's knee, the vampire determined to ensure Dorian knew well that Sebastian, of all people, believed in him. "Ferdinand had no idea of what you're capable of, Ma Bichette." He offered, even if such words of comfort were neither asked for nor needed.

It might have seemed capricious of him, to let those concerned that had once gripped him so greatly vanish from the forethought of his mind on such a whim. Dorian was, however, the very epicenter of his universe. Dorian was the thing his whole world revolved around. If his husband was...unhappy in any sense, the rest of the world, of his world, seemed to crumble just as well. What he didn't expect, however, was his lover's sudden suggestion to place those efforts to fix all that was broken upon his shoulders. He could not deny that he would have liked to bring the people of Italy some measure of reprieve and yet...there was little doubt within his mind that he was equally as incapable of fulfilling that role. His crystalline blue eyes briefly glanced away from the King, considering all that would need to be done before his head shook ever so slightly. His gaze turned back towards his husband before he admitted that this was surely a task he'd fail at. He was hardly well educated in law enforcement and economics to make such a great decision, much less to even tell if any plan he was proposed with was a good one. The legal system might be a task he was capable of handling and yet...the sheer size of it was a different matter altogether.

Dorian's voice punctuated his ever increasing chaotic thoughts as his lover made some effort to reassure him that they would find someone to assist in those endeavors. He nodded ever so slightly only for a small frown to tug at the corner of his features. He was hardly sure who they would find, or even how they could find said person in the first place. How would they know if this person's person's plan was more sound then another? This was hardly a business he could simply walk away from. No, this was a whole country that relied upon him. Perhaps this was a solution they'd find the answer to when the time came. His attention shifted as Dorian continued on, only to confirm that which he had already begun to expect. Avoiding of kidnapping and proposals were both decidedly easy he supposed, when his lover was confined to his own court. Now, however, Dorian was not. Now, it was only a matter of time until the world discovered the wealth that sat in his husband's bank account. How would they react then? What would change then with the current state of Italy? However, before those worries of the future could so grip the Englishman once again a singular sentence so disrupted his thoughts - the announcement that he was cute.

A small grin crossed Sebastian's lips. Cute was hardly what he had been striving for and yet, he saw no reason to fight such words when they prompted the leaning forward of his lover's frame. Sebastian's lips pressed fervidly against the King's own, relishing in the taste of the Monarch as Dorian's fingers entangled in his hair. His fingers rose towards his husband's cheek, gingerly brushing against the King's jawline. How he missed those evenings when work could be put away to pursue those pressing fancies! How easy it was to merely forget about those worries and concerns when Dorian was so close to being in his arms. An almost wistful sigh left Sebastian's lips as his lover pulled away far sooner then he would have liked. It was, however, Dorian's admittance that the treasury below the palace was merely added income that distracted him once again, prompting a small shake of his head. If only Dorian knew all that he had! It took him a moment before an idea so toyed with his thoughts, causing the vampire to rise with the announcement that he had something to show his husband. He moved around the table, his fingers flicking with purpose through the papers Carlos had left to find the very envelope he had sought - one that held his own financial statements. Those statements were all too familiar to the Englishman, only prompting a short shifting through before he found the one he desired - his latest monthly statement. Sebastian presented the paper to his husband, pointing to the number at the very bottom of the page before Dorian's own was placed on top in such a way that both numbers were clearly visible, those places lined up to assist in showing Dorian, by comparison, at least, just how much more the King had.

