His Royal Majesty

Dorian Ellington-Aragona

The King of Italy

There was a certain sense of accomplishment to be had in so successfully managing that joke. Even if it were at Samantha's expense. The young woman seemed to take a moment to realise such words were said in jest before that ready laughter fell from her lips. Her sheer amusement only seemed to further that grin of delight upon Dorian's own features before she lamented the very fact that Dorian had, finally, been told the truth about Narnia. A jest the Monarch had taken months to uncover. Dorian's own head shook good-naturedly, a chuckle rising within his own throat before he insisted he already had a perfect gift in mind for Samantha's child- when she arrived. The Fae woman was quick to insist that his agreeing to play that role of godfather was enough and that any gift was hardly needed. How readily Dorian's own features formed that frown in the wake of her insistence. How unwilling the mothers of this city seemed to be to accept those gifts for their children! Was it, perhaps, not a done thing any longer? Still, it seemed largely improper to forgo gifting the child of his companion anything upon her birth.

"Raven was all but determined not to have my gift her child anything either but I find it quite impossible to do. It shall only be something small, I promise. Sebastian has informed me it is no longer common to go about gifting towns."

Dorian's head shook ever so slightly. The Italian King was nothing short of baffled as to the loss of such a tradition. That conversation, perhaps fortunately, so shifted then to the manner of the child's baptism. Samantha, so fortunately, seemed determined to afford her daughter that veritable right of religion. A notion Dorian himself was nothing short of pleased to hear as he queried after those churches she might desire- before suggesting he knew several that could be ruled out immediately based almost entirely upon their poor standard of decoration. Samantha, it seemed, was nothing short of willing to take up that very advice before suggesting that Dorian himself could pick that church in its entirety if he so chose. Such an important choice! The Monarch's gaze widened near readily at the very idea before his features became decidedly thoughtful once more.

"I should like to use a cathedral in Rome but given the current climate and lack of safety in regards to air travel we shall simply have to find something suitable here. I shall look into it."

Dorian's head nodded readily, the Monarch's gaze so returning to his companion then as Samantha offered that very suggestion as to but another role he might so be required to take on should anything happen to Samantha and the Father of her child. The child in question is apparently falling to the care of Sebastian and himself. How readily that look of near bewilderment seemed to cross the Monarch's features then. Dorian so hardly had anticipated such a thing! After all, within his own time families were large, extensively so, most beings having a plethora of relatives to call upon should a child find themselves without their direct parents. The modern day, it seemed, had changed decidedly. Yet how unexpected the Monarch was for a request of such magnitude and too- such responsibility. A child, after all, was so hardly a small matter but rather- a life. Such a request one the Monarch could so hardly promise upon without discussing it with Sebastian first. His husband, he was certain, would never forgive him were he to accept such a thing without discussion and yet....what of Troy and Amelia? Were they not related by blood? Had a falling out occured between the family perhaps?

Samantha appeared near anxious then as she made every effort to explain her choice. One finger rose to twist a lock of red hair about her finger as she did. The young woman so explaining Troy and Amelia's current child was in need of vastly more protection then most- that she feared to burden them with her own should the worst happen and that she felt he himself was by far the most suitable choice. How very unprepared he had been for such answers. Samantha's words were nothing short of flattering in every way. Dorian so never yet having considered himself in that role of...Father. Even if the rest of the world seemed determined to pressure Sebastian and himself into that very thing. A warm simper so easily found the Monarch's lips in the wake of his companions' words, Dorian, in that moment, so insisting he would speak to Sebastian about that very matter.

"I am flattered, if nothing else, that you should think so highly of me Samantha. Thank you. I will speak to you again as soon as I have talked with Sebastian."

Dorian's head nodded once more in ready assurance before that conversation changed a final time to his own life of late, his marriage, the pandemic and the affairs of his country. Heavens but how very much had been upon his mind of late! Especially with the entirety of his family having lived with Sebastian and himself for several months. The Monarch had positively adored having so many within his home and yet how he valued that peace and quiet! Samantha's query on whether or not Sebastian had been helpful was met with a soft chuckle as Dorian nodded readily.

"Indeed, he has. Sebastian and I share our workload as best we can and he still manages to run his own company atop all of it. I couldn't manage without him."

Sebastian, after all, so understood the world in a way Dorian himself so surely did not. Sebastian was so often the one the Monarch turned to when he found himself all but....bombarded with modernity. Samantha's words seemed to falter then, even if only ever so slightly as she insisted she was pleased he had found his family- after so very long. Even if she still struggled to believe Aiden and himself to be siblings. Another soft chuckle rose to the Monarch's lips as Dorian lent comfortably back within his chair once more.

"It was an adjustment for Tetradore and I as well but we spend a good deal of time together now. He even stayed at my palace in Italy for a while so we might get to know one another better. I adored having him there. I love my family, each of them, dearly."

It was Samantha's sudden query of both driving and bike riding however that brought a sudden soft laughter to the Monarch's lips.

"I think they would be alright with me riding a bike if I desired it but car driving, unfortunately remains closed to me. One day I will convince them, I am certain."

Dorian's grin so hardly faltered. The Monarch remained ever hopeful of, one day, of being able to drive that car.