That soft utterance upon Dorian's lips caused his eyebrow to raise, the vampire entirely pleased that his husband seemed to comprehend the very wealth he had at last. Sebastian's very announcement that Dorian was, quite possibly, one of the richest men within the world only further seemed to cement the very expanse of that fortune in the King's mind. He watched the frown that marred his lover's features for those few precarious moments before Dorian's silver irises rose to meet the vibrant hue of Sebastian's own. His lover's amendment that they were possibly some of the richest men in the world prompted a small grin to his features. He was still slowly adjusting to the idea that all of this was now his too, that Dorian still wished to share those palaces, the crown, the country and his inexhaustible wealth with him. It prompted a small flutter of warmth within his chest as his lips parted in agreement. "Yes, we might very well be." Sebastian uttered softly. The soft press of Dorian's lips upon his cheek caused a small twitch of a simper to rest upon his lips, until the fae Monarch slid from the table, handing him back those pages. A hint of inquisitiveness crossed his features as Dorian eyed the very door they had come in but moments ago with a look of determination that was...well...rare for the King.

Dorian's suggestion to sit prompted a quizzical glance upon his features, the man certain he was unprepared for whatever it was this 'grand' thing his husband spoke of. Were the King's bank statements not grand enough as it is? He was certain he couldn't take anything more! His gaze shifted towards the door as he settled in his own seat. At the King's beckoning, Carlos was quick to re-enter the room, though the poor fae seemed wholly uncertain. His very nerves caused his heart to pound in a way that prompted a touch of guilt within Sebastian. Truthfully, Carlos had hardly deserved his outburst and he was certain Dorian was under paying the man, considering how much income had changed since Dorian's youth. Perhaps he would also see too the wages of their staff to ensure they remained properly competitive. After all, it would be poor press for Italy's royalty to be underpay so drastically. His lover's request for his own advisor drew Sebastian's thoughts to the present and yet, this summoning was hardly peculiar in any since. A small nod was afforded to the Italian fae in return for the bow he was given before all eyes turned upon Dorian himself.

Those few years in which Sebastian had spent at Dorian's side, he had been, admittedly, afforded few glimpses of the demanding nature that was so required of a ruling Monarch. He had seen Dorian as the very epitome of placid and polite in the face of opposition many a times. He had seen the enthusiasm, joyousness and excitable curiosity his lover had for the world at large. He had witnessed moments surely meant for himself alone within the comfort of their own bedroom. This side of his lover, however, was decidedly...scarce. His eyebrow rose ever so slightly at the King's demand to see the heads of those departments, hardly bothering to schedule a time before insisting the Monarch wanted to see them now. His bright blue eyes briefly shifted from his lover towards Carlos himself as Benito hurried off to fulfill the King's desires. Sebastian could hardly help that inclination to make...some effort to express his gratitude for all the Treasurer had done for the King. "Carlos, ah, I fear you must forgive my earlier...surprise. Dorian has been...extremely lucky to have you for all these years. You have my thanks for taking such good care of him." Royalty or not, Sebastian was assured that it was time someone appreciated the Treasurers loyalty and hard work, the vampire determined to make things right before the heads of those ministries arrived.

Fortunately, they hardly had to wait long before those very men were announced, filing into the room in a rushed fashion, each looking decidedly worried why they had been ushered before the King within the first place. His gaze slowly shifted back towards his husband at Dorian's sudden declaration of those very issues Sebastian and spoken of, only to demand of each man in front of them some distinct measures to hopefully improve those concerns. Sebastian was, admittedly, surprised by the ease at which Dorian so quickly took charge. That commanding nature so...peculiarly....appealing. The vampire was content to let his eyes linger upon the fae King, that very lust so tugging potently at him, unexpected though it too was. His eyebrow rose ever so slightly at the state of even one of those public hospitals and yet, Dorian hardly seemed perturbed in the slightest, accepting this as a starting point before merely dismissing them all as if it was just another daily affair. It was admittedly arousing, that domineering nature within the usually gentle fae. He could hardly help those considerations of just how he might draw out such nature within his husband in far more....intimate affairs.

Sebastian watched as those ministers muttered their appreciation to their King only to offer a final bow and leave the trio in relative peace. His gaze fluttered back towards his lover, only to eye that impish grin upon Dorian's features. His husband's words, however, prompted a warm laughter upon his lips before Sebastian nodded in response. "I think so too, it was a wonderful start, Ma Bichette."